UNO Alum - Winter 2004

U N I V E R S I T Y

O F

N E B R A S K A

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O M A H A

A L U M N I

A S S O C I A T I O N

www.unoalumni.org

WINTER 2004

Join us for the 2nd Annual UNO Alumni Night on the Ice! Details next page

Spirit of the Season

UNO grad Orien Hodges helps “Santa’s Children”

Alumni Night on the Ice Join us for UNO’s 2nd annual

Friday, Jan. 7, 2005 7:05 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

UNO vs. Northern Michigan

J

Pre-game buffet at the

Hilton Hotel, 1001 Cass St.

The Puck Stops Here!

Contents

Winter 2004

Departments Fine Arts 6-8 UNO Winds sweeps Europe.

CBA 9 Internship leads to dream job.

CPACS 10-11 It was a very good year.

Qwest Center Omaha

oin fellow grads for the 2nd annual Alumni Night on the Ice featuring:

Arts & Sciences 12-16 I/O Program ranked among nation’s best.

• Pre-game buffet reception at the new Hilton Hotel-Omaha.

Association in Action Service awards issued.

• Glass-enclosed sky bridge from reception to game.

Cover Story

• Door prizes.

• Free Mav Tattoos and Mav ThunderStix for the kids.

All that for just $15!

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Per-person cost of $15 includes game ticket and pre-game buffet (hot dogs, chips, pasta salad, baked beans, cookies and sodas). Cash bar available. Parking available at Hilton’s indoor garage (entrance on Cass St.) for special UNO alumni rate of just $5 (half the regular rate). Hockey tickets will be distributed at the reception. Parking stickers will be available at the reception to be presented to the parking attendant when leaving. Tickets must be paid for by cash or check at time of registration. Registrations can be submitted by completing form below and returning with payment (check or credit card). For more information, call Sheila King at (402) 554-4802 or toll-free at UNO-MAV-ALUM (866-628-2586). Email inquiries to sking@mail.unomaha.edu.

RETURN FORM BY Dec. 31, 2004: To attend, fill out the form below, detach and mail with your check to: UNO Alumni Association, 60th & Dodge, Omaha, NE 68182. For more info call toll-free UNO-MAV-ALUM (866-628-2586) or e-mail sking@mail.unomaha.edu

Sign us up for UNO Alumni Night on the Ice Jan. 7!

Name

Address

Reserve me

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State tickets at $15 each I have enclosed $

q Visa q MasterCard q Discover

for the tickets

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Class Notes Promotions, moves, etc.

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UNO graduate Orien Hodges is taking care of “Santa’s Children.”

Native Daughter, Native Dreams

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Charlotte Wetzel has taught second grade in Red Oak, Iowa, for 55 years—most of those in the same classroom.

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Gordon Sweeney has won seven Emmy awards for his work behind the camera.

Phone

Peace March

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Laurie Fulton’s journey to the Peace Institute began with a step at UNO.

Zip (Make checks payable to UNO Alumni Association).

Eye of the Storm

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Recent grad Cathy Younger faced down Hurricane Ivan the Terrible.

Exp. Date_________________

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Names for Name Tags (please include childrens’ names and ages) w w w. u n o a l u m n i . o r g

Sharing the Wealth Dick and Mary Holland shy from publicity, but it’s hard to hide generosity like theirs.

Editor: Anthony Flott Contributors: Sonja Carberry, John Martin Fey, Tim Fitzgerald, First Nations University, Warren Francke, Eric Francis, JPI Studios, Joe Mixan, Ophir Palmon, Nick Schinker, Kevin Warneke.

Denise Henning works for the dream of a Candian university “unique to the world.”

Bold, Beautiful, Behind the Camera

Signature:

Card No.

On the cover: Spirit of the Season

Charlotte’s Web

Email Address

Charge my credit card:

Future Alums Grads-to-be.

Features

• Special seating and recognition during game.

City

37-39

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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.

Winter 2004 • 3

Letter from the

A

Chancellor

A shared destiny

s Omaha celebrates its 150th birthday in 2004, we are reminded that the city and its metropolitan university share a history . . . and a destiny.

For the past 96 years, UNO has been a part of Omaha’s progress— educating students, advancing knowledge, and partnering with the community. Creating linkages across diverse interests, and lending expertise, helps us capitalize on opportunity. Engaging with the community, promoting academic excellence and serving students are reflected in our Strategic Planning vision and goals and, most importantly, in our accomplishments.

During UNO’s annual Fall Convocation in October, I summarized the campus’ progress toward achieving its three strategic goals. Many factors point to success in focusing on students: • New freshmen increased 6.7 percent this fall, and 27 percent since 1997; • Retention of these freshmen is 75 percent, 5 percent higher than our peers; • Retention of minority students is 80 percent, up nearly 20 percent since 1996; and, • Our current six-year graduation rate is 38 percent, 17 points higher than seven years ago when I arrived at UNO. Still other achievements demonstrate our commitment to academic excellence: • Of the 10 progams in Nebraska included in U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Graduate School” rankings, seven are at UNO—five in the College of Public Affairs and Community Service (CPACS).

• The College of Education’s CADRE program received one of four national Christa McAullife awards for educational excellence.

• The Goodrich Scholarship Pogram was honored with a 2003 national certificate of Excellence by the American Council on Education.

• And, external grants and contracts totaled $15 million last year, and $60 million during the past five years.

Finally, our community engagement goal is reflected in more than 300 separate activities and programs undertaken last year. Among them: • The Nebraska Business Development Center packaged more than $54 million in small business loans.

• The Peter Kiewit Institute works through local high schools to acquaint students, particularly women and minorities, with opportunities in information technology.

• Fine Arts enhanced our community with Shakespeare on the Green, the Ecoutez Series, and a host of concerts, recitals and performances.

• And, CPACS is home to a number of community-directed outreach programs, investing $1 million each year in programs benefiting the university and Omaha citizens.

As the story of Omaha and its metropolitan university continues to be written, UNO pledges to “be there” fulfilling its role as a steward of place and a partner for progress. Happy 150th Birthday, Omaha!

Happy 96th Anniversary, UNO! Until next time,

4 • Winter 2004

Campus SCENE

Mark Your Calendars: Sunset comes to the UNO campus, one of the 12 beautiful color photographs to appear in the 2005 UNO display calendar published annually by the UNO Alumni Association and given to annual fund donors of $25 or more. To reserve your calendar, which mails in December, send your donation today!

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Winter 2004 • 5

College of

Fine Arts

UNO musical “Winds” sweeps across Europe he citizens of Omaha’s newest sister city gave an how much they were looking forward to the concert. A Tenthusiastic welcome to the first musical group from standing-room-only crowd greeted the SWE. Two different Omaha to visit since the “twinning” agreement was forThe Leader News malized.

The UNO Symphonic Wind Ensemble (SWE), conducted by Dr. James Saker, chair of the department of music, began its fourth international tour with a visit to Naas, Ireland. The travel party was comprised of 46 student musicians, Associate Conductor Dr. Erica Neidlinger, flute soloist Dr. Christine Beard and six family members.

The Symphonic Wind Ensemble at the Omaha Beach Cemetery following their performance at the D-Day Commemoration.

The ensemble’s first performance on the tour was presented to the students and faculty at the Killashee National School, followed by another concert at Holy Child School. In addition to the school students and faculty, a number of parents attended the performances. As a portion of the concert presentation, small groups from the SWE prepared special selections to introduce their specific instruments to the students.

The following day included sightseeing in nearby Dublin and a walking tour and history lesson in Naas led

by Mayor Conway. SWE performed later that evening in the newly renovated Moat Theatre.

From the moment the students arrived, everyone in the town from the local barber to the pharmacist seemed to not only know about the group’s visit, but also mentioned 6 • Winter 2004

newspapers reviewed the concert. described the performance as “a stunning success and the capacity crowd gave the (SWE) three standing ovations.

The reason for visiting Naas was the fact that Omaha is twinned with Naas, and it certainly was a cultural milestone in the twinning arrangement.” The Times referred to the twinned association and to SWE as a “first-class ensemble.”

The London portion of the tour included a visit to Trafalgar Square, followed by a Royal Stroll down Whitehall Street towards the River Thames and Big Ben led by Dr. Saker. Many of the students took advantage of their two nights in London to attend concerts, musicals or theater productions. A midday concert at the Band Shell in Regents Park was well received by the group’s London audience.

On June 5, the SWE departed London for Dover to meet the ferry for the transfer across the English Channel to Calais, France.

Although the official D-Day commemorative events were scheduled to be held on the beaches near Caen, the closest accommodations available were in the city of Rennes, about two hours south of Omaha Beach.

Consequently, an early wake-up was necessary on June 6 to ensure an on-time arrival at the Pointe du Hoc 60th Anniversary Commemoration of the D-Day Landings.

Of the 225 Army Rangers who attempted to scale the cliffs of Pointe du Hoc, only 75 survived their D-Day assignment. Among the dignitaries, military officials, veterans, and other guests were nine of the surviving Rangers. The Wind Ensemble performance took place both as the rangers were escorted to the 60th Anniversary Commemoration and again at the conclusion of the program.

The repertoire programmed for this performance included a special composition commissioned by the SWE, the “Pointe du Hoc Commemorative Fanfare” by Master Sgt. Larry MacTaggart, arranger and composer for the United States Air Force Band in Washington, D.C. After a final evening in Normandy, it was off to Paris for the final concert of the tour. A beautiful, cloudless day helped attract a large crowd for the Wind Ensemble’s midday concert at the Gazebo in Luxembourg Gardens. A Parisian audience estimated to number near 1,000 greeted each musical selection with enthusiasm. Several encores were called for and joyfully presented.

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Faculty in Focus — New for 2004-05 Wanda Ewing

Wanda Ewing, an Omaha native, joined the art and art history faculty as an assistant professor this fall. Ewing earned her bachelor of fine arts degree in printmaking at San Francisco Art Institute in 1997, her MA in printmaking from the University of Iowa School of Art and Art History in 2001, and her MFA in 2002 with a thesis entitled, “The Voyage an Artist of Color Makes and All the Baggage That Is Carried With.” After graduation Ewing taught art at Metropolitan Community College and, most recently, was the residency coordinator for the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts.

In the past year Ewing has participated in Omahome, a collaborative show at the Hot Shops Studio where she has studio space of her own, and the MidAmerica Print Conference open portfolios night in Lincoln, Neb. She currently has a printmaking piece in the Roots and Crown—UNL Printmakers Exhibition, where she received a Recognition Award.

Though printmaking is Ewing’s primary art form, she also enjoys making woodcuts, painting and doing collage work. When Ewing is not teaching or making art, she enjoys traveling, listening to music and collecting shoes.

Barry Ford

Barry Ford earned his bachelor of music degree in 1987 at the Northwestern University School of Music, where he studied trumpet.

While at Northwestern he began studies in conducting, arranging and composition.

After teaching for several years in the public school system, Ford w w w. u n o a l u m n i . o r g

began studies of composition and orchestral conducting at the University of Missouri in Columbia, where he earned a master of music degree in orchestral conducting in 1995.

Active as a trumpeter, composer, clinician and conductor in nearly every type of music, Ford currently is an instructor of music at UNO. Before coming to Omaha he served as professor of trumpet at the State University of Pará and the Carlos Gomes Conservatory, as well as conductor of the Orquestra Sinfônica do Theatro da Paz and the Amazônia Jazz Band in Belém, Brazil. In addition, Ford has dedicated himself to the composition of symphonic and chamber works.

D. Scott Glasser

D. Scott Glasser joined the UNO Theatre faculty in 2004 as head of the theatre directing program. Previously at UNO, he directed “Marat/Sade,” “Top Girls” and “Into The Woods.” As director, actor and teacher, Glasser has worked with such theatres as The Guthrie Theatre, Boston University Opera Institute, Minnesota Opera, The Children's Theater Company (Minneapolis) and the Utah and Nebraska Shakespeare Festivals. For NSF he directed “Julius Caesar,” “The Winter’s Tale,” “Hamlet,” “The Tempest,” and, in 2004, “King Richard III.” Originally from Brooklyn, N.Y., Scott received a bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Geneseo and an MFA from Cornell University.

From 1975 to 1979 he was on the faculty and helped create the theatre program at Willamette University in Salem, Ore. Glasser was a founding member of the Dakota Theatre Caravan, a theatre collective that created plays about and for the people of the rural Plains. He also was a resident actor, direc-

tor and education director at Actors Theatre in St. Paul.

Between 1980 and 1993 Glasser was associated with the Playwright’s Center in Minneapolis, where he worked on the development of original scripts as director, dramaturg and actor. He also served as the artistic director of Madison Repertory Theatre from 1993 to 2002.

Paul Eric Pape

Paul Eric Pape received his MFA from the University of California San Diego with an emphasis in scenic and costume design in 2002. A UNO alum (BADA, 1999), he now is the current scenic design professor and technical director.

Paul has designed for The Nebraska Shakespeare Festival, Ash-Lawn Highland Opera Festival, La Jolla Playhouse, Spirit Marketing and Meadows Basement Productions, to name a few. In 2001, Paul was awarded the Princess Grace Foundation Award for Excellence in Scenic Design, as well as the Fabergé Award for Design Excellence for his work on Neil LaBute’s “bash; latter-day plays.”

His work also has been recognized by the Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival (KC/ACTF) for excellence in scenic design. In 2002, Paul designed the set for the world premiere of Doug Wright’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play “I Am My Own Wife.”

Paul also invented and started a business around true-to-scale, laser die-cut paper furniture called Pop-Out Furniture. Only 2 years old, the business now has four product lines which are carried by BMI Supply and Rose Brand, two of the nation’s largest theatrical supply distributors, as well as Dee's Delights, the nation’s largest distributor of miniatures and miniature supplies.

A professional hobbyist, Paul also creates stop-motion animat-

ed shorts, works on commercials, industrials and sculpts. Paul just finished designing the set for Mary Zimmerman's “Metamorphoses” at UNO and currently is working on “Rosmerholm” for UNO and “Dead Monkey” for Kitchen Dog Theatre in Dallas.

D. Anthony Trecek-King D. Anthony Trecek-King, conductor, cellist, and technologist, is an assistant professor of music at UNO, where he teaches music appreciation and audio recording techniques, and directs the University Chorus. As the conductor of University Chorus and the assistant conductor of Concert Choir, Trecek-King has conducted in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Russia and Finland. He currently is the assistant artistic director of the Nebraska Choral Arts Society, where he conducts the Masterworks Chorus. TrecekKing has served as the music director of Heartland Harmony Summer Music Festival, which he founded, and Elkhorn Hills United Methodist Church.

As a conductor, he also has performed with the Florida State Symphony, Del Mar College Summer Youth Orchestra, and the UNO Media Colloquium. TrecekKing serves as the director of the Media Laboratory and the Coordinator of Recording Services at UNO. He has taught at Peter Keiwit Institute’s Academy of Excellence and UNO’s CyberKids Camp.

Along with his digital recording and editing, Trecek-King has written many computer compositions for websites and digital videos.

Trecek-King holds a master of music degree from Florida State University, where he studied conducting. He currently is pursuing a doctorate from the University of Missouri, Kansas City Conservatory of Music.

Winter 2004 • 7

College of

College of

Fine Arts

Business Administration

European vacation for UNO Concert Choir

CBA internship helps new graduate land dream job

urope welcomed the University of Nebraska at Omaha Concert Choir to a variety of cities this summer, the list of stops during its twoweek visit including Berlin, Leipzig, Prague, and Vienna.

The Concert Choir, directed

by Dr. Z. Randall Stroope, performed in churches and universities.

Braunschweig, an Omaha sister city since 1992, was the choir’s first stop with a performance at the CaroloWilhelmina Technical University, one of UNO’s sister universities.

At right is the Concert Choir at Goslar, Germany.

E

elani Reynolds tried it her way. Then she tried it the

MCBA way.

Photo courtesy Brian Battistone

College of Fine Arts Calendar of Events December 2004 through March 2005

Art & Art History Shows held in UNO Art Gallery, 1st Floor, Weber Fine Arts Building. Opening receptions begin 6:30 p.m. Gallery closed Jan. 17 and March 13-20. Dates and events subject to change.

Call 554-2796 for information.

Jan. 18 – Feb. 18 Frogman Prints: Frogman Collects, Opening Reception, Jan. 4 Jan. 18 – Feb. 18 Heart & Hands: Concept and Construction in StudentArtist’s Books, Opening Reception, Jan. 4 March 6 – 25 Spring 2005 UNO Art Student Exhibition, Opening Reception, March 4

Masters & Music Series Sunday evenings at 5 p.m. in the UNO Art Gallery, 1st Floor, Weber Fine Arts Building.

Reception with artists follow lectures/performances. Call 5542402 for ticket information.

8 • Winter 2004

Jan. 30 The Art and Science of Preservation Julie A. Reilly, Head of the Nebraska State Historical Society’s Gerald R. Ford Conservation Center, Dr. Christine Beard & Members of the Heartland Flute Choir.

Dec. 9 UNO Chamber Orchestra

Music

Jan. 30 Nebraska Wind Symphony Concert, 3 p.m.

Performances start 7:30 p.m. in Strauss Performing Arts Center Recital Hall unless otherwise noted. Doors open 30 minutes prior to concerts; seating nonreserved. Call 554-2335 for Resonate tickets.

Dec. 3 Prevailing Winds IV – Symphonic Wind Ensemble, University Concert Band, & UNO Jazz Ensemble

Jan. 16 Sundays at Strauss Organ Concert, TBA Jan. 23 Ecoutez!, Robert Belinic, guitar

Jan. 31 Heartland Philharmonic Concert, 7 p.m.

Feb. 6 Nebraska Brass Concert, 3 pm Feb. 19 Ecoutez!, Bobby Shew, jazz trumpet

Dec. 4 UNO Concert Choir and University Chorus Holiday Concert, 4pm & 7:30pm

Feb. 27 Heartland Philharmonic Orchestra: Immortal Beloved, with UNO Concert Choir

Dec. 5 Heartland Philharmonic Orchestra: Variations

Mar. 3 University Chorus / Nebraska Choral Arts Society Concert TBA

Mar. 8 Heartland Philharmonic Orchestra: Sweatin’ to the Oldies University Chorus Concert Mar. 10 University Band Concert Mar. 11 Resonate, Tomm Roland, percussion * Resonate concert tickets $5 for adults/$4 for students. Ecoutez! season tickets $55 per person (includes reserved parking adjacent to Strauss). General admission $15. Students admitted free with I.D. Call 554-3427 for tickets and information.

