LEVELLAND South Plains College has honored 3 individuals as Distinguished Alumni for 2021. John Duff, executive vice president of National Sorghum Producers, Sgt. Joshua Bartlett Posthumously, Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Commander, and Derrell Edwards, NASCAR pit crew member were recommended by the 2021 Distinguished Alumni Recommendation Committee and selected by South Plains College president Robin Satterwhite.
The three recipients were presented at the college’s annual Scholarship Banquet Nov. 4 at The Mallet Event Center in Levelland and were guests of a Presidential Reception on Nov. 5 on the SPC Levelland Campus.
SPC 2021 Distinguished Alumnus: the late Sgt. Joshua Bartlett
The spouse of a first responder knows the dangers that are inherent with the job. Each day, both husband and wife, live with the realization that the responder might not return home at the end of his or her watch.
Growing up in Crosbyton, Bartlett always knew he wanted to be at the ready for those in need. As a teen, his older brother Jeremy attended the law enforcement program at South Plains College, and after graduation, received his peace officer license. Bartlett was homeschooled, and whenever he finished his coursework, Josh would go with Jeremy to his classes at SPC. He took full advantage of the opportunity to meet the instructors in the program because he knew that one day he would be back.
When he returned as an official student in 2001, Bartlett went straight to work, representing a pillar of dedication, determination, and perfection.
“He was a part of the Honor Guard at SPC and it was really important to him, and he wanted to make sure that everything was perfect,” said Rebecca Bartlett, his wife.
The pair met during the summer following their eighth-grade year. Rebecca’s grandfather was the pastor of the Assembly of God Church in Crosbyton. Her father moved their family to Crosbyton. She said she was riding on a four-wheeler with a friend, and they zipped past two boys who threw rocks at them. The boys, Bartlett and his friend also named Josh, later went to the church’s youth group where they officially met.
Bartlett’s stay at SPC was interrupted following the September 11 attacks. He left to enlist in the United States Army and serve his country. He completed two tours in Iraq. It was during his second tour as the team leader with the 10th Mountain Division that Bartlett was wounded. He received a Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon, and Combat Infantryman Badge.
Bartlett was 21 when the couple married in August 2003. They had three sons, Zachary, Christian, and Logan. Josh was a proud papa and he and Rebecca were known for “adopting in” other kids that needed love and support. He was a father first, despite his work responsibilities. He loved life and going on trips with his family. Their family trips were often out of town because it was important to him to give his undivided attention to his family.
Bartlett completed his service and returned to South Plains College.
Bartlett graduated from SPC in 2012 and immediately enrolled in the 2012 Summer Law Enforcement Academy. He applied for a job with the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Department. However, Bartlett decided he would bypass the requirement to work in the jail for first-time employment and he applied directly for a patrol position. He received a call from the division chief to come in for a visit. Fearing that his bold move may have caused him to be rejected, Bartlett was offered a full-time position with the SWAT/Warrants team.
He attended SWAT school in South Texas and within three years of employment with the Lubbock Sheriff’s Office, he was promoted to sergeant and assistant SWAT commander. Bartlett volunteered many hours coming back to SPC to help train students in the police academy. Just earlier this year, he spoke with his friend, Kenny Burns, department chair of professional services and energy and professor of law enforcement, about the requirements to lead the college’s police academy.
Two weeks before Bartlett’s passing, Burns spoke with his dean about his plans for Bartlett to take over the law enforcement academy.
On July 15, 2021, Bartlett chose to assist fellow law enforcement officers in the neighboring town of Levelland as they responded to reports of gunshots being fired by a barricaded subject. Shortly after arrival, gunfire was exchanged, and Bartlett was severely wounded. He was transported to the local hospital with life-threatening injuries where he was later pronounced deceased.
Bartlett built a career on the foundation of serving those in need. On foreign soil in the darkest of places, or in his own backyard in West Texas, Bartlett was at the ready to answer the call and serve those in despair.
In addition to his wife of 18 years, Rebecca, Bartlett is survived by his son Zachary and his fiancé Logan Kasidy Laws; his sons Christian and Logan Ryon; his honorary son, David Hagood; his parents Mike and Freda Bartlett of Crosbyton; and his brother Jeremy and his girlfriend Nicole Price and her daughter Jalie Jenkins.
SPC 2021 Distinguished Alumnus John Duff
It’s uncanny when a person recalls a conversation that influences his or her career choices. While some choose to continue in their family’s business, others, like John Duff opted to build a career that fulfills his deepest love.
The Levelland native grew up on his family’s farm outside of town. He said his dad still farms and he has crop number 45 in the ground currently. Duff said this year’s crop will be his third. He was able to buy back into the family operation in a small capacity in 2019.
Duff graduated from Levelland High School in 2007. While at LHS, Duff took is first dual credit class in 2005. He enrolled in SPC full-time in 2007 and completed his Associate’s degree in 2009.
Duff went on to earn his Bachelor of Science degree in Agribusiness in 2012 from Texas Tech University and his Master’s degree in Business Administration in August 2021 from Texas Tech’s Rawls College of Business Administration.
