Arkansas Magazine Fall 2015 by Arkansas Alumni Association

ARKANSAS

Fall 2015 Vol. 65, No. 1

Exclusively for members of the Arkansas Alumni Association, Inc.

Exclusively for members of the Arkansas Alumni Association, Inc. Fall 2015 Vol. 65, No. 1

The

Spirit

Continues

$6.00

EXPLORE. DINE. STAY. Located just off the town square in downtown Bentonville 200 NE A Street | 479.286.6500 | 21cMuseumHotels.com

THE ROLLING GREEN LINE

From SoFay to Crystal Bridges, the 36-mile-long Razorback Greenway offers returning alumni a quick escape by foot or pedal into the beauty of the Ozarks.

DIG THAT BEAT

The Claudia Burson Trio, made up of U of A music faculty, staff and alumni, brings its sound to the region through touring performances and new CDs.

DOWN IN THE HOLLOW

Beginning in the 1940s, Mary Celestia Parler and her students collected folklore and folksongs of the Ozarks. Today, those songs are being digitized for new generations to hear.

Campus View

Letters

On the Hill

Profile

Associations

Razorback Road 48

As part of the opening of the Faulkner Center for Performing Arts, four sculptures by Dan McDermott, including this one titled Joy of Dance, were installed outside the entrance to the hall. The other three are titled Muse with Flute, Muse with Lyre, and Ovation.

Senior Walk

Last Look

Fall 2015

Exclusively for members of the Arkansas Alumni Association, Inc.

ON THE COVER

photo by Matt Reynolds

arkansas

Yesteryear

Alumna Loren McDaniel â&#x20AC;&#x2122;15, Miss Arkansas 2015, poses with Big Red on the Old Main Lawn, read more on Page 27.

CAMPUS VIEW

ARKANSAS photo by Wesely Hitt

Publisher Arkansas Alumni Association

Campus Design as Cultural Identity Offering a Central Pride of Place

Architecture and design at all scales express our societal and cultural identity, at times overtly, at times subtly. As I begin my second year as Dean of the Fay Jones School of Architecture – in fact, now the expanded Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design – my daily walk from the downtown square to The Hill and the School’s home in Vol Walker Hall and the Steven L. Anderson Design Center provides a constant reminder of the educational value of the University campus as it is has been planned, planted and built over almost 150 years. Think of the University campus as an arboretum, a carefully cultivated garden of trees, lawns and flowers. Think of it as a carefully laid and engraved network of walkways, commemorating our graduates. What does this say about the University, about what we value? Think of the University campus as a structured community of historic and contemporary academic and athletic buildings – gathered around the alignment of Old Main, Mullins Library, the Student Union, Reynolds Stadium – this communicates tangibly an understanding of a university education of the mind, heart and body. Think, too, of the Fay Jones School, located in the newly renovated Vol Walker Hall and the newly constructed Anderson Design Center addition, a skillfully arranged marriage of the historical and the contemporary, expressing both the values of considered preservation and the values of thoughtful modernism. Our building is also a member of our great faculty: it has been designed and constructed to provide our students with evident qualities of the basic principles of architecture and design, including composition of spaces, patterns of movements, the specifics of occupation, quality of material choice and construction technique. And yes, our building is rated among the highest in the nation

in sustainable design and construction. We, too, are situated in that campus community, between Old Main and Mullins Library, on the main thoroughfare of the University, and that central pride of place is (in my experience) unique among American schools of architecture on university grounds. This says so much about the significance accorded architecture and design by the University, and we work to honor that responsibility. For us, there is the cultural and ethical suggestion in our campus location to University colleagues and campus visitors alike that good design is for everyone – it is accessible, available and attainable. Further, our location suggests that design education can be of value to all students, departments and colleges on campus. We understand the strength of our education in architecture, landscape architecture and interior design to be in its emphases on interdisciplinary thinking, collaborative working and constructive partnerships. We actively seek opportunities of these kinds across the campus, and indeed, across the state, in our Community Design Center and Garvan Woodland Gardens, and across the world in our international programs in Rome, Mexico City, Istanbul and Copenhagen. Winston Churchill said, “We shape our buildings, and thereafter they shape us.” A dedication to attaining the highest potentials and qualities of architecture and design is the focus of the education in the Fay Jones School. In a larger sense we are all designers, all equally invested, and all being educated, in the shaping of our built environment and in the continual formation of our culture. That education begins here, at the University of Arkansas.

Executive Director Brandy Cox ★ MA’07 Editor Charlie Alison ★ BA’82 MA’04 Associate Editor Johanna Lea Hall ★ BA’11 Creative Director Eric Pipkin Photo Editor Russell Cothren ✪ Photographers Matthew Reynolds Logan Webster Designers Laura Bennett Ross Maute Writers & Contributors Chris Branam ★ MA’11 Scott Flanagin Jennifer Holland ★ MED’08 Matt McGowan Michelle Parks BA’94 Amy Schlesing ★ BA’10 Darinda Sharp BA’94 MS’99 MA’05 David Speer BA’75 Lindsay Larson Smith BA’07 Heidi Stambuck BA’88 MA’13 Kevin Trainor BA’94 MA’05 Kalli Vimr Steve Voorhies ★ MA’78 Advertising Coordinator Catherine Baltz ✪+ BS’92 MED’07 MEMBERSHIP SYMBOLS Key is located on the first page of Senior Walk. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the editor are accepted and encouraged. Send letters for publication to Arkansas Magazine, Office of University Relations, 200 Davis Hall, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701 or by e-mail to editor@uark.edu. Letters should be no longer than 250 words and may be edited for length. Typewritten letters are preferred. Anonymous letters will not be published. Submission does not guarantee publication. Arkansas, The Magazine of the Arkansas Alumni Association (ISSN 1064-8100) (USPS 009-515) is published quarterly by the Arkansas Alumni Association, Inc. at 491 North Razorback Road, Fayetteville, AR 72701. Annual membership dues are $45 (single) or $50 (couple) of which a portion is allocated for a subscription to Arkansas. Single copies are $6. Editing and production are provided through the UA Office of University Relations. Direct inquiries and information to P.O. Box 1070, Fayetteville, AR 72702-1070, phone (479) 575-2801, fax (479) 575-5177. Periodical postage paid at Fayetteville, AR, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address corrections to P.O. Box 1070, F ayetteville, AR 72702-1070. ARKANSAS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION Mission Statement The Arkansas Alumni Association connects and serves the University of Arkansas Family. Vision Statement The Arkansas Alumni Association will be nationally recognized as a model alumni relations program. Value Statement The Arkansas Alumni Association values: • service • excellence • collaboration • relationships • diversity • learning • creativity Arkansas Fall 15-226 All photos by University Relations unless otherwise noted. Cover photo by Matthew Reynolds. Please recycle this magazine or share it with a friend.

Peter MacKeith, Dean Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design

ARKANSAS • Fall 2015

2015 Award Recipients Join Us In Celebrating the

Outstanding Accomplishments of the University of Arkansas Family

CITATION OF DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI Donna L. Graham BSHE’70, MED’78

Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food & Life Sciences

Kay Goss BA’63 MA’66

GC Barnes Group, LLC

The Honorable Morril Harriman Jr. BA’72, JD’75

Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C.

ANDREW J. LUCAS ALUMNI SERVICE AWARD Betty Bradford BSHE’54, MS’90

Alumni & Community Volunteer

COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD Dr. Margaret Clark MA’68, EDD ‘78

Associate Professor Emerita

YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD The Honorable Eddie Armstrong BA’02

Arkansas State House of Representatives

HONORARY ALUMNI AWARD

Friday, October 30, 2015 Fayetteville Town Center $75 per person – Semi-Formal Attire

Marty Burlsworth

FACULTY DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS FOR SERVICE Dr. Jeannie Whayne

6:00 PM

7:00 PM

Dinner and Program

RSVP by Friday, October 16th Register: Online at www.arkansasalumni.org/awards2015 or email alumniawards@arkansasalumni.org or call (479) 575-2292. Tables and Sponsorships are available.

J. William Fulbright College of Arts & Sciences

FACULTY DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS FOR RESEARCH Dr. Jin-Woo Kim

Cocktail Reception & Auction

Brandon Burlsworth Foundation

College of Engineering and UA Division of Agriculture

RISING TEACHING AWARD Dustin Buehler, J.D.

School of Law

CHARLES AND NADINE BAUM FACULTY TEACHING AWARD Dr. Lynn Jacobs

J. William Fulbright College of Arts & Sciences

ON THE HILL

World Trade Center Arkansas Opens Booth at Paris Air Show Gov. Asa Hutchinson; Dan Hendrix, president and CEO of the World Trade Center Arkansas; and Boon Tan, senior director for global trade, Asia, opened the Arkansas booth at the Paris Air Show with a ribbon-cutting this summer. This is the first year for Arkansas to exhibit at the show, the world’s largest aviation and aerospace trade show. The World Trade Center Arkansas is a major sponsor of the booth and recruited Arkansas companies to attend. The purpose of the trip is to promote trade and investment in Arkansas. The International Paris Air Show dates back to 1909. More than 2,200 exhibitors will be present at this year’s show. “The Paris Air Show presents a wonderful opportunity for us to share the many reasons the aerospace sector is thriving in Arkansas,” said Hutchinson. “We will meet with companies ranging from small startups to the largest aerospace companies in the world. We have only been here a short time and I’m already encouraged by the reception we are receiving from companies who know little about the state.” Arkansas is home to nearly 180 well-known companies in the aerospace industry, include Dassault Aviation, Aerojet Rocketdyne, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Missile Systems. Aerospace was Arkansas’ largest export in 2014, totaling $1.6 billion. Partners attending the Paris Air Show along with Hutchinson and the Arkansas Economic Development Commission include representatives of the Arkansas World Trade Center, Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport, Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport, Arkansas Aeroplex in Blytheville, NanoMech, Galley Support Innovations, Northwest Arkansas Council and Metro Little Rock Alliance. The Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and Arkansas Aerospace and Defense Alliance are also sponsoring the Arkansas delegation but are not attending the show. ■

Website to Follow Chancellor Search For alumni who want to follow the search for the university’s next chancellor, a website designed to attract potential candidates and provide the public with information about the position is available at chancellor.uark.edu/chancellor-search. Chancellor G. David Gearhart announced his intention to retire on July 31, and former Chancellor Daniel E. Ferritor will serve as an interim chancellor. “The purpose of the website is to provide a resource that can easily be shared with various publics, including prospective candidates, to encourage nomination and recommendations of potential candidates,” said Howard Brill, search committee chairman. The search committee is an advisory body charged to make recommendations to U of A System President Don Bobbitt, who will select a finalist for Board of Trustees approval. “We also wanted to provide an opportunity for the public to provide comments about the process, or the candidates, when the time comes,” Brill said. Advertisements in national higher education outlets will be placed to draw additional attention to the position. Information about the search committee members may be found on the website. ■

University Physicists Find Phase Transition in Visual Cortex

photo by Russell Cothern

Physicists have found that intense visual input forces the brain into a brief moment of chaos, but the visual cortex spontaneously returns the brain to its optimal function. The finding advances fundamental understanding of how a healthy visual system processes information, said Woodrow Shew, an assistant professor of physics at the University of Arkansas. “Our eyes and brain adapt and adjust to changing visual input, which is essential to our ability to see,” Shew said. “We studied how adaptation changes the brain and were surprised to find that adaptation ‘tunes’ the brain to a special mode of operation, called criticality.” Shew and U of A graduate student Wesley Clawson, working with physicists in Ralf Wessel’s lab at Washington University in St. Louis,

published their findings in the journal Nature Physics. When operating at criticality, Shew said, the brain is poised at the brink between order and disorder, just like the boundary between phases of matter in physical systems. An example is the boundary between water and steam, Shew said. “This is the first study that shows these two things are intimately related,” Shew said. “It is amazing that the brain seems to do the best job of processing visual information at criticality.” Shew, a neurophysicist, focuses his research on how the brain processes information. “My research is a hybrid of physics and neuroscience,” Shew said. “I’m interested in how a network of neurons processes information. Neurons are simple and interact according to simple rules. When amazingly complex phenomena, such as perception and behavior emerge from such simple interactions, it appeals to a physicist.” The National Science Foundation and the Whitehall Foundation funded the research. ■

ARKANSAS • Fall 2015

photo by Russell Cothern

Founder of U of A-Affiliated Company Named Finalist for Cartier Award Ellen Brune, who started a manufacturing company to produce pharmaceutical proteins using a method she helped develop at the University of Arkansas, is one of 18 women in the world who have been selected as finalists for the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards. The Cartier Women’s Initiative is an international business plan competition created in 2006 to identify, support and encourage projects by women entrepreneurs. Brune, 28, is one of two women from the United States who will compete in France in October for a prize package that includes $20,000 and a year of coaching in business development and marketing. Brune earned a doctorate in chemical engineering with a focus in bioprocessing in 2013. She founded Boston Mountain Biotech after helping develop a patented method to simplify the production of pharmaceutical proteins used in drugs that treat a variety of diseases and health conditions. “I am very excited to be named a finalist for the Cartier Women’s Initiative Award and to showcase my business at the fantastic venue in France this fall,” Brune said. Boston Mountain Biotech – a Genesis Technology Incubator client at the Arkansas Research and Technology Park – holds the exclusive license to market the trademarked Lotus purification platform. Brune, who conducted research as both an Honors College Fellow and Doctoral Academy Fellow at the U of A, created a series of custom

Fall 2015 • ARKANSAS

strains of the bacteria Escherichia coli that produce minimized sets of contaminants or “nuisance” proteins, simplifying the purification process on the front end of protein pharmaceutical production. “It can cost half a billion to $1 billion in 10 years for pharmaceutical manufacturers to deliver a protein therapeutic from a lab to the manufacturing stage,” Brune said. “Our company uses genetic engineering to make the purification process more efficient. We’re trying to help large pharmaceutical companies get their drugs to market cheaper and faster.” In addition to receiving a total of more than $1 million in research grants through the National Science Foundation and Arkansas Biosciences Institute, Brune participated in the graduate entrepreneurship certificate program at the U of A and participated on a team that built a business plan around her discovery. The team won $43,350 in prize money in graduate student business plan competitions. “The Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards are much more than a competition,” said Stanislas de Quercize, CEO of Cartier. “Every day these women rise to the challenge of matching social impact with economic value, and initiatives like this are essential to share new models and build responsible businesses. There is something very special about a community of driven women entrepreneurs federating these values.” ■

photo by Matt Reynolds

ON THE HILL

Teens With Disabilities Go to Work Through Arkansas PROMISE Project About 350 Arkansas teenagers who are enrolled in the PROMISE project started summer jobs in June. The PROMISE project, based at the University of Arkansas, is funded by a five-year, $32.4 million federal grant to the College of Education and Health Professions and the Arkansas Department of Education. Its goal is to improve the career and education outcomes of low-income Arkansas teens with disabilities who receive Supplemental Security Income. The program funds paid work experiences, the first for many of the teens, who are between the ages of 14 and 16. Danielle Johnson, 14, of the Benton area will be a ninth-grader in the fall. She is working at a local business that offers day care for dogs as well as boarding and grooming. Her mother, Patricia Johnson, said Danielle loves animals and spent her first six-hour shift feeding, walking and cleaning up after dogs. She brings dogs to the groomers and gets to play with them, too. Danielle has an intellectual disability. Philip Adams, project director, said Arkansas PROMISE leads in recruiting teens among the six sites funded in 2013 by the U.S. Department of Education. PROMISE is an acronym for “Promoting Readiness of Minors in Supplemental Security Income.” “Going into the summer, our numbers look great,” Adams said. “We are leading the nation in our project recruiting goals by percentage of target achieved, ahead of the other states that received funding.” Arkansas PROMISE passed the 50 percent mark for enrollment early in May. As of the end of May, 1,124 teens were enrolled in the program. The goal is to enroll 2,000 teens by April 30, 2016. The 2,000 youth will be divided into two groups, with half receiving the services that include job coaching and benefits counseling, and the other half serving as a control group that does not receive services beyond what they usually receive. So far, 572 teens have been randomly assigned to the group that will receive the additional services and have summer work experiences. The 350 working this summer are those who had enrolled by a March 1 cutoff date. The time was needed to prepare them for their work experiences, said Brent Thomas Williams, principal investigator of the federal grant and associate professor of

rehabilitation education and research. Each youth and family works primarily with three state agencies leading up to the work experience, Adams said. A person called a connector, who is employed by the U of A, supports the household’s needs and engagement with PROMISE services and existing resources. A transition specialist with Arkansas Rehabilitation Services assists the youth with school-based transition services and special education accommodations. A job coach with the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services collects information from the youth, connector and transition specialist to match the youth with an employer based on the youth’s interests and long-term career goals. Sources for Community Independent Living Services in Fayetteville is contracted to provide benefits counseling for the families. The start of the summer work experience varies by region, Adams said, but the majority of the teens enrolled in PROMISE began working between June 1 and June 16. Families have been participating in monthly training sessions since January, leading up to the job placements. Personnel with state agencies are also working with employers to determine reasonable accommodations needed by some of the teens. Two organizations based in the College of Education and Health Professions – Partners for Inclusive Communities and CURRENTS (the Center for the Utilization of Rehabilitation Resources for Education, Networking, Training and Service) – provide additional training services for PROMISE. The Clinton Health Matters Initiative, an initiative of the Clinton Foundation, is also a strategic partner, working to engage employers with the project and will provide support to improve the health outcomes for the teen PROMISE participants and their families. In addition to the numerous collaborative relationships among agencies built into the program, more than 100 PROMISE staff members and external liaisons based throughout the state take part in a monthly conference call to share information with each other. “You are doing monumental work,” Adams said during the May conference call. “And, it is greatly appreciated.” ■

ARKANSAS • Fall 2015

Anthropologist Receives Expedited Grant to Study Last Foragers in Africa standing benchmark when they found dental disease in the Hadza people of East Africa who still rely on a wild-food diet. The NSF grant will allow Ungar’s team to fully analyze the teeth of remaining Hadza hunter-gatherers, those in transition to an agricultural diet and those already transitioned. The researchers will use advanced oral diagnostic technology to document dental surfaces and periodontal disease through exams, laser probe and macro-lens pictures. They will also gather data on diet, gender and age to look for possible hormone-related patterns. “Oral health has traditionally been a proxy for the onset of agriculture,” Ungar said. “Few have gone out to look at people transitioning from hunter-gatherer diet to an agriculture diet. And this is the last chance. These are the last hunter-gatherers who rely on a 90 percent wild food diet,” Ungar said. “So we have to get in there now.” ■ photo by Russell Cothern

New research challenges the long-held premise that oral health can indicate shifts in human diet, and a University of Arkansas researcher is headed to Africa with the help of an expedited National Science Foundation grant to find answers. Peter Ungar, distinguished professor and chair of the Department of Anthropology, and Alyssa Crittenden of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, are headed back to Tanzania to further investigate their pilot findings from January that suggest the transition from a hunter-gatherer to agriculture-based diet cannot necessarily be tracked through dental health as previously thought. “The effects of the shift from foraging to agriculture on human biology is a holy grail of biological anthropology,” Ungar wrote in the grant proposal. “Bioarchaeologists have made teeth a big part of the story because of the ubiquity of dental remains.” Dental decay has traditionally been associated with the adoption of an agricultural diet because it introduces more carbohydrates that promote dental disease. Ungar’s team found evidence in January that could rock that long-

Alumni, Foundation Step Up to Support Diversity Efforts at University The Office of Diversity and Community will benefit from two recent gifts that will enhance diversity efforts at the University of Arkansas. The Simmons First Foundation in Pine Bluff and Mario and Laura Ramirez of Highland Village, Texas, are contributing funding to support the creation of an Early Access Academy and an endowed scholarship award, respectively. “I am always excited to see the passion and commitment that our alumni and donors have for creating greater access for current and future students,” said Charles Robinson, vice chancellor for diversity and community. “These are wonderful gifts that support our mission of becoming a more diverse and inclusive campus.” The Early Access Academy will be established with a $75,000 gift from the Simmons First Foundation to increase initial exposure of college opportunities to junior high and high school students. The ultimate goal is to create a college pipeline program of year-round college readiness outreach and intensive summer learning opportunities, all taking place on the University of Arkansas campus. A pilot summer program series will begin with a 50-student cohort of seventh and eighth grader students from Pine Bluff-area junior high schools and follow their progress. Students will be advised and mentored by college readiness and retention professionals, as well as current college students who represent the unique challenges that first-generation, lowincome and underrepresented college students experience.

Fall 2015 • ARKANSAS

The pilot group’s academic performance and progress before, during and after the program will be evaluated, along with the evolution of their college expectations and goals and – ultimately – their enrollment in a college and their success. “For some time, I have been impressed with what the University of Arkansas has done through its College Access Program,” said alumnus Tommy May, the chair and CEO of the Simmons First Foundation. “I believe the program is very successful, regardless of the student’s decision to continue their education. However, we believe there is an even greater opportunity by providing a modified program earlier, for grades seven through nine.” The Mario and Laura Ramirez Endowed Award is being established with a $15,000 gift from the Texas couple, combined with a $10,000 match from TIAA-CREF, and will be used to provide financial assistance to students attending the university, particularly those who are first-generation and enrolled in the Walton College. Preference will be given to students graduating from Liberty Christian School in Argyle, Texas. “We felt it was important to endow a gift that would support the dreams of an education for first-generation and underrepresented students,” said the couple. “The education they’ll receive will create opportunities that these students and their families could only imagine previously.” ■

ON THE HILL

Caleb Conrad is a political science major at the University of Arkansas, but that fact didn’t come up when he appeared as a member of ‘Triple Threat’ on NBC’s popular reality show America’s Got Talent. The vocal trio performed their own arrangement of the MKTO pop hit “Classic” during the Judges’ Audition – a preliminary show to the main competition. It’s obvious from the YouTube video of the performance that the four judges were skeptical when Conrad, Will Richey and Tyler Davis took the stage. They didn’t exactly look like pop stars. Richey is built like a former offensive linesman – which he is – and he was wearing a cardigan sweater. Conrad was clearly the “cute one,” mostly by default. Davis was wearing glasses and supporting himself with a crutch. They all looked very young. But when a judge, Mel B, interviewed them it became obvious that they had charm, sharp wits and were not at all nervous to be on a national stage. Then Triple Threat started singing. Their voices were strong and soulful, harmonies tight and it turned out the kid with the crutch could rap. The judges – Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum and Howard Stern, as well as Mel B – were clearly surprised at first, then impressed, and then won over. The audience had a similar reaction and the performance

photo by submitted

U of A Student Makes National Television Debut as Part of Vocal Trio ended with a standing ovation. Triple Threat passed their audition with four “Yes” votes from the judges. Mandel commented that “you can’t tell a book by its cover;” Klum said she really liked their arrangement of the song; Stern called them “beautifully nerdy … finally, a boy band that looks like me.” (Actually, they look much better than him, but it’s a nice quote.)

