ALUMNI UPDATE
’50s Betty Fulton, ’50 business, is a part of an exceedingly loyal and true family. Her sons, Bill and Don Fulton; daughter in-law, Sharon Fulton; and granddaughters, Betsy Walker and Kathryn Fulton; are all OSU graduates. Meredeth Wade (Miles), ’51 journalism and broadcasting, lost her husband, Norman L. Wade, on May 5, 2020. Kenneth D. Webb, ’51 business, is 90 and is still playing golf often. As of now, Webb has a record of nine hole-in-ones. Ann Chrisman-Parsons, ’52 aerospace administration and operations, has recently moved to assisted living. Once the pandemic is over, she plans to return to her volunteer work at Habitat for Humanity. Dr. Glen K. Wallace, ’56 elementary education, was the past president of Bennett Hall in 1956 and the president of his senior class at OSU in 1956. He is a retired colonel of the U.S. Army Reserve and is currently retired from his practice as a psychologist. Charles Heller, ’59 civil engineering, ’60 master’s in civil engineering, has recently completed his latest memoir, Cowboy from Prague, which will be available in late spring 2022. One of Europe’s “hidden children” during WWII, he has written an acclaimed book about his experiences, Prague: My Long Journey Home. Another memoir, Ready, Fire, Aim!, tells the tales of his career as a successful entrepreneur in the United States. Heller and his wife reside in Annapolis, Maryland. Richard Tredway, ’59 architectural studies, ’61 master’s in architecture, retired on July 1, 2021, after 43 years in the private practice of architecture as Tredway Associates. His architectural experience in those years included an assignment
with the OSU School of Architecture in 1988-1990 as a visiting assistant professor.
’60s
John “Eddie” Manley, ’60 plant and soil sciences, became the director of Emergency Medical Services for the State of Oklahoma. Hadley (Roy) Peterson, ’60 secondary education, graduated from OSU in 1959 and married Pat Peterson (Howard) in 2011. They have five children from their combined families, 17 grandchildren and five greatgrandchildren. The two enjoy international travel and their real estate projects. Jerry Ann Dunn, ’61 elementary education, was widowed in 2017 with the passing of his wife, Cotton. He has two grandsons who have graduated from OSU, Holt and Ben Calder, as well as season tickets to the McKnight Center. Janice Rogers (Herbert), ’61 home economics and community services, has devoted the last 40 years of her life as an educator for schools in Enid, Oklahoma; Department of Defense Schools (DoDDS) overseas; Maryland; and Ketchum, Oklahoma. Her husband passed away on June 6, 2020. Surviving him is Rogers; her two children, Jill Russell and Jay Rogers; and her two grandchildren, Cade and Riley. Sara Myers (Spradling), ’61 family relations and child development, is currently living at Spanish Cove, an independent living establishment in Yukon, Oklahoma, and loves it. John “Dick” Bogard, ’62 plant and soil sciences, and wife, Avon, are enjoying retirement in Durant, Oklahoma, where Bogard worked part time for child welfare. He worked in this position until he was diagnosed with kidney cancer. After 55 Opdivo immunotherapy treatments, Bogard is now cancer free.
Anaita McMurtie, ’62 art and English, has recently been studying her genealogy which allows her to trace inherited health problems for her and her family. Due to the COVID19 pandemic and the attrition of age, McMurtie has seen tremendous loss of friends, many of which she knew from OSU. She also has an immunocompromised son. The combination of these circumstances and the pandemic has led her to begin her fascinating genealogy studies. McMurtie has also been working on papers regarding her doctoral major and occasionally spends time writing stories from her years overseas. Jyo Umezawa, ’64 economics, moved to retirement housing in early March 2021 after the passing of his wife, Sharon Sue Mitchell Umezawa, in August 2018. Larry L. Hawk, ’65 physical education and health, married Connie Hawk on Sept. 5, 2020. Robert Drechsler, ’68 aeronautical technology, was excited to see that the OSU Cowboy football team had beat the University of Oklahoma in the Battle of Bedlam this year, and on his birthday, nonetheless. Drechsler says it’s the best birthday present ever to see the Pokes win Bedlam. Leon Minton, ’68 electrical engineering, had a fantastic career thanks to his degree from OSU. Since his retirement in 2007, he has taken up running and often places in the top three of his age group at race events. JoAnne “Jody” Hayes (Hart), ’69 economics, has recently moved to the independent living community of Legacy Village with her husband, Victor, and they are loving it. While at Legacy Village, she is able to continue her alterations and mending business, as well as spend time with other Legacy residents who are big OSU athletics fans. They often gather to cheer on the Cowboys.
S TAT E M AG A Z I N E .O K S TAT E . E D U 113
