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SUMMER- 2004 Be with the Bard—Shakespeare on the Green July 7. See next page
Duking it Out UNO Coach Mike Denney and his Band of Brothers capture another national championship
Spend a Night with the Bard
Contents
Shakespeare on the Green Pre-picnic “Richard III” performance
Summer 2004
Departments
Wednesday, July 7
AROUND CAMPUS 5
Picnic: 6 to 7:15 p.m. Performance: 8 p.m W.H.Thompson Alumni Center (rain or shine)
Q&A with Professor John Price; Commencement.
ASSOCIATION IN ACTION 6 Citation issued to Minoxidil developer; former wrestler Hildebrandt receives Horizon Award; Alumni Outstanding Teaching Awards issued.
Just $10 per person!
FUTURE ALUMS 24
Here’s what your $10 gets you!
• Picnic Buffet (Chicken, BBQ pork, potato salad, baked beans, cole slaw, cookie, beverages) • Reserved spot “down front” at the play • Transportation to or parking near “The Green”
Small, but smart.
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• “Richard III” preview by UNO Professor Cindy Melby Phaneuf, co-founder/artistic director of Nebraska Shakespeare Festival • Satisfaction knowing part of your fee helps underwrite a donation to the Nebraska Shakespeare Festival.
You folks know some stuff.
Features
Questions? Call Sheila King at 554-4802 or e-mail sking@mail.unomaha.edu To register, send a check (payable to UNO Alumni Association) for $10 per person with the form below to: Shakespeare Picnic UNO Alumni Association 6001 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68182-0010
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Guest_________________________________
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I (we) will attend “Twelfth-Night” AND join you for the picnic! I (we) will only attend the picnic
MUSEO FANTASTIC 10 Magdalena Garcia heads Omaha’s El Museo Latino, the Midwest’s only museum of its kind.
FRONT LINES 15 U.S. Army Capt. Michael C. Jensik of the 95th Military Police Battalion reports from Iraq.
ARCHIVE TREASURES 16
I (we) will only attend the play.
Basketball uniforms from the 1920s (left), beanies, balls and blankets . . . it’s all here in our Alum exhibit of university memorabilia.
$______ Payment included
E-mail or phone No. (for confirmation notice)______________________________
Contributors: Marc Balanky, Tim Fitzgerald, Eric Francis, Warren Francke, U.S. Army Capt. Michael Jensik, Michael D. Kennedy, Nick Schinker, Scott Sutton, Les Valentine, UNO Sports Information
The FBI has been F-A-B for alumna Diane Krzemien and her husband.
Name_________________________________ Guest_________________________________
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Editor: Anthony Flott
UNO Coach Mike Denney does it again, bringing home his second national championship in surprise fashion.
UNDER INVESTIGATION 8
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Shakespeare on the Green & “Richard III” UNO Alumni Picnic Registration
Guest_________________________________
DUKING IT OUT 18
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Alumni Association Officers: Chairman of the Board, Stephen Bodner; Past Chairman, Kevin Naylor; Chairman-elect Adrian Minks; Vice Chairmen, Cookie Katskee, Rod Oberle, Kevin Warneke, John Wilson; Secretary, Angelo Passerelli; Treasurer, Dan Koraleski; Legal Counsel, Deb McLarney; President & CEO, Jim Leslie. Alumni Staff: Jim Leslie, President and CEO; Roxanne Miller, Executive Secretary; Sue Gerding, Diane Osborne, Kathy Johnson, Records/Alumni Cards; Sheila King, Activities Coordinator; Greg Trimm, Alumni Center Manager; Joan Miller, Accountant; Anthony Flott, Editor; Loretta Wirth, Receptionist. The UNO Alum is published quarterly by the UNO Alumni Association, W.H. Thompson Alumni Center, UNO, Omaha, NE 68182-0010, (402) 554-2444, FAX (402) 554-3787 • web address: www.unoalumni.org. • Member, Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) • Direct all inquiries to Editor, W.H. Thompson Alumni Center, (402) 554-2989. Toll-free, UNO-MAV-ALUM • Send all changes of address to attention of Records • Views expressed through various articles within the magazine do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the University of Nebraska at Omaha or the UNO Alumni Association.
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Summer 2004 • 3
Letter
Events & Happenings on the UNO Campus
From the Chancellor
University family welcomes new president
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he University of Nebraska Board of Regents has appointed James B. Milliken as president of the four-campus NU system. Milliken, who formerly served as executive assistant to the president, vice president for external affairs and corporation secretary for the NU board, was appointed to the post after a national search. Currently, senior vice president for university affairs at the University of North Carolina, he joined UNC in 1998 as vice president for public affairs and university advancement. Commenting on Milliken’s selection, UNO Chancellor Nancy Belck praised his strong ties to the state. “J.B. Milliken is widely respected, having served NU very well a few years ago. A Nebraskan at heart, he will work hard to make sure the university reflects the educational values and goals of our citizens,” Chancellor Belck said. “I look forward to working with J.B. again, as UNO welcomes back one of the state’s favorite sons. Great things are on the horizon for all citizens of Nebraska.” A member of Phi Beta Kappa, Innocents Society and Mortar Board, Milliken received his bachelor’s degree from UNL in 1979, with a major in English and minors in Economics and History. He received a juris doctorate in 1983 from New York University School of Law, where he was a Root-Tilden Scholar. Admitted to the New York Bar in 1984, Milliken practiced at the firm of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft prior to joining
NU. While in college, he served as an intern to Nebraska Congressman Charles Thone, and as legislative assistant to Congresswoman Virginia Smith. As senior vice president for university affairs at UNC, Milliken was responsible for the development and implementation of universitywide strategy, outreach, economic development, public affairs and advancement. He was one of two senior vice Milliken presidents within the system, and was one of the university’s executive officers. Milliken is a member of the UNC Foundation Board of Directors, and a member of the board of the National Association of State Universities and Land-grant Colleges (NASULGC). He also serves as chair of NASULGC’s Council on University Relations and Development, and was a member of the organization’s Cyber Education Task Force. Other professional memberships include the Association of American Universities (AAU), Council for Aid and Support of Education (CASE), the Science Coalition, and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU). Milliken and spouse Nana G.H. Smith have three children: Bennett, Caleb and Anna.
W. H . T h o m p s o n A l u m n i C e n t e r
Host your next event at the Alumni Center! • Available to the Public
• Weddings and receptions for up to 300 guests • Meeting space for business and corporate functions • Holiday parties, birthdays, anniversaries, graduations Bar Mitvahs, retreats
• Sophisticated catering with a full, varied menu and event-planning assistance
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Commencement
Faculty Q&A
In place of her letter, Chancellor Nancy Belck wishes to share the following information as published in the May 24 Chancellor’s Bulletin.
SW Corner 67th & Dodge University of Nebraska at Omaha (402) 554-3368
Around Campus
Visit us on the Web www.unoalumni.org Click on: Alumni Center
• Friendly and professional staff
• Patio and Landscaped Grounds and free parking!
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by Tim Kaldahl, University Relations NO English Professor John Price has been having a great year. This spring, he received a $20,000 creative writing fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts and his new book, “Not Just Any Land: A Personal and Literary Journey into the American Grasslands,” has him speaking on and off campus. The book is part nature writing, part literary scholarship and part personal story.
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Tell me about Not Just Any Land. PRICE: “It’s a book about transformation. The development of a commitment to place out of no commitment to place and that sort of self transformation is, I think, the special theme and special focus of memoir.” Did you have any sort of literary model or example of writing you liked that you were working from as an idea when you were developing the book? PRICE: “No, it was something that I felt like I was sort of inventing on my own as I was moving through the various chapters. And each chapter kind of determined what I was going to foreground and what I was going to background.” Where did the idea of trying to capture a sense of the prairie and the grasslands come from? PRICE: “It wasn’t until the summer of 1993 when my wife and I moved out to a small town in Iowa and we witnessed the floods and the devastation that occurred there, but also the incredible natural beauty that the floods caused to return because people couldn’t mow ditches, they couldn’t get out into cornfields so those places erupted in native wildflowers and grasses. And I guess it gave me a peek at the incredible beauty and
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Cover from Price’s “Not Just Any Land.”
natural history of this region that I hadn’t really seen or understood or even cared about growing up in the region. And so that’s what sparked the journeys. Is it possible to reconnect to that? And is it possible–out of that reconnection—to forge a sense of commitment to place as you would forge a commitment to a person?” Midwesterners don’t have mountains or coastlines like Colorado or California that are defining state symbols. Lots of us live in cities or suburbs, too. PRICE: “Whether we want to admit it or not all of use are affected by the history of the prairie, it’s taming, if you will. It’s cultivation.” Nature writing, environmental writing is something you teach. What makes it such an important subject? PRICE: “There’s a lot at stake. And we don’t have a lot of room for error in this region because there’s so little of this native ecology left. I think there’s less than one-tenth of 1 percent of native prairies remaining in Iowa, for instance. Even so, there’s enough of the prairie left, I think, to inspire awe and spiritual connection and commitment.” Q: Your book took several years to reach its final form. Is there a lesson in that for would-be writers? PRICE: “Don’t give up. The passage of time doesn’t necessarily make your subject matter less interesting. It can make it more interesting.” “Not Just Any Land” is published by the University of Nebraska Press. For more information on the book, go visit the University of Nebraska Press Web page at www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/bookinfo/4504.html
ore than 1,300 students received degrees May 7 during UNO’s spring commencement at the Omaha Civic Auditorium. Marian Andersen was the commencement speaker and received an honorary Doctor of Letters degree. A graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In 1984, she became the first woman chair of the University of Nebraska Foundation Board of Directors. She and her husband, Harold, chaired the 1993-2000 Campaign Nebraska fund-raising effort, which raised in excess of $727 million for university initiatives. Harold and Marian Andersen Hall, home of UNL’s College of Journalism and Mass Communications, is named in their honor, as are the annual Andy Award and Andersen-Gouttierre Award at UNO. Omaha native Katrina Jacobberger gave the student commencement address. She graduated with bachelor’s degrees in history and international studies and this fall plans to attend the International Political Economy and Development Program at Fordham University in New York. Spring commencement also featured the following: • Carl Mammel received the Order of the Tower, UNO’s highest non-academic award. Mammel in 1994 established the College of Business Administration’s Mammel Family Foundation, enabling top students from the Omaha area to receive scholarships to UNO. • Janet Tschudin was presented the Chancellor’s Medal. Tschudin, director of the Nebraska Business Development Center’s Business and Technology Services in CBA, has a proven track record of identifying client needs and implementing solutions. She is a member of the American Society for Training and Development, the Midwest Information Systems Professionals and the Information Technology Council. In 1999, she was named Professor of the Year by the Applied Information Management Institute.
