CENTRE INAUGURATES
Milton C. moreland AS TWENTY-FIRST PRESIDENT
CONTENTS Centrepiece Fall/Winter 2021 Volume 62, Number 2 Centre College 859.238.5200 www.centre.edu Editor Diane Fisher Johnson 859.238.5717 diane.johnson@centre.edu Class News Cindy Long Design Tom Sturgeon Intern Lane Cannon ’22 Centre College President Milton Moreland Director of Alumni and Family Engagement Megan Haake Milby ’03 Centrepiece Office 859.238.5717 alumnews@centre.edu Chenault Alumni House 859.238.5500 Centrepiece Published by the Office of Communications for alumni and friends of the College.
Centre’s mission is to prepare
No. 14 Christian Biliter ’23 helped the football team end its regular season with a 49-27 win over Berry and an overall 8-2 record.
students for lives of learning, leadership, and service.
Features
Departments
6 9 10
Milton C. Moreland Inaugurated as 21st President
2 President’s Message
The Story behind the Name: Higgins Hall
3 Around Campus
Five New Trustees: Wijdan Jreisat ’91, Jane Hopkins ’94, John R. Farris ’95, Leonard Napolitano ’97, and Stephen Hodges ’99
13 Class News
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Centre Honors Alumni: Kurt Winstead ’82, Norman Fischer ’95, Jacqueline Coleman ’04, and Shariya Terrell Kennedy ’06
Emeritus Professor of
Chemistry Charles Girard
The Centrepiece is 100 percent recyclable.
Cover Milton C. Moreland is inaugurated as Centre’s 21st president at Homecoming. Photo by Matt Baker Inside Front Cover Centre held a dedication ceremony when the Foucault pendulum was placed in its new home inside the renovated Olin Hall this summer. The pendulum demonstrates the rotation of the earth. The Olin Hall expansion benefited from a $3 million grant from the Austin E. Knowlton Foundation of Cincinnati. Photo by Matt Baker
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Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees: Jim Seabury ’87, Mark Green ’89, Kevin Chapman ’00, Amanda McCracken ’00, Eileen Schilling Haeberle ’07, and Erin Menard Spalding ’09
15 18 20
The Impossible Formula, by Jeff Fieberg ’91
Back Cover A blaze of autumn color on West Walnut Street in November. Photo by Matt Baker
C6H0 Centennial celebration Reunion Class Photos
36 Faculty and Staff News 37 In Memoriam
40 Endpiece
A Little Organization
by Emma Ederheimer ’93
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Championing Inclusive Excellence
I am so honored to be part of the Centre College community and want to celebrate both our history and our hope for the future as we continue to build a community that champions inclusive excellence. MILTON C. MORELAND
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Dina and I appreciate the outpouring of support that our entire family received during my recent inauguration festivities. They were part of a very busy week, chronicled in this issue of Centrepiece, that also included a Board of Trustees meeting, groundbreaking for our new $50 million Initiative for Wellness and Athletic Excellence, and a Homecoming that observed the centennial of C6H0, Centre’s amazing win over Harvard. As I suggested in my inaugural address, reflecting on my first 16 months in office, I am so honored to be part of the Centre College community and want to celebrate both our history and our hope for the future as we continue to build a community that champions inclusive excellence. Constantly exploring and integrating our past as we think together about how to envision a better future will help build deep resilience when taking on the challenges ahead. I was struck by a recent Gallup Poll that revealed a deep preference right now in much of the world for a “calm life” over one that is “exciting.” Admittedly, it makes perfect sense that people across the planet increasingly value calmness during this pandemic. Yet we know that our lives are richer, more purposeful, and healthier when we seek to balance that calm with an appreciation for adventure, innovation, and curiosity born out of a humbleness that drives us to learn from people who are different than us. Our residential liberal arts college, established in central Kentucky over 200 years ago and reestablished by us all each day as a purposeful community, will thrive now and into the future because of the value we place on contrasting ideas and the juxtapositions and differences of our philosophies, habits, and identities, especially if they are held in common community and tested in the arena of critical inquiry. My hope for Centre’s future is built on the beautiful confluence of intercultural and interdisciplinary ideas and practices. In our mutual search for truth and purpose, this residential liberal arts college is the perfect setting to bring people together in a shared space to grapple with difficult questions that help us appreciate our differences and promote respect for our
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shared humanity. And I am excited for us to expand opportunities for all our students to be involved in applying their knowledge through experiential learning, community engagement, internships, and living and working in even more study abroad and away locations as they prepare for their future careers. By working to achieve these goals, Centre will increasingly be known for curricular and cocurricular programming that provides a global perspective, enhances communication skills, refines leadership abilities, and prepares our graduates for a lifetime of meaningful work and civic impact. I am dedicated to ensuring that we continue the great tradition of challenging our students to have lofty goals and high expectations for their lives, that every student here at Centre knows that they belong, and that this challenging and rigorous learning environment is always a supportive community. As I was honored to celebrate with you this new chapter in the distinguished history of Centre College during the inauguration ceremony, I want to thank you for allowing me to join you on this amazing educational adventure. Let us capture this moment together and excel into the future. Sincerely,
