Distinguished Alumni

The Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch Alumni Association provides a professional network of Cal Farley’s alumni who seek to carry on the spirit of family through fellowship, association and support. During the annual Rodeo weekend festivities each year, Cal Farley’s and the Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch Alumni Association recognize recognize alumni who have distinguished themselves over the years. These men and women lived at Cal Farley’s Boy Ranch or Cal Farley's Girlstown, U.S.A. and have built successful lives and careers by faithfully serving their communities with the values and ethics instilled in them by Cal Farley's.

"Class of 2011"

Charles (Chuck) J. Farrell, Jr., a Phoenix, Arizona native, earned a Bachelor degree in Aeronautical Science at Embry Riddle University. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1960 and served in Germany as a heavy equipment operator, a trade he learned at BR. Farrell discharged in 1963 as E-5 Sergeant.
He then re-enlisted and served two tours of duty in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot where he flew over 1,500 combat hours. His decorations included 32 air medals and the Distinguished Flying Cross. Farrell also achieved status as a Master Army Aviator before he retired in 1984, after 20 years of active duty.
Captain Farrell then worked the next 15 years in commercial aviation having piloted numerous types of aircraft over many parts of the world including the South Pacific, Guam, and the Hawaiian and Micronesia Islands; only landing upon retirement due to federal aviation regulations that mandate an airline pilot’s retirement at age 60.
He and his wife Rebecca have one son. Farrell still flies private aircraft occasionally.

Tom Novak and his four brothers came from El Paso to live at Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch. Novak graduated from Boys Ranch High School in 1973.
He attended Texas Tech University on a Cal Farley’s scholarship and received a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture, as well as a teaching degree.  Tom taught in Dalhart, Texas for two years, where he met his wife, Lori. He returned to BR in 1980 and taught for 18 more years.
Novak rose through the ranks and eventually was appointed BR Campus Administrator in 1999. In 2009, Novak was promoted to his current position as Vice President of Donor Relations. Novak has two children and he recently earned his Master of Arts degree in business management.

 Leonard Schmidt and his two brothers, George and Fred, came to Boys Ranch in 1952 when Cal Farley drove to Montana to pick-up all three boys.
Schmidt graduated as valedictorian in the first graduating class from Boys Ranch High School in 1956. He served a short time in the U.S. Marines before settling in Amarillo with his wife Glenna. The couple had four children during which time he became an insurance agent for All State; having served for them for 30 years.
To fulfill a dream of Mr. Farley’s Schmidt and four other ex-Ranchers formed the Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch Alumni Association in 1961.
Schmidt receives this honor posthumously, as he passed away in 2003 from complications due to Alzheimer’s.

"Class of 2010"

Anthony “Angelo” McClain graduated from Boys Ranch High School in 1975 as class salutatorian — and has excelled since. He attended West Texas State University, and the University of Texas, Arlington, where he earned his master’s degree in social work in 1981. At WT, Angelo was elected Who’s Who, was listed in the National Social Register of Prominent College Students, was a 4-time letterman on the WT football team and the starting tight end for the 1977 Missouri Valley Conference Champions. In 2001, Angelo was accepted into Boston College Graduate School of Social Work, earning a Ph.D., in Social Work, and in 2008, he was recognized as a Boston College distinguished alumnus. Angelo has worked in numerous roles in both the public and private sectors of social work. He has earned numerous state and national merits, had the distinction of helping develop and implement the nation’s first statewide children’s behavioral health system of care program, and he was appointed by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick as Commissioner of the Department of Children and Families in 2007, where he currently serves. (1975/Boys Ranch)

 Herbert Millard Fugett was born Sept. 30, 1939 in Nelson, Oklahoma. He graduated from Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch in 1957. Following graduation, Herbert attended Victoria College and then served as a medic in the US Army; stationed for a short time in Bindlach, Germany. In 1963 he settled in Tulsa, Okla., where he began work with Lincoln Income Life Insurance Co. Herbert excelled in the insurance business, was a top producer and received several award recognitions and top performer trips. Herbert was a devote Catholic and very involved in the church. He also was a member of the Kiwanis Club, Elks Lodge and proud father of two daughters, Elizabeth and Kimberly. Herbert was training to be a pilot and loved to fly; however, on Oct. 20, 1978, he died in a plane crash at the age of 39. Herbert was one of the charter members of the Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch Alumni Association, established in 1961. He receives this honor posthumously. (1957/Boys Ranch)

"Class of 2009"

