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We know your dreams.

Dr. William L. Fisher Department of Zoology and US Geological Survey

You want your child to live in a safe, nurturing environment, mentored by talented professionals. Make friends that last a lifetime. You want your child to explore interests, learn about the universe. Gain confidence. Achieve greatness. So do we.

Achieving Greatness

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PRESIDENT’s LETTER

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY

MAGAZINE

As we start another exciting school year, we are delighted to introduce a new and improved university magazine that showcases OSU and its people. From student success to faculty excellence to alumni achievement, there is much to celebrate at “the state’s university.” WE ARE ACHIEVING GREATNESS BY FOLLOWING a strategic plan that honors our distinctive land-grant heritage of instruction, research and extension, while, at the same time, embracing innovation and technology. Our plan grounds us, as well as guides us, on a pathway to national prominence. A united, system-wide focus and approach allows us to capitalize on our geographic reach across Oklahoma. We are one system, one university, featuring multiple campuses, skills and opportunities. I’m proud of what we are doing, but I’m even more excited about what we will accomplish going forward as OSU students, faculty, staff and alumni work together to become the very best. OSU’s vision is to be a source of vitality and prosperity for Oklahoma, the nation and the world. East and west, the horizons glow orange. In the pages that follow, you can read all about it.

Dr. David J. Schmidly OSU System CEO & President

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fter finishing her internship this summer with the American Horticulture Society, Annie Crockett will start working on a bachelor’s degree in public horticulture thanks to an SBC/ OSU Presidential Transfer Scholarship. The $3 million gift from the SBC Foundation will allow more than 120 of the state’s outstanding junior college students to transfer to OSU this fall and ultimately boost the state’s number of college graduates. “For a big company like SBC to invest that amount of money to help transfer students gain four-year degrees shows how much they care,” she says. Annie, who completed an associate’s degree in horticulture from OSUOklahoma City last spring, also hopes to gain certification from the American Horticulture Therapy Association and bring the therapeutic benefits of horticulture to people facing physical and mental disabilities. “I have a lifelong interest in horticulture,” she says, “and OSU’s program is the best.”

Annie Crockett’s dream is coming true.

“I have a lifelong interest in horticulture, and OSU’s program is the best.”

The SBC Foundation presented $3 million to OSU in May for SBC/OSU Presidential Transfer Scholarships. From left are Donald Cain, president of SBC Oklahoma; transfer students Amy Lynn Creekmore, electrical engineering, and Annie Crockett, horticulture; and OSU System CEO and President David Schmidly.

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Dear OSU Alumni and Friends,

What an exciting time to be a Cowboy! Oklahoma State University is working hard to become one of the premier institutions in the country, excelling in academics, athletics and research. Enrollment has increased systemwide since 1994, and currently OSU is home to more than 30,000 students on five campuses. OSU students consistently win national scholarships, academic competitions and athletic championships.

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This new STATE magazine symbolizes the changing atmosphere at OSU — dynamic, energetic and focused. Working as a team, the OSU Alumni Association, the OSU Foundation and the OSU Marketing Department are partnering to bring you one inclusive publication three times a year. STATE magazine will connect you with information about campus events and news as well as faculty, students and alumni who are making a difference at OSU and the world. We appreciate the people who have stepped forward with their time, talents and resources to put OSU on the international map. We hope you will be able to visit the Stillwater campus this fall and tour the new ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center. Located between Old Central and the Student Union, the Alumni Center welcomes alumni back to campus for reunions and other events. We hope you will enjoy STATE magazine, and we invite your comments on the new magazine format as well as letters to the editor and suggestions for future stories.

Go Pokes! Respectfully,

Jerry Gill, executive director, OSU Alumni Association Kirk Jewell, CEO, OSU Foundation Kyle Wray, director, OSU Marketing 6

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The official magazine of Oklahoma State University

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FALL 2005 vol. 1, no. 1

Welcome

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to OSU’s inaugural issue of STATE magazine, a combination of news and information from the OSU Alumni Association, OSU Foundation and OSU Marketing Department. Just as alumni worldwide recognize and love Pistol Pete — the classic symbol of OSU who graces our first cover — we hope this new publication will connect you even more to OSU.

Landscape architecture alum tackles makeover of OSU football fields.

We welcome your comments, your memories and your suggestions for future stories.

100 years of traditions inspire spirit and pride at OSU.

Almond’s Joy Picking up the Pace

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Eddie Sutton’s legacy reaches from backboards to mortar boards.

Band Centennial Stay Connected

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Stop in and enjoy your new OSU Alumni Center this fall.

Willham Memories STATE magazine (USPS 406-280 and ISSN 0744-6934), published three times a year by Oklahoma State University, the OSU Alumni Association and the OSU Foundation, is mailed to all members of the OSU Alumni Association. Magazine subscriptions available by membership in the OSU Alumni Association only. Membership cost is $45. Postage paid at Stillwater, OK, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to 201 ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center, Stillwater, OK 74078-8031. Oklahoma State University in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This includes but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid, and educational services. Title IX of the Education Amendments and Oklahoma State University policy prohibit discrimination in the provision of services of benefits offered by the University based on gender. Any person (student, faculty or staff ) who believes that discriminatory practices have been engaged in based upon gender may discuss their concerns and file informal or formal complaints of possible violations of Title IX with the OSU Title IX Coordinator, Dr. Carolyn Hernandez, Director of Affirmative Action, 408 Whitehurst, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, (405) 744-5371 or (405) 744-5576 (fax). This publication, issued by Oklahoma State University as au tho rized by the Director of University Marketing, was printed by Heritage Press at a cost of $1.23 per issue, 40M/Aug. 05/ Copyright © 2005, STATE magazine . All rights reserved.

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High-rise dorms come down, but the memories live on.

A Father’s Vision

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One man’s dream of an academic stronghold becomes reality.

Departments Campus Briefs Sports History

Orange Connections Homecoming Calendar Reality Niche Chapters Seniors Classnotes Travel

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OSU MARKETING Janet Varnum EDITOR Valerie Kisling & Paul V. Fleming ART DIRECTORS Torsten Kilschautzky, Mark Pennie, & Kim Houston DESIGN Eileen Mustain ASSOCIATE EDITOR Cory Cheney ASSISTANT EDITOR Laura Caine EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Phil Shockley PHOTOGRAPHY Erica Contreras ASSISTANT PHOTOGRAPHER Kyle Wray DIRECTOR OF UNIVERSITY MARKETING 121 Cordell • Stillwater, OK 74078-8031 405.744.6262 • www.okstate.edu (web) editor@okstate.edu (email) • advertising@okstate.edu (email)

OSU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION Sean Kouplen PRESIDENT Calvin Anthony PRESIDENT-ELECT Leo Presley IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT Jerry Gill EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND SECRETARY-TREASURER Sam Combs, Rex Horning, Judy Johnson, Ramona Paul, Gwen Shaw & Jerry Winchester EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS Larry Shell ASSOCIATE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Melissa Majors COORDINATOR OF COMMUNICATIONS Stacey Bridges, Lora Malone, Anne Scott, Kathryn Bolay & Ayschia Saiymeh COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE 201 ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center • Stillwater, OK 74078-7043 800.433.4678 • www.orangeconnection.org (web) info@orangeconnection.org (email)

OSU FOUNDATION Malinda Berry Fischer CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD Kirk Jewell CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Bob Clyne VICE PRESIDENT DEVELOPMENT Gary Clark VICE PRESIDENT & GENERAL COUNSEL Marsha Wooden VICE PRESIDENT FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION Gene Batchelder, Monty Butts, John Clerico, Bryan Close, Ken Greiner, Rex Horning, Judy Johnson, Austin Kenyon, Ross McKnight, Helen Newman Roche, Jerry Nichols, James Vining, Leo Presley BOARD OF TRUSTEES Becky Krause MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR 400 South Monroe, P.O. Box 1749 • Stillwater, OK 74076-1749 800.622.4678 • www.osuf.org (web) info@osuf.org (email) MAGAZINE

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2005 CALENDAR

HOMECOMING

OSU HOMECOMING 2005 “COWBO

COLLEGE EVENTS Arts and Sciences A reception will be held two hours prior to kickoff on the lawn between the Seretean Center and Gundersen Hall. In case of rain, the event will move into the lobby of the Seretean Center. Twenty-five and 50-year pins will be awarded and refreshments will be served.

Human Environmental Sciences Join the College of Human Environmental Sciences on Friday, Oct. 28, at 11 a.m. for a reception, lunch and presentations to honor the Class of 1955 and distinguished alumni. For details, visit www.ches.okstate.edu, or call (405) 744-6571.

Spears School of Business Join the Spears School of Business for a reception, refreshments and door prizes. The trading floor will be open for viewing. Receive your 25- or 50-year pin. All events will be held two hours prior to game time. For more information, call (405) 744-8617 or visit http://www2.bus.okstate.edu/cba/ development/alumni/.

Education The College of Education and Alumni Board will host a reception honoring all alumni and friends of the college two hours before game time on Saturday, Oct. 29. The public is invited to attend this event, which will be held in the Willard Hall Living Room. For the latest details, see the College of Education website at www.okstate. edu/education.

Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources The annual Agricultural Alumni Barbecue will be held on Saturday, Oct. 29, in the Wes Watkins Center Exhibition Hall. The Center is on the northeast corner of Washington Street and Hall of Fame Avenue, less than one block from Boone Pickens Stadium. Because the football game may be televised, the kickoff time is not final. The barbecue will begin immediately following the game if the kickoff is at noon or earlier. If the kickoff is later than noon, the barbecue will begin two hours prior to kickoff. The official kickoff time will be posted on the OSU Alumni Association’s Homecoming website at www.orangeconnection.org/homecoming_ information.htm.

Engineering The College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology will host an “all college alumni reception” two hours prior to kickoff in the Vogt Room of the Advanced Technology Research Center. A free buffet lunch will be served to all engineering alumni, friends and family. During the reception, graduates from 1955 and 1980 will be recognized with 25- and 50-year pins from the OSU Alumni Association.

FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21 AND 22

Football Frenzy Watch the flag football competition among student living group teams. This spirited event kicks off Homecoming week on Friday evening at the Colvin Center fields and the finals are played at Boone Pickens Stadium on Saturday. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23

“Cowboy Craze” Spirit Rally Join the student body Sunday night and prepare to beat Beevo and the Longhorns. Orange Power will be in full force at this spirited event as Oklahoma State kicks off the nation’s largest homecoming celebration. Check the Homecoming website for details, www.orangeconnection.org. STARTING MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, AND LASTING ALL WEEK

Sign & Banner Competition Visit the Library Lawn to see the artistic works of OSU student groups in the sign competition; banners will be on display in the Student Union Atrium.

Campus Decorations Stop by each residence hall and each academic college on campus and view the Homecoming decorations as the entire campus gets into the Homecoming spirit … even the library fountain is orange!!

Orange Reflection A spectacular new competition! The residence halls come to “light” with orange decorations. The lights will go on at dusk on Wednesday and remain on all weekend. Drive or walk through the residence hall area to enjoy the glow. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25

Harvest Carnival & Chili Cook-off Come see firsthand the tradition that began Homecoming. This carnival, created just for kids, is put on every year by OSU student organizations. The event will be held at the 8

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Street Painting Show your Cowboy and Homecoming spirit by painting Hester Street with words of encouragement for the team! Bring the family from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and enjoy this community event. We provide the paint and brushes — you provide the spirit! FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28

Alumni Store Beginning at noon, the Alumni Store will be open at the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center, with Homecoming T-shirts and attire for sale as well as other alumni merchandise that can be viewed at www.orangeconnection.com. The store will be open at the Alumni Center until Walkaround, and then it will relocate to University Avenue for easy accessibility during the event.

Class of 1955 Reunion Activities begin A hospitality room will be open at the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for alumni celebrating the 50th anniversary of their graduation from Oklahoma A&M. Activities continue Friday and Saturday. See the Alumni Association website or call (405) 744-8711 for details.

Black Alumni Golf Tournament The annual Black Alumni Golf Tournament will be held at Cimarron Trails in Perkins. For more details, visit www.orangeconnection.org.

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Campus Life Reception

Enjoy the festival atmosphere as thousands of people start at the corner of University and Washington to view the elaborate house decorations. Complete with music, food and games, this party is fun for the entire family! Activities run from 6:30 to 10 p.m.

Former student leaders and Campus Life staff are invited to the fifth annual Homecoming reception and brief program on Saturday, Oct. 29, in the Campus Life Center (Room 060) in the Student Union basement. During the reception, tour the Campus Life facilities, meet current student leaders and staff and take time to renew old friendships. To give you time to see the campus and make other stops, this will be a come-and-go reception beginning two and one-half hours prior to kickoff. Please RSVP by calling the Campus Life info desk, (405) 744-5488, by Oct. 21.

Orange Glow Check out numerous restaurants and bars in Stillwater that will be “glowing orange” as they show off their Cowboy spirit. The most spirited establishment will win an Orange Glow award. For more information as Homecoming approaches, visit www.orangeconnection.org. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29

Alumni Registration Located at the OSU ConocoPhillips Alumni Center, the registration center will be open from 8 a.m. until game time. Register your attendance, pick up your collector’s cup, find out about activities for the family and purchase Homecoming 2005 merchandise and other OSU items from the Alumni Store. (Class of 1980 — don’t forget to ask for your 25-year pin!)

“Sea of Orange” Homecoming Parade Come see the Homecoming royalty, bands and floats. The parade begins at 9 a.m. on Main Street in downtown Stillwater. (8 a.m. if game begins at 11:30 a.m.)

Black Alumni Reunion In conjunction with the golf tournament there will be a reunion and pre-game activities. Check the Association website for more details, www.orangeconnection.org.

The Walk Join Coach Mike Gundy and the OSU Cowboy football team as they walk down Hester Street to Boone Pickens Stadium. “The Walk” will take place two and one-half hours before game time.

Spirit Beat March Join the OSU Spirit Band one hour before the game for its traditional concert on the Seretean Center Lawn. Then follow the music to Boone Pickens Stadium prior to kickoff.

The Game Watch the Cowboys take on the University of Texas Longhorns at Boone Pickens Stadium. To purchase game tickets, call (405) 744-5745. Game time will be announced 10 days prior to game day.

Pre-Game & Halftime Don’t miss the festivities as alumni and students are recognized, Homecoming royalty are crowned and Homecoming trophies are awarded.

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Hello Life Life, written by English assistant professor Andrea Koenig, is a follow-up to her criticallyacclaimed first novel, Thumbelina. Published by New York’s Soho Press, Koenig’s young female characters cope with teen pregnancy and cancer in a logging town in the Pacific Northwest. Beyond Leadership:The Beacon and the Great Rock by marketing professor John Mowen proposes that leaders should serve as beacons to inspire themselves and others to achieve noble goals that benefit their own organizations and society. Mowen illustrates his book with colorful digital images he created along with haikus that link each image and message. Chinnubbie and the Owl: Muscogee (Creek) Stories, Orations and Oral Traditions by Alexander Posey, written by English doctoral student Matthew Wynn Sivils, is an edited collection of prose by 19th-century Indian Territory writer Alexander Posey. Published by the University of Nebraska Press, the book began as Sivils’ master’s thesis.

Frank McCourt

Angela’s Ashes author to visit campus After waiting nearly 40 years to tell his story, Frank McCourt, author of Angela’s Ashes, is a literary phenomenon. Described as “an epic of woe” about his poverty stricken Irish childhood, Angela’s Ashes topped bestseller lists for more than two years, was chosen by Time and Newsweek as the best book of 1996 and won a Pulitzer Prize. McCourt will share his story with guests of the H. Louise and H.E. “Ed”

Cobb Speaker Series at the OSU Edmon Low Library on Nov. 4. For reservations to the dinner, lecture and book signing, visit www.library.okstate.edu/friends/ cobb. The continued support of the Cobb family has brought success to the annual Friends of the OSU Library fundraiser by bringing to campus noted authors such as Kurt Vonnegut, Doris Kerns Goodwin and Ken Burns.

Leavell researching poet’s life story The National Endowment for the Humanities has honored English professor Linda Leavell with a fellowship to research and write a biography of American poet Marianne Moore. Leavell has been researching Moore since 1999 and applied for the fellowship after gaining the full support of the Moore estate to write the poet’s biography. Only 13 percent of applicants nationwide receive this highly competitive fellowship in support of advanced research in the humanities. Moore, an innovative poet best known for her animal poems such as “The Pangolin,” lived from 1887 to 1972 and gained the admiration of her contemporaries T.S. Eliot, Ezra Pound and Wallace Stevens. “I believe Moore’s life will engage readers who want to know how women resist social pressures and invent their own life stories,” Leavell says. ALANNA BRADLEY

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Dear Alumni, I want to get to know your children and grandchildren. The OSU Alumni Association has the perfect way for your kids and me to become friends. I will send your legacies gifts and special invitations to OSU events, and each year I host a summer camp for them and their grandparents. If you want your children or grandchildren to be active in the Legacy Program, call my friends at the OSU Alumni Association at 800-433-4678. You can also register your legacies online at www.orangeconnection.org. Go Pokes!

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Gehring Distinguished Professorship Fire Service Organization of the Year The International Fire Service Training Association headquartered at Fire Protection Publications OSU was named the 2005 Fire Service Organization of the Year by the Congressional Fire Services Institute. The nonprofit, non-partisan policy think tank advises Congress on fire and life safety issues. The award was presented in April during the 17th annual National Fire and Emergency Services program in Washington, D.C., in honor of outstanding contributions to the advancement of fire and safety services. Approximately 2,500 fire service leaders from across the country attended the annual event. Previous winners include the Fire Department of New York, the National Fallen Fire Fighters Foundation and the International Association of Fire Fighters.

Mathematics professor William Jaco received a Gehring Distinguished Visiting Professorship beginning this fall at the University of MichiganAnn Arbor to collaborate with geometry and topology experts and conduct research during a sabbatical from OSU. Jaco’s area of expertise is topology, or the mathematical study of properties of intangible objects that remain unchanged under special circumstances, which include stretching and shrinking but not tearing. “We ask questions such as ‘What is the shape of space?’ or ‘Are two objects positioned the same in space?’” says the Grayce B. Kerr Professor of mathematics. “We are in some sense where our ancestors were in wondering if the earth is flat,” Jaco says. “Is our universe flat? What is the shape of our universe?” Last summer Jaco was one of only four research mathematicians worldwide invited to present lectures to advanced students at the Institute for Mathematics at Peking University in Beijing, China. “The Chinese have quickly become a major force in mathematics,” he says. “Many of the most highly regarded new doctorates in mathematics are Chinese.” Some students attending Jaco’s lecture have since applied to OSU’s Graduate College to study topology, and one was offered a graduate teaching assistantship at OSU.