So who are Triple Threat? Caleb Conrad will be a senior this year in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. Will Richey and Tyler Davis just graduated from Ouachita Baptist University. They are huge Arkansas Razorback fans. All three are from Benton. They all played for the Benton High School football team, were all injured at the same time and found themselves spending a lot of time together. Richey and Davis had been friends since grade school and sang together as a duo in talent shows. Conrad also sang, but as a solo act. Before long they were singing together regularly and by late 2009 Triple Threat was formed. The trio played a few small local gigs, then attracted local attention with two viral videos that shared an Arkansas Razorback theme: “Hey Grude” followed by “Never Yield.” ■

Lorenzo Named Director of the Razorback Marching Band

at national and regional conferences. He holds a Bachelor of Music in trombone performance with instrumental music teaching certification from Florida International University, and the Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts in wind conducting from the University of Texas at Austin. He was also a member of the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps 1998-1999 and the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps 2002-2003. “We are excited to have Dr. Ben Lorenzo join the Department of Music faculty,” said Chris Knighten, director of bands. “Dr. Lorenzo brings extensive experience to the band faculty after several years of teaching high school and university concert bands and marching bands. His record of creative show design for college marching bands is excellent, but he also understands the importance of tradition to university bands and at athletic events. He has consistently demonstrated his ability to teach and produce excellent ensembles grounded in a student-first, educational environment.” ■ photo by submitted

The University of Arkansas Band Program is pleased to announce the appointment of Benjamin Lorenzo to the position of associate director of bands and director of athletic bands. Lorenzo will serve as director of the 335-plus member Razorback Marching Band, conduct the Symphonic Band, and teach courses in the University of Arkansas Department of Music. Since 2012 Lorenzo has served as the assistant director of bands at Oklahoma State University where he assisted with the teaching and administration of the OSU Cowboy Marching Band and Spirit Band, taught courses in music education, and supervised student teachers. His prior teaching experience included a one-year appointment as assistant director of bands at Texas Tech University and four years of high school teaching experience at DeSoto Senior High School in DeSoto, Texas and Braddock Senior High School in Miami, Florida. Lorenzo’s academic record is excellent. He maintains an active level of scholarly work, reflected by numerous publications and presentations

ARKANSAS • Fall 2015

photo by submitted

Community Design Center’s ‘Food City Scenario’ Wins Two National Awards The University of Arkansas Community Design Center received two new awards for a project that seeks to build food sustainability by promoting local urban agriculture. The project, Fayetteville 2030: Food City Scenario, won a 2015 Great Places Award in the Planning Category from the Environmental Design Research Association. It also received a 2015 Green Good Design Award from The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies, and The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design. The Community Design Center led an interdisciplinary team at the University of Arkansas for Food City Scenario, which speculates on what Fayetteville might look like if the city’s growth integrated local urban food production sustainable enough to create self-sufficiency. Fayetteville’s population of 75,000 is expected to double over the next 20 years. In addition, although the region is the most prosperous in the state, it also has one of the state’s highest child hunger rates. Food City Scenario is an urban agricultural project that aims to weave agricultural urbanism back into the city environment, with the prospect of helping Fayetteville achieve greater food security and resiliency, said Steve Luoni, director of the Community Design Center and a Distinguished Professor. “Food has been absent in planning and urban design, but that is changing as cities worldwide are trying to build greater resilience. Food City asks what kind of infrastructure would a city have to develop if it cultivated a local food system?” Luoni said. “The scenario led to the invention of planning tools for reclaiming a missing middle scale of urban agriculture between that of the individual garden and the industrial farm. Award programs are intrigued by the notion of food as a pressing topic that cuts across fundamental social, economic, political and ecological relationships. Food can simultaneously build greater prosperity, social capital and a true sense of place.” This collaborative project involved the Fay Jones School of Architecture, the Department of Biological and Agricultural

Fall 2015 • ARKANSAS

Engineering, the Center for Agricultural and Rural Sustainability, the School of Law and its master of laws program in agricultural and food law, and the Department of Food Science, as well as the city of Fayetteville. Preparation of Food City Scenario was sponsored in part by a grant from the Clinton Global Initiative and the American Institute of Architects under its Decade of Design initiative. The Food City Scenario project previously received an Honorable Mention in the 2014 Progressive Architecture Awards program, as well as an Award of Merit in the category for Planning Tool or Process in the 2014 Charter Awards program from the Congress for the New Urbanism. More information about the project can be found at the Community Design Center’s website; uacdc.uark.edu. The Great Places Award program recognizes projects that show concern for human factors in the design of the built environments, as well as commitment to promoting the links between design research and practice. This is the center’s fourth award from the association. This year’s Green Good Design Award recognized 65 consumer product designs and 25 pieces of architecture and urban planning projects from 24 countries. The European Centre and The Chicago Athenaeum will organize a special exhibition at their museum in Athens, Greece, featuring the winning products, landscapes and buildings. The exhibition also is scheduled to travel, and the winning projects can be found on The Chicago Athenaeum’s website. In addition, alumni of the Fay Jones School were among the designers for another recipient of a 2015 Green Good Design Award. Modus Studio in Fayetteville was recognized for its project Eco Modern Flats, also in Fayetteville. This project revamped four apartment buildings that were constructed from 1968-72 near the University of Arkansas campus and downtown Fayetteville. The result was modern, urban, green multifamily rental units that saved operations costs through energy and water-saving updates. It became the first multifamily project in Arkansas to achieve LEED Platinum certification. ■

ON THE HILL

Online Engineering Degree Provides Opportunity The Master of Science in Engineering degree has been offered since 2009 and is open to students with an ABET-accredited bachelor’s degree in any engineering field. The online electrical engineering degree provides an opportunity to students who have earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering to learn about future electric energy systems. Graduate education degrees delivered online include: • Master’s and doctoral degrees in adult and lifelong learning • Master’s, specialist and doctoral degrees in educational leadership • A master’s degree in educational technology • Master’s and doctoral degrees in human resource and workforce development education • An educational specialist degree in curriculum and instruction • A master’s degree in physical education • A master’s degree in special education. U of A faculty and their academic departments on the Fayetteville campus develop online degree programs. The university participates in initiatives such as the Quality Matters Program to ensure the quality of online courses remains high, said Javier Reyes, vice provost for distance education. “We are pleased that the steps taken by the University of Arkansas to expand access to educational offerings will benefit veterans and others who cannot come to the Fayetteville campus every day,” Reyes

said. “We congratulate the faculty for developing high-quality online programs that have earned recognition from U.S. News and others. We will continue to invest in the infrastructure that supports their efforts.” A full list of online programs offered by the university is showcased on the University of Arkansas ONLINE website. The U of A Global Campus supports academic units in the development and delivery of online courses and programs. The U.S. News rankings identified programs that provide veterans with high-quality, flexible online education options, according to U.S. News. Only programs previously ranked in the top 75 percent of the U.S. News “Best Online Programs” report earlier this year were considered in the veterans report. The rankings methodology only covers programs offered by institutions that are certified for the GI Bill. The programs must also be offered by schools participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program or by public institutions that charge in-state tuition for all out-of-state veterans. The University of Arkansas overall is also ranked among the top schools for veterans in the nation, according to the 2015 Guide to Military Friendly Schools. The U of A is one of seven military friendly schools to offer discounts and scholarships to military veterans and their families, making school more affordable. ■

Dean’s Chair Established in College of Education and Health Professions The College of Education and Health Professions at the University of Arkansas is creating an endowed dean’s chair thanks to a gift of $1.5 million from Palmer and Marie Hotz of Foster City, California, and a $2 million grant from the Walton Family Foundation. The chair is the first of its kind in the college and is being named in honor of Palmer and Hartman Hotz’s father, Henry G. Hotz, who served nine years as the college’s fourth dean. “This remarkable gift from the Hotz family and the Walton Family Foundation will rightfully honor a very influential person in the history of the college,” said then-Chancellor G. David Gearhart. “The College of Education and Health Professions is the home to many nationally respected departments and programs, and this dean’s chair will allow them to continue that upward trajectory. We are very grateful to the Hotz family for this generous gift in recognition of their father’s legacy.” The Henry G. Hotz Endowed Dean’s Chair will allow the College of Education and Health Professions to attract, recruit and retain a highly qualified individual to lead the college and provide the resources to further the dean’s contribution to teaching, research and public service. The holder will also be a full-time member of the University of Arkansas faculty.

The college’s current dean, Tom Smith, will be the first holder of the chair. Smith accepted a five-year appointment as dean in 2010 and most recently agreed to remain in the post for another year. Smith holds the rank of University Professor of special education. The name of the new chair is fitting, given the Hotz family’s connection to the university and college. Henry G. Hotz graduated from Oshkosh State Normal College and received his doctorate from Columbia University. He came to the University of Arkansas as a professor of secondary education, having previously taught at the College of William and Mary in Virginia, and was named acting dean of the College of Education in 1934 and dean in 1936. He spent the remainder of his career at the university, with the exception of two years as Arkansas state high school supervisor. Dean Hotz’s son, Palmer, is a retired senior scientist and professor who received a Bachelor of Science in physics from the University of Arkansas and his Ph.D. from Washington University in St. Louis. His wife, Marie Brase Hotz, also holds a Ph.D. from Washington University. They have three children — Henry Brase “Hank” Hotz, Mary Palmer Hogen and Martha Hotz Vitaterna — as well as five grandchildren. ■

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Why did I become a member of the Arkansas Alumni Association? “The University of Arkansas played an incredibly important role for me not only in my education, but in my career and my life, as well. It taught me the value of hard work, having fun and staying connected, and those lessons have continued past graduation. The Alumni Association helps me

I would encourage others to join because

to stay connected with the university I loved (and

the Alumni Association provides so much

continue to love), so I can meet and network with

value through networking opportunities, the

other alumni and stay updated on the goings-on

membership Perks program and much more—

on campus.

while asking for so little. As I’ve continued to grow in my career and stay busy in life, the Association has been an amazing touch point for me to keep connected to my university.”

— Stacy Tan ’11, annual member

Become a member today! www.arkansasalumni.org/join

photo by submitted

Photo by Martineric

PROFILE

Kelly Lamb BA’13

Running for a Cause Run at New York Marathon raises money for research into spinal cord injuries By Johanna Hall ★ ’11

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Joy, pride and the sense of accomplishment filled the body of Kelly Lamb, ’13, as she crossed the finish line of the New York City Marathon on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2014. This was Lamb’s first time to run 26.2 miles competitively, an accomplishment within itself, but the reasoning behind her participation was even greater. “I watched the marathon the previous year because it ran right past my apartment on First Avenue. It was electrifying to watch all of the athletes and all of the spectators cheering for complete strangers. In that moment I decided I wanted to run the New York Marathon despite how unprepared I might have been,” Lamb said. A best friend to Lamb since college, Jon David Bruning, ’13, suffered a tragic river accident in 2013, leaving him paralyzed. Living in New York City, Lamb struggled with ways to cope with the paralysis of her best friend, constantly thinking of him and his family. The 2013 New York City marathon gave Lamb the inspiration she needed to help her friend 1,240 miles away. “Call me crazy, but I hadn’t run a single long distance race until last spring when I reluctantly signed up for the Brooklyn half marathon here in New York,” Lamb said. Lamb had not been a competitive runner until her junior year of high school. She decided to retire her pointe shoes, only to trade them in for pair of track shoes and from there running became part of her life. Lamb competed in pole vaulting and later in sprinting and relay teams, but never considered herself to be a long distance runner. “After I had decided I wanted to run the marathon I knew the only way I was mentally capable of completing 26.2 miles was doing it for something or someone I really cared about,” Lamb said. She began researching charity teams and ran across the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to curing spinal cord injury by funding innovative research, and improving the quality of life for people living with paralysis through grants, information and advocacy. To Lamb, it seemed to be a perfect fit. Lamb filled out the online application and was selected for the team a couple of months later. “I was thrilled and terrified in the same moment. Not only for the rigorous training,

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but I was somewhat nervous about reaching the fundraising minimum,” Lamb said. The fundraising minimum was $4,000, and if participants failed to reach it, they were required to pay out of pocket. Lamb’s fundraising strategy was the use of social media. “I would post updates on Facebook every couple of months and include the link to my fundraising page asking friends and family to help donate. My office included me in their newsletter each month and I sent out emails at work and got an incredible response. My family, as well as Jon David’s, went out of their way to encourage friends and strangers alike to donate via social media,” Lamb said. As the deadline approached, Lamb would post more frequently, challenging different groups of people to donate, even if it was just $5. “The whole donation process was truly humbling. I remember having some really long and hard days at work, and I would get home to check my personal email and have over 20 new donations at a time and much of it was from complete strangers. Those of my friends that were not financially able to donate went above and beyond to spread the word and try to get others to help,” Lamb said. By the day of the race, Lamb raised $12,150 for the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, surpassing the minimum amount and unknowingly making her the No. 1 fundraiser for her team. Race day. Lamb’s alarm went off at 5 a.m., giving her time to catch the 6 a.m. team bus to Staten Island. Lamb said it was the coldest day of the season and she faced 30-40 mile per hour headwinds, in addition to the 26.2 miles of pavement between her and the finish line. Lamb’s goal was to finish in under 5 hours. She ran the race in 4 hours and 48 minutes. Her support team met her at the finish line, including her sole reason for running: Bruning. In previous weeks Bruning had been sick, and Lamb was fearful that the trip to New York might put more stress on his body, but both Bruning and his mother were adamant about making the trip. “I don’t know that I could have finished the race without knowing they were all there. And again like a gift from God, they were all perfectly positioned at the end of the race so I could run up to my family as well as the Brunings and get quick hugs before crossing

the finish line. It really meant the world to me that they all made such an effort to support me in this,” Lamb said. Three weeks following the race, Lamb was recognized for her efforts at the Christopher Reeve Gala. Lamb said it was really an honor to be included in the event. “Not only do celebrities and politicians attend this event annually, but also men and women who live with paralysis every day. It was incredible to sit in a room, look around, and understand completely who my fundraising efforts were impacting. I got to listen to incredible and inspiring stories as well as meet some unbelievable individuals that I would have never had the opportunity to do so otherwise,” Lamb said. When asked what her favorite part of the whole experience, Lamb said realizing that truly nothing is impossible. “I remember the day I quit ballet and thinking I had given up any opportunity to ever live in New York. And somehow I managed to find myself here anyway. I remember watching previous marathons and never imagining that I was capable of running one myself,” Lamb said. “For so long those living with paralysis have been told their future will be filled with impossible feats. To never walk again or never be independent of another’s care. But the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation is proving otherwise. Their funding and research is changing lives every single day and it’s only just beginning. I now understand that no goal is too lofty and even in the most difficult of circumstances there is always hope. The Reeve Foundation taught me this,” Lamb said. Lamb and Bruning are now in a relationship. Lamb is running the New York City Marathon again on Sunday, Nov. 1. And as for the “no goal is too lofty comment,” she plans to set her fundraising goal between $15,000 and $20,000. To follow Lamb’s marathon progress follow her on Facebook at Kelly Lamb, on Twitter @Kellyclamb or Instagram @Kellyclamb. While attending the University of Arkansas, Lamb majored in economics and political science in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, and she served as a board member of the Student Alumni Association. She currently lives in New York and works for Macy’s. ■

photo by Gretchen Wilkes

FEATURE

ARKANSAS • Fall 2015

Burson Trio Leads Jazz Scene in Northwest Arkansas By Bob Whitby While it’s true that jazz is best experienced live, recent YouTube videos of the Claudia Burson Trio making music in a Fayetteville recording studio underscore the fact that this group of University of Arkansas-affiliated musicians can really swing. The trio is Claudia Burson on the piano, Steve Wilkes on drums, Drew Packard on bass, and playing guitar Ben Harris sits in, as he does regularly. Burson is a faculty member of the music department in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts & Sciences; Wilkes is the director of student media for the Walter J. Lemke Department of Journalism; Packard is a graduate of the department of music; and Harris starts as a music department faculty member in fall of 2015. In a video of the trio recording Charlie Parker’s classic “Billie’s Bounce,” Harris kicks off with fluid guitar licks that establish the song’s signature melody. Burson, Harris and Packard each take a tasteful solo that builds on the artistry of the piece rather than aggrandizing the soloist, while Wilkes keeps time with his rhythmic brush work, occasional flourishes and spare use of the bass drum. It’s three minutes and 18 seconds of toe-tapping good times. It’s also a musical conversation among players who respect their audience, their music and each other. The Claudia Burson Trio: clockwise from lower left, Claudia Burson, Drew Packard and Steve Wilkes.

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FEATURE

photos by Norm Snyder

“I can think of something and Steve will play it,” says Burson. “We have ESP. We have that. Musicians have that extrasensory ability, you don’t have to say it. We just go there. We can feel where the other one is going and hear where the other one is going and most usually, it works.”

Laying It Down The videos are of sessions that became the trio’s newest releases, Peace and Joy. Peace is a collection of 10 wintery tunes (including “Billie’s Bounce”) available as a download on iTunes or on the group’s website. Joy, the trio’s take on traditional Christmas songs, is free to download on their website, www.cbursontrio.com, a gift to their listeners. “It is really one album,” says Wilkes. “But we wanted to give something, something they wouldn’t have to pay for and was just saying ‘thank you.’ That is Joy. Peace helps pay the bills.” It’s been 10 years and hundreds of live performances since the trio recorded their last studio album, My Foolish Heart. Audiences kept asking for a new album, “and finally last September I said let’s just quit talking about it and do it,” says Wilkes, who produced the records. Because this is jazz, and jazz on a budget, the group recorded both albums in two nights in the fall of 2014. No overdubs, special effects or studio gimmickry. Studio time is costly; and besides, the trio gets bored running through the same songs repeatedly, says Wilkes. “Our rule, such as it was, was we would do two takes of each song and pick the take we like best,” says Wilkes. “We don’t put it on the album at all if neither take works.”

Coming Home Burson, 68, has been playing piano for 60 years. Even as a child she aspired to be a professional musician. “I knew that was my calling.”

Her introduction to jazz came early, courtesy of her uncle, Kermit Burson, a professional guitarist; Milt Turner, a pianist who played with Kermit; and her father, Gene Burson, also a guitarist. She sat in with these seasoned players at the tender age of 12. “I wasn’t very good and I was highly nervous because it was in front of all my little classmates, but they let me play with them and I really loved that.” As a college student, she studied piano at the University of Arkansas, but left before earning a degree. Working several jobs, including stints at her father’s diner in Fayetteville, she was able to save enough money to attend a summer semester at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. “One summer was all I could afford,” she says. Burson returned to Fayetteville, but her hometown was too small to support much of a jazz scene in 1978, so she left for Houston. She took a series of office jobs to establish a foothold in the city and buy time to connect with local musicians and artists. She spent 20 years there teaching, working at the University of Houston, and playing music. “I was able to work with masters in the field while I was down there,” she says. “Eventually I made a living at it. A decent living.” She worked with greats including Arnette Cobb, the “Wild Man of the Tenor Sax,” and Don Wilkerson. They recognized Burson’s talent and kept her focused. “At one point I thought I wasn’t cut out for it,” she says. “Arnette berated me something terrible for even thinking that.” When Burson’s mother died in 1994, she came back to Fayetteville for a bit. When her father died in 1998, she came back for good. “My uncles were getting to the point where they were getting ready to expire and I thought I should come home.” She was pleasantly surprised to discover that Fayetteville had grown up musically in the two decades she’d been away. For one thing, the University of Arkansas now had a jazz program. “It was great,” she says. “I was thrilled to find people to come up here and play with.” Wilkes, the trio’s drummer, is a Colorado native who has been

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Images submitted

From far left to right: Claudia Burson on piano, Steve Wilkes on drums, Drew Packard on upright bass, and Ben Harris on guitar.

playing “longer than I can remember doing anything else, for sure.” His father, Wayne Wilkes, was a professional jazz drummer. Steve grew up immersed in the music. “All my early memories were about jazz and music,” he says. “In our house, growing up, I didn’t even know who the Beatles were.” Wayne Wilkes was killed in a car crash while returning from a gig at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs in 1967. Steve accompanied his uncle to help collect his father’s drums. That was in August. By September, Steve formed his first band and played gigs at junior high dances. “In my family, the man of the house was a musician,” he says. “In other families he may be a fireman or a policeman, but in my family it was like I got to step up and do this.” After high school, Wilkes sold band instruments by day and played gigs at night. But by age 26, he realized that he wasn’t going to strike it rich playing music. He wanted an education, and did a stint in the Army to pay for it. Wilkes enlisted in 1983, and barely touched the drums again until 1992, when he enrolled in the U of A. Looking to make connections as an older student in Fayetteville, Wilkes went to a jazz class taught by U of A music department professor Jim Greeson. “I was new to the area, a non-traditional student and everybody was 10 to 12 years younger. I was kind of lonely,” Wilkes says. Despite not playing for a decade, Wilkes still had chops. “Jim heard me play and said, ‘You’re not a student.’ He said, ‘I’m short of combo leaders.’ He hired me to play the old Hilton, which is now the Chancellor, that night.” Like Burson, Wilkes had stumbled onto Northwest Arkansas’ nascent jazz scene. Their John-meets-Paul moment came at a subsequent gig they’d both been hired to play. “I remember playing this tune,” says Wilkes, “I think we were playing ‘Don’t Get Around Much Anymore’ by Duke Ellington, and I remember she was playing her solo and when she got to the end of it, when the phrase was ready to let go, we both did exactly the same thing musically. We looked at each other,

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Two of the Burson Trio’s recent CDs include Joy, a holiday-themed collection, and Peace, which includes Ben Harris on guitar.

we didn’t know each other from Adam, and we went ‘I think I like you. That was exactly right.’ It was quite a little moment, and I don’t think I’ll ever forget it.”

A Blossoming Scene That serendipitous encounter led to hundreds of gigs and almost 20 years of world-class jazz. It was also the nucleus of a bona fide “scene” that subsequently blossomed in Northwest Arkansas. “[Claudia] is one of those catalyst figures who drives a scene back together,” says Robert Ginsburg, the host of KUAF’s Shades of Jazz show since 1979, founder of the Northwest Arkansas Jazz Society and — full disclosure — manager of the Claudia Burson Trio. Back in the day, jazz here was a small enough community that Ginsburg had no trouble keeping track of the players, the gigs, and the news. That’s not the case any longer, he notes. “Now you have a lot of musicians in town self promoting and that is how I hear about them. What happened to jazz in general is that it is more codified, more legitimate.” Northwest Arkansas now boasts more venues, performers, events and opportunities to see and hear jazz. Credit much of the progress to Burson’s return to her hometown. “People were attracted to her experience, her personality, her musical voice and her maturity,” says Ginsburg. “I would say that Claudia is in many ways the matriarch of the jazz scene here.” ■

The most convenient place to catch the Claudia Burson Trio is at their long-running Jazz Brunch, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. most Sundays at Copeland’s Famous New Orleans Restaurant in Rogers, Ark.

