Leading the parade

Texas transplants Greg and Tammy Dillard have a combined 66 years service to Purcell Public Schools.

On Friday, they will top that off as grand marshals for Purcell High School’s Homecoming Parade on Main Street.

The couple moved their young family to Purcell in 1990 after three years teaching south of the Red River.

Greg, a social studies teacher and coach, has coached it all, including junior high girls basketball and high school golf.

Most notably, he was an assistant high school football coach for 25 years, with four years as offensive coordinator.

He was also head coach of the high school girls track team for 25 years. He was six-time Region 5 Track Coach of the Year.

Under his guidance, 102 athletes brought home 150 medals from the state track meet, including a dozen individual/event state champions and two state meet records.

Coach D stepped away from coaching in 2021 to spend more time with his grand kids. He continues to teach at Purcell High School.

Tammy taught at Purcell Elementary for a decade before transitioning to the principal’s office in 2000.

In addition to serving at the elementary school, she dedicated time as co-president of the all sports boosters, chair of the after-prom committee and Fellowship of Christian Athletes huddle coach.

In 2020, she transitioned to the Oklahoma Public Resource Center where she serves today as director of teaching and learning.

That position takes her to rural schools across Oklahoma.

She continues to serve as a trustee on the Purcell School Foundation board.

Both Greg and Tammy are past recipients of the Giving Time Vision Guardian Award presented by the City of Purcell and Heart of Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce.

The Dillards have two adult children – Aaron and wife Emily of Yukon and Alyssa Hubbard and husband Todd of Bonham, Texas.

They also have four grandchildren – Camryn, Nolan, Kasen and Lincoln.