Alumni Update

’40s

Alfred M. Green, ’47 animal science livestock operations, is living a happy, mobile life at the age of 97. His family is enriched in the Cowboy heritage. His grandson, Perry Hewitt II, graduated from OSU with a master’s degree in personnel management, medical, and his granddaughter, Sarah Steele Allen, got a master’s in accounting. Green is the oldest ZPE (Sig-Ep).

’50s

Earline Cardenter Strom,

’50 HEECS, ’68 master’s in secondary education, is the proud owner of Red Earth Pottery.

Jedeane

Macdonald, ’57 management, is grateful for her years at OSU, where she got an excellent education and made great friends. She was editor of the O’Colly her senior year and wanted to continue in the publishing world. In 1964, she became a computer programmer and was involved in the beginning of setting type using computers.

’60s

John E. “Eddie” Manley, ’60 agronomy, is happily retired from OSUIT. Margaret Ann Schatz Collins, ’62 child care program management, is happily retired. Patricia Ann Boyd Neely, ’63 elementary education, and her family are all proud Pokes. Grandson Jet Boyd Turner graduated from OSU in December 2020.

Janice Deanne

Davis Buckles, ’64 elementary education, ’92 doctorate in education, is enjoying her retirement with her fur babies. She has two granddaughters at the University of Texas at Austin and Carnegie Mellon University in Pennsylvania. Her grandson is still in high school. Carolyn K. Murray Herald, ’67 HEECS, is very proud of her children and grandchildren. Her daughter and family live near her in Carmel, Indiana. She has four grandchildren who are all competitive swimmers. Harry Thayne Cozart, ’67 master’s in mass communications, has been retired for 15 years, but he still continues to write syndicated weekly columns, “Viewing the Field by Milo Yield,” and “Laugh Tracks in the Dust.” He has been writing these columns for 46 years.

Leon Minton, ’68 electrical engineering, credits his successful career as an electronic design engineer, computer program manager and IT analyst to the knowledge he garnered at OSU. He is now 75 and spends much of his time running for recreation.

’70s

Doveline F.K.N. (Steer) Borges, ’70 physical education, worked as a lifeguard at the Colvin Center during her time at OSU. She has returned to Oklahoma for many OSU/OU football games, thanks to Debbie and Jack Crissup. With her family in Hawaii, geology professor Dr. John Naff and his wife, Millie, hosted her when she could not fly home. Her degree from OSU and master’s from the University of Hawaii at Manoa helped her obtain a professional career. To that end she says, “A hui hou kakou!” (until we meet again). Royce G. Caldron, ’70 secondary education, ’75 master’s in STD Pers&Guid, and his wife Kathy recently celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. They met as undergraduates at OSU and became engaged before graduating. Due to the pandemic, they couldn’t have a big indoor celebration for their anniversary, so they had a drive-by event for their friends and family, handing out bags of treats as they welcomed numerous visitors on a windy November afternoon. Michael Sewell Smith, ’70 marketing, ’71 accounting, is living in Banning, California, where he serves as a golf tournament chair and is on the safety committee for his HOA. Though he misses his fellow Pokes in Stillwater, he loves the southern California winters. Daryl Talbot, ’73 art, is a cartoonist who has drawn cartoons for Western Horseman magazine for 45 years. He currently draws cartoons for Leanin’ Tree greeting cards, Leatherneck magazine and more. He has published six books of his western and military cartoons. Randy Weaver,’73 broadcast journalism, and his wife, Amy Reger Weaver, are excited their grandson, Jackson Field, began attending OSU in fall 2020. Weaver is celebrating 40 years working for the Texas Battery Co. Inc. and is president there. Dr. Chin (Kent) Liaong Ko, ’74 master’s in civil engineering, ’76 master’s in mechanical engineering, has taught mechanical engineering at Oakland University in Michigan for 35 years. He has written five classical music concertos and a vocal symphony, “The Goddess of Mercy — Princess Meeou Sarn — Bodhisattva Guan Se Yin.” All five concertos were recorded by the Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra in the Czech Republic. Formosa Television in Taiwan also interviewed him for his second piano concerto, “The Nation of Taiwan,” in 2018. Brad Kisner, ’74 music education, retired in 2019 after a career in sacred music. In the last 25 years, Kisner served as director of music, worship and arts at First United Methodist Church in Corpus Christi, Texas. In 2015, Brad and his wife, Jane, received the Soli Deo Gloria Award for outstanding alumni from Perkins School of Theology at Southwestern Methodist University. In 2017, the Kisners were honored with the V. Earle Copes Award for outstanding service to the Fellowship of

