“Take care of business” and “do the right thing” were the messages heard March 7 by Emeline Carpenter Elementary third-, fourth- and fifth-graders. Former Dragons – and former Carpenter alumni – Montrel Lee, Deprimethon “D.D.” Lee, Kendall Hill and Kynan Forney (who spent 10 years in the NFL) shared stories from their lives and experiences growing up in Nac.
The former students each took time behind the microphone, describing their experiences growing up at Carpenter and what their lives looked like after attending college and entering the workforce. They stuck around afterwards for questions.
“I wanted our kids to see and visit with some former Carpenter students who have gone on and graduated from high school and college,” said principal Lynsey McAninch. “I’m grateful these guys took time out of their busy schedules to be here today. It means a lot to me, and it means a lot to our students.”
The guests came with impressive resumés.
Forney graduated from NHS in 1996, went to Trinity Valley Community College on a football scholarship, competed two more years at the University of Hawaii and then spent 10 years in the National Football League as an offensive lineman, including the first seven seasons with the Atlanta Falcons.
Forney was named to the NFC South All-Decade Team and later played for the San Diego Chargers and Jacksonville Jaguars before retiring.
After leaving football, Forney spent six years working in the Gwinnett County School System as a teacher and coach. He also provided training for offensive lineman who were considered NFL prospects.
Today, Forney’s in real estate and lives in the greater Atlanta area.
Montrel Lee is a 2004 NHS graduate who went to the University of Houston to play football. Today Lee works for Eaton Corp. and has a podcast titled “The Grass is Greener TV.”
D.D. Lee is a 2000 graduate of NHS, and spent grades one through four at Carpenter. He was a first team all-state player his senior year then went to SMU where he played football and graduated with a sociology and psychology degree in 2004. Lee currently works as a portfolio manager at Sewell Automotive Group in Dallas.
Hill, also a Nacogdoches native and Carpenter alumnus, played football at Southern Arkansas University where he was All-Conference at defensive end for three years and was named an All-American for two seasons. After college, Hill played in the Arena Football League and Canadian Football League.
Hill earned a bachelors and masters degrees and has been a teacher and coach for 21 years. He’s currently teaching English and coaching football at Allen High School in North Texas.