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Association in Action
UNO Alumni Association News & Information
Minoxidil developer receives UNO Citation
Nine faculty receive Alumni Outstanding Teaching Awards
he UNO Alumni Association bestowed its Citation for Alumnus Achievement upon Guinter Kahn, M.D., during the University’s commencement ceremony May 7 at the Omaha Civic Auditorium. The Citation, instituted in 1949, is presented at each UNO commencement. The Association’s highest honor, it encompasses professional or career achievement, community service, involvement in business and professional associations, and fidelity to UNO. Stephen G. Bodner, 2004 chairman of the UNO Alumni Association Board of Directors, presented the award. Kahn is the 134th recipient of the Citation. Kahn graduated cum laude from the University of Omaha in 1954, earning a bachelor’s degree in biology. Twenty years later he and Dr. Paul Grant applied for a patent for the topical version of the drug minoxidil after discovering that patients who had been receiving it orally to Guinter Kahn, 134th recipient of the treat hypertension grew UNO Citation for Alumnus hair. Pharmaceutical comAchievement. pany Upjohn had patented minoxidil in 1971 as a hypertension treatment. The FDA in 1988 approved minoxidil for topical use to stimulate hair growth, and Upjohn began manufacturing and selling it as Rogaine. Kahn and Grant entered into an Interference Settlement Agreement with Upjohn under which the two doctors received royalties. Kahn, a practicing dermatologist in Miami, since has con-
he UNO Alumni Association presented its eighth annual Alumni Outstanding Teaching Awards (AOTAs) to nine faculty members at the Faculty Honors Convocation Breakfast April 1. Stephen Bodner, Association chairman of the board, presented the awards, established in 1997 to honor distinguished teaching in the classroom. Peer committees in each college chose the recipients, each of whom receives a $1,000 award. Since the program’s founding the Association has issued $68,000 in Alumni Outstanding Teaching Awards. The 2004 AOTA recipients:
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Hildebrandt’s Horizon T
he UNO Alumni Association presented its third annual UNO Alumni Horizon Award to Brad A. Hildebrandt June 4 at the Association’s Founder’s Day Luncheon. The award was established in 2002 to recognize graduates 40 years of age or younger who have distinguished themselves in their chosen career, and/or shown exceptional service to the university through volunteer effort, and/or demonstrated active involvement in their community. Hildebrandt is wrestling coach at Omaha Skutt Catholic High School. His Skyhawks have won an all-class Nebraskarecord seven consecutive Class B state championships. Skutt
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tributed his time and money to various humanitarian and charitable endeavors. He has been a major benefactor to many institutions, including the University of Nebraska Medical Center. UNMC named a floor at its Leon S. McGoogan Library of Medicine in Kahn’s honor after he endowed a fund responsible for much of the library’s computer hardware. He also is responsible for helping the library boost its resources pertaining to medical ethics. Most recently he gave generously to the UNO Library, where the upcoming renovation will include a Guinter Kahn addition A native of Trier, Germany, where he was born in 1934, Kahn also supports the Anti-Defamation League, providing funding to send college students to Poland and Israel. The students spend two weeks visiting various sites, including the death camps at Auschwitz and Birkenau. Kahn also has been a major contributor to the Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, Israel, where the dermatology department is named after him, and he travels extensively to lecture. He has researched and documented the role German physicians played in the Holocaust, and his speeches on the topic include 20 at medical universities in Germany and Austria. Kahn immigrated to the United States in 1938 with his parents and an older brother. He attended Central High School, graduating from there in 1951 to attend OU. He graduated with honors from UNMC in 1958 then completed his internship in Pennsylvania at Philadelphia General Hospital before enlisting in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. In 1965, he served a medical residency in dermatology at the University of Miami, leaving three years later to teach at the medical school of the University of Colorado in Denver. Since 1974 Kahn has practiced dermatology at Parkway Regional Medical Center in North Miami Beach, Fla. His special interests include the treatment of skin cancer, children’s skin diseases and infections of the skin. He is the author of more than 100 articles concerning diseases of the skin. He has received numerous other awards throughout his career, including the UNMC College of Medicine Alumnus of the Year.
had shared the record with the Omaha South teams of the 1930s. Hildebrandt graduated in 1989 with a degree in education. He taught in Omaha Public Schools for a short time before joining the Omaha Fire Department. He has continued with OFD the past 14 years. The former UNO All-American and Hall of Fame member has five of his former wrestlers from Skutt currently on the UNO wrestling team. He is married with two boys.
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Melissa Berke, College of Fine Arts; Music Berke is UNO’s coordinator of Music Education with specific expertise in early childhood and elementary general music. Her primary responsibilities include courses in music education methods for music education and elementary education majors. She also is responsible for the supervision of student teachers and is the advisor for graduate students. She is a nationally recognized clinician in the field of integrating music and children's literature. Dr. Shereen Bingham, College of Arts & Sciences; School of Communication Bingham focuses on the theories, research and skills of human communication and has developed courses in conflict mediation, group facilitation and public dialogue, and gender communication. Many of her courses feature service-learning, in which students apply course content to serve community needs. Bingham’s teaching incorporates her own volunteer work as a community and family mediator, as well as her research on sexual harassment prevention, conflict mediation, and creating a supportive classroom climate. William Holmes, College of Engineering and Technology; Construction Systems Holmes is an associate professor of Construction Systems whose primary research areas are energy conservation in building design, precast concrete floor and enclosure systems in residential construction, and information technology in construction design and documentation. He was chairman of the Construction Systems Department from 1985-1998. Dr. Gary Marshall, College of Public Affairs and Community Service; Public Administration An associate professor of public administration, Marshall teaches public administration theory, organization theory and behavior, organization development and public policy dispute resolution. His work has been published in Public Administration Review, the American Review of Public Administration, and The American Behavioral Scientist. His current research focuses on human identity as it relates to work in public agencies. Dr. Tatyana Novikov, Arts &Sciences; Foreign Languages Novikov's teaches all levels of the Russian language, as well as upper-division courses in Russian literature and cul-
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ture. Some of her classes are taught in English and crosslisted with other departments, such as Russian Masterpieces and Women in Russian Society and Culture. Novikov also teaches Women in the Humanities for the Women's Studies Program. Her research interests include Russian symbolist poetry, contemporary Russian women's writing and the utopian/anti-utopian literary tradition. Maury Schooff, College of Information Science and Technology; Information Systems and Quantitative Analysis Schooff is an instructor and lecturer at the Peter Kiewit Institute who joined the ISQA staff in 1996. He previously had spent 25 years in the U.S. Army, retiring as a colonel, and more than 11 years with an Omaha-based Fortune 500 company, where he was the Director of Strategic Information and Financial Systems. Dr. Nicholas Stergiou, College of Education; Health Physical Education and Stergiou is director of the Biomechanics Laboratory at the School of Health Physical Education and Recreation. He teaches graduate and undergraduate Exercise Science courses, including Human Anatomy and Physiology, Biomechanics, Advanced Biomechanics, Research Methods, and Motor Learning and Control. Stergiou’s research focuses on the variability of human movement . He has published extensively at the national and international levels. He also has been successful in securing funding for students who work in the laboratory. Dr. William Tapprich, Arts & Sciences; Biology Tapprich, an associate professor, conducts research on the fundamental mechanisms of viral infection while teaching molecular biology, biochemistry and virology. With grants from the National Institutes of Health he has explored the role of RNA molecules in cell function. Tapprich developed UNO’s biotechnology degree program, which now has more than 100 majors, and is UNO’s project director for the Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network sponsored by the NIH. Among the grant’s goals are strengthening biomedical research in Nebraska and enabling Nebraska students to access careers in biomedical research. Janet Mason West, College of Bus. Admin.; Economics West has spent more than 35 years teaching primarily undergraduates and has created programs and courses through her tenure. In the early 1970s she was co-director of a VISTA-sponsored service-learning program at UNO. In the 1990s she developed an Introduction to Economics course for social work and education students, and a course for CBA freshmen to help them adjust to college. Most recently, West created a program with Dr. Rebecca Morris, CBA in Ireland. UNO students travel to Ireland and visit American companies with operations there and Irish companies that export to the United States. During the past four years, almost 200 UNO students have taken part in the program.
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and FBI Special Agent Joe Krzemien, says that attitude is typical for his wife. “She is the consummate professional,” he says. “She has been an unqualified success and one reason is because people love working for her. She cares passionately about the job and the people around her.” While her husband prefers the “front lines” of active investigations, Diane Krzemien has taken on the duties of a highly ranked and respected administrator. She is assistant special agent in charge of the San Diego Field Division of the FBI, where she oversees counter terrorism and counterintelligence investigations. Her duties include supervision of five squads totaling about 100 personnel. “It is my responsibility to oversee the squads and act as a liaison with other agencies involved in the investigations. I work with the supervisors in giving guidance.” Photo by Marc Balanky
Under Investigation T By Nick Schinker
en days after the horror of Sept. 11, 2001, the FBI surprised Ana Belen Montes in her office at the Defense Intelligence Agency at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, D.C. Agents arrested the 44-year-old senior analyst on charges that she was a spy for
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Cuba, delivering classified national defense information to the Cuban Intelligence Service. It culminated a four-month surveillance of Montes, during which FBI agents determined that the 16-year DIA employee had been passing secrets to Cuba via short-wave radios, computer diskettes and electronic pagers. They conducted courtapproved searches of Montes’ office, her car, a safe deposit box and her Washington apartment, where they copied her computer’s hard drive -- and the text she had thought had been deleted. It was a meticulous investigation that a year later led to Montes being convicted of conspiracy and sentenced to 25 years in prison. In the wake of the terrorists’ strikes against New York and the Pentagon, it was a case that illuminated
the FBI’s role in protecting national security through counterintelligence operations. “Few spies are that highly placed,” David Major, professor at the CounterIntelligence (CI) Centre in Washington, said of the capture of Montes. “In the espionage world, this was real gold.” Heading the Montes investigation for the FBI was Omaha native and UNO graduate Diane Lynne Krzemien. Believed to be the first Nebraska woman to become an FBI special agent, Krzemien (pronounced Krez-min) downplays her part in the case. “I was the supervisor (but) as with any investigation, I was not out there doing the work on my own. No matter the case, we all pull together as a team.” Her husband, fellow UNO graduate
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Not Much to Say Don’t expect her to get much more specific. As counter terrorism is a priority for the FBI, so is keeping secret the details of active and past investigations. She admits to many exciting moments in a career that spans 23 years. She just can’t say much about them. Born in Omaha and a graduate of Central High School, Krzemien, thenDiane Von Dollen, earned a bachelor’s degree in education from UNO in 1975. Joe Krzemien attended Ryan High School and received a bachelor’s degree in political science from UNO in 1974. The couple met while in high school. “It was the summer right before my senior year,” she recalls. “I was 17 and he was 19. We met doing the usual things, you know, cruising around, getting together with our friends at McDonald’s.” After graduation, she taught at Bryan Elementary School within the Millard District. Joe, meanwhile, was drawn toward law enforcement. A brother, Jim, was an Omaha police officer, and a brother-in-law, John Callaghan, was an FBI agent. He says a combination of factors drew him to the FBI. “I thought the work offered the opportunity to make a
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positive contribution to society. And, there was the prospect of some adventure.” They dated long distance while Joe attended the FBI training academy in Quantico, Va. In 1978 they were married and Diane moved to Virginia, where she taught two years in the Fredericksburg public schools. The FBI had begun hiring women in 1972. As Joe became more involved in the work, Diane became more interested in changing careers. She entered the FBI academy in 1980. “It became very intriguing to me. Like Joe, I saw it as a way of contributing to society and saw it as exciting work. It still is.” Today, she and her husband are among 11,973 FBI special agents. Of that total, 18.4 percent—about 2,200 agents— are women. Upon graduation from the academy she was assigned to the Alexandria, Va., field office, where she worked background investigations. In 1982, she transferred to the Washington, D.C., field office, where she moved from property crimes to investigating organized crime. One case put her undercover posing as a criminal conspirator. She was flown to New York aboard a private jet, where she was bedecked in diamonds for dinner and other meetings with suspects. While undercover, other FBI agents would trail her every move, posing as bystanders, as customers in restaurants, and in one case as the waiter. “The amusing part to me was, I couldn’t really tell if they were there protecting me or the diamonds,” she jokes.