United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts; Brad was national president and Jane was national secretary of the group. He is an adjunct professor of piano at Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi. The Kisners have two children and four grandchildren. Reatta A. Miller, ’75 HEECS, ’79 master’s in HEECS, was selected for the inclusion in the 2020 Super Lawyers list and is recognized as a member of the 2021 Best Lawyers in America. C. Mac Blankenship, ’75 journalism and broadcasting, is happily retired in Oklahoma City. Charles E. Langer, ’76 business, is retired from claims adjusting at Farmers Insurance. He says his adventures aren’t through yet, as he is looking into new opportunities. Patty Sinclair, ’76 special education, retired from American Airlines in October 2020 after flying for over 43 years. During that time, she traveled to five continents, missing only Asia and Antarctica. Sinclair enjoyed her time with American, mostly working international flights as a purser/flight attendant. John Joseph Garvey, ’77 history, sends his condolences for Dr. Tom Kielhorn, who was a professor of political science at OSU from 1970-78. Dr. Kielhorn was his teacher and mentor, as Garvey’s minor was political science. There were numerous lively political debates in his classes with Dr. Kielhorn from 1973 to 1977. Dr. Charles Henley, ’77 doctorate in osteopathic medicine, is most grateful for the lifelong friends he made while at OSU and is very proud of the growth and accomplishments of the leadership of the college. Dr. Henley went into a residency in the military at Fort Belvoir and Walter Reed and pursued a career in the Army medical corps. Dr. Henley retired as a full colonel in 1997, then returned to his alma mater in Tulsa as chair of family medicine. While there, he and Dr. Ray Stowers initiated the rural health track for students funded by grants from Health Resources and Service Administration and the National Library of Medicine. Dr. Henley has been instrumental in helping to build medical schools from a blank state. He served as the associate dean for clinical education at Marian University in Indianapolis and was the founding dean of Sam Houston State University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine in Texas, where he is in his fifth year. He is still licensed in Oklahoma and annually gives to the OSU-COM Foundation. His son, Patrick, is also a graduate of OSU-COM and practices cardiology in Washington state.

Cheryl A. Alred

Colaw, ’78 fashion merchandising, ’88 master’s in DHM, and husband, Lee Colaw, recently celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary. Lee is retired from a 20-year career in the Army. They have two sons and seven grandchildren. They are enjoying life and love OSU! Frank Williams, ’78 civil engineering, and his wife, Debbie Walters Williams, ’78 CTM, have been enjoying retirement for five years. The Albuquerque, New Mexico, couple looks forward to resuming traveling and visiting their three children and three grandchildren after COVID-19. Darita Deloach Huckabee, ’78 political science, was named the deputy director for the Indian Nations Council of Governments. Her new position serves local governments in Creek, Osage, Rogers, Tulsa and Wagoner counties in Oklahoma.

Tommie Austin

Freeman, ’79 agricultural education, wrote another chapter to his book of life. He calls it, “Retirement with consulting and volunteering, RVing and being a papa to his two grandkids.” Chuck Hibberd, ’79 master’s in animal science, ’82 doctorate in animal nutrition, was appointed to the Nebraska Community Foundation board. Hibberd’s 38-year-tenure included teaching, research and extension in Oklahoma, Nebraska and Indiana. He was the dean and director of Nebraska Extension for eight years and served as the associate dean, director of extension and assistant vice president of engagement at Purdue University. He has served cooperative extension regionally and nationally. Kevin G. Nelson, ’79 business administration, is president of Porvair Filtration Group Inc., a leading manufacturer of filters and filtration systems for aerospace, nuclear, chemical process, bioscience and semiconductor applications. He and his wife, Dr. Maureen Quealy Nelson, ’79 speech pathology-audiology, live in Richmond, Virginia. They have three children, including two OSU graduates: Mary Kathryn (Kate) Nelson, ’09 design, housing and merchandising, and Eric Nelson, ’14 mechanical engineering.

