CLASS NOTES

The fall edition of Voices prompted a special memory for Alumni Association member James Rickman ‘54 of Pocahontas. A feature about The Herald’s 100th anniversary included a reproduction of a May 1953 front page that carried an article about 13 agri students who won scholarships, including Rickman, then a junior from Dalton. He earned his BSA and is now retired after a career with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

1950s

Norma Jean Hartwig Haag ’55 – Norma and her husband Ralph celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on July 13, 2021.

1960s

Rich Carvell

’66 – Rich is a 2021 Arkansas Military Veterans Hall of Fame Inductee.

J. Shannon Roe ’68 – Shannon had an article published in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, “A history of daylight-saving time.”

Jim Bodenhamer

’69 – Jim is a 2021 Hall of Honor inductee of the Mountain Home Education Foundation. Jim spent over 40 years as a journalist in Mountain Home. Paul Seal ’69 – Paul retired in 2019 after decades of serving as a pastor. Currently in his 14th year serving on the board of Our Healthy Communities in Rogers, Ark., and his fourth year on the executive board of the Great River Region Disciples of Christ for Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi.

1970s

Kevin McClelland

’70 – Kevin was featured in an article in the Daily Commercial for his time as a coach and his time in the Army. For A-State he was the signal caller and record-setting punter (one boomer sailed 73 yards, and he was asked by legendary football coach Paul Brown to try out for Brown’s Cincinnati Bengals). Rev. John Walls ’71 – John published a book, “The Search for Truth: starring Moses, Darwin & Einstein.” Dr. Larry Arnn ’74 – Larry had an article published in The Patriot Post that was adapted from a speech he delivered at Hillsdale College, where he serves as president. Gordon Metzgar ’74 – Gordon retired from State Farm Insurance in May 2021 after a 46-year career as an agent.

Kerry Noble ’74 ’84 – Kerry was promoted to CEO at the Santa Cruz Valley Regional Hospital in Arizona.

Rodger Bumpass ’76 – The voice of Squidward on Spongebob Squarepants, Rodger was a headline guest host at Spa-Con in Hot Springs.

Maj. Gen. Elder

Granger ’76 – Elder was appointed to the Nanocan Therapeutics Corporation advisory board. Millie Ward ’76 – Millie was elected board chair of the Little Rock Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

Ronnie Dedman ’78 – Ronnie was the recipient of the World Services for the Blind Foundation 2021 Vision Award.

1980s

George Cotton ’80 ‘82 – George joined Myers McRae Executive Search and Consulting as a consultant.

Rick Hogan ’80 – Rick retired on January 31, 2022 after five years as the Little Rock deputy city attorney. Jim Tubbs ’80 – Jim joined Glaub Farm Management as a real estate sales associate and farm financial consultant.

Jim Bidewell ’82 – Jim was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.

Sherry Gray ’82 – The Success Credit Union CEO, Sherry was recently featured in the Arkansas Business article, “Community a Key to Success Credit Union.”

Dr. Larry Arnn ‘74 George Cotton ‘80 ‘82 Dean Cantu ‘83 ‘84 ’89 Charlotte Razer ‘86 Jody Sturgeon ‘92 Ronald Richardson ‘93

John Houston ’82 – John recently retired from being a parole/ probation supervisor and is now working part-time at KXJK radio in Forrest City. Dean Cantu ’83 ’84 ‘89 – Dean was named dean of the College of Health, Education & Human Sciences at the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith.

Charles W. Delap ’84 – Charles joined Church & Dwight Monogastric Team as the poultry account manager. He will be responsible for poultry accounts in the USA and will focus on layer accounts and turkey accounts.

Price Gardner ’84 – Price was recently featured in the “High Profile” section of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. He was also appointed to a second term on the ASU System Board of Trustees by Gov. Asa Hutchinson.

Mike Wallace ’84 ’88 ‘93 – Mike was named new interim superintendent for the Blytheville School District.