Foreign Field It was at the Washington field office that she became involved in foreign counterintelligence investigations. In 1996, she was promoted to the FBI headquarters office in Washington, where she served as supervisory special agent of the Special Agent Applicant Unit. Two years later, she transferred back to the Washington Field Division, where she became supervisory special agent for foreign counterintelligence. She was at Quantico on Sept. 11, in the midst of the Montes investigation, when the hijacked jetliner slammed into
the Pentagon. “Everyone was immediately pulled back to the Washington office,” she says. She and her husband worked 12-hour shifts seven days a week – duty that had them passing each other on the highway. “It was nonstop for several weeks,” she says. “Basically, our neighbors took care of our kids.” Last September, she was promoted to her current position and the couple moved with their two children, Joey, 17; and Kaylyn, 13, to San Diego. She could have retired one year ago at age 50 but has chosen to continue her work. “We have to retire at age 57, but I really haven’t given it much thought.” Joe has chosen duty that puts him in the heart of counter terrorism and counterintelligence investigations. He has been to 23 foreign countries and has been undercover many times. “I worked Russian counterintelligence for 12 years, and I worked undercover trying to recruit KGB officers for several years. It’s dangerous at times and equally exciting. “These are the fun things,” he says. “It’s been a great ride.” Both speak highly of the work and their fellow agents and administrators. “The commitment to their jobs is amazing,” Diane says. “It makes me very proud to be a member of the FBI.” The couple travel to Omaha at least once a year to visit relatives. Diane says they plan to move back one day, to relive fond memories and make new ones. One of the things she recalls about attending UNO is the natural charm of the campus and surrounding area. “I remember walking through Elmwood Park in the fall to get to my car, and the trees would all be so beautiful.” She says her time at UNO readied her for the challenges of her career. “I had a wonderful education. It was first rate when I compared it to those working alongside me. It prepared me for everything.” Though trained first as a teacher, she claims no regret in switching from the ABCs to the FBI. “This job has opened so many doors for me,” she says. “I’ve had experiences I wouldn’t have otherwise.” If only she could talk about them.
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El Museo fantástico By Anthony Flott, Editor
important to know where you come from, whether you come his isn’t the life Magdalena Garcia planned on living, from Latin America or any other country. It’s a way of knowmoving in a world of shapes and shadows, colors and ing who we are and the riches I think our culture has. textures. A world led by giants such as Rivera, Kahlo, Thousands of years. Fuentes and Siqueiros. A world where good is subjective. “Sometimes people ask me, ‘Can you generalize, pick out Garcia had figured on living in a world of figures, all right, one thing to represent Hispanic art?’ No, I can’t, because what only the kind with zeros and decimal points. A world led by part? Contemporary? Colonial? Baroque? Pre-Columbian? It’s giants such as Iacocca, Trump, Gates and Buffett. A world so rich. If I live to be 1,000 years old I’ll never see everything where greed is good. there is to see. There’s just so much.” She had that life in her sights while taking undergraduate El Museo does its best to showcase the variety of works. classes part time at UNO as a business major. Perhaps she would even pursue an MBA one day. All that was while work- Occupying the former Polish Home cultural center in South Omaha, right across from Fire Station #14 near 24th street, El ing full time in the corporate world, including a post with Museo Latino hosts levNorthern Gas, later Enron. els of exhibits “worthy Doesn’t get much more to grace the halls of the corporate than that. Joslyn or other major One day, though, Garcia museums,” says Garcia. volunteered to help at Attendance bears out Omaha’s Joslyn Museum, her claim. When the “And fell in love,” she museum opened in its says. “I had to find a way original location, the to be in a museum.” Livestock Exchange Within a semester she Building, just 1,500 visichanged her major to fine tors came by. When the arts, eventually earning a museum in 1997 moved degree in that field in 1988. to its current location, She continued in the corattendance topped porate world to pay her 50,000 and hasn’t way, but soon left it for slacked much since. good to enroll in Syracuse And why should it University’s museum studgiven the visual offeries master’s program. “To ings? The museum in prepare myself . . . to go late spring was hosting into a museum,” she says. exhibits on Jorge Rosano “I didn’t know what posiAmong El Museo Latino’s exhibits this summer is “Photography by (Works on Paper), tion, as a curator or direcLeo Matiz,” running May 5 through Aug. 31. For more information, Contemporary Latino tor.” visit www.elmuseolatino.org Arts, the history of It wasn’t as if this culLatinos in Omaha from tural calling came out of 1890 to today, the history of Latinos in The United States (a the blue. Garcia’s father, mother and other family members frequently exposed her to the fine arts, taking her to museums, Smithsonian Americanos Posters Exhibit) and textiles from Chile, Guatemala and Panama. Also available were “Silver the theater, opera or ballet. “We grew up with that,” she says. and Copper from Santa Clara del Cobre” and “Alebrijes,” a “I was very fortunate. I had some aunts who loved the arts selection of works by the Mije people of Oaxaca from private and just took me to whatever they wanted. Growing up, I collectors in Mexico. In 2003 El Museo hosted exhibits featuralways liked art. I signed up for everything I could.” ing the works of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo. While at Syracuse she held an internship at the Erie Canal Garcia also directs the museum in its extensive community Museum. Later, she did an internship at the Los Angeles programs. El Museo Latino offers educational programs, art County Museum of Art. She began considering “where the classes, lectures, workshops, artists-in-residencies, teacher inmuseums were and where they could be. I felt really strongly service workshops and dance classes. It also organizes and that something had to happen in the Midwest.” presents events during the annual Cinco de Mayo celebration It did. Garcia in 1993 founded Omaha’s El Museo Latino, where today she is executive director. It is one of just 11 Latino in May and Hispanic Heritage Month in September. “I’ve heard comments that this is probably the most wellmuseums in the country and the only one between Chicago and Denver. “We’re looking at our own roots, our own culture, kept secret in our state,” Magdalena Garcia says. “I hope more people learn about it.” and trying to present the best that we can,” she says. “It’s
Photo by Eric Francis
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Summer 2004 • 11
Our Man in Dubai by Scott Sutton
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wenty young women sat in front of me when I walked into that first class seven years ago, each draped in black and wearing the traditional hijab hair covering. One or two also were veiled, only two eyes peeping out at me. A far cry from my UNO classrooms where more than eyes peeped out from gals in shorts and tank tops. • This, though, wasn’t the United States. This class was in Dubai, a surprisingly cosmopolitan, liberal and bustling city hugging the Persian Gulf in the United Arab Emirates. Slightly smaller than Maine, the UAE, as a Saudi student of mine once said, is “an Arab country done right.” Voted in the October 2003 Condé Nast Traveller magazine as the safest holiday destination in the world, Dubai breathes excitement. • Melting in a pot of materialism and consumerism, the population is close to 1 million, including expatriates from the United States and other corners of the globe. • Why a Midwesterner in the Middle East? To travel and see the world. To make money (while avoiding paying taxes). To become acquainted with an ancient culture. I came here in 1997 as academic director at Dubai’s ELS Language Centers. I had interviewed for the post that year in Orlando, Fla., during an international conference for teachers of English as a second language. Prior to that I was at UNO working toward my master’s degree in English, teaching comp classes on the side. Photo by Michael D. Kennedy
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Our Man in Dubai Continued from page 11 Less than two years later I was hired to the faculty of the state-run Zayed University. Here the students all are women, most age 17 to 20 and pursuing degrees in various majors— business, information technology, public relations, news and new media or education. It’s an exciting time of life for most of them, a chance to broaden their horizons from an enclosed circle of family and shopping to the world outside the UAE. I recently finished a 10-week term with one class of girls studying grammar. Vivacious, smiling and smart, they mastered—more or less—adjective clauses, noun clauses and other syntactical animals most Americans can’t explain. Their sentence structure and grammatical skills sometimes are put to use in writing essays and stories. Once, I asked them to write what they thought of America. “Be honest!” I told them. They were. In short, they wrote comments such as, “People there are very kind. America is first country that has superpower in army and war. It uses this power for kill people and waste world.” Or this: “I have met people from America. I really like them. The government: ‘no comment.’” Most young Arabs here, I think, tend to like and respect the United States in terms of what is positive, like its technology and freedom, but are disappointed with government policies—particularly where Israel is concerned. Americans often seem as much intrigued by their clothing as with their government policies. I’m most frequently asked about the hijab. Surprisingly, the women aren’t forced—in most instances—to don the attire at the demand of men. More often it’s peer pressure from the girls themselves. While some Emirate women choose not to be covered, most seem not to mind wearing the hijab. One student explained that most women don’t feel the least bit repressed, and in fact the hijab is becoming fashionable throughout the Islamic world. “It’s especially handy during a bad hair day,” joked one girl. It should be said that Emirati women have a great deal more freedom than their counterparts in Saudi Arabia, a hotbed of Islamic fundamentalism. Here the girls master language, computer and thinking skills that their grandparents could never dream about. They laugh, chat on the Internet and adore shopping. Disco Dubai They also are a minority in their own country. Emiratis make up only 20 percent of the Dubai population. The rest is a hodgepodge: Indian, Pakistani, European, Russian, Chinese, lots of Brits and, of course, Americans. We often come together on the weekend, Thursdays and Fridays here. The Dubai club scene is dynamic. In any given disco, Iranian girls dance with British boys, local dudes chat with German or American gals, and Lebanese or French businessmen smile at shy Filipino ladies. More robust Russian women aren’t afraid to approach a gentleman for a dance. Thursday night for me means going out with my Syrian, Canadian and Iranian friends to Starbucks or Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. Mostly this is because we are too cheap to hit the supercharged nightclubs, which rival those offered by Chicago or London. We’re content to sit around sipping cappuccino and discussing politics. Of late, that has meant Iraq. On Fridays, after church services, some of my fellow Americans 14 • Summer 2004