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Growing by Leaps and Bounds OSU-Oklahoma City is among the nation’s fastest-growing higher education facilities that serve 5,000 to 9,999 students, according to a report released by Community College Week. Jerry D. Carroll, president of OSU-Oklahoma City, says the college’s enrollment has grown more than 46 percent in the last five years, largely due to diverse program selection and online course offerings.

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The National Intramural and Recreational Sports Association has designated OSU’s recently-renovated Colvin Center as one of the nation’s top collegiate sports facilities for functionality, programming, attractiveness and adaptability to student needs. The Colvin Center reopened last August following a $23 million renovation.

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venture di


Venture I

Oklahoma State University Research Laboratory

Vision: A competitive hightech enterprise designed to move technology from the lab to the marketplace.

OSU Laboratory Specialties: • Electron Microprobe • Inorganic Coatings

Mission: Encourage faculty

• Corrosion Prevention

to pursue entrepreneurial research activities outside the traditional university setting.

• Molecular Diagnostics • Biosensor Technology • Radiation Dosimetry

Goal: Support technology development and grow the economy in the region, state, and nation. NOW G Venture I is the first multi-tenant building N E L ASI open for business in the Oklahoma Technology

and Research Park in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The Park is a partnership of the City of Stillwater, Meridian Technology Center, and Oklahoma State University. Team OSU: Dr. Elizabeth Catlos, Dr. Allen Apblett, Dr. Jerry Malayer, Dr. Stephen McKeever, Dr. Cyril Clarke, and Dr. Eduardo Yukihara

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President Schmidly Receives Coveted Scientific Honor Schmidly, a OSU System zoologist, was one of CEO and President the first individuals David J. Schmidly to suspect the mouse has received one of was a new species, the highest honors in and he did the first the scientific world. chromosome studies Texas Tech on the mouse in the University Professor 1960s and 1970s. Robert Bradley, one Bradley pursued of the president’s the research and former students, OSU System CEO and has named a species President David J. Schmidly confirmed the mouse has different of deer mouse in chromosomes and different Schmidly’s honor. Peromyscus DNA sequences — essentials for schmidlyi, as it is now called, is the new species designation. found in the pine oak forests Bradley says naming the of the Sierra Madre Occidental mouse was an opportunity Mountains in west-central to recognize Schmidly’s Mexico. contributions to the research and to thank and honor someone who was very critical to his career.

Excellence in Teaching Award Marketing professor Stephen J. Miller received the national Excellence in Teaching Award from the University Continuing Education Association. Miller, who also serves as OSU’s director of international business programs in the Spears School of Business, has led efforts to combine instruction and technology to serve students on campus as well as companies and agencies nationwide ranging from Boeing and ConocoPhillips to the U.S. Air Force.

Peromyscus schmidlyi

Director’s Award The American College Personnel Association has honored Kent Sampson, director of Campus Life, with a Director’s Award for Exceptional Service to the association’s Commission on Administrative Leadership. Sampson has served as the vice chair of the commission for three years.

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Neil Purdie received the 2005 Oklahoma Chemist Award from the Oklahoma section of the American Chemical Society.

Chemist of the Year The American Chemical Society presented the 2005 Oklahoma Chemist Award to chemistry professor Neil Purdie for groundbreaking scientific research. Purdie is chairman of OSU’s Chemistry Department and winner of numerous awards including

the 2000 Oklahoma Scientist of the Year. His current research focuses on finding a reliable way to measure blood lipids, or fats, in a single test so doctors can better detect the early signs of heart disease and other lipid-cholesterol-related diseases.

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Devon Energy gives current students real-world experience During my first year as a graduate student at Oklahoma State, I applied for an internship with Devon Energy, a worldwide leader in coal-bed methane exploration. My responsibilities included developing new lead areas and prospects for the coal-bed methane play in southeastern Oklahoma. As part of my internship, I presented maps to management showing Hartshorne Coal thickness. They felt confident it would be a good prospect and had landmen working on leaseholds the next day. The coal-bed methane play will be completed by the end of this summer. It was a successful project. Since graduating from OSU with my master’s degree in geology, I have been working full-time for Devon, along with many other OSU alumni. I am proud of the company’s continuing ties with OSU. Devon Energy recently donated $2.3 million to OSU for a new world-class geology laboratory in the Noble Research Center and for scholarship programs in geology and engineering. Devon’s commitment to OSU will help produce even better students with a quality education that is ahead of other schools. Melissa Stefos, ’05, M.S., geology, and Devon Energy geologist

photography by Phil Shockley

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New Labs, New Opportunities OSU-Tulsa’s engineering program is preparing for dramatic growth in the near future, especially when the new Advanced Technology Research Center goes online in early 2007. Several new engineering labs have been added over the last few years, including an experimental fluid dynamics lab last spring. The new Advanced Technology Research Center will provide facilities for graduate students and faculty research with an overall materials emphasis targeted toward system information technologies, energy technology, materials science and biobased technologies. “Once OSU-Tulsa’s Advanced Technology Research Center opens and new campus student housing is completed, we expect graduate enrollment in mechanical and electrical engineering to more than quadruple within the first several years,” says Larry Hoberock, head of the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. EILEEN MUSTAIN

Air traffic controllers pilot courses in aviation English A slight miscommunication between pilots and air traffic controllers can produce disastrous results, especially when non native English-speakers are required to use English, the international language of aviation professionals. In an effort to prevent aviation catastrophes resulting from inadequate language skills, OSU’s English Department is partnering with the Federal Aviation Administration to produce a curriculum especially for air traffic controllers whose native language is not English. “OSU is well-positioned to develop this specialized language curriculum because of its long history of aviation training and the extensive experience of applied linguistics faculty in designing curricula for specific purposes,” says Carol Moder, associate professor and head of OSU’s English Department. Last fall, air traffic controllers from Central and South America attended trial courses in aviation English at OSU to test the new curricula. To prevent future accidents, the International Civil Aviation Organization will require air traffic controllers to meet a higher standard of English proficiency by the year 2008. The intensive, five-week curriculum will be offered at OSU as well as universities abroad. “We believe that through this program OSU will make a major contribution to improving air safety around the world,” Moder says.

Stacy Benson, assistant professor of chemistry, collaborated with researchers from the Philadelphiabased Wistar Institute to discover structural similarities in viruses that indicate a genetic lineage between previously believed unrelated viruses. This finding points to an evolutionary link that could enable the medical industry to develop new anti-viral drugs.

Findings May Lead to New Anti-Viral Drugs An OSU professor says research indicating certain viruses may have evolved from a common ancestor may help the medical industry develop new types of anti-viral drugs. Stacy Benson, assistant professor of chemistry, in conjunction with researchers at the Wistar Institute in Philadelphia discovered structural similarities between certain doublestranded viruses. “If we understand their structure

then we can develop ways of disabling the virus and, thus, stop it from infecting other cells,” says Benson, who worked at Wistar as part of his postdoctoral research and is now pursuing similar work at OSU. Benson says it is difficult to study viral evolution because viruses live symbiotically inside their hosts and adopt host traits so structural similarities may be the only evidence left to indicate a genetic link. ALANNA BRADLEY

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upport your son or daughter attending Oklahoma State by joining the OSU Parents Association.

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he OSU Parents Association’s mission is to enhance communication between OSU and parents, empower parents to be a supporting factor in their student’s education, provide a forum for networking and give parents an active role in promoting the excellence of OSU. Members receive a membership card, an OSU Parents Association vehicle decal, a quarterly newsletter and also have the option of attending special events during Parents Weekend on October 1st. Parents may opt for a one-year membership for $35 or a lifetime membership for $105. These dues help support Parents Association activities, student scholarships and professorships on an annual basis. For more information, call Parents Association coordinator Fran Gragg at (405) 744-5406 or visit the Parents Association online at http://osunet.okstate.edu/ parentsassociation/

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SPORTS photo/John Williamson

TALL IN THE SADDLE Gundy Fired Up for First Season at the Helm Night after night on the 2005 Cowboy Caravan, a barnstorming tour organized by the OSU POSSE and OSU Alumni Association, Mike Gundy received a rousing reception. After a standing ovation at one such stop this spring, the first-year head football coach shouted back, “I’m fired up, too!” To the orange-clad faithful, Gundy is simply a winner. As a quarterback from 1986-89, Gundy (’90, secondary education) set numerous Big Eight Conference passing records, including career yards (7,997) and touchdowns (54). The Midwest City, Okla., native also led the Cowboys to back-to-back 10-win seasons and bowl appearances in 1987 and 1988.

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photo/Phil Shockley

Stadium Update The largest single campaign in Cowboy history is moving to “The Next Level” to turn OSU’s Athletics Center and Boone Pickens Stadium into one of the finest facilities in college football. The campaign – including an activity fee approved by OSU students – has surpassed $86 million in gifts and pledges.

After serving as OSU’s assistant head coach and offensive

coordinator for the past four seasons, the reins of the football program have been turned over to Mike Gundy. “This job is very, very easy for me,” the 37-year-old says, “because I have a genuine and sincere love for Oklahoma State. I would rather be the head coach at OSU than anywhere in the country.” Gundy’s goals for the program are simple: graduate players, win games and have fun. “I think the most important thing we do with our football team is graduate players,” he says. “Our players are going to study hard and graduate. They’re going to respect themselves, and they’re going to respect the school. They’re going to train hard and play well on Saturdays, and they’re going to have fun. It’s too hard of a sport to not have fun.” Coming off three-straight post-season appearances, the program is poised to earn a fourth-consecutive bowl berth for the first time in school history. Gundy’s goal is to build on that foundation and make up-and-down seasons a thing of the past. “We’re going to continue what’s been started at Oklahoma State to become a consistent Top 20 team, year-in and year-out,” he says. The confident coach doesn’t back down from the competition, and says the Cowboys will be ready for all challengers. “No matter who we play, when we come off the field we want that team to know it’s been hit in the mouth.” The coach stops short of making any bold predictions. “There are no promises in any area of life. But the one guarantee is that our players will be conditioned; they’ll have a great attitude, and they’ll be prepared to play. It’s up to them at that point to go out and play their hearts out. As coaches, it’s our responsibility to mold them and put them in a situation where they can have success.”

Mike Gundy ’05, is ready to lead the Cowboys to a new level of success as new head football coach.

A grassroots campaign is underway to raise “the last few yards” of funds for the $102 million stadium upgrades. These include new and expanded restrooms, more convenient and inviting concession areas, a new upper concourse and Club Level and Luxury Suites. Look soon for additional involvement opportunities through mail, telephone or e-mail. Or call 1-877-OSU-ATHL or visit www.okstate.com and click on “stadium campaign” for more information.

Gundy says the OSU program has been well received on the recruiting trail. “I want the Oklahoma State fan-base to know that we are the talk of the town. Not only in the state of Oklahoma, but across the state of Texas,” he says. “Everybody’s aware of what we’re doing at Oklahoma State with our facilities and the direction we’re going with our players, and how hard we’re working in the classroom. “It’s a tremendous honor to be out there on the road and hear high school coaches say, ‘What in the world is going on in Stillwater? Every time we pick up the paper, you’re building something new. Our [former] players come back to the high school during break and say it’s the best place to be. The coaches care about them, the administration cares about them.’” With season ticket sales expected at record levels this fall, the sea of orange is steadily growing, Gundy says. “There’s more orange out there in public than ever before, more Oklahoma State flags, more orange bumper stickers. It’s an exciting time,” he tells the crowd. “Now is the time to get on board.” CLAY BILLMAN

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SPORTS

photography by Phil Shockley

GRASS ROOTS OSU Alumnus Outstanding in his Field Daniel Almond’s Oklahoma State roots run deep. As a young child, Almond lived in Stillwater while his father, Richard, ’57, soil science, attended Oklahoma A&M. “I still remember the parades and stuff when I was just a little bitty guy,” he says. “OSU was ingrained in me a long time ago.” Following in his late father’s footsteps, Almond earned a degree in landscape architecture from OSU in 1978. He also married a Cowgirl, Tulsan Sherri Simons, ’79, housing, design and consumer resources. The couple resides in Littleton, Colo., with their daughters, Alaina, 18, and Kindall, 15.

LAYING THE GROUNDWORK A sports field design consultant, Almond has worked in going to last longer, and they’re more grass-like. [Football Pro] the design and construction of athletic fields for more than walks and talks more like grass than any other synthetic prod25 years. uct out there. It’s the best product on the market. Since founding his own company, Millennium Sports “We’ve literally designed it to be a natural grass field, but Technologies, in 1996, Almond has designed a number of for now it’s going to have a synthetic turf surface on it,” he says. high-profile playing fields. His resume includes projects for the “We’re putting irrigation systems in; we’re putting drainage systems New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, Philadelphia Eagles in — everything necessary to create a natural grass field. When an of the National Football League and Major League Baseball’s indoor facility gets built, we’re going to take the synthetic turf, roll New York Mets and Colorado Rockies, as well as numerous it up and put it indoors. It’s a really good plan.” minor league teams. In the Big 12 Conference, Millennium has worked with Baylor, Colorado, Oklahoma and Texas A&M. ALMOND’S JOY Though he lives out-of-state, he has remained an avid fan of the Cowboys and yearned to work on a project at OSU. The project has been a trip down Now Almond’s avocation has finally merged with his vocation. memory lane for Almond. This spring, Almond returned to his alma mater to manage “I really enjoyed that trip when I first the makeover of OSU’s football fields, including new synthetic came back, just driving around campus, turf at Boone Pickens Stadium and redesigned natural grass walking around Theta Pond and going practice areas. The improvements were made possible by a into the Student Union,” he says. “It’s $3 million donation from OSU alums Sherman Smith and obvious OSU has progressed a lot, but Boone Pickens. In addition to new fields, the gift will also it still has the same flavor and the same upgrade the Cowboys’ training and locker facilities. character it had when I went to school This fall, the playing field will feature a product called here, which is pretty cool. Football Pro, manufactured by Desso DLW Sports Systems “I’m savoring this moment. I’ve done in Belgium. some really high-profile projects, and “OSU called me and said, ‘We want the best synthetic I’ve enjoyed every one of them. But this turf product we can get,’” Almond says. “I’ve been workone is pretty special.” ing with Desso for a long time, and I’ve been watching this CLAY BILLMAN product over in Europe. There’s nothing like it here in the United States. Desso products are more durable; they’re

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“I would like to extend my most heartfelt thanks to all OSU patrons who helped in raising these crucial funds.”

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Scores with Endowed Scholarship

E

ddie Sutton has achieved many feats in his 43-year career as a head coach and teacher to his basketball family. In addition to several championship titles, his commitment to education off the court places Coach Sutton at the pinnacle of mentors in collegiate athletics. Last season, 10 athletes on his basketball team earned 3.0 grade-point averages or higher. To honor this distinguished alumnus for his dedication to students, the College of Education has established an endowed scholarship in his name. The Eddie Sutton Endowed Scholarship has grown to $103,000 since last February, and the university has received a matching gift of $100,000 through a series of golf tournaments that began in 2001 by organizers Dr. John Polkinghorne and Dr. John Rooney. In addition, the Eddie Sutton Scholarship Committee matched the first $100,000 through private gifts of $3,000 each, while two committee members, Stillwater National Bank and Bryan Close, contributed $5,000 and $10,000, respectively. “I would like to extend my most heartfelt thanks to all OSU patrons who helped in raising these crucial funds,” Sutton says. “The impact this scholarship will have on the College of Education is far-reaching, and I am truly humbled by this distinction.”

Top, Qualifying education majors will benefit from the Sutton endowed scholarship beginning fall 2006. With Eddie Sutton are education majors Elizabeth Quinn, Jessica Krause, Levi Patrick, Philip Parr and Ashley Norman. Left, Eddie Sutton and former College of Education Hall of Fame inductee and professor emeritus Audrey Oaks.

The Eddie Sutton Endowed Scholarship established by the College of Education will assist future teachers with their education.

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The

A

retired assistant regional forester from Decatur, Ga., who worked his way through college will now be known as the individual associated with the largest scholarship donation of $350,000 to the OSU College of Education. Horace C. “Rik” Eriksson was a devoted OSU fan. He had to be. Five of his grandchildren attended OSU, making orange a staple color in the Eriksson household. Long before his death in July 2004, Eriksson established the Alice R. Eriksson Scholarship Fund at OSU in memory of his sister Alice, a former elementary school teacher from Rochester, N.Y. He dreamed 24

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Gift of Teaching

of providing hard-working students the financial support needed for everyday expenses while they pursued their teaching degrees at OSU. “The College of Education is very excited to have received our largest scholarship gift from the Eriksson family,” says Dean Pamela Fry. “We will be forever grateful to Horace for the lives he will continue to touch for future teachers who graduate from OSU.” Though Eriksson originally thought he’d wait until he had passed away to provide this gift, he saw added value in helping students before his death because of the instant connection it created.

“Dad enjoyed receiving ‘thank you’ letters from his students and getting to know about their lives and how the scholarship enabled them to achieve their dreams,” says Dick Eriksson, Horace’s eldest son. “To help just one student achieve an education made it all worth it to him.” The first Eriksson scholars will be selected in fall 2006. Endowed scholarships continue in perpetuity and provide funding for generations of OSU students. To find out more about how to leave your own legacy, contact the OSU Foundation at 1-800-622-4678.

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The Heart of the Park

A $750,000 donation of “Seagate’s gift will allow industrial machinery from us to convert an existing Seagate Technologies to OSU petroleum laboratory and will enable the College of warehouse facility northwest Engineering, Architecture and of campus into new industrial Technology to move forward machining and fabrication with plans to establish an facilities on par with any our entrepreneurial engineering students will experience in park on the Stillwater campus. the private sector,” Reid says. “The future of manufac“Combined with other engituring and this country’s posineering laboratories in the area, tion in the global economy these facilities will be the heart hinges upon our ability to of a unique and functioning invent and innovate,” says entrepreneurial engineering engineering Dean Karl Reid. park for our students, faculty “In the process of moving and collaborative partners in concepts from design and industry.” prototyping to marketable and Another industrial supmanufacturable products, it’s porter of OSU, The Charles important for engineering stu- Machine Works Inc., donated dents and engineering technol- the use of its trucks to transogy students to learn to design port the Seagate equipment to Stillwater. for manufacturability.