Milton C. Moreland President
AROUND CAMPUS
The Year of Two Commencements May 2021 saw the Classes of 2021 and 2020 graduate with all the pomp, circumstance, and joyousness expected of long-anticipated in-person ceremonies. Both events were held outside on Joe McDaniel Field. CLASS OF 2021: MAY 22, 2021 Milton Moreland, Centre’s 21st president, was beaming as he presided over his first Centre commencement. The procession included his innovation, a Centre banner, in addition to the bicentennial mace used for the first time at the 2019 opening convocation. Turning to a traveling metaphor, he told the 339 new graduates to “always take the winding road.” “Take a lot of side roads, living a life filled with improvisation, exploration, and courage,” he said. “Along the winding road, use your Centre education for good: seek justice and equity for others.” In her commencement address, Andrea Abrams, Centre’s vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion and an anthropologist, used a concept anthropologists favor, liminality, to aptly describe the graduates. Liminality, she said, is “a state of transition between one stage and the next, especially between major stages in one’s life. . . In other words, you are no longer one thing, but you are not yet quite another.” The valedictorians were Nicole Frey ’21 and Luke Martin ’21. Frey won the Wiseman
Prize and Martin received the Welsh Prize as the woman and man with the highest GPA. The Class of 2021 included students from 34 states and eight foreign countries (Brazil, China, Egypt, Ghana, India, Japan, Morocco, and Vietnam). The top five majors were 1) economics & finance; 2) biology; 3) international studies; 4) behavioral neuroscience; and 5) a three-way tie with history, politics, and psychology.
CLASS OF 2020: MAY 29, 2021 The Class of 2020 finally had the in-person graduation they had been promised. Thanks to COVID, they had to wait a year to be back on campus. Last year a virtual ceremony was held on their originally scheduled graduation day, but it specifically was not called “graduation” (although they did receive their diplomas). The weekend started with the traditional baccalaureate service, during which President Emeritus John A. Roush and former First Lady Susie Roush were honored for their 22 years of service. Board Chair Mark Nunnelly ’80 unveiled the new name for the student center— the Roush Campus Center. In addition, he
announced that the green between the Roush Campus Center and Old Centre would be known as the Susie Miller Roush Lawn. Rick Axtell delivered the baccalaureate sermons for both classes, his 10th and 11th such talks. The next day, John Roush, who retired in June 2020, gave the commencement address to the 352 members of the class, Centre’s largest class ever. Roush spoke about the importance of courage, which he defined simply as “do the right thing.” And with courage comes the challenge of being consistently courageous even when it’s hard, he added. “I promise you that within the hour, some of us will be faced with the choice of doing the right thing,” he said. “Or choosing to be ‘quiet’ even when you know that ‘misinformation’ is being paraded as truth. The challenge to do the right thing will happen right outside these gates. It will be your choice, my choice, and we must summon the courage to make the right choice—do the right thing.” Susie Roush also addressed the graduates. “Class of 2020—do not deny yourselves the joy of ‘building bridges’ and ‘planting trees’ for those who follow after,” she said. “P. Roush and I will be watching and, of course, cheering you on.” Both Roushes received honorary degrees as part of the ceremony. The Class of 2020 valedictorians were Emily Brown ’20 and Matthew Joshua Ko ’20, the first year there has been a tie. Brown received the Wiseman Prize and Ko received the Welsh Prize as the woman and man with the highest GPAs. The Class of 2020 had graduates from 31 states and six foreign countries (China, Japan, Myanmar, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand). The top five majors were 1) economics & finance, 2) behavioral neuroscience, 3) international studies, 4) biology, and 5) politics.
The class of 2021 poised to seize the future. Centrepiece Fall/Winter 2021
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AROUND CAMPUS
FALL SPORTS NEWS
Opening Convo Introduces New Faculty and Class of 2025 The College welcomed 377 new first-year students and 12 transfer students at the opening convocation that marks the official start of the academic year. Thirteen new members of the faculty were also introduced (five in Division I, and four each in Divisions II and III). The speakers were two professors, Mary Daniels (Spanish) and Shana Sippy (religion). In an effort to de-densify the Newlin Hall event that typically attracts 1,000 people, sophomores, juniors, and seniors watched the video later to receive their two convo credits. In remarks titled “¡Presente!,” Daniels wondered how to regain the missing sense of presence after 18 months of masking, social distancing, online learning, and fear. “There are more casualties of the pandemic than I care to name, but what I was graveled by was the loss of the language that had sustained me—the loss of presence,” she said. “I know I am looking forward to walking into my Spanish class and calling the roll,” she continued. “Because what will I hear the students say? ‘¡Presente!’ ‘Here.’ I am here with you. A promise that teacher and student enter into together. A pledge to be present.”