head for Coco’s Restaurant to chow down on a big American breakfast (sans the pork bacon). Others stretch out on the beach under a sun that shines a mere 363 days a year. Life here, especially compared to Nebraska, can seem like a daily episode on the Travel Channel. A few weeks ago I went snorkeling around a coral island patrolled by families of fierce-looking sharks. The day after, a sandstorm hit Dubai. Soon there will be a very wet refuge from such “dustings”—200 man-made islands that together will form a gigantic map of the world and will feature Hydropolis, the world’s first underwater luxury hotel. Also in the works is an indoor ski resort with 6,000 tons of real snow! Does that not entice the wanderer in you a bit? When not indulging such sights and sensations I turn sometimes to freelance writing, a gig that’s helped me meet some rather interesting characters. Take the Harley Davidson crowd, for instance. Black leather-clad German, Arab, Iranian and Indian riders roar up and down the highways and byways through this desert kingdom. Dale, an American, has ridden with the old King Hussein of Jordan. Yusef, an Emirati, has biked through the painted deserts of Utah and Arizona. Harold, a tall, thin, 50-something African-American rides his Harley to ELS English Centers, where he teaches part time in the evenings. Harold and I once rumbled up to the northernmost state of the United Arab Emirates, Ras Al kamah, upon the invitation of one of our students, a young man named Salim. As nephew of the ruling Sheikh of Ras Al kamah, Salim is a bona fide prince. Clad in his long, white dishdasha, Salim and his cousin Mohammad took us joy riding through the desert and wadis in a Jeep Cherokee. We stopped at tiny pools along the way, enjoying the grandeur of the desert. I half expected to see Lawrence of Arabia come over the horizon. Afterward, we wanted lunch. “We go to a good place,” promised Salim. I wondered what exotic dishes we would feast upon. Soon we were pulling into a Kentucky Fried Chicken. The choice of princes, I guess. Dubai is an almost magical kingdom for a number of Americans, but I’m not sure how much longer I’ll stay. As an American woman working for the Foreign Service told me last week, “there’s lots to do here and life is good.” Opportunities abound for income and traveling. During the hot summer months, when the university closes for eight weeks, faculty head to England, Greece, Uzbekistan, Thailand and Australia, or back to their various home states. During the last January break, I trekked the Annapurna Range in Nepal; last November I spent 12 days retreating with my laptop to a charming German Café in Hannover, where I typed out a story or two and shivered my way through the Christmas markets. This is a life for which I am most thankful. Still, I miss the quilt of earth tones across the Nebraskascape and the crisp autumn days when crumbling stalks bow in crisp submission before the steely cold of winter. Maybe next year, it’ll be time to come home. UNOALUM
Front Lines
U.S. Army Capt. Mike Jensik (BS, 1996) recently submitted a Class Note from Iraq, and at the Alumni Association’s request expounded on some of his experiences as an MP with the 95th Military Police Batallion. Send him email at mcjensik@hotmail.com
Sadly, there are some elements that do not share a vision of freedom for the Iraqi people. Terrorists do still attempt to intimidate and threaten people who either work with or for the Coalition Forces. The personal conviction and courage displayed by the Iraqi people is inspirational. In spite of being threatened or having their families threatened, they still come to work with the goal that they will be able to provide a safe and secure environment for their country. Our men and women gear up every day to see that this goal is achieved. No one will live in fear anymore. An average day for me will see about a 0400 wakeup so that my friend and I can get in a five-mile run. Workdays are about 14-hours
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he times have changed for our military and the nation it serves. I have served in the U.S. Army as a military police officer since 1997. In the eight years I have spent in service to our great nation and its citizens, I have seen many foreign lands. My travels have taken me through Germany, France, Romania, Ireland, Sicily, Korea, Kuwait, BosniaHerzegovina, and now, Iraq. Serving throughout the world, I have had a chance to see the best of humanity and the worst. My most recent tour of duty has taken me to Baghdad, Iraq (arrived in January 2004). I serve with the 95th Military Police Battalion in one of the most volatile areas in all of Iraq. As we enter the election year, the American public is inundated with arguments and debates about what is happening here and the justifications for our actions as a nation. In the diatribe launched across the political spectrum, it is easy to cloud the humanitarian assistance and relief the Iraqi people have enjoyed and the appreciation they show each time they enjoy new rights and a say in their future. The men and women, whom are not much older than our own Mavericks, are serving not only our country but also the people of Iraq. For the first time in 35 years people are able Jensik in front of the 16th MP Brigade HQ on CP Victory in Baghdad. to chart their own future and elect their own government. Iraqi citizens are able to walk the streets without fear of reprisal for having different opinions of long, typically ranging from 0600-2000 hours. Some days are how the nation should be run. Under the Baath party led by very stressful on the highways when we see attacks on our Saddam Hussein, failure to comply could result in the disapconvoys or the enemy engages our base camps. The thing that pearance of an individual with reprisal against his/her family. keeps you going during the hard times is knowing that the Despite what is presented in the media at times, life is getperson next to you is counting on you to watch out for them ting better every day here. People are going back to work and and that they are watching for you. The days can seem long, beginning to enjoy the fruits of freedom. One of the primary but the rewards are worth it when the people approach you focuses of our military is to help build some of the infrastrucand say thank you. ture. Our young men and women in uniform are doing a It has been eight years since I graduated from UNO. I have tremendous job helping rebuild schools, establish police stabeen given the unique opportunity to lead soldiers and serve tions and train new police officers to work in conjunction with our great nation in a capacity I have never dreamed. Seeing the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps (ICDC). The U.S. Army Military the horrors inflicted on people in the Balkans or the effects of Police have even established a police academy and aided in a tyrannical regime like Saddam Hussein’s magnifies the need the funding needed to train new officers and equip them to for compassion. Watching children smile as they get on a serve as the new highway patrol. school bus or working with the Iraqi police in monitoring trafAs far as Abu-Ghurayb prison, it is not in my BN’s mission, fic and providing safety and security is an invaluable reward so I do not know much of the detail surrounding it. What I to me. will say is that these few individuals in question should not be Very respectfully, viewed as the standard bearers for the professional conduct of Capt. Michael C. Jensik, U.S. Army. military police soldiers or U.S. Military personnel at all.
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Archive Treasures ou thought the UNO Library just had books? The basement of that quiet place also houses UNO Archives, which collects various memorabilia recalling the University’s history from its founding to the present day. UNO Archivist Les Valentine pulled together some of the more interesting pieces from that collection, photographed by Tim Fitzgerald and displayed here:
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1. UNO’s 1996 National Championship volleyball signed by players and coaches. 2. Cover of April 24, 1951, Gateway student newspaper announcing that the University of Omaha was receiving an Air Force ROTC detachment. 3. Ruled notebook produced by University. Available in the 1950s and 1960s, they included OU mascot OUampi on the cover.
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4. University of Omaha 1935-36 Student Directory. It included names, addresses and telephone numbers of all OU faculty, staff and students.
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5. Beanie worn by Marie Galda, Class of 1944
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6. University of Omaha basketball uniform from the 1920s. 7. An invitation to a social occasion at the Knights of Columbus Club was included in this 1931 Phi Delta Psi Sorority scrapbook.
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8. Angels Flight cape and cap. An Air Force ROTC support group for young women, Angels Flight began at the University of Omaha in 1951 and soon became a national organization. 9. Athletic letter given to Clarence Sage, member of the 1954 undefeated and untied University of Omaha football team, after it defeated Eastern Kentucky State 7-6 in the 1955 Tangerine Bowl. 10. Brick from Joslyn Hall, the second building constructed on the OU campus at 24th and Pratt Streets. It was named after George A. Joslyn, who contributed $25,000 to its construction. The 30classroom, three-story facility was completed shortly after Joslyn died Oct. 25, 1906.
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11. Rough and ready is the 1931 Cardinal football. 12. UNO is “Numero UNO” says this button.
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13. Chalice presented to OU President Milo Bail upon his coronation as King Ak-Sar-Ben LXI in 1955. In receiving Omaha’s highest civic honor he became the first educator to rule as king.
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14. Indians sweater belonging to George Barbour, OU Class of 1953. 16. University of Omaha cheerleader cap, 1915. 15. First issue of The Yellow Sheet, a one-page typed newspaper that began in 1911 and was published for the next decade. The editors dubbed their publication such because the paper was yellow and they were “yelling” for football.
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17. A 1940s parking designation. 18. OU President Daniel Jenkins’ academic robe. Jenkins had undergrad and master’s degrees in logic and philosophy from the University of Melbourne, graduated from
Princeton Theological Seminary, and earned a doctorate in philosophy from Washington and Jefferson College and a doctor of divinity from the University of Pittsburgh. 19. Tickets for UNO’s debut as a Division I hockey team and jersey of James Chalmers, who scored the first goal in the program’s history.
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20. Dorothy Leone Snyder’s 1936 diploma. 21. A 1960s Indians blanket.
23. Letter jacket of Aksel Schmidt, ’53 class president and running back for the football team.
22. Lambda Phi members, 1934. The fraternity was comprised of students in the University of Omaha School of Law, which closed in 1942.
24. Campaign bumper sticker and sign promoting the eventual 1968 merger between the University of Omaha and the University of Nebraska.
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25. 1944 grad Marie Galda’s OU pennant. 26. Program for “Harvey” at the University Theater in 1959.
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Duke and His Band of Brothers Photo by Eric Francis
By Warren Francke
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uke stands 6-foot-5 and walks tall in the world of collegiate wrestling. He’s won titles, “Coach of the Year,” a place in a Hall of Fame. Some 60 of his wrestlers now coach the sport, from UNL to the University of San Francisco and back to the Skutt High teams that win year after year. But all that seems secondary when you talk to Mike Denney or when you hear what others say about the man who led his “Band of Brothers” to the 2004 Division II national championship. Sports psychologist Jack Stark, who worked with Tom Osborne’s Cornhuskers and now counsels NASCAR drivers, keeps it simple: “Mike’s the best coach in the state in any sport.” Why? Primarily, “Great character.” Don Leahy, the athletic director who hired Denney 25 years ago, agrees: “Great personal character.” It doesn’t grow on trees, but has roots north of Neligh, Nebraska. They called his Dad “Duke,” too, but John Wayne was Mike’s hero. And his mother, Grace Denney, is the angel in his life. Ask Mike or Grace about his father and you hear the same words: “He was an alcoholic. We never saw him much.”
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bits. Mike and his younger brother Dave rode a bicycle to a oneroom school a mile and a half away. “Grandpa made us a bike with an extra seat on the back,” Mike said. “Mom made our shirts,” but store-bought their overalls. “She modeled the way for us,” he explained. On Sundays, she brought them to that same one-room schoolhouse. “We didn’t call it church. There was a piano that someone played with one hand.” Grace sent away to the American Sunday School Union for lessons, and taught the boys and neighbors. When her sons went north to Dakota Wesleyan, where Mike won a football scholarship, she’d wash dishes in town for 50 cents an hour. “She’d send Dave and me envelopes every week with $10 in them.”
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Grace was always there for her boys, modeling the way and bringing them to that same one-room schoolhouse every Sunday. Now 88, she still lives on that Antelope County farm where Duke was raised—though she made it to Omaha for Mayor Mike Fahey’s recognition of her son’s Band of Brothers.