A. Kay Harris

Kellogg, ’79 elementary education, is teaching middle school science in Oklahoma City. Bruce Brasington, ’79 history, was recognized as the Twanna Caddell Powell Professor of History at Texas A&M University, the first endowed professorship for the department. He has been honored as Regents Professor for the Texas A&M University System and a Piper Foundation Professor.

’80s

Pamela Ann DeCamp Ernst, ’80 elementary education, retired from her teaching position in 2020. She is a grandparentto-be in 2021. Bill Carleton, ’80 higher education, retired in 2019 after 53 years of working on behalf of the U.S. Marine Corps and higher education.

Steve W. Herod, ’81 finance and management, lives in Houston and is CEO of Grizzly Energy LLC. Since graduating from OSU, he has worked for several independent energy companies in roles of increasing responsibility. He and his wife, Lorie, recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. They have two daughters in high school and enjoy tennis, traveling, family time and cheering for OSU. Michael Kenna, ‘81 master’s in agronomy, ’84 doctorate in crop science, received the Gold Course Superintendents Association of America’s 2021 Col. John Morley Distinguished Service Award. Kenna is the director of USGA Green Section Research and began his involvement in the turfgrass industry at the age of 15. Throughout his 25-year tenure with GCSAA, Kenna managed more than 600 research projects with an amassed funding of more than $40 million. Ronald E. Graham, ’81 doctorate in osteopathic medicine, has been medically retired from medicine since 2019.

Linda A.

Livingstone, ‘82 economics and management, ‘83 master’s in business administration, ‘92 doctorate in philosophy in management and organizational behavior, was elected secretary of the American Council on Education’s Board of Directors. Livingstone is the 15th president of Baylor University. She was inducted into OSU’s Hall of Fame in 2019 and was recognized with the OSU Distinguished Alumni Award in 2015. She is a member of the Spears School of Business Hall of Fame and was the first recipient of the Outstanding Ph.D. Alumnus Award. Mel Krewall, ’82 electronics technology, recently began working for Raytheon Missiles and Defense in Tucson, Arizona, as the senior principal engineer. Krewall began this new occupation after a 36-year career at Lockheed in Fort Worth, Texas. Debbie Bradley Marsh, ’82 special education, is retiring from her middle school counseling position with Hobart (Oklahoma) Schools at the end of May. Mary J. Steichen, ’83 finance, owns the Cherokee Strip Co., an antique and tourism-related store, in Ponca City, Oklahoma. She also oversees the family farm and vineyard operation, Silvertop Farm & Vineyards, southwest of Ponca City. Garth Brooks, ’84 journalism advertising, ’11 master’s in business administration, performed “Amazing Grace” at the inauguration of President Joe Biden. Paul E. Vrana, ’85 finance, was recognized on the 2021 Best Lawyers in America list.

Sheila J. Laskey Thomas-

Boone, ’87 recreational therapy, will be retiring from K-12 education and a public-school administrator at Ennis (Texas) ISD to pursue a doctorate in education policy, teaching and learning at Southern Methodist University.

Brig. Gen. Brent

Wright, ’89 organization administration, retired after 32 years of service in December 2020. He served in the military as chief of staff for the Oklahoma Air National Guard.

’90s

Jon Boren, ’89 wildlife ecology, ’92 master’s in wildlife and fish ecology, ’95 doctorate in philosophy, was elected to the National 4-H Council’s board of trustees. He is the associate dean of New Mexico State University’s College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. Kevin G. Henderson, ‘91 organization administration, is proud that his son just completed his first semester at Oklahoma State. Steve Bashore, ’94 political science, was the first Republican elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives for District 7 since 1923.

James N. Yates, ’95 doctorate in English, is the dean of arts and sciences at South Arkansas Community College in El Dorado, Arkansas. Dr. Gretchen Matthews, ’95 mathematics, has been inducted as a 2021 fellow of the Association for Women in Mathematics. She is a professor at Virginia Tech University.