Theatre Performances start 7:30 p.m. in UNO Theatre, Weber Fine Arts Building, unless otherwise noted.

For tickets, call UNO Theatre Box Office, 554-2335.

Nov. 18–20, Dec. 1–4 Playboy of the Western World Feb. 24-26, Mar. 2-5 Rosmersholm

UNOALUM

Now she’s leading the way for Omnium Worldwide, Inc. Reynolds, who graduated from the College of Business Administration in August with a BSBA degree in marketing, landed her “dream job” three months prior to even earning her diploma. That was in May, when Omnium hired her as its marketing coordinator.

A CBA marketing internship made it all possible, she says.

As a sophomore, Reynolds had submitted letters to a number of advertising agencies in Omaha seeking an opportunity to gain work experience while pursuing her degree. But there were no takers, many of the responses suggesting Reynolds wait until she had more marketing coursework under her belt.

A year later, Reynolds learned about CBA’s internship program. “This process was so much easier than looking for a job on my own,” she says. “Firms that were readily seeking interns posted positions on the CBA Internships website.

Working with Dr. Holland was another advantage because she was available to answer my questions.”

Coordinating the CBA Internships program is Dr. Jonna Holland, also a member of CBA’s marketing faculty. “Dr. Holland sent me on interviews with several companies,” Reynolds recalls. “I ended up with two incredible internship offers.”

One was from Omnium Worldwide, Inc., an accounts receivable management and cost containment company (see sidebar). The offer was especially appealing to Reynolds because it provided the flexibility her schedule needed. Omnium hired her in the fall of 2003 as a student intern in its marketing department.

“Laura Knapp and Hoa DeBusk supervised my internship at Omnium,” Reynolds says. “They were great to work with and gave me a chance to really learn about marketing. At the interview, they asked me what I wanted from the experience.”

The internship provided an opportunity to be involved in the company’s marketing projects. Reynolds helped create drafts of presentation materials later used by Omnium’s business development department to present to potential clients or to expand current client relationships. “I knew there might be some of the usual internship responsibilities, but I also received the opportunity to write business proposals and work with the proposal w w w. u n o a l u m n i . o r g

database.” She also was given the opportunity to try her hand at graphics while designing signage for the operations floor and to assist in tradeshow planning.

Though the internship as a for-credit course was completed by the end of the year, Reynolds’ stay with the company wasn’t; Omnium asked her to stay on as an intern through the following spring. When that stint was up, Omnium in May this year offered her a full-time post as its marketing coordinator.

Looking back, Reynolds sees how her internship duties fit into the overall marketing process. “As an intern, I did tasks to contribute and started to get a feel for the

Omnium—Worldwide with UNO Headquartered in Omaha, Omnium Worldwide, Inc. provides overdue accounts receivable management services for a variety of providers in industries, including healthcare, communications, financial services and insurance. The company employs more than 850 people in 10 branch offices across the country. Its marketing department is centralized in Omaha and consists of 10 people, including three CBA interns and one recent graduate.

process. Now I’m responsible for the entire process.” As marketing coordinator, Reynolds does forecasting and tracks budgets, and plans and develops materials for initiating and growing relationships with clients. She oversees the planning and preparation of events scheduled for tradeshows. Researching industry and marketing trends and applying them in ways that help clients reach their goals are among her new and challenging responsibilities.

Says Holland: “Internships are the perfect win-win situation. Students get the opportunity to see what characteristics they want in a future career, and companies can see firsthand if interns have the qualities they seek in future employees.”

Winter 2004 • 9

School of

Public Administration Aviation Institute

Public Administration

Urban Studies

A very good year for School of Public Administration t was a very good year for UNO’s School of Public Administration—and there’s more than a month remaining! Among the school’s highlights for 2004:

1999 report commissioned by the Omaha Community Foundation (OCF)

Acalled for an increase in the number of community development corpora-

Top (left to right): Chris Rodgers, mayoral aide; Paul Landow, chief of staff; Mayor Mike Fahey; Pete Festersen, deputy chief of staff; and Angie Anderson, project assistant.

Right, Dr. Dale Krane, professor of public administration

• The Aviation Institute completed development of a proposal for a new bachelor of science in aviation degree. Public administration completed a comprehensive self-study in preparation for the re-accreditation of its MPA degree in 2005.

•External funding totaled $1.6 million from federal sources such as NASA, EPSCoR, Housing and PA ALUMNI Urban Development, ON THE WEB Environmental Protection Agency, and Alumni please visit the School’s Health and Human alumni web page and update Services. your information. Visit: • Expansion of the spa.unomaha.edu Visiting Faculty Program and click on “Alumni.” to include more speakers to enrich student learning and faculty research.

• The Aviation Institute’s Nebraska Space Grant Consortium earned NASA’s highest rating for excellent performance during its 15-year program evaluation.

• Dr. Mary Hamilton, past executive director of the American Society for Public Administration, joined the school as a senior executive-in-residence.

• Cooperation with the City of Omaha increased. Dr. Carol Ebdon was tapped to serve as finance director for the City of Omaha. Dr. Russell Smith initiated a project to increase collaboration between the City of Omaha and neighborhood groups interested in code enforcement.

• Dr. Gary Marshall became the third public administration faculty member to receive the UNO Alumni Association’s Alumni Outstanding Teaching Award.

• Initiated a partnership with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Architecture to provide office and classroom space for the Lincoln MPA program.

• Dr. Richard Box was selected to serve another term as editor of Administrative Theory & Praxis journal; Dr. Brent Bowen (Aviation Institute) continued as editor of the Journal of Air Transportation.

• Three public administration doctoral students had articles published in their field’s leading academic journal, Public Administration Review.

• Dr. Ken Kriz was named a Fulbright Scholar to lecture and research in Estonia during the 2004-2005 academic year. While in Estonia, Dr. Kriz also will be affiliated with the Eurofaculty Program.

• Defined five new clusters for the Ph.D. program in public administration: public budget and finance; public aviation and transportation; public policy; urban management; and citizenship and democracy.

10 • Winter 2004

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• U.S. News and World Report’s 2005 edition of “America’s Best Graduate Schools” ranked the school’s master of public administration degree (among 259 programs nationally): - 26th best public management graduate program; - 8th best information technology program; - 21st best public budgeting and finance program; - 29th best urban management program.

• New University of Nebraska President James B. Milliken was tenured as a professor in the school.

• Dr. B.J. Reed served as president of the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration • Private donor and community support for scholarships and paid internships exceeded $100,000 for urban studies graduate students preparing for careers in housing and community development.

Urban Studies answering the call for more professionals tions in the Omaha area.

The report—coupled with requests from the housing development community and interest shown by a private donor—resulted in the creation of the new Housing and Community Development specialization in the master of science in urban studies degree.

Thus far, four students interested in careers in housing and community development have been awarded scholarships covering tuition, fees and books. In addition to their full-time graduate coursework, students work in paid internship positions supported by the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority, the City of Council Bluffs, and the Fannie Mae Nebraska Partnership Office. Each student also participates in professional development workshops and other skill-building opportunities throughout their twoyear program.

The first two students supported by scholarships will graduate in 2005 and are expected to then take positions in community-based organizations.

Graduate students Michela Keeler (left) and Elaine The new specialization adds to the School of Public Administration’s ongo- Placido. ing work with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and its support each year of three MPA and MSUS students who are preparing for careers in community building.

Helping Nebraska’s Small Airports s part of its broader SATS research program, faculty from public administration (Dr. Robert Blair) and aviation (Dr. Scott Tarry) collaborated with the UNO Center for Public Affairs Research and the Nebraska Department of Aeronautics to conduct a survey of Nebraska’s public-use airports.

The survey provided important information about the governance of these airports and the perceptions that local officials have about the current role and potential impact their airports might have on local economic development and mobility within the state.

The survey also provided NASA’s SATS program with important information about prospects for improving small community air transport on a national level.

A

w w w. u n o a l u m n i . o r g

Small Aircraft Transportation System

or the past three years, Dr. Scott Tarry (Aviation Institute associate professor) has

Fcoordinated the efforts of a diverse team of researchers from the School of Public

Administration, UNO Center for Public Affairs Research and UNL College of Engineering.

The Collaborative Research Team (CRT) has been instrumental in providing NASA with information and analysis related to air transport for rural and small communities.

Recognizing that many communities in Nebraska are not well served by the nation’s existing airline system, CRT members and their NASA counterparts are exploring ways to bring more affordable, safe and reliable air transport to small and rural communities across the nation through the development and deployment of advanced light aircraft and new business models.

The research has been supported by NASA EPSCoR funding and has enabled CRT members to successfully compete for research grants from the Research Triangle Institute and the National Consortium for Aviation Mobility.

NASA Space Grant Consortium

he Aviation Institute’s NASA Nebraska Space Grant & EPSCoR programs have

Tenjoyed tremendous success during the past year. Led by Dr. Brent Bowen, pro-

fessor of Aviation and Aviation Institute director, Nebraska currently receives the greatest amount of funding nationally from NASA for these two programs. Funding, with match, currently exceeds $2.4 million annually.

In July 2004, the NASA Nebraska Space Grant Consortium earned NASA’s highest ranking for the Consortium’s excellent performance during its 15-year program evaluation, resulting in a five-year program extension. NASA’s program manager for the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program (Space Grant), Diane DeTroye, congratulated the Nebraska Space Grant on its “exceptional achievement and national leadership,” specifically applauding the success of Native American community engagement in Nebraska.

Winter 2004 • 11

College of

Arts & Sciences

I/O program ranked among nation’s best

he news is out: UNO’s I/O Psychology program is one of the best in the nation.

That according to the Industrial-Organizational Psychologist, which in its July 2004 issue ranked the university’s master’s degree in I/O psychology sixth best among more than 100 similar programs across the country. UNO’s doctorate in I/O psychology ranked 19th out of 55 similar programs in the United States.

“We’re excited about the survey results, because the success of our graduate students is very important to our faculty,” said Roni Reiter-Palmon, director of UNO’s I/O psychology graduate program.

The field, which traces its origins to the early 1900s, is the application of the psychology of human behavior to the workplace. I/O psychologists, in essence, help enhance the effectiveness of organizations. “We try to increase the job performance of individual employees and groups, as well as the efficiency of the organization as a whole,” Reiter-Palmon said. “We’re concerned with the welfare of the worker, as well as the organization.”

I/O psychologists design systems that run the gamut from eliminating bias and discrimination in the hiring process to identifying and rewarding the most meritorious employees through performance appraisal. The field is driven by the collection and analysis of data. “Our conclusions are based on facts, so when we make recommendations to managers and executives, they know there is a whole body of science behind those recommendations,” Reiter-Palmon said.

The UNO I/O psychology graduate program provides students with a variety of research and field experiences, in addition to relevant course work.

Students are encouraged to become involved in Photo by Ophir Palmon local and national profesRoni Reiter-Palmon, director of UNO I/O psychology graduate program. sional societies appropriate to their career goals.

About half the students in the I/O psychology graduate program at UNO come from Nebraska. Another quarter hail from throughout the Midwest, and the remainder come from either coast and as far away as India, Japan and Korea.

UNO I/O psychology grads have secured a variety of positions in industry, consulting firms and academia. That includes Andy Noon, a personnel assessment and measurement consultant at Mutual of Omaha. Noon received his MA in I/O psychology from UNO in 2001 and currently is pursuing his Ph.D. As a psychology undergrad at UNO, Noon worked full time as a grocery store manager. “The first I/O class I took really resonated with me,” he said. “I was learning about things that I could apply to situations occurring in my store.”

Today, Noon’s duties at Mutual involve special projects relating to succession planning, leadership and retention issues. As the company’s first I/O psychologist, he’s helping Mutual of Omaha pioneer a new corporate approach to human resources issues. “I don’t think I could have been more prepared for my career,” Noon said.

“The faculty at UNO prepare you to be successful.”

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12 • Winter 2004

Graduate student receives EPA award or the first time in the university’s history a UNO student has received a prestigious fellowship issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Marlo Sellin, a graduate biology student, received a 2004 Greater Research Opportunities (GRO) Fellowship for Graduate Environmental Study. The EPA awarded just 20 of the $27,260 awards in 2004, issuing them to master’s and doctoral stuMarlo Sellin dents in academic disciplines related to environmental research, including engineering and the physical, natural, life and social sciences.

Sellin, a native Omahan who received her bachelor’s degree in biology from UNO in 2002, is a graduate student in Associate Biology Professor Alan Kolok’s lab.

Kolok is investigating the role that exposure to toxins plays in potential health risks. His research is funded by a two-year, $102,843 grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in conjunction with its Academic Research Enhancement Award program. Sellin’s research is focused on the maternal transfer of copper and cadmium in the fathead minnow—a common stream fish—and its long-term effects on reproduction and behavior.

“Marlo’s successful competition for this award is impressive, as she was competing with the best and brightest environmental biology students in the nation,” Kolok said. “Her work is at the core of my laboratory’s research program, and the results of her research are destined to shape the research interests of my laboratory for years to come. This is a truly major accomplishment.”

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UNO Arts & Sciences around the world he College of Arts and Sciences provides the core of the liberal arts education at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. The meaning of a “liberal” education has changed substantially since first coined in medieval times, when it meant an education appropriate to “free” men—men whose financial and social standing freed them from the onus of a vocation.

Today, a more common interpretation of “liberal” education is one that sets people free through enlightenment: freeing them from assumptions or prejudices that result from the limited geography and social interaction of their daily lives; and freeing them to think, to evaluate, to reason from a broad base of knowledge about their world.

Keeping current on knowledge of the world and discovering or creating new knowledge are challenges our faculty embrace. They often travel the globe in pursuit of better understanding, and they bring that understanding back to our students and our community.

From the physical mysteries of the Antarctic to the political complexities of Ireland, Israel, and Cuba, members of our faculty are on the frontlines of learning.

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Cuba—Political Science

ith two books and numerous articles published on

Wthe subject, Jonathan Benjamin-Alvarado is recog-

nized as one of our country’s leading specialists in the Cuban nuclear energy program.

An associate professor of political science and assistant director for research and outreach in the Office of Latino and Latin American Studies, Benjamin-Alvarado also has been instrumental in facilitating contacts between Cuban energy officials and representatives of Omaha’s HDR, Inc., an architecture and engineering firm, regarding future sustainable development in Cuba.

That includes participation in interna- Benjamin-Alvarado tional conferences on sustainable energy policy and technology transfer in 2003 and 2004.

Last May he took a group of UNO students, faculty and staff to Cuba as part of “Cuba at the Crossroads,” a three credit-hour political science course that offered an indepth look at the political, economic and social reality of post–Cold War Cuba.

In addition to daily lectures, the travel study included meetings with Cuban journalists, economists, elected officials, artists and students. Visits also were made to the Cuban Institute of Ballet, the University of Habana and various museums and cultural centers. The trip was one of many Benjamin-Alvarado has made to Cuba for his research. w w w. u n o a l u m n i . o r g

Antarctica—Geography/Geology ichael Peterson, professor of geography/geology, spent six months at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, as international collaborator on the Cybercartographic Atlas of Antarctica Project. The $2 million project, funded by the Canadian government, is developing an online atlas portraying, exploring and communicating the complexities of the Antarctic for education, research and policy purposes. The atlas will highlight the global importance of Antarctica as the continent of science and peace.

Peterson worked on the design and research stage.

The team also is developing an online atlas of Canada’s trade with the world. Both online atlases will be complete by the end of 2006.

Peterson also served as cartographic consultant to Weldon Owen, Inc., of Sydney, Australia, for a publication entitled “The Illustrated World Atlas,” and was the regional specialist for the United States. The atlas, published in September, was developed under the guidance of a team of international cartographic and specialist thematic map consultants and contains more than 400 maps. Included for each continent are satellite views and physical, political and human impact maps. A separate European edition of the atlas was published simultaneously.

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Ireland—Philosophy/Intl. Studies ory Conces, religion and philosophy, in late July con-

Rducted a seminar at Queen’s University in Belfast,

Northern Ireland. The seminar was entitled “The Myth of Sisyphus Redux: The Pathology of Ethnic Nationalism and the Pedagogy of Forging Humane Democracies in the Balkans.” The Institute of Governance, Public Policy and Social Research at Queen’s, and two private organizations (The deBorda Institute and Democratic Dialogue) sponsored the seminar.

Israel—Religious Studies

uy Matalon, religious studies, will lead a delegation

Gof UNO faculty to Israel in December 2004. The delegation will include Paul Williams, religious studies, and William Blizek, philosophy and religion. The three will serve as visiting lecturers at Western Galilee College in the city of Acco. While there the UNO delegation will discuss ways of creating an exchange program for faculty and students of WGC and UNO. Gary Day, College of Fine Arts, Carol Lloyd, Education, and Cassia Spohn, criminal justice, also will join the delegation.

Winter 2004 • 13

College of

Arts & Sciences

International Conferences take center stage at UNO

A Project of Democracy

nternational concerns took center stage at UNO during two longstanding annual conferences held in mid October.

The 27th annual Global Strategic Studies Conference (GSSC) was held Oct. 14-16 under the theme of “Perpetuating the Democratic Experience in a Hostile and Fragmented World.” The 29th annual European Studies Conference (ESC) was held concurrently as an interdisciplinary gathering of more than 100 scholars from colleges and universities across the United States and from abroad.

The GSSC is an interdisciplinary and intercultural forum dedicated to the widest possible combination of scholars, practitioners and participants in its dialogue.

Topics at the conference included: the rise and demise of democracy; peacekeeping and violence; economic and social development in urban and rural areas; third world literature and fine arts; gender issues in the developing world; religion and conflict; the spread of AIDS and other medical challenges; problems and solutions in education; and Orientalism vs. Occidentalism.

Among the speakers: • Ghaleb Darabya, counselor for political and congressional affairs for the Palestinian Mission to the United States. Darabya recently was appointed as assistant to Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath.

• Robert Schwartz, director of political and media affairs for the Consulate General of Israel to the Midwest.