From left, Jason Caniglia, assistant vice president of development for the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology; Miran Sedlacek, Seagate executive; and Warren Lewis, OSU assistant professor of engineering technology.

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Celebrating 100 Years

of Excellence

many traditions have come and gone highlighting the impor-

By Kathryn Bolay

Throughout the last 100 years

tance of the OSU band to Oklahoma State University. From its small beginnings in the early 1900s to its vast participation on campus today, the OSU band has displayed the type of

spirit and

pride that Oklahoma State alumni and students are known for in supporting their university.

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The first Oklahoma A&M College band was organized in 1905 by an A&M student. It consisted of 22 members who provided their own instruments, music and uniforms. Over the years, the OSU band has evolved with the changing times. Originally, only men were allowed to play in the band. By 1936, women were in every section of the concert band but were not allowed to march. In 1946 a marching band for girls formed, and in 1955 the two bands were combined into one “Aggie Band.” Today’s OSU band program consists of multiple bands with more than 400 participants. One of Oklahoma A&M’s first traditions has become the

oldest football rivalry between two state teams, the Cowboys

and the Sooners. The rivalry began in 1904 and created the band tradition of the bell clapper. It began in 1917, when OSU and the University of Oklahoma met in Oklahoma City, and the “Aggies” caused an upset over the Sooners, 9-0. That night the bell in the tower of Old Central rang out across Stillwater announcing the victory over the Sooners. By the time the fans who had attended the game arrived back in town, the townspeople and students still in town had started a torch-light parade. All night the Old Central bell rang with a student relay pulling the bell rope. OU students stole the clapper from the bell tower during the Bedlam Game of 1932; however, Cowboy spirit prevailed and the bell still rang out using a sledge hammer announcing OSU’s victory over the Sooners. OSU students later stole the clapper back, but OU claimed it to be the wrong one — a clapper from a Norman

church. In 1966, a compromise was made and the bell clapper that once hung in the bell of Old Central became the symbolic trophy in the Bedlam Game. The tradition of the Bell Clapper continues today but in a different form — a crystal bell given to the winning school of the Bedlam series. The tradition of the Spirit Drum began in 1933 when the ROTC began using it behind the band during performances. They built a trailer for the 6-foot, 1-inch bass drum that allowed room for the drummer and a cymbal player. It took several ROTC members to push the trailer behind the band members. During World War II, the Spirit Drum was put into storage and was later nearly thrown away. The music department saved it, and in 1946 worked with Cooper’s Tires and the OSU Physical Plant to build a new carriage out of pipe and bicycle wheels that was used until 1984. During its later years, the Spirit Drum was pulled across Lewis Field on the carriage after the Cowboys scored a touchdown. Kappa Kappa Psi, the national honorary band fraternity, was founded in 1919 at Oklahoma A&M College. The Alpha Chapter of the fraternity consisted of 10 founding members. In 1960, a national Kappa Kappa Psi monument was erected at OSU honoring the founders. Today there are more than 170 Kappa Kappa

Psi chapters nationwide. OSU is also the founding home of the Alpha Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma, the national honorary band sorority, founded in 1946. Stillwater remains the national headquarters for both organizations.

One tradition unable to stand the test of time was that of the band queen. Beginning in 1929, Symphonic Band queens were elected yearly until 1939 when the tradition was discontinued. Queen candidates were nominated by sorority houses on campus; in order to nominate a girl, houses had to pay a fee. The election of band queen was seen as a fundraiser to off-set the debt of newly purchased uniforms. The queen did not have to play an instrument; her only duty was to travel on the arm of the drum major to all band events during the year. The tradition of postgame performances began in the 1980s under the direction of William Ballenger. This tradition continues today under the direction of Paul Popiel, with the band performing the OSU “Alma Mater” and other songs as fans leave the stands. In more recent years, the band has started the tradition of pre-game performances on the OSU library lawn. The concert includes halftime tunes as well as traditional OSU music.

Opposite page: One of the last band queens was Jean Roberts. A member of Pi Beta Phi, she was queen in 1937. Can you name the drum major? Opposite inset: Max Mitchell, holding the bell clapper, began working as a band director at Oklahoma A&M in 1937. In 1943, he was appointed department head and director of the symphonic band. Below: The tradition of Kappa Kappa Psi at OSU was highlighted in 1960 with the placement of a national monument on campus. Above: The Spirit Drum was used to generate orange spirit during home football games. Here, band members from 1968 pull the drum across the field after a touchdown.

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ExxonMobil Controllers Alumni Scholarship even OSU alumni associated with the ExxonMobil controllers office have combined resources to create a business scholarship designated for students pursuing a master’s degree in business administration. The ExxonMobil Controllers Alumni Scholarship for the MBA Program in the William S. Spears School of Business was established with contributions from seven current or retired ExxonMobil employees, along with corporate matching funds, and will generate a scholarship of more than $250,000 for OSU students. THE ALUMNI ARE

Jim Alcock, ’65, MBA, retired; Jim Heidebrecht, ’63, MBA, retired; Terry Hinshaw, ’63, M.S., acct, retired; Don Humphreys, ’71, engineering, vice president and treasurer; Stan Strong, ’63, engineering, retired; Rhonda Sweeney, ’73 A&S, adviser, Process Development and Enhancement, ExxonMobil Global Information Services; and Alan Tye, ’62, acct, ’63, M.S., retired. “OSU’s MBA Program is fortunate to have such a committed group of alumni working together to ensure the program’s bright future,” says Robert S. Dooley, director. “The ExxonMobil Controllers Alumni Scholarship represents the largest MBA Program endowment to date and will help make possible a graduate education for the top students wanting to study at the Spears School of Business.” The ExxonMobil employees were inspired to create the scholarship, in part, because a number of their new colleagues — including Bruce Yee, ’98, MBA; Mita Young, ’02, MIS; Mark Synder, ’02, MIS; and Chance Pearson, ’02, finance — cared enough to establish scholarships themselves soon after graduating.

Sweeney says OSU has excellent students in the MBA Program, a program she believes matches the needs of ExxonMobil. “Having recruited at OSU for ExxonMobil since 1975 and having spent the first 20 years of my career in the controllers department, I chose to contribute to this scholarship to ensure that the ExxonMobil name would be attached to scholarship monies for deserving MBA students for many years to come.” NEW GRAD ENDOWS SCHOLARSHIP IN GREAT UNCLE’S HONOR

B

lake Schaufele still remembers the day he fell in love with OSU — he was 10 years old.

“It was homecoming 1990, and my great uncle Elmer Tepe had taken me to my first Oklahoma State outing for the OSU vs. Missouri football game,” says Schaufele, a 2002 accounting graduate. The day itself seemed different — special. Schaufele’s first OSU experience coincided with the university’s centennial birthday. “We got to eat a piece of the 750-pound birthday cake at the library during pregame,” he remembers. “Then OSU won the football game, and I was hooked.” Schaufele’s uncle, a life-long bachelor from Lone Wolf, Okla., majored in civil engineering at OSU until he was abruptly called to serve in World War II. After the war, Tepe took over the family

farm and committed his life to serving his family and community for the next 50 years. “My great uncle was a firm believer in small-town schools,” Schaufele says. “He believed you could get a good education just as easily in a small school as you could in a big city school.” With the help of the ExxonMobil matching program, Schaufele, a former ExxonMobil employee, presented a check for $10,000 to the William S. Spears School of Business in memory of his late uncle. The resulting endowed scholarship is a living testament to a diehard Cowboy fan whose passion inspired a 10-year-old boy to one day influence the next generation of students. Schaufele’s gift will provide financial assistance to an undergraduate business major from a small town. Currently, Schaufele is pursuing a master’s degree in business administration at Texas A&M, but plans to return to Stillwater to visit his alma mater. “I’ll be there for my 15th Homecoming celebration.”

Yo of ne na ou loc sta

Fo ye yo of

Le sta

To

MBA students at OSU will benefit from the ExxonMobil Controllers Alumni Scholarship. With MBA director Robert Dooley, center, are MBA students Cristin Leimer, Andrea DeLeon, Todd Easton, Jake Regier and Rachel Richison.

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BE A PART OF THE LEGACY! The renovation of Boone Pickens Stadium is the

most ambitious building project in OSU history, and it is being funded primarily by supporters like you! While we’ve met our original $86 million goal, we’re calling on loyal supporters to complete the “last few yards” of funding. Enlarged version of your name “in lights”

Your generous suppor t of $1000+ will per manently inscribe your name “in lights” on our Wall of Honor located on the south stadium plaza. For as little as $200 a year for five years, you too can be a par t of building the legacy. Leave your mark on the state’s top venue today!

The Wall of Honor will welcome Cowboy Faithful to the newly renovated stadium in 2006.

To see your name “in lights” or for more information please contact Athletic Development.

(405)-744-1234 toll-free 877-OSU ATHL or at www.okstatenextlevel.com

C a m p a i g n fo r C ow b oy Fo ot b a l l

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THE

CONOCOPHILLIPS

OSU ALUMNI

CENTER

A PLACE TO CELEBRATE The dream of so many has now become a reality. What began as a notation on a scrap of paper more than 20 years ago has been realized in the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center. Built as a labor of love, the Alumni Center stands as a tribute to the generations of men and women, loyal and true, who love OSU. “The Alumni Center is an important and wonderful addition to our historic campus. Alumni have shaped our past and will help determine our future, and this new facility will properly showcase their many achievements.” — David Schmidly, OSU System CEO and President “It’s incredibly rewarding to see how far we’ve come in such a short time, and I continue to be overwhelmed at the generosity and diligence our alumni have shown in supporting this worthwhile campaign.” — Kirk Jewell, CEO, OSU Foundation

“Architecture starts when you carefully put two bricks together. There it begins.” — Ludwig Mies van der Rohe 30

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“The space within becomes the reality of the building.”

— Frank Lloyd Wright

“I am truly humbled to represent our alumni during such a momentous occasion. The Alumni Center is not just a building. It is the pride and love that we all feel for Oklahoma State University.” — Sean Kouplen, OSU Alumni Association President “The location of the Alumni Center is symbolic of where the university started, where the first alumni association meetings were held and is in the very heart of the campus.” — Leonard Court, Alumni Center Campaign Chairman “Several years ago the OSU alumni leadership and staff worked to create a vision and a mission for the future of the Association. The ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center represents a key component to that vision. It puts us in a position to continue to connect alumni back to their university and create a home for them when they return to campus.” — Dr. Kathy Laster, Alumni Center Strategic Planning Leader

We invite all OSU alumni to come home and celebrate the building’s Housewarming, Sept. 3, prior to the OSU vs. Montana State football game.

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REALITY

REALITY: GAMEDAY Make the new ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center your home for Cowboy Football pregame action! Bring your family and friends as the doors open 3½ hours before kick-off.

If you don’t have enough orange on before you head to the game, your Orange Connection Alumni Store will be at the Alumni Center during each home game with plenty of orange for the entire family!

Grab a slice of hot Hideaway pizza fresh from our new pizza oven as well as a cold beverage of your choice before the game.

Join us for all six home football games and as we head to Texas for the OSU vs. Texas A&M and OSU vs. Baylor games. We’ll be hosting pre-game pep rallies complete with all the OSU spirit you can handle!

Help the Cowboys prepare to dominate their opponents by joining Pistol Pete, the Spirit Squad and the OSU Pep Band for a pep rally prior to the Spirit Walk down Hester Street. Once the game kicks off, get up-close and personal with the team by watching the Cowboys perform on two 15-foot projection screens in Click Alumni Hall.

For more information about the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center, visit www.orangeconnection.org. KATHRYN BOLAY

GET READY FOR COWBOY FOOTBALL IN THE NEW ALUMNI CENTER 32

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A Place to Hang Your Hat From intimate gatherings to large banquets, the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center will feel like home.

Next time you’re in Stillwater, stop by for your personal tour.

Call today to reserve space for your next event! For more information contact: 405.744.8015 800.433.4678 alumni.center@okstate.edu

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With a passion for innovation and a commitment to performance, ConocoPhillips is an energy company ready to meet the challenges of the future. We also have a long history and commitment to Oklahoma with major operations in Ponca City and Bartlesville. We are proud of our association with Oklahoma State University and salute the faculty's commitment to their students. And as a corporate partner to the Oklahoma State University Alumni Association, and an employer of many OSU graduates, we continue to elevate their potential.

conocophillips.com

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“I wouldn’t be calling you if it weren’t important.” — Nichole

Nichole ht... Rader

Economics Senior But, our call is just as important. 2006 Cowboy Caller

The Greater University Fund assists OSU programs with the greatest needs.

Your annual support sustains and grows our University’s future. Contact Kendra Cox to make a difference today.

1.800.622.4678

35 Telemarketing.indd 35

FOUNDATION www.osuf.org

7/14/05 5:30:42 PM


From back left, Ashleigh Hildebrand, Gates/Cambridge Scholar; OSU System CEO and President David Schmidly; Joel Halcomb, Gates/Cambridge Scholar; and, front, Nick Rasmussen, Goldwater and Udall Scholar.

OSU congratulates national scholarship winners Ashleigh Hildebrand

and Joel Halcomb for being selected as 2005 Gates/Cambridge Scholars,

H

and Nick Rasmussen for being named a 2005 Udall Scholar.

ildebrand, a chemical engineering graduate, and Halcomb, a history and mathematics graduate, will begin graduate studies this fall at Cambridge University. Rasmussen, a zoology major in the OSU Honors College, will use his Morris K. Udall Foundation scholarship for his senior year at OSU.

36

“These students are a great reflection on Oklahoma State,” says OSU System CEO and President David Schmidly. “Their achievements reflect their commitment to excellence and the quality of education at OSU that enables students to compete for and win scholarships at the highest level.”

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The Oklahoma State University Platinum Visa® Card

It’s all here in black and orange

Chase Credit Card Ad

Support the Cowboys with these outstanding benefits: • No Annual Fee • A Low Introductory APR • Credit Lines from $5,000 up to $100,0001 • 24-hour Cardmember Services

Call Toll-Free To Apply Now: 1-866-422-6566 1

In certain instances, you may receive a card with a credit line up to $5,000

36-37 Scholars, Chase ad.indd 37

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Ross McKnight 1971 Animal Science Alumnus Throckmorton, TX

Ross came to Stillwater with not much more than one pair of shoes … yet, his OSU education enables him to give so much more today.

Planned Gifts build better lives for the next generation. Contact us to discover how your planned gift can impact lives.

1.800.622.4678

38 Ross McKnight.indd 1

FOUNDATION www.osuf.org

7/14/05 5:32:18 PM


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High-rise towers come down, but ...

Willham Memories Will Live Forever By Courtney Hentges

Many of Willham’s residents watched as demolition began in January. From left are Lori Norman Weider, ’92 psychology, Willham resident from 1988-90; Jennifer Schmitt Struble, ’93 political science, resident from 1989-93; and Mary Westhoff Smith, ’93 journalism and broadcasting, resident from 1990-94. 40

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WILLHAM HALL ROARED with cheers the night the OSU men’s basketball team defeated OU in Norman in 1992. It was the first time the Cowboys had beaten the Sooners on their turf in almost 40 years. J. Shay Davis, ’94, M.S., counseling and student personnel services, remembers the cheering fans that overflowed from the mezzanine to the lobby and front lawn before heading to Gallagher-Iba Arena to greet the returning team.

T

welve years later, Willham was fi lled with the vociferous sounds again as OSU played St. Joesph’s in the 2004 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. “When John Lucas hit the winning three, you could hear the whole building scream and people running up and down the halls,” says Kayla Armstrong, a pre-physical therapy junior who was one of Willham’s final residents last fall. “Meeting people in Willham was very easy,” she says. “There were bands in the elevator, and people would hang out at the front desk all night.”

Since August 1968, thousands of students have called Willham home. Lisa (Stanley) Lucas, ’80 elementary education, moved into 528 Willham North in August 1976 with the help of her mother and first-grade sister Julie, and the room became her home for the next four years. When Julie grew up and returned to the fi fth floor of Willham 12 years later, she, like her sister, would call it home for the next four years. During Lisa Lucas’s stay in Willham, the tradition of brother and sister floors was very strong. As the two floors participated in scavenger hunts, secret pal exchanges and holiday parties, many developed lasting friendships. Twenty-five years later Lucas and a group of friends from Willham still reunite each year during an OSU football weekend. “As large a complex as Willham was, it was home. And within its walls was a diverse group of people of varying ethnic (continues on next page)

Sign of the Times THE DEMOLITION of Willham Hall marked the beginning of Phase 4 in OSU’s modern student housing initiative. In place of the traditional residence halls consisting of two high-rise towers, OSU will construct six new suite-style buildings. “There was a change in demand from students who came from homes where they didn’t share a bedroom or bathroom,” says Shannon Baughman, marketing coordinator for Residential Life. “We saw a need to provide different types of housing to satisfy the demand.” Since 1999 when OSU began building more modern housing, the demand for housing on campus has increased 31 percent as student have opted for the more private suites and apartments. MAGAZINE

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Friends Jennifer (Schmitt)Struble, and Mary (Westhoff) Smith celebrated holidays and new semesters by decorating the hallway between their rooms. The girls lived on the 8th floor of Willham North in 1992.

groups, majors, cultures, religions and life experiences,” says the Willham alumna. “Dorm life provided the opportunity to learn from others and practice tolerance. It allowed each of us to explore ourselves without our parents there and test the values we had learned at our individual homes. “The bonds we made with friends were strong because we were each experiencing the same growth and leaning on each other for support.”

Above, right, meal ticket courtesy Lisa (Stanley) Lucas.

Smith by constructing a paper jungle in the hallway between the two rooms, complete with rope vines, big green leaves and monkeys. When the fire marshal randomly checked the fire extinguisher in that hall, she saw the decorations and snapped a Polaroid picture. The next day, the two residents were called to the hall director’s office to be told they had created a fire hazard. That didn’t break these Willham women’s spirits as they continued to decorate the hallway for Halloween,

Thanksgiving and Christmas, each time being told to remove their decorations. Struble lived in Willham from 1989 to 1993. During that time she was a house president, a desk clerk and highly involved in the regional residence hall association. “I just can’t imagine my experience at OSU being as rich and fulfilling if I had not lived in Willham,” Struble says. “The people I met there are friends I have kept. I never saw the same kind of community in other residence halls that I found in Willham.”