Rep. Stephanie

Asady Bice, ’97 marketing, was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives on Nov. 3, 2020, from Oklahoma’s

District 5. Marcus Propps, ’98 finance, has been promoted to vice president with continuing responsibility for the Dallas Fed and its El Paso Cash departments. Previously, he was an assistant vice president. Propps joined the Dallas Fed in 2000. Dr. Tim Faltyn, ’99 doctorate in higher education, was inducted into the 2020 Higher Education Hall of Fame after 26 years of working in the OSU A&M system. Faltyn has served as faculty, department chair, dean, AVPAA, VPA and president of both a community college and a university. Faltyn credits his career and life success to his time at OSU.

’00s

Eunice Tarver, ‘00 psychology, was named the vice president of student success and equity at Tulsa Community College. Prior to her promotion, Tarver served as the TCC northeast campus provost and assistant vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion. Tarver will focus on student experience in the way that it relates to the COVID-19 pandemic in an effort to provide an inclusive and equitable learning experience to all students. Clint Rodgers, ’01 architecture, was promoted to senior associate of Dewberry, a privately held professional services firm, in its Tulsa office. Rodgers has spent 19 years working for Dewberry. His specialization is in managing architecture in healthcare, K-12 education, higher education and municipalities. He is a member of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards and is a registered architect in Oklahoma and Texas. Jeremy Stubbs, ‘03 mathematics, will become director for the Annie Wright Upper School of Boys in Tacoma, Washington, on July 1, 2021. Kristin Killgore, ’04 architectural engineering, ’05 master’s in architectural engineering, was recognized as the new chief operations officer of FSB, Oklahoma’s largest full-service architecture and engineering firm. Killgore was previously an FSB associate and operations manager. She is the OKC Chapter of Commercial Real Estate Women presidentelect, chair of the Structural Engineer’s Licensure Coalition and co-chair of the National Council of Structural Engineer’s Licensing Committee. She was recognized in the Journal Record’s 40 Under 40 award and was a Journal Record Woman of the Year honoree. Amy Blackburn, ’04 journalism and broadcasting, was named the director of branding and citizen experience for the state of Oklahoma, working to drive tourism and commerce to the state. Working alongside Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell, she has been working to create an outstanding experience for residents and visitors. Taryn Clark, ’07 journalism and broadcasting, was promoted to communications director of Argent Financial Group in October. She will lead the communications efforts of the Oklahoma City firm. Cody Klein, ’08 landscape architecture, and his partnership with OJB Landscape Architecture investors recently received the prestigious 2020 National Design Award for Landscape Architecture from the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian National Design Museum, honoring its transformation of spaces nationwide and landscape design focused on health care environments. Kimberly A. Hays, ’05 masters in zoology, ’10 doctorate in zoology, received the Regents’ Excellence in Teaching and Learning Felton Jenkins Jr. Hall of Fame Faculty Award from the University System of Georgia. She is an associate professor of biology at Dalton State College. Myriah Johnson, ’09 agricultural economics, began working for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association in April 2020 as the senior director of beef sustainability research. In her position, Johnson leads the beef checkoff’s sustainability research program. She is responsible for setting the direction of the research program and developing and implementing checkoff-funded programs that validate and benchmark how beef is responsibly and sustainably raised.

’10s

John Peter

Hansen, ’12 master’s in English literature, was selected as Educator of the Year for the 42nd Annual Andy Devine Awards presented by the Kingman (Arizona) Area Chamber of Commerce. His work has appeared or is forthcoming in The Summerset Review, The Pluralist, Philological Review, The Griot: The Journal of African American Studies, PopMatters, Aethlon: The Journal of Sport Literature, and Philosophy Pathways. He teaches English at Mohave Community College in Arizona.

Tori Hill, ’14 agribusiness, was recognized as an honor graduate of the 2020 Bankers Association Consumer Lending School. Hill works with the Bank of Commerce in Duncan, Oklahoma. The Consumer Lending School honored her for her exceptional performance in the OBA Consumer Lending School’s course.

Meredith

Leigh Rush, ’14 elementary education, was selected as the 2020-2021 Teacher of the Year at Schell Elementary in Plano, Texas. She has taught second grade for the past seven years and loves teaching her students all about OSU during college week. Robert Sloan, ’16 associate in information technologies, ’18 information technologies, just passed the two-year-mark as a full-time employee with OSUIT. He has also started scuba diving again.