FEATURE

Take a Ride on the Razorback Greenway New 36-mile trail connects U of A with string of amenities By Charlie Alison ★ ’82,’04 The whirr of wheels and a splash of laughter betray the approach of a pair of bicyclists, still hidden beyond a curve of the paved trail. They zip out of the treeline and down the trail, framed by a wooded hillside to the right and a clear, rushing creek to the left. They cross a pony truss bridge high above the creek and continue on toward Fayetteville and the university campus. This forest-covered trail is but one leg in a new 36-mile bicycle and pedestrian route known as the Razorback Greenway, opened and dedicated in May. It runs from Walker Park on the south end of Fayetteville to Lake Bella Vista on the northern end, just a half dozen miles from the Missouri border. Between the two end-points are a wealth of parks, museums, shopping centers and natural areas that make for a great day of exploration for alumni who are returning to Northwest Arkansas for a visit. Some are places you’ll recognize; others are hidden gems, sheltered from the view of motor traffic and again revealed. “The greenway takes you to places you’ve never been before,” said Misty Murphy, the regional trails coordinator for the Northwest Arkansas Council. “It also gets people connected back to the creeks and streams — Lake Springdale, Lake Fayetteville, Lake Bella Vista.” The council, along with the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission, and the cities of Fayetteville, Springdale, Lowell, Rogers, Bentonville and Bella Vista, pooled their resources along with a generous matching grant from the Walton Family Foundation to put the trail together. The Razorback Greenway was built upon efforts already a decade in the making, primarily by Bentonville on the northern end and Fayetteville on the southern end, to create a network of trails within their own cities. Stringing the various pearls together into one long strand though required strategic leadership from the Northwest Arkansas Council and tactical skills provided by the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission. The best parts of the trail parallel the natural courses of the region’s creeks: Tanglewood Creek and Scull Creek through Fayetteville; Clear Creek across Johnson; Spring Creek across pastoral northwestern Springdale; a little bit of Puppy Creek near Lowell; across Osage Creek in Rogers; and then follows Wishing Well Creek and McKissick Creek to Lake Bella Vista. These sections follow a more level terrain and are generally more insulated from the growing urban parts of the region.

“North of Shiloh Square in Springdale, there’s a gorgeous boardwalk,” Murphy said. “And from Springdale to Lake Springdale, for a lot of people that’s their favorite section.” The trail along that section follows Spring Creek through bucolic rural pastureland. Several sections of the trail pass through what seems like undeveloped woodland, although civilization is sometimes just a stone’s throw away. On the north side of Fayetteville, riders can cover nearly 7 miles of trail without having to cross a street at grade. But even when the path threads its way through more urban environments, it offers riders opportunities. “The trail passes Pinnacle Hills Promenade,” Murphy said, “so maybe you do some shopping and then you can cool off wading in the creek by the trail.” And while Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is right on the trail, the trail itself is beginning to add public art. “There’s a lot of public art sprinkled along the trail, mostly in Bentonville and Fayetteville,” she said. “You’ll be surprised riding along and coming around a corner to see this work of art alongside the trail.” Connecting the University Two years ago, a new trail Oak Ridge Trail was built in cooperation between Fayetteville and the university, tying the campus onto the Razorback Greenway. The trail currently starts just below the offices of the University of Arkansas Press on the southwest corner of the main campus, and it zips through a wooded section behind the Clinton House Museum before meeting Center Street and paralleling it until joining the Frisco Trail, part of the greenway. The trail also passes close to the northeast corner of campus, crossing Maple Street at its bridge over the railway cut. The proximity means that students use the trail perhaps more than anyone else. One sure sign of its success is that apartment complexes near the trail use its presence to advertise their apartments to students: Live Here and Bike to Campus. No parking fees, no long walk from the pit. The trail is also affecting the university’s Outdoor Recreation program, part of the larger University Recreation department. Outdoor Recreation’s programming and operations are driven in large part by student interest in a given outdoor sport, renting everything from canoes to backpacks to bicycles.

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Fall 2015 â&#x20AC;˘ ARKANSAS

photo by Russell Cothern

FEATURE

“We just bought rollerblades, something that we would never have done without the trail,” said Mike Hoover, director of the Outdoor Recreation. “I can imagine us doing 5K or 10K rollerblade trips on the trail. I would think it would be a hit.” Similarly, the program has added long-board skateboards to its program. Unlike the short skateboards, which are good for tricks, the long boards are designed to cruise over distance, and the trail is perfect for that. Hoover said that Outdoor Recreation’s rental bike fleet used to be primarily mountain bicycles, which are good for hopping over curbs and switching from pavement to unpaved surfaces. With the advent of the trail, though, more and more rentals are intended for use on the paved trail, and the fleet has shifted to primarily touring bicycles, which allow a rider to carry goods on racks and have thinner tires for faster movement along the paved trail. Among its national outdoor offerings for students and other members of University Recreation, Outdoor Recreation has developed touring rides, such as its annual trip along the Carolinas’ Outer Banks. Developing local tours might be in the cards as well now because of the trail. “We see an opportunity. It would be great to provide a Razorback Greenway tour, possibly staying at a hotel or camping overnight,” he said. “I do foresee us developing a ride for the Razorback Greenway.” From South to North, some of the attractions and amenities include: Walker Park Fayetteville’s Walker Park includes baseball and soccer fields, tennis and basketball courts, horseshoe pits, a handball court and a skate park, as well as pavilions and picnic areas. Fayetteville Public Library Named the best library in the country after it opened, the Fayetteville library is just a half block east of the trail up a steep path.

Dickson Street With George’s Majestic Lounge right on the trail, what could be better. Add restaurants such as Arsaga’s Depot café and Chipotle to entertainment provided by the Walton Arts Center and Theatre Squared. Northwest Arkansas Mall The mall, which offers dozens of shopping and eating options, is just a few hundred feet away. A spur from the trail departs from the greenway as it follows the valley of Clear Creek. Lake Fayetteville One of the prettiest views along the entire trail is the one from the Lake Fayetteville Bridge just below the lake’s spillway, connecting Veterans Park on the south side of the lake with the Lake Fayetteville baseball fields on the north. While the Razorback Greenway follows the western half of a 5-mile paved trail circling the lake, mountain bikers can also ride single track for nearly the same distance on a perimeter soft-surface trail. Shiloh Museum of Ozark History Just north of the Shiloh Square, the museum offers a look back into the history of the region, with permanent and temporary exhibits as well as preserved historic structures tempting repeat visitors. Lake Springdale Share the trail around Lake Springdale with lots of anglers who visit the lake to fish. A connecting trail will take riders to J.B. Hunt Park and its baseball fields and extensive walking paths. The city also recently acquired the historic Rabbit’s Foot Lodge, owned by the Fulbright family during the 1930s and ’40s.

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photos by Russell Cothern

Pinnacle Hills Promenade The greenway runs the length of the Pinnacle Hills Promenade and just across the interstate from the Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion, so you can shop on an afternoon and then catch a concert in the evening. Bentonville Square A farmer’s market in season, shops, cafes and the Walton Museum, home of Sam Walton’s five and dime, provide something fun for every age. Compton Gardens Just north of the square are the Compton Gardens, a woodland garden preserved from the estate of Dr. Neal Compton, among the primary leaders in the effort to preserve the Buffalo River as the nation’s first national river. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art The greenway path overlooks the museum and its gardens and grounds. Stop in and see America’s artworks from the 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. And don’t forget to check out the latest special exhibits. Slaughter Pen Trails For the mountain bicyclists, a 20-mile network of soft-surface trails, constructed obstacles and innovative ramps provide additional testing of your two-wheel acumen. Lake Bella Vista The trail encircles Lake Bella Vista, built in the early part of the 20th century as part of a vacation resort that eventually grew into a retirement community. “If you’re into mountain biking, the greenway connects with mountain bike paths at Slaughter Pen and Lake Fayetteville, and the

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trail is going to be extended to connect with Kessler Mountain.” Murphy said that she met one of the university’s athletes training on the trail, and he said that the Razorback Greenway was one of the reasons he wants to stay in Fayetteville after graduation. ■

Help on the Trail, from South to North Highroller Cyclery – The oldest bicycle shop in the region is just a block east of the trail on Fayetteville’s Spring Street. It provides sales and service. Phat Tire Bike Shop – This Fayetteville bicycle shop is about a half mile east of the Razorback Greenway on Mud Creek Trail. The Bike Route – This Fayetteville bicycle shop is almost a mile east of the greenway and just off the Mud Creek Trail at Front Avenue. Lewis and Clark – This general outdoor shop also sells and services bicycles and is about a block west of the trail after it crosses the Lake Fayetteville dam. Springdale Bicycle – The greenway provides easy access to this bicycle shop as the path crosses Emma Avenue. Highroller Cyclery – The Rogers branch of this bicycle shop is right on the greenway, just north of South 52nd Street. BHS Bike Service – This Bentonville bicycle shop is close to the greenway, just southwest of the intersection of Southeast J Street and Southeast 14th Street. Phat Tire Bike Shop – This Bentonville shop is less than a block west of the Bentonville Square on Central Avenue. Huffy Cycles – This Bella Vista bicycle shop is about a quarter mile northwest of Lake Bella Vista on Bella Vista Way.

FEATURE

Preserving a folklore tradition and dialogue that continues today by Kalli Vimr ★

orthwest Arkansas was a hub of folklore activity in the 1940s. Whether it was the action that drew the Chaucerian scholar Mary Celestia Parler to the region to study Southern dialects, or whether her interest in Ozark folklore developed after she got here, isn’t certain. What we do know is that Miss Chaucer, as she was known to her students, became a generative force within the folklore community almost upon her arrival. During her very first year at the University of Arkansas, Parler was asked to head up the Folklore Research Project. She and her students would spend the next 15 years trekking across the Ozarks collecting more than 4,000 audio files – folksongs and folk tales, occasional pop songs or instrumentals, and countless conversations – from more than 700 performers. Rachel Reynolds Luster of the Coalition for Ozarks Living Traditions wrote an entry about Parler for the Encyclopedia of Arkansas. Luster points out that when asked how a Chaucer scholar came to be so interested in Arkansas folklore, Parler commented, “It is perhaps in exploring the intricacies of human behavior that Chaucer and Arkansas folklore are relatable.” Perhaps it was Parler’s interest in human behavior that gave her such a knack with the folk who performed for her. Parler was taking a risk when she first took to the road in 1953 to collect and record folk songs across the Ozarks. But her genial manner and larger-than-life personality, not to mention her giant hats and thick South Carolina accent, disarmed her “informants” (those that provided her with information) and the performers. All this, along with her dedication to the project and a strong work ethic, helped her and her students amass over 600 hours of audio. Bob Cochran, the director of the Center of Arkansas and Regional Studies in Fulbright College, took over for Parler when he arrived at the University in 1976, though there was a folklorist or two who taught her classes in between. Cochran used Parler’s recordings in his courses from the start, bringing his students to Special Collections to look through the finding aids and listen to the songs. Cochran said that many students recognized better known Arkansas performers like Jimmy Driftwood, who was recorded in the town of

Jimmie Driftwood Performing in the Courthouse, Mountain View, Arkansas, ca. 1970. From the Photograph Collection of the University of Arkansas Libraries Special Collections.

photos, University of Arkansas Special Collections

The Voices of Arkansas Past Timbo, near Mountain Home, a scene already steeped in the tradition of folk music. But when a student recognized a performer like Carroll Wayne Parker, singing from the student’s own hometown of Ola, down in Yell County, it gave that town a greater significance – a new luster. Even in the late-70s it seemed, there was a conversation happening between those whose voices were captured in Parler’s recordings and those listening a generation later. This kind of spark or moment of recognition happens to users of the collection today. Parler, after all, made it possible for Arkansans to hear the voices of their ancestors. She had taken bulky recorders, improved since World War II but by no means the sleek recording devices we rely on today, out into “the wilds,” or the country, or the Delta. Descendants of her subjects are naturally fascinated by the recordings, finding familiar voices or turns-of-phrase in the conversations preceding a song – a genealogical trace. And yet this is only part of the collection’s significance. The size and diversity of the collection make it a rich source for researchers from a dozen fields of study. But archivists and librarians had known for some time that tapes like ones in the Folklore Collection were deteriorating. Magnetized reel-toreels in collections across the country were demagnetizing or becoming too brittle to play. Lora Lennertz, currently the University Libraries’ director for academic and research services, was the Libraries’ music librarian and preservationist in 2005. That year, Special Collections sponsored a conference to discuss preservation options for the collection, gather support from researchers, and look for funding. The conference, titled “A Collector in her own Right: Mary Parler’s Ozark Folksong Collection,” caught the attention of the Happy Hollow Foundation, which signed on to help fund the audio preservation. The Libraries appointed Lennertz to direct the preservation project, ultimately digitizing every reel –137,400 feet – of tape. Their new electronic existence has broadened access to the recordings and the collection has seen about 1,800 visits per month so far.

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Mary Celestia Parler in her office in Old Main. The wealth of information documented in the Folklore Collection includes more than just the audio files and their transcripts â&#x20AC;&#x201C; there are photographs like this one, musical notations, and class reports chronicling life in the Ozarks. When funding becomes available, these materials will also be offered digitally. (Mary Parler Photographs Collection, MC896), by Robert M. Mottar, New York.

Fall 2015 â&#x20AC;˘ ARKANSAS

Mary C. Parler (left) tape recording musicians in Oriole barbershop, Bentonville, Arkansas, ca. 1950s (Mary Parler Photographs Collection, MC896), by Robert M. Mottar, New York.

Joan O’Bryant (right) and another performer recording at the July 1958 Arkansas Folklore Society Annual Meeting in Prairie Grove, Arkansas. Photo by David Parker Rushing, from his folklore class report, “1958 Prairie Grove Folklore Convention,” completed for Professor Parler in Fall 1960. Rushing took photos after an outdoor performance of ballads scheduled to take place at Battlefield Park (now Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park) was interrupted by heavy rain and moved to the basement of Prairie Grove Methodist Church. In attendance were Joan O’Bryant, William Harrison Burnett, Doney Hammontree, Fred High, Vance Randolph and May Kennedy McCord among others.

photos, University of Arkansas Special Collections

FEATURE

“This project is really about bringing these songs to the public, said Tim Nutt, head of Special Collections, “getting them out of boxes and out into the larger ongoing conversation.” The scope of the project expanded under Lennertz’s guidance to include the typed transcripts Parler and her students carefully created. The voices so familiar to many Arkansans used dialects and accents unfamiliar to other listeners. The now fully searchable transcripts are critical to the understanding and use of the songs, Lennertz said. The digitization of the transcripts was funded by a grant from the Arkansas Humanities Council. Where available, users of the collection see a copy of the original typed page, sometimes with handwritten notes and corrections, alongside that recording’s description and song player. The tapes and their transcripts convey a riveting story all on their own, but there is even more information available now underneath what users “see” when they open a file. Lennertz worked with Deb Kulczak, music cataloger and metadata expert, to create a sophisticated web of descriptors that make the collection more visible and integrated. The original finding aid limited searches to the name of informant or title of the song, leaving many songs unfound and unheard, even for researchers who made their way to Special Collections. Now, right from their own computers or smartphones, users can search for the student transcriber’s name, the first line of a song’s chorus, and the location of the recordings, alongside poetically rich themes,

ARKANSAS • Fall 2015

keywords, places, or even fictional people. This information is relevant not just to folklorists and genealogists, but to visual artists, poets, sociologists, musicians, literary theorists, and more. And Parler collected more than just audio recordings. Still stored in the University Libraries’ Special Collections department is an unprocessed collection of 60,000 handwritten note cards of “Ozark-isms” collected by Parler, her assistants, and her students. These Ozark-isms contain folk beliefs and superstitions, proverbs, riddles, games, and more. There are also 820 class reports created by her students on topics like moonshine, natural remedies (not always mutually exclusive of one another), quilting, architecture, agriculture, and the supernatural. If funding becomes available, these too can be digitized and made accessible. That Parler passed her passion on to her students is evident in their output. Her students went home on breaks and spent their vacations collecting, and then went to their grandparents’ hometowns

and collected some more. They diligently sat and transcribed these recordings, or wrote their class reports, helping to make the Arkansas Folklore Collection one of the most important regional collections in the country. The past comes alive through this diverse collection, for descendants, students and scholars alike. And the project has protected not just the voices and vernacular of the Ozark Mountains, but a chronicle of a field of study. Now this important work is helping to make connections that many living in the isolated mountain communities of the 1950s were unable to make themselves, allowing people to compare a Catskills version of “Mick Branagan’s Pup” with the Ozark version by Doney Hammontree, side by side without traveling a mile. Lennertz said, “With this collection, we are far better able to ‘walk in the shoes’ of both the Arkansans and the folklorists of the last century.” n

design by ________________________

“Skeeter Jim” Walden and unidentified woman, Eureka Springs, Arkansas, ca. 1950.

Fall 2015 • ARKANSAS

ASSOCIATIONS President’s Message:

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A Look at the Past Year As I reflect on my first year as President of the National Board of Directors, I am so proud of the accomplishments of the Board and our alumni family. Last August, the National Board of Directors met and outlined our guiding principles for the year, known to us as the “Four Cs”: Collaboration, Communication, Cooperation and Coordination. Under these principles, we are continuing to define and market our value and connect more broadly to the University of Arkansas community. I am happy to report that this past July, we welcomed six new board members who began serving their three-year terms. We are thrilled to welcome them to the board! With football season well underway, I want to encourage our alumni network to join us for our Hog Wild Tailgates during every home game. Come “Call the Hogs” with the Alumni Association, members of the Razorback Marching Band and the Razorback Sprit Squads as we enjoy live music, entertainment and fun for the whole family! I want to close by thanking Chancellor G. David Gearhart and Jane Gearhart for over 20 years of service to the University and the Alumni Association. As our University’s fifth chancellor, Dr. Gearhart has guided the institution through an unprecedented period of growth, including leading the University’s largest fundraising endeavor, The Campaign for the Twenty-First Century. I am delighted that Dr. Gearhart will still be a member of our community as faculty and chancellor emeritus and am honored to be a part of the search for our University’s next leader. Mrs. Gearhart’s continuous work on behalf of the University and especially the help she gave to get the Full Circle Campus Food Pantry up and running remains an inspiration to all of us regarding what can be accomplished when we see a need and step forward to solve it. Chancellor Gearhart’s continuing legacy is a testament to the impact that hard work, dedication and unwavering Razorback pride can have on our institution. I hope you all will gain inspiration from his leadership as motivation to seek opportunities to be engaged with the Alumni Association as we continue to share the rich story of the University of Arkansas with the state, the country and the world.

Rise and Shine...

The view from your condo at The Dickson starts every day off right, and ends it nicely too. Discover The Dickson Lifestyle at the-dickson.com

With Razorback Pride,

Stephanie S. Streett ✪+ BA’91 President, Arkansas Alumni Association

609 W. Dickson St. | Fayetteville, Arkansas Randy Werner | 479.287.4599 lifestyle@the-dickson.com

Miss Arkansas Loren McDaniel, center, with runners-up, from left, Jacey Winn, Brejamin Perkins, Bailey Moses and Claudia Raffo.

Arkansas Alumna Crowned Miss Arkansas 2015 By Johanna Hall ★ ’11 “What’s wrong with wanting more? If you can fly - then soar!” These lyrics of “A Piece of Sky” from the musical Yentl were words, University of Arkansas alumna, Loren McDaniel, ✪ ’15 embraced at the 2015 Miss Arkansas Pageant. McDaniel soared through the competition with this song and crowned Miss Arkansas on Saturday, July 11, in Hot Springs. She follows three more University of Arkansas alumnae who were also chosen Miss Arkansas: Ashton Campbell (2014), Amy Crain (2013), Sloane Roberts (2012). Based on her poise, vibrant smile and certainty, you would have never known that as a child she struggled with self-confidence. “I was unfortunately a victim of some situations of bullying and I struggled with finding myself,” McDaniel said. It was through community theatre that McDaniel found herself and learned to soar. She carried her passion for theatre to The Hill, majoring in theatre and ultimately receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in May 2015. McDaniel’s love for theatre didn’t stop in the University Theatre auditorium; she took her passion to the pageant stage. In her first year of pageantry, McDaniel competed in Miss U of A and Miss Arkansas and sang “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again” from the musical, Phantom of the Opera. She said she’s always sang musical theatre for the talent portion of the competition. “It’s really cool to bring my passion for theatre and music to the stage, so the judges, the audience and Arkansans get to see why I majored in it, and I really do love it and have a passion for it,” McDaniel said. Aside from her musical talents, McDaniel has a bigger voice to represent this year, the voice of her local Arkansans. She will serve as Arkansas’ spokesperson for the Children’s Miracle Network and the Arkansas Children’s Hospital and promote her personal platform of “Confidently You.” “This year is not about me, it’s about the people in the community, in those schools and civic organizations that I visit. I get the privilege of seeing and making them feel like they are important and their voices are heard,” McDaniel said.