While a student at SPC, Duff credits his former instructors for helping him on his path.
Duff also credits agriculture instructors Ron Presley and Dave Cleavinger, having classes with both. They continue to be great teachers and strong assets for the college. He mentioned the late Jim Jenkins for being a great giant for the college and the Agricultural Program as well.
Presently, Duff serves as executive vice president of National Sorghum Producers and United Sorghum Checkoff Program. He is recognized internationally for his work during a trade dispute between the United States and China. In 2018, in response to the Trump administration steel and aluminum tariffs, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Commerce self-initiated an investigation into imports of U.S. Sorghum. This was the first of such a self-initiation that they had ever undertaken. China uses sorghum as feed for their livestock such as ducks and pigs. In recent years, about 75% of U.S Sorghum has been exported to China for this use. The Chinese accused the USA of unfair sales and subsidization. Duff and his team organized and successfully executed a large-scale legal effort to defend U.S. sorghum farmers. As a result, the sorghum industry was able to reopen a $1.1 billion per year market for U.S. sorghum. These types of cases usually take 18 months, start to finish, good or bad. Duff and his team were able complete this trade deal in 106 days.
Duff served as an exhibitor at the Agriculture Career Symposium at SPC from 2018 to 2019 and has supported an SPC scholarship since 2019. In the community, Duff serves as a volunteer counselor, mentor and liaison for ActNow for Lubbock at the Grace Campus; speaker and table leader for New Horizon and Llano Estacado Chrysalis and Emmaus Communities; member of the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce; Agriculture and Natural Resources and Government Relations committees; and serves as a collections volunteer for Operation Christmas Child.
Duff and his wife Amanda are the parents of two children.
SPC 2021 Distinguished Alumnus Derrell Edwards
Throughout life, opportunities, some greater than others, will come and go at a moment’s notice.
Derrell Edwards seems to have a niche for recognizing said opportunities and capitalizing when they arise.
Raised in Baltimore, Maryland, Edwards was like most young athletes, dreaming of one day playing in the professional ranks. In his case, the National Basketball Association. As a student at Dunbar High School, Edwards was a standout on the hardwood, attracting several four-year schools. His path, however, would take a slightly different route, making a pit stop in Levelland, Texas.
Edwards arrived on campus in 2010 and instantaneously became a leader for the Texan basketball program. Admittedly, Edwards became frustrated with his play, and the performance of the team as they went 17-12 during his freshman stint. Nevertheless, Edwards was adamant about raising the level of his game, and of those around him during his second year at South Plains College.
Edwards was a catalyst for the Texans as a freshman, scoring in double figures in 17 games and was second on the team in total scoring with 12.1 points per game. During his second season, Edwards would make his name as a role player for the Texans, a position Edward’s was more than willing to fill to get the Texans where they ultimately wanted to be.
Edwards would average 4.4 points per game as a sophomore but made an impact on both ends of the floor as the Texans went wire-to-wire, becoming just the sixth team in the history of the NJCAA to go unbeaten, as South Plains College won the program’s second national title, with an unblemished record of 36-0.
Edward’s success in Levelland would once again attract a number of four-year schools. Edwards would make the move to High Point University in North Carolina, where he led the Panthers to back-to-back conference titles, including their first-ever regular-season conference crown at the Div. I level during his junior season.
“While I was at High Point, there was a man named Richard Payne who would come to our games and talk to me all the time,” Edwards said. “One day he told me he worked at a NASCAR company and I should come check it out sometime, but I just kind of brushed it off. During my senior year, I realized how hard it was going to be to play professionally or go overseas and play.”
“So, one day I realized I should probably take this guy up on his offer. I went over to Richard Childress Racing, and I was blown away. I’ve always been a guy willing to try things and step out on faith, so I did an internship there my senior year and basically put my head down and got to work. I got along with everyone there and met a lot of great people. One day at work, right before I graduated from High Point, they wanted to meet with me and ended up offering me a job. That’s how I got into NASCAR.”
It didn’t take long for Edwards to find success on the track after his hiring in 2014. Some four years later, during the 2018 season, Edwards made history, becoming the first African-American over-the-wall pit crew member to win the Daytona 500 as part of Austin Dillon’s iconic No. 3 Chevrolet car.
“That experience was super divine, and I knew at that moment I was right where I belonged, in the NASCAR world,” Edwards said. “Fast forward to today, I’ve been a part of winning 20 plus races, an Xfinity Championship, I won the Drive for Diversity Pit Crem Member of the Year award, and have won 14 races this year alone at Joe Gibbs Racing.
“Working for Joe Gibbs is a dream come true. Gibbs was an NFL coach in Washington and won a Super Bowl with them. I always wanted to work for him because I knew he was a winner and he knows what it takes to be a winner. I want to be around winning mindsets, and I started with Joe Gibbs Racing this year and have already won 14 races.”
Currently residing with his wife Emily in North Carolina, Edwards remains adamant his time at South Plains College helped him reach his current destination in professional racing.
For more information contact Missy Passmore, alumni relations coordinator at 806-716-2103 or by email at [email protected].
