Joseph D. Mendoza
Joseph Daniel Mendoza (1934-2016), the eponym of the Mendoza Debate Society at Lee College, was an inspiration to all those who knew him and was passionate about Lee College and its students for over five decades. Dan founded the first debate program at Lee with a beat-up government surplus sedan for transportation and a tiny budget, yet he still made Lee College a respected presence in the intercollegiate speech and debate community.
Without Dan's tireless efforts the Mendoza Debate Society in its current incarnation simply would not exist. Dan's 50 years of teaching and coaching at Lee College serve as a testament to his dedication to his students, his community, and to the intercollegiate forensics community.
Even after his retirement, Dan was an "iron man" in the debate world, judging round after round at tournaments here on the Baytown campus for a half dozen Mendoza Invitational tournaments and two IPDA National Championship Tournaments. Nearly every student who has joined this team over the past four years of the Mendoza Debate Society's existence had the pleasure of seeing him in action, his sharp wit and incredibly detailed ballots helping educate yet another generation of debaters.
Without Dan's tireless efforts the Mendoza Debate Society in its current incarnation simply would not exist. Dan's 50 years of teaching and coaching at Lee College serve as a testament to his dedication to his students, his community, and to the intercollegiate forensics community.
Even after his retirement, Dan was an "iron man" in the debate world, judging round after round at tournaments here on the Baytown campus for a half dozen Mendoza Invitational tournaments and two IPDA National Championship Tournaments. Nearly every student who has joined this team over the past four years of the Mendoza Debate Society's existence had the pleasure of seeing him in action, his sharp wit and incredibly detailed ballots helping educate yet another generation of debaters.