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dance in the mezzanine of Willham Hall was the beginning of a relationship that has lasted 34 years for David and Nancy (Navrath) Zavodny. The two Willham residents met as OSU juniors at a themed dance in April 1971. “The music at the dance was so loud I couldn’t hear his last name,” Nancy says.

David and Nancy (Navrath) Zavodny, below, met at a dance during their junior year in 1971. Inset photo, left, Roses signaled a new engagement. Inset, right, the Zavodnys at their first home in OSU’s married student housing apartments.

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hile serving as a graduate hall director, J. Shay Davis, ’94, M.S., valued the strong sense of community throughout Willham North and South. “There was a great deal of pride in living in the building, but more specifically on a specific house,” Davis says. Floors in Willham have long been referred to as houses as a way to further the sense of community on each floor. Davis remembers intramural teams and social events as ways the houses spent time together. Students also spent late nights getting Willham ready for homecoming walkarounds by building lawn decorations and painting the front windows of the building.

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illham North 828 and 829 might have been the most festive rooms in 1992, but from the eyes of the fire marshal they were trouble. Jennifer (Schmitt) Struble, ’93 political science, remembers celebrating the new semester with her friend Mary (Westhoff) 42

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“My roommate and I had to look him up in the student directory after we got back to our room.” The next day David, ’72 agricultural engineering, and Nancy ,’72 elementary education, met again in the cafeteria, where he asked her on their first date to the movie “Tora! Tora! Tora!” The couple married the following January. Nancy was one of the first Willham residents, moving in as a freshman in 1968. At that time, only the women’s tower was complete, and these women lived by strict rules. Each weeknight at 10 p.m. all Willham women had to be in their rooms for bed check. Since men were not allowed in the women’s rooms, Nancy remembers that girls would stay in the lobby with their male guests until one minute before 10 p.m., and then hurry to get upstairs in time for bed check. She also remembers sunbathing on the Willham roof, dressing up for football

games and having special ceremonies for women on her floor who became engaged. “The floors were really a community back then,” Nancy says. “The R.A.’s were mentors who taught us about studying and going to class.”

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n Fall 2004, OSU worked quickly to prepare Willham for demolition. Just a month before the wrecking ball arrived, students still lived in the south tower. The remaining students, just like those who lived there decades earlier, will keep a special place in their hearts for their college home.

What? A Willham wedding? — What appears to be a wedding that took place in Willham Hall is actually a wedding of the two towers of Willham. Each year the staff conducted a wedding ceremony to marry the two towers — the men’s tower and the women’s tower — to each other.

Jennifer Evins, a junior and the final president of the Willham complex, says her favorite memories of life in Willham come from working on homecoming pep rallies, banners and harvest carnival. These activities required many late nights, which helped her get to know people better and build friendships. “I know living in Willham has made my college experience worthwhile,” she says.

Leave Your Mark

IN THE PAST, scratching your name into your dorm furniture was the best way to leave your mark at a residence hall. Now, thanks to Residential Life, there is a better way. In honor of the demolition of Willham Hall, Residential Life is offering engraved brick pavers as a way for alumni to share their connections with Willham and OSU. For $30, the bricks can be personalized with up to three lines of text and placed in the area of the new buildings being constructed on the Willham site. To order a brick, or for more information on Willham memorabilia, visit the Residential Life website, www.reslife.okstate.edu.

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Clerico hopes gift

To honor his late wife, Beverly Smith Clerico, a 1961 business alumna of Oklahoma State University, Tulsa businessman John Clerico has donated $500,000 to renovate the original 1953 south plaza of the OSU Edmon Low Library. “The library is a cherished visual and academic symbol of the campus, and the plaza should reflect this,” says OSU System CEO and President David J. Schmidly. “With this extraordinary gift, the plaza will become the proper ‘front porch’ for one of the university’s most recognized and important buildings.” Clerico hopes his gift will mark a starting point for OSU alumni and friends to step up and recognize the dire need to repair and renovate campus buildings, monuments and landscaping. “State funding is on the decline and will continue to be on the decline from this point on,” says Clerico, a 1963 graduate of the Spears School of Business. “Private gifts will have to support the inevitable wear and tear of campus landmarks, however significant or insignificant they may seem.” While the library, the famed focal point of campus life, remains a noble starting point, Clerico challenges donors to

photo illustration by Phil Shockley

“Thanks to the generous gift of the Clerico family, the front of the library will be beautifully restored and will be rea

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will inspire others take the initiative to “touch up” those aesthetic landmarks that have helped establish the university as one of the most beautiful campuses in the nation. “What we have here now, we can’t allow to deteriorate,” he says. Construction for the renovations began in early May with completion scheduled for early fall. The gift equals the largest single donation ever made to the library. “Thanks to the generous gift of the Clerico family, the front of the library will be beautifully restored and will be ready to welcome students, faculty, staff and alumni this fall,” says Sheila Grant Johnson, library dean.

To learn more about campus beautification or to make a private gift toward campus improvements, contact the OSU Foundation at 1-800-622-4678.

nd will be ready to welcome students, faculty, staff and alumni this fall.”

Architect’s rendition of Beverly Clerico Plaza.

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VETS Go from Film to Filmless with Digital Imaging

Advancing

THE BOREN VETERINARY TEACHING HOSPITAL Implementing the most up-to-date digital diagnostic imaging environment at the Boren Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital is a critical factor to ensure OSU veterinary students are well-trained in using the latest in imaging technology. Future vets can now experience the newest technological advancement in the veterinary field thanks in part to the success of the Instant Imaging Campaign to upgrade radiography equipment at the teaching hospital. The Instant Image Campaign began in fall 2004 with a $50,000 gift from Kirkpatrick Foundation Inc. of Oklahoma City. Foundation board member Joe Howell, a ’70 DVM graduate, and Joan Kirkpatrick spearheaded the campaign to encourage support from Foundation trustees. With the help of these individuals as well as generous clients, animal owners and alumni, OSU’s Center for Veterinary Health Sciences is now equipped to create digital radiographs and other images that can be quickly shared with experts and veterinarians worldwide. 46

Phase I provided funding for one small-animal clinical digital radiography system. Phase II and III will provide for a large-animal digital radiography system, an additional small-animal clinical digital radiography system, a portable digital radiography system, RapidView workstations, a RapidStore DICOM archive system and a custom standing-shot tunnel protector. Phase I of the three phase campaign is now complete thanks to the Kirkpatrick Foundation’s lead gift and the late Galie Mae Koch, a grateful client who established a teaching hospital equipment fund through her estate. The Galie Mae Koch Fluoroscopy Center exists today because of her philanthropy. Fund raising of $118,000 for Phase I was completed in February 2005. The fully functional imaging system will be complete by the end of 2005 when the campaign goal of $625,000 is reached. To discover how you can make a difference for the Instant Image Campaign, contact Melinda McAfee at mmcafee@osuf.org or (405) 744-6728.

OSU veterinary medicine students work

with innovative digital radiography equipment thanks to the success of the Instant Imaging Campaign to upgrade the Center for Veterinary Health Sciences’ radiography systems.

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OSU is already achieving greatness by accomplishing the goals set forth in our strategic plan. The plan guides our efforts with its emphasis on academic excellence, student and staff development, community outreach and engagement, diversity, efficient use of resources and cultivation of university pride and recognition. But you — our enthusiastic alumni, generous benefactors, dedicated faculty and remarkable students — make it happen. Your dedication is already paying high dividends and your support of the strategic plan makes it all possible.

Thank you for helping us continue to make OSU the STATE’s university. Achieving Greatness

www.okstate.edu

Achieving Greatness

www.okstate.edu

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OSU-Okmulgee campus in 1972.

Grady Clack, left, dreamed of creating educational opportunities for military veterans and others in the 1940s. Today, a new hall on the OSU-Okmulgee campus is named in his honor. Top left, OSU-Okmulgee’s Hospitality Services program offers the highest quality instruction at the lowest cost in the nation. Top right, prospective students tour today’s state-of-the-art campus. 48

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An OSU-Okmulgee Visionary

instrumental in integrating an academic emphasis to the technical training. Clack and his wife, Joan, worked as a team to support and encourage their three sons to achieve their full capabilities by placing academics as a top priority. “My dad was a humble man who was supportive of everything we did without instruction or pressure,” says youngest son Jerry, ‘72 marketing, and vice president of investments for Merrill Lynch in Tulsa. “His financial resourcefulness allowed each of us to attend and graduate from OSU without any debt.” Clack’s academic voice enhanced many university programs at OSU-Okmulgee from its opening until his retirement in 1976. Clack died in 1998, but his legacy will A FORMER NAVAL live on through the Grady and Joan Clack officer who held a Scholarship Fund established by their sons. master’s degree in education from OSU, “We all value education because of the Clack recognized the need to support passion our dad had for it,” says middle son veterans with the proper skill sets to Tom, ’65 electrical engineering. “We wanted complement a booming economy. He envi- to establish an educational fund to honor his sioned a premier educational and vocacommitment to academia because it was his tional institution dedicated to their success. lifework.” With determination and fortitude, he The first scholarship will be awarded in fall and others under the leadership of former 2006. In addition, the Grady W. Clack Hall Oklahoma A&M President Henry G. will usher OSU-Okmulgee students into the Bennett acquired the Glennan Hospital school’s new Student Success Center. in Okmulgee and their dream became a The Clacks’ oldest son, Charles, is a 1961 reality on Oct. 3, 1946, with the opening architectural engineering graduate and a of Okmulgee Vo-Tech. Over the years, former American Airlines pilot. He recalls the program evolved into one of the most his father’s dedication to preparing students technologically advanced two-year schools for a life after school. in the country, and today is the site of the “He had a chance to go to a four-year OSU-Okmulgee campus. college to be the dean of men, but he found For 30 years, Clack served in various greater value in helping set the standard for capacities as veterans coordinator, trade schools across the nation,” Charles professor of mathematics, coach and regissays. “His commitment to OSU and OSUtrar. During his teaching years, he was Okmulgee never wavered.”

In 1946, America was basking in a postWorld War II economy and Oklahomans

were eager to put the state on the map as one of the nation’s most progressive

technology-driven states. They just didn’t know where to start.

Enter Grady Clack.

Located 40 miles south of Tulsa, OSUOkmulgee delivers high-quality instruction consistent with emerging educational and labor market needs. Programs range from automotive technology and engineering to watchmaking and information technology.

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Bar-S Donation Adds Value “Made In Oklahoma” is more than a phrase heard on commercials or seen in the grocery stores. It’s one of the critical elements advancing agriculture initiatives across the state. One of Oklahoma’s most prominent Made In Oklahoma companies, Bar-S Foods, is also one of OSU’s greatest food research supporters and benefactors. The company, which has three production plants in Oklahoma, recently donated a $15,000 RT-7 machine to the Food and Agricultural Products Center at OSU. The automatic sausage-fi lling and -linking machine gives students a direct opportunity to learn about adding value to Oklahoma-made products. “Having this piece of equipment is important because we can use it to showcase and demonstrate to students how the meat industry operates and works,” says Dave Moe, pilot plant manager at the Food and Agricultural Products Center. OSU scientists at the Food and Agricultural Products Center develop relationships with companies to assist them in adding value to Oklahoma products and keep the resulting products, jobs and money in the state.

“We were very fortunate to receive the RT-7 machine,” says Jake Nelson, meat processing manager for the Food and Agricultural Products Center. “We have a good working relationship with Bar-S, and a good relationship in general.” “Bar-S would like to continue to help the Food and Agricultural Products Center add value to Oklahoma-made products,” says Rasool Rabbani, Bar-S division vice president, who was instrumental in the donation. “Bar-S likes to help upgrade the Center’s equipment so it can assist Oklahoma processors in producing high quality products.”

Students working in the Food and Agricultural Products Center at OSU gain valuable knowledge through OSU’s partnerships with Oklahoma companies like Bar-S Foods, which recently donated sausagemaking equipment to the center.

CARRIE LEACH

OSU scientists assist Oklahoma companies to add value to their products, which helps keep jobs and money in the state.

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An Oklahoma Icon

Professor Bob Totusek committed his career to students and Oklahoma livestock producers and, as a result, put OSU’s animal science department on the international map. “Oklahoma is a premier cattle-producing state, and that is due in large part to Dr. Totusek’s instrumental role in passing his knowledge along to virtually every cattleman and rancher in the state through his lectures and research findings,” says Scott Dewald, executive director of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association. Today, generations of former students and agricultural leaders are supporting the Robert “Bob” Totusek Endowed Chair in Animal Science designed to recruit top animal science faculty and students, fund research initiatives and support the award-winning OSU Cattle Judging Team. “It would be impossible to quantify just how much his leadership, focus and dedication to individuals have affected today’s beef industry,” says Julie French, an ’84 animal science graduate and Michigan rancher. Born and reared on a livestock and wheat farm in northcentral Oklahoma, Totusek earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science from OSU in 1949. He joined the animal science faculty in 1952 and spent 38 years involved in teaching, research, public service and administration before retiring in 1990. “I consider this as an honor to animal science and the animal science industry,” Totusek says, “because it will make possible

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programs that have been important to Oklahoma and will in turn benefit the state.” “Dr. Totusek is a man of purpose who has touched countless lives in unique ways, and we honor his contributions through this endowment,” says Dennis White, campaign chairman and Ninnekah rancher. Rancher Ross McKnight, a ’71 animal science graduate, says Totusek’s commitment to the industry extends well beyond the classroom. “He has been a tremendous representative for agriculture,” McKnight says. “He represents exactly what we want our leaders to be by maintaining relationships with animal science graduates well beyond their formative years at OSU into their professional careers as ranchers, cattlemen and contributors to the agricultural field.” For more information or to make a donation to the Totusek Endowed Chair, contact Gary Sherrer at gsherrer@osuf.org or (405) 744-4170. Left to right, Bob Totusek, Don Wagner, head of animal science, and students Melody Shields, Tyler Norvell and Jeana Sankey.

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Aryon OSU Graduate - 2021

She’s not worried about a steady decline in state funding ... Or rising tuition costs ... yet.

Planned Gifts build better lives for the next generation. Contact us to discover how your planned gift can impact lives.

1.800.622.4678

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FOUNDATION www.osuf.org

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CAREER NICHE

HEALTH IN THE HEARTLAND

Cowboy Physicians

The OSU Center for Health Sciences produces a variety of doctors ranging from surgeons and family care practitioners to specialists and emergency room physicians. This broad spectrum of studies results in a majority of graduates staying in Oklahoma to serve the Heartland of the nation. For Drs. Jumbo Eaton, Michelle Barlow and Colbi and Corby Smithton, remaining in Oklahoma was never a question, yet all have led very different medical careers.

“Anytime a physician has the opportunity to intervene in a life-or-death crisis and prevail, that is a rewarding experience.”

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Jumbo Eaton, D.O., an emergency room doctor in Bartlesville, Okla., started his journey to medical school at an age when most physicians are in the prime of their career. “I always wanted to go to medical school,” Eaton says. “It had been a lifelong ambition, so when the opportunity finally came along I jumped on it.” A former high school teacher and coach who also had worked in the oil industry, Eaton began his medical journey at OSU in 1990. He started his post-graduate rural training in Grove, Okla., until an opportunity to move closer to home arose and he took a job in Claremore, Okla., and then relocated to Bartlesville, where he has been working for the last two years. Eaton says he enjoys the ability to help others in their time of need. “Anytime a physician has the opportunity to intervene in a life-or-death crisis and prevail, that is a rewarding experience,” he says. Another physician with a lifelong dream of practicing medicine is Michelle Barlow, D.O., of Allen, Okla. Since third grade she has been determined to help others as a doctor. Her father had always spoken highly of their hometown doctor and his commitment to a rural community, and Barlow looked up to him in that regard.

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“We realized how much we enjoyed Stillwater and OSU when we were here, and we wanted to continue to be a part of that.”

Michelle Barlow, D.O., of Allen, Okla., says meeting the needs of a small community makes her realize that her work truly makes a difference in people’s lives.

Barlow decided to attend OSU’s Center for Health Sciences partly because she received her undergraduate degree at OSU-Stillwater and partly because of OSU’s emphasis on training physicians for the state’s rural areas. Barlow and her husband wanted to live in a small town, so after her graduation in 1994 they searched the state for a community in need of a physician and decided on the Allen Clinic, a branch of the Ada Clinic. As the only doctor in Allen, Barlow sees all types of patients and injuries. “I see a lot of everything — little kids, grandparents and everything in between. It makes it exciting. “I feel needed here,” Barlow says. “If I were practicing in Tulsa, there are so many other doctors it wouldn’t matter if I were there or not. But here I believe I make a difference — and that matters.” Unlike Eaton and Barlow, Colbi and Corby Smithton, both DO’s, did not always know they wanted to practice medicine. The husband-and-wife team runs a family and pediatric practice in Stillwater. They fell in love with the community while pursuing their undergraduate degrees at OSU. Corby chose to study medicine at OSU’s Center for Health Sciences because of the positive environment of the campus. Colbi, a Tulsa native, was impressed with OSU’s national rankings and how they compared to other schools within the state. OSU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine currently ranks 11th in rural medicine, 16th in family medicine and 54th in primary care, according to U.S. News and World Report. “One aspect that we really enjoyed was the mentoring process,” Colbi says. “Now we are able to serve as ambassadors for the school and allow students to shadow us.” Both Smithtons graduated from OSU’s medical school in 1999. “We were looking for a smaller community to live in,” Corby says. “We realized how much we enjoyed Stillwater and OSU when we were here, and we wanted to continue to be a part of that.”

The Smithtons thoroughly enjoy their time in Stillwater, and OSU basketball is a main priority for Corby, but when it comes to their practice they enjoy being able to help others. The best part for the Smithtons are the letters letting them know they are appreciated and notes of thanks they receive from patients they have helped. The service of helping others in their time of need is a delight that Jumbo Eaton, Michelle Barlow, and Colbi and Corby Smithton have shared even with their varying lines of medical work. They all know their jobs can be grueling and timeconsuming but the opportunity to serve someone else makes it all worthwhile. KATHRYN BOLAY

Colbi and Corby Smithton, DO’s, wanted to return to Stillwater to practice medicine because of their fond memories of OSU.

