BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President: Kevin Verner Bio:
A graduate of Gladewater high school in 1985, Kevin attended and graduated from Kilgore JR college with an associate degree in Criminal Justice in 1987. In July of 1987 he would attend the Department of Public Safety, where after graduating Kevin would begin his 30+ year carrier for the DPS (Texas Highway Patrol). During Kevin's time with DPS, he would serve as a fire arms instructor, Driving instructor, LTET instructor (Live Threat Engagement Training) and SFST instructor (Standard Field Sobriety Test) instructor.
Over Kevin's 30+ years he would receive the Medal of Valor from the Fannin County Sherriff Dept. and the Director Citation from the DPS. Kevin retired with over 30 years from the DPS as a Senior Corporal. Kevin is currently the Chief of Police for the Honey Grove ISD.
Vice President: Jo Thornton Bio:
Joanna “Jo” Thornton and her husband, Joel, own and operate a farm in Celeste (Hunt County) where they raise and sell beef cattle and farm hay. They have two daughters, Samantha (25) and Emma (15) who have both grown up “country kids”, just like their mom and dad. The farm has always been a family operation and has provided countless hours of life lessons for the entire family as well as quality, fun filled family time. In addition to farming, she has worked in public education for 11 years starting out as a classroom teacher’s aide and has served public schools as a high school registrar and a student information system consultant. Currently, she’s the District PEIMS Coordinator at Terrell ISD where she hopes to finish out her career in education. Jo and her family are members of Aberfoyle Baptist Church in Wolfe City where she and Joel teach Youth Sunday School. “It’s truly an honor, privilege, and a blessing to be a part of Red River Hoops Association. The outreach to youth across the tri county area is invaluable to the communities, the families, and most importantly, the student athletes that participate in the organization and all it offers. Using basketball as a platform, our youth are learning not only “the game” and having fun, they are developing social skills, community service awareness, and sportsmanship.”
Treasurer: Teresa Mills Bio:
I have lived in Fannin County all my life currently residing in Dodd City with my husband Garry and two kids Ryan and Caylee. I worked as an elementary school teacher for 22 years. I then earned my Texas realtors license and now my Texas Brokers license and am a partner in the ownership of Bonham Land and Ranches Real Estate Group. I enjoy working with kids in my Church youth group and working to give children in Fannin County as many opportunities to grow and flourish as I can. RRH has been a wonderful way for me to help our kids!
Secretary: Cindy Ferguson
Board Member: Teffany Kavanaugh: Currently with McClanahan and Holmes, LLP
Teffany has been with the McClanahan and Holmes, LLP since 1997 and has been a partner of the firm since 2015. She has experience auditing governmental and not for profit entities and is responsible for the preparation of income tax returns for individuals, partnerships and corporations.
Education Bachelor of Business Administration, Accounting
Texas A&M University-Commerce, Commerce, Texas, 1995
Certified Public Accountant
Texas, 2014
Professional
Affiliations American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants
Community involvement
Lion's Club of Bonham
Fannin County Family Crisis Center
Red River Hoops
Board Member Kenneth Karl: Currently Justices of the Peace in Fannin County
Board Member Jonathan Wilder Bio:
After graduating Bonham High School in 2001 I went on to attend The University of
Texas at Dallas and receive a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration. In 2016 I
moved back to Bonham with my wife Meagan to raise our daughter Lanie. I am thrilled
to give her the same small town up bringing that made me who I am today. We are
members of Kings Trail Cowboy Church in Whitewright Texas. You could call me a sports
nut because I enjoy everything sports. Watching, playing, learning, life lessons from,
and most importantly teaching!
Board Member Russell Graves Bio:
If you've read any Texas-based magazines over the past twenty five years chances are you've seen some of Russell's photos or read some of his words. Since 1989, he's been traveling the state telling authentic Texas stories with his camera and his words - both written and spoken.
A graduate of Dodd City High School and East Texas State University, Russell was an ag science teacher in Childress, Texas for 16 years where he was named Texas Agriscience Teacher of the Year on three occasions.
After leaving that career in 2009, he continued to photograph, write, and speak about his experiences and the people he meets and in 2010, he began delving into television production. His first documentary film, Bois d'Arc Goodbye was filmed entirely in Fannin County and chronicled he and his brother Bubba's canoe journey as they traversed the creek before a lake forever changes the landscape. The film aired three times to a prime-time, national audience.
Recently he's worked with such celebrities as the Robertson Family from Duck Dynasty television show, T. Boone Pickens, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Pat Green, and Tracy Lawrence, but he insists that regular people are his favorite subjects.
Currently, Russell lives in the country north of Dodd City, Texas with his wife Kristy and their two children Bailee and Ryan.
Board Member / Director of Operations Michael Granstaff Bio:
Growing up in Fannin County Texas, located 50 miles north of Dallas. Michael's life has been filled with sports since a child. In high school Michael lettered in three sports, excelling in basketball. After high school Michael would begin coaching and filming. Michal starting filming outdoor hunting in 1997, and within a couple of years he would turn that passion into a business. He would soon be sponsored by MoJo Outdoors, and holding seminars at Cabela's Outdoor world. And In the back ground spending many hours coaching his kids.
Michael started off coaching in 2004 in small town leagues. Soon after he started a select travel team, and within a few years it turn into "teams". By 2008 Michael's travel teams turn into an Organization. He also enjoys coaching his kids in school sanctioned basketball leagues. Michael has always had access to the local high school gym's, where he would train student, collegiate and pro athletes.
In 2018 Michael would be asked if he could use the Windom gym, that was in much need of many repairs, after being closed for over 30 years. He would take on the challenge, helping creating a board of trustee's that would help build Red River Hoops Association.
Michael has used his professional skills behind the camera to help local kids by filming games, so that college coaches could view their highlight reels.
Michael would say, God has played a major roll in the success of Red River Hoops. Using basketball as a platform, Michael has helped many kids make it to college. Today Michael works hard along side many volunteers in Windom Texas with boys and girls helping build a foundation of confidence in our kids using his platform. Michael receives a lot of support from his three daughters, Gracie, Paige and Izzy. Michael; " If not for God and my daughter's I would not be where I am today, I am very blessed! "