Randal Seyler ’85 – A former editor for the Washington County Enterprise-Leader, Randal published the first of his Western adventure novels and has signed a five-book deal with DS Publishing, a leading publisher of Western fiction. Charlotte Razer ’86 – Charlotte was appointed to the Arvest Bank board of North Central Arkansas.

Dr. Kim Anderson ’87 ’89 ‘11 – Kim was named interim superintendent of the Benton School District and received the Howard Wallace Federal Coordinator of the Year award in 2021.

Kelly Wilkinson ’87 ’94 – Kelly was named dean of the Williamson College of Business Administration at Youngstown State University in Ohio.

Dr. Carolyn Vincent ’89 – Carolyn had an article published on BabyBoomers.com, “Transferring Leadership Skills into Retirement and Volunteer Opportunities.”

1990s

Phil Sims ’91 – A Pope County Cooperative Extension Service agent, Phil was honored for his service to the community by having Nov. 30, 2021, declared “Phil Sims Day” in the county. Chris Barber ’92 – Chris is one of six new board members for the Arkansas Research Alliance. Christy Swanson Clark ’92 – Christy was featured in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for her philanthropic achievements.

Jerry Morgan ’92 ‘98 – Jerry was appointed by Gov. Asa Hutchinson to the ASU System Board of Trustees.

Jody Sturgeon ’92 – Jody was named the Marguerite Steffey Snyder Endowed Dean of Work at Blackburn College in Calinville, Ill. Stephanie Sutton ’92 – Stephanie was appointed to a seven-year term on the Board of Trustees of Black River Technical College by Gov. Asa Hutchinson.

Darren Neal ’93 – Farmers Bank & Trust named Darren as an agricultural loan officer and senior vice president. Ronald Richardson ’93 – Ronald was named the vice president and community reinvestment act specialist at First Community Bank in Batesville.

John Baine ’95 ’97 – John started a new job as the South Arkansas Community College vice president.

Voices Magazine welcomes Class Notes submissions from alumni. There are three ways to submit information:

STANDARD MAIL:

Class Notes Editor Voices Magazine P.O. Box 1990 State University, AR 72467 --------------------------------------------

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Dr. Jeremy

Bowers ’96 ’98 – Jeremy was selected as the medical director of Pathology Services at Bayfront Health in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Carol Bettis

Johnson ’96 – Carol was named chief development officer for Alpha Gamma Rho, the nation’s leading agricultural fraternity. Yuanmei Ma ’96 – Yuanmei was named chief financial officer of Fortune Rise Acquisition Corporation.

Dr. Brandon Goff ’97 ’99 – Brandon is Francis Marion University’s newest Board of Trustees’ research scholar.

CLASS NOTES CONTINUED

Shena Sims ’97 – Shena was promoted to senior vice president of branch operations at First Community Bank in Jonesboro.

Gretchen Hunt ’98 – Gretchen was named regional editor for Paxton Media Group publications in Jonesboro, Paragould, Newport and Walnut Ridge. Micah Marsh ’98 ‘99 – Micah was named athletic director and basketball coach at Episcopal Collegiate in Little Rock.

Colin Hall ’99 – Colin completed the 2021 Boston Marathon in October.

Ashley Marsh King ’99 – Ashley is the host of lifestyle, entertainment show ‘The Vine’ on Little Rock’s CBS affiliate THV11. Also, can be heard on-air at 101.7 KISS FM in Jonesboro and Alice 107.7 in Little Rock.

Guy Lancaster

‘99 ’01 ’09 ‘10 – Guy authored his new book, American Atrocity: The Types of Violence in Lynching.

2000s

Dwight Ford ’00 – Dwight was named executive vice president and chief credit officer at First Community Bank of Batesville.

Jeff Mascagni ’00 ’01 – Jeff was recently named public sector CFO of the year by Arkansas Business. Jeff is the CEO at Central Arkansas Water.