Fall 2015 • ARKANSAS

Through her platform, she also aims to shed light on domestic violence, which she deemed to be the most severe form of bullying. McDaniel is expected to represent Arkansas at the 2015 Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey, which will happen while Arkansas magazine is being printed. She was planning to arrive in Atlantic City, Sunday, Aug. 30 and compete through the preliminary rounds. For the talent portion, she planned to sing “Bring Them Home” from her favorite musical Les Misérables. In addition to the preliminary rounds, McDaniel was expected to represent the Natural State in the “Show Me Your Shoe” parade down the boardwalk. The finals were to air Sunday, Sept. 13, on ABC. McDaniel said she was inspired to compete in pageants because of the scholarship aspect. She also credits the program for helping her obtain the confidence she needed during the interview portion of the competition. “The fact that we, Miss Arkansas, are the largest scholarship provider was really what drew me in, and now I can go into an interview more confident because of the skills that I obtained and that started with Miss U of A,” McDaniel said. Once her reign is over, McDaniel plans to pursue a Master of Fine Arts in acting. “The great thing is, no matter what happens next, I have my amazing $20,000 scholarship from CITGO, and the Skokos family to pursue my higher education, and the sky’s the limit because of wonderful people,” McDaniel said. She also hopes to one day open a youth theatre facility, like a community theatre she once thrived in as a child and give back. “I would love to help kids gain that confidence, just like I did,” McDaniel said. McDaniel is the daughter of Kevin and Melissa McDaniel. She has one sister, Jordan, ’09, ’11 and a brother-in-law, Chance Williams ’11, ’14. McDaniel believes her family is her biggest support group. The Arkansas Alumni Association also supports McDaniel by gifting to her a life membership to the organization. McDaniel’s name will appear on the life member wall of the Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House. ■

ASSOCIATIONS

Impact Arkansas

making our state stronger Art Morris ✪

From the Northwest Arkansas Chapter of the Arkansas Alumni Association to Hog Wild Tailgates, Art Morris is has been a longtime supporter of the U of A and the Alumni Association. I choose to stay connected because of ‘my strong belief in education and our Flagship University.’ His involvement began through the travel opportunities offered through the Alumni Association to special events like the SEC Tournament games during football, basketball and baseball season. It allows you to connect with other Razorback fans and “I enjoyed getting acquainted with many of the Alumni staff. It was so much more enjoyable to let the Alumni Association make all the plans,” Morris said. “It’s like they’d say “leave the driving to us,” he said. As part of the Northwest Arkansas Chapter board, Morris has volunteered at the chapter’s annual Pig Sooie Scramble and Ice Cream Social. The 2015 Pig Sooie Scramble Golf Tournament took place at Stonebridge Meadows, Friday, August 7. All proceeds go toward scholarships for upperclassman attending the U of A. The chapter was able to award $13,500 to students for the 2015/2016 school year! Even though he is not a graduate of the U of A, Morris is a dedicated volunteer and Arkansas Alumni Association Life member. At the 2013 Northwest Arkansas Chapter’s Ice Cream Social & Scholarship Awards, Morris was awarded the Morris Fair Heart Award, an honor reserved for individuals who exemplify the volunteer spirit, enthusiasm and commitment that is the core of alumni involvement. “An ardent fan of the U of A and what it has to offer, being part of many activities, I have been able to make a lot of friends and acquaintances. My brother and my grandson have a Master’s degree from the U of A,” and I believe it is “one of the best Universities in the country.” It is a “great school, great area to live and a great place to start your future,” Morris said. ■

photo submitted

A Razorback Classic and the 2012 Johnson Fellow, John Forrest Ales, director of corporate communications at Walmart Inc., has previously lended his expertise to the university by serving as the chair of the communication committee on the Arkansas Alumni National Board of Directors. “Involvement in the Alumni Association allows people to have a direct impact back on the University. I find it personally important to stay connected with the professors and friends that made a difference in my life,” Forrest Ales said. The word “family” was a common theme when listening to Forrest Ales describe his relationship with Arkansas. “Being an out-of-state student, the University of Arkansas embraced me and helped me grow into the person I am today. The UA taught me my field, but it is also a gateway to lifelong learning. The ongoing support you receive form a flagship University like Arkansas extends beyond education, it is a resource for networking beyond your time as a student,” he said. Like many others, Forrest Ales is proud of what the University stands for and has accomplished. “Arkansas is a special place and Fayetteville is a dynamic region. It has been amazing to see it change and grow and the University has played a central role. It is a magnet for economic and cultural growth,” he said. Forrest Ales recalls his grandfather, a Razorback alumnus, being a Hog fan but never visited northwest Arkansas before attending school. “Being form Louisiana, my favorite memory is every time we beat LSU,” Forrest Ales said. The Ales family hosted the band for Thanksgiving dinner when he was a student and Arkansas would travel to LSU over the holiday. Getting involved allows you “make the most of your university experience,” he said. You can go to class, do your work and leave, but taking advantage of the opportunities the University has to offer through involvement in organizations like the Arkansas Alumni Association is where you will see your greatest return. It’s where you can create a family. ■

photo submitted

John Forrest Ales ✪ BA ’02

ARKANSAS • Fall 2015

Blake Griffin ★

Fall 2015 • ARKANSAS

Blake Griffin, a junior, biology/ pre-med major from Mountain Home, Arkansas, is an Arkansas Alumni Association Roads Scholar and the 2015 Student Alumni Board homecoming director. Griffin wants to pursue a career as a plastic surgeon after graduation. Griffin received a “Roads Scholarship” from the Arkansas Alumni Association as a freshman and knew he wanted to get involved in campus life before he even got to Fayetteville. The Student Alumni Association offered everything he wanted. “The connections you make through the involvement in a group like SAA is a ‘gateway’ to so many opportunities,” Griffin said. “It helps you take advantage of your time here, ‘selfishly, is benefits you’ to get involved. As students, I think we have a duty to help/ give back to the university that gives so much to us,” “The SAA executive board, [Student Alumni Board] has served as kind of a family,” Griffin said. SAA hosts such a broad variety of events, there is something for everyone to get involved with, a place for everyone skills. It also draws leaders from so many different colleges and social circles, you make connections and network with people you otherwise wouldn’t meet. “My freshman year, I introduced myself to Ryan Miller, and told him I wanted to be the Homecoming director. I helped plan homecoming at my high school so it seemed like a natural transition to get involved with planning Homecoming at the U of A,” he said. Flash forward three years, and Blake is extremely excited to be heading the efforts for Homecoming 2015, which will take place the last week in October. The theme for this year is Flashback Fayetteville. “We are focusing on campus, community and alumni. The community support from local businesses and the City of Fayetteville has been extremely impressive,” Griffin said. The goal is to build off the success of 2014 and make this an annual event for more than just current students, but to welcome back alumni and generate pride in the community with events like the family-friendly community concert which is new this year. More information and a complete schedule of events can be found at homecoming.uark.edu. When asked about what he would communicate to future students, Griffin said “The U of A provides more than just the opportunity to pursue your passions and go to class, but also accomplish everything else you want to. Getting connected helps you enjoy you experience that much more. I don’t talk about my senior year because I don’t want my four years to end.” ■

photo Logan Webster

Daymara Baker is graduate of the Sam M. Walton College of Business, board member of the Latino Alumni Society and Arkansas Alumni Association member. “I strongly believe in giving back. Nobody can achieve success alone,” Baker said. Coming from Venezuela, a graduate assistantship at the University of Arkansas provided an affordable way to attain her master of business administration. The University of Arkansas “welcomed me with open arms. It allowed me to gain knowledge and firsthand exposure in a safe environment,” she said. From the very beginning her adviser enrolled her in a full class load, despite her hesitation since English was her second language. “He said ‘I trust you, you can do it’, and I did.” I was given that reassurance, “it was like he could see something in me that I could not see in myself,” she said. Being an international student can be intimidating but Baker credits her time working with Students Acquiring Knowledge through Enterprise, S.A.K.E. in the Sam M. Walton College of Business to exposing her to different business cultures and preparing her for working in different environments after graduation. “It was like gaining ‘pre-exposure’ to the business world. Arkansas has such a diverse campus, you can find people not only from all over the state, but all the country and all over the world,” she said. Baker’s connection to the Arkansas Alumni Association began when she was asked to speak at an LAS meeting, where she join the board and accepted. LAS will host its 3rd Annual La Pachanga Scholarship Fundraiser on Saturday, April 2, 2016. The event honors one top undergraduate and graduate student for outstanding academic achievement, leadership and community service. “La Pachanga serves multiple objectives,” Baker said. “It allows us to recognize students who are not only excellent in the classroom, but are also highly involved in serving the community. Many of these students have full class loads and are still active in society, and sometimes supporting their family,” she said. La Pachanga allows students and community members to connect. For Baker, a degree from the University of Arkansas “opened the door of opportunities in the U.S.” An MBA from the Sam M. Walton College of Business is recognized across the business community and is associated with quality. “It really does make a difference” to have a degree form a respected institution. Currently, Baker is the national account director for Walmart and Sam’s Club at Chiquita Brands. ■

photo submitted

Daymara Baker ★ MBA ’99

ASSOCIATIONS

Young Alumni For Northwest Arkansas, Sam Duncan organized a tailgate prior to the Red & White Football game for Young Alumni in the area including, top from left, Matt Owens, Tori Pohlner, Kristen Hopkins, Jackson Smith, Nick Brewer and Dylan Breeding. Above right, Caroline Heintzman, Claire Flores and Lauren Ahlers have not only coordinated activities for young alumni in St. Louis, but have stepped up to serve on the watch party committee for the chapter. Middle right, Young Alumni Robbie Wilson, Ross Burnett, Amanda Glover, Blake Downing, Katherine Gentry and Blake Games in Little Rock have worked to create regular Happy Hours and Professional Development opportunities for those living in Central Arkansas. Lower right, Daniel VanderSteeg and Elizabeth Selig have become a vital part of the Mid-South | Memphis Chapter. Over 20 young alumni attended the Chapter’s PIGnic in Memphis to help raise funds for scholarships.

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Be on the lookout for new exciting Young Alumni events as programming is expanded and refocused on connecting and serving alumni in our Chapters. Additionally, there will be many volunteer opportunities to assist the Association, support the University and help current and future students over the coming year. Interested in getting involved? Contact Ryan O. Miller at romille@uark.edu. ■

ARKANSAS • Fall 2015

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Thank you to the Class of 2015 graduating Student Alumni Board members! During their time, the Board grew from 13 to 53 members, and the overall membership in the Student Alumni Association quadrupled! Back row: Will Sloan, Alex Chaffin, Gentry Wahlmeier, Daniel McFarland, Nathan Hopper and Thanh Le Front Row: Morgan Johnson, Jordan Sooter and Ashton Dawson Not Pictured: Corrie Biles, Gina Densmore and Amy Morehead

“Most of us will never be able to make a large donation to our university; however, the Women’s Giving Circle allows us to pool our resources and become part of a much larger donation. We care deeply about the causes we support and enjoy celebrating philanthropy.” –Harriett Phillips, founding member

Join us in making a difference. Call or email for more information.

479-575-2681 • wgc@uark.edu

Save the Date The Latino Alumni Society will host its annual fundraiser on Saturday, April 2, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. at the Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House. Awards Reception: 6:00 p.m. Awards Dinner: 7:00 p.m.

ASSOCIATIONS

Connecting Students to Alumni

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Thank you to National Alumni Board members Sharon Hunt, John Cole and Kenneth Biesterveld for hosting Hearing from a Hog dinners. Through these dinners, a small group of current students are able to connect on a more personal level with alumni to gain professional development and networking experience. If you would like to host a Hearing from a Hog dinner to invest in current students, please contact Elton Ford, campaign initiatives specialist, at eltonf@uark. edu or Ryan Miller, assistant director of young alumni and student outreach, at romille@uark.edu or 479-575-3510. â&#x2013;

ARKANSAS â&#x20AC;˘ Fall 2015

Simply the best. Featuring premier amenities and a variety of impressive living options, come discover for yourself why Butterfield has been repeatedly recognized by regional media as Northwest Arkansas’ BEST RETIREMENT COMMUNITY.

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Call to schedule your tour today!

131 U of A Golden Graduates Honored Across Nation Graduating from the University of Arkansas is an achievement in itself, but a more impressive accomplishment is reaching the level of Golden Graduate, those who graduated 50 or more years ago. As enrollment increases and construction continues on campus, to our Golden Grads, the image of the U of A campus looks a lot different than it did when they attended class on the Hill. To celebrate their accomplishment, 131 Golden Graduate were honored at receptions held in the following cities: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Tampa, Orlando and Miami, Florida, New Orleans and Shreveport, Louisiana, Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona and Conway, Hot Springs and Fayetteville, Arkansas. During these events, alumni from the classes of 1965 and prior, were inducted into the Golden Tower Society and received a golden 50-year medallion and lapel Golden Tower Society pin. They also had the opportunity to meet other alumni in their area and receive updates about the University and the Arkansas Alumni Association. Each Golden Graduate was thrilled to be honored and since the event, those who have attended chapter events after being inducted, proudly wear their golden 50-year medallion. For more information about the Arkansas Alumni Association Golden Graduate program, please contact Deb Euculano at deuculan@uark.edu or (479) 575-2292. ■

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1923 E. Joyce Blvd. | Fayetteville, Ark. 479.695.8012 | butterfieldtrailvillage.org

CHAPTERS

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-1The Baltimore Chapter of the Arkansas Alumni Association hosted its annual Crawfish Boil and Scholarship fundraiser to celebrate Maryland students who will be attending the University of Arkansas. Razorbacks gathered at the home of a local alumnus to share food and fun on the beach! -2The Dallas Chapter of the Arkansas Alumni Association hosted its inaugural charity golf tournament at the Trails of Frisco Golf Club in Frisco, Texas, Saturday, April 25. Seventy alumni, family and friends golfed in support of scholarships for DFW area students attending the University of Arkansas! -3The Dallas Arkansas Young Professionals of the Dallas Chapter of the Arkansas Alumni Association, co-sponsored the first ever Dallas Community Fest with the Dallas Junior Chamber of Commerce as a collaboration to bring Dallas area professionals together Saturday, March 28. They kicked the day off with a group bike ride followed by live music, food trucks and brews at Community Beer Co. in Dallas. -4More than 50 students, parents, alumni and friends gathered for the 2015 Fort Smith Chapter Student Send-off April 2, to congratulate graduating high school seniors who will be attending the University of Arkansas in the fall. They were joined by former Razorback and current Green Bay Packer and Super Bowl XLV champion Brett Goode. He spoke about his experience going from Fort Smith to the U of A, and onto winning a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers. -5The Mid-South Memphis Chapter of the Arkansas Alumni Association and Memphis Area Young Alumni teamed up to host 57 students, parents, alumni and friends at the 2015 Mid-South Memphis Chapter PIGnic and Student Send-off Saturday, May 30. Guests enjoyed live music, games and Memphis-style BBQ at the annual fundraiser that benefits the chapter’s local scholarship! -6Over 60 University of Arkansas Razorbacks attended the 2015 St. Louis Chapter PIGnic on June 7, to send-off local students who will be coming to Fayetteville in the fall. They enjoyed games, BBQ and raised money for the chapter’s local scholarship fund! -7The St Louis Chapter supported Girls on the Run on May 9 by setting up a cheer station to encourage racers and help raise awareness for the non-profit organization whose mission is to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident, using a fun, experience-based curriculum that creatively integrates running. -8The Wichita Chapter of the Arkansas gathered at Bricktown Brewery for a Hog Trough Dine Out to support the OmaHogs as they took on the University of Miami Hurricanes in the College World Series Monday, June 15. ■

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-1Brandy Cox, associate vice chancellor and executive director of alumni and Angela Mosley Monts, constituent engagement director sponsored and conducted a Walton College Business Academy Etiquette Training for the incoming freshmen class. -2Dr. Synetra Hughes, program director of the Center for Retailing Excellence and Angela Mosley Monts constituent engagement director conducted a Walton College Etiquette Training for the Spirit Scholars. The scholars are upcoming junior and senior high school students. -3The Arkansas Student Government Alumni Society hosted a tailgate at the Razorback baseball game, April 11, 2015. This event served to recruit members and welcome the 2015 undergraduates into the society. If you are would like to get involved in the ASG Society please email Tori Pohlner, president at vpohlner@uark.edu. -4Master of Science in Operation Management Alumni Society Master of Science in operation management graduates, faculty and staff joined with family and friends of the program, Saturday, April 25, to celebrate 40 years of education, success and graduates! We had a great time with all of the attendees! -5Left to right-Ashlie Hilbun, director of development and external relations, Fulbright College of Arts and Science, Robert Smith and Todd Shield, dean of Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. -6Walt Gilbertson, Carol Gilbertson and Bill Woolly -7The Razorback Band Alumni Society sponsored reception before the University of Arkansas Wind Ensemble performance at the Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas, Monday, March 9. â&#x2013;

-7ARKANSAS â&#x20AC;˘ Fall 2015

ARKANSAS

ALUMNI OFFICERS President Stephanie S. Streett ✪ BS’91, Little Rock

Past Presidents of the Arkansas Alumni Association Board of Directors 1923-24 Joseph Kirby Mahone ✪ BA’07

1965-66 P.K. Holmes Jr. ✪ BA’37 LLB’39

1924-25 Robert Hill Carruth BA’11

President-Elect Don Eldred ’81, Houston, TX

1925-26 James E. Rutherford ✪ BA’22

1966-67 William H. Bowen ★ LLB’49 1967-68 Guy H. Lackey ✪+ BSBA’49

Treasurer Kenneth Biesterveld ’05, ’10, Bentonville

1926-27 Winston Lee Winters BSCE’06

1968-69 Robert P. Taylor ✪+ BSBA’47, MS 1948

1927-28 J.L. Longino BSEE’03

1969-70 John Ed Chambers BA’39, LLB’40

1928-29 Alfred Boyde Cypert BA’12 1929-30 James William Trimble BA’17

1970-71 Chester H. Lauck ’25 1971-72 Nathan Gordon ✪+ JD’39

1930-31 G. DeMatt Henderson BA’01, LLB’03

1972-73 Charles E. Scharlau ✪+ LLB’58

1931-32 Dr. Jasper Neighbors MD‘18

1973-74 Carl L. Johnson ★ BSBA’47

1932-33 Scott D. Hamilton BA‘24

1974-75 R. Cecil Powers ✪ BSBA’30

1933-34 Charles A. Walls BA‘07

1975-76 J.C. Reeves ✪ ’25

1934-35 Arthur D. Pope BA‘06 1935-36 John C. Ashley BA’11

1976-77 Elizabeth (Sissi) Riggs Brandon ✪+ BSE’55 1977-78 Roy Murphy ✪+ BSIM’49

1936-37 Beloit Taylor BA‘19

1978-79 Fred Livingston ✪ BSBA’55

1937-38 John P. Woods ✪ BA’09

1979-80 Tracy Scott ★ BSE’53

1938-39 Glen Rose ★ BSE’28, MS’31

1980-81 Edward W. Stevenson ✪+ BSBA’60

1939-40 Claude J. Byrd ★ BSA’25

1981-82 Fred Livingston ✪ BSBA’55 1982-83 Don Schnipper ✪+ BA’63, JD’64

Secretary Deborah Blume ✪+ BSBA’08, Fayetteville BOARD OF DIRECTORS Class of 2016 John Forrest Ales ✪ BA’02, Fayetteville Emanuel Banks ✪ BSCE’87, North Little Rock Susan Gilbert Kemp ★ BSHE’73, MS’75, Mountain View Charlene Reed ✪+ BSHE’74, MS’77, Marianna Lott Rolfe IV ★ BSE’94, Maumelle Jeffrey M. Stephens ✪+ BSIE’86, Hot Springs Roger H. Sublett ★ BSE’64, MA’65, Mason, OH Brandon Timbes ✪+ BSBA’98, Charlotte, NC Amy Tu ★ JD’96, Seattle, WA Class of 2017 Ben Beaumont ★ BA’04, Little Rock John Berrey ★ BA’91, Tulsa, OK Marvin Caston ★ BA’00, MED’03, Fayetteville Judy Drummond Covert ✪+ BA’83, Bel Aire, KS Latonya Foster ★ BA’96, Springdale Steven Hinds ✪+ BSPA’89, MED’92, Fayetteville Jordan Johnson ✪ BA’00, Little Rock Carla Martin ★ JD’04, Pine Bluff Melissa Pianalto ✪ BSA’88, MS’90, Springdale Molly Rapert ★ BSBA’85, MBA’87, Fayetteville Class of 2018 Kristen Allbritton ’04, Frisco, TX Teena Gunter ’92, ’97, Oklahoma City, OK Ashley Harris ’95, Fayetteville Sharon Hunt ’73, ’75, Fayetteville Kristin Kaufman ’83, Dallas, TX Bill Kerr ’88, Tampa, FL Dustin McDaniel ’94, Little Rock Drake McGruder ’06, ’12, Fort Smith Charles Redfield ’89, Bentonville STAFF Associate Vice Chancellor for Alumni and Executive Director of the Arkansas Alumni Association Brandy Cox ★ MA‘07 Associate Executive Director Dale Green ★ Director of Membership and Marketing Terri Dover ✪+ Director of Constituent Engagement Angela Mosley Monts ✪, BA’80 Director of Finance Ross Baldwin ★ Catherine Baltz ✪+ BS’92, MED’07, Manager of Affinity Programs & Analysis; Shanna Bassett ★ Associate Director of Membership and Marketing; Debbie Blume ✪+ Board and Campaign Coordinator; Stella Clark ✪ Finance Assistance; Deb Euculano ✪ Associate Director of Alumni Special Events; Elton Ford ✪ BSHES ’12, Manager of Outreach and Programs; Felicia Garner ★ Administrative Support Supervisor; Johanna Hall ★ BA’11, Assistant Director of Marketing; Robin January ✪ BSA’98, Scholarship Coordinator; Ryan Miller ✪ BSBA’07, MED’09, Assistant Director of Student and Young Alumni Outreach; Tiffany Robinson ✪ Fiscal Support Analyst; Amanda Schoenbaum ★ BSB’12, MED’14, Manager of Chapter Programs; Julie Simpson ★ Assistant Director of Facilities and Special Events; Alyssa Strodel ★ BSBA’12, MED’15, Marketing Coordinator; Elizabeth Tipton ✪ Membership and Marketing Assistant

Fall 2015 • ARKANSAS

1940-41 Charles Frierson Jr. ‘29 1941-42 John B. Daniels BSA‘33 1942-44 G. DeMatt Henderson BA’01, LLB’03 1944-45 Dr. M. L. Dalton MD’32 1945-46 Jack East ✪ BSE’24 1946-47 Steve Creekmore ★ BSBA’11 1947-48 Maupin Cummings ✪ BA’32 1948-49 Roy Milum BA’04, LLD’58 1949-50 Paul Sullins ✪ JD’37 1950-51 Francis Cherry LLB’38 1951-52 J.C. Gibson BA’24, MS’38 1952-53 George Makris ✪ BSBA’37 1953-54 Edward B. Dillon Jr. ★LLB’50

1983-84 Mary Trimble Maier ✪+ BA’49 1984-85 Bart Lindsey ✪+ BSBA’67 1985-86 W. Kelvin Wyrick ✪+ BSE’59 1986-87 Larry G. Stephens ✪+ BSIE’58 1987-88 Rebecca Shreve ✪+ BSE’60, MED’63 1988-89 Robert T. Dawson ✪+ BA’60, LLB’65 1989-90 Gregory B. Graham ✪+ BSBA’70, JD’72 1990-91 Blake Schultz ✪+ BA’51 1991-92 Chuck Dudley ✪+ BSBA’76, MBA’77 1992-93 Harriet Hudson Phillips ✪+ BA’72 1993-94 Richard Hatfield ✪+ BSBA’65, LLB’67 1994-95 Jenny Mitchell Adair ✪+ BA’62

1955-56 Louis L. Ramsay Jr. LLB’47, LLD’88

1995-96 Jack McNulty ✪+ BSBA’67, JD’70 1996-97 Sylvia Boyer ✪+ BSE’63

1956-57 Stanley Wood ✪ BA’23

1997-98 Morris Fair ★ BSBA’56

1957-58 A.L. Whitten MS’40

1998-00 H. Lawson Hembree IV ✪+ BSA’83 2000-02 Jeffery R. Johnson ✪+ BA’70

1954-55 Beloit Taylor BA’19

1958-59 W.R. “Dub” Harrison BA’20 1959-60 E.M. “Mack” Anderson ✪+ BA’32 1960-61 Warren Wood ✪ LLB’32 1961-62 Owen Calhoun Pearce BSBA’41, LLB’41 1962-63 James C. Hale BA‘33 1963-64 Jack East Jr. BSBA‘48 1964-65 J. Fred Patton ✪+ BA’29, MA’36

2002-04 Edward Bradford ✪+ BSE’55, MED’56 2004-06 Brian M. Rosenthal ✪+ BSBA’84 2006-08 Kenny Gibbs ✪+ BSBA’85 2008-10 Gerald Jordan ✪+ BA’70 2010-12 Steve Nipper ✪+ BSBA’71, MBA’73 2012-14 John Reap ✪+ BSBA’70

GREEK LIFE

Growth of Sororities and Fraternities Prompts Renovations and Expansions

Pi Kappa Alpha Dedication

Lambda Chi Alpha Groundbreaking

photo by Logan Webster

Pi Kappa Alpha Dedication

photo by Matt Reynolds

Improvements to several Greek chapter houses has been underway or is getting started on campus. The growth in the number of students who want to pledge a fraternity or sorority is driving the new construction and renovations on campus. “Dedicated teams of university professionals, passionate alumni and chapter memberships have been instrumental in the renovation and revitalization of these Greek houses,” said Dean of Students Melissa Harwood-Rom. “Current and future students will benefit from the improvements to these signature structures. Speaking on behalf of the Division of Student Affairs, we are so very grateful to those who have contributed their time, expertise and financial support to these projects.”

