Alumni Recognized Homecoming Weekend

From left: Clarence Smith, ’84; Greg Thurmon, ’77; Brandon Ousley, ’11; Mark Dempsey, ’85; Chris Lincoln, ’72; Mark Harbison, ’76; Jana Fox, ’82; Deborah Dodge, ’89; and Kiona Sinks, ’18

Distinguished and Young Alumni Honored

One of the most well-attended events of this year’s Homecoming weekend was the Alumni Awards Brunch, where families, friends, and honored guests shared laughs and tears as two years’ worth of Central Methodist University’s Distinguished and Young Alumni were recognized.

A total of seven Distinguished Alumni Award winners were honored at the October 31 brunch, as well as two Young Alumni Award recipients. Distinguished Alumni Award winners included Chris Lincoln, Mark Harbison, Greg Thurmon, Jana Fox, Clarence Smith, Mark Dempsey, and Deborah Dodge.

The Young Alumni Award winners honored at the brunch included Brandon Ousley and Kiona Sinks.

Distinguished Alumni

Chris Lincoln, ’72

Chris Lincoln, ’72, is a sports director, play-by-play announcer, and network television entrepreneur with almost five decades of experience in covering sports. Since graduating in 1972 with a Bachelor of Arts, Lincoln has written about sports for a variety of publications including local and national newspapers, magazines, and online. His love for sports led him to radio and television and even secured him production credit for a number of Emmy Award winning documentaries. He is a member of the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Lincoln has been married to his wife, Becky, since 1999. They have three children and four grandchildren.

Mark Harbison, ’76

Mark Harbison, ’76, has been an active member of the Fayette community for more than 40 years. At the end of 2020 he retired from Commercial Trust Company, where he served as its Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors. He has held many offices in the Fayette community, including president of the Fayette Optimist Club and Fayette Round Table Club and treasurer of Linn Memorial United Methodist Church. Harbison was a member of one of the first soccer teams at CMU, an active member of Sigma Alpha Chi, and recipient of a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration. He and his wife, Rebecca, ’77, have lived in Fayette for more than 40 years and have two grown children.

Greg Thurmon, ’77

Greg Thurmon, ’77, graduated from Central in 1977 after majoring in biology and education. As a CMU professor of marine biology, he was named the Carolyn and Tad Perry Fellow Award winner for the 201112 school year. Among his many state, regional, and national awards, Thurmon was presented with the Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching Science by President George Bush in 1989. He and his wife, Barb, ’02, have two sons and reside in Fayette. Jana Fox, ’82Jana Fox, ’82, has been sharing her love of music with young people through her teaching for more than 25 years. She has directed thousands of students in choir and other choral activities at Stover High School, Jefferson City High School, and currently at Helias High School, in addition to her duties as choir director for First United Methodist Church in Jefferson City. The 2018 Missouri Music Educators Association Outstanding Educator of the Year also served as the first CMU Alumni Choir director in 2018. She and her husband, David, ’83, regularly contribute time, talent, and treasure to their alma mater.

Clarence Smith, ’84

Clarence Smith, ’84, musician and educator, is active in the jazz scene of Kansas City. In addition to gigging around KC, he is the coordinator of music at Metropolitan Community CollegePenn Valley where he teaches and leads the jazz ensembles. As an adjunct professor for the Swinney Conservatory, his enthusiasm for music and teaching engages students in the process of learning. Smith also leads the Kansas City Jazz Academy, an educational outreach of the American Jazz Museum, introducing young musicians to high quality music making. Focused on meeting students where they are and helping the discover the next step in their development as musicians and people, Smith has been and continues to be a positive influence on many. He is married to Janet Smith and has one son and two step-children.

Mark Dempsey, ’85 Mark Dempsey, ’85, is a graduate of Central who has spent his career in sports medicine and athletic training. He served as the athletic trainer for Central athletes while attending college and later returned to Central after earning his master’s degree. After being promoted to Director of Sports Medicine in Columbia, he hired Central’s next athletic trainer and has continued to support the program financially. He and his wife, Kathy, ’86, are proud sponsors of the Outstanding Student Athletic Trainer Award and have three children, Kale, Tate, and Kadee, ’20.