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Orange is more than a color.

O MoreThanColor_spread.indd 56-57 Student Union Store Ad.indd 1-2 56

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Orange is getting goosebumps when hearing “Here Comes Bullet!”. Orange is supporting your team with a big foam cowboy hat. And a foam finger. And a full body suit. Orange is spending more on body paint than food for the week. Orange is camping out. For non-conference games. Orange is singing the Alma Mater with 43,000 members of your family. Orange is proud and immortal.

ORANGE IS POWER. first floor - student union

www.shopokstate.com 1-800-831-4678

The Student Store is located on the first floor of the Student Union. Owned and operated by Oklahoma State University, the Student Store is OSU’s original outlet for Cowboy clothing and souvenirs. All proceeds from sales are used to underwrite Student Union and Campus Life operations. 56-57 Student Union Store Ad.indd 57

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Chapters

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Paint the Cowtown Orange! Pistol Pete was surrounded by orange at a Cowtown Cowboy Cookout this spring. The Fort Worth Chapter invited families to the Lockheed Martin Recreation Association for a barbecue picnic and a great time. More than 150 Cowboys ate barbecue, met old friends and took pictures with Pistol Pete. The chapter recruited new members and sold Pistol Pete bobble heads to raise money for its scholarship fund. Children and adults enjoyed a variety of activities including the playground, kiddie rides, puttputt golf, volleyball, horseshoes and much more. The Cowtown Cowboy Cookout is the first of many more family events to come for the chapter.

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Lions and Tigers and Bears, OH, MY! The Wichita Chapter sprang into full force this spring with a trip to the zoo in April and a tailgate party for the OSU vs. Wichita State University baseball game in May. More than 50 kids and adults gathered for the zoo trip and enjoyed a day at the Sedgwick County Zoo and a short introduction to the Legacy Program and Alumni Association board membership. Goody bags were handed out to the kids and the day was a huge success. The great turnout at the zoo suggested the need for more familyoriented events, such as a day at Watson Park, so be on the lookout. More than 25 true Cowboy fans came out to enjoy the Cowboy baseball game. Although the game did not end in Oklahoma State’s favor, the event was definitely a home run for everyone who attended.

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Drillers Stadium in Tulsa and Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City were packed with Cowboy bedlam action this May. Both the Tulsa and Central Oklahoma OSU Alumni Association Chapters were there with plenty of orange and pre-game fun. The Tulsa Chapter had a picnic catered by Cowboys Sharkies and an appearance by Pistol Pete. The chapter also provided fans with the opportunity to buy game tickets. It was a great time for all who attended. The Central Oklahoma Chapter had a Pokes, Brats and Bedlam event with all proceeds going toward the chapter’s contribution to the new ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center. Alumni and fans enjoyed bratwursts, Coca-Cola, beer, door prizes and an appearance by Pistol Pete.

Photo

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Support future Cowboys by letting Pistol Pete follow you in your vehicle. Oklahoma residents can purchase an OSU license plate featuring Pistol Pete and help support the Alumni Association’s chapter scholarship fund. This fund matches money raised by chapters throughout the year. With the assistance of the tag program, this year alone chapters were able to match $31,000, a portion of their scholarship funds, for a total of $62,000 in scholarships awarded to incoming freshmen. For more information, contact Dawn Good at the OSU Alumni Association or visit your local tag agency.

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Commitment to Excellence The Oklahoma State University Alumni Association is proud to announce the OSU Outstanding Seniors for the class of 2005. The OSU Outstanding Senior Award recognizes college seniors who have distinguished themselves through academic achievement, campus and community leadership and involvement, and service during their time as an OSU student. The honorees are selected by the Alumni Association and recognized each spring at a public reception.

Cheyene Charles

graduated with an honors degree in accounting and a minor in finance. Charles was active in the OSU music department and also creator and membership director of the Oklahoma State Band Ambassadors. Charles was selected as a Top 20 Freshman Man and awarded the Trail of Tears Award for Excellence. He is also a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, Blue Key and the Business Honors Organization.

Amber Elliott

graduated with an honors degree in marketing and a minor in Spanish. She was active with Homecoming, Orange Peel, Student Government Association, Omicron Delta Kappa, the OSU women’s tennis team, President’s Leadership Council and Kappa Alpha Theta. Elliott received the Spears School of Business Top Ten Graduating Senior Award, was active in Phi Kappa Phi, Golden Key and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and was the 2004 Homecoming Queen.

Joel Halcomb

graduated with degrees in history and mathematics and a minor in English. Halcomb has completed two Wentz Research Projects, was named a Gates/Cambridge Scholar and studied at Oxford, York and Columbia University in New York City. He was named Outstanding Sophomore, Junior and Senior in the history department, and one of the nation’s top 15 history undergraduates. He was a coordinator for the Mathematics Learning Resource Center and an ambassador for the Scholar Development and Recognition Office, speaking to students and preparing them to apply for national scholarships.

Macey Hedges

graduated with an honors degree in agricultural communications and a minor in agricultural economics. Her activities included Homecoming, Ag Ambassador, Alpha Zeta, SUNUP television program, Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow, President’s Leadership Council and Chi Omega. Hedges was a Top Ten Freshman Woman, Lew Wentz Research Scholar, Outstanding Agricultural Communications Senior and a Top Five Senior in her college.

Ashleigh Hildebrand

graduated with an honors degree in chemical engineering and minors in chemistry and philosophy with an environmental option. Her activities include Omega Chi Epsilon, the engineering college Freshman Council and Student Council, the University Honors Council, Phi Kappa Phi, Omicron Delta Kappa, Tau Beta Sigma and Phi Sigma Tau. She was named a Gates/Cambridge Scholar and a Goldwater Scholar and received the Donald F. Othmer Sophomore Academic Excellence Award. The Rhodes Scholar semi-finalist also won fellowships with NASA and the National Science Foundation and a Wentz Research Project Scholarship.

Maggie Hill

graduated with an honors degree in advertising and a minor in marketing. She was active in Junior Greek Life, Student Government Association, Spring Sing, Arts and Sciences Student Council, Student Alumni Board, Mortar Board, Phi Eta Sigma, OSU Higher Education Council, the varsity pom pon squad and an executive member of the National Collegiate Honors Council. Hill received a Top Ten Freshman Woman award, the Outstanding Junior Award and won first place at the Advertising Federation Competition.

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Ryan Jenlink

graduated with degrees in plant and soil science biotechnology, and cell and molecular biology. He was active in Blue Key, Student Government Association, Phi Kappa Phi, Omicron Delta Kappa, Order of Omega, Phi Eta Sigma, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Homecoming, FarmHouse fraternity, President’s Posse, Freshman Follies, Varsity Revue and Orange Peel. He was honored as a Top Ten Freshman Man and a Top Ten Senior for the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.

Cole Marshall

graduated with degrees in agricultural economics and accounting. His activities included Spring Sing, Varsity Revue, Freshman Follies, Orange Peel, Homecoming, Sigma Alpha Epsilon and the Inter-Fraternity Council. He was named 2004 Homecoming King and was active in Order of Omega, Phi Kappa Phi and Omicron Delta Kappa. He was named a Top Ten Graduating Senior in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources and received the Wall Street Journal Outstanding Achievement Award in agricultural economics.

Nicole Milton

graduated with a degree in human nutrition and premedical sciences. Her activities included Homecoming, Student Alumni Board, Kappa Delta sorority, Camp Cowboy, Greek Week, Student Government Association, Freshman Representative Council, Phi Kappa Phi, Blue Key, Order of Omega, Golden Key and Alpha Epsilon Delta. She was a Wentz scholarship recipient and was named Panhellenic Outstanding Junior.

Cristin O’Connor

graduated with an honors degree in international business and a minor in Spanish. Her activities included Homecoming, Orange Peel, President’s Leadership Council, intramural sports, Business Honors Organization, Chi Omega, Blue Key Honor Fraternity, Omicron Delta Kappa, Order of Omega and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. She was named a Top Twenty Freshman Woman, Outstanding Greek Woman for 2004, Spears School of Business Outstanding Senior and a Business Scholar Leader.

Matthew Panach

graduated with a degree in agricultural communications and a minor in agricultural economics. Panach was active with Alpha Gamma Rho, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Phi Eta Sigma, Phi Kappa Phi, the National Agricultural Marketing Association, Ag Ambassadors, Student Government Association, Advertising Club, Food Industry Club, Collegiate Farm Bureau and Homecoming. He was named a Top Ten Freshman Man, Outstanding Alpha Gamma Rho Senior and Top Five Senior in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.

Bill Shelby

graduated with a degree in agricultural business and a minor in finance. His activities included Student Alumni Board, Blue Key, Alpha Gamma Rho, President’s Leadership Council, Greek Life Advisory Council, Freshman Representative Council, Homecoming, President’s Posse, Orange Peel, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Phi Kappa Phi, Order of Omega and Phi Eta Sigma. He was named a Top Ten Freshman Man, Outstanding Freshman and a Top Five Senior in agriculture, All-Around Senior in agricultural economics and a Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholar.

Libby Shinn

graduated with a degree in marketing and a minor in accounting. She was involved with Business Student Council, Cowboy Call-Outs, Pi Beta Phi sorority, Homecoming, AFAP Business Committee, Marketing Club, Blue Key, Beta Gamma Sigma, Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Eta Sigma. She earned three Wentz scholarships and was named a Top Ten Freshman Woman and top three Panhellenic Outstanding Greek New Member, Sophomore and Junior. She received the Raymond D. Thomas award as the Spears School of Business Outstanding Senior and the Delta Sigma Pi Gold Key Award. MAGAZINE

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20s Melvin B. Welch ’28, ag econ, celebrated his 99th birthday in March. He retired in 1970 from the Wichita, Kan., school system and currently lives on a farm in Oklahoma.

30s Raymond N. Bryson ’31, an sci, is 96. His wife, Mabel, ’31 HIDCS, passed away in 1991. Robert E. Adcock ’33, agron, ’35, botany, and his wife, Ruth, married Oct. 16, 2002. He has served as an agriculture specialist in many different states and countries for the military. He had a home in Lakeland for 12 years and now has purchased interest in 1001 Carpenters Way. Ray C. Murrell ’38, agron, is proud to say his family legacy at OSU continued after he graduated. All four of his children and all five of his grandchildren attended OSU.

40s Manry E. Clifford ’40, dairy prod mgr, is 89 years old and in good health. After serving as a county agent for 66 years, he retired and now lives in Kansas. His wife, Opal Mae, ’41, child dev, passed away in 2000. Carl P. Blackwell ’41, econ, is 85 years old and recently moved into a retirement community. C. Dallas Cottrall ’42, chem eng, retired from Eastman Kodak 26 years ago and has enjoyed designing and building tilt-top desks for his two daughters and four grandchildren. Margaret Hubbard Sanders ’42, ed, was a schoolteacher for 32 years in Pasadena, Texas. She received her master’s in education from the University of Houston in 1961. Thomas J. Akin Jr. ’43, acct, celebrated his 84th birthday in January. Velma Grizzle ’45, HEECS, lives in a retirement center in Broken Arrow, Okla. Her husband, Herman, ’48, ag ed, ’57, M.S., passed away in 2004. 62

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Margie Greager ’47, phys ed, worked part time as a therapist in a group home and now travels all over the United States with the mental health division on a disaster relief team and teaches safe driving for the AARP. John E. Fox ’48, ag ed, and his wife, Evelyn, are retired and live on their Osage County cattle ranch. Russel Henry ’49, bus, is enjoying his current hobby of restoring antique automobiles. Jerome “Bud” Holzman ’49, ind eng and mgmt, is a New Jersey licensed professional engineer and was appointed in March to the commission for the World War II memorial in New Jersey. The memorial is currently being designed and will be located in front of the state capital building in Trenton. Morris Neighbors ’49, ed, ’64, M.S., welcomed his first great-grandchild, Joseph William Zodro V, on his birthday, Oct. 25, 2004.

50s Kathryn M. Bilyeu ’50, bus ed, toured Germany last May and Ireland in September. She is currently living in Arizona and enjoying retirement. Charles Lupsha ’50, ento, and his wife, Jo, have been happily living in the historic triangle of Jamestown-WilliamsburgYorktown for the past year and a half. Donald D. McClanen ’50, phys ed, ’53, M.S., celebrated his 80th birthday recently. He and his wife, Gloria, had three greatgrandchildren born in 2004. Donald was a founder of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at OSU in 1954. Robert “Bob” Oltmanns ’50, ind eng and mgt, has a granddaughter, Laura Dunn, who is a full-scholarship student at OSU majoring in forestry. Homer Pickhardt ’50, elec eng, is a consultant specializing in electric log analysis of pre-1957 electric logs in the mid-continent area. Robert R. Raines ’50, psych, is retired from the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Arizona Department of Corrections. He now enjoys spending his time on the golf course.

Joe C. Sewell Jr. ’50, speech, and his wife, JoAnn, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Feb. 19, 2005. Robert Sisti ’50, civil eng, has two grandchildren, Ryan, 3, and Marielle, 2. Pattie Boothe Arnold ’51, M.S., arts and sciences, is retired from teaching voice and directing vocal groups. She is now actively pursuing her hobby of photography, which has taken her to Ireland, the United Kingdom and Kenya. She has also started playing the classical guitar. Marvin Polson ’51, ag eng, and his wife, Fran, have a grandson, Christopher, who graduated in May from the Naval Academy, where President Bush was the speaker. Thomas W. Sullivan ’51, ag ed, is presently serving as the governor of the MissouriArkansas district of Kiwanis International. Karleen F. DeBlaker ’52, ad, retired Jan. 3, 2005, after completing her sixth term as the elected clerk of the circuit court in Pinellas County, Fla. Virginia Merritt ’52, music, lives in a retirement village in Yukon, Okla., and enjoys participating in various music choirs. Wayne Moore ’52, an sci, and his wife, Ruby, ’53, sec ed, ’78, M.S., are retired and live in Stillwater. Norman O’Halloran ’52, HRAD, and his wife, Barbara, will move to Georgia to be closer to their daughter and her family, who are all active OSU alumni. Robert E. Walton ’52, dairy, ’56, M.S., an sci, was just elected as president of the Wisconsin Cattleman’s Association. His wife of 45 years, Jan, passed away in October 2004. Bill Pendergraft ’53, mech eng, moved to Seattle in October 2004 after living in the Los Angeles area for 42 years. Paul M. Milburn ’54, bus admin, ’63, MBA, is still involved with the land development business and civil work. He has visited five countries as a board member with World Neighbors. Ned E. Blass ’55, acct, ’79, M.S., sec ed, is a supervisor of student teachers for a local university. His wife, Sue, ’77, M.S., HEECS, is a mentor professor for three new teachers in the Grossmont District and is a professional watercolor artist. Bill N. Lacy ’55, arch studies, ’58, MAR, is retired after 10 years as president of Purchase

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College State University of New York. He is active as a consultant in San Antonio, Texas. Les Gilliam ’56, math, received the Wrangler Award on April 16, 2005, from the National Cowboy Museum in Oklahoma City for the outstanding western album of the year. George Matthews ’56, banking, has been teaching Sunday School lessons over a local cable channel from First Baptist Church for the past 29 years. His granddaughter, Jennifer Hale, is in Orange Pride. Glenn R. Jenkins ’57, mech eng, is retired and now provides business consulting. He and his wife, Irene, are enjoying their grandchildren. John C. Reynolds ’57, M.S., nat sci, is a consultant for L-3 Com Integrated Systems. His grandson, John Adam Colquitt, is a freshman at OSU studying aviation to become a certified pilot. Bill J. Schneider ’57, arch studies, just completed serving on the Oklahoma architectural licensing board for 15 years. His oldest granddaughter, Meredith, played on last year’s Bishop Kelley state championship soccer team and his grandson, Alex, participated in Junior Nationals Bicycle racing in Park City, Utah. Kenneth W. Feland ’58, mech eng, retired with Exxon Co. in 1992 and moved to Florida in 1997 where he is active in his church and likes to build model airplanes. Patty Neal Hunter McAlister ’58, FRCD, is excited that she and her husband, Fred, are now great-grandparents. Fred is in his 60th year with the St. Louis Cardinals and they enjoy traveling with the baseball team and babysitting when home. Jane Ann Niles ’58, HEECS, and her husband, Bob, have a new granddaughter, Ava Devall Hobbs, born May 22, 2004. Jane and Bob raise cattle and wheat. Ted D. Thorn ’58, agron, ’59, M.S., retired from MetLife after 37 years as an agriculture investment consultant. He is now a rancher, and he and his wife, Gail, have six grandchildren. Jay Engelbach ’59, acct, has been elected chairman of the Oklahoma Accountancy Board for the term of July 1, 2005, to June 30, 2006. Charles O. Heller ’59, civil eng, ’60, M.S., is managing director of a venture capital firm

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in Annapolis, Md. This year, he rejoined the board of visitors of OSU’s School of Civil Engineering. Charles G. Pickens ’59, M.S., math, ’67, Ed.D., retired in 2001 after 41 years of teaching math at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

60s Douglas Branch ’60, geol, and his wife, Sunny, live in Longview, Texas. They are both retired and spend their summers at their home north of Durango, Colo. Stanley A. Martin ’60, mktg, completed course work at Texas A&M and now conducts Phase I environmental site assessments in addition to real estate marketing in the greater Houston area. Jack Price ’60, ind arts ed, is retired as the vice president of sales and marketing for Gear Products Inc. and now works part time with Comer Ind. selling power transmission components. Shirley Waggoner ’60, phys ed, retired in May 2003 after serving for 13 years as the director of children’s ministries at the Central United Methodist Church in Fayetteville, Ark. Jerry L. Baker ’61, agron, ’69, M.S., ’72, Ph.D., retired from the Noble Foundation Agricultural Division as a research agronomist on Dec. 31, 2004. He is currently serving as a consultant.

Joe George ’61, sec ed, and his wife, Kay, have identical twin grandsons, Eli and Jaden. They turned 3 years old on Jan. 5. Glen E. Nemecek ’61, spec ed, retired from OSU in June 2003. He and his wife, Maureen, now live in Annapolis, Md. Wildon Schmidt ’61, M.S., ag ed, and his wife, Dorothy, live in Kerrville, Texas, but spend their summers in Lake City, Colo.