ou start to see why Duke believes in angels, and where roots sink deep and character thrives. A few weeks ago, Grace wiped away tears, her hands poised prayerfully before her face. She cried with gratitude for “all those nice things they said” about her son at the presentation of the championship trophy. She’s grateful that the boys got loans to go to college in Mitchell, S.D., and that they paid them back. And she’s even happier that Mike found his wife, Bonnie, there. “He couldn’t have met anyone nicer.” They almost lost Bonnie to multiple sclerosis in 1990. “We said our goodbyes,” Mike recalled, but she fought back and continues to stay fit. So Coach Denney, the son and the husband, had two models for “faith in action,” two women who walked the walk. Bonnie grew up near the Corn Palace, that Mitchell landmark, “the world’s biggest bird feeder.” She captained the cheerleaders—“Go Tigers!”—and Mike was captain of the football team, so they knew each other long before he asked her to dance. What was he waiting for? “She was way above me. The Homecoming Queen. She was Division I and I was 20 • Summer 2004
NAIA.” When he finally got up the courage (“He was actually kind of a quiet guy,” Bonnie observed), the entire team was watching. “It was kind of awkward,” Bonnie admits. Mike sticks to the sports metaphors and calls her, “My best recruiting job.” They married after graduation and headed to Omaha,
Photo by Tim Fitzgerald
Grace was always there. And she’s still on that Antelope County farm at age 88. Strong winds blew down the barn a few years ago, but Grace has survived 70 years on the same piece of land, and “I love it here.” Mike once took two wrestlers down that sandy road to visit his mom, and they wondered that he’d let her live alone in rural isolation. Then they drove in the yard and saw her shoulder a rifle to shoot rab-
where he assisted in coaching at South High while she taught at Bryan. But teaching wasn’t the main reason they took jobs in the big city. Mike came to play lineman for the Omaha Mustangs, coached by the legend who Mike still calls “Mr. Leahy.” He played seven years as a semi-pro, always “an absolute gentleman and a ferocious competitor,” Leahy says. He tried to make the NFL, coming close in tryouts with the Chicago Bears but falling short. Was that disappointing? “Hugely,” Mike nods. “Not to me,” Bonnie notes. She always knew he’d make a fine coach, just as mother Grace “always assumed he’d go into sports,” even if “the first grade teacher could never get him to talk.” That might surprise his wrestlers and amaze their three children. Daughter Mikki, now soccer coach at the University of Minnesota, knew if she did something wrong, her early-rising father would find time for a rather lengthy lecture accompanied by illustrative stories. Mikki Denney Wright and her brothers, Rocky and Luke, learned about coaching the hard way. “Growing up,” Mikki recalled, “part of me said I’d never be a coach because it takes so much time. He was so consumed by it.” Later, she came to see it as “the highest calling.” If “calling” is a term you confine to religious vocations, you UNOALUM
marriage in trouble. Mike preaches “iron discipline” to his wrestlers. In the spring, the season over, they set goals for fitness and goals for academics. Most cynics will have stopped reading by now, but it’s worth noting that the new champs also carried the highest grade point average of his 25 teams: 3.359, third of any team in the nation. You’ve heard about those academic All-Americans proike, who came to UNO from coaching at Bryan High in duced by the football Cornhuskers? Denney’s “Band of 1979, weighed a career shift a decade ago when shocked by Brothers” featured 10 academic All-Americans just this season. the sudden release of basketball coach Bob Hansen. Taking six Ho-hum, if you’re so inclined, his 136 wrestling All-Americans hours of educational administration, he told a reporter, “It’s a (top eight finishers) and his 18 national champions, but bow young man’s game. At 46, I’m one of the oldest ones coachdeeply to his scholars. ing.” Asked if he takes special pride in producing 60 coaches, Now he’s 57, his team champions again, once more “Coach he’s not that restrictive. “I’m proud of all those guys.” Not just of the Year,” even though confined to five scholarships. And, the coaches, but the doctors and firefighters, the ones in law his elder son marvels, he did it in his 25th year by “grasping enforcement, the businessmen, the engineers and military. All something new.” Rocky, who has given his parents three of them. “If the iron discipline doesn’t transfer into their prigrandchildren, sees his father from the perspective of his own vate lives, you can’t say you’ve succeeded. If we just win work in sales, technology and his current job in logistics with matches, what good are we doing?” a salt firm. But 60 coaches? That says something about the experience “He gets up so early (4:30 a.m.),” Rocky notes, “and uses of wrestling for the Duke. Look back at clippings from when it that time to mull over everything. He’s intensely introspecbegan, when Leahy hired the Bryan High coach to lead the tive.” UNO Mavericks. A news story in 1979 noted that the new What part of Mikki’s coaching came from her dad? “Probably everything.” Bonnie made her an outfit at age 5 and man, age 32, had experience at all but heavyweight. Buried at the end in small type, it she became a mascot cheersaid gridder “Mark leader for the wrestlers. Rigatuso could help out.” “Dad taught me how to That understatement was fight when I was in third followed by the undergrade.” sized Rigatuso, 215 The Denney kids grew pounds in a world of monup with wrestlers as part of sters, winning two nationthe family. “We’d pray for al titles. them,” Mikki said. “Mark Along came Ryan Manning (now UNL coach) Kaufman and then Mark and others babysat us.” Manning, two more In the Denney home, champs. By 1981, Denney prayers are placed in a baswas named Division II ket: slips of paper with Coach of the Year after finnames, hopes, needs. It ishing third in the nation. started more simply but He was still competing in the prayers are now color judo, and a story about coordinated. And there’s winning second place in more than the wicker basthe U.S. put it “way down ket. “We have a big sack of his list of priorities”—well answered prayers,” Mike after “husband, father and explained. Yes, a large plasgood wrestling coach.” tic bag bulges with That didn’t stop him answered prayers. from taking the national No, they’re not about judo championship at 209 pinning opponents to the pounds a few years later. mat. They’re part of Coach Early morning workouts Denney’s lifetime commitkeep him fit, holding ment to his young men. between 230 and 235—part Recent prayers have of the iron discipline, modinvolved an alum “whose It was a family affair when Denney came on board the UNO staff eling the way, walking the wife is really struggling in 1979. Bonnie became surrogate mother to Denney’s teams with a degenerative diswhile 5-year-old Mikki was the mascot cheerleader. ease” and another with a Continued next page haven’t spent much time with her father. The University of Wyoming offered him higher pay to head its Division I program. More than once. But he stayed where, he believed, “God wanted me. I felt called to do it.”
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Photo courtesy Mike Denney
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Photo by Tim Fitzgerald
So, of course, he stayed at UNO. He stayed through that awful year walk. Discipline in prayer, when MS nearly got in training, in everything. Bonnie, when that wonderHe’d win his first ful wrestler, that upright national championship and fellow named Ryan another coach of the year Kaufman died in a car award in 1991. The records crash. He stayed to see his accumulate: high national three children grow into rankings, academic Allgood athletes, especially in Americans and the other soccer, and good people. kind. And he stays fit, or You can see some of his he might lose his black belt success when you walk with “Duke” on it. into the large room in the Mike dons the gi, his fieldhouse, the floor covwhite judo outfit, and any ered in mats, the walls wrestler who throws him resplendent with banners can win the belt. Keep in Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey was on hand in late March during a rally that tell the wrestling story. mind that his wrestlers recognizing Denney’s national champions You may hear, “Welcome include Les Sigman (Mikki to the dojo,” followed by calls him “the silent assasthe guttural greeting, “ooosss,” a battle cry that means, “Bring sin”), national heavyweight champ the past two seasons. The it on.” It’s comforting to know it’s a sign of mutual respect. coach, Les says, “is like a father to me. He gives me confiAnd you’ll see more in his office, beneath the long horns of dence; he’s calm and he’s always there.” a steer, a gift from auto dealer Roy Smith. It’s not a plush So can you whip the old man? Sigman, a 240-pound place. Water spots stain the ceiling, duct tape mends the black mound of power, lets a small smile flicker and says, “He’s still couch. But it’s bright with family photos. The grandkids beam got it.” at “Grampa Duke,” and the clock above the door comes from Mike’s smile is much broader when he talks about the brother Dave, “the horse whisperer.” Some martial arts items, “Duke” belt. He hasn’t surrendered it, claiming “They’re geta sword, add an Asian touch. Then there are passages from ting to the point where they’re nice to me.” scripture, from Isaiah and from Psalm 27:1. “Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build it.” Bonnie said, “That’s a big part of what he’s all about.” The Duke’s there, too: A sketch of John Wayne in cowboy igman attends St. Paul’s Methodist Church with the hat, and a photo of Rooster Cogburn, glaring out of that one Denneys. “The family thing” goes back to Neligh and Mike’s good eye, a black patch on the other. high school coach, Roger Barry. “It was like he had 30 sons” who hung together, “street-fought together.” Denney soaked More often than not, a well-muscled young man or two up savvy from everyone—his mother’s work ethic and her stops by. Craig Sesker, the Omaha World-Herald writer who faith, his wife’s faith and courage, the discipline of Beauford covers wrestling, calls Denney the best coach he’s covered in Haizlip, the coach he assisted at South. He visits other pro15 years. grams each year—from the great Dan Gable at Iowa, he What impresses him most is how Denney finds time for 30 learned about training and conditioning. wrestlers, including four pairs of birth brothers. He has a R.J. Nebe, an alum who assists Brad Hildebrandt at Skutt, word or two or more, a pat on the head for each and every sums up his mentor: “He’s not a great technical coach. He’s a one. It would take a story twice this long to cover every ritual, great manager. It’s his loyalty and character. You can go to any every motto, every rule and value that governs the Denney coach in the country and you’ll not hear a single one say anyway. The virtues he preaches don’t become platitudes because thing bad about him.” he lives them. “I wasn’t the guy most likely to succeed in colLoyalty? That first job offer from Wyoming set him thinklege,” he claims. “I’m an ordinary guy with an extraordinary ing. “I’d never asked for a raise.” He thought he’d go to the God.” athletic director and tell him “I wanted two of three things: Mike and Bonnie are emptynesters now, in the usual sense. raise my budget, raise scholarships or raise my salary.” He She goes on the road, recruiting with him to refill the nest, in rehearsed his pitch and went to see Bobby Thompson, a the unusual sense of their larger family. They won’t add many Southern-fried, cigar-smoking sweet-talker who called the ladies “dahling.” But Bobby was “a tough son-of-a-gun to deal this year; all the starters return from the “Band of Brothers.” “When I pass,” Coach Denney reflects, “I want to be with.” remembered as a ‘Master Encourager.’” Grace gave him life He had “that big cigar going” as Mike recited his ultimaand grace goes with him. Amazing. In a phrase he directs at tum. “He blew smoke my way and said, ‘You go to Wyoming, others, “It’s a pleasure and an honor.” and I’ll drop your program.’ I walked right out.”
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From Page 21
He ain’t heavy . . . but the national championship trophy sure is. UNO’s grapplers gathered at Boys Town prior to the start of the 2003-04 season and had their team picture taken next to that institution’s statue signifying brotherhood. They also took the title of the popular HBO series “Band of Brothers” as their season-long war-cry. In the end, they banded together for the school’s third national championship.
Banding together for a title Compiled from releases by UNO Sports Information hen the names were called for the North Central Conference’s season-capping honor roll, no one was surprised to hear a couple of UNO fellas pick up some more hardware. That’s what happens when you bring a national championship home. UNO sophomore Les Sigman was named the NCC’s Wrestler of the Year by a vote of league coaches while Mike Denney was tabbed Coach of the Year. The honors reflect the Mavs’ accomplishments in mid-March during the NCAA Division II national wrestling tournament in Mankato, Minn. UNO won the team title, overcoming a deficit in the tourney’s final match to defeat heavily favored North Dakota State. Sigman, a native of Sturgis, S.D., defeated his opponent by medical default in the heavyweight championship to overtake NDSU and give UNO the title. Coach Mike Denney and his Mavericks won 97.5-95 The Mavs, though, needed help to
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garner the team crown. UNO needed victories by Augustana's Tom Meester and University of Nebraska at Kearney’s Jeff Sylvester in the 184and 197-pound championships, respectively, to set up Sigman’s mustwin match. Meester and Sylvester both won, putting UNO’s fate into Sigman’s hand. The top-ranked heavyweight built a 2-0 lead in the first period before his opponent, Andrew Ubben, ran out of injury time to give Sigman the default win. It was Sigman’s 31st-straight victory and made him the first Mav to repeat as national champion since Braumon Creighton in 1999. The sophomore finished the season with a 45-1 record. His only loss was to Cole Konrad of Minnesota on Nov. 22, a defeat Sigman avenged the next week. The Mavericks, who dubbed themselves “Band of Brothers” at the beginning of the season, had five other wrestlers earn All-American honors at the national tourney. No. 6-ranked Dustin Tovar finished runner-up at 125 pounds after losing to top-ranked Jared Haberman of
Western State. No. 7-ranked Patrick Allibone also finished second, at 149, falling in the finals to No. 4-ranked Adrian Jiron, also of Western State. Mavs J.D. Naig and Eli Dominguez both finished third and Mitch Waite finished seventh. Denney, who completed his 25th season at UNO, also guided the 1991 Mavericks to the national championship. UNO also won the 1970 NAIA title under Coach Don Benning. UNO will defend its team title on its own turf next year when it hosts the national tournament at the Lee and Helene Sapp Fieldhouse. Maverick All-Americans 125- Dustin Tovar, 2nd 133- Mitch Waite, 7th 141- Eli Dominguez, 3rd 149- Patrick Allibone, 2nd 165- J.D. Naig, 3rd 285- Les Sigman, 1st Final Team Standings 1. UNO, 97.5 points 2. North Dakota State 95 3. Central Oklahoma 88.5 4. Western State 76 5. Pitt-Johnstown 69
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Future Alums
SUBMIT A FUTURE ALUM ON THE WEB: www.unoalumni.org/communications/submitfa.asp Jacob Benjamin Fey, grandson of Shirley and John (’77) Fey of Omaha
G
Mason Isaiah Toler, son of Damon and Sheritta (Collins, ’99) Toler of Omaha Ryan David Sandiland, son of David Sandiland and Rebecca (’02) NormandSandiland of Omaha Mikayla Ann Jarecki, daughter of Eric (student) and Cori (Schaecher ’01) Jarecki of Omaha Lillian Michelle Henry, daughter of Matthew and Heather (McKinney ’02) Henry of Lincoln, Neb. Kaitlyn Renee and Karly Ann Hanna, daughters of Amy (Krings ’98) and Terry (’96) Hanna of Omaha
Jackson Kingsley Hofeldt, grandson of Sheila King (’90) of Omaha.