The Alpha Zeta chapter’s dedication took place in April at the newly renovated house on Arkansas Avenue. Bill Brady, a graduate of the Sam M. Walton College of Business, and Mac Hogan, a graduate of the College of Engineering, served as renovation co-chairs and spoke at the event, as well as Alpha Zeta alumnus Bob Wardlow, a graduate of the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. Current PIKE members Sean Stewart and Michael Owens represented the students, and executive vice president Justin Buck spoke on behalf of the national Pi Kappa Alpha organization. The renovation of the house, which was originally built more than 60 years ago, cost $7.6 million. The architect for the project was Ken Hirshey and Cyntergy AEC of Tulsa, and the builder was Jimmy Cone and the Cone Group. Significant improvements to the house include the addition of another story to both the north and south wings of the building, enhanced student sleeping and living accommodations, a renovated chapter room and updated finishes. The house also boasts a rooftop garden and outdoor lounge overlooking Dickson Street. “During the planning and construction phases of the renovation – when the house was closed – the chapter maintained membership and increased in number,” said Harwood-Rom. “That is the greatest tribute I can pay to the strength of this brotherhood. I shall always treasure the friendships fostered by this partnership. That is the University of Arkansas for you and why I am proud to have been a part of revitalizing this beautiful house.” Over the course of the project, the building’s size was increased from 15,432 square feet to 28,000 square feet, which now makes it the largest fraternity house on campus. It is also ranked No. 13 in the top 20 most impressive fraternity houses in the south by COED.com and was featured in the Pi Kappa Alpha Shield & Diamond publication in spring 2015. “This project will certainly be a part of the Gearhart Legacy here at the university,” said Brady. “It was a dynamic collaborative effort – half university and half Pi Kappa Alpha – and the results are truly remarkable. The U of A and Pi Kappa Alpha partnership will long endure and serve as a reminder that great things can happen when Greek houses and the university work together with a ‘can do’ attitude. We are grateful to the chancellor and to his Greek housing team for their support on this project, which means so much to the men of Pi Kappa Alpha.”

Chi Omega Greek Theatre

photo by Russell Cothern

Lambda Chi Alpha Groundbreaking The Gamma Chi chapter’s house renovation and expansion groundbreaking took place in April on Stadium Drive. Speakers included Melissa Harwood-Rom, Mark Power, associate vice chancellor for development, as well as Gamma Chi Chapter president Luke Crenshaw and chapter adviser Drew Johnson.

ARKANSAS • Fall 2015

Lambda Chi Alpha was founded in 1909 and established at the University of Arkansas in 1923. It recolonized on campus with 30 members in 2002 and now includes more than 170 members. In 2007, the chapter won the Grand High Alpha Award for consistent excellence in recruitment, academics and philanthropy over a threeyear period. The Gamma Chi chapter’s house was built in the early 1950s and was the first fraternity house on Stadium Drive. Its renovation and expansion, which will begin immediately, is expected to cost at least $6.3 million and be completed in summer 2016. Fundraising is still ongoing, and the Walton Family Foundation has offered a matching gift toward the project. “As we prepare to temporarily relocate the men of Lambda Chi Alpha, I am confident that their strong chapter and alumni leadership will serve them well,” said Harwood-Rom. “We know that they will continue to be a top performing chapter in academics, philanthropy and leadership.” “Our chapter continues to excel in those areas,” said Casey Simon, Lambda Chi Alpha alumni association president. “This house is where I met and made my best friends – friendships that will last a lifetime, as opposed to just four years. A renovated and up-to-date chapter house is long overdue, but this renovation will allow us to maintain the traditional fraternity appearance on the outside while being polished and stately on the inside.”

Chi Omega and Pi Beta Phi The Chi Omega women’s fraternity began expansion of its chapter house as soon as classes were out in the spring, and construction is expected to take about a year. The renovation will include a larger dining area, more living space and more study space. The number of students who can live at the house will grow to 93. The building was previously expanded in 1941 and 1958. The Pi Beta Phi chapter house is being completely torn down to be replaced by a new, larger chapter house on the same site. The old house was built in the 1950s. The new one will be about 15,000 square feet of space with specific attention to kitchen, dining space and meeting space. The Pi Phi sorority hopes to have the new house done by summer of 2016 in time for the start of fall classes.

Chi Omega Greek Theatre Also, the university and Chi Omega fraternity rededicated the Chi Omega Greek Theatre in May after a thorough renovation. The Greek Theatre has been used throughout its 85-year history for commencements, convocations, concerts, dramas and pep rallies. The iconic structure was built in 1930 and was given to the university by

Fall 2015 • ARKANSAS

the national Chi Omega Fraternity, which was founded on the University of Arkansas campus in 1895. Today, Chi Omega is the largest women’s fraternal organization in the world with over 334,000 initiates, 178 collegiate chapters and over 240 alumnae chapters. When The Greek Theatre was given to the Fayetteville campus, the structure was the largest gift to a university by a fraternal organization to celebrate its founding. “We are proud to celebrate this iconic structure with the Chi Omegas, who have such an incredible history here,” said Chris Wyrick, vice chancellor for advancement. “The Greek Theatre is a beloved campus landmark and evokes feelings of nostalgia and pride from our students and alumni. It is a signature space that we should continue to maintain, improve upon and cherish.” Wyrick and Chancellor G. David Gearhart spoke on behalf of the university at the event, which also featured remarks from Shelley Potter, Chi Omega national fraternity president; Colleen Deely, Psi chapter of Chi Omega president; and University of Arkansas Board of Trustees member Jane Rogers, who is an alumna of Psi chapter and serves as president of the Chi Omega Foundation. The theatre is loosely patterned after the Theatre of Dionysus, built at the foot of the Acropolis in Athens. Around the frieze joining the 14 columns are the words “Knowledge,” “Integrity,” “Courage,” “Culture” and “Intelligence.” The names of Chi Omega’s five founders are listed on the front of the stage on five large foundation stones. “The University of Arkansas and Chi Omega are committed to maintaining the Chi Omega Greek Theatre and its grounds,” said Rogers. “Chi Omega is most grateful for the university’s significant financial role in the Greek Theatre’s upkeep and preservation. This rededication celebrates our long friendship and mutual enjoyment of a treasured landmark.” Some of the recent improvements included repairs to the seats, steps and columns, as well as restoration of the stucco and limestone used in the structure. The theatre also received new windows, tower roofs, limestone plaques and tower doors. The landscaping was updated and the site lighting was also improved. Funding for the project, which cost just over $1 million, came from the university, a grant from the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resource Council, the Chi Omega Foundation and numerous donations from alumnae and friends of Chi Omega. The architect for the renovation was Steelman Connell Moseley of Little Rock and Fayetteville, and the general contractor was Flintco Constructive Solutions of Springdale. DCI of Fayetteville and Little Rock served as the civil engineer and landscape architect for the project. The first renovation of the theatre occurred just prior to its June 23, 1980, rededication, which coincided with the 50th anniversary of its completion. In 1992, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1995, the structure underwent additional renovations in commemoration of Chi Omega’s centennial celebration, and in 2006 the theatre’s original wooden semi-circular pergola was disassembled, preserved and reconstructed. ■

courtsey Razorback athletics

RAZORBACK ROAD

McLeod Breaks 36-Year-Old NCAA Record Omar McLeod set a new NCAA record for the 110-meter hurdles while becoming the Jamaican National Champion in the event as well. McLeod finished first in the 110-meter hurdles in a world-leading time of 12.97 seconds, breaking USATF Hall of Famer Renaldo Nehemiah’s NCAA all-dates all-time best record of 13.00 set in 1979. McLeod advances to represent Jamaica at the 2015 World Championships, which were to be held in Beijing, China, in August. Nehemiah who is considered one of the greatest hurdlers of all time held the record for more than three decades. Prior to McLeod’s recent efforts, current world record-holder Aries Merritt’s time of 13.12 in 2006 was the best attempt to take over the NCAA record. McLeod, a Bowerman semifinalist, qualified for the competition with the top time in the event. Continuing his momentum off of two NCAA-title-winning performances, McLeod opened up the prelims leading the field in 13.24. Getting an explosive start in the finals, the Arkansas standout capitalized on his early lead to take the victory in a new career-best and NCAA-best time of 12.97.

“I’m just lost for words. Words can’t explain how honored, humbled and blessed I am to break that record. It’s truly deserving,” McLeod said following his record-breaking national title victory. “I’m just focusing on staying grounded, continuing to train hard; keep God first and everything will take care of itself.” Compiling multiple awards this season, the native of Kingston, Jamaica, continues to add accolades to his already historic year. McLeod kicked off the season defending his 60-meter hurdle national title in dramatic fashion, running 7.45 to break the NCAA record. Opening up his outdoor season at the Drake Relays, the Arkansas sophomore dominated the field winning the 110-meter hurdles in an NCAAleading time of 13.21. Most recently at the 2015 NCAA Outdoor Championships, he posted a wind-aided time of 13.01 becoming the all-conditions world leader, claiming the NCAA crown and completing the national hurdles title sweep. With his performance at the 2015 Jamaican National Championships, McLeod remains undefeated this year in his signature hurdles event. ■

ARKANSAS • Fall 2015

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RAZORBACK ROAD

Long Named 2015 Sports Business Journal AD of the Year

courtsey Razorback athletics

and women’s basketball tournaments. The men’s basketball team returned to NCAA play for the first time since 2008 while the women’s team did so for the first time since 2012. The Razorbacks defeated Texas in the AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl and won their initial games in both the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments. In the classroom, the Razorbacks continue to set new standards including posting a school record student-athlete grade point average of 3.24 in the spring of 2015. The cumulative GPA for 2014-15 was a school record 3.24. It marked the seventh consecutive year Razorback studentathletes posted a GPA exceeding 3.0. Graduation success rates continue to rise with a total of 200 current or former Razorback student-athletes graduating in the past two academic years. Student-athlete development has also been a priority including the establishment of the Razorback Leadership Academy, the first of its kind in the Southeastern Conference. In the community, Razorback student-athletes are more active than ever volunteering more than 6,500 hours of time for more various agencies, organizations and schools around the state. Under Long’s leadership, the program has fortified its financial standing ensuring more support for the development of studentathletes. According to USA Today, Arkansas is one of only 23 financially self-sustaining Division I-A athletic programs in the nation. With an eye toward the future, Long commissioned a comprehensive plan to assess the future facility needs of the program. Unveiled in October 2011, the Razorback Athletic Facilities Master Plan provided a vision and the road map for $320 million of facility renovations and additions that will help all 19 Razorback sports remain competitive in the Southeastern Conference and nationally over the next 30 years. Last August, the Fowler Family Baseball and Track Training Center was completed. Later this summer, the Basketball Performance Center and the Jerry and Gene Jones Student-Athlete Success Center will be completed on the University of Arkansas campus. Long’s appointment as the first ever chair of the College Football Playoff Selection Committee provided further evidence that he is already one of the most respected and influential leaders within intercollegiate athletics. Long chaired a committee of 13 individuals that collectively featured more than 230 years of college football experience among two former top-level university administrators, five current athletics directors, three members of the College Football Hall of Fame, three former college football head coaches, a former United States secretary of state, a former member of Congress and a retired three-star general. Even before his appointment as the CFP Selection Committee’s chair, Long’s leadership and unwavering commitment to the studentathletes and maintaining integrity within intercollegiate athletics has not gone unnoticed. In 2013, Long was named as an Under Armour Athletics Director of the Year for the Football Bowl Subdivision. ■

University of Arkansas Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Jeff Long was named the 2015 SportsBusiness Journal and SportsBusiness Daily Athletic Director of the Year. Long was announced and recognized at the 2015 Sports Business Awards at the New York Marriott Marquis at Times Square in New York City. “We are extremely proud that Jeff has been recognized nationally for his extraordinary leadership at the University of Arkansas and his many accomplishments within intercollegiate athletics,” thenChancellor G. David Gearhart said at the time. “He has successfully guided our nationally competitive athletics program while building a diverse academic and student-athlete development program that assists Razorback student-athletes in reaching their fullest potential on and off the field. Jeff is a tremendous asset to the University of Arkansas and is very deserving of this prestigious award.” In his eighth year as vice chancellor and director of athletics, Jeff Long has helped transform the University of Arkansas Department of Intercollegiate Athletics into one of the most successful and nationally respected programs in the country. Along the way, Long has gained national attention and earned numerous awards for his progressive leadership of a program encompassing 19 sports and more than 460 student-athletes. In Long’s tenure, Arkansas has captured two national championships, 24 conference championships and advanced to 106 post-season competitions, including the school’s first Bowl Championship Series appearance in football. In the Learfield Sports Directors Cup, a yearlong competition ranking the nation’s most successful intercollegiate athletic programs, Arkansas has finished in the top 30 programs nationally six times in the past seven years. Within the current year, Arkansas has earned its second national title of Long’s tenure at the 2015 NCAA Women’s Indoor Track and Field Championships. Also, for the first time since 2001, Arkansas has played in a football bowl game while earning bids to both the NCAA men’s

ARKANSAS • Fall 2015

Arkansas Teams Finish 16th Place Among Universities Nationwide Arkansas earned a program record 16th-place finish in the 201415 Learfield Sports Directors Cup Standings released in July by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of America. The Directors Cup is a competition that tracks the nation’s most successful intercollegiate athletics programs for their performances throughout the year. Arkansas finished the academic year with a program record 912.5 points, besting the previous point total of 830 in 2012-13 by more than 82 points. The 16th-place ranking was the best national finish since the current scoring format was adopted. Of the top-15 teams in the standings, 12 have 20 or more sports in their programs. Arkansas sponsors 19 varsity sports, 15 of those programs contributed to the record-breaking point total, tying a record also achieved in 2007-08. The women’s track and field team’s national indoor championship led the Razorbacks’ scoreboard, but all the sports contributed to the competition. Not only have the Razorbacks done well on the field, the student athletes also proved their academic mettle during the last year, with all 19 teams exceeding the benchmark academic progress rate, including

three programs that scored perfect 1,000 multi-year APR rates. In the Directors Cup competition, the Razorbacks ranked fourth among Southeastern Conference programs. A total of seven SEC programs ranked in the top 25 of the final standings. Arkansas is the only Division I school in the nation this year to have won a bowl game, games in both the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments and an NCAA Baseball Regional. “What an extraordinary year for Razorback Athletics,” said Jeff Long, vice chancellor and director of athletics. “Thanks to the outstanding achievements of our student-athletes, coaches and staff, we have enjoyed the most successful year in the history of our program both in the classroom and in athletic competition. Back in 2009, we set an ambitious goal for our program to finish in the top 20 nationally and the top five of the SEC in the Directors Cup by 2015. Today, thanks to the loyal support of our university, our Razorback Foundation members and our fans, we have met that goal with a record-breaking performance. Now, we will continue to set our sights even higher as we represent our outstanding institution, our state and Razorbacks everywhere.” ■

RAZORBACK ROAD

Arkansas Razorbacks Exceed APR Benchmark in All 19 Sports For the third consecutive year, the University of Arkansas exceeded the benchmark academic progress rate multi-year rate of 930 in all 19 of its intercollegiate sport programs, including three programs that scored perfect 1,000 multi-year APR rates. Arkansas’ 19 programs averaged a rate of 973.9, marking the fourth straight year the program average has exceeded 970. All 19 programs eclipsed the benchmark by at least eight points with 17 of the 19 besting the 930 benchmark by 20 points or more. Men’s golf, women’s golf and volleyball all earned NCAA Public Recognition Awards for ranking among the top 10 percent of teams academically in their respective sports. Each program had a perfect 1,000 multi-year rate. With the three awards, the University of Arkansas has now earned 11 public recognition awards in the past three years. Other top scoring programs include women’s gymnastics (995), women’s soccer (995), women’s swimming and diving (995) and men’s tennis (994). “We are pleased that the APR scores reflect the continued academic progress and achievement of our 19 sport programs,” said Jeff Long, vice chancellor and director of athletics. “For the third straight year, all 19 of our programs are above the APR benchmark with a majority of them exceeding it by 20 or more points. Most importantly, our strategic focus on guiding Razorback student-athletes on their path to

graduation has resulted in dramatic increase in student-athletes earning their college degree. I want to thank our coaches, staff and most importantly our student-athletes for their commitment to their academic progress and embracing the extensive opportunities for personal development through participation in intercollegiate athletics.” Thirteen of 19 sports maintained or increased their multi-year rates in the past year. Men’s basketball exceeded the benchmark for the third consecutive year and posted its best multi-year rate ever (959). The men’s basketball program improved its multi-year rate by 22 points in the most recent listing. In the past five years, the men’s basketball multiyear rate has improved by 73 points. Men’s outdoor track and field (up 18), men’s indoor track and field (up 11) and women’s indoor track and field (up 10) also saw doubledigit point improvements in APR multi-year rates. In 2014-15, a total of 87 Razorback student-athletes earned the opportunity to participate in commencement ceremonies. In the past two years, Razorbacks Athletics has averaged 100 graduates per year. The APR is based on academic eligibility and retention of student-athletes in each athletic program. This report’s multi-year scores are based on the 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14 academic years.

ARKANSAS • Fall 2015

courtsey Razorback athletics

University of Arkansas APR Superlatives • Third time since APR established and third consecutive year that all 19 sport programs exceed benchmark of 930 •A ll 19 programs exceed benchmark by at least eight points (938) with 17 programs exceeding the benchmark by 20 points (950) or more. • Fourth consecutive year the program multi-year average exceeded 970 (973.9 2013-14) • Thirteen of 19 sports maintained or improved their multi-year rates in the past year • Three Public Recognition Awards - All 1,000 multi-year rates (men’s and women’s golf and volleyball) • Razorback Athletics posted a program best single-year average rate of 986.4 for all 19 programs. • Ten of Arkansas’ 19 programs recorded a perfect 1,000 single-year APR rate. • Arkansas has now earned a total of 11 Public Recognition Awards in the past three years. • Men’s Basketball has improved its APR 73 points in the past five years. The most recent 959 multi-year rate is a program best. • Total of 87 Razorback student-athlete earned the opportunity to participate in commencement ceremonies in 2014-15. • Razorback Athletics has averaged 100 graduates in the past two years combined. ■

Fall 2015 • ARKANSAS

YESTERYEAR

1875

1965

• A faculty member is charged with being skeptical of the Bible, but the charge is refuted in testimony before the Board of Trustees.

• Razorbacks win Cotton Bowl on Jan. 1 and are awarded the Grantland Rice Trophy as the 1964 Football Champions. • Hotz Hall is dedicated as the newest residence hall for women. It was rededicated as a co-ed honors hall during the 2013-14 school year.

1885

1935 Razorback

• In a dispute between the university’s president, Daniel H. Hill, and Gov. J.H. Berry, about a trial of students, Hill says that 1975 hazing by drunken students • Kappa Sigma Fraternity was the charge. A legislative 1935 Razorback caption reads, “Bob” Henderson and Edith Bell Ryan took possession of announces plans to panel investigates the charge the old Ford known as “Baby Blue,” previously owned by Fayetteville’s OK Taxi. It was a renovate its house on the fine motoring vehicle on dry days in 1935 but not so swell on rainy ones. and finds that perfect corner of Dickson Street harmony prevails, but and Arkansas Avenue. Hill says the legislative panel • J. William Fulbright, a senior in the • The Razorback baseball was deceived about the “riot” because the College of Arts and Sciences, is awarded team opens the spring season on the new prominence of the riotous students prevented a Rhodes Scholarship to attend Oxford Astro Turf at George Cole Field. punishment. University. He called Coach Francis Schmidt while there to report that he was playing 1985 1895 rugby but did not find it as interesting as • KRFA emerges as the university’s student• The Chi Omega sorority is founded at the American football. run radio station while KUAF becomes an University of Arkansas. affiliate of National Public Radio. • Almost every department within the 1905 1935 university is now using computers. • The departments of agriculture and • A legislative bill proposes to borrow horticulture are administratively separated a considerable sum of money from the 1995 from the rest of the university to create the university to set up state-owned liquor stores • The new rising junior exam sees its first College of Agriculture. William George in Arkansas. round of testing in the spring semester. Vincenheller is the first dean. • A U of A astronomer examines a meteor • The requirement assesses the progress that fell to earth near Fayetteville. of the state’s college students after their 1915 sophomore year. • Charles Hillman Brough, a professor of 1945 sociology and economics at the U of A, • Lord Halifax, British ambassador to the 2005 leaves the University of Arkansas after 12 United States, visits the U of A. • The University of Arkansas takes in more years on campus. Two years later he is elected • The Arkansas Traveler tells students that than 60 students from institutions of higher governor of Arkansas. approximately 50,000 soldiers are being sent education in the New Orleans area after • The U of A president is authorized to enter to campus to relieve coeds’ frustration and Hurricane Katrina devastates the Gulf Coast. into a contract with a “proper” person to man shortage. It’s the paper’s April Fool’s • Professor Jura Margulis, a virtuoso pianist, allow him to have the rent of a room in one edition. performs a special rendition of “The Stars of the university’s buildings at a fixed rental. and Stripes Forever” on a grand piano at 1955 center court during half-time of a Razorback 1925 • During Old Main’s 80th year, the five-story basketball game. n • A Women’s Gymnasium, today known as building got refurbished. the Army ROTC Building, is built on Maple • Lucky Strike cigarettes are advertised in Street. The Arkansas Traveler.

