Dawn Cobb

Priscilla Sanders is planning to retire soon from her vocation as a general manager at Sears.

A longtime Denton resident, Sanders has contributed to the community through her volunteer efforts with numerous organizations, including the Family Resource Center of North Texas, the University of North Texas athletic and president councils and the Denton Chamber of Commerce.

A native of North Carolina, Sanders came to Texas as manager of the two Russell’s department stores in Denton and later began working for Sears at Denton’s Golden Triangle Mall. In 2003, she transferred to Hulen Mall in Fort Worth and, later, to Vista Ridge Mall in Lewisville.

In her years of community service, Sanders has initiated a “barn raising,” netting a total of $70,000, and raised nearly $225,000 through four consecutive “star awards” events at the Campus Theatre in Denton to improve and update Denton Chamber of Commerce facilities. Sanders initiated the chamber’s volunteer of the year award in 1992 and received the prestigious Otis L. Fowler Award in 2002.

As part of her many roles in the Family Resource Center of North Texas, formerly known as the Denton Family Resource Center, she helped the organization open Family Resale, voted the best resale shop in Denton by Denton Record-Chronicle readers in 2005 and 2006.

Sanders received the Ann Windle Volunteer Award in 2006, which is the highest honor for community service to the agency.

DRC file photo

Priscilla Sanders, shown at the Sears store at Golden Triangle Mall in 2003, is planning to retire.

View larger More photos Photo store

“She was always helpful to us in every possible way, and we will always consider her to be one of our very best ‘family friends,’” said Fran Moore, executive director of the Family Resource Center of North Texas.

Hank Dickenson, deputy athletic director at UNT, said that Sanders often is the one he goes to for ideas, assistance, strategic advice and more.

“Priscilla is so linked to the Denton business community, and especially to the best volunteers, that she could get a special project off the ground in a minute’s time,” Dickenson said.

Jo Ann Ballantine, longtime friend and occasional traveling partner, believes Sanders will use her additional free time to further her journeys.

“She has a long list of places,” Ballantine says. “Priscilla is a big traveler and looking forward to having more time to travel with family and friends.”

*

Jet Works Air Center recently broke ground on a new 43,000-square-foot maintenance hangar expansion at Denton Municipal Airport, according to a news release.

Courtesy photo

Jet Works Air Center recently broke ground on a new 43,000-square-foot maintenance hangar expansion at Denton Municipal Airport.

View larger More photos Photo store

The expansion to the existing 66,000-square-foot facility is expected to be complete in early 2009.

Upon completion, it will provide expanded aircraft maintenance and repair, room to accommodate long-range business jets and additional office space.

*

Carol Malony will operate as a division of Russell-Newman Inc., according to Jim Martino, chairman of the Denton-based apparel company, in a press release issued Friday.

Russell-Newman acquired St. Eve International in March 2008. The new alliance with Carol Malony allows Russell-Newman to expand its product offerings.

Carol Malony currently features two collections: Carol Malony Signature and Haute, which are sold at select department and specialty stores in the United States and abroad.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

DAWN COBB can be reached at 940-566-6879. Her e-mail address is dcobb@dentonrc.com.