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.

’70s

David E.

McCollum, ’70 journalism, has been named the newest member of the New Mexico Newspaper Association Hall of

Fame. Linda Watkins, ’70 elementary education, has a daughter. Watkins has been enjoying going to OSU football and basketball games. She has also celebrated 54 years with her spouse whom she met at OSU. Watkins has been attending OSU athletic events for 50 years. Randy Phillips, ’71 business administration, and wife, Sue, have been enjoying retirement. They have been traveling and visiting their children — Chad, Kirt and Nick — who are all OSU grads and have eight combined children. Donna Boyd (Risner), ’74 computer programming, ’84 master’s in home economics education and community, has retired from her computer programmer position at American Airlines and her position at the Oklahoma State Department of Education as the computer tech director for Broken Arrow Schools and Tulsa Community College. Johnnie Rogers, ’74 marketing, has recently joined the “70-somethings” and is still proud of his alma mater. David Littlefield, ’75 English, has sold his company, Littlefield Agency, to his son, Sam, allowing David to move to a chairman position and his wife, Marellie, to retire from her position as vice president of finance and human resources. Littlefield founded the company in 1980 and believes that Sam will do a great job in his place. James Waller, ’76 master’s in civil engineering, is now 80. Cathy D. Byrum, ’79 fashion merchandising, welcomed her fourth grandson, Brady Richard Dillard, on Feb. 12, 2021, which also happened to be the day she retired. Parents Dan and Deena Dillard named their son after Dan’s late grandfather, Rick Dillard, who was formerly Pistol Pete. Mary Etta Campbell, ’79 foreign languages, and husband, Dean, have both retired from their respective careers. They have 15 grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Campbell is active in Alfalfa Co., is an OHCE Adult Leader for 4-H and very active in Nash Christian Church.

’80s

Gwen Westerman, ’80 English, ’83 master’s in English, was appointed Poet Laureate of Minnesota by the governor and lieutenant governor, making her the first Native American Poet Laureate for the state. Westerman’s second poetry book, Songs, Blood Deep will be out in the fall of 2022. Sandra Lewis, ’81 management, ’88 master’s in health education and promotion, is happily retired and living back in Stillwater. She is loving every minute of it. Jeffrey Conner, ’82 history and political science, worked at Edmon Low Library while starting his history master’s program. There, he met a librarian who had formerly been a military librarian, leading Conner to consider this profession in the future. He received his master’s in library science at OU and eventually became a military librarian, as well. Conner has worked overseas in Germany and Japan since 1997, serving the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. He credits his accomplishments and career to OSU along with the connection that he made working in the library. Richard Grayson, ’82 political science, is currently working his dream job as the Gulf Coast fuel oil scheduler at Phillips 66 in Houston.

Dennis Hickerson, ’82 agronomy, has been assisting the OSU Rodeo coach by training with his athletes.

Kristine Mayo

(Amberger), ’82 design, housing and merchandising, is retiring from her job at Prudential as an account executive after 24 years. Her final day at Prudential will be July 1, 2022. Kent Dunlap, ’83 leisure studies, retired from his position as a natural resources biologist and operations manager with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Dec. 31, 2021. Greg Gray, ’85 biochemistry, ’89 doctorate in osteopathic medicine, retired from St. Francis System in March 2021. Dr. Gray is currently serving as an associate professor for OSU Center for Health Sciences and absolutely loves teaching. Cara Beer (Brunst), ’87 master’s in landscape architecture, is celebrating 42 years in Stillwater. She remains connected to OSU through marriage to Dr. Ron Beer, vice president for student services and serving years as campus ministry director. She is a mother of three, two of whom have attended OSU. Beer is a volunteer at the OSU Museum of Art and is now a greatgrandmother to twin boys. Drew Hamilton, ’88 finance, is enjoying life in the Twin Cities and loved the Cowboy win at the Fiesta Bowl. He is also currently leading a group at U.S. Bank as SVPCorporate Trust and traveling to Stillwater as much as possible. Deb Nance, ’89 biological science, is planning to complete her 32nd year at Palo Duro High School and retire in May. She intends to enjoy traveling and spend time with her great-niece, as well as attend more OSU events.