• Charlotte Ponticelli, senior coordinator for international women’s issues at the U.S. State Department and with previous posts in the White House, the U.S. Agency for International Development and the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.

“Having both a Palestinian and Israeli represented at the conference is important for us,” said Tom Gouttierre, dean of UNO’s International Studies and Programs. “It’s a matter of being fair to both sides of a longstanding and serious Middle East issue, and it provides our attendees here in Omaha with a direct connection to the conflict.”

The European Studies Conference featured 34 panels from a variety of disciplines including art, history, literature, current issues and future prospects in cultural, political, social and economic fields, education, business, religion, foreign languages, philosophy, music, theater and film. Keynote speaker at the ESC luncheon was Bruce Garver, the Martin Professor of History at UNO. Tatyana Novikov, foreign languages, was conference chair this year.

GSSC program Chair Dr. Rory Conces said that the GSSC’s mission initially was to disseminate information about world affairs. It was, and is, an avenue for scholars to present at the conference and then publish in the

“Twooed and won by youth.”

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14 • Winter 2004

International Third World Studies Journal and Review (available online at http://avalon.unomaha.edu/itwsjr/).

Conces said the two conferences were linked together for the first time last year. Participants at both conferences benefit by attending sessions in either conference.

Getting through that first year emember that first year at UNO? Navigating the maze of oddly named buildings, wondering where to turn for help and struggling not to begin your grades transcript with “incompletes,” or worse?

Too bad you didn’t have the First Year Experience Program at your employ as today’s UNO freshmen do.

A collaborative effort involving faculty and administrators across campus, The First Year Experience Program aims to improve retention of UNO’s first-year students through courses designed to acclimate new students to college life.

Though retention of first-time, full-time, degree-seeking freshmen has risen steadily during the past 10 years (reaching 73 percent in 2002), those involved in the First Year Experience Program believe many students in the remaining 27 percent could be successfully transitioned to the UNO community through the First Year Experience.

First Year Experience courses generally are four credit hours in a variety of subjects that commonly make up a freshman’s schedule, explains FYE Coordinator Jody Neathery-Castro, political science. “The new model takes the best of college success strategies formerly taught only in courses for ‘at-risk’ students and incorporates those strategies into the content of first-year courses available to all UNO students,” said Neathery-Castro.

Regardless of subject matter—English, history, chemistry, etc.—First Year Experience students are taught techniques for organizing their work and their time and a variety of study strategies. They then are required to apply those techniques and strategies immediately to the content of that course. Each of the courses is team-taught by a full-time faculty member from the content area and an instructor from UNO’s Counseling Services. Students also are required to attend several campus events and to investigate the resources available to them.

In addition to getting the students familiar with the campus and providing them with practice in good study habits, instructors in these team-taught courses create a classroom atmosphere that helps each student to realize his or her individual importance.

Instruction is interactive and student-centered. Discussion and dialogue are encouraged during class and instructors hold individual interviews with each student.

“Students develop closer relationships not only with instructors, but also with fellow students,” said Neathery-Castro. “All of these advantages keep students interested in and happy with college. All of these advantages are, of course, only possible in classes limited in size to relatively few students.”

Neathery-Castro emphasizes her gratitude to the faculty of the program and to administrators like Michael Skau, English department chair, and Deborah Smith-Howell, former director of the School of Communication and presently assistant vice chancellor for academic affairs, who found the precious resources to dedicate to the program.

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he world,” said Winston Churchill, “was made to be

Are today’s youth, though, ready to woo and win the world? A look at voting trends among 18- to 24-year-olds prompts doubts (though some figures from the 2004 election indicate a possible increase in youth voting).

Nationally, cites the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), youth voting has declined by 13 percent from 1972 to 2000. In Nebraska, the drop is 16 percent.

Guided by a liberal arts goal to cultivate an educated and engaged citizenry, UNO is exploring this issue through a national initiative launched by The New York Times and The American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU). The multi-campus initiative, the American Democracy Project (ADP), seeks to create Debate Watch participants sat at round tables in front of large televian intellectual and experiential understanding of civic sion screens, facilitating debate and conversation. engagement in the United States in the 21st century, said Jody Neathery-Castro, an associate professor of political UNO. science and ADP faculty liaison.

Neathery-Castro also plans to work with other UNO The project’s goals are twofold: groups, such as student organizations and leadership • To increase the number of undergraduate students programs, the Service-Learning Academy and the who understand and are committed to engaging in American Humanics Program, to collaborate on civic meaningful civic actions by reviewing and restructuring engagement opportunities. academic and extracurricular activities, as well as the instituLove letters, baseball and the American Grassland tional culture on participating rts and Sciences faculty publish in a variety of media–scholarly and creative–as writers or edicampuses; and tors. Among the variety of interests and talents of our faculty are three books published in 2004: • To focus the attention of “Not Just Any Land, a Personal and Literary Journey into the American Grasslands” by John Price, policy makers and opinion English, focuses on Price’s journey toward a new personal commitment to his home region—the leaders on the civic value of Midwest—and its natural environment. That process also leads him through the region’s literature the college experience. and into conversations with contemporary nature writers—Linda Hasselstrom, Dan O’Brien, William Least Heat-Moon and Mary The ADP is taking root at Swander—who have devoted UNO in a number of ways. themselves to living in, writAcademic and Student ing about and restoring the Affairs has awarded 12 minigrasslands. grants for individual ADP proj“Idleness Working, the Discourse of Love’s Labor ects. The School of from Ovid through Chaucer Communication together with and Gowerby” by Gregory the Religious Studies program, Sadlek, English, is an origifor instance, used two of these nal scholarly exploration of mini-grants to organize a series the presentation of love as labor in classical and of Debate Watches. Students, medieval literature. Sadlek faculty, staff and members of offers that the juxtaposition the general public gathered in of the “work” of love and the the student union to watch the more commonly accepted “passion” of love is more than an intriguing foil and allows us insight into presidential debates and to disnot only the philosophies of those times but also into our own traditions.

“Playing for Their Nation, Baseball and the American Military during World War II” by Steven cuss the issues. The Political Bullock, history, examines the unique role that military baseball played in the lives of WWII soldiers, Science and History as well as the affects of WWII on major league baseball. Bullock employs military documents and Departments arranged for elecnewspaper articles as well as personal accounts from players like Joe Dimaggio to draw a poignant toral college expert Gary L. picture of a nation at war.

Gregg to lecture Oct. 12 at

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Winter 2004 • 15

UNO

Athletics

Arts & Sciences

Blizek takes on Arts & Sciences development role rofessor William L. Blizek has taken on the challenge of coordinating development efforts for the College of Arts and Sciences.

“Bill has been a big supporter of the college ever since coming here in 1970,” said Dean Shelton Hendricks.

“He knows the college, its faculty and the community and will do an excellent job of assisting all college supporters in finding the proper home for their donations.”

Blizek will assist in making prospective donors aware of the many opportunities for giving donations to the College of Arts and Sciences. He also is charged Professor William L. Blizek with making certain that the proper recognition is given donors and that the college receives the recognition it merits through the media and university publications.

“I am delighted to be able to provide this service for the college,” Blizek said. “The College of Arts and Sciences has numerous funds through which alumni, friends of the college, faculty, students and staff can show their support of the college. Scholarships, faculty development, faculty chairs, purchase of books and trav-

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el are among the types of funds that are already established to benefit the faculty, staff and students of the college.

“In addition to funds that are already established, anyone interested in showing their support by establishing a new fund is always welcome. I can help prospective donors explore areas in which new funding is needed or existing areas in which their donations will make a difference.”

Blizek has been a professor of philosophy and religion since his arrival at UNO. He has served as chair of the department on several occasions and currently is chair of the religious studies program. His areas of interest include ethics and religion and film. In 1997, he founded, with Dr. Ron Burke, The Journal of Religion and Film (JR&F), now in its eighth year of online publication. The journal examines the description, critique and embodiment of religion in film.

He has served as a juror for the HotShops Film Festival and as a consultant for the Jewish Omaha Film Festival.

He also covers the Sundance Film Festival for the JR&F and in his spare time is an avid golfer.

Anyone interested in discussing funding opportunities with Blizek may contact him: via email at wblizek@mail.unomaha.edu; by phone at (402) 5543347; or by mail at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, ASH 205, 6001 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE 68182-0265.

Notes from Arts & Sciences alumni Bob Mazur

Bob Mazur graduated in 1970 with a major in mathematics and economics. He pursued a career in banking, working for such companies as Citibank and Bank of America and for the Federal Reserve Bank. He retired early and now is living in New Orleans.

Bob says, “There are a number of schools with much better name recognition than UNO. These schools are much more Mazur difficult to get into and are also are much more expensive. UNO provides a very high caliber of faculty and is large enough to provide the selection of courses that allows a student to take their education to whatever level they choose to take it. I feel my education at UNO was second to none and never felt like I had to take a back seat to any of my working 16 • Winter 2004

peers from big-name schools. There are two additional benefits of attending UNO. The first is the fact that when a person graduates they don’t face a lifetime of repayment of student loans. The second benefit is that a person is being educated in the Midwest, which brings with it a certain amount of grounding and good basic values. I couldn’t be happier with the results of my education at UNO.”

Bob Nelson

Bob Nelson (BA, 1967, political science) is vice president of life and estate planning at Grace/Mayer Insurance Agency, a past national president of the 70,000-member Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) and a retired U.S. Navy captain. “My Nelson degree in political sci-

ence led to an interesting military intelligence career, both on active duty and in the Naval Reserves,” Nelson says. “The influence of Professor Harry Reynolds has lasted a lifetime and served me well in both the military and business.”

Susan Silver

Susan Silver, who has an MA in English from UNO, is a writer living in Omaha. “The English faculty enriched me immeasurably and broadened my thinking on many levels,” she said. “I would not trade a minute of my experience at UNO.” Silver currently is working on a series of books that take a metaphysiSilver cal/philosophical approach to evaluating and solving many of today’s problems. She is working on her 12th book in the series.

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Trio of former Mav greats enters UNO Hall of Fame hree former athletes who led their teams to national

Tprominence make up the newest class of inductees

tournament during her career.

Thompson was the first quarterback in NCAA Division II to rush and pass for more than 1,000 yards each in a season, doing so during the 1997 season. He repeated the feat the following season. The Cambridge, Neb., native began his Maverick career as a wide receiver in 1995 as a true freshman. He was switched to his natural position at quarterback in 1996 and led the Mavericks to the North Central Conference championship and an NCAA II playoff berth in a 10-2 season. UNO also won the NCC title in 1998 and advanced to the playoffs with Thompson at the helm. UNO was 27-8 during his career at quarterback.

into the University of Nebraska at Omaha Athletic Hall of Fame.

The trio—two-time national wrestling champion Braumon Creighton, softball All-American Toni Novak Geary and football standout Ed Thompson—was inducted at the 29th annual Hall of Fame Banquet Nov. 3. UNO began its Athletic Hall of Fame in 1975; this year’s class brings the total number of members in the Hall to 83.

Creighton was a four-time All-American while winning national titles at 134 pounds as a junior and at 141 pounds as a senior. He compiled a 151-27 record during his 1995-99 career, the second-most wins in school history. Creighton was fifth at 126 pounds as a freshman and third at 134 as a sophomore. While a Maverick, he helped lead the team to two NCC titles and two runner-up finishes in the NCAA II tournament. He is one of just eight wrestlers to earn four All-American plaques during his career.

Novak Geary was a three-time all-NCC softball player during her 1994-97 career and earned firstteam All-American honors as a senior. In addition, she also earned three berths on the NCC all-academic team and was the 1997 Omaha Sportscaster’s Association Sportswoman of the Year.

She set career records for hits, runs and stolen bases, and she finished with the fourth-best career batting average at .338. The Mavericks posted a Photo by Tim Fitzgerald 194-52 record, won four-straight NCC titles and The 2004 UNO Athletic Hall of Fame Class: from left, Ed Thompson, Toni Novak Geary and Braumon Creighton. posted four top-five finishes the NCAA II national

Mavs net NCC title, but no playoff berth Mixed emotions accompanied the end of the UNO football season.

The Mavs ended the 2004 campaign as outright champions of the North Central Conference, posting a 5-1 mark in league play and 8-3 overall. It was UNO’s sixth NCC championship and first since 2000.

UNO, however, did not qualify for the 16team NCAA Division II playoffs after dropping its final game 20-13 at Minnesota State. The Mavs entered the game ranked No. 15 in the country and No. 4 in the Northwest Region. The top six teams from

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each region advanced to the playoffs, which began Nov. 13. The field included St. Cloud State and North Dakota, teams UNO beat during the regular season.

The Mavs are the first outright champion of the NCC not to be selected to the playoffs since South Dakota in 1978.

In the final game, running back Jamar Day (right) scored his 17th touchdown of 2004 to set a UNO single-season record.

Quarterback Brian Masek set the career mark for total offense, moving to 6,552 yards. Both players are juniors.

Photo by Tim Fitzgerald

College of

Winter 2004 • 17

Ticket to Cooperstown

By Kevin Warneke

D

ave Ogden couldn’t hit a lick. His throwing arm was suspect, as was his fielding. He made the freshman baseball team at his high school in Illinois – but just

degree in communication. As a graduate assistant, he taught public relations courses.

Midway through his program, he approached his instructors and mentors, Drs. Hugh Cowdin and Bob Carlson, with his plan to write his thesis about baseball and audience demographics. He expected to whiff on his proposal, but they agreed, and Ogden headed to Rosenblatt Stadium to get to know Omaha Royals fans.

“The ‘aha’ in my research findings was that women not only attend as many games as men, but they listen to games on the radio as often. The older these women were, the more

barely.

“They gave me an old uniform, let me practice and sat me on the bench,” he recalled. “I didn’t play an inning.”

So ended Ogden’s short baseball career. Not, however, his passion for the game.

These days, Ogden, assistant professor in UNO’s School of Communication, is making a name for himself among baseball researchers. He’s discovered that a 500 home-run career isn’t the only way to get to Cooperstown.

Ogden has presented his research findings seven times at the Cooperstown Conference in Baseball and Culture, sponsored annually by the Baseball Hall of Fame and State University in New York at Oneonta. Each visit to baseball’s hallowed grounds reinforces Ogden’s decision to pursue a sport he couldn’t play, but could certainly analyze.

Ogden’s love for baseball developed as a youngster growing up in Lewistown, Ill. He describes his roots in baseball terms: Lewistown is 100 miles northeast of St. Louis; 150 miles south of Chicago.

“Call it a demilitarized zone. You were either a Cubs fan or a Cardinal fan. There was no in between.”

His mother followed the Cubs; his father was a Cardinal fan. Ogden, naturally, developed a passion for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

“I liked Clemente,” he says of Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente, who led the Pirates to victory in the 1960 and 1971 World Series.

Ogden then begins to recite Pirate lore, possibly as a way to justify the choices he has made or, more likely, because he simply can’t help himself.

“Groat at short, Hoak at third. Mazeroski at second. Clemente, Virdon . . .” He would go on, if not stopped.

Move ahead 30 years, and Ogden was leading the University of Nebraska Medical Center public relations department, but yearning to teach.

He left the medical center in 1988 and Photo by Tim Fitzgerald returned to UNO, where he had received his He grew up in Cubs and Cardinals country, but Ogden was, and remains, a undergraduate degree, to earn his master’s Pirate fan.

18 • Winter 2004

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often they attended and listened.”

Degree in hand, Ogden headed to Wayne State College to teach in its Communication Arts Department and advise the campus radio station.

His department chair at Wayne State approached him one day with a brochure about a conference being held in Cooperstown–for baseball researchers and writers. Ogden thought he was kidding.

His proposal described how baseball broadcasters focus on the game, but have disdain for any discussion about the business aspect. The review committee accepted his proposal, and Ogden was headed to Cooperstown.

Ogden’s adventure only gets better. He learned that attendees have free reign at the hall during the conference.

He saw his idol’s World Series ring and his locker room chair, and the batting circle, taken from old Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. He tried to imagine Clemente waiting in the ondeck circle.

“That circle contained cleat marks of all the guys I followed.

I couldn’t move for 10 minutes.”

Ogden is making a name for himself among baseball researchers and writers, said Bruce Markusen, former program manager for the Hall of Fame.

“Over the past several years as I have gotten to know David, I’ve noticed he’s a very thorough researcher–someone who has enthusiasm for his interests in baseball.”

Baseball writers and researchers are an interesting bunch, Ogden said. About a dozen are regulars at these conferences.

Others come and go.

The hard-core researchers know the game, he said. While some focus on such mainstream topics as the business of baseball, the dead-ball era and the Negro Leagues, others have chosen more obscure approaches.

One researcher focuses on umpires. “He can tell you who umped what game, any game.”

Another focuses on players who have died while in action.

“One player died after he was bitten by a poisonous snake.”

When this crew gets together during conferences, talk turns to the obscure. They’ll name their all-fish teams–Steve Trout, Tim Salmon and Benji Gil. Or the all-meat teams–Bob Veal, Wally Berger and Rob Deer.

Ogden’s research now focuses on the dwindling number of African-American youth who are playing baseball. He first noticed the problem while watching his son play in baseball tournaments as a youngster. Most teams field rosters made up entirely of Caucasian players.

The answer, he said, comes from the elimination of routines built around baseball.

He once read how Negro Leagues legend Buck O’Neill would reminisce about when the Kansas City Monarchs would play in Chicago. Churches with African-American congregations dismissed early so baseball fans could attend the games.

“Baseball no longer is the center of attention in these youngsters’ lives,” he said. “The routines no longer are about baseball. They may be about football or basketball, but they aren’t about baseball.”

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The hard-core baseball writers and researchers know the game. Some focus on mainstream topics—the business of baseball, the Negro Leagues. Others choose more obscure approaches: one researcher focuses on umpires; another focuses on players who have died while in action (one player died after he was bitten by a poisonous snake). When this crew gets together during conferences, talk turns to the obscure. They’ll name their all-fish teams–Steve Trout, Tim Salmon and Benji Gil. Or the all-meat teams–Bob Veal, Wally Berger and Rob Deer.

His research also is examining what he labels as ineffective efforts by Major League Baseball to reverse this trend. Major League Baseball created a program, R.B.I (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities), that has proven to be ineffective—even if baseball won’t admit it, he said.

“You have to get kids to start early,” he said. “R.B.I focuses on youth who are much older. You’re not going to begin playing baseball when you’re in junior high school.”

