(Seguin) — If you ask Amy Hanson, she will say that her father would have had no problem being remembered with his name along the facade of the newly dedicated Seguin ISD Jack Lee Learning Center.
Hanson was among the dozens of people from across the community who turned last Monday for the unveiling of the newly dedicated building in honor of her late father, a former Seguin High School teacher, who today still continues to be remembered for his role in the classroom.
Along with shedding a little insight into what her father’s wishes would have been…Hanson shared the love that her father had for the district and its students.
“I can tell you without question that this would have trhilled by dad to no end. I promise you that this was something that he would have wanted. He used to joke — joke– that he wanted his ashes spread on the Matador Stadium Football Field and then anotehr time, he said he wanted a statue of himself giving a high five so that everybody could high five him as they entered Matador Stadium. So, he really was devoted to Seguin High School. This truly is such an honor for him.
I can’t tell you how grateful I am, how grateful we are that the community proposed his name and that the community voted on it and that so many people put in recommedations for this.
We are honored beyond belief and I can tell you that it is definetely something that he would have wanted — not the most humble man in the world,” laughs Hanson.
Lee’s name garnered the most support after the Seguin ISD requested name options for the building. The Mercer-Blumberg Learning Center was relocated to the Saegert Campus allowing the opportunity to rename the center in the Oak Park Mall building.
Today, the Jack Lee center will serve as the site for teacher development and meeting space.
Hanson says her family could never repay the district or the community for their continued support and hopes that his legacy and lessons continue on through this new tribute.
“I just want to say thank you. I just want to tell you that if you are interested in how you can carry his legacy becuase he trully was devoted to his students, to education, to the city of Seguin just serve your community — serve your school. This learning cneter is going to be — becuase it is for the betterment of teachers, educators, students, it is exactly the right representation for him so serving our school distirct, serving your commuinty, helping eacohter, helping the disenfranchised and voting — that is the best way that you can carry on his legacy. So, I just want to thank you again. We are beyond honored and thank you so much for this truly,” said Hanson.
Lee unexpectedly died just three months after retiring from the school district in 2019. He served 44 years as a teacher. Thirty-seven of those years were spent in the Seguin ISD.
The Seguin Matador Band was also on hand to provide music for the celebration. Leading the program was Seguin ISD Superintendent Dr. Veronica Vijil. Vijil also presented and dedicated a plaque that will be placed inside of the building commemorating Lee’s contributions to the Seguin ISD.