Mary Emma Staplin, daughter of Ruth and William (’95) Staplin of Des Moines, Iowa Bradley Michael Harrison, son of Jeff and Aimee (Goodman, ’92) Harrison of Omaha Jocelyn Sierra Randall, daughter of Jason and Kaylene (Kucera ’99) Randall of Kearney, Neb. Nicholas Gabriel Guzman, son of Claudia and Santiago (’03) Guzman of Omaha AnnaBelle Jade Deam, daughter of Carrie and Chris (’01) Deam of Osceola, Iowa
Zachary Ryan Jones, son of Jeff and Amanda (Dasovic ’98) Jones of Omaha
Shane James Daughtrey, son of Angela and Steven (’96) Daughtrey of Omaha
Hannah Clarissa Thacker, daughter of Jeff and Brenda (Barber ’98) Thacker of Omaha.
Samantha A. and Kyle A. Bradley, twin daughter and son of Stacy (Schafer ’94) and Douglas (’83) Bradley of Omaha.
Sophia Katherine Caples, daughter of Michelle (Scroggs, ’92, ’96) and Rob (’96) Caples of Omaha
Elise Marie Gran, daughter of Ann (Richardson, ’93) and Damon (’91) Gran of Cumming, Ga.
Kaden, Conner and Bryce Petersen, triplet sons of Jeff and Michelle (’98) Petersen of Omaha
Julia Katherine Nubel, daughter of Anna and James (’92, ’03) Nubel of Omaha and granddaughter of Patricia Taylor (’83, ’96) of Omaha.
Tanner Robert Farrell, son of Tiffany and Jason (’99) Farrell of Omaha
CORRECTION: Gillian Sue Ferguson is granddaughter of Patricia and Michael L. (4’70) Vodicka of Omaha, not the daughter as reported in the March 2004 Alum.
Keenan Donovan Griffin, son of Sharon and Shawn Griffin (’93, ’97) of Parker, Colo.
Paige Marie Schrempp, daughter of Samantha and Robert (’97) Schrempp of Oak Creek, Wisc.
Andrew Michael Patrick Lee, son of Lonnie and Anne-Marie (Evans ’92) Lee of Roanoke, Texas, and grandson of Robert (’85) Evans of Omaha.
The UNO Century Club
C
entury Club membership today consists of more than 3,600 individuals who support their alma mater with gifts of $100 or more. Gifts support various alumni association programs and services that make for a stronger, more vibrant university. These include the Alumni Outstanding Teaching Awards, UNO Alumni Legacy Scholarships, Alumni Outreaches and more. With their UNRESTRICTED gift, Century Club donors receive one of five personalized mementos, special recognition in an annual report and invitations to select events throughout the year.
Welcome to the Club! From donor rolls January 1, 2004 through April 2, 2004 Thanks to these upgraded Century Club donors!* To Silver Ira Hughey Michael & Mary Kudlacz Michael & Deborah McLarney Mark Manhart Marta Nieves Terry Scott
24 • Summer 2004
Welcome and thanks to these first-time Century Club donors!* Silver Michelle Morrison Bronze Chris Berens Harry Bianchi Thomas Bukacek
Tracy Crowell Heather Doll Robert Drake Christine Dyas John Hall William Harvey Gary & Trudy Henson John Frankovich Kevin Furey David Griffiths Sarah Gruidel Shirley Harrel David Johnson
Fred Jones Gerald King Misako Lachapelle Richard Lantefield Robert Mackie Evelyn Martin John Monzingo Shirley Neary Jeffrey Nielsen Robert Offerjost John Overby Eileen Phillips Rita Price
James Robbins William Sickenberger Pamela Sondag Roger Sorenson Robert & Sharon Stubbe William Sturgeon Kynan Trail Noreen Ward Dennis White Charles Will Chester & Sara Worm Louis Worm Jingsen Zhing
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Class Notes
Send us news of your baby—we’ll send a T-shirt and certificate and publish the good news. Include address, baby’s name, date of birth, parents’ names and graduation year(s). Please send the announcement within one year of the birth to: Future Alums, UNO Alumni Association, 60th & Dodge, Omaha, NE 68182. FAX (402) 554-3787.
ot a picture of your little tyke? Send it our way as a print or in electronic format and we’ll post it on our website!
SUBMIT A CLASS NOTE ON THE WEB www.unoalumni.org/communications/submitcn.asp
Sons & Daughters of UNO Alumni
1963 David H. Schuur, BS, is retired and lives in Milleasville, Md. He notes that he spends his free time with his two grandchildren or in his woodworking shop. Send him email at dschuur@erols.com Lee Burrill Coats, BFA, recently moved to Maryville, Mo., and is creative director of The Printery House Greeting Card Co. She sent an email after reading an article on Ward Schumaker in the March 2004 Alum. “He and I have stayed in touch with each other for the last 30 years at least. He and his girlfriend (of 1963) and I drove to California in the summer of 1963. He took me to San Francisco to join a mutual friend from Salt Lake City, Utah. Ward and I had worked for the Union Pacific Railroad at Bryce Canyon National Park for a summer. I just finished my BFA from UNO and wanted to go to SF for a master’s at Berkley. That never happened because I returned to the Midwest and UN of Lincoln to pursue my masters after spending 3 months in SF. Ward and I went our separate ways for about 20 years until I spotted his name in a Communication Arts magazine with his illustration. I called him and we have stayed in contact since then. I am so happy for his continuing success and hope it will continue for along time. Looking at the yearbook for UNO for 1963 you will see us on page 77 a very distinguished group of young artists ready to be launched into the world. Peter Hill was our mentor, along with Dr. Blackwell, who really came to my rescue and both were terrific teachers. Thanks for writing the story on Ward and giving
Lost Alums -- 1952 Mary E. Bailey Ray J. Beal Lloyd E. Berg Elaine R. Bloxom James W. Bozeman Clifford Brown John T. Buchanan John M. Burns Lloyd R. Buzbee Ruth E. Carroll Lorraine E. Carter Chester A. Colvin Judith Coufal Luvern L. Cunningham
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S U M M E R
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Flashback File The Mystic 13
From the 1924 Gateway annual
“T
he Mystic Thirteen” was the title appended to the young men and women who compose this group of boosters. They were elected at large by the school body, to push the activities of the University. The belief was held that if the thirteen most active members could be selected to cooperate and concentrate on some interest of the school, that certain activity would be carried through successfully. The results have been very gratifying and have shown that systematic promotion was necessary to accomplishment. The “Thirteen” promoted successfully the “Gateway Annual;” the “Weekly Gateway”; the Operetta by the Music Department; “Wedding Bells” by the Player’s Club; special speakers at the Chapel, and other events that needed energetic publicity. The members hold their office for one year. Help us find these “Lost Alums” from the Class of 1952. Send news of their whereabouts to sgerding@mail.unomaha.edu
Louis V. Dambrosia John R. Dick S. Raymond Dolk Orlin L. Donhowe Edwin Finnstrom Douglas L. Forbes Lucius J. Frazier Marlene Frye Earl S. Goodale Hermann F. Grundmann Doris J. Harris Freeman N. Harris Charles H. Hayes Comradge L. Henton
Helen F. Holtz Gerald D. Houlihan Alice R. Irwin Delpha J. Jensen Jack V. Kellogg Ruth A. Kennedy Roland L. Klopfleisch Gene W. Knowles Edgar J. Lang Leonard Lefitz Frank L. Lepinski Vernita W. Lewallen Marcell Lind Gloria J. Lush
Clarine L. McLachlin Dale M. Mielke Robert F. Mitchell Donald E. Newman Frances I. Nolte Haruko Ohara Pauline L. Parre Donald M. Payne John C. Peace Reuben G. Pierce William B. Pierce Lula B. Reed Morton A. Resnick Violet W. Roy
Robert Rutt Erwin G. Schultz Claire L. Smith Edith M. Sparks Ward J. Strohbehn Gladys M. Sullenger Gladys M. Surface Wilfred F. Sykora Viola S. Taylor Mildred R. Titzel Lois Vanhorn Marion D. Walter Alice R. Williams Mason S. Zerbe
Summer 2004 • 25
Class Notes him the recognition he so justly deserves.” After a responding email from the Alum editor with an incorrect salutation, Coats noted that, “By the way I am a woman, not a man. Lenore Burrill (maiden) was my name when I attended UNO. I adopted Lee in HS because people couldn't remember Lenore or spell it correctly. I have been drafted many times.” 1964 Janet A. Seaman, BSE, lives in Reston, Va., and sends this email class note: “I recently finished the third edition of my textbook on adapted physical education. After retiring from California State University, Los Angeles, I took a position in northern Virginia and am completing my 10th year as Executive Director of the American Association for Active Lifestyles and Fitness. I am now looking forward to full retirement in a year or two.” Send her email at janseaman@aol.com
Bill E. Matulka, BSBA, lives in Rosemount, Minn., and sends this email: “In 2003 I retired after 38 years with Case/New Holland Capital. After a few months of retirement I again rejoined the workforce with GE Capital as an underwriter. Have been in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis/St.Paul for 12 years and enjoy it very much, except for the winter months. Will eventually move back to Omaha after I totally retire.” Send Matulka email at wem1039@hotmail.com 1968 Ree Schonlau, BFA, received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Omaha’s Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts. 1969 Loretta Vail, MA, lives in Grayson, Ga., and is the instructional coordinator for 26 elementary schools in DeKalb County, Decatur. She received an Ed.S. degree in August 2003 from the University of Georgia. She lives in Grayson, Ga.