Their youngster daughter finished her second year at OSU and is a javelin thrower for the Cowgirls. Charles E. Crooks ’62, sec ed, and his wife, Angie, have a grandson, Camden Bryce, who was born July 6, 2004. Larry Fisher ’62, chem, is retired after 36 years of service to Oklahoma. He and his wife, Carol, are living in Norman, Okla. Wes Oneth ’62, ag ed, retired from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He and his wife, Elaine, have moved back to Oklahoma. Robert Tate ’62, sec ed, ’63, M.S., and his wife, Marilyn, ’58, elem ed, are both retired from teaching and live in Lompoc, Calif. Brenda Horn ’63, elem ed, has a daughter, Lauren Ginn, who graduated from OSU in December. Jack T. Snoddy ’63, elec eng, is retired from Tinker Air Force Base. His wife, Barbara, ’63, elem ed, retired from teaching in the Putnam City school district. Pat Clifton ’64, hist, is building a house in New Braunfels, Texas, with his wife, Angie. They are both retired and are currently living on a farm while their house is being built. James Luetkemeyer ’64, RTVF, retired from government service in 2002. He has been traveling worldwide since retiring and now lives in San Diego, Calif. Jim Stormont ’64, livestock oper, retired in March from USDA–Rural Development after 40 years. His wife, Patricia, retired from veterinary medicine in January. They plan to spend time on their farm near Wakita, Okla., and with their seven grandchildren. Paul LaBrue ’65, sec ed, retired from teaching and coaching in 1999. He is currently an insurance adjuster with GAB Robins and is a broker/dealer with First Independent Financial. John Kelly ’65, math, and his wife, Mary Ann, have moved to Lake Texoma to be near their children and families and to enjoy the fishing. John A. Welch ’65, hist, is president of the advisory board of the Salvation Army of St. Joseph, Mo., and state chaplain of the Masonic High 12 of Missouri. He is also chaplain of Moila Shrine Temple of St. Joseph, Mo., and listed in the 2005-2006 National Register’s Who’s Who in Executives and Professionals. MAGAZINE

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Richard Carter ’67, bus ed, retired on June 30, 2004, from teaching agriculture at the high school and university levels after 37 years. He and his wife, Jane, ’66, ag ed, ’68, M.S., have two grandchildren, Matt, 8, and Abby, 4.

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and CEO after serving for 33 years with projects in more than 30 countries. He retired after the grand opening ceremony celebrating an aquarium project in Taiwan worth over $250 million. Mary Davidson Sloan ’68, elem ed, retired in May 2004 after 32 years of teaching at the elementary level. She and her husband, Don, welcomed their second grandchild in December 2004. Marilyn D. Butler ’69, HEECS, won the 2004 Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of Family and Consumer Sciences at the ACTE national convention in Las Vegas.

70s Doug Dollar ’67, journ, ’74, M.S., mass comm, ’83, Ed.D., retired from the Army Reserve in May after 37 years of military service . At the retirement ceremony, he relinquished command of the 80th Division. Doug will continue to live in Stillwater and spend more time focusing on his publishing company, New Forums Press. Tracy Freeny ’67, bus, has started a new company, Affinity Marketing, that assists affinity groups in raising funds. His last company, Life Line, donated over $70 million back to charities. Willis Johnson ’67, ag ed, ’68, M.S., hort, retired from the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service in 1998. He completed his first marathon this spring. He and his wife, Dianne, welcomed their first grandchild in January 2005. Gilbert O. Sanders ’67, hist, is serving his second term as president of the division of research and training of the Oklahoma Psychological Association. He also has been elected chair of the community and hospital section/psychologist in public service of the American Psychological Association. He is currently serving as an adjunct professor of psychology at the Medical School of the Americas. Hank Hankla ’68, soc, retried from practicing law in 1997 and now teaches math to first- and second-graders. His wife, Judy, opened a restaurant in Bethesda, Md. Paul Bao-Ho Liao ’68, M.S., envir eng, retired from Tetra Tech/KCM as chairman 64

Larry Beeby ’70, music ed, ’75, M.S., sec ed, and his wife, Beth, ’70, sec ed, ’91, M.S., welcomed their first grandchild, Jack Taylor Edmison, this year. They are proud to say that Jack learned to hold his hands in the “Go Pokes” position even before he learned how to wave bye-bye. James Gilchrist ’70, speech, ’72, M.S., was appointed as director of student academic and institutional research at Western Michigan University on April 1, 2005. He has been a member of the WMU faculty since 1980 and is a specialist in organizational communication and communication ethics. David McCollum ’70, comm, and his wife, Jaki, ’70, sec admin, purchased the Las Cruces Bulletin newspaper in Las Cruces, N.M. Together, they formed FIG Publications, LLC, where David is the publisher and Jaki is president and business manager. Norm Priest ’70, agron, retired from USDA-NRCS three years ago. He purchased a cabinet manufacturing business with two partners after retirement. William E. Trousdale ’70, psych, attended medical school at the University of Oklahoma, specializing in obstetrics and gynecology. After practicing for 24 years, he now volunteers for the Indian Health Service in Oklahoma. Buddy Watson ’70, music, retired in 2000 from teaching in pubic schools and now teaches at a parochial school, Marquette School, which is affiliated with Christ the King Catholic Church in Tulsa.

William A. Wright ’70, bus, recently retired after 34 years from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Corabell Bennett Arps ’71, zool, is a child psychiatrist working in Bangor, Maine. She and her husband, Joseph, have two grandchildren. Richard Mitchell ’71, elem ed, is a high school counselor at the school from which he graduated in 1966. His daughter, Jada, will be one of the senior students he oversees next year. Herbert A. Stewart ’71, ind eng and mgmt, retired from the U.S. Air Force as a lieutenant colonel. He is currently working as information technology project manager at Computer Sciences Corp. Neil Williamson ’71, an sci oper, retired on Dec. 31, 2004, and moved to Texas. Sherry Willingham ’71, mktg, and her husband, Ronald, ’72, bus, are building homes under the name of Sheryl Homes Inc. in Altus, Okla. Dennis McClurg ’72, pol sci, recently relocated to Washington, D.C., to work in the Department of Defense’s Air Staff Civil Engineer Directorate. Ralph Wilson ’72, HPER, ’86, M.S. curric, and his wife, Debbie, ’71, elem ed, ’80, M.S., sec ed, have a daughter, Devon, who is married and teaches math in a private school in New Orleans, La. They also have a son, Robert, who has a 2-year-old named Reese. Kelcie Carter ’73, M.S., FRCD, and her husband, Kent, have two daughters, Carrick and Claire. Carrick recently graduated from OSU, and Claire is a junior at OSU. Joe Barnard ’73, elec eng, married Lynn Denise on March 20, 2005. Paul George ’73, pol sci, was named a reporter to the 17th Congress of the International Academy of Comparative Law by the American Society of Comparative Law. It will meet in Utrecht, Netherlands, in July 2006. Hasan Kazi ’73, ind eng, was selected as area manager for Illinois and Wisconsin by Ceres Transportation Group. He and his wife, Tasnim, live in Schaumburg, Ill. Donna Le ’73, elem ed, retired from public education and is now employed as a principal at St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Muskogee, Okla.

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Tom L. Sipe ’73, M.S., elem ed, was appointed director of federal programs for the Ponca City public schools. Rex M. Thomas ’73, mktg, ’74, acct, and his wife, Shirley, ’75, med tech, have a daughter, Lindsay, who graduated from OSU in May with a degree in interior design. Laurel Dieken ’74, micro bio, ’76, M.S., applied studies, is the part-owner and golf instructor at Ables Golf in Columbus, Ohio. She is a LPGA member, Midwest section teacher of the year, Golf for Women magazine top-50 instructors and Golf Magazine top golf instructor. Steven D. Fiser ’74, ind eng, ’75, M.S., is retiring after almost 30 years with SBC and now plans to catch up on photo albums and genealogy. Michael M. Reischman ’74, Ph.D., mech eng, is the deputy assistant director for engineering at the National Science Foundation, which is the largest supporter of engineering research in the U.S. Thomas Rogers ’74, pre-law, was named a “super lawyer” by Texas Monthly magazine in 2004. He is a partner in the litigation section of the Austin-based Jackson Walker LLP, one of the oldest and largest Texas-based law firms. Super lawyers are the top five percent of attorneys in each state, as chosen by their peers. Jan Duck Wiedemann ’74, sec ed, was featured in Bas Bleu catalog and attended the premiere of the CBS Hallmark Hall of Fame movie in April 2005. Gary Chronister ’75, psych, ’93, Ph.D., applied behav studies, is now serving as executive director of assessment and evaluation for Broken Arrow public schools. His son, Justin, graduated in May 2004 from OSU. Don Delano ’75, civil eng, recently retired from the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. He is now working for the Benham Group in Oklahoma City. John M. Robinson ’75, mktg, has a daughter, Carly, who is now 8 years old. He is redeveloping a shopping center in north Tulsa, Okla., for a charitable organization, Neighbor to Neighbor. David Sparkman ’75, acct, retired from the state of Texas comptroller’s office in August 2004.

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Michael Ryan

Life in the Reel World photo/Phil Shockley

It’s a long way from Varsity Revue to Hollywood. And for Michael Ryan, ’85 music education, the journey has been a dream come true. “As music arranger for Varsity Revue for three years, I knew music and drama belonged together, but I didn’t know what type of formal education I would need to become a music editor.” Today, as a two-time winner of the Motion Picture Sound Editors Golden Reel Award for The Passion of the Christ and Naomi and Wynonna – Love Can Build a Bridge, it’s fair to say Ryan has figured it out. He’s also chief executive officer of Mad 4 Music, a music editing company in Sherman Oaks, Calif., which he and three partners formed in 2003. After graduating from OSU, Ryan accepted a job in California as a high school band director and was soon taking classes in film scoring on the side. In 1988, he left the teaching profession and moved to Burbank, Calif., to pursue his dream of music editing.

To get his foot in the door, he started working as a driver and office assistant for West Production, a sound effects and editing company, and eventually was promoted to supervising dialogue editor. His credits include television shows such as The Wonder Years and small feature films such as Crime Zone and The Terror Within. When an opportunity to work for Segue Music arose in 1991, Ryan took a cut in pay and prestige to join the company as assistant music editor. He spent 12 years with Segue, working his way up to supervising music editor on numerous projects such as The Muse with Elton John, Mr. Holland’s Opus and The Fighting Temptations. “I’ve always loved music and listening to film scores,” says Ryan, whose 13 Golden Reel Award nominations include Raise Your Voice, Save the Last Dance, Anna and the King, 101 Dalmatians, The Three Musketeers and The Last of the Mohicans. Music editors serve as the liaison between a project’s director and composer, he says. “We’re the coordinator – the wrangler – of all things musical for a film or other project.” The music editor keeps track of the cues during the recording session, and once the music is recorded he spends days working with digital editing equipment to ensure the sounds are in sync with the action and dialogue. “It’s an arduous project,” he says, “because each sound and its placement must be at exactly the right time and the right level whether it’s a melody or a dog barking in the background.” When the project is done, the impact of the music and the sound can be amazing, even for the people involved in the project, he says. “Director Steve Herek gave me one of the nicest compliments I’ve ever had after I had finished the sound for 101 Dalmatians,” Ryan says. “He said, ‘Now, it feels like a movie.’” JANET VARNUM MAGAZINE

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Jennifer Slaughter Brown ’76, HEECS, is the proud aunt of Jessica Dukes, a member of the OSU marching band. Ralph E. Crotchett ’76, gen admin, and his wife, Deborah, ’76, gen bus, have two sons. Chad is working in the Dallas area, and James is a sophomore at OSU. Steve Rader ’76, gen ag, operates a family ranch in the Texas panhandle and has two children, Justin and Haley, who are both attending OSU. Cynthia Scott ’76, micro bio, has a novel that was released this spring. This is her fifth release, and you can find it at www. cynthiascott.org. Mark Gish ’77, ag econ, and his wife, Gale, ’78, dist ed, ’84, M.S., adult ed, have a daughter, Anna, who is a junior at OSU, and their son, Thomas, plans to attend this fall. Tom Jobe ’77, elec tech, ’03, M.S., and his wife, Karen, ’77, elem ed, have a daughter, Stacy, who graduated from OSU in 2004. Their son, Kevin, is a sophomore at OSU. Robert B. Moeller ’77, vet med, was recently promoted to professor of veterinary medicine at the University of CaliforniaDavis. Ken Chronister ’78, sec ed, is the assistant principal at Collinsville High School. Stan Keller ’78, ag ed, recently founded BizPlace Inc. The company provides database design, IT project management and interactive website development services to businesses that are expanding their markets. Susan Murray ’78, HEECS, is in her fourth year as a district 4-H specialist. Her husband, Kent, ’77, ag ed, is the agribusiness coordinator for Great Plains Technology Center. Mark S. Swift, ’78, civil eng, and his wife, Angela, ’78, acct, have a daughter, Kristen, who will be attending OSU in the fall. Jana L. Wilds ’78, journ, retired from elementary teaching in 2000. She returned to OSU-Oklahoma City and earned an associate’s degree in horticulture and started a landscaping/maintenance business in 2001. Marcia Bollinger ’79, journ, is the SVP of Apartment Finder Magazines. Danny L. Boster ’79, M.S., civil eng, retired from the corps of engineers in Hunnington, W.V., in 2003. He is now a 66

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partner in Xcorps Engineers and gives flight instruction for fun. Gopi R. Menon ’79, M.S., chem eng, is president of the southern California Graphoanalysis chapter for 2005. Dan M. Peters ’79, mgmt, joined the law firm of Fuller, Tubb, Pomeroy & Stokes, P.C. in January 2004 as OF counsel. The firm is located in Oklahoma City.

80s Kim Arnold ’80, mktg, was the 2003-2004 middle school Teacher of the Year in Rogers. Fran Church ’80, acct, ’81, M.S., was recently promoted to tax managing partner for Ernst & Young’s Pacific Northwest area and relocated to San Jose, Calif.

Sam Combs ’80, ind eng and mgmt, was named one of the 75 Most Powerful African Americans in Corporate America by Black Enterprise magazine. Sam is president and chief operating officer of Oklahoma Natural Gas. The article, which appeared in the February issue, selected leaders from the 1,000 largest domestic and international corporations traded publicly on the U.S. equities markets. Brad Dibert ’80, mktg, and his wife, Lynette Love, ’80, hort and land arch, have four daughters. Their oldest, Meredith, graduated in May from OSU. Debbie Fuhrmann ’80, acct, joined IDSScheer Consulting in May 2004. She is a senior consultant and team leader on SAP software implementations. Randy L. Heflin ’80, pre-vet, ’81, ag econ, and his wife, Renee ’82, health, have a son, J.W., who is currently attending OSU. Mark King ’80, pol sci, is vice president of technology operations at Getty Images, a leading provider of images and editorial content. James J. Reddington ’80, civil eng, became a part owner in 2004 of Sunland Group.

Christi Roach ’80, spec ed, ’94, Ed.D., ed admin, is serving as state president of the Oklahoma Association of Elementary School Principals. Her daughter, Chana, graduated from OSU in May. Gregory Guthrie ’81, nat sci, is working on a Ph.D. at Georgetown University. Julie Harris ’81, journ, was promoted to the rank of major last February for the Tulsa Police Department. She serves as division commander for the Uniform Division East. Timothy P. Blanchard ’82, pol sci, was named one of Southern California’s 2005 Super Lawyers by Los Angeles magazine. He practices law in Los Angeles, Calif., for a leading national law firm. He specializes in health care law.

