WC NEWS

Weatherford College recognized Brent Gough as its Alumnus of the Year and Distinguished Alumni Award honorees Dr. Deborah Liles and Fort Worth Chief of Police Neil Noakes at the 2025 Alumni Awards Luncheon held Friday, March 28, in the Emerging Technologies and Workforce Building.    

Lin Bearden introduced Gough, highlighting his journey from a Weatherford College student to a successful financial advisor and a key figure in the Weatherford College Foundation. Bearden emphasized Gough's personal relationships with the families he serves and praised his leadership.  

Gough, a 1985 graduate of Weatherford College, shared his initial struggles as a student and his eventual rise to become president of the WC Foundation.  

“The only hard part of being the president of the Weatherford College Foundation is following the late Bob Glenn,” Gough said, praising Glenn's passion for the college and his dedication to providing scholarships.  

He credited his wife, Meredith, for her unwavering support throughout his journey. And he recounted his father's decision to have him pay his own way through college due to his lackluster academic performance in high school, which instilled in him a strong work ethic. He worked washing trucks to fund his education at Weatherford College and Tarleton State University, where he earned a business degree.  

“I don’t know what the criteria for being alumnus of the year is, but I was really afraid that someone was going to talk to one of my professors or go back and check my grade point average and disqualify me because I was a terrible student,” Gough said. “... But I made a decision in 1978 that changed my life. That's when I accepted the Lord as my personal savior, and from that day on, I decided to follow and trust him.”  

His involvement with the Weatherford College Foundation began about a decade ago. He was inspired to give back and help students avoid the financial struggles he faced. He spoke passionately about the impact of the foundation and the generosity of its donors.  

Gough shared a story about a donor appreciation dinner where he met a single mother of four who was able to pursue a nursing career because of a scholarship. This experience solidified his commitment to the foundation's mission.  

“I want to encourage you if you're not a part of our foundation, if you're not a part of helping Weatherford College grow, please become a part because things are happening around here,” he said.  

Liles’ daughter, Kelly Staub, highlighted her mom’s remarkable achievements, from moving to America at 16 to earning her Ph.D. from the University of North Texas in 2013, all while balancing family and work. Staub emphasized Liles’s dedication to service, noting her involvement in numerous boards and her significant contributions to historical documentation through her writing.  

"The realities of life, cost, and time and family,” led her to drop out of college multiple times, Liles explained. “Cost was addressed in large part by several scholarships offered by Weatherford College and Pell grants. Without those, I'm honestly not sure I would have ever attended college as the house payment, insurance, and all the other cost of living came first."  

She credited Weatherford College with providing crucial support and encouragement, shaping her approach to teaching, writing, and understanding the challenges faced by non-traditional students. She acknowledged the influence of instructors like Bill Coody and Dr. Harold Lawrence.  

While she never became a police detective as she had originally planned, Liles said, “I found my way to becoming a history detective. That would never have happened or been possible without all the opportunities and lessons learned here at Weatherford College.”  

Jason Hayes, the Weatherford Police Department interim chief, introduced Noakes, highlighting his 25-year career with the Fort Worth Police Department, his leadership, and his commitment to community engagement. Hayes emphasized Noakes's focus on doing the right thing and taking care of his people.  

Noakes's career began in 2000, and he worked his way through the ranks, serving in roles from patrol to DWI and motors. He implemented the Fort Worth Safe Initiative, participates in a variety of youth engagement programs and is a key part of TCU’s LEAD program (Leadership, Executive and Administrative Development) for law enforcement professionals.  

“When I think about Weatherford College, I think about an institution that gave me the confidence to aim higher," Noakes said.  

He stressed the importance of humility in leadership and the need to earn the trust and respect of those you lead. Noakes acknowledged the support of his family and those at Weatherford College and encouraged everyone to continue serving their community and striving for excellence.  

Noakes also expressed feeling unworthy of the award and attributed his success to the grace of God and the support of those around him, including his parents, grandparents and wife.  

“I believe all of us are called to service,” he said. “All of us are leaders in some way. We all lead in different ways, but we are all called to lead and to serve.”