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The Austin College Black History Month "Living Legend Series" is a heartfelt tribute to someone who has profoundly impacted their community through dedication, passion, and service. This series highlights the life and achievements of local heroes—people whose contributions have shaped neighborhoods, inspired others, and left a lasting legacy in the area. From educators and mentors to entrepreneurs and volunteers, this annual series showcases their remarkable journey, values, and the positive influence they continue to have. By celebrating their story, the "Living Legend Series" emphasizes the power of everyday individuals to create extraordinary change and inspire future generations.

Guess is a retired educator, coach, and community leader with a remarkable career spanning over 30 years. A graduate of Bells High School (Class of 1980), where he served as Student Council President and Senior Class Orator, Guess initially signed to play football at North Texas State University before transferring to Southeastern Oklahoma State University, where he earned a B.S. in Education.

As a teacher and coach for 27 years, Guess earned numerous accolades, including being named to Who’s Who Among American High School Teachers. His coaching career boasts three football state championship finals appearances, a state-record-setting 800-meter relay as head track coach at Paris High School, and the distinction of coaching over 50 athletes who went on to collegiate athletics, with six advancing to the National Football League.

Guess retired from education in 2015 and has since continued to serve his community. A former Denison City Councilman, he currently serves on the boards of 10 nonprofit organization

2018: Dean's List

Albums

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1. Noname: Room 25 (self-released) 17: I got why hip-hop heads were so besotted with her 2016 Telefone. But back then I felt she wasn't quite there yet--"on the brink of a poetic breakthrough" rather than in flight--and segueing directly from Telefone to Room 25 convinces me I was right. Lovely as Telefone is, Room 25 is standing up and waving as of the hummed piano intro to the 1:35 "Self," and soon "My pussy teachin ninth-grade English / My pussy wrote a thesis on colonialism" is rendering "And y'all still thought a bitch couldn't rap huh?" a rhetorical question. I can't resist a few quotes: "Africa's never dead, Africa's always dying," "Globalization's scary and fuckin' is fantastic," "Titties 13K, the pretty costs these days." Or mentioning that though Noname is glad you told her Telefone "saves lives," you should also be aware that she "got no money" and "almost passed out drinking." But delivering all this poetry is the dealmaker: a delicate, even fragile vocal pulse that's also complex and eventful, floating a murmured flow so conversational its rhythmic acuity seems modest, uncalculated. Noname carries the first half of the 35-minute album pretty much alone. But when other vocalists join her--Ravyn Lenae, Phoelix, Smino & Saba--their role is to augment and embellish her sound rather than change it up. Not only is she the boss, she's the source. And I admit it--I like Telefone more now. A
2. Mast: Thelonious Sphere Monk (World Galaxy/Alpha Pup) 15: The only jazzman whose compositions have racked up more cover versions than Monk's is Ellington, who copyrighted over 2000 tunes. Monk's life total was 70. Think about that for a second. Counted too weird, too blunt, too ham-fisted, too trinkle-tinkle, too spacey, too nutty, Monk was a melodist of genius. But beyond "'Round Midnight," most of his covers are jazz covers; even Hal Willner's lost 1984 tribute That's the Way I Feel Now l