Other baseball research Ogden has conducted focuses on how: • The media made a scapegoat out of Steve Bartman in Game 6 of the 2003 National League Championship Series.

Bartman was blamed for interfering with a Cubs player trying to catch a foul ball in the Wrigley Field stands. Ogden’s research showed that the media already was looking for someone or something to blame for the Cubs’ demise before the game even was played.

• Why baseball players chew spit tobacco when they know it can cause oral cancer. His preliminary findings indicate “scare tactics” used by anti-tobacco organizations are not effective. Ballplayers use spit tobacco, his research indicates, to help them relax, not because they believe it will help their performance.

Winter 2004 • 19

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Photo courtesy First Nations University

By Nick Schinker enise Kiona Henning’s arrival in Omaha culminated the move of her life. From a small community college in Iowa to 15,000-student UNO. From single mother to a new marriage. From her home in Oklahoma, where as a Cherokee/Choctaw Indian she had spent the first 29 years of her life, to the largest metropolitan area in Nebraska.

It was not an easy move to make.

Her mind was packed with the trials of her youth—the poverty that accompanied her parents’ work as laborers, and the frustrations of struggling in poorly-equipped schools alongside other Native American children. Her fears, though, were tempered by the sacrifice of her ancestors, whose perseverance against impossible odds had sparked in her a dream of building a doorway in the walls that had been placed around Indian people for so long.

Her incredible drive, her eagerness to learn every aspect of the educational process, and her ability to see things differently were recognized immediately at UNO, where in 1993 she became the first student to graduate with a minor in Native American Studies.

Those qualities still serve Henning, who today is vice president of Academics at First Nations University of Canada in Regina, Saskatchewan.

“Denise is an extraordinarily fine model for Native American people throughout North America,” says UNO Professor of Philosophy and Religion Dale Stover. “She is a great example of how to use education to empower oneself.

Indeed, how to truly make it happen.”

For Henning, it all started back in Oklahoma when she was singing in a rock-and-roll band.

UNO Professor Dale Stover on Henning: “She could see how things worked, and Music long had been a part of her life, as evishe has this imaginative gift of seeing how we could do things differently. She denced by the names of her three daughters from would always be the one to suggest the next step.” her first marriage: Harmony, Melody and Symphony. identity as a Cherokee woman was so deeply rooted that it While singing one night, Henning was approached by made her very straightforward and uncomplicated about her someone from Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa. They ethnicity.” talked of opportunities for minorities. Henning applied for Henning says Stover and others at UNO made a huge and received a one-year scholarship to study music and comimpact in the course of her life. “One of the biggest issues for munications at Simpson. After earning 4.0 grades—and meetme and others like me is self esteem and the belief that you ing future husband John Henning—she left Iowa for Omaha to can achieve,” she says. “From my very first class at UNO, peoattended UNO and to get married. ple cared about me. And they were willing to reach out and Professor Stover taught one of her first courses, in the fall tell me so.” She calls Stover “the first mentor of many.” He of 1990. “She was a woman in her 30s with no academic backprodded her by saying he believed in her. “My suspicions of ground who had gone back to school,” Stover recalls. “She him as a white man made me think, ‘Yeah, right,’” Henning came across as a very hard-working student, but what immesays. “But he was willing to stand up and say, ‘You have so diately struck me was her intrinsic intelligence. I think her much to offer.’”

20 • Winter 2004

UNOALUM

That gift helped her when she interned as a coordinator for the MASTER Success Program in UNO’s Multicultural Affairs Office. It helped her become instrumental in the founding of American Indian Studies programs at UNO and later at New Mexico State University. It helped her when she served as Executive Director of Intercultural Programs at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa.

And it will help in her new position at First Nations University. The 28-year-old college has 2,000 students on campus and another 500 enrolled in distance or community-based education delivery. Ninety-eight percent are indigenous aboriginal people.

“This institution is unique to the world,” she says. “It is setting the standard for indigenous post-secondary education through its mission ‘to enhance the quality of life and to preserve, protect and interpret the history, languages, culture and artistic heritage of the First Nations.’

“I am committed to increasing the awareness of, and the support for, the higher educational goals of indigenous students.”

Stover says Henning, 45, has the skills to do it.

“When she was at UNO, every Native American student on campus knew who she was. She had that kind of impact.

Now, at First Nations University, the projects she directs will have a resonance in Native American studies here in the U.S. and throughout North America.”

Henning says administrators and faculty at First Nations educate by reinforcing the values and knowledge of Native American traditions, and increasing the understanding of how those traditions coincide with the values of the dominant culture. In turn, the university hopes to significantly increase awareness of Native American issues.

Her goal is simple. And personal.

“I see a future where our people won’t have to go to school and feel what I felt. Our institution does that, and we’re doing it from our own perspective. Our students can walk proudly knowing who they are.”

As they do, they are walking though a doorway that once was just a dream.

About First Nations University

More info at www.firstnationsuniversity.ca

• Created In May 1976 as the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College (SIFC through an agreement between the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations and the University of Regina).

• First opened doors in fall 1976 with nine students and six programs.

• More than 2,500 students have graduated since then. Today, one-quarter of students come from outside Saskatchewan and represent every province and territory in Canada.

• Three campuses: Regina, Saskatoon, Prince Albert.

• Ten academic departments and/or schools.

• Since 1983, more than 25 agreements signed with indigenous peoples’ institutions in Canada, South and Central America, and Asia. Other agreements have been signed with academic institutions in Siberia, Inner Mongolia, and Tanzania.

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Photo courtesy First Nations University

Native Daughter, Native Dreams

Stover once told her he could see her as a doctorate student. She says she laughed out loud. Five years later, Henning earned her master’s degree from UNO. In 1998, she earned her Ph.D. from New Mexico State University in educational management and development with an emphasis in educational anthropology. Looking back, she says, Stover’s words seem more like genuine encouragement than prophecy. “This was a person who believed in me until I could learn to do it for myself.”

Soon, she began to listen. And learn. “I discovered in my first semester that I really was smart, I really could do things, and that I had potential I didn’t know was there. It was an awakening.”

While she can name many people at UNO who influenced her life, Professor Stover was a key. “I think what he sees is potential,” she says, explaining his gift. “Instead of making them a victim of their potential, he helps people reach their potential.”

She says Stover and others at UNO, including thenChancellor Del Weber and his executive assistant, Barbara Maroney, changed her preconception of college professors and administrators. “Before UNO, I saw them as being the sole owners of knowledge. But they helped me see that I was responsible for what I learned.”

Stover says that among her many talents, Henning has a knack for persuasion. “By the fall of 1991, she had persuaded the Native American student organization to request the faculty to begin a program in Native American Studies,” he says, “which was subsequently launched in the fall of 1992. As a graduate student, she persuaded Chancellor Weber to place her in his office as his first and probably only graduate assistant.”

Henning proved to be an invaluable resource, both to the UNO administration and to Stover, who served as the first coordinator of the Native American Studies program.

“Even though she was a student, she functioned as a peer,” he says. “She could see how things worked, and she has this imaginative gift of seeing how we could do things differently.

She would always be the one to suggest the next step.”

Winter 2004 • 21

takes a seat, Wetzel is a “natural” at teaching. It was about comes a new member to her class’ family. The kids prove they 1948 when Nelson student-taught the young Wetzel in the believe it by having a short debate about whether this visitor same second-grade classroom that would become Wetzel’s. would be like an aunt or an older cousin.

“I’d say it’s her dedication to the children,” Nelson says of One of her “hard workers” reads “Don’t Let the Pigeon Wetzel’s accomplishments. “And she’s interested in everyDrive the Bus” and all the kids laugh together at the funniest thing around her.” part. Next come facts about the White House and past presiFor Wetzel, discipline has always been Job One. “The student’s pets. dents have to help each other, they have to be quiet and they Miss Charlotte deftly leads the class, gently reminding a have to follow directions,” she says. student to sit down and giving the slightest second glance to Over the years, Wetzel adapted to shifts from large class ensure he has. Minutes later a faint but pleased stretch of her sizes (42 was her biggest) to small, the trend toward positive grin suggests pride at a student’s interesting observation. reinforcement over punishment and national initiatives like The kids fall all over each other to talk about their field No Child Left Behind. “Every generation is different. You trips—including monthly visits to a senior center—and how learn every year,” she says.

Miss Charlotte rewards them with Iowa nickels for reading 20 At present, Wetzel has no plans for retirement. books.

“I am blessed that my health is good. If my health isn’t Barely 30 minutes have elapsed when the kids launch into good, I will retire,” she says. song: “The more we get together, together, together, the more As if on cue, a student who benefited from Wetzel’s relucwe get together the happier we’ll be,” led by Miss Charlotte’s tance to retire steps into the room with his father. experienced harmony.

Phylip Keat, now a sixth grader, Then this tall, sturdy, darkwrote the letter that resulted in haired woman continues her visiMiss Charlotte’s latest teaching tor’s field trip by heading to a award and the $5,000 cash prize she quiet room across the hall for The ones who have influenced the life I live. used to buy benches for the school. some show and tell.

Are those unaware they had something to give.

He wrote the letter, “Because If an obvious question for a she’s my favorite teacher and I woman whose career stretches They never expressed it in mighty fanfare, think she made me a better stuback to the Eisenhower adminisBut did it in ways which they were unaware dent,” Keat says. tration is her earliest challenge, Perhaps it was a word of a remark that was says Amazingly better, according to imagine being nonplussed by Phylip’s father, Jack. shaking hands with the answer.

Or something they wrote that I read, “He was struggling with school Richard and Suneva Simpson, Some undeserved kindness, a word of good cheer, when he went into Miss Charlotte’s parents of a past student, have Advice which they gave me when my path wasn’t clear. class. She taught him to read in her dropped by to explain how they class. We went from struggling to met Miss Charlotte in about 1951. An example they set or act done in love. straight As.” The Simpsons were facing havOr many more things which they’re unaware of.

Phylip’s favorite thing about ing to institutionalize or homeThen they’d slip away in the pages of time, Miss Charlotte? school their blind son, Chris, “We went on a whole bunch of because his first prospective Unaware of the treasures they left behind. field trips,” he says. teacher turned them away.

- Charlotte Wetzel Buck Laughlin, Inman Richard Simpson recalls the Elementary principal, estimated teacher dismissing Chris as too much work. “So I asked Miss Charlotte and she said, ‘It would Miss Charlotte embarks on up to 15 field trips a year as part of her “life” curriculum. be a challenge.’ We wanted Chris to belong to the community “Charlotte understands the importance of being there every and that’s what he got from Miss Charlotte’s class,” he says. single day for the kids not just academically, but for their Wetzel sums her role simply: “I just learned Braille right development as individuals,” he says. “There’s a real sense of along with him.” community in the classroom. Miss Charlotte wants each and Suneva Simpson remembers how Miss Charlotte had Chris every student to realize they have special contributions to hold up flash cards for the other kids—cards on which Miss make to society.”

Charlotte had Brailled the answers, albeit rather primitively It’s the end of the school day, but this field trip isn’t over because she didn’t have a Braillist’s stylus. until Miss Charlotte’s students give their visitor 21 individual But she made do. hugs, and gifts—some trail mix made in class that day, an “I Chris became valedictorian of his class, went to college and love you” sign language pin and an apple-shaped gourd. enjoyed a lively career playing piano and drums professionalMaybe what’s helped Miss Charlotte keep up the pace for ly in Miami before dying of cancer.

55 years is the contagious good cheer and excitement of her “Without Miss Charlotte, he might not have had this students. chance,” Richard Simpson says. “She just tackled anything “They’re still young and they love you,” Miss Charlotte that came along,” Suneva Simpson adds. says.

According to Rosie Nelson, who slips into the room and

Treasures Left Behind

Charlotte’s Web

Photo by Eric Francis

by Sonja Carberry

O

bserving Charlotte Wetzel teach her second-grade class in Red Oak, Iowa, sounded like a slice of apple pie. It was, and there were extra treats: being bowled over by the kids’ polite exuberance; wowed by the frenetic pace; astonished with a human show-and-tell of people whose lives were changed by “Miss Charlotte.”

For 55 years, Wetzel has taught second grade in Red Oak, most of those years in the same classroom. The UNO alumna completed her bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 1968 after working for nearly 20 years with a two-year degree.

Since then, the Iowa Veterans of Foreign Wars, Wal-Mart (for Iowa), Red Oak Rotary Club and Farm Bureau have recognized her as “Teacher of the Year.” She also has been named

22 • Winter 2004

to the Who’s Who Among American Teachers and received the Ak-Sar-Ben Good Neighbor Award and Excellence in Teaching Award from the Iowa State Education Association.

For Wetzel, the true reward is seeing positive changes in her students’ young lives. She’s reluctant to talk about herself. But she is pleased to show off the class where she has instilled solid learning, impeccable manners and a sense of community in approximately 1,100 students—and counting.

On arrival, a visitor to Inman Elementary School’s secondgrade class is given the best chair in the room, Miss Charlotte’s. Twenty-one students crowd around on the floor and stand one-by-one to introduce themselves.

Miss Charlotte doesn’t just introduce the visitor, she welUNOALUM

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Winter 2004 • 23

Spirit of the Season

By Anthony Flott, Editor

O

rien Hodges got the call on a Thursday. A terminally ill 10-month-old boy, only six pounds and weakening rapidly, was given mere days to live. Four other brothers and sisters were at home. Christmas was near, but the family was strapped. “They had absolutely nothing under their Christmas tree at all,” Hodges recalls.

Within minutes, Hodges was on the phone placing calls throughout his hometown of Walnut, Iowa, and asking for help. On Sunday, ministers in Walnut churches passed the request on to their congregations. “We needed things, whether it be baked goods, canned goods, clothes or toys,” says Hodges. By mid-afternoon that same day, remembers Hodges, “we were just inundated with things to take to this family. We had to have four or five gals wrapping packages. There was more than we could take to this family. They had a good Christmas.”

One presented by none other than Santa Claus himself, who came whirring into the family’s drive that day riding atop a fire truck.

Actually, it was Hodges. And it wasn’t the first time he had brought Christmas to a child.

A 1967 UNO graduate, the 59-year-old Hodges regularly dons red suit and white beard to portray Santa Claus for terminally and seriously ill children and children in crisis. He’s done so since 1998 through his Santa’s Children Christmas Village, visiting around 7,500 children in that time, mostly in Iowa and Nebraska, but in surrounding states, too. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley recently praised Hodges in the Congressional Record while addressing a “Supporting Children in Crisis” session.

“We all want to try and give back at some point and time,” Hodges says. “This is definitely my way of giving back to society, if you will. I think there’s more of this type of thing that needs to be done by more people. You can work your life away and become a millionaire and everything else, but to be able to touch a child’s life in some form and give them a little happiness is pretty good.”

Christmas is something of a way of life for Hodges. An entrepreneur who has started several of his own businesses, his full-time gig is owner of Country Classics, touted as Iowa’s largest year round Christmas store. The store, which he’s owned for 16 years, operates in downtown Walnut, Iowa’s “antique city” (46 miles east of Omaha).

Ten years ago, while watching a morning television program, Hodges saw a feature on Bill Dieterle. Based in Cleveland, Dieterle had long been playing Santa for terminally ill children, visiting about 3,500 dying children and their fami-

24 • Winter 2004

lies each year. He also began Santa's Hide-A-Way Hollow, a 96-acre facility in Middlefield Township, Ohio, where he’s built a replica of the North Pole.

“This needs to be done in more than one place,” Hodges remembers thinking after seeing the piece. A couple of years later he saw another program featuring Dieterle and now jumped into action, pursuing a similar effort, in the summer of 1997. Hodges visited Dieterle in Cleveland and took note of his operations. He also took six courses in fund-raising management and received a certificate in fund-raising management from UNO. He earned 501c3 status as a nonprofit company, incorporating Santa’s Children Christmas Village in May 1999. An eight-member board of directors was established and partners pursued to help offset some of the costs—most of which to that point had come out of his personal pocket.

There’s a payoff, though—the moment a child sees Hodges stroll through the door wearing his $1,400 red suit (extra padding required) and accompanied by his helper elves. “One thing you have to remember is they’re children, and if a child is seriously or terminally ill, you can’t always tell that,” Hodges says. “We know because we find out before we go in.

But that child reacts very normally to Santa Claus. He or she is happy, their eyes bug out and they just have a great time.

They grab a hold of your leg and hold onto your arm.”

The visits take place in homes and elsewhere, often with Hodges arriving astride not a red sleigh but a red fire truck. To date, Hodges has turned in all the Santa performances, hundreds of times. Various volunteers have donned elf-wear, including 11 from last year’s graduating class at Oakland High School.

Visits have been made to Omaha’s Children’s Hospital, the UNMC transplant center, the Ronald McDonald House, Open Door Mission and Lydia House and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Gifts and funds for the children now come from individuals and more than 40 companies who contribute a percentage of sales on merchandise. The latter includes Pipka and Prizm, Inc., who early on dedicated a portion of the sales from each “The Carpenter Santa” collectible, opening with a $25,000 contribution. Other sponsors include American Gramaphone (Chip Davis is national spokesman), Iowa Family Crafters and others.

Percentages of some sales in Hodges’ own Country Classics store also are contributed. Monies are distributed to other charities, including the Child Saving Institute, Iowa’s Heart Connection Children's Cancer Programs, Red Cross in New York and Give Kids the World in Florida.

“The mission is to make a lot more kids happy if we possibly can through helping other charities,” Hodges says. “That’s the big key to everything we’re doing.”

Now Hodges is expanding his organization’s focus from UNOALUM

The suit cost $1,400, but the smiles Orien Hodges gets in return from Santa’s Children are priceless. children to K.I.D.S. That’s short for Kids in Distressed Situations, a New York-based charity of leading retailers, manufacturers and licensors of children's products committed to helping children in need. Founded in 1985, K.I.D.S. encourages and facilitates donations of new apparel, shoes, toys, juvenile products and other items that benefit children who are ill, living in poverty or are the victims of natural disasters. These products are distributed directly though other charities. In the nearly 20 years since its founding it has donated more than $400 million worth of new merchandise to children in need, $35 million to two to four million children annually in the past decade.

