The Kyle Cassity Memorial Scholarship was established in 2013 by friends and family of Cassity. The scholarship will be used to help sophomore students enrolled in the Petroleum Technology Program or one of Panola College’s Health Science programs.
Kyle Thomas Cassity was born in Henderson, Texas on December 23, 1970. He lived the first two years of his life in Bryan, Texas. His family moved back to Long Branch, Texas and lived there until 1975 when his family moved to Carthage. Kyle graduated from Carthage High School in 1989 and attended Kilgore College. He worked for contractors maintaining Union Pacific Resources pipelines. He later was employed by Union Pacific Resources and Duke Energy, ending as a field operator.
As a child Kyle was very active in 4-H and FFA raising steers. He entered his livestock in shows throughout Texas. He also entered his livestock in the Fort Worth Livestock Show and the Houston Livestock Show. Kyle grew up playing baseball as a pitcher and a catcher. Playing baseball ended with his love for football He was voted offensive lineman of the year at Carthage High School, but the highlight of his high school career was his junior year when they beat undefeated Daingerfield. Kyle was very active in TSA and learned a lot from Bud Worley and George Smith. He earned the draftsman of the year award.
On May 11, 1991 Kyle married Dawn Bellamy, and they had a son, Klayton Ryan. Klayton showed a pig when he was about one year old, with daddy’s help, in the Panola County Livestock Show. Kyle later married and had a step-daughter, Nikki Sorrells, who was active in 4-H and the Panola County Livestock Show. He took Nikki to livestock shows throughout Texas just as he had done when he was a child. When Klayton was old enough to show livestock, he worked with him as well. He, his son, and step-daughter have won many awards with their projects. Kyle also loved taking his son fishing.
Kyle loved to help kids involved in 4-H, FFA, and sports after he graduated high school. He was very active with kids and their projects in Panola, Rusk and Nacogdoches counties. He has helped numerous kids prepare their livestock for county shows. Kyle also coached his son’s flag football team. He was raised doing family projects as well as helping others, and he carried that over into his family life. Kyle was the son of Joe and Judy Cassity. He was the brother of Gary Cassity and his wife, Gayle and their daughter Lindsey.
The Kyle Cassity Memorial Scholarship will be awarded annually to a sophomore student. Applicants must have been active in 4-H or FFA while attending high school. The scholarship will be awarded based on financial need. The selection of the recipient will be made in the spring each year.