Kurt Conrad ’82, hum res mgmt, visited Baghdad in September 2004 with members of the U.S. House of Representatives to meet with Oklahoma soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines. Kurt is legislative director for Oklahoma Congressman Ernest Istook. The group visited several areas, including the “Hands of Victory” monument erected by Saddam Hussein. Johnny Green ’82, civil eng, was recognized as one of the Top 10 Federal Engineers of the Year by NSPE in 2004. Carolyn Vowell Dougherty ’83, acct, made history in November by being the first female promoted to assistant general manager in Grand River Dam Authority’s 60 years. Rhonda J. McMurtrey ’83, exec sec admin, recently left the law firm where she was a legal assistant and is now remodeling a house. Mark Chezem ’84, org admin, works for Tegrasys in Frisco, Texas. He and his wife, Jan, have three sons. Kevin Martin ’84, org admin, is risk manager for the city of Allen, Texas. He

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Cheri Dyson

Flying High on a Wing and a Prayer Cheri Dyson, ’02 aviation sciences, is living her dream — a very dangerous one — as a bush pilot in the Democratic Republic of Congo. She is now in her second year as senior base pilot for the Goma program as part of Air Serv, International, a non-profit humanitarian organization based in Virginia. After decades of war, the Democratic Republic of Congo remains a haven for humanitarian assistance and relief supplies, mostly in areas where few roads are passable, making air transportation a necessity. Although she loves the adventure of flying into remote areas, Dyson, 24, understands the danger that comes alongside her chosen profession in the Congo. In fact, she and four colleagues were nearly killed last fall returning from an island picnic when approximately 50 soldiers opened fire on their boat. “We estimated about 250-300 rounds in the first 30 seconds,” she says. “Bullets of all sounds and sizes where whizzing over our heads as we were ducking for cover on the floor of the boat.” One woman fell out of the boat, and the others hid behind a rock ledge, armed only with prayer and a cell phone for the 25 minutes they were under siege. Hours later, after being rescued, they learned the fate of their colleague. “She was shot in the leg by an AK47, taken by Congolese soldiers — the ‘good guys’ — who accused us of being spies or mercenaries,” Dyson says. Another Air

Serv colleague had rescued her by walking six miles across the mountains to find her. “It is hard for people to understand what the five of us went through on that day. It was horrible. There is no doubt that they were shooting to kill,” she says. “I’ve found the quickest, although maybe not the best, way to make instant life-long friends!” Her spirit and determination has not faltered for her humanitarian work. “Flying the caravan in Congo is still a lot of fun. Congo is a beautiful country to fly over. The difficulties related to security or flying into marginal jungle airstrips become minor inconveniences when I see that aviation has helped many of the Congolese people obtain relief from their war-related suffering.” Security in Goma, her home base, is on edge with five separate military factions and threats of rebellion hanging in the air. In the house across the street from where she lives, a magistrate was killed in front of his family, his body left in the road 100 meters away. As if gunfire and rebellions aren’t enough to deal with, Goma’s volcano, Mount Nyragongo, shows signs of a possible eruption in the near future, Dyson says. It last erupted in January 2002, covering one-third of Goma, including one end of the airport’s runway. The Raleigh, N.C., native earned her pilot’s license in high school. As one of OSU’s Flying Aggies, Dyson was named the top aviation student of the National Intercollegiate Flying Association in 2001. DOTTIE WITTER

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wa previously risk manager for the Collin County government in McKinney, Texas. Cynthia Willis ’84, journ, owns Willis Photography and is licensed by the Collegiate Licensing Company to sell OSU/sportsrelated photographs, which are on her website willis-photography@cox.net. Jake Crawley ’85, chem, relocated to Salt Lake City, Utah, and works at Thatcher Chemical Company. Eldon Drake Jr. ’85, elec eng, started Power & Control Engineering Solutions Corporation, and he now employs 15 people. Lori Downey Evans ’85, elem ed, returned to teaching this year after 11 years as a stayat-home mom. She is teaching first grade at Northern Hills Elementary in Edmond. Bobby Winters ’85, M.S., math, ’89, Ph.D., has a second book, Confessions of An Ice Cream Socialist, that came out last spring. Mark Helton ’86, geol, and his wife, Dana, ’86, sec ed, are moving back to Oklahoma after living in Tuscaloosa, Ala., for two years. Mark flies for Southwest Airlines, and Dana is a stay-at-home mom to Matthew, 5, and Bryce, 3. Kevin Moyes ’86, const mgmt, was appointed senior vice president of Flintco companies. He will work with the other members of the company’s senior management team to develop and implement company-wide direction and growth strategies and continue to oversee operations for Flintco’s Memphis, Tenn., office. Susan Rock ’86, bus admin, and her husband, Walter, ’93, man tech, have a daughter, Stephanie, attending OSU. Gregory Allen ’87, ag ed, is the district conservationist with the USDA-NRCS office in Cheyenne, Okla. His wife, Jamie, is coowner of Maddux Cattle Company. Mark Barner ’87, sec ed, was promoted to district manager of Novartis Pharmaceuticals. He and his wife, Tami, ’88, psych, have three children. Bonnie Janzen Kenoly ’87, stat, and her husband, David, had a baby boy, Marcus, in July 2003. Their oldest child, Christian, is 7 years old. Roger Pribil ’87, mech power tech, is a farmer and rancher. His wife, Cindy Blakley, ’89, an sci, works part time with the OSU

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Beef Cattle Center. They have two children, Elizabeth, 3, and Ryan, 2. Brian C. Clark ’88, mktg, and his wife, Patricia, welcomed a new baby girl, Mary Catherine, on Feb. 5, 2004. Richard Holly ’88, pol sci, married Sandra Burnis on April 16, 2005. They live in Washington, D.C. Belinda Chapman Morris ’88, ag econ, married Terry Morris in April 2004. Belinda works for the travel agency business. Thomas J. Stowe ’88, fire prot, recently passed the Professional Engineers Exam in the area of fire protection engineering. Jeff Whelan ’88, mech power tech, and his wife, Samantha, welcomed their first child, Emma Lauren, this year. Michelle Barlow ’89, bio sci, is working as a family practice physician in Allen, Okla. She and her husband, James, have a 9-year-old son and a 4-year-old son. Haorld D. Henderson ’89, civil eng, and his wife, Angela, ’92, journ, welcomed a baby girl, Jade Elizabeth, on Jan. 14, 2005. They have a son, Jared, 6. Deborah Perrin ’89, speech path, has been the owner of Deborah’s Day Spa in Tulsa, Okla., for 10 years as well as educator for creative nail design for nine years. James W. Sowers ’89, Ed.D., retired at the end of the 2004-2005 school year after 30 years as a public school administrator. Brian Topping ’89, acct, ’93, M.S., env eng, and his wife, Kathy, ’90, acct, have a new baby, Miller, who was born Nov. 16, 2004. They also have a daughter, Libby, 7, and a son, Mason, 3. Jami Turner ’89, elem ed, and her husband, David, own five Subway franchises with the fifth opening in the Medical Center Hospital in Odessa, Texas.

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90s Jeffrey Dlabach ’90, physiol, is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine. He is a team physician for the University of Memphis, Memphis Redbirds and Memphis Grizzlies. Leigh Ann McClain ’90, music ed, and her husband, Kevin, had a son, Jackson Calvin, on July 14, 2004. They have two other children, Harrison and Madison. Lacinda Riley ’90, rec, worked for 10 years in the medical field before opening an accounting firm in 2000. Jason Gebhart ’91, an sci, is employed by Cebridge Connections. He and his wife, Amy, moved to Frisco, Texas, in January 2005. They have a son, Daniel, who is 2 years old. Rhonda Heiser ’91, HRAD, and her husband, John, have decided to become world travelers. They visited Germany last year and are planning a trip to Spain this year. Eric W. Wrede ’91, ag econ, was promoted to national sales representative for Advanced Processing Products, which sells beltweighing equipment, skinners, slicers and de-boning machines to the U.S. poultry and fish industries. Robert Behnken ’92, mktg, is a branch manager for Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Christie Duba ’92, journ, ’97, MBA, and her husband, David, welcomed their first child, Kasey Rachelle, on October 18, 2004. Keith Dugger ’92, eng, has been named partner to the Stewart & Stimmel Dallas health care law firm. Tim Egan ’92, const mgmt, and his wife, Kristin, are the owners of Suburban Homes in Edmond, Okla., and recently celebrated the company’s 10th anniversary. Misty Kinbrough ’92, elem ed, ’93, M.S., app behav, has a son, Jack Carson Crawford, who was born May 22, 2003. Lisa Troglin Vaughn ’92, mgmt, and Bailey have a new son, Kendell Wesley, born on March 29, 2005. They have a daughter, Mikaila, 4.

Aimee J. Crawford ’93, journ, is working for Sports Illustrated as assistant managing editor for SI.com. She and her husband, Robert, welcomed their first child, Nicholas, July 30, 2004. Ryan Davis ’93, acct, moved to Tulsa from Indiana and Texas to work in consumer loan servicing operations for the Bank of Oklahoma. Greg Garrison ’93, Ph.D., chem, is starting a new business in Libya. Lanay Gearhart ’93, leis, and her husband, John, ’92, mech eng, are moving to Hawaii where John will be the executive officer of the USS Cheyenne fast attack submarine. Barbara Hambrick ’93, acct, was named a partner at Beall Barclay and Company PLC of Fort Smith, Ark. Guy Heldermon ’93, ag ed, is an agriculture instructor at Lookebo-Sickles High School. He and his wife, Leigh, have a 2-year-old daughter, Kye. Jennifer Lane Lehr ’93, speech path, and her husband, Paul, ’91, speech path, ’93, M.A., live in Kansas City and have started Advantage Speech Services, L.C., a private home health speech pathology practice serving pediatric and adult patients. Ethan Little ’93, mech power tech, and his wife, Gerrye Sue, ’93, gen bus, live in Hot Spring, Ark. Their son, Hunter James, was born in July 2004. They also have a daughter, Shelby. Joe Locke ’93, ag ed, is regional manager for Seaboard Farms. He and his wife, Alysha, ’94, ag econ, have two boys, Cody and Levi. They also started a catering business, Boneyard BBQ. Angel Wright Marsee ’93, journ, was promoted last spring to be the team leader of the Domestic Violence Unit of the Oklahoma County district attorney’s office. Renee Norton ’93, elem ed, and her husband, Randy, had a baby boy, Connor, born on Aug. 21, 2003. Ron Parker ’93, sec ed, won the Golden Apple Teacher Award for Rose State College in Oklahoma. Ron also was awarded the U.S. History Teacher of the Year award from the Daughters of the American Revolution and the James Madison Fellowship.

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Cory J. Spieker ’93, an sci, and his wife, Christie, ’03, journ, welcomed their third child, Clancie Helen, on Feb. 24, 2004. They also have two other daughters, Catelynn and Chelsea. Charles D. Tautfest ’93, geol, and his wife, Pam, welcomed a second child, Josephine Elizabeth, on May 2, 2005. Sean Wilcox ’93, mgmt sci and comp sys, and his wife, Sunday, had a daughter, Sydney Barrett, on Nov. 12, 2004. John Clink ’94, civil eng, ’96, M.S., env eng, and his wife, Carolyn, ’94, forestry, bought a 380-acre farm in Wayne, Okla., which has been in the family since 1906. Matt Friess ’94, pol sci, and his wife, Jolie, welcomed their first daughter on May 18, 2004. They also moved into a new house in Argyle, Texas. Michael Kanter ’94, mech des tech, and his wife, JoEllen, welcomed a son, Matthew, on June 23, 2004. Brock Kauk ’94, gen bus, and his wife, Jenny, ’95, mgmt, welcomed their second child, Mary Elizabeth, this year, who joins big sister Savannah, 3. They also celebrated the 10th anniversary of their family-owned flooring business in Elk City. Stephany Wade Tate ’94, speech, and her husband, James, are the parents of twins, Kaeli Jay and Tyler Wade, born Feb. 23, 2005. Gary Toland ’94, elem ed, ’99, M.S., curr and inst, was promoted to principal at Sunnyside Elementary in Cushing, Okla. Tim Whitman ’94, avi sci, ’97, M.S., nat sci, and his wife, Heather, adopted a son, Dylan Reid, who was born Nov. 7, 2004. Amy Forister Allen ’95, sec ed, married Christopher Allen in Negril, Jamaica, on

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Dec. 23, 2001. They moved to Lakenheath, England, this June after living in Porto Martin, Portugal, for three years. Shane Coloney ’95, econ, ’98, MBA, and his wife, Neena Siddiqui, ’99, DHM, welcomed a new baby, Cassidy Brianne, on Aug. 24, 2004. Kim Hamilton ’95, mktg, and her husband, Jon, ’95, phys, welcomed a baby girl, Kelsey Leilani, on Aug. 30, 2004. Chris Kaze ’95, speech, is operations manager for ABS Technology Architects in Roanoke, Va. He and his wife, Kelly, ’96, speech, had their second child in April. Their oldest, Jackson, is 6 years old. Shirley D. Morrow ’95, hort and land arch, ’95, M.S., env sci, is the manager of Stormwater Compliance. Shirley is responsible for overseeing stormwater permits and compliance issues for about 350 construction sites each year. Tim Trimmell ’95, mgmt, has been promoted to the rank of major with the U.S. Air Force and is currently serving in Korea. Jim Blake ’96, gen bus, and his wife, Paula, welcomed a grandson, Cooper Dal, on Sept. 22, 2004. Jeanie Brown ’96, mktg, finished her MBA at Boise State in July. Jeanie is now a marketing manager for U.S. Physical Therapy and won the fall sales contest for the quarter. Rene Foster Capron ’96, acct, and her husband, Mark, ’94, hort and land, have two sons, Bryce and Devon. Rene is a CPA and Mark is a registered landscape architect. They live in Tulsa. Kathy Drabek-Farrow ’96, land arch, and her husband, Ed, have a 6-year-old child. Michael Garey ’96, fin, is an agent for State Farm in Oklahoma City. He and his wife, Missy, have two daughters, Macy and Molly. Jeremy T. Pittman ’96, acct, has started his own law firm in Okemah, Okla., after his previous employer was appointed district judge of the 24th Judicial District. Shannon Shields ’96, acct, and her husband, Eli, and son, Colin, 2, welcomed twins to the family, son Karsten Thomas and daughter Kendall Ryan, in January 2005. Chris Waller ’96, speech, and his wife, Angie Irby, ’95, health, ’97, M.S., HPER, celebrated the birth of their first child, Barrett Anderson, on Sept. 9, 2004.

Jennifer Berkenbile-Wehrenberg ’96, elem ed, ’02, M.S., curr and inst, and her husband, Erich, ’95, ag econ, welcomed their daughter, Madelyn Ann, above, in May 2004. Casey Bell ’97, ag econ, and his wife, Jamie, ’98, chem, had a baby, Addison Ann, in March 2004. Brandy Bray ’97, journ, just became partial owner of AmeriMed Consulting, where she has been working for the past six years. Robert Choate ’97, avi sci, is a captain for PSA Airlines. He and his wife, Amy, moved to Dallas from Ohio and are expecting their fifth child in September. Wade C. Grotts ’97, soc, is serving in Baghdad in Battalion 1-184, attached to the 4th Brigade 3rd Infantry Division, through February 2006. Don Summers ’97, const mgmt tech, was presented with the Wal-Mart realty distribution center’s Contractor of the Year award. Don is project manager with Flintco Inc. Berkly Duncan ’98, speech, married Cody Brewer on June 18, 2005, in Oklahoma City. She is an enrollment counselor at the University of Phoenix in Oklahoma City. Ryan Hilton ’98, health, and his wife, Dana, ’97, FRCD, welcomed a daughter, Hope, on May 4, 2004. Nikki Parmley ’98, DHM, recently started her own interior design business. Jeramie Tidwell ’98, mktg, and his wife, Brenda, ’97, leis, have a son, Carson, 2, and a new baby born in June 2005. Brian Wilson ’98, chem eng, is a process engineer with Raytheon in Dallas. His wife, Carli, ’97, soc, is a stay-at-home mom with their son, Jack, who is 2. Amy Baggett Bruce ’99, journ, and her husband, Cory, ’00, elec eng, live in Choctaw, MAGAZINE

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Okla., and have two children, Clancy, 4, and Addison, 1. Anna Dembowski ’99, zool, works with a wide variety of animals at the Montgomery Zoo in Alabama. Dustin Ellis ’99, mktg, married Theresa Livingston ’95, bio sci, on Oct. 23, 2004. Laura Embry ’99, an sci, ’03, DVM , and her husband, John, are the parents of a baby boy, William Charles, born Jan. 15, 2005. Russell Fent ’99, an sci, ’01, M.S., received a Ph.D. in animal nutrition from the University of Missouri in May 2005 and accepted a position with Ralco Nutrition in Marshall, Minn. Mikael Makela ’99, fire prot, is assistant fire marshall with the city of Coppell, Texas. Lenny Pecha ’99, ag econ, and his wife, Kelly Kramer, ’00, an sci, live in Spearman, Texas, and have a 2-year-old son, Joel Ray. Lenny is an assistant vice president at First State Bank, and Kelly is the cattle clerk at Hansford County Feeders.

Erin Robinson ’99, acct, and her husband, Shane, ’98, ag ed, ’00, M.S., welcomed their first child, Parker Ryan, on Nov. 19, 2004.

00s Wayne Hunteman ’00, M.S., nat sci, received certification as a defense financial manager. Mandy Patrick ’00, elem ed, and her husband, Jason, had a child, Jaren James, on Nov. 26, 2003. Shannon Sherman ’00, mktg, and her husband, Robert Payton, ’97, an sci, ’00, 70

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DVM, have two children, Matthew Payton, who was born June 3, 2003, and Madelyn Alyse, who was born Nov. 25, 2004. Dana Thielke ’00, HRAD, works at the Broadmour Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colo., and graduated in May with a degree in accounting. Gabriel Alvillar ’01, elec eng, was featured in USA Today with 13 other young engineers as the National Engineering Week Foundation’s 2005 New Faces of Engineering. The article highlights the interesting and unique work of young engineers who have been in this field between two and five years and the resulting impact on society. Tyler Ashby ’01, graduated from the OU College of Pharmacy with his doctorate of pharmacy degree. He plans to continue working as a staff pharmacist with Albertson’s/Savon Pharmacy in the Oklahoma City area. Robert Bawman ’01, psych, and his wife, Heather, ’02, elem ed, have a daughter, Rebekah Faith, who recently celebrated her first birthday. Rebecca Wood Bryan ’01, soc, passed the July 2004 Oklahoma Bar Exam and married Patrick on Sept. 25, 2004. Natalie Clark ’01, fin, and her husband, Mick, ’01, ag ed, welcomed their first child, Corbin, on May 1, 2004. Mick teaches vocational agriculture at Morris Public School, and Natalie is a stay-at-home mom. Sarah Halley ’01, mktg, and her husband, Josh, ’01, mktg, are the parents of Nathan Paul, born on Nov. 23, 2004. Kevin Horn ’01, was elected secretary for a national student organization for surgeons. Kevin is a first-year LECOM Bradenton medical student and serves as president of the LECOM Bradenton chapter of SOSA. Miranda Jakober ’01, psych, graduated with a master’s in human resources from Chapman University in Sacramento, Calif., in June 2004. Her husband, Chris, ’01, chem, will receive his Ph.D. in agricultural and environmental chemistry from the University of California-Davis in the summer of 2006. Blake Masters ’01, econ, ’01, chem eng, married Juleena Null ’01, soc, in Fort Worth, Texas, on Sept. 5, 2004. Erin Melton ’01, math, married Mike ’00, chem eng, on April 24, 2004. They recently bought their first home in Bixby, Okla.

Greg Schultze ’01, aero, is a pilot with the 494th Fighter Squadron, RAF Latcenheath, England. Sarah Gibson ’02, Engl, works for Centex, which was recently featured on ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition when they rebuilt the house for the Dore family in Washington. Cody Murrow ’02, ag bus, married Crystal Ables ’00, psych, in June 2003. Cody works for Arvest Bank as an assistant loan officer, and Crystal works for the Department of Human Services as a childcare specialist. They live in Fayetteville, Ark. Robert Noble ’03, music ed, married Margaret Martin ’04, HRAD, on April 2, 2005, in Yukon, Okla. John Snyder ’03, journ, received a twoyear internship at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., to work with junior high students. Amanda Wise ’03, comm sci and disorders, graduated in May with her master’s degree in speech-language pathology. Loni Fischer ’04, ag bus, married Chas Robbins ’03, ag econ, on May 14, 2005, in Chattanooga, Okla. Adam Harper ’04, mgmt, was recently hired as the manager of Frontier City and White Water Bay. Amber Switzer ’04, bio chem and mol bio, is a student at Northeastern State University College of Optometry. James B. Wagner ’04, fin, is working as an accountant for Samson in Tulsa, Okla. He is starting the MBA program at OSU-Tulsa in the fall. Aaron Wilson ’04, soc, is working on a double master’s in theological history and counseling at Oral Roberts University.