Soapy Dollar Five-year-old Apache Indian, Soapy Dollar, arrived at Boys Ranch on June 1, 1955. Over his twelve-year stay he was a three-time All-Around Rodeo Champion, the 1967 Athlete of the Year, President of the Student Council for two years, and he was valedictorian of his graduating class. At age twelve he delivered his first sermon at Boys Ranch Chapel. Soapy received a degree in mathematics at West Texas State University, through the first Cal Farley Memorial Scholarship, while serving as a youth evangelist with area churches. In 1972, he married Suzanne, and the two dedicated the next thirty-five years to Campus Crusade for Christ, traveling all over the world. San Antonio became their home, and Soapy launched a Hispanic-targeted ministry which quickly spread across the nation. He has served for twenty-two years as Chairperson for the National Day of Prayer in San Antonio, and he is a popular radio talk show host on KSLR where he became nationally syndicated with his radio show, “The Bible Live.” In August 1999, he received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from the American International Theological Institute and Seminary. (1955-1967 / Boys Ranch)

Kim Stark Kim is the Executive Director of the Lubbock Rape Crisis Center where she recently launched an extensive counseling program for victims and their families. Kim grew up at Girlstown, having arrived at age four and spending fifteen years here. She received her Masters of Science in Social Work degree from the University of Texas, Austin, a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from Texas Tech University and an Associate of Arts degree from South Plains College. Prior to her current position, Kim worked as Development Director for South Plains Rural Health Services, Inc. She serves on numerous Boards and is the founding Board member of Inspiring Families, located in Levelland, Texas. Kim is heavily involved in several local, state and national socially-focused organizations, and is a regular speaker at state and national conferences. She has received several recognitions and awards for her volunteerism efforts including a Mayor’s Pin in 1998. She also teaches Social Work at South Plains College, and Kim played an integral role in the launch of the first Cal Farley’s Family Resource Center in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. (1966-1981 / Girlstown)

"Class of 2008"

Alvis Grant met Cal Farley at the Maverick Club, one of Mr. Farley’s first youth outreach programs. In 1939 Alvis rode with Mr. Farley to the Old Tascosa town site and became one of the first nine boys at America’s First Boys Ranch, which today is known as Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch. Mr. Farley introduced Alvis to the sport of handball. Since leaving Boys Ranch, Alvis has won 17 national handball titles, more than 100 tournament championships and was inducted into the Handball Hall of Fame in Tucson, AZ. Alvis served his country as a United States Marine during World War II. Alvis is also a gifted painter and has shared his talent by completing 35 paintings for the Marine Corp Command Museum and the National Handball Hall of Fame. Several of Alvis’ works are also displayed in the Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch Chapel.

Roy Turner also met Mr. Farley when he and his brothers attended the Maverick Club. Roy was the youngest of 10 children in a family that was facing difficult times. Roy and his brother were among those first nine boys to move into the Old Tascosa courthouse. He still remembers his room on the southwest corner of the second floor. Although Roy’s stay at Boys Ranch as a child was brief, he has spent his lifetime connected to Cal Farley’s. In 1947 Roy married Virginia Pinkley. Sixty-one years later, Roy remains a devoted husband. Roy and his family returned to Boys Ranch in 1956 when Roy began the masonry program. With Mr. Farley’s encouragement, Roy then pursued his dream of beginning his own business by establishing R. E. Turner Masonry in 1959. Roy joined the Cal Farley’s Board of Directors in 1974, served as President (1986-1987) and Executive Director (1987-1994).

Bill Sarpalius came to Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch in 1960 from Houston, TX. During his years at Boys Ranch, Bill was actively involved in FFA. In 1968 he was elected president of the Texas FFA. Bill earned a degree in agricultural science from Texas Tech University and later a Master of Science from West Texas State University. Bill returned to Boys Ranch and served as an agriculture instructor and FFA advisor for five years. In 1980 Bill was elected to the Texas State Senate and successfully sponsored more than 140 bills. In 1988 he was elected to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and was elected by his peers as president of the congressional freshman class.

Gary Hardy was 10 years old in 1957 when he arrived at Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch. He learned construction skills through the Boys Ranch High School’s building trades program. Gary served his country in the United States Navy and was chosen for the Navy’s construction battalion, also known as the Seabees. After receiving an honorable discharge in 1967, Gary joined the carpenter’s union in California. Seven years later, he launched his own business as a general contractor specializing in framing. It was during this time that Gary conceived the idea of developing a bracing system inserted into a wall frame that would make a building more likely to withstand an earthquake or other traumatic event. Gary secured five U.S. patents and founded Hardy Frames.