ARKANSAS • Fall 2015

Homecoming 2015: Flashback Fayetteville Razorbacks to celebrate return of alumni with a week’s worth of events The theme for the 2015 Homecoming will be Flashback Fayetteville, and Student Alumni Board’s team planning Homecoming has already nailed down more than a dozen events during the week leading up to the Razorback game against the University of Tennessee at Martin on Oct. 31. The week begins with the Color Those Hogs 5K run starting at 4 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 25, on the Front Lawn of Old Main. As part of the run, competitors are encouraged to donate food for the Full Circle Campus Food Pantry. The official kick-off begins the next day, Monday, Oct. 26, at the Union Mall, with a chance for students, faculty, staff and alumni to sign cards and write messages of appreciation to all the university supporters who have put philanthropy at the forefront of the Arkansas culture. University Recreation also returns with its popular Pigskin Classic, a flag football tournament 30 years in the making, culminating at the intramural fields with two teams culled from as many teams as the students can muster. Friday, Oct. 30, will be a full day. Judging of the lawn decorations by

the residence halls and Greek houses begins at noon. At 3 p.m., the Class of 2014 will be honored with the Senior Walk Dedication, a ceremony of the addition of their names to the university’s longest-running tradition. Attendees will hear from the 2014 Associated Student Government president, the Student Alumni Board president and the Senior Honor Citation winners. At 6:30 p.m., the celebration moves to Dickson Street, where the Homecoming Parade will run from Highland Avenue west to the Chi Omega Greek Theatre, where the Homecoming Pep Rally, sponsored by the Arkansas Booster Club, will be held. The 2015 Homecoming Queen and court will be announced at the pep rally. On Saturday, Oct. 31, join the Arkansas Alumni Association for its Hog Wild Tailgate before the game gets underway. Enjoy live music, tailgate games, TV viewings of other games in progress, food and drinks. Be sure to register for your catered meal at www.arkansasalumni. org/hogwildtailgates. For more information, please visit homecoming.uark.edu. n

An Official Program of:

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SENIOR WALK

Class Notes Let us know about your milestones and anything else you would like to share with your classmates – births, marriages, new jobs, retirements, moves and more. Please include your degree, class year, and when applicable, your maiden name. To provide the most thorough coverage of alumni news, we publish notes about members and non-members of the Arkansas Alumni Association and will indicate membership status for reference. You may send us news or simply update your information. Since the next issues of Arkansas are already in production, it may be a few issues before your item appears. Mail: Senior Walk, c/o Johanna Hall, Arkansas Alumni Association, P.O. Box 1070, Fayetteville AR 72702 E-mail: record@arkansasalumni.org These symbols indicate Alumni Association membership:

’54 ’62

Norma Moore ✪ and Ferrell D. Moore ✪ BA’54 celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary, June 18. They reside in Houston, Texas. Shirley E. Friend McAllister ✪+ BSHE’62 EDD’69, Sun City, AZ, received the Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the Arizona Advocacy Network. She was recognized for her tireless work to advance progressive policies for working Arizonans.

’66

Rita Geiger ✪+ BA’66, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, has been selected as one of 18 women of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority’s inaugural class of Real. Strong. Women. of Distinction award winners. This award was created to recognize sisters who are on the road to achieving their dreams, inspired by their own Alpha Chi Omega experiences to become the best versions of themselves.

’73 50

John R. Scott ★ BA’73 MA’78 was awarded the Outstanding Jurist

Award. It is given periodically when deemed appropriate to honor an active Federal or State Judge who exhibits exceptional competency, efficiency and integrity on the Bench and whether on and/or off the Bench, has performed exemplary service to the administration of justice. The recipient also must have served on the Bench for a minimum of 10 years.

’74 ’77 ’78

Jack E. Helms Jr. BSME’74 MSME’75 retired from the Albemarle Corporation in 2005, and retired from teaching in the Mechanical Engineering Department at Louisiana State University in 2015. James M. Fowler Jr. JD’77, Little Rock, June 30, is returning to the Rose Law Firm to lead the Public Finance practice. Robert G. Kolf ✪+ BSCE’78, St. Louis, has accepted a position AECOM, the current largest U.S. based Engineering Company by revenue, and has 100,000 employees worldwide.

photo by Russell Cothern

★ Member ★+ Member, A+ ✪ Life Member ✪+ Life Member, A+

’95 ’99

James H. Hall BSCHE’95, Houston, Texas, June 9, joined the Firm as a partner of Blank Rome’s intellectual property and technology group. Laura Blankenship MA’99 PHD’07, May 20, was selected as one of the Noodle’s 67 influential educators who are changing the way we learn in 2015. On this list there are teachers as well as administrators, bloggers, journalists, policymakers, researchers and activists who are transforming the education space as we know it. Alison Renee Williams ★ BA’99 has been appointed by by Governor Asa Hutchinson and confirmed by the Arkansas Senate as the Director of State Federal Relations.

’05

being the creator, writer and executive producer of the HBO series “True Detective.” In its second season, the cast is made up well know actors, such as Colin Farrell, Vince Vaughn, Rachel McAdams, Taylor Kitsch and Kelly Reilly.

’11 ’13

Amber Rickman ★ and Blake Rickman ★ MED’11, Fayetteville, announced the birth of their son, Gavin Blake Rickman, born June 25.

Meagan Olivia Jones ★ BA’13, Marion, is in law school at the Cecil Humphreys School of Law in Memphis. She recently received the honor of president of the Women’s Law Association.

Stephanie J. White ★ BA’05 and Adam Thomas White ★ BSCE’08, Fayetteville, announced the birth of their son, Rush Thomas, born June 27. Nicholas Austin Pizzolatto MFA’05, June 11, was profiled in Vanity Fair for

ARKANSAS • Fall 2015

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www.arkansasalumni.org/lifemembership

Life Members ✪ By becoming Life Members, the University’s friends and alumni help form a strong foundation on which to build the future of the Arkansas Alumni Association. We welcome the newest Life Members, listed in order of membership number: 7502 Jordan Audrey Sooter 7503 Allen Meacham ’90 7504 Elizabeth Meacham ’93 7505 Bill Evans Jr. ’92 7506 Lynda Nichols Evans ’93 7507 Kelly Bryant ’94 7508 Jazmin M. Walton 7509 Gene E. McKissic ’74, ’76 7510 Crandall Edwards ’12 7511 Marjorie A. Edwards 7512 Dion Wilson ’90, ’93 7513 Sharon Edwards Wilson ’90 7514 Macadda J. Peoples ’02, ’03 7515 Judy Nichols ’73 7516 Judieth L. Goodlett-Davis ’72, ’93 7517 Dr. M. Allen Moseley Jr. ’04 7518 Areta Hill Moseley ’03 7519 Matthew Albert Thompson 7520 Dr. Nabil Lehlou ’07, ’08, ’13 7521 Jonathan Bentley Deweese ’97 7522 Culver Randolph

7523 Bryan R. Billingsley ’97, ’98 7524 Kristen Dawn Billingsley ’97, ’98 7525 Robert Steiner ’58 7526 Neil N. Snyder III ’69, ’70 7527 Larry Herman Wewers ’66 7528 Carolyn Clinehens Chandler ’62, ’66 7529 Dr. Robert N. McGrew ’60 7530 Phyllis Jean McGrew 7531 Brett W. Eldred ’93 7532 Christine Eldred 7533 Christopher Edmond Frala ’04, ’06 7534 Dr. Jamie Leigh Frala ’06, ’09, ’12 7535 Susan A. Kemp ’73, ’75 7536 John Dan Kemp Jr. ’73, ’76 7537 Jim D. Harp ’71, ’78 7538 Carolyn Harp ’99 7539 Ashton M. Dawson 7540 Bill G. Horton ’97, ’00, ’01 7541 Clay Boyce ’94 7542 Janice Phillips Martin 7543 Jerry C. Martin

7544 Adrain Torrence Smith ’04 7545 La Tisha D. Smith 7546 Rebecca Anne Moix 7547 Margaret Coleman 7548 Ralph Cloar Jr. ’75 7549 Katy Cloar 7550 Rachel Cathleen Woody 7551 Robert A. Burk ’94 7552 Brady L. Gadberry Jr. ’71 7553 Sarah Gadberry 7554 David L. Ballenger ’72, ’74 7555 Denise Deaver Ballenger ’72 7556 Rodgers Barbe 7557 Taylor D. Reynolds 7558 Bobby L. Bradberry ’77, ’81 7559 Susan Y. Bradberry ’77, ’81 7560 Tommy Kirk Morrow ’88 7561 Dr. Judy E. Borland ’73 7562 Dr. Paula Jeanne Stewart ’97 7563 Mallori Sando 7564 John Paris ’98

Your classmates want to know, and we want to know about your milestones and anything else you’d like to share about your life. To be included in Senior Walk, the most-read section of Arkansas, complete this form and mail to the Arkansas Alumni Association. Feel free to attach additional pages or newspaper clippings.* Name_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(Include maiden name or nickname, if applicable)

Class, year and degree___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ E-mail address__________________________________________________________ What’s the news? (new job, promotion, wedding, new baby, award, retirement, etc.)_________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ARKANSAS Mail to: Arkansas Alumni Association, P.O. Box 1070, Fayetteville, AR 72702; E-Mail : records@arkansasalumni.org

ALUMNI * Since the next issues of Arkansas are already in production, it may be a few issues before your news item appears. Fall 2015 • ARKANSAS

SENIOR WALK

photo submitted

In Memoriam

Spotlight Stacy Tan ★ ’11 Because of her successful career just a few years out of college, Stacy Tan was named one of the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal’s Fast 15 in 2014. Like Tan, many of the recipients have diverse backgrounds. Even though Tan grew up nearly 10,000 miles away in Malaysia, she was raised a Razorback. Both of Tan’s parents, Boon Tan and Chung Tan, attended the University of Arkansas and when Tan received the Honors College Fellowship, she followed in their footsteps. Tan graduated in 2011 with a degree in international business with a focus in management and economics. Her passion for travel was channeled through her studies about cultural and trade relationships between countries and continued into her work for an international broker. Growing up in Malaysia, Tan never experienced pep rallies or American football. Her freshman year, dorm mates invited her to attend the first pep rally and Hog game. “It was so much fun getting decked out in Hog gear, painted up, screaming for the Razorbacks before really understanding the rules of football, and watching us win the first game I ever attended. Wooo Pig Sooie!” Tan said. While at the University, Tan said she loved the opportunities she had to study abroad. “The classes, people and culture I experienced while abroad truly changed my life. These experiences cemented my desire to continue pursuing a path that involved international business and travel. At my current job, I work with international clients on a daily basis. I am also fortunate to travel for work, and have been to six countries for my job so far. I can only hope that I get to continue,” said Tan, who is a proud member of the Arkansas Alumni Association. In addition to her position as international marketing manager of TY North America, LLC, Tan developed a company called Lynxus, with two other Arkansas alumni, Nicholas Spinazze and Drew Johnson. Lynxus is a mobile application that lets you share pictures and videos of events happening around you. What differentiates Lynxus is the request functionality of the app, that allows users to request first-person, realtime content from anywhere in the world. “We believe that this ability to request and share pictures in realtime can change the way people view their world and those around them, our goal with Lynxus is to help create a more compassionate and understanding global society,” Tan said. ■

Lucy Taylor Bentley ★ BA’34, Little Rock, June 8. She was 101 years old. She was a teacher and later a homemaker and a mother. Survivors: two sons, two grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren. Mary Jane Sherland ✪ BSE’37, McGehee. She was 99 years, nine months and 20 days old. She was president of the McGehee Hospital Auxiliary, a member of the D.A.R., a kindergarten teacher for ten years, and in 1985 the community of McGehee selected her as its “Woman of the Year.” Survivors: three daughters, 12 grandchildren and many greatgrandchildren. Mayme Morris ✪ BSBA’40, Lonoke, April 19. She attended the U of A, graduating with honors and receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. After graduation, she attended New York University on scholarship to work on her Masters in Business Administration while she worked at Lord & Taylor. She left NYU after one semester to come home and marry her high school sweetheart, William Henry. She was a homemaker and served on many committees. Survivors: her daughter, eight grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and one great great granchild. Roy E. Danuser ★ LLB’41, Mountain Home, June 5, he was 97 years old. He served in the Army Air Corps in World War II, as a “hump pilot,” flying missions over the Himalayas in India, Burma and China. After the war, he returned to Malvern to practice law and was appointed Circuit Judge for Hot Springs County by Governor Sid McMath. He also had title companies in Benton and Little Rock. He took over the law practice of his lifelong college friend, Erine E. Wright, who had been elected Circuit Judge in Mountain Home. He practiced law there until 2014, when he retired at the age of 96, making him the oldest practicing lawyer in Arkansas. Survivors: three children, six grandchildren and many great-grandchildren. Jackie Geren Stapleton BA’42, Fort Smith, Feb. 5, 2013. She was retired from the Missouri Public School system. John D. Swearingen ★ BS’42, Rogers, June 21. He was a member of the

Razorback Band. He served in the Army in World War II in the 78th Infantry in France and Germany. After the war, he worked in a research lab for lead mining in Joplin, then moved back to Rogers to take a sales position with Shofner Office Supply, where he worked for 18 years. He switched careers in the 60s selling mutual funds and then joining A.G. Edwards as a broker in 1973, where he worked for 17 years, retiring at the age of 70 to care for his first wife Betty, who was developing Alzheimer’s disease. At the age of 87, he remarried to Maizie Baker Coe, and spent six years together before she died in 2013. Survivors: three sons, six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Philip Mansour BSBA’43, Greenville, Mississippi, June 23. He was 95 years old. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, earning the Purple Heart. He was honorably discharged in 1944 and returned to school at Tulane University School of Law, graduating Summa Cum Laude. He opened his practice in Greenville in 1950. Survivors: Eleven children and 25 grandchildren. George J. Fotioo ✪ MD’46, Hot Springs, June 30. He was 95 years old. He graduated from Arkansas State Teachers College in Conway, and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock. After medical school, he was stationed in Germany, where he served his country as a captain in the U.S. Army Medical Corps for two years during World War II. He then worked as an intern for several years at Charity Hospital in New Orleans, before returning home to Hot Springs. He served as a physician in Hot Springs for 55 years. Survivors: three children, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Anita B. Paz BSSW’47, Covington, Louisiana, May 4. She was teacher for 25 years and retired in 1986. Survivors: a daughter, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Gloria Nixon BA’47, Jonesboro, May 6. She was a homemaker and her love for learning continued throughout her life in her various roles as wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and participant and leader in social, church and civic organizations. She excelled at the social graces and made everyone she met feel like a life long friend. Survivors: two children and four grandchildren.

ARKANSAS • Fall 2015

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SENIOR WALK

In Memoriam

Myrtie Baker BSE’47, Benton, June 26. She was 92 years old. She was an elementary school teacher for 38 years, teaching at several schools in Illinois and Arkansas. Prior to retirement, she taught at Jones Elementary School in Springdale. Survivors: three children and four grandchildren

George W. Haley, ✪ LLB ’52

Stan Johnson BSME’47, Knoxville, Feb. 9. He worked in electrical engineering. Survivors: seven children, 11 great-grandchildren.

photo submitted

George W. Haley, age 89, of Silver Springs, Maryland, died May 13. Haley was among the first six black students who entered the University of Arkansas law school in the late 1940s and early ‘50s. He was the second black graduate of the law school. He was named to the school’s Law Review staff and wrote an article for the journal that was recognized in a national competition. After graduation, Haley joined law firm in Kansas City, Kansas, which provided assistance on the desegregation case Brown v. Board of Education. In 1964, Haley was one of the first African Americans to be elected to the Kansas Senate. He was a Republican representing Kansas City, Kansas and served one term. Currently his son, David Haley, represents Kansas City, Kansas, as a Democrat. Haley ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 1966, later joining a law firm in Washington D.C. before establishing his own practice in 1981. He served under six presidents, including as chairman of the Postal Rate Commission under President George H.W. Bush and as U.S. ambassador to Gambia from 1998 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton. The ambassadorship was poignant because his brother and author Alex Haley had traced the family’s history to Gambia for the book Roots. In 2004, he spent time as U.S. Department of State lecturer in Botswana, Namibia, and Swaziland, speaking on the history and development of African Americans. He lectured in many parts of the world. Haley was awarded honorary degrees from Utica College and the University of Arkansas in 2003. He was also awarded the Silas Hunt Legacy Award in 2006, also from the University of Arkansas. Haley is survived by his wife, Doris M. Haley, two children David B. Haley and Anne P. Haley Brown and seven grandchildren Evan, Mariah, Daniel, Morgan, Dawson, Brandon and Malori. ■

Dale Killian ✪+ BSA’48, Fayetteville, May 6. He served his country on LST 170, the “Green Dragon” in the South Pacific during WWII. He returned to the University of Arkansas on the GI Bill, graduating in 1948. Prior to his 50 year career as a realtor with United Farm Real Estate, he was employed as a County Agent in the University Cooperative Extension Service where he enjoyed assisting farm families and educating youth. Survivors: four children, eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Garland E. Bayliss BS’48, Bryan Texas, May 25. He served in the Navy for two years until World War II ended. He continued to faithfully serve our country through the Naval Reserves until his retirement in 1972 as Lieutenant Commander. He began his career as a Biology teacher in Dermott, Arkansas and later taught at Citaldel in Charleston, South Carolina, Texas A&M University until his retirement from A&M in 1986 as Professor Emeritus. He continued to teach part time until 1992. Survivors: his wife of 65 years, Mary Evelyn Bayliss, three children, eight grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. Jack P. Whisnant ★ BS’48, Rochester, Minnesota, May 22. After graduating high school in January 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Aviation Cadet Corps to train as a pilot. While training, he married his high school sweetheart, Patricia Anne Rimmey on May 12, 1944. He was assigned to be a pilot in an A 20 (“Havoc”) airplane in the 417th Bomb Group. He flew 55 combat missions in New Guinea and the Philippines. After discharge from the Army Air Force in 1945, he completed his undergraduate and medical education at the University of Arkansas. After residency training, he was appointed to the staff of the Mayo Clinic in the Sections of Neurology in July 1955. He

was named “Distinguished Alumnus” from the University of Arkansas College of Medicine in 1979 and was President of the American Academy of Neurology from 1993 95. His scientific publications numbered over 300, many of which were population based studies of stroke. Survivors: his wife Pat Whisnant, three children and two grandsons. Benton A. Vizzier BSEE’49, Fayetteville, May 11. He was a WWII Navy veteran. Through the years he worked in dam construction and flood control followed by many years in electronics manufacturing where he authored multiple patents for processes used to produce parts for the U.S. Space Program. After retiring, he entered the poultry industry where he stayed for an additional decade before his final retirement. Survivors: four children, three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Dorothy W. Covington ★+ BA’49, Fayetteville, April 8. She served as a Sunday school teacher and mentor to college students. Survivors: one son, four grandchildren, six greatgrandchildren. Jack M. Byrd BSBA’49, El Dorado, June 14. He served his country with pride during World War II in Patton’s 14th Armored Division, 3rd Army. He enjoyed hunting and fishing in his early years and in his later years was an avid golfer. Survivors: three children, 10 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and one great great-grandchild. Calvert P. Joyce BSME’50, Sulphur Springs, Jan. 14, 2001. He was a Navy veteran of World War II, a mechanical engineer and a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Survivors: three sons, one sister and one brother and five grandchildren. Harry E. McDermott LLB’50, Little Rock, June 8. He attended Henderson State Teachers College, then entered the U.S. Air Corps in 1943 and was discharged Second Lieutenant pilot in 1945; subsequently, self employed as crop duster for one year in Arkansas and Texas. He later graduated from the University of Arkansas, receiving a degree in Business Administration and also the School of Law in 1950. He was a tax attorney for the Department of Justice in Washington, DC. In 1954, he returned to Little Rock and began the private practice of law until 1984. Survivors: three children, one grandson, one step granddaughter and one great step grandson.

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James W. McConnell BSBA’50, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, May 29. He was a long time partner in the firm PVF, Inc. He retired after the company was sold in 1982. J.W. proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy during WWII. Survivors: two sons and three grandchildren.

as a Waterways Commissioner for 21 years. McDonald actively supported the federal funding of the construction of the Montgomery Point Lock and Dam. Survivors: his wife of 61 years, Patsy Barton McDonald, two daughters, three grandchildren and one brother.

Keith A. Catto Jr. BS’50 MS’55, Norman, Oklahoma, April 23. He was employed as an Analytical Chemist at Halliburton Co. in Duncan until 1982. A similar position was held at the Oklahoma Geological Survey in Norman until his retirement in 1990. He wasan emeritus member of the American Chemical Society and the Royal Chemical Society (London). Survivors: a sister.

Barry Q. Walker MS’52, Kendal, Ohio, March 8. He was an accomplished Interventional Radiologist who practiced for more than 20 years at St. Mary’s/Bon Secours Hospital in Richmond, Virginia, while teaching residents at the Medical College of Virginia. He fully retired from medicine in 1999. Survivors: his companion of seven years, Marilyn Carson, the mother of his children, Elizabeth Villaume, two children and three grandchildren.

Wadene F. Hilliard ★ BSE’50, Little Rock, May 12. She retired from a career of teaching high school english, speech and business at Fayetteville, Cabot, Wonderview and Salem public schools. Survivors: four children, nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Ralph McDonald Jr. ★+ BSBA’51 MBA’54, Little Rock, May 27. He was a veteran of the United States Air Force, serving during the Korean War as a 1st Lieutenant. He served as Chairman of the Arkansas Waterways Commission,

Fall 2015 • ARKANSAS

Francis Hulen Bogard BS’52, San Jose, California, May 2. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Coronel and served one tour in the Vietnam War where he received the Bronze Star for meritorious achievement. In 1974, he received his medical boards certification from California and had a practice at the San Jose Medical Clinic. He retired from the medical field at Kaiser Permanente Santa Teresa. Survivors: his wife, Marlene, three children and two grandchildren.

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Mary Elizabeth Thompson Stroud, Chattanooga, Tennessee, June 26. She graduated from Arkansas College and in 1952 became one of the first women to receive a medical degree from the University of Arkansas. She was a practicing psychiatrist in Chattanooga for more than 40 years. During part of this time, she ran a private practice from an office at Memorial Hospital. Survivors: her husband of 57 years, Robert Stroud Sr. and two children. Riley E. Foster BSA’52, Palm Beach, Florida, April 6. A U.S. Army veteran, he was a teacher. Survivors: his wife, Sally, four sons, eight grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren. William V. Dutton BSPH’52, Little Rock, June 30. He served in the U.S. Army, 8th Infantry Division, 8th Medical Battalion, Germany, 1955 1956; served one year as president of West Little Rock Rotary. He was a pharmacist at Hall Drug, in the heights community, and teamed up with his father in law, “Doc” Hall, the owner, until he retired and made Bill the single owner in 1959. Survivors: his wife of 57 years, Nancy Hall Dutton, four children, five grandchildren and one great grandson.