Nakesha Speed Powell ’00 – Nakesha produced a documentary on Black women and infertility. The film highlights health equity, reproductive justice and beyond. She is currently submitting to film festivals and has been accepted to one and made a finalist for another.

Vanessa Adams ’02 ‘04 – Vanessa was selected as the Craighead County Jonesboro Public Library executive director.

Scott Copeland ’02 – Scott was named community bank president in Mountain Home for Arvest Bank of Fayetteville.

Dr. Matt McDonough ’02 – Matt was elected president of the Arkansas State Dental Board.

Dr. Michael Miles ’02 ‘10 – Michael is opening a new nontraditional, tuition-free private school in Memphis. The school, Individualized Intellect Institute, will open its doors in August and will serve 175 low-income students in a private setting while also offering an online private school nationwide.

Beth Vaccaro

’02 ‘16 – Beth was named the 2021-2022 Sheridan High School Teacher of the Year.

Shay Nanke Willis ’02 – Shay was promoted to special events and marketing coordinator for the City of Des Moines, Iowa.

Kerry Castillo ’03 – Kerry received the Golden Apple award. He is an English teacher and the head coach for the women’s soccer team at Bentonville West.

Josh Cureton ’03 – Josh was the 2021 recipient of the Stanley E. Reed Leadership Award from the Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation.

Cale Block ’04 – Cale was appointed to the Board of Directors for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas.

Nathan Harris ’04 – Nathan was promoted to city president of Citizens Bank in Fayetteville. Dr. Zrano Bowles ’05 ’06 ‘14 – Zrano was named superintendent of Blytheville Public Schools. Dr. Megan Moll ’05 – Megan was named one of AY magazine’s “Best Women in Healthcare.”

Gary Williams ’05 ’11 – Gary will begin a new position as superintendent of White Hall School District on July 1. Carl Hayes ’06 – Carl was the chairman for the 2021 Alpha Phi Alpha Debutante Ball held at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock.

Andrew Hoggard ’06 – Andrew was named Arkansas Department of Transportation district engineer for District 2.

William ‘Hutch’ Hutchens ’06 – Hutch joined Horizon Ag as a district field representative for the Grand Prairie sales region.

Katherine AufderHeide

Holmstrom ’07 – Katherine joined Entergy’s Business and Economic Development group as a project manager.

Jeff Mascagni ‘00 ‘01 Dr. Michael Miles ‘02 ‘10 Shay Nanke Willis ‘02 Nathan Harris ‘04 Katherine Holmstrom ‘07 Brittany Straw ‘07 ‘10

Brittany Straw ’07 ‘10 – Brittany was named director of Career Services at UALR.

Shunqetta Cunningham ’08 ‘10 – Shunqetta received the Grassroots Advocacy Award at the Craighead County NAACP Freedom Fund Gala.

Randy Barymon ’09, ‘12 – Randy was named the new hospital administrator for St. Bernards Five Rivers Medical Center in Pocahontas.

Josh Brandt ’09 – Josh was promoted to vice president – trust operations officer at Merchants and Planters Bank.

Quan Poole ’09 – Quan joined Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, LLP law firm in Nashville, Tenn.

2010-present

Dr. Maqsood

Mughal ’10 ’14 ’15 – Maqsood was appointed to new tenure track at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and teaches courses in electrical and computer engineering, digital circuit design, embedded computing in engineering design, and sensors, signals, and systems.

Brittany Reeves

’10 ’15 ’19 ‘21 – Brittany earned her fifth degree from A-State in August 2021. Dale Chenette ’11 – Dale was named the new principal of Woodland Heights Elementary School in Laconia, New Hampshire. Amy Grady ’11 – Amy was named assistant principal at Magnolia Middle School in Meridian, Miss. She was the Meridian public school district’s Teacher of the Year in 2020.

Joseph Rogers ’11 – Joseph was promoted to lead information security engineer with Bank OZK.