’90s

Tamara Cobb, ’90 accounting, is excited for her son, Dawson, to begin his freshman year at OSU in fall 2022. He will be a thirdgeneration Cowboy. Raina Rose Tagle, ’92 accounting, has joined Stanford University as its senior associate vice president and chief risk officer after 15 years as a partner in the public accounting and advisory firm of Baker Tilly. She is also a member of the university cabinet, staffs the Board of Trustees Committee on Audit, Compliance, and Risk, and supports similar board committees for Stanford Health Care, Stanford Children’s Health and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory.

Derek Jones, ’94 speech, was hired as the recruiting coordinator and defensive line coach at Fulshear High School in Fulshear, Texas. The football team made the playoffs for the first time in school history. As recruiting coordinator, he has six players signing national letters of intent. Nancy Moore, ’94 accounting, a Tulsa Community College professor and OSU alumna, has started hosting a podcast called “Sharing Passion and Purpose,” which aims to encourage others to pursue the things they enjoy and are excited about. The podcast features several OSU graduates who are asked to discuss their passions through a 30-minute interview during the show.

Aimee Nielson

(Heald), ’95 agricultural communications, ’97 master’s in agricultural education, is celebrating nearly 23 years as an agricultural communications specialist for the University of Kentucky. Her main focuses at UK are the Beef Center of Excellence and the James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits and plans on receiving a certificate in Distillation, Wine and Brewing Science from UK in December. Nielson has also been married to her husband, David, for almost 18 years and their son, Zachary, is a sophomore in high school. Cody White, ’96 environmental science, ’99 master’s in environmental science, specializes in rural real estate appraisal and sales. However, he has recently renovated a building in downtown Chickasha, Oklahoma, that is said to be over 100 years old. The renovation was completed in 2021 and is now a bicycle shop called Legendary Bicycles. Betsey D. Weaver, ’97 marketing and management, ’21 master’s in education leadership and policy studies, will be starting a new position as a coordinator for the Student Success CRM Department after four years as an assistant registrar at OSU.

Meredith J.

Brittain, ’98 animal science, ’21 master’s in engineering and technology management, was promoted to engineer at Boeing after graduating from OSU. Marci Stanley, ’98 accounting, ’99 master’s in accounting, was promoted from senior tax manager to partner at the Dallas CPA firm BKM Sowan Horan on Jan. 1, 2022. She has had over 20 years of tax compliance and consulting experience. Stanley has led the implementation of new tax technology, including AI solutions at the firm, enabling them to provide more holistic solutions to clients’ business challenges.

’00s

Robbyn Glinsman

(Shook), ’00 elementary education, graduated from Southern Nazarene University on Dec. 4, 2021, with a doctorate of education in administration and leadership. Tambra Stevenson, ’02 nutritional science, is a fourth-generation Oklahoma native and the founder and CEO of WANDA: Women Advancing Nutrition Dietetics and Agriculture. Stevenson has recently been appointed to the National Agriculture Research, Extension, Education and Economics (NAREE) Advisory Board by the USDA Secretary, Tom Vilsack. Stevenson has also recently developed a scholarship for OSU agriculture, nutrition, and dietetics students named the WANDA Endowed Scholarship.

Kathrine Evans

(Reed), ’03 family relations and child development, completed her MBA from St. Andrews University in August 2021. Crystal Chilcoat, ’05 marketing, has a daughter, Brailey, who is currently a senior at OSU and in her third year as an OSU matmaid.

Kyle Evans, ’05 accounting, received his J.D., with honors from the University of Oklahoma College of Law and had been named shareholder effective Jan. 1, 2022. Evans represents both corporate and individual clients in a diverse range of commercial matters, including areas of professional liability, health care, aviation, bad faith, breach of contract, class actions, negligence and business torts.