Santa’s Children Christmas Village is joining the K.I.D.S. family. The plan is for Hodge’s group to work with fire departments in Iowa and Nebraska to get these products into the hands of the children in need within each of their communities. The goal is to raise $100,000 through the departments and sponsorships. Since K.I.D.S. returns funds at a minimum of a 10-to-1 ratio, that would bring $1 million in new merchandise to be distributed through the participating fire departments and, at times, Santa. The funds are needed to pay K.I.D.S. for freight from manufacturers and retailers to Santa’s Village and from there to the fire departments. Funds will w w w. u n o a l u m n i . o r g

Photo by Eric Francis

come from a $10 request from each firefighter, who in turn will ask local individuals and organizations to match their donations. In Omaha, radio station KEFM (96.1) will hold a toy and clothing drive for Hodges’ work.

Hodges isn’t done dreaming, either. He also plans for a Santa Village, “a magical place where children and their families can visit and meet Santa and experience Christmas anytime of the year.” Plans call for a North Pole theme with a Claus home, a Santa’s Visitors Center, a reindeer barn, the North Pole Express Depot, Santa’s Rooming House and an Elves’ Trade School. Sleigh rides will be offered during snowy times and train rides in other seasons.

“I have full vision of this going on for as long as I can do it and into the future from there,” Hodges says. “We’ll find someone else interested in doing Santa’s Village at that time and then we’ll continue.”

Calling All Santas

Hodges says that “If anyone out there reading this article is interested in helping be one of Santa’s elves or Santa himself, we sure would be willing to talk to them.” For more information see www.santaschildren.org.

Winter 2004 • 25

Bold, Beautiful . . . behind the camera

By John Fey

N

ot everyone who finishes college maps out a career plan. Not so with Gordon Sweeney. The day he graduated from UNO in January 1971, Sweeney knew exactly what he wanted to do with his degree in broadcast communication: Make it in Hollywood.

The only problem was, Sweeney had a vision but no job and no prospects. Still, he heeded the call to “go west, young man.”

So just 24 hours after receiving his diploma, Sweeney packed up his belongings, gassed up his car and headed for California.

“It was pretty scary,” Sweeney says from his home in Studio City, Calif. “I lived at home for all my college career. I jumped in the car, and I didn’t have much money in my pocket, like all college kids.”

Today, the 57-year-old Omaha native marks a quarter century as an Emmy Award-winning cameraman for CBS. He has spent most of the past 16 years as the longest-tenured cameraman for one of TV’s most popular soap operas, “The Bold and the Beautiful.”

“It’s a funny thing how you go down the road and doors open up,” Sweeney says, summing up the start of his career. “I never would have envisioned that the doors would open up for me.”

Sweeney knocked on a lot of doors before landing his first job in the television industry. He relied on some help from a brother in Los Angeles who worked as a dress manufacturer.

“I started selling, of all things, a dress line in Los Angeles,” Sweeney says. “I did that for three months.”

Little did Sweeney know that years later, he would be a cameraman for a soap opera that centers around the Los Angeles fashion industry.

“He really made it big,” says Norm Herzog, who this year retired as broadcast manager at KYNE, UNO’s campus television station. “He’s pretty humble. He lets his work speak for him.”

Herzog was a mentor of sorts during Sweeney’s undergraduate years. Sweeney came to UNO as a scholarship athlete for track coach Lloyd Cardwell. Recalls Sweeney: “In between track and television courses, Norm would let me work at the station. It really did excite me right away.”

Sweeney’s experiences at KYNE paved the way to a career that earned him seven Emmy Awards—six coming from his association with “The Bold and the Beautiful.”

Sweeney is humbled by his success but won’t forget his humble beginning.

He broke into television with Los Angles station KTLA. But

26 • Winter 2004

it took a lot of persistence before chief engineer Hector Highton gave Sweeney his first job.

“He hired me after about two or three months of calling him,” Sweeney recalls. “I said to him later, ‘Why did you hire me?’ He says, ‘I just got tired of you calling me all the time.’”

With his foot firmly in the door, Sweeney eventually became a boom microphone operator for various shows, including “Dinah,” which starred Dinah Shore. The show’s director, Glen Swanson, gave Sweeney’s career a boost with a letter of introduction to ABC, where he worked for a couple of years before moving to CBS. Sweeney’s first big break with CBS came on the groundbreaking sitcom “All in the Family,” where he filled in for a cameraman who was ill. Sweeney was thrust among cameramen who had 30 years experience on him.

“That was a nail-biting day,” Sweeney remembers. “There was a rehearsal day, and you shot it the next day. I was assured that the cameraman would come back the next day, but he didn’t.”

One of Sweeney’s early thrills came during his association with “60 Minutes,” in particular, a trip to Ronald Reagan’s California ranch to film an interview conducted by Mike Wallace.

Driving one of the equipment trucks, Sweeney found the path to the house impeded by several large oak tree branches.

“Lo and behold, here comes Reagan and his ranch hand riding on horses,” Sweeney says. “He says, ‘I see you have a problem here.’ I says, ‘Yeah, we can’t get the trucks through this road.’ He says, ‘We’ll take care of that right now.’

“So he sent the ranch hand to get a chain saw. We held the branch while Ron chopped the branch with the chain saw.”

Sweeney also recalled Reagan’s wife, Nancy, providing the CBS crew with home-baked chocolate chip cookies. “She was just a real delight, just a real sweet lady,” Sweeney says.

After 13 years of traveling the country, Sweeney joined CBS’ new soap opera, “The Bold and the Beautiful.” He says it’s been a great run.

“All these (actors) have become my friends,” Sweeney says.

“Some of them, I’m a little closer to than others.”

One of Sweeney’s closest friends from the show is leading actress Susan Flannery, who plays Stephanie Forrester.

“He and I have become good friends,” Flannery says. “I’m very fond of Gordon. He’s one of those outstanding professional people that you get a chance to work with in your career.

“Aside from just being a really terrific pro, he’s really a lovely, lovely gentleman.”

UNOALUM

Photo courtesy JPI Studios

Bold (Actor Jack Wagner packing heat as Dominick Payne), beautiful (Actress Katherine Kelly Lang as Brooke Logan Forrester) and behind the camera (Gordon Sweeney as himself) on the set of the popular CBS soap.

Flannery says viewers probably don’t appreciate the importance of a soap opera cameraman. “They contribute a lot to the show,” says Flannery, who has been with the show since it started in 1987. “You count on those cameramen to be there for you when the time comes. You can’t have people that miss the shot. They’re a very integral part of the whole process.”

Because soap operas air 12 months a year, cast members have little time to rehearse their lines.

“Some of the actors actually learn (their lines) right on the set,” Sweeney says. “They learn their dialogue by flubbing it and going through it.”

It often results in humorous—and colorful—moments that viewers don’t get to see. “We can’t talk about them,” Flannery says, laughing, “because it usually involves bad language. If you think the locker room is bad, sometimes that can be worse.”

There’s a bit of a Nebraska connection with the show’s cast.

Winsor Harmon, who plays Thorne Forrester, was a 1982 football recruit of Nebraska’s Tom Osborne.

“I was being recruited by pretty much everybody in the nation,” Harmon says, tossing out such names as Barry Switzer, Jackie Sherrill and even Bear Bryant. “Switzer was all

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flash. Tom just offered the Nebraska program.”

Harmon first committed to Osborne but later changed his mind and accepted an offer to play for Sherrill at Texas A&M. “To this day, without a doubt, it was one of the single biggest mistakes I’ve ever made,” Harmon says. “I think I could have started for Nebraska as a freshman. Osborne says that.”

Harmon left Texas A&M with a sour taste in his mouth. He used his handsome looks to become a male model before landing a role on “The Bold and the Beautiful” eight years ago. He, like Flannery, counts Sweeney as one of his friends from the show.

Sweeney says it’s been a pleasure working with Harmon and the others. And he couldn’t be more proud of his Emmy Awards. One of the seven trophies is on display at KYNE. Sweeney says he’s glad to give something back to his alma mater. And he’s grateful for an enjoyable career.

“I feel very fortunate to have taken this path,” he says.

“With luck at my side, I was in the right place at the right time.”

For Sweeney, heeding the voice to “go west, young man,” really paid off.

Winter 2004 • 27

Peace March

L

By Nick Schinker

cum laude from UNO in 1971. She attended Georgetown aurie Fulton has walked amid the University Law Center, once again graduating magna cum ancient Incan ruins at Machu laude, in 1989.

Her eldest daughter, Kelly Susanne, was born at Omaha’s Picchu in Peru. She has walked with Methodist Hospital in 1971. “We loved living in Omaha,” she Iraqi leaders seeking peace and stabili- says. “We lived north of the UNO campus in a little house on ty for their ravaged country. As a part- Burt Street. We enjoyed walking in Omaha’s green parks, and the amusement park (Peony Park) that was northwest of the ner in one of the top law firms in the UNO campus.” country, she has walked the halls of Party Time , Peace Time justice from the District of Columbia While in Omaha, Fulton was active in Democratic Party polto Texas and states in between. She has itics. She and Daschle left the city in 1972 to return to South Dakota to work on the Senate campaign of James Abourezk, gone into courtrooms on behalf of who was elected in 1973. They worked with him in Fortune 50 clients and walked out a Washington before moving back to South Dakota in 1976 to work on his field staff. winner.

When Abourezk announced he would not seek re-election, But the first step along her impresDaschle announced he would make a bid for the House of Representatives. “It was a 13-month campaign that was so sive career path took place at UNO.

“UNO was an interesting experience because the student body was so diverse,” Fulton says. “I had a Danish friend and a French friend, as well as students who were married and older than 21. I had many great friends among my classmates and faculty.”

A native of Sioux Falls, S.D., Fulton attended UNO because her husband, Tom Daschle, was stationed at Offutt Air Force Base—before a Congressional career made him a household name. “I attended UNO for only one year, my final year, having completed five semesters before entering,” Fulton says. “I completed the requirements for bachelor’s degrees in psychology and Spanish, but declared psychology as my major because I was allowed only one.”

She recalls that one of her professors had come from Ecuador and taught Latin American culture and literature.

“Her instruction influenced my lasting interest in Latin America, both in terms of following political and cultural developments through news articles and writings, and in my travels to Central and South America,” Fulton says.

She has been to Peru, Bolivia, Mexico, Belize and Guatemala, and at the time of this interview was planning her first trip to Ecuador. One of many highlights of her trip to Peru was the visit to Machu Picchu and nearby Andean villages and cities including Cuzco. “It was amazing,” she says.

“When you wander the old city streets, you can identify the foundations of buildings that are really old Incan walls. These walls were made of cut boulders that fit together in extraordinarily complex ways . . . built so well that they have survived earthquakes for centuries.”

Fulton, whose maiden name was Klinkel, graduated magna 28 • Winter 2004

close it was settled by a recount,” she says. “He won by about 130 votes.”

Daschle went on to serve in the Senate. The couple divorced, and she married Philip Fulton. They divorced in 1999. Fulton, a mother of three and grandmother of two, has remained close to Daschle, working on his behalf in his recent unsuccessful re-election bid. Daschle recommended Fulton to the White House to serve on the Board of Directors of the United States Institute of Peace (USIP). President Bush nominated her for the position in 2003, and the Senate confirmed her to a four-year term in January 2004.

The Institute’s board is made up of 15 individuals, including the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, and the President of the National Defense University. Of the 12 other members, no more than eight can be from any one political party.

“I’d describe it as a bipartisan, quasi-federal agency established by Congress to promote study and activities that foster the leadership necessary to promote international peace.”

The non-profit institute is the result of a Reagan Administration effort to put some federal authority into alternatives to conflict, Fulton says. Institute activities include approving grants and fellowships aimed at fostering peace.

“Twenty-five percent of our budget is passed through to grant requests and fellowships,” she says.

The USIP has expertise assisting so-called “failed states” such as Bosnia. “In Bosnia, the institute was involved in constitution building and the establishment of the rule of law as administered by courts and tribunals. We try to answer the question, ‘What do you do with the bad guys?’”

UNOALUM

The institute has received a $10 million authorization to assist with the efforts to achieve democracy in Iraq.

Specifically, that work includes exit briefing for returning soldiers, both social and cultural, so that those sent to Iraq receive improved training. The institute also is involved in training new Iraqi government officials in conflict resolution.

“They have been trained by the USIP in Iraq, and have been brought to Washington for training,” she says. “I met with a group over here recently that included members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice.

“I thought that was very interesting, comparing how our

“In Bosnia, the institute was involved in constitution building and the establishment of the rule of law as administered by courts and tribunals. We try to answer the question,

‘What do you do with the bad guys?’” legal codes and trial systems work.”

Fulton has been involved in the effort to preserve, maintain and establish peace for many years.

In 1982, Betty Bumpers, the wife of former Senator Dale Bumpers, founded Peace Links, a non-profit organization dedicated to involving women in alternative ways of resolving conflict and lessening the threat of nuclear war. Fulton served as the first executive director of Peace Links, from 1982 until 1985, and later as a member and as chairman of the board of directors.

Betty Bumpers is a fellow board member of the USIP, and it was at her urging that Daschle made his recommendation for Fulton’s nomination.

Fulton has served on the boards of many non-governmental organizations and has earned awards and respect. She has w w w. u n o a l u m n i . o r g

received the National Peace Foundation’s Peace Builder Award, and the Peace Links Appreciation Award for Vision and Leadership.

Career in the Courts

A prominent Washington attorney, the 55-year-old Fulton enjoys a national trial practice specializing in complex civil litigation including antitrust, mass tort and product liability litigation.

Her recent trials include representation of the non-settling states and the District of Columbia against Microsoft in antitrust remedies proceedings.

Microsoft had been found to have violated federal antitrust laws. The remedy to be imposed for that violation was set for trial, but prior to that “remedy phase” proceeding, the U.S. Department of Justice and about half of the states that had joined with the department in suing Microsoft settled with the company.

Williams & Connolly, the firm of which Fulton is a partner, was retained to represent the non-settling states in seeking a tougher penalty against Microsoft than was agreed to in the Department of Justice settlement. Fulton represented the state of Iowa and worked closely with Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller. The case was settled in the fall of 2002—but for nearly the same terms as the original Department of Justice settlement.

She also handled complicated matters involving related civil and criminal actions in state, federal and foreign courts, including a high-profile matter on behalf of the Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) Co. That episode involved civil and criminal cases in several domestic and international forums, and resulted in the successful recovery of millions of dollars stolen by a former executive and hidden in bank accounts in Asia, Europe and the Caribbean.

“I’ve had some wonderful cases,” Fulton says, “but that one made two years of my life read like a John Grisham novel. I came to work each morning wondering what page had been turned the night before.”

The case resulted in the conviction of former ADM executive Mark Whitacre, who had served as head of the company’s BioProducts Division.

Initially characterized as a whistle-blower who alerted the FBI to price-fixing by ADM of the livestock food additive lysine, Whitacre was found to have been embezzling from the company at the same time he wore a government wire and recorded his fellow executives. The investigation revealed phony businesses, phony invoices and at least $8 million in stolen funds, Fulton says. “I actually worked on recovering those monies.”

Whitacre’s rise and fall was the subject of the book “The Informant,” written by New York Times reporter Kurt Eichenwald. “It was a marvelous book, but it only told half of the story,” Fulton says. “I knew the other half.”

For her, the resolution of conflict has led to a dynamic career and an exciting life. Whether it’s peace in a federal courtroom or a foreign country, she knows the way to succeed.

It begins with a step in the right direction.

Winter 2004 • 29

Eye of the Storm I

van really was terrible, says UNO graduate Cathy Younger. Eight months into her studies at Grenada’s St. George’s University, Younger survived the most devastating hurricane ever to hit that Eastern Caribbean island when Ivan mercilessly pummeled it on Sept. 7. According to the Center for International Disaster Information, Ivan killed 37 Grenadians, destroyed or damaged approximately 90 percent of the homes and rendered homeless 85,000 of the island’s 100,000 inhabitants. The country’s two economic mainstays, tourism and nutmeg crops, were decimated with reports estimating total damage at more than $1 billion, twice what Grenada’s gross domestic product was last year. All done in just 13 hours.

Younger rode out the storm with three of her classmates, all bunkered in an apartment that reeled from Ivan’s direct punches and Category 3 fury. “The winds were up to 170 mph and were extremely loud,” Younger recalls. “We could feel the pressure in our ears.”

By Anthony Flott, Editor

Hurricane Ivan as it appeared on Sept. 15 nearly due south of Gulf Shores, Ala. (centerpoint latitude: 27:52:28N; longitude: 87:44:48W). Satellite image courtesy of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (www.nhc.noaa.gov/).

30 • Winter 2004

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Winter 2004 • 31

32 • Winter 2004

Tracking Ivan

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration called it “a classical long-lived Cape Verde Hurricane,” but to those caught in its path, there was nothing classic about Hurricane Ivan.

Spawned from a “vigorous” tropical wave that moved off the west coast of Africa on Aug. 31, Hurricane Ivan steadily built strength before slamming into Grenada then the United States.

Photo courtesy National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Younger recounted the ordeal about a month afterward during an email interview on U.S. soil. She had by then resumed classes in veterinary medicine at North Carolina State University, one of several U.S. campuses where St. George’s sent many of its students after the storm.

What was one of the most beautiful campuses in the Western Hemisphere turned brutally ugly that Sept. 7. Ivan raged from mid-afternoon to near sunrise, but the fear and danger came almost immediately, just 20 minutes after Ivan hit shore. “The sliding glass doors kept blowing off in my friend’s apartment next door and we couldn’t get them to stay in the track,” Younger says. “So we moved to my apartment where the same thing happened not five minutes after we moved.

“Immediately after, my roof blew off and the ceiling began to cave in on top of us.” Rain poured down, flooding the room. “We ran for the bathroom, which has a concrete ceiling, and we stayed there for many hours,” Younger writes.

When the winds and rains subsided and daylight came, Grenadians woke to almost utter devastation. “It was quite shocking, actually,” Younger writes.

“Homes and businesses were all wiped out. Palm trees were stripped of all their leaves. There was also no electricity or running water for days after the storm hit. The school had generators but was not able to get them up and running for a couple of days.”