Mitch Rouse ’11 – Gov. Asa Hutchinson named Mitch as the state procurement director. He will also keep his title as chief legal counsel for the Department of Transformation and Shared Services. Jessica Saum ’11 ’16 ‘20 – Jessica was named the 2022 Arkansas Teacher of the Year.

Rachel Barnett ’12 ’13 ‘15 – Rachel joined Farm Credit Midsouth as a credit analyst. Kailey Luster ’12 – Kailey was appointed to the Craighead Jonesboro Public Library Board.

Bobbie Jo Pennington Roshone

’12 – Bobbie Jo is currently the lead interpretative ranger for the Niobrara Scenic River, a unit of the National Park Service.

Melissa Thomas ’12 – Melissa was featured in the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal for her advances in dual careers, education and real estate.

Candice

Arispe ’13 – Candace was appointed principal at the Alicia Chacon International School in El Paso, Texas.

Tommy Shawn

Long ’13 ’20 – In October 2021, Tommy became the senior digital technologist that works on the Artemis missions for NASA.

Dr. Shelby Brogdon ’14 – Shelby was named one of AY magazine’s “Best Women in Healthcare.”

Angelica Crowley ’14 – Angelica joined the Washington Regional emergency department as an APRN.

Meredith Scott Hale ’14 – Meredith received her certification in fundraising management through IUPUI’s Fund Raising School in November 2021. George Kennedy ’14 – George was named interim superintendent for Brookland School District.

Jessica Lenehan ’14 – Jessica was named curator at Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas.

CLASS NOTES CONTINUED

Garrett McSpadden ’14 ‘15 – Garrett was named partner of Welch, Couch and Company CPA firm.

Denishio Murray ’14 – The founder and designer of Murway, a luxury leather goods brand, Denishio was featured on Market Watch.

Japhanie Gray ’15 – Japhanie was featured in Texas News Today as a reporter for KSAT in San Antonio.

Chelsey Saffell

’15 – Chelsey, a past member of the A-State cross country and track team, completed the 2021 Boston Marathon.

Heather Williams ’15 – Heather was appointed principal of South Highlands Elementary Magnet in Caddo Parish, La.

Courtney Cavender ’16 – Courtney joined Baxter Regional Medical Center and Baxter Regional Health System Hometown Clinic at Mountain View as an APRN.

Sam Richardson

’16 – Sam was named a 2021 Distinguished Educator by the Moberly Public Schools Foundation in Missouri.

Paul Orbe ’17 – Paul received the Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms award from the U.S. Department of State and Foreign Scholarship Board.

Dr. LaChe Williams ’17 ‘21 – LaChe was named one of Columbia Business Monthly’s 2021 Best & Brightest 35 and Under. This award celebrates rising stars in the business community. Tyler Zuber ’17 – A Major League Baseball player for the Kansas City Royals, Tyler was recently featured on the podcast “The Royals Rundown.” Cody Hardin ’18 – Cody was named as one of the 25 inaugural recipients of the Mississippi State University outstanding young alumni, The Reveille 25. Hardin graduated from A-State in 2018 with his master’s in engineering management.

Robert Morris ’18 – Robert was named associate director of development for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. David Odom ’18 – An engineering design technology program coordinator at OrangeburgCalhoun Technical College, David was named Faculty of the Year.

Miranda Reynolds ’18 – Miranda was named director of Main Street Paragould.

Jaime Romero ’18 – Jaime was named assistant principal of Fort Campbell High School in Kentucky.

Stacy Shields

’18 ’19 – Stacy joined the Philadelphia Public School District in Philadelphia, Miss., as the director of special services/testing coordinator. Carlee Smith ’18 – Carlee was promoted to account executive at Obsidian Public Relations.

Cody Atkinson ’19 – Cody was named the Missouri state director for the Humane Society of the United States.

Debrath Banerjee ’19 – Debrath began working as an engineer with Walmart Inc. Scott Brooks ’19 – Scott accepted a position with Etix as a client service specialist.