Cecil A. Rolland BSA’53, Forrest City, June 13. He was an insurance agent for Jackson National Life and worked for Metropolitan Life for many years. He was a Veteran of World War II, U.S. Army and a member of the Life Underwriters Association. Survivors: two children, four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Claudine Simpson Terry BSE’53, Amarillo, April 28. She taught for more than 31 years in Borger and in Dumas. She loved doing genealogy, quilting and shopping. Survivors: two children, five grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and 10 great great-grandchildren. Joan Kennamer Dean ✪ BSE’53, Fayetteville, May 11. She was a realtor with Coldwell Banker Flemming Lau. Survivors: two daughters, seven grandchildren and five greatgrandchildren. Jodene Sandon Mulliken ★+ BSE’53, Lubbock, Texas, June 2. She was selected as Homecoming Queen in 1952 and subsequently represented the University of Arkansas as a Cotton Bowl princess. An active member of the community, she served on numerous community boards and in political organizations, was a member

SENIOR WALK of P.E.O. Chapter B, Shakespeare Club, Book Club. Survivors: five children, 11 grandchildren and seven greatgrandchildren. Marion M. Church BA’54, Little Rock, April 19. A U.S. Army veteran, he had a OBGYN practice. Survivors: his wife, Anne, three children, one brother, seven grandchildren. Bernice Heathman Jones BSHE’55, Granbury, Jan. 24, 2014. She loved to play bridge, sew and cook. Survivors: four children, 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Floyd E. Eddleman ✪+ MA’55

PHD’61, Mena, Jan. 13. A decorated U.S. Army veteran, he was a professor of English at the University of Colorado and Texas Tech University. He authored five books on American Drama Criticism. He was a member of Mensa, a group whose members rank in the top 2 percent of the IQs in the world. Survivors: two siblings. Patty Jackson Walker BA’55, El Dorado, Jan. 12. She was a graduate of the University of Arkansas, where she

CELEBRATING

met and later married Bob on Dec. 26, 1955. They spent the majority of their marriage enjoying a series of adventures together as Bob’s job took them to North Africa, Europe and the United Kingdom. Survivors: three children and five grandchildren. Rodney J. Sabatini BSIE’95, Springdale, May 12. He graduated from the University of Arkansas with a masters degree in industrial engineering. Survivors: his parents, three sisters, two nieces and two nephews. Vana Elizabeth Neal BA’95, Fayetteville, March 12, 2014. Survivors: two children, three siblings. George M. Cate BSBA’56 MBA’58, Herndon, VA, April 5. Survivors: his wife, Arlene, three children, three grandchildren. Robert M. Cothren MED’56, Stockton, California, May 10. He was a veteran of the Korean War. He was was a teacher, coach, principal and a superintendent for several public schools. He retired in 1992 from the Beatrice school system. Survivors:

30 YEARS

his wife Lurabeth, two sons and two grandchildren. Arthur C. Layton BSA’57 MS’65, Pocahontas, May 5. He served in the United States Army, where he fought in the Korean War. He worked as an agent for the Randolph County Extension Office for 30 years. Survivors: his wife, Emily, two children, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Carl M. Glover Sr. BSIE’57, Benton, April 10. A U.S. Army veteran, he was an industrial engineer. Survivors: four children, five grandchildren. Eudoro Jaen Jr. BSA’57 MS’58, Panama, March 2. He worked for Chase for 30 years before beginning a distinguished career in public service in Panama and as an ambassador abroad. Survivors: his wife, Rosario and four children. Ferrell Roger Smith BSBA’57 MED’65, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, May 11. He was a public school educator. Survivors: three brothers.

Irene Whitfield Graves MED’57, Clarksville, April 22. She was a teacher. Survivors: her husband, Charles, two children, three grandchildren, one greatgrandchild. Joe Matthews Jr. BSIM’57, Pine Bluff, July 1. He worked theater business for many years, spending over 30 years in the Pine Bluff area in the theater business. Survivors: one nephew and one niece. Carroll C. Varner BSBA’58, Siloam Springs, May 8. He was was a veteran of the Korean War, serving as a drill instructor and a demolitions engineer for the United States Army. He attended the University on the GI Bill. After graduation, he took a job with Conoco Oil and had assignments in Louisiana, Texas and New Mexico. He attended the University of New Mexico School of Law, and then began his second career in municipal finance. He served with the City of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and retired as Director of Finance for the City of Las Vegas, Nevada. Survivors: two children, numerous grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

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John I. Petz II BS’58 MS’59, Benton, June 19. He began his career as a professor at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville soon transferring to teach at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock. He later took a position with the Reynolds Aluminum Company Hurricane Creek Plant in Bryant, Arkansas before moving to Corpus Christi, Texas and continuing to work for Reynolds until retirement and later relocated to Harrison. Survivors: Six children, 13 grandchildren, 12 greatgrandchildren and three great greatgrandchildren. Lena Glover Moore MED’58, North Little Rock, April 6. She was a fourth grade teacher. Survivors: two children, one sister, five grandchildren, six greatgrandchildren. Max Edward Robinson BA’56 LLB’58, Fresno, California, June 21. He was described as a “splendid lawyer and a gentleman” and “an excellent legal research man.” He worked at the Fresno County Counsel’s office for 30 years before retiring in 1991, his final six years serving as the head of that department. Survivors: his wife, Shirley, three sons and seven grandchildren. William P. Sherman MED’58, Sherman, MO, April 17. He had a career in teaching math and coaching football. Survivors: his wife, JoAnne, four children, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Bill D. Mulhollen BSCE’59, North Little Rock, June 11. His first job was at the Arkansas Highway Department, and he retired 43 years later as the head maintenance engineer for the state. He was inducted into the Civil Engineering Academy of the University of Arkansas by his fellow members. Survivors: his wife, Yvonne Linam Mulhollen, three children, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Clyde R. Keaster BSPH’59, South West Arkansas, April 27. He worked as a pharmacist. Survivors: his wife,

Fall 2015 • ARKANSAS

Clovy, two children, one sister, five grandchildren. Louis E. Shell Jr. BSBA’59, Heber Springs, June 22. Survivors: his wife, Kathy Shell and one son, Scott Shell.

In Memoriam Michael Collie

Caroline L. Holmes MA’60, Little Rock, August 9, 2013. She taught advanced math at Little Rock Central High School. Survivors: two sisters. Emily McAllister ✪+ BSE’60, Memphis, Tennessee, June 2. She played organ and piano professionally all of her adult life and was a patron of the arts in Memphis and at the University of Arkansas School of Music. The piano program and the piano chair at the U of A are endowed and named in her honor. She received her master of organ performance degree from the University of Memphis. Survivors: her husband of 56 years, J.W. McAllister, three children and five grandchildren. Jack E. Smith ★ MA’60 PHD’67, Geneva Township, Ohio, April 26. He was an English professor from 1970 1992 at KSUA; earlier he taught at University of Arkansas, University of Texas and in Germany for University of Maryland. He earned the Silver Star at Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War. Survivors: his wife Janice, two daughters and three grandchildren. Patsy Ann Griffin BA’60 MA’61, Hope, April 23. She taught English and literature at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia for many years before returning to Prescott in 2004 where she made her home until her death. Survivors: two children. Ray A. Waters Jr. ★+ BSBA’60, Augusta, May 26. He served in the U.S. Army for two years as a Fire Control Platoon Leader in a Hawk Missile Battery in Germany. After he returned from the service, he worked in Little Rock for IBM as a marketing representative for several years, then for Worthen Bank as an assistant vice president, then Systematics, Inc. as vice president and Demographics, Inc. as president. In 2006, Ray was named a charter member of the Arkansas Academy of Computing at the U of A. Survivors: two children, two stepchildren, three grandchildren and two step grandchildren. William R. Bromley BSBA’60, Houston, Texas, June 4. After receiving his law degree from South Texas College of Law, he was a partner in the law firm of Dowell and Bromley until the time of

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Harrel Chancellor BSPH’58, Huntsville, May 1. He was a registered pharmacist for more than 50 years and operated Chancellor’s Drug in Huntsville until his retirement. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army. Survivors: his wife, Norma Lee Boyd Chancellor, a daughter, two grandchildren and two great-grandsons.

Michael Eugene Collie, 54, clinical assistant professor and director of the Bachelor of Social Work Program in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, passed away Sunday, May 17, in Winslow. A memorial service and reception were held in May in Main’s Giffels

Auditorium. Collie’s unique laugh brought joy to those close to him. He cultivated deep and long-lasting friendships and had a lifelong love of music, playing drums, flute and piano. He was a Sundancer who was proud of his Native American heritage. He is remembered as sincere, authentic, kind-hearted and generous of spirit. His friendly, affectionate nature led to his reputation as someone who never met a stranger. Collie worked in the field of social work for more than 30 years. He served as clinical director for three hospitals and six outpatient clinics including Western Arkansas Counseling and Guidance Center, Vista Health and Ozark Guidance Center. He joined the University of Arkansas faculty in 2007 and has held a full time appointment in the School of Social Work since 2009. A pioneer in distance education, Collie has taught many online and face-to-face courses. He conducted training for public schools and social service agencies and provided continuing education seminars for mental health professionals. “I took Human Diversity and he gets so excited. He teaches sensitivity trainings, etc. in the area and really knows what he’s talking about,” a student wrote in a teacher evaluation of Collie. “I saw this class as an obstacle to getting to higher classes and his enthusiasm roped me in.” Another student described him as “an amazing teacher and is more focused on teaching about practice applications than on book lessons.” In addition to teaching, he also upheld his work as a practitioner and was co-owner of Collie Clinical Consulting in Fayetteville. Collie received a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology and sociology from the University of Arkansas in 1983. He earned a Master of Social Work from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 1998. Collie was born Nov. 18, 1960, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Neil and Mary Lou (Mertel) Collie, who preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife, Sara, two sisters, Anita King of Mountain Home and Marjorie (Richard) Alejandro of San Jose, California; and nieces and nephews. ■

SENIOR WALK his death. Survivors: his wife of 32 years Linda Rios Bromley, three children and four grandchildren. Hester J. Henley MED’61, Morrilton, May 25. She taught in Van Buren, Conway and Perry Counties and served as a principle at Perryville Elementary. Survivors: one daughter, one granddaughter and two greatgrandchildren. James Elvin Gardner BSEE’61, Batesville, May 15. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran. He began his career in Searcy, with AP&L (now called Entergy) in June 1961. An entrepreneur, he and his wife Virginia owned and operated Felts Motel and later owned and operated Hidden Valley Mobile Home Park (next to Meacham Packing Co.) After 29 years of service, he retired as an assistant district superintendent from AP&L. Survivors: two children, three grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren. Larry L. Randolph BA’61, Fort Smith, Aug. 18, 2014. He was an artist, actor, director and teacher. He served on the faculties of Purdue and Texas Tech Universities. William C. Carr MED’61, Manchester, MO, April 21. He had a career in teaching and coaching. Boyce D. Helms MS’62, Searcy, April 16. Boyce spent most of his career at Air Products and Chemicals and served as deacon in the church. Survivors: his wife, Joan, two children, four grandchildren, two greatgrandchildren. Hope Elder Spragins BSE’62, Batesville, June 24. She was a retired teacher and loved serving others by serving on many boards and committees and was an accomplished fisherman and tap dancer. Survivors: a son and two step daughters. Linda L. Evatt BA’62, Conway, Feb. 19, 2014. She enjoyed genealogy, sewing and reading. Survivors: one son. Nancy Vinzant Trigg BA’62, Little Rock, May 17. She was a member of the Russellville Junior Auxiliary. She enjoyed needlepoint, knitting, gardening and landscaping and obtained her Arkansas Master Gardner certification. Survivors: her husband of 58 years, Dr. William W. Trigg and two children. Kay Wells Trumbo ✪+ BA’56 MA’63 Fayetteville, April 30, 2015. She

began her working life as teacher in the Fayetteville Public School, including Leverett Elementary and Woodland Junior High. In 1982, she joined the University of Arkansas as the assistant to the dean of the college of business and later became the director of special events for the University in 1988. She retired from the U of A in 2000. Survivors: her husband of 17 years, Jerry A. Havens, one sister and many children and grandchildren. Ralph Edward Walkingstick BSEE’63, Baron, OK, April 24. A U.S. Army veteran, he worked as a design engineer. Survivors: his wife, Dorothy, four children, seven grandchildren, three great-grandchildren. Tony R. Beattie BSBA’64, Fort Smith, June 13. He was a lifelong resident of Fort Smith and a CPA for 43 years. Survivors: his wife, Donna Beattie and two children. Geneva I. Powers ★+ BSE’65 MM’70, Springdale, April 25. She was a member of the U of A Schola Cantorum and in 1962 they were invited to the White House, where they were introduced to President John F. Kennedy. She was the first Director of the Arts Center of the Ozarks at its present location from 1973 to 1978, and along with Lee Zachary and the Springdale Chamber of Commerce began development of the Arts Center into the viable facility that it is today. She also taught Choral Music for 25 years in the Springdale school system. After her retirement, she continued with private voice lessons and assisted in the public school program. Survivors: her husband of 49 years, David, one son and two grandchildren. James R. Hart BSIM’65, Waverly, TN, April 7. A U.S. Army veteran, he was an industrial engineer. Survivors: his wife, Mary, five children, four grandchildren. Leslie T. McKnelly BSE’65, Camarillo, California, June 25. He was football player, a father, a volunteer for the Marines, a high school teacher, a teacher and an education supervisor for the Federal Bureau of Prisons, a gardener and beer brewer. Survivors: his wife Joyce, three children and five grandchildren. Charles D. Chastain MA’66, Little Rock, June 3. He began his college teaching career at Southeast Missouri State College. In 1972 he began as a Professor of Criminal Justice at

the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, where he enjoyed a long and distinguished career in education for 39 years. He served 21 years as Chairman of the Department of Criminal Justice. He retired from UALR in 2011. Survivors: his wife of 51 years, Judy Bridges Chastain and a daughter. George E. Tenney III BA’66, Houston, April 29. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He founded The Tenney School with his wife Judy in 1973 and served as Headmaster for 37 years. Survivors: his wife of 46 years, Judith Buckridge Tenney, three sons, seven grandchildren. Barbara Weber Leak BSE’67, Glen Ellyn, June 8. She enjoyed hand quilting, Chicago sports and golf. Survivors: her husband of 50 years, Paul, two children and one grandchild. Emma Lou Foster MED’67, Arlington, Texas, June 11. She was an elementary school teacher. Survivors: three children, two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Robert Hughes Crank BA’67 JD’71, Foreman, April 25. A U.S. Army veteran, he had a career in law. Survivors: his wife, Nadi, one child, three sisters and three grandchildren. Robert James Foster MS’67, Arlington, Texas, May 31. He was in the United States Army Air Force for two years during World War II. He later became a math professor for the University of Texas at Arlington and Stephen F. Austin State University. He was also a high school math teacher for Scott, Arkansas and Mount Pleasant, Texas. Survivors: his wife of 69 years Emma Lou, three children, two grandchildren and five greatgrandchildren. T. B. Hannah ★ MSE’67, Little Rock, May 9. He served his country in the Naval Reserve, retiring at the rank of captain after completing 300 carrier landings in the A 4. One of the jets he flew is on display at the Arkansas Air & Military Museum at Drake Field in Fayetteville. In 1963, Ted joined Garver, where he served as president from 1993 to 1998 and later retired in 2001. Survivors: his wife of 57 years, Lorraine Hannah, five children and three grandchildren. Gloria Bronte Lane ★ MS’68, Little Rock, June 20. She was involved with the NASA space program in the late

1960s. She continued her career in the computer field at University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She was active in the Arkansas Jazz Heritage Foundation and animal rescue. She was an expert genealogist with special interest in Woodruff County and the Bronte family in America and Great Britain. Survivor: Albert Everett Carol A. Mittelstaedt BS’69, March 12. She was a devoted physician, and pioneer in the early ultrasound field of radiology having completed a specialized Ultrasound Fellowship at the Medical School of the University of California in San Diego. She was one of the first women to join the Department of Radiology at the University of North Carolina Medical School in 1976, and was a very active Imaging Division leader, physician, professor, and mentor before retiring 38 years later in 2014. Survivors: three siblings. James A. Johnson Jr. BSBA’69, West Memphis, June 7. He was an attorney. Survivors: his wife Jean Woodell Johnson, his son Jay and two grandchildren. James Jerrel Tanner BSCE’69 MSCE’70, Little Rock, July 8, 2003. He was an engineer for more than 30 years in the public works, water supply and waste water collection and treatment industry. He served as partner with Mehlberger Engineers Inc., principal of Tanner Engineering Consultants Inc. and Carter and Burgess Inc. Survivors: his wife Lyra Tanner, two children, three step-children and five grandchildren. Phil Lineberger BSBA’69, Sugar Land, Texas, May 31. He was the pastor of Sugar Land Baptist Church— formerly Williams Trace Baptist Church in Sugar Land—in November 1995. Survivors: his wife, Brenda, three children, 10 grandchildren. Renee Robertson BA’69 MED’75, Colorado Spring, Colorado, April 27. She was a middle school teacher, who taught for over 30 years and was recognized for her accomplishments with the Emerson “Excellence in Teaching Award” in 2006. Survivors: her husband, Jack, a daughter and two grandchildren. Deward Dopson MED’70, Lilburn, Georgia, June 23. He had varied career ranging from insurance, head basketball coach at Arkansas Tech, president of Tabor Metals, employee at Southwest Medical Laboratories and owner of

ARKANSAS • Fall 2015

National Paramed. He was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame as a basketball player in 1982. Survivors: a son, three grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren. Janis A. Cantwell ✪ BA’70 MA’73 EDS’75, Searcy June 11. She moved to LA and worked on commercial, film and TV projects ending at KTTV Metromedia, as the production manager and crew scheduler for all the Norman Lear comedies. She moved back to Arkansas and taught at University of Arkansas at Little Rock in the radio TV film department and supervised University cable stations. She later worked as the marketing/PR director for Central Arkansas Hospital and freelanced on media and writing projects. Deal W. Bell Jr. MBA’71, Conway, June 19. He was a veteran of the Air National Guard. He worked in accounting at Russell Brown Company, and also with the State of Arkansas Department of Retardation Development Disabilities Services. He later went into business with his brother, Bob, and ran 286 Grocery & Station and later Bell Brothers Oil Co. Survivor: his brother Bob Bell. Joseph R. Kisch MA’71, Bismarck, North Dakota, June 4. He was an instructor, teaching at St. Gertrude’s in Raleigh and at Jamestown high school. He retired and moved to Bismarck where he was the owner of Swiss Colony at Kirkwood Mall. After retirement he was a substitute teacher in Bismarck Mandan. He was a member of the North Dakota National Guard for eight years. Survivors: his wife Bonnie, three children and three grandchildren. Lloyd Alton Henry Jr. JD’71, Little Rock, June 26. He was licensed to practice law, he served as a real estate and tax attorney, a municipal court judge, a commercial escrow closer, a legal and underwriting officer and a staff attorney for national and local title insurance companies in Little Rock, Hot Springs and Pine Bluff, specializing in land title evaluation, underwriting and curative work. Survivor: a brother. Allyn L. Maher BSBA’72, Springdale, May 30. She was passionate about her family and friends. She always had an ear to listen, a shoulder to cry on, and a smile to cheer you. Survivors: her husband of 41 years, George, two daughters and four grandchildren.

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Adelaida Blauw ADN’73, Springdale, May 30. She came to the United States in 1952 where she raised her children in Siloam Springs. She graduated the University of Arkansas in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. Survivors: four children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

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Charles David Wilkerson BSBA’73, Rogers, June 17. He was an air traffic controller in the U.S. Air Force. He was honorably discharged and attended the U of A on the GI Bill. Following graduation, he worked for 17 years in management for Pizza Hut before returning to Rogers to farm his cattle. Survivors: two siblings. David C. Chapman ★ BSBA’73, Bella Vista, May 11. He was a C.P.A. for S.F. Fiser & Company in Springdale. Survivors: his wife, Marty Chapman, three children, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Jack L. Bales Jr. ✪+ BSIM’73, Hot Springs, June 12. He worked for 42 years, starting work for A.O. Smith Corporation in 1973, and retired from NOV Fiber Glass Systems in May 2015. He spent those years living and working in Little Rock, Dallas and finally returning home to Hot Springs in 2007. Survivors: his wife of 33 years Judy Bales, a stepson and granddaughter. John Clark ADN’73, Prairie Grove, May 10. He served in the Peace Corps in West Africa from 1967 1969. He graduated from the U of A Nursing program in 1974. He was employed at WRMC for 20 years. He served as a volunteer Counselor and Board Member for Camp Dream Street. Survivors: his wife, Dona. Debra Frankenberger BSE’74, Harrison, June 27. Her life’s ambition was to enrich children’s lives. She accomplished this through the avenues of child care, elementary school teaching, head start, lecturing at seminars and she also taught classes at North Arkansas College about early childhood development. Survivors: one daughter. J. B. Tyler BSBA’75, Houston, May 7. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and specialized in Naval Communications Warfare and rose through the ranks to earn a commission as a Chief Warrant Officer, retiring in 1973 after 21 years of service. He completed his Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and began working for the Amoco Production

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SENIOR WALK

In Memoriam Jerry Wall

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Jerry Don Wall, 75, professor emeritus of architecture at the Fay Jones School of Architecture, passed away Sunday, May 24, at his home in Rogers. A memorial service was held in May. At the time of this retirement in 2013, Wall was the longest-serving faculty member in the Fay Jones School. He taught 40 years of both core curriculum and elective courses, and every student who went through the architecture program in those four decades was educated by Wall. “On behalf of past and present students, staff and faculty of the Fay Jones School, I want to express our sadness at Jerry’s passing,” said Jeff Shannon, professor of architecture and former dean. “Jerry was a good colleague and friend of mine for all 36 years of my career here. I had the pleasure of teaching with him and working on several projects with him. He was the consummate professional, and his presence will be missed by those who have worked with him,” Shannon said. Wall, a native of Oklahoma, received a Bachelor of Architecture from Oklahoma State University and a Master of Science in civil engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He then worked as a structural engineer for two Houston firms, Caudill Rowlett Scott and McDonnell Automation. He taught at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville for five years before coming to the University of Arkansas in August 1973. He received his doctorate in industrial engineering from the University of Arkansas in 1980. Throughout his career at the Fay Jones School, Wall taught all five courses in the school’s required technology sequence, focusing primarily on the structural aspects of design. Each year, he also taught an advanced structures seminar in which students researched, wrote and presented papers on topics related to technology, materials or methods. Wall consistently taught second- through fourth-year architecture students. In addition to his lecture classes, he frequently also consulted with students in studios on their projects. With that one-on-one work, he helped students determine what the best structure would be for their designs. Wall was born on Jan. 31, 1940, in Sulphur, Oklahoma, to Thurman F. and Hazel O. (Wright) Wall, who preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife, Suzanne E. Wall of Rogers. He is also survived by his son, Jeffrey S. Wall; his daughter, Jennifer L. Berry; and grandchildren. ■

Company in 1975. He retired a second time in May of 1993. Survivors: his wife, Artela Bullock, four children, seven grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren. Joe E. Griffin BSBA’71 JD’75, Texarkana, May 10. He was city attorney for Texarkana, Arkansas from April 1975 to December 1982. He was elected municipal judge and served as such from 1983 to 1990. In 1990, he was elected to serve as circuit judge for the district that once included Miller, Lafayette, Hempstead, and Nevada counties. Since 1998, he has served as the 8th Judicial District Circuit Judge. He had been a member of several boards and committees through the years and was a member of the Arkansas Bar Association. Survivors: six grandchildren. David Roland Powell JD’76, McGehee, June 2. He and his wife Susie were the proud owners of “Hoots” in McGehee. Survivors: his wife Susie, three children and nine grandchildren. Tamara Allen Bogan BSA’76, Prairie Grove, June 6. She worked for U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety Inspection Service as a Food Inspector from 1977 to 1986. After veterinary school, Tamara returned to the Department of Agriculture as a supervisory veterinary medical officer. Survivor: her husband, Tim. John L. Tennant BA’71 JD’77, Flippin, April 28. He was a real estate attorney with licenses in Arkansas and Texas. Survivors: his wife, Linda, a daughter, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Betty Jo Morris BSE’78, Rogers, June 15. She was a teacher for more than 30 years in the Rogers Public School System, retiring in 1990. Survivors: her husband of 38 years, Bill, five children and many grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. Jesse W. Huffman ★+ MED’78, Clinton, June 6. He was an U.S. Army nuclear veteran, having served and participated in Operation Castle, a series of nuclear bomb tests carried out by Army, Navy, Air Force and the Atomic Energy Commission at Eniwetok Atoll in the Western Pacific Ocean. He was a Signal Corps cryptographer. After returning home he attended Arkansas Tech, then later received his Master’s of Education from the University of Arkansas. During his 33 years at

Clinton, he was an elementary teacher, a coach, a principal and a superintendent. Survivors: one son, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Midge Garza BA’78, Bentonville, May 21. She attended Lon Morris College, where she met her first husband of 18 years, Ronald Jerry Phillips. She worked as a journalist in Dallas, where she met her current husband, Simon Garza. She was best known for her newspaper editorials she contributed in Northwest Arkansas. Survivors: her husband, Simon, three children, 10 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, two stepchildren and five step-grandchildren. Richard P. Gebhart BA’78, Claremore, Oklahoma, May 30. He was a national beef industry leader and operated Beacon Hill Ranch, a Hereford operation established in northeastern Oklahoma in 1909. Survivors: his wife, Susan, two children and two grandchildren. Billy Earl Laird BSE’79, Ruston, Louisiana, June 15. He was drafted by the Boston (New England) Patriots in the 15th round and played one season with the Patriots. His coaching career began at the University of Arkansas and continued onto New Mexico State, University of Tulane, Northwestern State University and Louisiana Tech University. He later became the head coach and athletic director at Nashville, Arkansas where he built a championship program and was referred to as “Dr. Offense.” He then became the head coach at Ruston until 2012, when he was promoted to athletic director until present. Survivors: his wife of 49 years, Brenda, two children and four grandchildren. Elaine S. Thomas BSE’79, Fayetteville, April 30. She was a retired elementary school teacher. Survivors: two children, four grandchildren. Henry Frank Barrentine Jr. BSA’79, Brazos County, Sept. 27, 2012. He joined the U.S. Air Force as a communications maintenance officer in August 1979, and served tours of duty in Warner Robbins, Ga., and Sembach, Germany. After leaving the Air Force, he joined the Air National Guard, from which he retired in 2001 with 21 years of service. During that time, Barrentine served in the First Gulf War, and returned to Saudi Arabia for several tours of extended duty. He also worked in the Brazos Valley for 20 years in Emergency Medical Services as an EMT Paramedic. Survivors: his wife of 27 years, Celeste and three children.