Chaos followed. “There were also looters running rampant all over the island. People were desperate and taking groceries, electronics from stores and anything else they could get a hold of,” recalls Younger. “Our apartment was also raided after we left it. The looters climbed up over our balcony and looted what we had left behind. The native people had lost everything they had and were very desperate, which made the island very unsafe to be on. The Trinidad army came in to help keep things from getting too crazy. Riots were happening as well as most of the prisoners had escaped because the roof blew off the prison.

“It was all a very scary experience not knowing if we could be safe or not,

Ivan first became a tropical depression on Sept. 2, a tropical storm on Sept. 3, a hurricane on Sept. 5 and a major hurricane later that same day. Two days later Ivan decimated Grenada and other points of the Southern Windward Islands, then headed for the southern Caribbean, passing just north of Venezuela and the Netherlands Antilles.

Three times from Sept. 9-13, Ivan reached rare Category 5 strength (winds greater than 155 mph; storm surge generally greater than 18 foot above normal; complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings). Ivan slowly weakened after Sept. 13, hitting Gulf Shores, Ala., as a Category 3 hurricane on Sept. 16.

Making a large clock-wise loop, Ivan dissipated into a tropical storm, hitting the U.S. coast a second time in extreme southwestern Louisiana on Sept. 24.

Satellite image above is of Ivan (centerpoint latitude: 11:40:39N; longitude: 60:24:08W) on Sept. 7, the day it hit Grenada.

Information above and satellite image courtesy of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (www.nhc.noaa.gov/). though we all stuck together in groups, which made things more comforting.”

Younger had come to the tiny island in January 2004, barely one month after graduating from UNO with a bachelor’s degree in biology. She enrolled at St. George’s University to pursue a career in veterinary medicine, joining other students from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. “I have wanted to pursue a career in vet medicine since I was 12 years old,” writes Younger, who was volunteering at veterinary hospitals and the Nebraska Humane Society when she was 16. “I liked that I could begin vet school right away in January of 2004 since SGU

starts new classes two times a year. I didn’t want to wait eight more months to start school.” A $30,0000 scholarship from St. George's didn’t hurt, either.

Younger enrolled with the idea of transferring later to a veterinary school in the United States.

“I . . . saw going to Grenada as a great opportunity to experience a new country and culture that I otherwise would have never gotten to see,” writes Younger, whose family came to Omaha from Conroe, Texas, after her father took a job for Union Pacific in 1991.

She arrived on the ocean-view campus in January with little knowledge of the tiny island country, made famous in

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1983 when U.S. Marines and Army Rangers invaded and overthrew its communist government. Its beauty, though, could not hide its disparities. “It is still very poor and run down in most parts, and there is very little there compared to larger countries,” she writes. “There is not much medical care in Grenada so I was a little concerned about that if I was to get into some kind of serious accident. I had spoken to several people that had or were currently living in Grenada and they informed me of a lot of things that took away any concerns I had beforehand.”

Until Ivan struck. The oceanic beast, reported the National Weather Service’s National Hurricane Center, was spawned off the west coast of Africa on Aug. 31, gaining strength in the ensuing days. SGU students at first were told that Ivan would strike only as a tropical storm.

“We had heard several days in advance that it was heading our way,” Younger writes. “Not until the day before did we get warning from our school and did the island start preparing for Ivan. We all ran out the afternoon before to buy supplies like food and water just in case. Businesses also began boarding up the afternoon before as well, so no one was very worried until the last minute.”

Three times in its life, Ivan reached Category 5 strength. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration later reported Ivan producing a 52-foot wave in the Gulf of Mexico, the highest wave ever reported in a hurricane. Younger’s parents waited helplessly in Omaha. “Some landline phones were still working and I was able to briefly call my family during the storm and after,” she writes.

“Communicating was difficult . . . but I was able to tell them I was OK.” Younger remained on the island for three days after Ivan, eventually boarding a small charter plane to St. Lucia.

She left behind everything she owned except clothing. From St. Lucia she made her way back to Omaha.

Now she’s at North Carolina State with more than 100 of her first-year St. George’s classmates. The group will continue their studies during a special term

w w w. u n o a l u m n i . o r g

Photos courtesy Cathy Younger

Above, Ivan’s landing on Sept. 7 was bad news for the island’s fleet of boats. Below, he huffed and puffed and blew the roof off Younger’s apartment building.

at NCSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine from Oct. 4 to Dec. 22. “Our professors from St. George's are here with us teaching, so we are just starting from where we left off,” Younger notes.

North Carolina State was one of St. George’s affiliates where veterinary students complete their fourth year of clinicals. St. George’s second-year vet stu-

dents are at Purdue and third-year students at Kansas State University.

Younger has applied for transfer to Kansas State University and does not plan on returning to Grenada.

“The country is in such destruction that it will be a long time before it would be comfortable to live there again,” she writes.

Winter 2004 • 33

Sharing the Wealth

By Warren Francke

Dick and Mary Holland shy from publicity, but it’s hard to hide their kind of generosity

I

n the 1930s, “a child of the Depression,” Dick Holland walked the nine blocks to Washington School from 5851 Pine St, the only place he’d ever lived. He still lived there when he returned from World War II, matured by military service, but now strolling 60th Street and cutting through Elmwood Park to Omaha University.

The man who didn't own a car as he headed to art classes would have enough money from his advertising business, “plus a substantial amount from his wife, Mary,” to join the fortunate few who invested with Warren Buffett in the 1960s.

“Mary and I made some very successful investments,” he says, then modifying the understatement: “Enormously successful.”

One version of Buffett’s “Oracle of Omaha” story says $10,000 at the start (less than the Hollands invested) grew to roughly $280 million. In return, Dick introduced Buffett to Charlie Munger, a church friend who chanced to walk by the Holland residence one day on a visit from California. He was invited to a Holland party where he met Buffett and ended up as his sidekick and successor.

Court of Honor

Dick wore a tuxedo for the walk he took on a recent October evening at the Ak-Sar-Ben Coronation Ball, arm in arm with Mary, the woman he married soon after graduation from Omaha U. in 1948. With five grandchildren looking on and three daughters beside them, they shared the promenade with four escorts during the couple’s induction into the Ak-Sar-Ben Court of Honor.

The escorts represented causes to which the Hollands have devoted considerable time, talent and treasure: the Performing Arts Society, Child Saving Institute, Winners Circle and All Our Kids.

Omaha’s $90-million Performing Arts Center will open in the fall of 2005 bearing the names of Richard and Mary Holland, whose multimillion-dollar grant made it possible. They won’t specify that amount or total giving from the Holland Foundation, which recently stood at $43 million after disbursing many large donations.

Recipients of such gifts insist his generosity is matched by his humility. “So down-to-earth, so real, not even one little bit of pretenPhoto by Joe Mixan tiousness,” one admirer said.

Dick and Mary Holland have lived in the same house for nearly 50 years, heading to their Donna Tubach-Davis, now backyard on a recent autumn afternoon for a photo shoot. retired as head of the Child

34 • Winter 2004

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Saving Institute, adds, “If the world were made up of Hollands, it would be a much better place.”

Dick recently wrote a six-figure check fully endowing the Robert T. Reilly Chair, honoring his former partner in Holland, Dreves and Reilly Advertising. The gift made that Communication School professorship among the most rewarding on the University of Nebraska at Omaha campus.

The late Bob Reilly left his children a one-word summary of Dick Holland: “integrity.”

Home Roots

The Hollands now live a few blocks south of Pacific on 80th Street, straight west of his boyhood home, not far from her Dundee birthplace near Brownell Hall. Dick graduated from Central High School, Mary from Brownell before attending Mills College in California. “We wouldn’t think of leaving Omaha,” she emphasizes. They depart only for a few winter months in Arizona.

Richard Dean Holland was born on July 2, 1921, and grew up with three siblings on that Pine Street acreage. “We had fruit trees, gardens and a playground—a football field and miniature golf,” he recalls.

His father, Lewis Holland, moved from London to Omaha in 1911, stopping in Canada long enough to learn that he didn’t want to spend his summers working in wheat fields. A talented artist, the senior Holland became advertising director for Orchard and Wilhelm Furniture, then formed his own ad agency, where he was succeeded by his son.

His youngest boy didn’t aim straight for dad’s business. At Central, he tried things he didn’t really care for—math and science—and majored in chemistry at Omaha U. before the war.

He had always been drawing, winning an art contest before high school graduation in 1938. Wartime duty as an officer in the chemical corps convinced him he wasn’t cut out to be a chemical engineer, so he majored in art on return to Omaha U. He met Mary at a party and gave up thoughts of applying for art study in New York City. He needed to make money “if I was going to keep her in even half the style to which she was accustomed.”

Still, he winces at the motto beneath his senior photo in the university yearbook: “To have money and a business in art and advertising.” Dick declares the words “tasteless,” a Depression byproduct. That same annual headlined another theme: “The returned vet . . . his serious attitude.”

Pre-war, his older brothers and sister outshined him in the classroom. Postwar, “My mother nearly fell over when I made the dean’s list.”

Not that he was all business at Omaha U. He found time to arm himself with a foil and become fencing champion. A Gateway photo of the 1947 Tom-Tom Revue shows Dick kicking in a hairy-legged chorus line of “six beautiful girls” with frilly undies peeking from the lads’ skirts. He also took the stage as an artist, aiming a raised thumb at a big easel and Continued on Page 36 w w w. u n o a l u m n i . o r g

Family Affair

D

ick wasn’t the only Holland to graduate from the university. He followed brothers William D., 1938; John L., 1942, and sister Jean, 1946.

“We all had wonderful teachers,” Dick noted. “And we still talk about it a lot.”

The eldest, William, now deceased, “was the best scholar of us all. He took four years of Latin at OU.” William headed a major chemical firm.

John (Jack) was “Bill Thompson’s fair-haired boy,” William, 1938 referring to Dean William Thompson, a clinical psychologist and later father-in-law of Warren Buffett. Recently inducted into the Central High Hall of Fame, John Holland earned a Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota and became a leading researcher in the field of career development. He received the UNO Alumni Association’s Citation for Alumnus Achievement in 1981. He’s now John, 1942 professor emeritus at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

Their younger sister Margaret, known as Jean, majored in science and became a professor of pathology at the University of North Dakota. She joined her brothers as contributors to university fund campaigns.

None of the four, though, was on campus before their father, Lewis. The 1924 Gateway yearJean, 1946 book mentions him as an assembly speaker during his tenure as advertising manager for Orchard & Wilhelm Company. “Indeed, assembly this year has meant social and moral improvement in the student’s lives which time alone will reflect in the life of our communities and nation,” As the only one of the four siblings to remain in Omaha, Dick tells the others of the university’s bright future. He espeRichard, 1946 cially notes the IS&T College, calling it “a profound thing” that promises to bring hightech industry here.

Winter 2004 • 35

From Page 35 exiting as the easel was turned to reveal the portrait of a big thumb.

And he co-authored a liberal column, “Political Scenery,” in the weekly Gateway. The first one dealt with labor, management and steel prices, accusing industry of “the same baloney” using “relatively small wage increases as the whipping boy for a tremendous profit.”

Holland would split with his co-author on such issues as the candidacy of former vice president Henry Wallace. Dick didn’t beat around the bush, leading with “Wallace would make a lousy president.”

His worldview and philanthropy stem partly from his Unitarian upbringing. “Yes, it’s an influence,” he said, “in that it’s based more on morality than any one creed.” Liberalism “has been kicked around as a dirty word by Republicans. It ought to be because liberals believe in controlling excesses of wealth and fighting poverty.”

Holland ticks off a list of liberal accomplishments, from Social Security and Medicare to regulation of the stock market.

He supports universal health care and raising the $5.15 minimum wage, which he calls “ridiculous.” He echoes Warren Buffett’s views on taxing wealth and other topics, parting with his friend “only on Schwarzenegger.”

Push against Poverty

While the Hollands generously back Opera Omaha, the Symphony and other arts, a dominant giving goal is “to get a whole lot of people out of poverty.” Dick and Mary don’t just write checks and retreat, either; both do hands-on work with efforts too wide-reaching to describe in this article. Both serve on boards, both meet the people served by their dollars.

Their enthusiasm for the arts brings them regularly to concerts, operas and other performances. Dick even studied voice for several years and sang in the opera chorus.

He speaks bluntly about those who don’t share their wealth. When honored recently by the Salvation Army, he borrowed words once rendered more elegantly by his father. The senior Holland had compared a man who’d done him an injustice to an equine posterior. The son described non-givers as “horses’ asses” and brought down the house.

Speaking of houses, the Hollands have occupied the same modest home since 1957. Bookshelves line a living room wall.

The coffee table pairs photo books by Howard Buffett with a pictorial history of the Dundee neighborhood.

A 50-year subscriber to the New Yorker, Dick reads novels, biographies and other history. After reading about John Adams, then Hamilton, he came to a conclusion: “I liked Jefferson more as a person, Hamilton was okay, but Adams was a pain in the butt.”

Listing Hemingway, O’Hara and other favorite writers, he soon names Willa Cather, noting, “I always thought ‘Death Comes for the Archbishop’ ranked among the greatest novels.”

A reader but never a couch potato, he played freshman football at Central and later coached a Dundee team. Holland 36 • Winter 2004

“I matured even more afer 65 and became

less self-centered.” At 83, the business pressure against holding unpopular opinions is gone, and “that’s one rea-

He can joke about being “the Country Club pinko.”

son I’m enjoying old age.”

started playing golf in nearby Elmwood Park at age 12, shooting between 75 and 80 in his prime at the Omaha Country Club. Notorious as an “advisor,” his persistent coaching is described by architect Jack Savage. Struggling with his putting on the practice green, Savage didn’t buy Holland’s tip on wrist movement until Dick shambled slowly back to the clubhouse and returned with a wrist cast. It worked.

The Hollands take their causes seriously, but can laugh at themselves. Mary speaks out when she hears racist or antiSemitic remarks, but loves to play pranks. One long-past Halloween, Dick opened the door to a trick-or-treater disguised in a witch mask and costume. Bare beneath the black garb, the witch flashed Holland and fled the scene.

Dick was too astonished to recognize the nude flasher as his wife. He’s still living that down, not to mention a sequel the following Halloween, Mary sitting primly in the living room while an unidentified co-conspirator encored the flashing role.

But such fun back then doesn’t explain why he sums up life now by saying, “I’m having a swell time.” He retired, having built Omaha’s second-largest advertising business with such accounts as First National Bank, UniRoyal and Valmont, a name he suggested to founder Bob Daugherty. His firm led winning senate and gubernatorial campaigns for candidates such as Jim Exon, a politician he adds with Bob Kerrey to a most-admired list topped by FDR and George Norris.

Comfortable then with candidates sharing his views, “I matured even more after 65 and became less self-centered.” At 83, the business pressure against holding unpopular opinions is gone, and “that’s one reason I’m enjoying old age.” He can joke about being “the Country Club pinko.”

He writes about politics, but not for publication: “I just put it away and call it my stuff.” When Dick and Mary write checks, though, they hope to make Omaha and the world a better place.

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Association in Action

Association issues Outstanding Service Awards T

he UNO Alumni Association issued its Outstanding Service Awards during the organization’s annual Chairman of the Board Dinner Oct. 19. The Association also issued its Outstanding Nebraska Legislator Awards at the dinner (article following page).

The dinner was held in appreciation of the efforts of the 27-member UNO Alumni Association Board of Directors and Association staff. Association Chairman of the Board Stephen Bodner hosted the dinner at Oak Hills Country Club. Bodner, a 1975 UNO graduate, is senior vice president, commercial banking, for U.S. Bank.

Outstanding Service Awards honor faculty, staff, alumni or friends who have shown continuous, outstanding service to the Alumni Association and/or university. Receiving 2004 Outstanding Service Awards were Richard Hancock, Paul Kosel and Kevin Naylor.

Richard Hancock and Paul Kosel have been instrumental in assisting the Alumni Center satisfy the security and parking needs for the many events held each year at the W.H. Thompson Alumni Center and for the university’s Information Center. Hancock is a lieutenant with UNO’s Campus Security and Kosel is an assistant manager in the same department.

Hancock and Kosel also have assisted the Association with its intrusion and fire alarm systems. “Whether it's been security equipment, parking lot questions or emergency assistance, they and their staffs have always been courteous, responsive and enthusiastic in their support of alumni operations,” says Greg Trimm, director of alumni facilities.

Kevin Naylor is past chairman of the Association’s Board of Directors. In 2003 he spearheaded the Association’s institution of a new strategic plan to reflect its original mission of 1913 while positioning it for the 2000s.

Photo by Tim Fitzgerald

Chairman of the Board Stephen Bodner, center, presented Outstanding Service Awards to Richard Hancok, left, and Paul Kosel. Also receiving an OSA award was Past Chairman of the Board Kevin Naylor, left.

During his tenure as chairman the Association also: raised $429,289 in unrestricted donations, 10 percent more than was raised in 2002; established the Outstanding Nebraska Legislator Award; signed a partnership with Nelnet to offer its members student loan consolidation; hosted the second of two forums at which the alumni associations of the four University of Nebraska campuses discussed issues affecting the university; commissioned, along with the University of Nebraska at Kearney Alumni Association, a victory bell commemorating the longtime football series between UNO and UNK. Naylor has been a member of the UNO Alumni Association Board of Directors since 1999. A 1978 UNO graduate, he is assistant vice president of human resources development at Union Pacific Railroad. He is the son of Kirk Naylor, who became president of Omaha University in 1967 and who oversaw OU’s merger with the University of Nebraska system in 1968.

Annual Meeting slated for Dec. 21

U

niversity of Nebraska at Omaha alumni can help select the 2005-2007 members of the UNO Alumni Association Board of Directors by voting for candidates at the board’s annual meeting.

Alumni are encouraged to attend the public meeting, set for Tuesday, Dec. 21, in the W.H. Thompson Alumni Center

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(Rhoden Board Room). The annual meeting will immediately follow the monthly board meeting, which begins at 5 p.m.

Mark Your Calendars

T

he 2005 UNO Calendar will be delivered to all 2004 UNO Annual Fund

donors of $25 or more beginning in early December.

The annual publication, entering its 12th year, features color panorama photographs of UNO as taken by longtime University photographer Tim Fitzgerald.

It also includes listings of important university and alumni association dates and events.

Winter 2004 • 37

Association in Action

News & Information

Senators Brown, Pederson receive Legislator Awards T

he UNO Alumni Association issued its Outstanding Nebraska Legislator Awards during the organization’s annual Chairman of the Board Dinner Oct. 19.