Ashley Ehrhart

’19 – Ashley was crowned Miss National Sweetheart and was also named an Oklahoma City Thunder Girl.

Stephanie Hall ’19 – Stephanie accepted a nurse practitioner position with Advanced Orthopedic Specialists in Missouri. Elisha Hastings ’19 – Elisha will begin July 1 as the new principal at Seymour Elementary School in Missouri.

Lora Mosley ’19 – Lora was named public relations specialist with The Communications Group.

Billy Barker ’20 – Billy was named volunteer assistant baseball coach at the University of New Mexico. Dr. Linwood Whitten ’20 – Linwood was named assistant vice president of Student Affairs/ Diversity and International Affairs at Alabama State University.

Japhanie Gray ‘15 Jaime Romero ‘18 Debrath Banerjee ‘19 Stephanie Hall ‘19 Dr. Linwood Whitten ‘20 DanAngelo Bell ‘21

Matt Wilcox ’20 – Matt joined First Security Bank – Conway to serve as a lender/business development for the Greenbrier market.

Emily Eveld Bannister ’21 – Emily was named the director of faith formation at Sacred Heart of Mary Church.

DanAngelo Bell ’21 – A Verizon retail store manager in Benton, DanAngelo was a spotlight in a Verizon article about being a part of the tuition program with Verizon.

Pauline Meyer

’21 – Pauline finished fourth in the Dellinger Invitational in Eugene, Ore. Sarah Rogers ’21 – Sarah was presented to society in November, 2021 as a Texarkana, Texas cotillion debutante.

Phillip Trometter ’21 – Phillip was selected as one of City & States Magazine’s 40 Under 40 in Pennsylvania.

Alumni

Jason Brown – Jason was named director of policy communications at Arkansas Farm Bureau.

Mallory Gulley – Mallory was featured by multiple news outlets for her time on the reality show, Memphis Street Outlaws.

Ashley McBryde – Ashley received three nominations at the 55th Country Music Association awards.

What will you become?

AGRI-BUSINESS ACTUARIAL SCIENCE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT NURSING & HEALTH PROFESSIONS MATERIALS HANDLING

POPULATION HEALTH MANUFACTURING & DATA ANALYTICS SPORTS MEDIA PRODUCTION VIDEO GAME DEVELOPMENT WILDLIFE CONSERVATION ART + DESIGN

OR ONE OF HUNDREDS OF OTHER CAREER PATHS

BECOME

Mark Mosier – Mark, a Jonesboro police lieutenant, was named interim director of the Black River Technical College Law Enforcement Training Academy.

Gary Shackelford – Gary received the Officer of the Year award on behalf of the Exchange Club of Jonesboro.

IN

MEMORIAM

CLASS OF 1941

Virginia Wilson

CLASS OF 1949

Betty Underwood

CLASS OF 1950

Verrel Foltz

CLASS OF 1951

Millard Oldham Faye Turnbow

CLASS OF 1952

Cletis Underwood

CLASS OF 1953

Neil Smith Mollie Molnar

CLASS OF 1954

Sue Longsworth Earline Way

CLASS OF 1955

Paul Osborn John McMullan Skip Covington Gilbert Selvin

CLASS OF 1956

Carl Lacy

CLASS OF 1957

Ron Waddell James Blankenship

CLASS OF 1958

Charles Willcut Coy London Gerald Johnson Betty Abernathy

CLASS OF 1959

Gaylene Davis Nettie Whitehead

CLASS OF 1960

Charlotte Smith Murl Smith Ann Wiles

CLASS OF 1961

Jon Curzon Bill Cook Charles Ross Ruth Carter Don Throesch

CLASS OF 1962

James Stephens Larry Metheny Rance Perkins Vera Pollard James French

CLASS OF 1963

Carole Miles Robert Benz Leon Foust Boyce Rogers Shirley Neuman

CLASS OF 1964

W. Lee Deutsche

CLASS OF 1965

Daniel Hester Leland Wall

CLASS OF 1966

Elwanda Brann Lois Johns

CLASS OF 1967

Larry Edgar Roger Sample

CLASS OF 1968

Kay Bauer Richard Jones Linda Jobe Larry Gowen Mack Toombs Kay Speidel Herschel Smith