ARKANSAS • Fall 2015

Peggy Henderson MED’79, Bryant, April 10. She had a career in teaching and after retiring, worked in a Christian Book Store with her daughter. Survivors: three children, 11 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren. Stanley S. Staggs BM’79, Chicago, April 25. A talented singer, he enjoyed entertaining onstage and in dinner theatres in Kansas City and Chicago. In addition to his love of music, he remained a loyal fan of the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Chicago Cubs. Andreas Jahja Enggano BSIE’80, Little Rock, May 13. He was devoted to his family especially to his wife Linna of 30 years and his loving daughter, Hailey. Survivors: his wife, Linna and daughter Hailey. Carl P. Favre JD’80, Sugar Land, Texas, May 11. He was board certified in commercial and residential real estate law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, he served more than 20 years as the senior vice president and general counsel for Planned Community Developers, Ltd. Since 2009, Carl worked as attorney and counselor at law for firm Roberts Markel Weinberg Butler Hailey PC. Survivors: his wife Mary, three children and many grandchildren. Larry G. Dunklin JD’80, Little Rock, April 17. He practiced Law and went on to serve as a professor and Dean of ITT Technical Institute. Survivors: his wife, Sula, six children, seven grandchildren, one great-grandchild. Robert A. Meeks BA’80 El Dorado, June 6. He worked for Lion Oil Company in the environmental department. He was a past board member of the ElDorado Golf and Country Club and a member of Mystic Creek Golf Club. Survivors: one brother, three nieces, one nephew, one great niece and one great nephew. Jerry Don Wall PHD’81, Bentonville, May 24. He was a professor in the Fay Jones School of Architecture, where he taught structures and engineering courses. He retired as Professor Emeritus in May 2013. Survivors: Suzanne Wall, two children, four grandchildren, three stepchildren, eight step grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Katherine Jolley MED’81, Bedford, Texas. She worked as a teacher and principal. Survivors: three children, numerous grandchildren and greatgrandchildren.

Fall 2015 • ARKANSAS

Martha E. Sasser McCrary MS’81, Little Rock, April 18. Survivors, her husband, henry, one child, one grandchild, one great-grandchild. Helen Ruth Teague ★ MED’82, Little Rock, May 8. She taught Vocational Education at Van Cove and Acorn High School and initiated the Delta Kappa Gamma, Professional Educator’s Society. Also at Mena High School she taught Vocation Education, Information Technology and was the GCE Coordinator and at Van Buren High School she was the COE Coordinator and Information Technology. Survivors: her husband of 51 years, Kenneth, a son and three grandchildren. Randy Underwood Jr. BSME’82, Fayetteville, April 16. A U.S. Army veteran, he spent his career as a basketball coach and school superintendent. Survivors: his wife, Rosemary, three children, six grandchildren, three great-grandchildren. Michael E. Collie BA’83 Winslow, May 17, 2015. He was 54 years old. He was a clinical assistant professor and director of the Bachelor of Social Work Program in the J. William Fulbright of Arts and Sciences. Collie worked in the field of social work for more than 30 years. He served as clinical director for three hospitals and six outpatient clinics. In addition to teaching, he also upheld his work as a practitioner and was co owner of Collie Clinical Consulting in Fayetteville. Survivors: his wife Sara Joy Collie, two sisters, five nephews, two great nieces and one great nephew. Vicki Yell ADN’84, Hot Springs, June 4. She was dedicated registered nurse. Survivors: her husband, Mike Abram, one stepdaughter and two step grandchildren. Douglas H. Latimer BSME’85, Greenbrier, May 25. He worked at GreenBay Packaging for 18 years. Survivors: his wife, Darla and two sons. Lowell G. Carmical MED’85, Rogers, June 11. He was journeyman toolmaker for General Motors Hydramatic in Ypsilanti, Michigan and later became the quality assurance manager for Wendt Sonis Tool Manufacturing Company in Rogers. He retired in 2007 from the Arkansas Department Economic Development where he was an industrial coordinator. Survivors: his wife Judith Ann Carmical, two children and five grandchildren.

Eddie Moltz Jr. BSCHE’86, Little Rock, June 9. He was retired after 25 years with Texas Instruments and recently became a partner in Interstate All Battery Franchises in Bartlett Tennessee and Jonesboro Arkansas. Survivors: two siblings. Michael G. Walker BS’86, Trumann, May 18. He was a graduate of the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and a 1982 graduate of Trumann High School and a member of the University of Arkansas Alumni Association. Survivors: his wife, Larra and three stepchildren. Judy Carrolyn Konigsmark MS’87, Baird, Texas, June 8. She was teacher before becoming a stay at home mom for her two boys. Survivors: two sons. Trail Benjamin Benedict BA’87, Fayetteville, June 21. He was the vice president of Research and Development Bio Tech Pharmacal, Inc. Survivors: his wife, Graciela Conejero and four children.

Michael Leo Scott MS’90, Hobart, Oklahoma, Jan. 13. He was a research animal scientist in Washington, D.C. and later worked as a US Soil Conservation. Survivors: his father. Chris Setser BSIE’93, Fayetteville, May 10. He was the director of strategic planning for ArcBest Corporation. Survivor: his daughter, Ally Setser. Mike Ryan Dunlop BSBA’98, Louisville, Kentucky, May 13. He graduated from the University of Arkansas and worked in sales. Hope Sabbatini Bilbruck BSE’99, Weatherford, TX, April 17. She was a speech language pathologist. Survivors: parents, two siblings. Jill C. Vinsant BSBA’99, Springdale, June 13. She was a retired computer programmer. Survivors: one son and five grandchildren. Doungdao J. Burman BSBA’03 Rogers, Sept. 5, 2014, at the age of 54. She was born in Bangkok, Thailand Nov. 2, 1959. She is preceded in death by her husband, Ricco Burman in 2013. Survivors: three sisters.

Rosalind Dawn Kessinger BS’88, Boca Raton, Florida, May 22. She was a physical therapist for nearly 25 years. Survivors: three sons.

Chris Lewis BSBA’04, Prairie Grove, March 24. He had a career as the General manager of Lewis Chrysler Dodge. Survivors: his wife, Alecia, one son, parents and one sister.

Yvonne Carrell AA’88 BSBA’91, Forsyth, Missouri, May 3. She was accounting supervisor in the Facilities Management Department at the University of Arkansas in Fayettville from 1971 through 1998. She was a member of the Lions Club on Board of Directors of UARK Federal Credit Union and on the committee that planned and developed the Bud Walton Arena. In 2005, Yvonne moved to Forsyth, Missouri, to be closer to her family. Survivors: two daughters and a grandson.

William J. Mongeau III BA’04, Centerton, May 3. He enjoyed fishing, flying, friends and family, especially his daughters. Survivors: his wife Elizabeth and two daughters.

Jerry Wayne Hughes BSBA’89, Rogers, June 10. He was known as the life of the party and for making people laugh. Survivors: his mother, Sandra Hughes and four siblings. Blake Thomas Mansfield BSBA’90, Carthage, Missouri, May 28. He worked as the owner/operator of B’ C Catering in Carthage, Missouri. Survivor: his wife, Charlyn Wofford.

Aaron S. Hill JD’06, Monticello, April 25. He practiced family law and estate planning. Survivors: his wife, Lara, parents, one sister. Aaron Richard Thompson BSBA’09, Austin, April 24. Survivors: his parents, two siblings. Ronald Barrett Noble JD’10, Houston, Jan. 6. Survivors: one son.

Friends Angela Kaye Hartsfield, Fayetteville, June 14. She worked for the Washington Regional Hospital as a registered nurse, as well as a homemaker. Survivors: two sons. Barbara Dyess Williamson ✪, Shreveport, Louisiana, July 7. She

attended the University of Arkansas where she met and married Herman. After their marriage they relocated to Shreveport where she was a homemaker. She remained avid Razorback fan and spoke happily of her times in Pi Phi Sorority and the friendships she made. She remained a member of the Pi Phi Alumni until her death. Diane M. Fair ✪+, Memphis, Tennessee, June 19. While attending the University of Arkansas, Diane was a Razorback Beauty. She met her late husband, Morris in her junior year and they married in 1954. She was involved in the local Junior Auxiliary and the PTA. Survivors: four sons and 10 grandchildren. Edward R. Deen, Mountain Home, June 27. He was an electrician and avid outdoorsman who loved hunting and fishing. Survivors: two sons Faye Hubbell, Henderson, June 5. She spent her life ranching with her husband and raising their three children. Later in life she owned and operated a catering service, “Arline’s Parties.” She also owned and operated The Dollar Spot/ Dollar Mart. She worked for many years in the shoe department of Wal Mart. Survivors: her husband Donald, three children, three grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren. Harold MacDonald Fayetteville, May 13. He served six years with the U.S. Air Force as navigator during the Korean War. He received a B.A. degree in geology from SUNY at Binghamton, New York. He received both M.S. and Ph.D degrees in geology from the University of Kansas, Lawrence. He was a Professor of Geology at the University of Arkansas starting in 1971 and retired in 1998 with the faculty rank of Emeritus University Professor. Survivors: his wife of 60 years, Imogene “Winnie” MacDonald, three daughters, two sons, a sister, a brother and 12 grandchildren. Harry F. Henderson, Hot Springs, Feb. 28. Survivors: his wife, Jane, four children, one sister, nine grandchildren, three great-grandchildren. Iwon B. Lindsey, Arkadelphia, June 17. He was a U.S. Army veteran, retired purchasing manager for Atlantic Research Corporation of Camden. He was a member of the Crusaders Quartet of Magnolia and the Arkansas Quartet. He was also a member of the Arkansas Officials Association and officiated high school basketball and football from

1979- 1991. Survivors: two children, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Kevin Dean Bell, Rochester, Washington, June 13. He served in the U.S. Army from February 2005 to April 2009. He deployed to Iraq (June 2007 August 2008) and was a proud member of 4 6 Air Cavalry Squadron, G Troop stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington, earning the rank of Sergeant. In addition to his military career, he was a columnist for the Stuttgart Daily Leader in 2004, and sales associate at Wal Mart in 2004 2005. Survivors: his wife, Jackie and a daughter. Kula Kumpuris, Pine Bluff, July 3. She was also an active member of the Little Rock Garden Club, the Junior League of Little Rock, the Boys and Girls Club of Little Rock, and the Ada Thompson Home. Survivors: three children, seven grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren. Macleone Tweedy GregoryScarsdale, New York, April

15. She was 90 years old. She was a legacy at the founding chapter of the Chi Omega Sorority, where she met and married Alfred Lawrence Gregory. They were married 38 years. She pioneered and implemented a vision screening program for 1,100 Westchester preschoolers that identified 100 children with potential vision problems. Survivors: one daughter, one son, two grandchildren and one great grandson. Randall Hall, Little Rock, May 1. He obtained his Professional Engineering license and worked for Southwestern Bell Company for over 25 years before retiring to operate his own business. Survivors: two children and four grandchildren. Robert C. Smothers, North Little Rock, May 4. He played football for the Arkansas Razorbacks. He was full time employee of the Arkansas National Guard serving in various positions for over 31 years. Survivors: his wife Julia, and two children.

Robert T. Alguire, Fayetteville, June 6. He was a U.S. Army veteran. He worked at Tinker AFB as a tool design engineer and obtained his private pilot’s license. From 1976 to 1998 he was on the College of Engineering faculty at the University of Arkansas and spent 23 years specializing in transportation engineering. Survivors: his wife of 27 years, Mary, a step child, three children and three grandchildren. Sammie L. Engel, Wolfforth, Texas, May 9, 2014. Shay Sherrod, Fayetteville, March 13. She had a degree in secondary education and worked for Grub’s Bar and Grill. Survivors: parents, one sister, grandmother. Angela Kaye Hartsfield, Fayetteville, June 14. She worked for the Washington Regional Hospital as a registered nurse, as well as a homemaker. Survivors: two sons. ■

Cicely Shannon Honors Alumna Interns in the White House In the category of cool summer jobs, Honors College alumna and Bodenhamer Fellow Cicely Shannon wins the prize: she spent the summer participating in the White House Internship Program. Shannon worked as an intern for Michelle Obama’s office, helping the first lady respond to more than 2,000 letters each month. “It was a fun way to spend the summer,” said Shannon, who graduated last May from Fulbright College with a B.A. in economics, cum laude, with a concentration in international business and a minor in legal studies. “You really get to see how much people appreciate her, and appreciate how important those letters are to her. The cutest letters are from the kids!” Her Truman Scholarship helped, allowing her to spend a summer in Washington, D.C., with all expenses paid, provided they find an internship. The White House job, however, was not among the opportunities provided by the Truman office. “I did the White House application independently,” Shannon said. “I looked at the

White House website and decided to apply. It’s a long application, but not if you’ve done the Truman.” Shannon did have an opportunity to meet President Obama and the first lady and some other heroes, as well: in special sessions for the Truman group, she met former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. “Justice Sotomayor’s story is so inspirational,” Shannon said. “As a woman of color she had a lot of people question her ability to be a justice — she’s been an agent for change.” Shannon said her years at the University of Arkansas prepared her well for the White House job: “I’m well-informed, thanks to classes that made me well-rounded, like the Model UN class with Robert Stapp — I have a minor in Stapp,” she chuckled. “I got to go into a lot of spaces that other schools wouldn’t have offered,” she added. “Working in the White House is no different than working in the chancellor’s office with Judy Schwab.” ■

ARKANSAS • Fall 2015

LOST ALUMNI If you have any information on the whereabouts of these alumni and former students please contact the Arkansas Alumni Association at 1-888-ARK-ALUM so that we may update our records. Mr. Arthur S. Adams Mr. Roy Eugene Anderson Mr. Stephen N. Anderson Mr. Stanley Andrews Mr. David E. Anglin Mrs. Janelle M. Arnold Mr. William Birnie Barry Mr. James G. Barton Mr. Carl W. Behner Ms. Peggy Berthelot Mr. Leslie Biffle Mr. Michael O’Neill Bjordal Mr. Eugene Robert Black Mr. Albert F. Blakeslee Mr. Barry Lynn Blixt Mr. John W. Bowlin Mr. Richard William Box Mr. Leland R. Branting Mr. Roy H. Bray Jr. Ms. Carey Michael Brennan Mr. William N. Bret III Mr. John Roy Brown Mr. Rickey A. Burch Mr. Franklin E. Burks Jr. Mr. James Oliver Burnett Mr. Norman Burns Ms. Janet L. Burtness Mr. Clarence F. Byrns Mr. W. W. Campbell Ms. Sherry Ann Campbell Mr. Leo J. Carney Mrs. Betty Holmes Carretta Mr. Thomas William Carroll II Mr. Jack M. Carson Mr. George Frederick Carter Mr. Bob Castleman Mr. David F. Chambers Ms. Julie A. Clark Mr. Jon Rick Coleman Ms. Kathryn Whaley Cook Mr. Bert N. Darrow Mr. Chester C. Davis Mr. Paul Day Mr. James F. Dickson Mr. Randall W. Dixon

Fall 2015 • ARKANSAS

Ms. Joan Dorris Mr. Kirk P. Dougherty Ms. Amy C. Duncan Ms. Kimber L. Durr Mr. Michael Ray Edwards Mr. Leonard Farmer Mr. Rodney Dean Fergason Mr. Gordon C. Firme Mr. Lewis C. Fletcher Mr. Nils Florentz Mr. Joe M. Fore Mr. Terry L. Foreman Mr. Donald C. Frazier Mr. Harold Henry Fulk Mr. Neal B. Garver Mr. Gerald McArthur Gentry Mr. William Giles Mr. Donny G. Gillaspie Mrs. Ramona Holiman Gorton Mr. Harry L. Griffin Ms. Carol B. Groover Mr. Ivan Alonzo Guzman Mr. Earl P. Hafer Mr. Robert H. Hall Mr. J. C. Hardin Mr. Daniel H. Harmon Ms. Merry Alice Heffelbein Mr. Loy W. Henderson Mr. Roscoe Hobbs Mr. Jab E. Hoggard Mr. Alfred D. Holcombe Mr. Ivan Lee Holt Mrs. Deborah J. Jackson Ms. Marilyn D. Jackson Mr. Claude W. Jenkins Mr. Frederick Drewell Johnson Mr. William Evan Jones Mr. Alexander E. Jones Mr. Robert Lanier Jones II Mr. Gregory D. Jones Miss Rita Joann Keith Mr. Alexander W. Kent Mr. Michael Kirwan Mr. Kenneth R. Klotz Ms. Kay Kreck

Mr. William Walter Kunowsky Mr. Walter S. Kyle Ms. Candace Ellen Landers Mr. William S. LaRue Mr. Alvin Laser Mr. William Casper Lassetter Mr. Harry Jacob Lemley Mr. Donald W. Lingo Ms. Day D. Luttrell Mr. Claude E. Lynch Jr. Mr. Jack Magruder III Mr. Robert Fleet Malek Mr. Christopher P. Marra Mr. Jim I. Martin Mr. Samuel P. Massie Jr. Ms. Marianne Lillian Maupin Ms. LaGayle Dawn McCarty Mr. John C. McClellan Mr. J. T. McDonald Mr. Winston McKissick Mr. David C. McMahen Mr. Ronnie Minnick Mr. Thomas E. Moore Mrs. Kelly Ann Moore Ms. Martha A. Morgan Mr. Keith Moser Mr. Jay Stuart Nedell Mr. Samuel L. Nevins Mr. Jess Jonathan Noble Ms. Paula P. Oguah Mr. M. R. Owens Mr. Reginald Painter Mr. John William Patton IV Mr. James Henry Penick Mr. David Scott Post Mr. David Brian Potter Mr. Donald Aubrey Quarles Mr. Eugene Reybold Mr. J. Louis Reynolds Ms. Johna C. Rickman Mr. David Edward Rigney Mr. Ronald B. Robinson Mr. Michael Gene Rothman Mr. Winfred Lee Rucker Mr. John Dale Russell

Ms. Dawn Michele Rystrom Mr. Ira Eugene Sanders Mr. John E. Schlegel Mr. David Schnieder Ms. Deborah K. Schnieder Mr. Gerald Wayne Scott Mr. Paul Bigelow Sears Mr. Herbert Sedwich Mr. Joseph William Segers Jr. Mr. Chester L. Smith Jr. Mr. Marvin L. Smith Ms. Penny M. Smith Mr. Craig Thomas Smith Mrs. Melissa McCutcheon Smith Mr. Brehon Somervell Mr. John McCollum Stinson III Mr. H. H. Strauss Ms. Debra K. Sullivan Mr. Michael Utah Sutterfield Mr. James Donald Swan Mr. Michael F. Taylor Ms. Patty Jo Quinn Taylor Mr. David D. Terry Sr. Mr. Clarence M. Thompson Mr. Robert L. Tipton Mr. Timothy G. Tucker Ms. Mona Jan Teague Villianes Mr. George Robert Wadley Mr. Michael Alan Ward Mr. William W. Ware Mr. William Warfield Mr. Warren Sanders Watkins Mr. Peter F. Watsek Ms. Donna Joy Welsh Mr. Donald Richard Werner Mr. Carl W. Widmer Mr. Buford B. Wiley Jr. Mr. Tim D. Williams Ms. Ann E. Williams Mrs. Victoria L. Williams Mr. Logan Wilson Ms. Stacey Farris Wilson Mr. Virgil B. Wofford Jr. Mr. Richard Wommack

photo by Matt Reynolds

LAST LOOK

Spoofer’s Stone While Old Main was being built, a long piece of limestone slipped off a cart and fractured, leaving it unsuitable for use in construction of the university’s first building. It remained where it was, though, providing a simple bench for students. When the administration of the 1880s began requiring strict separation of the sexes, students began slipping notes into the cracks of the stone to be picked up later by the object of their affection. The students of 1932 and 1933 added a plaque to recognize the stone’s outsized tradition in the university’s history. ■

ARKANSAS • Fall 2015

Alaska’s Glaciers AND THE INSIDE PASSAGE

JULY 9 - 16, 2016

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