Outstanding Nebraska Legislator Awards (ONLA), instituted in 2003, are bestowed in appreciation of outstanding legislative service to Nebraska in support of higher education.

Nebraska State Senators Donald Pederson and Pamela Brown received 2004 ONLAs.

Photo by Tim Fitzgerald

Chairman of the Board Stephen Bodner, left, presented Outstanding Nebraska Legislator Awards to Nebraska Senators Pam Brown and Donald Pederson.

Pam Brown Brown, who represents District 6 in Omaha, has served 10 years in the Nebraska Unicameral since first being elected to that body in 1994. She earned reelection in 1998 and 2002.

She serves on the following committees: Government, Military, and Veterans Affairs; Transportation and Telecommunications; Intergovernmental Cooperation; Performance Audit.

Brown was a member of Nebraska Governor Kay Orr's Task Force on the National Education Goals and was co-chair of the Child Care and Early Childhood Education Coordinating Committee. She also has served on the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce Educational Foundation and the Westside Schools Foundation Board of Directors.

"As a resident of Omaha, Pam understands not only the importance of the University system to the state, but also the importance of the urban campus within the university struc38 • Winter 2004

ture,” says Ron Withem, NU’s associate vice president for external affairs and director of governmental relations.

“During her 10 years in the Legislature she has time and again explained to her colleagues the importance of supporting higher education. During these times of economic strife she has continually fought on the floor to keep higher education from taking the brunt of budgetary cuts.”

Brown and Senator Jim Jensen recently convened a conference to discuss the importance of regional planning for economic development. A constant theme that came from this conference was the importance of a strong higher education system to the state’s economic future,” says Withem. “Senator Brown is in a unique position to continue coordinating efforts between the business community and the higher education system.”

Brown has been honored with the Distinguished Service to Children Award from the Nebraska Association for the Education of Young Children and with the Champion Award from the Omaha Association for the Education of Young Children.

Brown received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Married with one child, she is director of public and corporate relations for DiscoverWhy. Donald Pederson Pederson represents North Platte as the District 42 state senator. He was appointed to the Nebraska Legislature in September 1996 and earned election to the seat in 1996, 1998 and 2002. He is vice chair of the Appropriations Committee and also serves on the Building Maintenance committee.

“As the vice-chair of the Appropriations Committee, Pederson is a strong champion of the university,” says Withem. “When others looked to higher education to take more than its proportional share of cuts, Senator Pederson stood up for all of higher education.”

Pederson also chaired the LR 174 Commission, a legislative committee that made a comprehensive examination of higher education in Nebraska. “He has become one of the leading proponents of a strong system of higher education to lead the state's economic growth,” Withem says.

In 2002, Pederson, a 50-year member of the Nebraska State Bar Association, was honored by the Nebraska School Board Association for the successful enactment of LB 548, which enabled Nebraska schools to access federal Medicaid dollars for the first time.

Pederson formerly was a member of the North Platte Board of Education, of which he was president, and of North Platte Junior College. He has attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa, and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Married with four sons, he is a lawyer.

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Second Alumni Hockey Night set for Jan. 7 J

oin fellow grads for the second annual UNO Alumni Night on the Ice Friday, Jan. 7, when the Mavs take on Northern Michigan. The exciting evening will include: • NCAA Division I hockey action at the Mavs’ home, Qwest Center Omaha.

• A pre-game buffet reception at the new Hilton Hotel-Omaha, Nebraska’s only four-diamond property.

• Door prizes.

• Free Mav Tattoos and Mav ThunderStix for the kids.

• Special seating and recognition during game.

All that for just $15, which includes game ticket and pre-game buffet (hot dogs, chips, pasta salad, baked beans, cookies and sodas; cash bar available). Parking will be available at Hilton’s indoor garage (entrance on Cass St.) for a special UNO alumni rate of just $5 (half the regular rate). Hockey tickets and parking stickers will be distributed at the reception.

To attend, download a registration form and submit it by Dec. 31 with payment (check or credit card).

For more information, call Sheila King at (402) 554-4802 or toll-free at UNO-MAV-ALUM (866-628-2586). Email inquiries to sking@mail.unomaha.edu.

The UNO Century Club

Century 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 (pictured at right), special recognition in an annual report and invitations to select events throughout the year.

Welcome to the Club!

Thanks to these upgraded Century Club donors!* To Diamond David M. Juenemann

To Gold Wallace A. Burkett Arlene A. & Joseph J. Dizona Doug & Pat Durbin Doug & Jane Lindsey Fred & Mary Jo Petersen Bill & Ellen Wakefield To Silver David E. Abboud Mark Angell P. J. Bennett Harold A. Buesing James C. Burroughs Herbert J. Cossano Richard M. Curtis Scott & Jodie Durbin Herbert & Barbara Egerer Steven R. Eggers Larry Fargher John F. Head Mike & Julie Kemp

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Jack & Jeanette Lengemann Ann & J. Allan Mactier R. Michael Moran Joseph Orlowski William L. Powers William H. Roccaforte Louis & Kathy Rotella Neil E. Shooter Bill & Pegge Swanson Robert Synowicki Welcome and thanks to these first-time Century Club donors!* Bronze Dr. R. J. Baken Philip LTC (Ret.) Bicak Donald C. Blaser Willard Blitman Robert R. Brown Rosemary A. Brown Michael J. Brusnahan Dale L. Carlson Robert J. Cascioli John J. Chrostek Robert E. Courneen Richard B. Davis Richard M. Doezema

*From donor rolls Aug. 7 thru Oct. 31, 2004.

Angelo & Jane A. O'Connor De Santo Darrel W. Draper Sharon D'Silva Robert G. Friesen Michael C. Gilbert Ann F. Glowen Alyce Green David & Darlene Greer Michael D. Grooms William H. Harrison Thomas J. Hartigan Roger W. Hildreth M.L. Hilfiker Virginia L. Hillier Lyn M. Holley Lloyd W. Hoover Edgar A. Howe H.G. Huettig Mary M. Jetton Mabel M. Kastrup Anthony R. Keber Douglas R. & Jean A. Larsen Carolyn L. Law Judi L. Leibrock Margaret Lemen Larry T. Leverett

Richard J. Lichty John W. Marcil L. Louise Moss Gunnar Mossblad Don Nesheim Greg S. Nieto Jeanne M. Nistl Diane R. Peabody Michael W. & Julie A. Peroutka Russel A. Phelps Alfred A. Pisasale Gayle Roberts Elizabeth Roessler-Griffin Francis Schiller Marilyn A. Schmidt Craig L. Schwarting Foy O. Shelley Earl N. Shrago Donald & Elvera Skokan John Sorensen Carol A. Struve Robert J. Stutzman Lee D. Velde Michael L. White Mary A. Wilmes Herman LTC (Ret.) Wood George L. Wright

Winter 2004 • 39

G

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!

Sons & Daughters of UNO Alumni Megan Elizabeth Rozmajzl, daughter of Katherine (Liebentritt, ’99) and Timothy (’97) Rozmajzl of Omaha.

Taylor Julianne Rickman, daughter of Ron and Valerie (Laakso, ’94) Rickman of Scott City, Mo.

Isabel Sarai Muhlecke, daughter of Alma (Melchor, ’00) and Jeff (’00) Muhlecke of Omaha.

Meredith Anne Koehler, daughter of Leigh Anne and Dave (’92) Koehler of Papillion, Neb. Alexandra Marie Molle, daughter of Phillip and Sandra (Agan, ’97) Molle of Bellevue, Neb.

Jacob Zach, son of Amanda (’00) and Fred (’00) Zach of Omaha.

Ryan Sawyer Less, son of Stephanie and Ray W. Less (’86) of Olathe, Kansas.

Grant Kerrigan, son of Lisa and Joe (’90) Kerrigan of Lincoln, Neb.

Joshua Joseph Chytil, son of Julie (Foreman, ’00) and Kevin, (’02) Chytil of Omaha

Catherine Lee Fletcher, daughter of Brian and Jami L. (’01) Fletcher of Grand Junction, Colo.

Lauren Elisabeth Harner, daughter of Bradley and Elisabeth (Hope, ’96) Harner of Coral Springs, Fla.

Edward Lee Reagan Ambrose, son of Bryan and Elizabeth (Reagan, ’97) Ambrose of LaVista, Neb.

Samuel Paul and Lily Francis Bleske, twin son and daughter of Christine and Bret (’97) Bleske of Bellevue, Neb.

Delaney Mae Wiblishouser, daughter of Mike and Jennifer (Royle, ’03) Wiblishouser of Omaha.

Ella Daisy Zaputil, daughter of Kevin and Jennifer (Hartquist, ’03) Zaputil of Mystic, Iowa, and granddaughter of Gary (’73) Hartquist of Omaha.

Class Notes

Future Alums

Joel Christopher Bryan, son of Rick and Deborah D. (Pupkes, ’90) Bryan of Hiawatha, Kansas.

Cade Michael Lombardo, son of Sheree and Jason (’00) Lombardo of Gulf Breeze, Fla.

Gage Thomas Williams, son of Marty and Becky (’98) Williams of Urbana, Ill.

Samuel Matthew Wilson, son of Andrea (Hinckley, ’00) and Matthew (’01) Wilson of Kirksville, Mo.

Luke Dylan Moore, son of Mark and Jenni (Upenieks, ’98) Moore of Lee’s Summit, Mo.

SUBMIT A FUTURE ALUM ON THE WEB

www.unoalumni.org/magazine/submit_future_alum/

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 at www.unoalumni.org/magazine/submit_future_alum. Or, mail to: Future Alums, UNO Alumni Association, 60th & Dodge, Omaha, NE 68182.

FAX birth announcements to: (402) 554-3787.

40 • Winter 2004

SUBMIT A CLASS NOTE ON THE WEB www.unoalumni.org/communications/submitcn.asp

UNOALUM

1952 Edmae P. Swain, MS, recently was recognized by the Omaha WorldHerald in that paper’s “People You Should Know” series. Swain was the first African-American woman to become an Omaha Public Schools principal. Now 87, she is retired and lives with her husband in Omaha.

1954 Lawrence L. Fargher, BS, is CEO and president of Realcom Associates, a real estate firm in Santa Clara, Calif., where he also lives. Fargher writes from home that, “I was interested in your Alzheimer’s article in the [UNO Alum] fall edition. I have been top money raiser in San Francisco Bay area for about 10 years. Turned in $26,000 before coming to Omaha for 50th reunion on Oct. 9. The [Omaha University Class of 1954 Memory] booklet made for us by Sheila King was so great. Send Fargher email at Realcom1@aol.com 1955 Charles S. Reed, lives in Melbourne, Fla., and sends this email: “After graduation, I continued my duties with the Air Force and retired after 31 years active duty. My wife and I moved to Florida, where we have lived ever since. We are both in our 80s and are fortunate to be in excellent health. I still play tennis and she

Lost Alums -- 1954 Gerald F. Anderson George R. Anderson Ruth B. Tucker Baker Gordon N. Beacham Leo S. Beam Marcus F. Bowerman Betty J. Bridges Gwendolyn W. Broughton James R. Callaway Ruth M. Capps Capps Ralph D. Carey John B. Christian Alvin B. Cleveland Donald W. Cline Charles D. Crawford Glenn D. Desmond James D. Dougherty

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2 0 0 4

Flashback File

Dancin’ to the music with Sly From the 1974-75 UNO yearbook

A

lthough they were 45 minutes late, Sly and the Family Stone did show up for UNO’s Homecoming concert October 11 at the Civic Auditorium. The 50-minute appearance by Sly proved to be “one worth waiting for” according to the many fans who said “he was sensational.”

But then again, many people were upset with the groups’ too short performance, labeling the evening “a waste of time and money.”

Taking into account Sly’s credibility for making concert appearances, UNO students should feel privileged he even showed up.

swims a lot, and we feel that is one of the main reasons why we are still in good health.

Robert Marshall, BS, recently was focused, with his wife, Pat, in the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper for their efforts as “The Candy Couple.” For eight years the Marshalls have worked on the civic Candy Box Project for the Raleigh Bartlett Civitan Club.

They distribute candy for donation boxes at Memphis-area restaurants, the monies going to

help people with mental and other developmental disabilities.

Through the end of July, noted the Commercial Appeal, the Marshalls had delivered almost 1,250 pounds of candy.

Gerald L. Schleich, BS, sends an email that notes that he and his wife, Louise, were named the recipients of the 2004 Bud Cuca Community Trustee of the Year Award by Leadership Lincoln at their 20th Anniversary Celebration. The annual award

Help us find these “Lost Alums” from the Class of 1954. Send news of their whereabouts to sgerding@mail.unomaha.edu

Clement J. Duerfahrd Theodore A. Durfee John C. Dyer Gale E. Fuller Brendan J. Gallagher Norman S. Goldenberg M. Irene Grothe Mollie Harris Dorothy E. Henderson Allan C. Henningsen Arthur B. Hilmo Florence Izenstat Leah Johns Lora L. Kieck Pil Nyi Kwak Marian Ann Walker Lahood Helen Catherine Lamm

Edward T. Lang Ernest E Lee Clarence C. Lovell Anne McConney Janet L. McKinney Georgia Redfield McSorley Sheila Schwid Milder Jay Willard Morris Maxwell C. Moulton John V. Murray Norman E. Nelson Robert S Nielsen William Joshua Pleasant Wayne H. Pottoref Valda K. Ratcliffe Harold P. Reaume Delaine T. Richards

Edmund J. Riley Clyde B. Routt Frank P. Rymer Joseph Satriano Franklin E. Sedlacek Nancy Schenck Sherbondy Gary James Singler Diana Mynster Smith Richard Lee Smith William Donald Smith Sam Sollenberger John F. Soubier Oliver M. Starkey Hannah Scheuermann Ste Jean M. Stepp Ray Phillip Stewart Myra J. Robinson Stumpf

Sarah M. Stemple Stupfell Lois A Baker Sutton Marlys Swanson Arch W. Templeton Jean Janzan Turnbow Diane Cooper Tyroler Ferdie E. Tyus Peggy Moneymaker Walton Pamela A. Wamsley Morris E. Weaver George H. Wheeler William D. Winther Horace G. Wolf Dorothy Macek Worden

Winter 2004 • 41

Class Notes recognizes individuals within the community who have lived and embodied the ideals of trusteeship by leading from the heart and have used their talents, gifts and leadership ability to make a better future for the entire community, including all of its citizens. They were honored for the time and energy they devote to Cornhusker Place, Southeast Nebraska's detox center. Schleich is former chairman of HOME Real Estate.

1959 John L. Armour, BGS, lives in Duluth, Minn., and sends the following note: “Retired.”

Jack Williams, BS, writes from his home in Yucaipa, Calif., asking, “are there any Central Grade School alums still out there? I went to Central Grade School, Central High School and

OU. Excellent education background.” Send him email at jww2525@aol.com 1960 Gary Sallquist, BA, was named to the International Who’s Who of Professional Educators. He is headmaster of Miami Valley Christian Academy and is the author of several books, most recently including “For the Love of God” and “Classroom Classics.”

1961 Theo C. Watkins, BGS, lives in Guy, Ark. He retired from the U.S. Army in 1969 then spent 16 years as a project manager with the Northop Corporation in Los Angeles.

“Since then very active growing trees as Watkins’ Tree Farm in the beautiful Ozark Mountains of Arkansas. Alumni, come to this beautiful state for a true ‘kick back’ vacation. Bring

W I N T E R money!” Send emails to birddogwatkins@juno.com 1968 Frank Maziarski, MS, recently took office as the 2004-05 president of the 30,000-member American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA), headquartered in Park Ridge, Ill. Maziarski is an independent practitioner and owner of Allied Anesthesia Associates, a clinical anesthesia and legal nurse consulting company in the greater Seattle area. He was appointed by Governor Gary Locke as a member of the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission.

OU’s first inauguration ceremony

H

From the 1966 University of Omaha Tomahawk yearbook omecoming and the inauguration of President Leland Traywick (pictured, far left) were combined into a busy weekend October 15.

The campus swarmed with activity as students and faculty gathered to lunch on the west campus pep bowl before the 2 p.m. inaugural ceremonies began in the stadium. Bleachers were filled to witness the first such ceremony in OU’s 57-year history.

Some 400 people representing academic institutions around the world were present to congratulate Dr. Traywick upon his becoming OU’s eighth president.

Highlighting the ceremony was the presentation of the presidential seal, a gift of the faculty, to Dr. Traywick. Drs. Ralph Wardle and A. Stanley Trickett were among the featured speakers at the ceremony.

42 • Winter 2004

Flashback File

1971 Marianne F. Beck Hall, BM, was named Catholic School Teacher of the Year for 200304. Beck Hall has taught at Holy Cross Elementary School in Omaha for 22 years. She was awarded the Peter Kiewit Outstanding Teacher of the Year in 1998.

She lives in Papillion, Neb., and can be reached via email at jerald23@cox.nt John Boatwright Jr., BGS, was honored by the University of Florida with establishment of the John Boatwright Brain Bowl Scholarship. Boatwright founded and developed the university’s AfricanAmerican Scholars Program during his tenure as the university’s director of minority admissions. “What comes to my mind,” he writes, “[is] that if it had not been for UNO, this event for me would NOT have taken place! While on active duty with the Air Force I had been approved to attend UNO through the Operation Bootstrap Program.

However, I retired. After retirement and working in housekeeping at the University of Florida, I was informed that if I obtained my degree I would be promoted to a personnel tech. I contacted UNO and was given permission to attend and receive my degree.”

Boatwright retired from the University of Florida in 1994. Previous to that he retired from the U.S. Air Force as a staff sergeant. He lives in Reddick, Fla., and is married with five adult children.

UNOALUM

1974 Bob Darnell, BS, lives in Olathe, Kansas, and writes that he “is a musicologist who is cross-referencing pop music from 1940 to present day.” Darnell was a former DJ on UNO’s KVNO (90.7 FM) from 1970 to 1976, hosting the “Last Radio Show,” a progressive rock, late night show broadcast from the Storz Mansion. He also is a former club DJ at the Observatory. Send him emails at cdarnell80@comcast.net 1975 Winnie Callahan, MS, was inducted into the 2004 AkSar-Ben Court of Honor as announced by the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben Foundation in conjunction with the AkSar-Ben Women's Ball Committee. Callahan is executive director of the Peter Kiewit Institute and assistant vice president of the University of Nebraska Foundation. She previously was a teacher and principal with the Omaha Public Schools and taught in UNO’s College of Education. She has served on a variety of community and professional boards and has received other honors.