Forking over memorabilia illiam Gasper put a fork in his Omaha U. days long ago, but it wasn’t until recently that he finally was able to clean the plate of his past. Responding to an Alumni Association request for memorabilia donations to the UNO Library Archives collection, Gasper, Class of 1949, sent the utensil pictured above with the following note: “Don’t know if you can use this fork in your memorabilia collection, but I have been filled with remorse since ‘borrowing’ it from the University of Omaha Snack Shack in 1947. As you can see, I have treasured it and tried to keep it in mint condition, but it may have to be cleaned up a bit if it is to be displayed. Thank you for the opportunity to finally get rid of it.” Now living in Tempe, Ariz., Gasper followed his days at OU
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26 • Summer 2004
S U M M E R Herbert Freeman, was appointed to the newly created position of chief operating officer for the NP Dodge Co. in Omaha. The Omaha WorldHerald notes that he, “previously served as a partner for Cormac Co., an Omaha real estate development and management firm.”
and from U.S. West, 24 years. I play trumpet and drums with the Tangier Shrine Band and trumpet with the Iowa Western Community College band. I play “Taps” for 100 to 200 military funerals each year for all veterans organizations. Also have amateur radio operator’s license and am a private pilot.”
1970 Dennis K. Boehme, BA, lives in Davenport, Iowa, and recently retired after 34 years with Boy Scouts of America. However . . . “Retirement was short as I became a development officer/director of Annual Campaigns for Lutheran Services in Iowa,” he writes. “Great new position! I am still playing racquetball and becoming addicted to flyfishing.” Email him at boehmed@aol.com
1972 Robert M. Blunt Jr., BS, lives in Golden, Colo., and sends this email: “As a Colorado native, I have had to juggle allegiances between CU and NU. I was proud of the criminal justice program but don't know who is there or how the program is progressing. Any news? The bad news for me was falling off a ladder 3.5 years ago and suffering a “closed head injury.” I’m still trying to recover but have no idea how the brain works or remembers (in my case--fails to remember). Anybody at UNO have any leads that might be helpful? Amazing how the climate and vibes from UNO
1971 Wayne D. Hanson, BGS, lives in Omaha and sends this class note: “Retired from U.S. Air Force, electronics, eight years,
by working as an electrical engineer for Allis-Chalmers, then as a comssioned Air Force officer during the Korean War. After the war he worked for a General Electric subsidiary, Westinghouse, Trans World Airlines, and Hughes/McDonnell Douglas/Boeing Helicopter Co. “Just couldn’t keep a job!” he said. Send Gasper email at billtwaret@juno.com And if you have Omaha University or UNO memorabilia on hand—perhaps other items that were “borrowed,” consider sending them our way. Your UNO-related memories from any era—yearbooks, t-shirts, pictures, publication clippings, etc.— will be passed on to the UNO Archives collection in the University Library. For more information contact Anthony Flott at aflott@mail.unomaha.edu or toll-free at UNO-MAV-ALUM (866628-2586). Forks and other items can be sent to: UNO Alumni Association, Memorabilia Request, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 60th & Dodge, Omaha, NE 68182-0010.
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Flashback File
Gridders get back in action A
From the 1922 Gateway yearbook
fter a lapse of two years, the University of Omaha blossomed forth this year with a real football team. At first prospects for a successful season looked dark, but gradually brightened as soon as the men began working together. This year will go on record as a fair season. We must remember, however, that in the two games that we did lose, the team played good ball, compelling its opponents to fight for their laurels. The team, with little practice and practically no signals, met the Wayne Normal team at Wayne and suffered defeat at their hands. In the first half, our men were bewildered by the aerial attack of Wayne, but tightened up in the last, when Wayne scored but twice. “Mo” Pressly showed up good at the helm, while Levinson played a stellar game at end. When the heavy squad from Tarkio came on deck at Creighton Field, they seemed giants because of their size and power; and they certainly played true to appearance, winning by a 32-to-0margin. Our boys held Tarkio, 6 to 0, the first half, but let down in the second. All the men played a good, clean game. Two defeats made the team work much harder. When they arrived at Albany, Mo., on November 1, they were there to win. Although the Palmer College boys were much larger, they couldn’t keep the Omaha warriors down. The Pressly brothers made Omaha’s winning touchdowns in the game, which ended 14 to 7 in favor of Omaha. Next came the Fort Omaha team, with men in the lineup
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from large universities throughout the country. The field was muddy, and slowed up our backfield considerably. Mud was surely in evidence. The University missed several chances to score on fumbled passes caused by the soggy field. When time finally was called the score stood 0 to 0. One of the hardest games of the season was with Trinity College of Sioux City, Iowa, which was played here at Creighton field, November 22. The U. of O. team showed the results of good, hard and steady practice in this game. With a hard fighting “eleven-man team” they swept Trinity off their feet. When the final whistle stopped the fray, the score stood 20 to 0 in favor of the “red and black.” Our team met Fort Omaha at Rourke Park on Turkey Day. The slippery ball and heavy snow caused many a groan from the sidelines when the ball was fumbled time after time. The machine of the University showed its supremacy, winning by a 7-to-6 score after a hard-fought game. Golding was responsible for the victory when he kicked goal, giving us the winning point. The 1919 football season for the U. of O., though slow in starting, certainly wound up in whirl-wind style. The dark clouds that appeared earlier in the year proved to have genuine silver linings. Starting out with two defeats, our football warriors showed they had the right spirit by finishing the season with one tie and three wins. We confidently predict that next year will see the good old U. of O. gridiron aggregation successfully mixing with the best of ’em!
Summer 2004 • 27
Class Notes
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have paid unimagined dividends—years later. Send emails to niwenterprises@yahoo.com Milan E. Anich, BSED, lives in Houston and notes that he was selected as the Boeing Company’s NASA Systems division contract compliance manager. Milan has been Boeing’s lead contract administrator for the NASA International Space Station prime contract since March 2000. Prior to coming to NASA Systems Houston, Milan served at the USAF Academy in Colorado for six years, Bell Helicopter in Amarillo, Texas, for 10 years, and at Boeing North American (formerly Rockwell International) in Tulsa, Okla., for 10 years. He has extensive experience in contract compliance, purchasing and manufacturing support. While in Tulsa he served as the contract advisor in purchasing and assistant export compliance officer for the Tulsa Division. Milan has a bachelor’s degree in education from UNO and a master’s degree in business administration and management from the university of Northern Colorado. He’s also taken post-graduate work in economics at West Texas State University. Milan is an evening adjunct instructor in economics at San Jacinto College in Houston. He has three grown sons and is married. Send him email at Milan.e.anich@boeing.com Roy P. Gray, BGS, is retired and notes that he “couldn’t believe your perseverance in tracking me all these years! I hope to become more active after tax day.” He lives in Palm Bay, Fla. Send him email at rpetergray@webtv.net 1975 Robert J. Bezousek Sr., BSBA, became vice president of production at Omaha Steaks on
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Flashback File
Striking down OU’s first national title From the 1966 Tomahawk yearbook
T
he six young men on the right brought quite an honor to the University in 1965. They won the NAIA Bowling Championship, OU’s first national title in any sport. They are: Don Moberg, Bill Olson, Steve Sheppard, Dave Richardson, Charles Will and Bob Bigley. Bigley threw two clutch strikes at the end of the final game, bringing the Indians an 889 to 853 victory over favored Southwestern Louisiana in the match game. Moberg led OU over the 15 game route with 2,787. Bigley had 2,776 and Sheppard 2,766.
Feb. 1, 2004. Send him email at bbez1@aol.com 1976 Joyce Jansa Corcoran, BSED, is newly retired and has been traveling, “reconnecting with family and friends.” She lives in Rock Springs, Wyo. And takes email at joycecorcoran@hotmail.com 1977 Joel Christiansen, EdS, has wrriten "Out of the Ashes the Resurrection of an Addict," a powerful and inspiring story about victory over addiction. Visit his website at www.noblesoulenterprises.com for more information. 1971 Mardelle J. Tarkington Susman, BS, lives in Galveston,
Texas, and sends this note: “I moved to Texas in 1986 after 13 years at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. I am currently involved in working with a team of scientists at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, who are examining infectious diseases, newly emerging infections (e.g. SARS) and biodefense agents. In the past year, I collaborated in producing a successful application to develop a National Biodefense Laboratory in Galveston (only one of two in entire U.S.) that will allow scientists throughout the country to develop vaccines against such agents as anthrax, hemorrhagic fevers and plague.” Send her email at ssusman@houston.rr.com
1973 Bill Verkest, MPA, recently published “A Family Matter— A Guide to Organizing Your Personal Estate). Published for family members, as well as for financial and legal professionals to assist clients, “A Family Matter” includes suggestions on gathering wills and powers of attorney, investment records, financial and retirement statements, income tax returns and other important estate information. See more at www.AfamilyMatter.net. Tim Sestak, was appointed as military program manager with Boundary Layer Research, Inc., an aerospace research and development firm in Everett, Wash. Sestak will coordinate ongoing activities for current programs at BLR Military
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Solutions and will increase their market in all the armed services. His goal is to make BLR Military Solutions the first choice worldwide for innovative aerodynamic solutions for legacy military aircraft. He has extensive experience in program management, technology management and business development. He spent 20 years with the U.S. Navy as a naval aviator with a broad range of responsibilities. Send him email at tim@blrvgs.com 1976 Fred Petersen, BA, retired as president and chief executive officer of the Omaha Public Power District. He had served as OPPD’s president longer than anyone else in the history of the 57-year-old utility and worked for the utility for more than 40 years. Petersen joined OPPD as a print shop employee in 1963. He attended night school at UNO while earning his degree. He later served as division manager of corporate communications and became executive assistant to the president in 1981. In 1983 he was appointed vice president, assuming his final role in 1987. He and his wife, Mary Jo, have four children and 10 grandchildren. UNO recently announced the Fred and Mary Jo Petersen Communications Scholarship, which will award $2,000 yearly to a communications student. A competitive process for selecting students who meet strict academic guidelines will be administered by university faculty. Petersen in 1993 received the Association’s Citation for Alumnus Achievement. 1977 Tom Billesbach, BSBA, was named the dean of the Melvin and Valorie Booth College of Business and Professional Studies at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, w w w. u n o a l u m n i . o r g
Mo. Billesbach was a professor and chair of Northwest’s Department of Marketing/Management. “A dean's position is something I’ve been considering for the past two years,” Billesbach said in a news release. “I knew I was ready for another professional challenge, and then the opportunity for the dean’s position opened up at Northwest. The timing couldn't have been better.” Billesbach joined the Northwest faculty in 1994 as an associate professor, becoming a professor in 2001. Prior to that he was an assistant professor of information systems and quantitative analysis at UNO. At Northwest he has served as the marketing/management department’s chair since 1997. He since has increased the number of majors in the department from 424 to about 750 and developed and implemented an online management major and a team-based evaluation system for the department. Since 1980 Billesbach also has been an adviser, consultant, trainer and seminar leader dealing with operations management/control, technology and other management-related topics for clients worldwide, including Kodak, DuPont, Westinghouse, Pillsbury, Honeywell, Hewlett Packard, Dow Corning and Amoco. 1981 Jim Christiansen, BS, lives in Van Buren, Ark., and sends this email: “After receiving a Ph.D. in Physics at Arizona St. University in 1988 and spending 15 years working in the semiconductor business in the Phoenix area, I accepted a position as associate professor of Physics at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith.” Send him email at jcinar@sbcglobal.net
1982 Michelle M. Harris Rickard, BM, lives in Woodstock, Ga., and sends a note that she is in her 11th year as a band director in Cobb County Georgia. She was Director of Bands at Lost Mountain M.S. for seven years and is in her fourth year of Director of Bands at Durham M.S. At Durham, her bands have consistently received superior ratings. Her eighth-grade symphonic was chosen this year to be the guest band for the prestigious University of Georgia Middle School Band Festival. At this performance, she received the National Band Association’s Citation of Excellence for her contributions to public school band education. Send email to michellerickard207@ hotmail.com Carol Ann Woods Murphy, BS, lives in Grants Pass, Ore., where she moved with her husband, Tom, when he retired in 2002. “I am now teaching beginning piano classes and Kindermusik classes at Music4Kids in Grants Pass, Ore.” Send her email at mommamurf@budget.net 1987 William A. Ratekin, BS, lives in Holmen, Wisc., and notes that he has obtained his professional engineering license in the State of Wisconsin. Send him email at william.ratekin.griffin@ emh2.mccoy.army.mil 1993 Walter Gordon Finley, BA, lives in Charlottesville, Va., with wife Tatyana, who is from Kaluga, Russia, and daughter Katya, 8. Finley manager cost accounting and revenue for PRA International (www.prainternational.com), a clinical development organization with projects and offices in many foreign countries, including Russia and Brazil.