CLASS OF 1969

Patsy Presley

CLASS OF 1970

Richard Murray Brenda Jenkins Vic Hosman Robbie Snelgrove Marilyn Vaughan

CLASS OF 1971

Gary Toombs Brenda Barnett Ken Sneathern

CLASS OF 1972

Paula Beard Logan Collins Virginia Reid

OBITUARY – VERREL FOLTZ

One of Arkansas State’s most devoted fans died Nov. 9. Verrel Kenneth Foltz, 95, of Jonesboro, earned a bachelor’s degree at A-State in 1950 and enjoyed a long career as a finance professional in the trucking industry. A veteran of the U.S. Army, he was a member of the First United Methodist Church and was a Mason.

Foltz loved A-State sporting events, especially football and women’s basketball, and was very proud of his outstanding record of attendance at 75 consecutive A-State football homecoming games.

Survivors include his wife, Roberta, two sons, Kenneth and Mark, and their families. Interment was at the Arkansas Veterans Cemetery at Birdeye.

CLASS OF 1973

Virginia Brock Lacey Smith Bill Steele Lela Garrett Joyce Pillow Joe Bratcher

CLASS OF 1974

Danny Holifield Gary Edwards Linda Nickle

CLASS OF 1975

Dennis Hall

CLASS OF 1976

Alta Hamilton Ken Spencer

CLASS OF 1977

Charles Moore

CLASS OF 1978

Leslie Mays

CLASS OF 1979

Scott Bolton

CLASS OF 1980

James Weathers

CLASS OF 1981

Rod Rodriguez Terry Williams

CLASS OF 1982

Rebecca Singleton Chris Estes Troy Shirey

CLASS OF 1983

Danny Easley Thomas Dellinger

CLASS OF 1984

Janice Davis Jim Tesch Pat Tennille

CLASS OF 1985

Robin Loyd Mike James

CLASS OF 1987

Michael Sutton

CLASS OF 1988

David Porter

CLASS OF 1990

Andrea Underwood Patsy Dunlap

CLASS OF 1991

Amy Anderson Mary Christian

CLASS OF 1992

Peggy Long

CLASS OF 1994

Cherish Fergeson Timothy Edens

CLASS OF 1995

Rommie Cheshier Arthur Reed

CLASS OF 1997

Perry Pylant

CLASS OF 1998

Robert Tims

CLASS OF 1999

Jennifer Cox James Ivy

OBITUARY – CARL LYNN LACY

Former A-State Alumni Association President Carl Lynn Lacy, 87, of North Little Rock, died Nov. 23. Survivors include his wife, June, whom he met at A-State, two children, Jo Carol Black and Chris Lacy, and their families.

A member of A-State’s class of 1956, Lacy was treasurer for Sigma Pi fraternity, a track letterman, and a military science student. After being commissioned as a second lieutenant and two years of Army service, he became a certified public accountant, working for Gaunt & Co. in North Little Rock over 50 years.

In additional to staying involved in the lives of his children and their families, his loyalty to Arkansas State was exemplified by his record of attendance at every home football game.

CLASS OF 2002

Josh Tackett

CLASS OF 2003

Stewart Selves Meg Morgan

CLASS OF 2006

Davi Koch

CLASS OF 2008

Joshua Wright

CLASS OF 2012

Kayla Fitts

CLASS OF 2013

Patricia Lawrence

CLASS OF 2015

Daniel Hunt

CLASS OF 2016

Thelma Runion

CLASS OF 2018 Michael Hobeck