Deborah Dodge, ’89

Deborah Dodge, ’89, is an award-winning legal practitioner and advocate in the Southwest Missouri area. A partner at the Springfield firm Hall Ansley, she also serves on the Board of Governors of the Missouri Bar Association and is the president of the Southern Missouri Women Lawyers Association. Dodge also provides volunteer legal services through Legal Services of Southern Missouri and is a board member and advocate for Camp Barnabas, a camp focusing on the talents and gifts of children with physical and mental disabilities. She and husband Todd have two children.

Young Alumni

Brandon Ousley, ’11 Brandon Ousley, ’11, earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from CMU. During his time at CMU, he was a three-year captain on the varsity soccer team, a cabinet member of the Student Government Association, and an active member of Alpha Phi Gamma. After graduation, his career focused on public service and coaching youth soccer. During his time working in IT at the State of Missouri, Ousley has held the positions of Software Developer, IT Project Manager, IT Director for the Department of Natural Resources, IT Director for the Department of Revenue, and currently the Director of IT Strategy and Planning. His career achievements include: 2020 Graduate of the Missouri Leadership Academy, 2014 State of Missouri Young IT Professional of the Year, and 2017 finalist for the Missouri Youth Soccer Association Club Soccer Coach of the Year. Ousley and his wife, Houston, ’13, have one son, Murphy (two years old), and are expecting their second child in February of 2022.

Kiona Sinks, ’18

Kiona Sinks, ’18, recently celebrated her first anniversary as the Community Engagement Manager at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, but that’s only part of what has made her worthy of the Young Alumni Award for 2021. The founder of CMU’s African American Student Union, Sinks has continued her work of promoting diversity and inclusion in her professional life with NLBM and Elevate Consulting. In 2019 she launched Black Excellence Kansas City, a non-profit organization focused on connecting, engaging, informing, and empowering black professionals in Kansas City. The campaign won her a 2020 Stevie Award for Women in Business.

Delta Pi Omega celebrated its 75th anniversary during Homecoming weekend. Nearly 90 alumni joined from across all decades to celebrate sisterhood and this anniversary. Delta Pi Omega was founded during the 1946-1947 school year by 12 members: Margaret Jo Kahrs; Charleen Jones, '49; Ginger Wilson, '48; LaVena Jones, '48; Theo Miller; Betty Ann Montgomery, '48; Ina Turner, '48; Mary Louise Snider, '48; Myra Glee Turner, '49; Patricia Sasse, '48; Wynona Jones; Shirley Ellis, '47; Vivian Calkin; and Marjorie Crane.

Even more special, Charleen Jones was able to provide a video interview about the beginning days of the organization, even singing the original song, and correspondence was received from Ina Turner Gray. Both women, in their 90s, are so very proud of this organization, its “illustrious history," and its longevity.

This anniversary also celebrated the original sponsor, Miss Eulalie Pape, through the creation of a scholarship in her honor. The first Miss Pape Scholarship will be awarded to a current Delta member in good standing in fall 2022.

Delta Pi Omega was founded on the values of democracy, personality, and originality. Anniversary events included dinners both nights of Homecoming, singing around the triangle, alumni walking with the parade float, and sharing memories over scrapbooks and composites.

Mokers celebrate 76 years

Alpha Phi Gamma celebrated its 76th anniversary during Homecoming weekend. More than 70 alumni joined together to celebrate brotherhood and this anniversary. This event, organized by Dave Bandy, '66, and Mark Calvert, '88, not only celebrated 76 years of MOKERS but also recognized past fraternity presidents who offered leadership and direction during their tenure. Dr. Roger Drake and Dr. C. Fred Bergsten were featured speakers at the dinner. Anniversary events included alumni walking and riding in the parade, a social reception at the Rethwisch home, and dinner on campus. The MOKERS commemorated their brotherhood by honoring all departed alumni who have passed since the founding in 1945 with a new Hall of Sponsors scholarship. The scholarship will be awarded to a MOKER who displays distinguished leadership skills on campus by participating in student government, professional organizations, and/or university athletics.