Atlanta Education Foundation

John Dees Barr

John Dees (Johnny) Barr graduated from AHS in 1966 and was a three-year letterman at AHS, captain of the football team and an All-State quarterback. He was also named all-East Texas and All-District in football. Barr also lettered in basketball for three years and made All-District one year.  He was voted Class Favorite, Spanish Club Officer, Most Athletic and Most Dedicated Football Player. Upon graduation, Johnny received a football scholarship to Oklahoma University to play under Jim Makenzie. During his college career, he lettered three years as a wide receiver and helped the Sooners win the Big Eight Championship twice. Barr set Bluebonnet Bowl records as a receiver for most receptions, most touchdown catches and most points scored in that game.

Barr began his coaching career as the freshman receivers coach at Oklahoma in 1970 before moving on to become a varsity assistant coach at Lufkin and Clear Creek High Schools. At Lufkin, he had the privilege of coaching under James Moffatt, a greatly admired former AHS coach. His career in football coaching continued to move him ahead over the next twenty years as the Navarro Junior College offensive coordinator, Lamar University secondary coach, Texas State University defensive coordinator and secondary coach, Oklahoma State University, under Pat Jones, outside linebackers coach, Oklahoma University as linebackers coach, Oklahoma State University, under Bob Simmons, as co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, Arizona State University as linebackers coach, Kansas linebackers coach, Texas Tech University safety coach, Texas A&M University as coordinator of on-campus recruiting under Dennis Franchione, and for the last eleven years of his career, Oklahoma State University as Director of Recruiting.  Barr retired from his post at OSU in 2021.

When Barr joined the Texas &AM staff, Coach Fran said, “I am pleased to have Johnny join our staff here at Texas A&M. He is a terrific recruiter and he will do an excellent job.  He has recruited the state of Texas for many years and is well respected. In addition to coordinating our on-campus recruiting, Johnny will be responsible for our football camps, clinics, the Quarterback Club as well as serve as our liaison to the Letterman’s Association.”  This is just one comment that reflects Johnny’s reach across the football realm in Texas and the South.

If you asked Johnny today to tell you the highlights of his career, at the top of that list would be coaching a young man named Pat Tillman at Arizona State. Pat was the Defensive Player of the year in 1997 and a wonderful young man. Pat went on to play for the Arizona Cardinals in 1998. In the aftermath of 9/11, Tillman left his sports career to enlist in the United States Army in 2002 and was killed in friendly fire in 2004. Johnny respected this young man so much because of his work ethic on and off the field and ultimately his loyalty to his country.  

Relationships like this one are truly the highlight of his career. He has helped so many young men realize their dreams…whether it was a position on a high school team or getting to a school in the Big 12…it has always been about the kids. His sister, Julie, remembers asking Johnny once why he didn’t become a Head Coach somewhere. His answer was simply that becoming a Head Coach brings with it a lot of media hype, publicity, politics, etc. and his goal in his career was to help and coach the young men.

Johnny is the son of the late Bob and Ludie of Atlanta and resides in Stillwater, OK with his wife, Christi.  He has four daughters, Stephanie Barr Rupe, Stacy Barr Bruce and twins, Allie and Caroline Barr who now attend OSU.

David Stewart

David Stewart is a 2000 graduate of AHS and received a bachelor of science in agriculture from Sam Houston State University in 2004. In high school, Stewart demonstrated leadership by participating in band for four years and serving as head lieutenant for one year, and served on the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, FFA and several other school organizations. At Sam Houston, he majored in animal science with a minor in agriculture business.

Stewart is currently serving as a Texas Ranger with the Department of Public Safety. He graduated in September 2006 from all field service patrol school of the Texas DPS has served in Chambers, Cass and Morris Counties as a state trooper. In December 2016, Stewart was promoted to DPS Corporal and in April 2020 he was promoted to Sergeant for Cass and Morris Counties. In July 2023, Stewart was promoted to Texas Ranger Company “B” and stationed in Sulphur Springs.

His highway patrol trooper duties included enforcement of traffic and criminal laws of the State of Texas, crash investigation and reconstruction on rural Texas highways, border security and protection, assisting local departments with investigations, riot control and general policing duties. Highway Patrol Corporal and Sergeant Duties included supervision of eight to ten troopers assigned to a sergeant area.

Stewart’s Texas Ranger duties consist of conducting criminal and special investigations, apprehending wanted felons, suppressing major disturbances, protection of life and property, and rendering assistance to local law enforcement officials in suppression of crime and violence.

Additional duties include serving as an instructor for driving, live threat engagement training, mobile video, basic negotiator, and swift water rescue technician. He has been a member and assistant team leader of the Region 1 Hostage/Crisis Negotiation Unit since 2019 and a member of the Texas Highway Patrol Honor Guard since 2009.

Stewart is the son of Gayle and Gary Stewart of Atlanta. He is married to Jennifer and has twin daughters, Emma and Olivia.

Katherine Allday Stubbs

A 1980 graduate of Atlanta High School, Katherine Allday Stubbs was a member of many student organizations and a proud member and majorette with the Big Bad Band from Rabbitland. She continued her education at the University of North Texas, where she graduated in three years with a bachelor’s in business and marketing. As a student at UNT, Stubbs was involved in the recruitment of prospective students and served as president of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority.

In the early years of her career, she ran her family’s business in downtown Atlanta, Allday’s Department Store, alongside her brother Rob. She served her community in numerous civic affairs such as the Chamber of Commerce board of directors, city planning committee, and was named Woman of the Year in 1991. Stubbs was an active member of First United Methodist Church of Atlanta, where she sang in the choir, played handbells, and was director of children's ministries.

After closing the family business, Stubbs found her true passions - music and teaching. She went back to college, earned a teaching certificate and taught music at Atlanta Primary School for thirteen years. Her influence had a positive impact on hundreds of young lives, teaching them the joy of music. Her musical productions were well-renowned and exhibited her love for children. Her passion for teaching was evident as she ignited the developmental benefits of music in young children. She helped hundreds of children overcome their fear of performance and helped improve their reading and communication skills. In addition, she promoted the benefits that music has on fine and large motor skills and was a caring relationship-builder. 

Stubbs was an avid grant writer and was able to bring several exciting enrichment opportunities to APS. Her grant awards brought the famous group Dancing Drum to the school several times. The students were educated, entertained and inspired through this interactive percussion-based program. Dancing Drum brought high-energy assemblies that engaged, entertained, and inspired the entire school. From the first moments of a Dancing Drum interactive program, the sound of drum rhythms echoed through the school while students played and sang along with clapping, body percussion and vocal chants. Everyone joined in the rhythm of these uplifting, community-building musical experiences. Stubbs also found grants to fund unique field trips to the Perot Theater for musicals with curriculum-based learning. 

After a lengthy illness, Stubbs passed away in December 2021. Her husband, Rick, resides in Atlanta. She and Rick had three sons, Jody, Drew and Clint.