1980 Myra L. Butts, lives in South Bend, Ind., and is deputy campaign manager for Joe Donnelly, a Democratic candidate for that state’s second congressional district. Send emails to mbutts6850@aol.com

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Flashback File

Editorial: Why a City University, 1917 A

From the Dec. 1, 1917, University of Omaha Gateway monthly newspaper

city university keeps the students and money at home. It is a good thing to keep students at home for two reasons: That they may remain under the influence of the home and that their energies may be spent in building up their own community, instead of someone else’s. When a man or a woman is ready to enter college, he or she is at an age when some of the most fundamental habits are being formed. Unless such a person is closely in touch with home, he is rather liable to increase his criminal rather than altruistic tendencies.

Too many colleges and universities have branded as breeders of iniquity merely because the boarding students have been too susceptible to the evils of the small town. By keeping the students at home until they are well-rounded adults, many temptations are overcome for them.

Just a glance at the financial side will do no harm. Suppose that two hundred students leave Omaha every year and that these students can be accommodated at home. It is impossible for a student to go to school on less than $500 a year. Under those conditions the city would be letting $100,000 slip from it every year. But those figures are too small, for Omaha sends away at least one thousand students every fall. In addition to this, a well-advertised university attracts students from smaller towns. If for no other reason than this, a city university is an advantage to a city.

A city university affords an opportunity for hundreds of students who are not able to go away to school. A large per cent of high school graduates could continue in school if they could do so with the same expense; but they are already going their limit, and a college course away from home is impossible for them.

The city is the ideal environment for the university. It is where things are happening, and can be studied from an experimental and practical viewpoint. Here are the machine shops, factories, hospitals and clinics, refineries, large power plants, and real working laboratories for every line of work.

The following statements are made by men who know what a city university can do: The President of Toledo University says: “The city is a logical site for a great school. Colleges in villages and towns are not prospering. The old-fashioned theory of keeping the boys away from the temptations of the great city has proven fallacious, for, as some wiseacre has said: “God made the country, and man made the city, but the devil made the small town.’

“The city is in itself a large university. It affords libraries, museums, hospitals, asylums, art galleries, great industries, experts in every field, and such varied types of society that it is in itself a vast experimental social laboratory. Here is opportunity to learn all things, save, possibly, agriculture, through actual observation and experience.”

This is an age of cities; why not bring the university to the people? Why make them go to a small town with all its disadvantages? Why put them in an artificial environment for a few years, where there is no opportunity for them to check up their ideals and theories by facts and observations? The majority of the large universities of the past have been in cities. The state universities situated in small towns are compelled to maintain branches in cities to take advantage of hospitals and clinics. The university in the cities is the coming thing in education.

President Dabney, Cincinnati University, says: “The city university will probably be the most important movement of higher education in the next generation.”

United States Commissioner of Education P.P. Claxton says: “Probably within a quarter of a century most cities of 200,000 or over, and some even smaller, will have such institutions at the head of their system of education, organizing all other agencies, directing their energies and inspiring the people to strive for higher and better things.”

The University of Omaha is here to meet this need, and is here to stay. This rapid growth is a proof that it has to us in a few ways at least anticipated in educational and economical and social need. The department of education is now giving two courses outside of regular school hours for he benefit of school teachers. These classes meet Monday afternoon from 4:30 to 5:30 and Saturday morning from 9:00 to 11:00.

This first semester twenty teachers from Omaha and Council Bluffs are taking advantage of this opportunity to keep in touch with recent developments in education. The same classes will continue the second semester and will be open to any teacher in this community.

Other departments are having classes late in the afternoon to accommodate those who are unable to attend during school hours.

Winter 2004 • 43

Class Notes 1983 Patrick H. Stibbs, BA, lives in Omaha and sends an email noting that he is the vice president/co-publisher of The City Weekly newspaper in Omaha. He also owns his own radio production company, On The Spot Productions, in which he writes & produces radio commercials for clients throughout the United States. Stibbs also has written two screenplays: a horror film entitled “The Call” (currently in production), and “Ghost in the Graveyard,” a children's movie he has written with his son, Christopher, 11. “A future UNO alum!,” he says. Stibbs and his wife, Monica (’84) have three children. Send him emails at patrickstibbs@ omahacityweekly.com 1986 Scott Sempeck, BGS, lives in Aurora, Colo., and recently changed careers. “After over 15 years in the insurance industry to nursing,” he writes. He now works for the Children’s Hospital of Denver and The Medical Center of Aurora as a pediatric nurse. Sempeck, whose UNO degree is in music, still enjoys playing guitar and trumpet. Send him email at sdsempeck@juno.com Ray W. Less, BSBA, is a partner with Rolf, Perrin & Associates, a financial consulting and accounting firm located in Fairway, Kansas.

Less, who recently had a son born, lives in Olathe, Kansas. Send him email at rless@rolfperrin.com

44 • Winter 2004

1988 Michael J. Divoky, BSBA, was promoted to risk management officer in the Small Business Lending Center. He

successfully completed a three-part exam to become a certified bank to business administrator. Divoky, who earned an MBA from UNO

in 1992, lives in Memphis, Tenn. Send emails to Divoky at: mdivoky@yahoo.com

Flashback File

What ever happened to UNO’s Carillon?

From the 1948 University of Omaha Tomahawk yearbook

The Coming Decade

I

The Results of Good Leadership n accordance with their expansion policy, the Board of Regents and President Haynes have set up a ten-year building program to extend the present campus. Following are artist’s sketches of the proposed buildings.

The Field House This is the proposed Field House and physical education building, which is number one on the building program. Its construction will permit athletic programs to be held on the campus instead of over the city. It will also provide much needed facilities for all student athletic activities. The Field House will accommodate 5,000 spectators. An equal number can be accommodated in the stadium seats attached to the east wall of the building.

The Library Second on the building program is the Library.

Present inadequate facilities do not allow the full use of the University’s excellent general collection, for needed departmental libraries for advanced students, for adequate reading rooms, and the opportunity for graduate students to use the stacks. The proposed Library building will enable this important department of the University to provide a greater service to both students and faculty.

Applied Science This, the third unit in the building program, will be known as the Applied Science building. It will accommodate offices, laboratories, and classrooms for the College of Applied Arts and Sciences and will relieve congestion in the present classroom structure. Its architecture will be similar to the present building, but without the tower. The Applied Sciences building will be located on the hill directly west of the Administration building.

Carillon Tower & Student Union Increased need for the development of well-rounded personalities places greater emphasis today on the Student Union type of building. The University of Omaha recognizes the importance of a building designed especially for student use and has instructed its architects to include in its proposed Student Union, a ballroom, ample food facilities, clubrooms, a lecture room with stage and screen facilities, lounges, and rooms for counseling and small group meetings.

UNOALUM

1989 Timothy D. Mikulicz, BA, lives in Omaha and sends this email: I recently left the Omaha City Prosecutors office to open my own law office. I specialize in criminal, DUI and bankruptcy law. I have been married for 10 years and have four great kids. Send him email at tim.law@mjp. omhcoxmail.com Brad Best, MS, is principal of Creighton High School in Creighton, Neb. The school recently was named a “No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School of 2004” by the U.S. Department of Education. Creighton was the only high school in Nebraska to be nominated for the award in 2004.

Schools are nominated and selected based upon achievement results according to three criteria: schools with at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds that dramatically improve student performance on state tests, as determined by the state school chief; schools whose students, regardless of background, achieve in the top 10 percent on state tests; and, private schools that achieve in the top 10 percent in the nation.

1990 Deborah D. Pupkes Bryan, BS, lives in Hiawatha, Kansas. She and her husband, Rick recently welcomed a new son, Joel Christopher Bryan. The couple has two other sons. Send her email at doctor@rainbowtel.net

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Happy Birthday, Daniel

W I N T E R

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D

ec. 13 marks the birthday of UNO’s founding president, Daniel Jenkins. Born in 1866, Jenkins served as Omaha University president from 1908-1927. The UNO Alumni Association offers the following trivia on his life and career: • Born Dec. 13, 1866, in Flintshire, North Wales, to Jane and John Mortimer Jenkins, a teacher and Presbyterian minister. Family returned to United States one year later, John Mortimer assuming pastorship of Cincinnati’s Sixth Presbyterian Church.

• Attended grade schools in Cincinnati and a high school in Orrville, Ohio. Began studies at the Presbyterian Wooster College in 1882.

• Moved with family to Melbourne, Australia, and earned undergraduate and master’s degrees in logic and philosophy at University of Melbourne. Graduated with first honors and awarded $500 upon commencement.

• Graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1891 and ordained a Presbyterian minister. First pastorship at New Salem, Pa.’s, New London Presbyterian Church, oldest Presbyterian church in the United States.

• Married Annie Finley, a New Salem native, June 15, 1892. Couple had five children: Finley DuBois (b. 1894); John Laurie (1899); (Anne, 1900); William Robert Jenkins (1902); Daniel Jenkins Jr. (1916). Son and namesake Daniel E. Jenkins Jr. lives today in Houston • In 1896, at age 30, appointed president of Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa.

• Joined staff of recently founded Omaha Presbyterian Theological Seminary as a professor in systematic theology and apologetics, 1900.

• Earned doctorate in philosophy from Washington and Jefferson College in Washington, Pa., 1899, and doctor of divinity degree from University of Pittsburgh, 1906. William L. McEwan, minister in the Third Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh, called Jenkins “one of the great theologians of this generation.”

• Received job offers during UNO presidency from The American Bible Society, Southern University, San Pablo University in South America and the Presbyterian Seminary of Louisville, Ky. • Died Nov. 24, 1927—Thanksgiving Day—at a private sanitarium in Trenton, N.J. He was 61.

• Buried in Omaha’s Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

1992 Joy L. Crosgrove Ribble, BSBA, lives in Corpus Christi, Texas, and notes that she recently became vice president and controller for Horton Automatics, the world's leading automatic door manufacturer. Her family moved from Grand Island, Neb., to Corpus Christi, where Automatics is located. She and her hus-

band, Harrison, have two children, ages 7 and 3. Send emails to Crosgrove Ribble at: joy_ribble@ overheaddoor.com 1993 Willie B. Dean, EMBA, is a management consultant and photog-

rapher in Bloomington, Min. He earned a doctor of philosophy degree in education, with emphasis in recreation and leisure studies from the University of Minnesota in May 2004. He also earned a first-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do in February 2004.

Send him email at willie.dean@williedean.com

Winter 2004 • 45

Class Notes 1994 Vicki Edwards, BGS, is a spiritual director in Bellevue, Neb. She will graduate in December from Creighton University with a certificate in spiritual direction and a master’s degree in Christian spirituality. She previously retired from the U.S. Air Force, in 1998, after 23 years of service. Send her email at mynxxx@cox.net 1996 April M. Davis Campbell, MPA, lives in Woodbury, Minn., and notes that in May she received a master of divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, N.J., She was ordained in August 2004 as a minister of word and sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (USA).

She was installed in September 2004 as associate pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Stillwater, Minn.

Send her email at april68502@yahoo.com 1997 Tina F. Flores Schechinger, BA, lives in Papillion, Neb., and is an assistant professor at UNMC. Send her email at tflores@unmc.edu 1998 Janice D. Blake, BGS, lives in Hopwell, Va., and sends this email: “After earning my master of political science degree from Auburn University Montgomery, I accepted a position with the U.S. Army in doctrine development at Fort Lee, Va. I am thankful for the exposure I had to the culture and history of Afghanistan through the international studies courses I completed at UNO. 46 • Winter 2004

In Memoriam

Calling all Carolers

S

anta shows up every year, and so does Vincent Leinen. Thirty years ago, Leinen joined the St. Mary Catholic Youth Organization in Dow City, Iowa, to sing at rest homes. He continued that tradition while attending UNO, and he’s still at it today, now involving his fellow UNO graduates.

On Sunday, December 12, Leinen will be among a group of carolers and musicians (and a certain red-suited fella toting a big bag of fresh flowers) bringing holiday cheer to residents of the Nebraska Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 7410 Mercy Road.

It’s the 30th year for the annual holiday caroling event, organized by Leinen and Tom McCurdy.

“We want to bring happiness and joy to the elderly residents, and at the same time instill a heightened awareness in the carolers that they should be more appreciative of what they have in life and what they might take for granted,” Leinen says.

Leinen and McCurdy are seeking singers and musicians of all talent levels to take part in the event. Participants are invited to meet at the main entrance of the Nebraska Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center at 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 12 for refreshments and to receive their music book. The group then will proceed at 3 p.m. to entertain the residents.

The event, which will include an estimated 100 participants, is free and open to the public.

Immediately following the caroling all participants are invited to socialize and dine at Godfather’s Pizza, 7515 Pacific St. For further information, contact Leinen at (818) 342-9336 or email him at bd754@lafn.org, or McCurdy at (402) 493-3136. More information also is available at www.ReachForTheStars.com/caroling.

The knowledge gained in those courses helps in writing quality products for our soldiers in that theater of operations.”

Tony Vincent, BS, was honored as one of two teacher recipients of the 2004 Miliken Family Foundation National Educator Award.

Vincent is a technology teacher at Millard’s Willowdale Elementary school. He received his award, which comes with $25,000, at a school assembly from Nebraska Educational Commissioner Doug Christensen. Vincent will travel to Washington, D.C., in April for the Miliken Family Foundation’s recognition ceremony. The foun-

dation then will have recognized 2,077 teachers across the nation since 1987.

1999 Lori Bloom, BSBA, lives in Long Beach, Calif., where she recently took a job. Send her email at lorikbloom@yahoo.com 2003 Armando Salgado, BS, was featured in the Omaha World-Herald for his post as a district executive for the Boy Scouts in south Omaha, the article focusing on his recruitment efforts among young Latino students (he’s recruited more than 650 children so far) and for his immigrant success story.

He was born in Mexico and

migrated to the United States with his parents, first to Washington as migrant workers, then to Omaha. His parents returned to Mexico but Salgado stayed behind, graduating from Omaha Central High School, then from UNO. At UNO, Salgado helped establish the Omaha chapter of Sigma Lambda Beta Fraternity Inc. Now 24, he’s also launched a side career in real estate.

2004 Angie Kritenbrink, MA, recently married and moved to the Seattle area, where she is an adjunct instructor of English in two area community colleges. Send her email at akritenbrink@comcast.net UNOALUM

1920 Mable Moore Abbott 1935 Anthony J. Maniscalco 1938 Joseph P. Inserra 1939 Erwin D. Rasp 1940 Virginia Brennan Howard L. Floerchinger 1941 Bernice H. Brown 1946 Patricia M. Larson Gullberg Grossnicklaus Frederick S. Pegler 1948 Russell A.John Bakke Leonard L. Bond Walter L. Staley 1949 Frances Case Huff Marilyn M. Britt Wilken 1951 Richard W. Anderson Donald R. Wood 1952 James C. Taylor, Jr. 1953 Anna C. Goecker Charles E. Watson 1954 Joyce Miller Jensen 1955 Joseph H. Brown Frank "Edwin" Fisher Robert W. Kragh 1956 Thomas R. Olson William L. Steck 1957 Richard E. Grau William C. Harrison Jr. 1958 Howard W. Blank Sara J. Lindemood Edward O. Martin 1959 Ella S. Bunger Inselmann Dodson Frederick S. Karner II.

Class Notes

W I N T E R 1959 Gilbert W. Shrauger 1960 Roland M. Dixon, Jr. A. P. Gandy Marilyn Morgan Johnson 1961 Edwin C. Brinker Guy "Jiggs" Casey, Jr. Eugene H. Hunt Vincent E. Brownell 1962 William L. Cole John F. Cox Charles A. Ferguson Edgar H. Merritt Lois J. Doran Rongisch Louis B. Bjostad 1963 Charles M. Beckwith Walter A. Brown Anthony A. Drago Howard B. Richardson 1964 Audrey E. Asay Stone Saul Faktorow 1965 Marlene L. Hall Bregen Stanley E. Brereton Warren W. Buckingham Joe Garcia Edrose Willis Graham Estalene M. Harris Henderson Linda A. Richards Keyser Viola G. French Norskov Alfred P. Pattavina Virginia G. Coombes

1966 Maurice J. Howard John P. Sheehan Curtis E. Oakes Jr. 1967 John R. Davey Charles D. Hathaway H.L. Broxton 1968 Herbert F. Fette Frank Zachar Anthony Williams Jr. 1969 Alfred P. Farhat William J. Farrell Glenn W. Morris Donald W. Pierce Enid C. Pollack Harry Stasinos Linda A. Paulsen Sutton Reily R. Teague, Sr. 1970 Joseph J. Coniglio Jess E. Gunter, Jr. Alvin E. Hebert II Dennis R. Kilstrom Novella D. Manarin Treu 1971 Harry E. Brightwell John W. Kerr Arthur F. Machado Carl H. "Rip" Moser III Oakley Hall Jr. Robert C. Ohlund 1972 Robert P. Abell Jay C. Salak George W. Wise 1973 Dennis L. Braymen James G. Ferguson Elizabeth "Jane” Hughes

2 0 0 4

1973 John P. Hofschulte Carl F. Mumm Jerry E. Nunemaker Edward J. Powers 1974 Edward R. Cummins John F. Federinko Mark S. Holzapfel B. Dean Leitner Orville A. Lodgaard Jr. Edwin T. Schafer Sr. Joseph W. Winder Sr. 1975 Marilyn C. Cleveland Knott Fred M. Sacco, Jr. 1976 Colleen A. Kennedy Bashus Price Morgan, Jr. 1978 Margo L. Walker 1979 John T. "Jack" Daley Sr. 1980 Bertha L. Griggs 1981 Bart T. Brown 1982 Leon W. Combs 1983 Irene A. Harmer 1985 Joel F. Waldo 1986 Jonathan K. Talamante 1987 Katherine P. Flick Robert J. Holmes Kenneth C. Maassen 1991 Coleen M. Olson Popek Kinney 1992 Urban J. Schechinger 1994 Robert H. White

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