6 minute read
Births
Charles Clark (Chuck) Russell,
’58 electrical engineering, died in his Stillwater home on Sept. 13 at the age of 100. He graduated high school in 1938 and soon began working in the CCC camps. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Mr. Russell went to John Brown University, where he began training as a pilot, a dream he had from his early childhood. He trained as an aviator cadet in Texas at four different locations to complete advanced flying school. He received his silver wings on July 29, 1943. Mr. Russell piloted the B-24 Liberator bomber and the B-24 Tailwind during World War II in missions over Germany and France, flying a total of 33 missions for the U.S. Army Air Force. He was a highly decorated veteran, earning the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross and the European African-Middle Eastern Theater Medal. Following World War II, Mr. Russell enrolled at Oklahoma A&M College in 1946. He was called back to military duty in 1947 to serve during the Korean War, flying missions as an airborne forward air controller. By 1948, he married Julia Dugan and had a daughter, Carol Sue, in 1951 and a son, Charles David, in 1956. After returning from Germany, he again enrolled in OSU to complete his degree in electrical engineering. He retired from the U.S. Army Air Force in 1968, and he spent two years working with the Apollo space program. He then spent 12 years working for the Maryland Board of Education developing systems for its computers, payroll and accounting. After his wife Julia died, Russell married Eleen (Little) Ezelle and later Lois Jane Best, all of whom preceded him in death. He loved photography, reading, trying new recipes, barbecuing, gardening, playing bridge, writing, drawing, watching baseball, dancing, building porches and shelving, and traveling. He also loved buffaloes, which his family believes was inspired by his Cherokee Nation heritage. He was a member of American Legion Post 129 and the First Christian Church in Stillwater. He is survived by his daughter, Carol Sue Wanzer and her husband, Christopher; his son, Charles David Russell; stepdaughter, Jan Courtright and her husband, Terry; stepson, Larry Best and his wife, Gwen; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Charles (Chuck)
Edward Cox, ’80 master’s in health and leisure science, died Sept. 1, 2021. He was a member of the alumni group known as the KOK-DADI’s, never missing a reunion in 40 years. As a proud veteran, Mr. Cox served with the 82nd Airborne from 19691971. He retired from the United States Postal Service as a clerk, where he met his wife of 30 years, Danna Cupps. One of their
Green
Pam Ernst (DeCamp), ’80 elementary education, became a grandmother for the first time in June. Ronn Cupp, ’70 journalism, and his wife Beth Cupp, ’70 vocational home economics, welcomed their first greatgrandchild, Joshua Owen Kem (Owen), into the world on April 6 to parents Makenna and Josh Kem of Oklahoma City. Shanna Jo Green (Skimbo), ’09 physical education, and husband Dean Green, ’10 Cowboy baseball alumnus welcomed twin boys Garner Ryan and Gordon Reed into the world Jan. 23. Big brother 2-year-old Gibson Royce Green is excited to teach his new brothers all about his favorite mascot, Pistol Pete. Myriah Johnson,’09 agricultural economics, and husband Chris Looney, welcomed their first child, Sheridan Dawn Looney on June 5. Sheridan is a legacy at University of Arkansas, Texas A&M and Oklahoma State; however, Myriah is working hard to make sure Sheridan becomes a third-generation Cowboy. Bill Jones, plant & soil science, and Shawntel Ervin, plant & soil science, welcomed their first child, Elliot Quinn Jones, on March 30. The family is happy and healthy and plans on visiting Stillwater soon.
Johnson
Jones-Ervin
greatest blessings was their son, Thomas Gid Cox of Tulsa. Tom followed in his father’s footsteps and also attended Oklahoma State University. A graveside service was held Sept. 11, 2021, to honor Mr. Cox’s life. Attendees wore orange to honor a true Cowboy.
Sue Taylor, ’84 child development and family relations, died at home in Enid, Oklahoma, on Aug. 18. She was 91. Mrs. Taylor was raised in Stillwater and attended OSU from 1948-1950 before pausing her academic career to raise her family of four. She resumed her education in 1980 and graduated in 1984. Mrs. Taylor was a renowned philanthropist and community leader in Enid, serving as president and development chairperson for Enid YMCA. She was also honored as the YMCA’s Woman of the Year in 1979. She showed the utmost dedication to OSU throughout her life, from serving as the first vice president of the College of Human Environmental Sciences alumni organization to chairing the 1989 Greater University Fund drive to raise money for OSU scholarships. She was named Philanthropist of the Year at the Women for OSU Symposium in 2013. Mrs. Taylor, along with her husband John, were CHES donors and supporters. To honor their commitment and dedication, Taylor’s Restaurant in the School of Hotel and Restaurant Administration was named after them. Mrs. Taylor is survived by two daughters, Kathryn Upchurch and Susan Mayberry; a son, Tom Taylor; and grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Friends and Officials
Veta Jo Fenimore,
the widow of Bob Fenimore, the only OSU player picked as No. 1 in the NFL draft (in 1947), died in her Stillwater home on Aug. 28 at the age of 95. Following her college graduation from the University of Oklahoma, she married Bob Fenimore, her high school sweetheart, on June 22, 1947. After the 1947 NFL draft, the newlyweds moved to Chicago where Mr. Fenimore played for the Chicago Bears. Unfortunately, after only one year, he suffered a careerending leg injury. The two then moved back to Oklahoma City, where he started his career at Mass Mutual. After he was named district manager at his new career, they found their way to Stillwater. Bob was an OSU alumnus, and Veta Jo soon converted into a Cowboy fan. Bob even purchased a lifetime membership in the OSU Alumni Association for her. They raised their two daughters in Stillwater, and it became their home for the rest of their lives. Mrs. Fenimore attended the First Presbyterian Church in Stillwater and was part of the Browning Society, a literary study group that is one of the oldest study groups in Oklahoma. Besides her two daughters and their husbands, Beth Atess (Dale) and Jo Ellen Jones (Stan Barnett) of Stillwater; she also is survived by three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren and other family members.
Henry Jerrell
Chesney, a former CEO for the governing Board of Regents for Oklahoma State University and A&M Colleges, died Oct. 20, 2020. He was 87. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 1955 and was a first-team All Oklahoma Collegiate Conference basketball player. He later earned a master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma. Following his graduation from SWOSU, Mr. Chesney coached high school basketball at Anadarko High School from 1955-1957 and at Shawnee High School from 1957-1967. He also held the titles of athletic director, Shawnee High School assistant principal (1963-1967) and assistant superintendent of Shawnee Schools (19671974). Mr. Chesney also was the assistant business manager at Cameron University (19741975), chief financial officer at Langston University (1975-1975), and chief executive officer of the governing Board of Regents for Oklahoma State University and A&M Colleges for 16 years until his retirement in 1991. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Peggy Joyce Bergman, sons Mitchell Allen Chesney and Mark Owen Chesney; daughter Marquita Chesney Prescott; 12 grandchildren and 21 greatgrandchildren, as well as a host of other family members.
Submit your update at