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“So getting plenty of practice with Russian and Portuguese skills,” he writes. Finley in 2002 attended The Executive Program (TEP) at the Darden Graduate School of Business, University of Virginia. “Fantastic experience, highly recommended!” Finally, he serves as a reserve officer with the Albemarle County Sheriff’s Office, having graduated from academy and received state certification in 2001. Send emails to finleywalter@praintl.com Brian L. Petersen, BGS, emails this note: “I have served with the Nebraska State Patrol since July of 1994. In May 2003 I joined the Air Wing of the Patrol and am stationed in Ogallala, Neb. Say hello to the alumni and staff of the Aviation Institute for me! Send Petersen email at bvpetersen@charter.net 1994 Hillary A. Tripp Luton, BGS, lives in Mercer Island, D.C. She writes that, “Since college, I have continued my military career in the Army Reserve. After 21 years of Reserve service, I was offered a full-time position with the Reserve as a Public Affairs Officer in Seattle, Wash. I have been through three mobilizations, to Desert Storm (1990-91), Germany in support of Bosnia (1996-97) and most recently to Kosovo (2003), where I served as the Task Force public affairs officer and Mobile Public Affairs Detachment commander. I currently hold the rank of major and am married to a major who is also in the Army Reserve and just returned from a one-year tour in Iraq and Kuwait. He is a graduate of UNL. I plan to continue my military service in public affairs, which has been wonderful. I have actually used the degree I earned at UNO more in the military than anywhere
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Class Notes else. It is wonderful to use the skills I learned and learn new skills in a field I have always loved. I often think about the years of speech competition that I participated in at UNO and am thankful for the fantastic opportunities I had in that area. They have helped to make me more confident when speaking to the press, and many of the courses I had make it possible for me to do my job. Even after 10 or 15 years, I still think back and say, ‘I remember during this course we learned....’” Send her email at hillary.luton@us.army.mil 1995 Michael J. Rice, BA, lives in Lancaster, Pa., and sends this note: “Moved to Pennsylvania in August 2003. Currently working as a substitute teacher with School District of Lancaster. My free time lately has involved working with the French Embassy in DC. The French Navy will be visiting Baltimore in March and I have been emailing, mailing and telephoning a variety of groups letting them know about this unique opportunity. I have spoken with French teachers groups, Alliance Francaise groups, Navy League Councils, politicians and the Defense Attache’s Office at the French Embassy. The French were heartened to hear that there was an interest in this visit. They seem to think Americans hate the French. I assured them that that was not the case. I have booked several groups, mainly French students and their teachers. This has been a wonderful experience and it only gets better. I will be visiting the French Embassy's Military Mission in early March and will be attending the welcome ceremony and reception on board the French ship, the Jeanne d’Arc in late March. This is what I foresaw doing after college. My love of France and of foreign affairs in general was encouraged and 30 • Summer 2004
Flashback File
Splashing into the record book
program in English and will start classes this fall. “I continue to work as an editor and writer for the College of Engineering and Technology at the Peter Kiewit Institute.” Send her email at dderrick@mail.unomaha.edu
From the October 1983 University of Nebraska at Omaha Alumni News
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ho was that wet man? Dripping and sporting bandages on his feet, the result of punishing blisters, 25-year-old UNO student Kent Bryant may have splashed his way into the record books this past summer. Starting Aug. 21 at 5 p.m., Bryant and scores of others began a contest to see who could last the longest in a perpetual waterslide marathon. Bryant won by outlasting his competitors when he slid down the four-story water slide at Peony Park 1,710 times in 87 hours and 19 minutes, possibly setting a new world’s record. Competitors were allowed short breaks for necessary reasons and food. “After three days, my system was wondering what was going on,” said Bryant after it all was over. Bryant won $1,300, a 1950 vintage Coke machine, a moped, waterbed, stereo and other prizes offered by radio station KQ 98, sponsor of the event.
inspired by Professor Orville Menard. Thanks Orv and thanks UNO.” Send emails to americangaullist@hotmail.com 1998 Daniel L. Sitzman, MS, lives in Omaha and sends an email noting that he received a 2003 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, the nation’s highest commendation of its kind. He was recognized at several ceremonies in Washington, D.C., in March, the activities including a photo session with President Bush, recognition at the Secretary of Education’s “Summit on Science,” a House Science Committee hearing, a reception at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, and an awards ceremony at the National Academy of Sciences. Established by Congress in 1983, and administered for the White House by the National Science Foundation, the annual presidential awards program identifies outstanding mathematics and science teachers nation-wide and in four U.S. territories. Each state can select up to three mathematics and three science teachers as state finalists, and from the field of state finalists a maximum of 108 presidential award-winners are selected. Sitzman was a four-time finalist for the award. Sitzman teaches at Omaha
1989 Ronald G. Mayne, MA, lives in Marietta, Ga., and writes that, “I was married to Carrie Wood April 16, 2004. Mariah Nicole Lee also joined our family! I also became the acting chair for the Division of Basic Sciences in January. It's been a busy year!” Send him email at rgmayne@hotmail.com
politan Atlanta), and recently re-released a self-published novel, “At Last.” The novel initially was released in December 2001. It was rereleased this year through iUniverse Publishing based in Lincoln, Neb. “I would like to know if the UNO Alumni Newsletter can assist me in getting the word out about my book to my fellow students.” A press release notes that the contemporary romance novel “features Darius and Alexa, a couple that was deeply in love as college sweethearts but separated because of powerful influences. When the pair comes face-to-face again after nine years, they are determined to keep the past in the past. Despite this, their attraction to one another causes them to set aside all reservations and pursue a relationship for a second time without addressing the hurts of their past. Soon, the lack of trust and honesty that has yet to be reestablished later reveals itself at a critical moment of their relationship, painfully dividing them once again. Both are then forced to take a hard look within and make some life changes before sharing their lives with each other completely. Send Jackson email at Atlastin2004@aol.com
1991 Lisa M. Harrison Jackson, BS, lives in Conyers, Ga. (metro-
2003 Deborah Ball Derrick, MA, was admitted to UNL's PhD
North High School. A thirdgeneration educator, Sitzman makes a point of inviting his students to make suggestions about the direction of a lab. His lesson plans give students choices and the conceptual background that allows them to study science in a creative way. He establishes regular email contact with students and parents and uses technological innovations to get his students excited about the power of science. 1999 Jeffie Wiggins-McMullen, MPA, lives in Cheyenne, Wyo., and in January was named administrator of Central Services for the Wyoming Department of Corrections by Director Robert O. Lampbert. Send email to WigginsMcMullen at jmcmul@wdoc.state.wy.us
UNOALUM
In Memoriam 1932 Marian W. Hasselblad Duncan Ralph 1937 Loren Gammon Frances Wirts Lattin LeRoy V. Olson Edward L. Scouten 1938 Minnie D. Carlson Verona R. Jerabek 1939 Rosemary "Roxie" Pardun Morley 1940 Edward E. Cummings Virginia Grant Cummings Cyril L. Erb Mary L. Newby Karhan 1941 Albert Friedman 1942 Robert H. Claudius 1947 Marvin Gerber Robert A. Slabaugh, Sr., M.D. 1948 Janet Dyer Andrews 1949 Clarice Johnson Echandi Shirley Mitchell Bendorf 1950 Clifford W. Boyd Mary A. McAllister Muriel Reep 1951 Pauline Carrithers Merlin C. Keithly Harry J. S. Loft Albert G. McAllister 1952 Charles G. Knudson 1953 Henry P. Bockman
Class Notes
Burtrice C. Campbell Arlo R. Edmundson Elizabeth N. Henderson George E. Lindsay 1954 Margaret S. Yetter Foster 1955 Raymond H. Gaver 1956 Eleanor G. Bliven Federle 1957 Charles E. Lewallen Darrell E. Mattson James S. Mitchell 1958 Dorothy M. Saxton Chapman Mary Meyers Melhoff 1959 Roland F. Hansen James R. Hilty 1960 J. Don Gorrell 1961 Fred A. Darden Blance C. LaCroix Virginia M. Lazzaro Harry Mikkleson Lorraine A. Albrecht Wybenga 1962 Nancy H. Reasoner Furstenberg Benjamin F. Harden John H. Hatcher George W. Parker 1963 Norman E. Davenport Frederic R. Garlock Raymond F. Hansotte Earl L. Holcomb Edith M. Johnson William E. Keith Gardner W. Kendall Robert P. Ketcherside Theodore B. Lewis Russell P. Liscomb Milan R. Malec Frank J. McNeese Robert D. Smith Roland “Ron” L. Sund, Jr. 1964 Milton E. Ballard
Kenneth V. Byrd Marvin L. Corbin Hector W. Davis, Jr. Lee S. Henry, Jr. Alfred G. Houston Richard F. Inserra Milton E. Irons William H. Jones Robert Kruger Wallis E. McClain Carl M. McCoy 1965 Verlin G. Cantrell Robert L. Carpenter Robert W. Doms Arthur E. Herman Donald A. Lacy 1966 Richard C. McCollum James S. Miles Billy D. Starkey 1967 Casimer V. Gustas Sharon Wittsstruc Hadfield Jesse O. Hartsell Frank S. Vrablick 1968 Robert Alton Deane Craig L. Kulish Esther L. Lewis David A. Lundquist, Sr. Clair L. Mason Glen F. Redmond 1969 Curtis O. Christian Edward L. Haddix James R. Hoover Frank Lozito 1970 William J. Auell Joyce Schmitt Kruse Richard E. Kuhr 1971 Lucius J. Campbell Robert R. Horn James W. Kolm Harold J. Ranslem Richard A. Sommers
Lynda Summers Matthew Stewart 1972 Jon D Hurst 1973 Manning Cleveland Michael S. Hvezdos Robert J. Mauro, Jr. 1974 Bonnie S. Spencer Borders Mary Jane Kosiba Caputo Stanley M. Dubin Michael J. Gannon Alphonso Hall Roger D. Harms Shelby A. Meares Thomas C. Seebo 1975 Monte G. Fritz Julie K. Hughes Pink 1977 Mary J. Miller Guthrie 1978 James T. Dedloff 1979 Martha J. Barrett 1980 Marilyn S. Murray 1981 Karen Fisk Ditlev Terri Juelfs Wietfeld 1982 Stephen R. Paige 1986 Lauri A. Noonan 1987 Mark J. Goodspeed Linda M. Webber Houser 1988 Joseph A. Awsiukiewicz 1989 Teresa A. Micek 1991 Cheryl A. Emsick Morrow 1994 Karen A. Meisel Clark 1995 Sheila M. McDermott
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