IN MEMORY Marcia M. Dickman died May 21, 2005. She was a faculty member at OSU and joined the College of Education in 1985. In 1991, she became an associate professor/assistant to the vice president of student affairs for the School of Educational Studies. In 2000, she assumed full-time duties as associate professor in the School of Educational Studies.

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Earl Richert ’36, ed, died Jan. 7, 2005, at age 90. At OSU, he was editor of the student newspaper for two years. After graduation, he worked for Scripps Howard Oklahoma News, serving as editor from 1951-59. At age 45 he became the youngest person promoted to editor-in-chief for the company. He retired from Scripps Howard in 1979 and moved back to Evansville with his wife, who passed away on Oct. 7, 2003. He was inducted into both the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame. Velma Knearl ’38, nutri sci, died March 16, 2004 in Andover, Kan. James A. Edmundson ’40, dairy sci, died May 13, 2004, at the age of 86. After graduating from OSU, he served as major in the U.S. Army during World War II. He and his father established Redbud Diary in Shawnee. He was plant manager for Meadow Gold Dairy and retired as bureau chief of environmental health, Nevada Health Department. Patricia Foster McPheeters ’48, math, ’49, arch, died Dec. 29, 2004, at the age of 78. She was a member of the Kappa Delta sorority, a registered architect in Alabama and a member of the American Institute of Architects. Patsy Foltz Oldham ’48, Engl, died Aug. 27, 2004. She was a member of Chi Omega and Phi Kappa Phi, was active in social concerns and loved OSU. Jim Parmer ’48, sec ed, died April 20, 2005, at age 79. While at OSU, Jim was a member of the 1946 Sugar Bowl championship football team. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles after graduation and helped lead the team to two Super Bowls in 1948 and 1949. He led the team in rushing in 1954. After retiring from football, Jim worked for various pro teams and as a coach for Texas Tech University. In 1972 he become a talent scout for the Chicago Bears and served as director of college scouting from 1978 to 1985 before retiring in 1985. Lonnie A. Holmes ’50, ind eng and mgmt, died Oct. 27, 2004, at age 79 after a long illness. After receiving his bachelor’s degree from OSU, Lonnie received his master’s from Tulsa University in 1965 and his doctorate in 1970 from OSU. He taught at OSU from 1965 to 1970 and at Metropolitan State College in Denver, Colo., from 1970 to 1991.

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Ross Stivers ’50, M.S., ag ed, died on May 14, 2004. William Ben McCully ’58, ag ed, ’61, M.S., died March 28, 2004, from colon cancer. His wife, Ruth Trindle ’52, elem ed, ’58, M.S., continues to live near Kingfisher, Okla. Gail C. Walker ’74, psych, ’76, M.S., ’78, Ph.D., died June 7, 2005, after a four-year struggle with ovarian cancer. While at OSU, she was a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Delta Kappa. She began her teaching career in 1978 at Marian College in Fond-du-Lac, Wis., then spent a year at the Cook County Office of Special Education in Chicago, Ill., before spending 24 years at Alfred University. While at AU, Gail earned the university’s most-coveted Excellence-in-Teaching Award a record 12 times. photo/Ryan Austin

Matthew Allen Scheidt ’01, ecology, died May 6, 2005, at age 25 after a long battle with leukemia. At OSU, Matt was a member of Beta Theta Pi and was active in intramural sports. After graduation, he worked for the Tulsa office of the Trust for Public Lands and as a project associate with Land Legacy in Tulsa.

www.o-state.com

photo/George Bulard

Vernon Grant, a senior engineering major, died May 25, 2005, at age 21 in a car accident. He would have been OSU’s starting safety in 2005 and was on target to graduate in December with a 3.2 grade-point average in engineering. Last season he was named a District XI Academic All-American and also received OSU’s Academic Achievement Award. Vernon was born Nov. 27, 1983, to Vernon Grant Sr. of Duncanville, Texas, and the late Vanessa Grant, who died in August 2004. He is survived by a son, Vernon Grant III, born in 2004. Vernon came to OSU as a true freshman in 2002 and

was a three-year starter for the Cowboys on defense. He started all 12 games in 2004, finishing with 67 total tackles, the fifth-best total on the Oklahoma State defense, and his inspirational leadership helped OSU land in three straight bowl games. Football Coach Mike Gundy says Vernon was an excellent ambassador for OSU: “He was the heart and soul of our football team. He was a tremendous leader. In the long run, once everybody gets over the pain, he will have been a huge benefit to us, not only as football players, but as people.” MAGAZINE

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Travel

While some people long for the security and familiarity of home, others desire the risk of the unknown and the thrill of adventure. For two OSU alumni, Stacia Glavas and Roger Cagle, their love of adventure inspired each of them to master the sails and take their families on unforgettable adventures. 72

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Stacia Glavas

, originally from Garber, Okla., graduated in 1985 at the top of her class with a degree in organizational administration. Having experienced a semester at sea and a summer backpacking through Europe, she developed a taste for adventure. Her free spirit was matched by her husband, Pete, a former Boy Scout fascinated with sailing. “He read stories about families that go sailing and hoped that we would one day do the same thing. But we didn’t even know how to sail!” Glavas says. Around Christmas 2002, after buying a small sailboat and contemplating what a long-term sailing trip would be like, the couple decided to set sail the following summer with their three young girls, ages 6, 9 and 11 at the time. Even though Glavas had recently begun seminary and the couple had remodeled a home and started their own business in Washington, D.C., they knew it was the best time for their family. The girls weren’t yet in middle school, Glavas could put seminary on hold and they had capable managers to handle the business, which was proving to be successful. In preparation for the trip, the couple took a one-week cruising course before their departure. Thankfully, Glavas says, they managed to follow the instructor’s directions to “Keep the people in the boat. Keep the water out of the boat. Don’t hit anything. And look good!” After selling their home, cars and most of their belongings, they bought a 48-foot Sunward and named it Sweet Chariot, from the old hymn capturing the idea that the boat would take them home even though they weren’t sure where that was. The family spent the first six months along the East Coast, heading first to Rhode Island and then making their way to Florida. They stopped along the way staying at marinas and exploring towns on foot or by bike. “We tried to find a church every Sunday so we walked to whatever church was closest. We had great experiences getting to know local people,” Glavas says. “People always wondered who this family was that just walked to church in shorts and flip flops. There were days we would forget to put our shoes on.” After sailing past Florida, the Glavases headed to the Bahamas for the winter and encountered other sailing families. “There were all kinds of activities — volleyball on the beach, church on the beach, yoga on the beach,” Glavas says. In the mornings, she homeschooled the girls, cumulatively teaching six years of school by the time they returned to land life. “This experience taught our kids they can do whatever they want to do. People thought we were crazy, but now our kids are able to see that they don’t have to get bogged down in something they have to stay with their whole lives. They can do different things or live a different way or try something new, and it will work out,” Glavas says.

After two years of being on the water, the Glavases now live in Merritt Island, Fla., with Sweet Chariot docked outside their home. While the family has adapted back to land life, they have taken many memories and lessons from the ocean. Besides realizing the stress television adds and how much water people waste, Glavas says it opened their eyes to a simpler way to live — focusing more on relationships with people and less on what can be accomplished in life. “One of the most common boat names we saw was Carpe Diem, which is really the best lesson,” she says. “Don’t just sit around and wonder, because then it will be too late.”

Roger Cagle

and his family let the winds guide them on a natural adventure around the world. Cagle, who grew up in Heavener, Okla., and currently resides in London, and says despite living in land-locked Oklahoma he always dreamed about the seas. “Like lots of kids from rural backgrounds, I saw the world through books. Many of those were of the seas and men who sailed on them to far away places,” says Cagle, who graduated in 1975 with an MBA in business administration. He took offshore sailing classes in Florida during the holidays and often crewed on yachts racing in Galveston Bay on the weekends. Despite having successful rising careers, Cagle and his wife, Cindy, decided to join her retired parents, who had already spent several years sailing the Caribbean, and sail around the world.

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“We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment.” — Hilaire Belloc So, as the Glavases had done, in 1991 the Cagles leased their home, put a few things in storage and then sold or gave away everything that wouldn’t fit into three large sea bags. For more than four years the Cagles called a 60foot LOA Trimaran “home.” The Beachouse, in light of Cindy’s maiden name, Beach, circumnavigated the earth with the Cagles sailing every leg except the Indian Ocean. There they took an international assignment in the former Soviet Union. The boat was the Cagles’ magic carpet to countless places, but it was the small villages in the South Pacific that Cagle says had the most impact on him. Unlike the Glavas family, the Cagles crossed major oceans on their coastal journey, spending numerous days and nights without seeing land. According to Cagle, the longest forced sail is between the Galapagos Islands and the French Marquesas of French Polynesia — a 23-day trip in their particular case. “For the really long passages, we split watches into three-hour periods for the hours of darkness, with an informal watch for all during daylight hours,” he says. Cruising, he says, requires that you give up the spontaneity of land life. “You can’t just decide to de-commit to a course, for example, or just run ashore for groceries,” Cagle says. “You must have a plan.” With an entirely new set of priorities, Cagle says it took a while to adjust from thinking he had to be doing something every second. “The world, and the workplace in particular, often treats everything with a false sense of urgency,” Cagle says. “I think I have a much better appreciation after our sail for what is and what is not important.” In short, the experience enriched Cagle’s life, he says, whether he was washing clothes in a bucket of fresh rainwater or interacting with people from other cultures. It gave him confidence to do things that are unfamiliar and to go after his dreams. “People often talk about what they are going to do when they have the time or the money. It seems to me that life is often full of excuses for not living it to the fullest. Even though we knew we were not in the financial position to live large, we had the confidence that we could always live full,” says Cagle, who is planning to go back out with his wife and catch some of the places they missed the first time. And if the winds are blowing just right, they may even run into the Glavases, who plan to venture out again when the ocean calls them back. AYSCHIA SAIYMEH

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Student loan rates at historic lows Consolidate today and lock in an incredibly low rate! The Oklahoma State University Alumni Association has teamed with Nelnet to offer student loan consolidation. Qualifying borrowers can lock in a fixed interest rate as low as 2.875% for the life of their loan and take advantage of great repayment incentives that can reduce the rate even further.*

Borrowers have the option to choose one of the following: • 3.33% principal loan reduction to be applied after 30 initial, regular, on-time payments. Borrowers must also maintain a valid e-mail address to be eligible for this option, OR • 1.0% interest rate reduction after 36 initial, regular, on-time payments In addition, borrowers can receive a .25% interest rate reduction for making auto-debit payments.

Today, eligible borrowers that choose a Nelnet Consolidation Loan will not only reduce their monthly payment, but also experience the following benefits:

• Flexible repayment terms

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To determine your loan eligibility and discuss the best loan options for you, contact a Nelnet Loan Advisor today.

Toll-free 1.866.4CONSOL (426.6765) www.alumniconsolidation.nelnet.net

*The Consolidation loan interest rate is calculated by taking the weighted average of the rates on the federal loans

consolidated rounded up to the nearest one--eighth of one percent (1/8%), not to exceed 8.25%. Nelnet reserves the right to modify or terminate its borrower incentives at its discretion without prior notice. Interest rates described above are in effect through June 30, 2005, unless otherwise indicated. Factors other than the interest rate, such as the length of the repayment period, affect the total cost of the loan. Also, a borrower's rights, such as eligibility for deferment, may change upon consolidation. Please refer to the Borrower Rights and Responsibilities statement or contact a Nelnet Loan Advisor for more information. To qualify, borrowers must be in repayment or in the grace period with a combined total of at least $7,500 in qualified student loan debt, and less than 90 days delinquent. ©2005 Nelnet, Inc. All rights reserved. Nelnet is a registered service mark of Nelnet, Inc.

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By David C. Peters

>Serving the best food in the world to the best people in it. Where you get in line to get fed.>

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he first thing Henry Clay Potts usually did when catering one of his famous barbecue events was dig a trench. A gathering of 800 people would need, in his estimation, 400 pounds of raw meat, requiring a trench 10-feet long, 3½-feet deep and 3-feet wide. The pit would be filled with enough blackjack oak to provide about 18 inches of coals after burning for three hours. Potts would cut and de-bone the meat, roll it into 10-pound chunks, wrap it in cheesecloth or butcher paper and then re-wrap it in moistened burlap to prevent burning. After placing the meat over the coals, it was covered with sheet iron or boards. Any cracks around the edges were filled with wet sand and the trench was

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rapidly covered and sealed to avoid the loss of moisture.

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ight hours later the barbecued meat was ready for serving. Sauce for a group this large required a concoction of one firkin (nine gallons) of ketchup, two gallons of Worcestershire sauce, one gallon of mustard and one gallon of store-bought barbecue sauce. This special mixture and salt were added during serving. Preparation took almost 12 hours, but Potts’ service line could move a group of 800 people through in 30 minutes or less.

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enry Clay Potts didn’t just prepare these pit barbecues once or twice a year, but rather hundreds of times each

year for nearly 40 years. Some estimated he may have served almost 2 million people. During the year 1952, for example, Potts and his crew served more than 100,000 people at 332 activities, including 175 short courses on the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College. The largest attendance for a single barbecue event was when Potts and his crew fed a crowd of 17,000 in Miami, Okla., attending the tri-state miners’ convention of 1934. In 1936 the Ancient and Benevolent Order of the Red, Red Rose (an OAMC faculty and administrative social group) awarded Potts the degree “Doctor of Pots.” And at his retirement in 1961 the same group designated him as “Grand High Provider.”

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otts was born Feb. 10, 1894, in Dublin, Texas, and enrolled at OAMC in the fall of 1916. A year later he enlisted in the Army, serving in a trench mortar battery in France until the end of World War I. During the war he began a lifelong friendship with another Oklahoman serving in the 90th Division, Robert S. Kerr. In 1919 Potts returned to his family’s farm for one year before traveling back to Stillwater and completing his degree in agronomy in 1922. He was immediately hired by the agronomy department and placed in charge of the eight experiment station farms across Oklahoma. In 1929 Potts was named director of short courses at the college.

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hile feeding hundreds of thousands at the Stillwater campus, Potts also took his barbecue catering on the road. He served 4,500 at a spring festival in San Luis Obispo, Calif., and fed crowds in Kansas, Texas, Missouri and Arkansas. In August 1950 Potts flew to Washington, D.C., to prepare a beef barbecue and corn-on-thecob dinner for his good friend Sen. Kerr, who had conferred upon Potts the honorary title of colonel in 1948. Potts brought the beef and corn with him on the flight. Special guests in the barbecue line included President Truman and his cabinet.

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otts also established a pre-season football gathering during the lean years of the Depression in which sports enthusiasts, alumni, students and staff could eat their fill for only 50 cents. In 1947 Potts started serving his specialty lunches — as well as his practical jokes and insults for sports writers who had not spoken well of the team — to the sports press. He once placed a worn boot heel in a bun on a plate of barbecue for University of Kansas reporter Rip Replogle. Potts passed away following an exciting OSU football victory over the University of Oklahoma on Dec. 3, 1966. He left a legacy of service, friendship and food preparation that few can match.

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photos/OSU Special Collections and Archives

hree hundred men attending the initial Livestock Feeders Day on campus in 1927 were the first to enjoy a Potts barbecue. Although there were no facilities at that time designed to serve large groups, he later recalled, “We threw some beef into the pit, cooked up the beans and we were in business.” Every April for the next 40 years those attending the college’s Livestock Feeders Day were treated to a Clay Potts barbecue. He also provided a barbecue to welcome new president Henry G. Bennett to campus. While resident student enrollment at the college was still only several thousand, two or three times that number of Oklahomans regularly attended day- or week-long short courses on campus. Potts worked with the teaching faculty to coordinate courses ranging from insect identification to music. Almost 9,000 participated during Potts’ first year. The numbers swelled to almost 24,000 in 1935 and 35,000 in the early 1940s. And Potts prepared one group meal for almost every short course class.

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n 1942 Potts was placed in charge of the campus food units in addition to continuing as director of the college short courses. Five temporary mess halls were set up to feed the thousands of military personal being trained on campus. The first of three breakfast shifts was served at 4:30 a.m. There were also three lunch and dinner shifts, with the last dinner meal to be completed by 8 p.m. When GI’s returned to campus after World War II, Potts kept meal prices low, about $1 per day.

Henry Clay Potts, left, Sen. Robert Kerr, center, and an unidentified helper load the ingredients for one of Potts’ specialty barbecue dinners for President Truman and his cabinet in Washington, D.C. MAGAZINE

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Taking Care of Business

2005 Limited Edition Tie

The Official 2005 OSU Alumni Tie is here! The 12th in a collector’s series, this high quality, 100% silk jacquard limited edition tie is sure to sell fast so order early! Available exclusively at Your Orange Connection Alumni Store.

Member Price $39.95

Fossil Sport Watch Accessorize for the upcoming season with the new Men’s and Ladies Fossil Sport Watches with black leather band and custom “Orange” face. In stock and ready to ship!

Member Price $56.00

2005 Limited Edition Scarf Female Cowboy fans will love the luxurious feel of this 100% silk jacquard scarf. The official 2005 OSU Alumni Scarf is 8" x 44" and is the 4th in an elegant collector’s series. Order early while supplies of this Limited Edition last! Available exclusively from Your Orange Connection Alumni Store.

Member Price $39.95

Ladies Embroidered Shirt

OSU Epiphone Guitar

Classy and comfortable. This 3/4 Sleeve Stretch Shirt with Oklahoma State University embroidered in discreet tone-on-tone orange will please any female Cowboy fan. Constructed of cotton/spandex, the shirt features front and back darts, shirttail hem, cuffs, side slits and is machine washable.

Member Price $34.95 S–XL $37.00 2XL $38.50 3XL

In stock and available for shipment, this beautiful Epiphone Les Paul Guitar is painted in true Cowboy colors! Ships complete with a leather strap and padded gig bag. Makes a great gift for all seasons!

Member Price $329.00

Call 1-800-866-9296 to order. Phone will be answered “Heritage Fulfillment.” You must have your member number at the time you place your order to receive member discounts.

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www.orangeconnection.com

The Orange Connection Alumni Store and Heritage Fulfillment offer official, Collegiate Licensed OSU merchandise.

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