Sippy spoke about “Seeing the Silence” and referenced the Jewish theologian Judith Plaskow in her remarks. “Silence exists in many different forms,” Sippy said. “The ones I want us to explore are not the silences of transcendence, meditation, or prayer but ones that signify erasure, complicity, ignorance, and apathy; silences that occur both intentionally and unintentionally but which, as Plaskow notes, are easily mistaken for reality.” The first-year students come from 33 states and territories and 18 foreign countries. Their average GPA is 3.68; 20 percent had a 4.0. Fifty-nine percent are from Kentucky, and slightly more than half are female. More than 28 percent of the first-year students are people of color: 6.9 percent identify as Hispanic or Latinx, 6.6 percent as Black, 4.8 percent as Asian or Pacific Islander, and 3.2 percent as bi- or multiracial. Twenty-one percent of the first-years are first-generation college students (neither parent has a four-year college degree). The Class of 2025 includes 189 who were recruited as student athletes, of whom 85 are female athletes. Total enrollment at Centre is 1,320.
Five teams were involved in postseason play this fall and several individuals received Southern Athletic Association Conference honors. Women’s soccer advanced to the Sweet 16 but fell to Loras College. The 13th-ranked Colonels ended the season 17-2-2 overall. It was the team’s ninth straight NCAA Tournament appearance. Jay Hoffman ’96 was named SAA Women’s Soccer Coach of the Year. E.J. Bryant ’25 was named Women's Soccer Newcomer of the Year, and Cameron Zak ’22 was named Defensive Player of the Year. Men’s soccer made its third straight NCAA Tournament appearance but fell to No. 11-ranked Emory. The team ended its season 10-5-4. Field hockey reached its fourth Sweet 16 but fell to No. 5 Bowdoin to close with a 15-4 overall record. Jenelle Downs was named SAA Field Hockey Coach of the Year. Meredith Wickenheiser ’22 was named Offensive Player of the Year. Women’s cross country made its debut at the Great Lakes Regional Championships, finishing 11th out of 42 teams. The team won the SAA Championship. Lisa Owens was named SAA Women's Cross-Country Coach of the Year. Erin Haugh ’25 was named SAA Newcomer of the Year. Meghan Owens ’23 was named SAA Runner of the Year and received All-Great Lakes Region honors. Men’s cross country wrapped up the 2021 season after making its debut at the Great Lakes Regional Championships. The Colonels finished 14th out of 42 teams.
Class of 2025
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Centre’s esports program competed in the postseason National Esports Collegiate Conference Tournament. The Rocket League team had a huge 3-2 upset of No. 1-seed University of Southern Mississippi. The playoff semifinals against North Central College were Nov. 30 (at press time). The Overwatch team bowed out in the playoff after posting a 5-2 regular season record, including a promotion up to a tougher division.
AROUND CAMPUS
Abrams Promoted to VP for Diversity Andrea Abrams has been promoted to vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in recognition of her significant work over the last three years as Centre’s chief diversity officer. The promotion was effective in April 2021.
Abrams began her work as chief diversity officer in 2018. Since then, her staff has increased in order to accomplish critical campus initiatives and projects. The office is now housed in Stuart Hall, a complement to the
Evan Aroko ’20 and Andrea Abrams
Intercultural Suite in the Roush Campus Center. “I take seriously the mission of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to promote and sustain a diverse and inclusive learning, living, and working environment in which all members of the community thrive and succeed,” she says. A key initiative of hers was launching Building Bridges and Community Day in 2018. Now in its fourth year, its goal, she says, is to create “intentional opportunities for all of us to better understand the wonderful variety of voices and perspectives present on our campus.” She is also developing a strategic plan to enhance DEI aspects of campus life and is involved in finding ways to more effectively recruit, hire, and retain a diverse faculty and staff. Other efforts
include expanding anti-racism programming. Abrams joined the faculty in 2007 as a postdoctoral fellow teaching anthropology. She is the author of God and Blackness: Race, Gender and Identity in a Middle Class Afrocentric Church (New York University Press, 2014), published the year she was promoted to associate professor with tenure. She is currently working on a novel that features anthropology, magic, and mystery. She continues to teach courses in African American studies, anthropology, gender studies, and social justice studies. A native of Mississippi, she earned a B.A. in sociology and anthropology at Agnes Scott College. She earned an M.A. and Ph.D. in anthropology as well as a graduate certificate in women’s studies at Emory University.
Nolan Named VP for Strategic Marketing and Communication Sarah Nolan has been named Centre’s vice president for strategic marketing and communication, a new position for the College. She began in September 2021. “I’m excited to join the wonderful team at Centre and build on our efforts in digital marketing and public relations,” she says. Nolan came to Centre after a varied career that included higher education, the State Department, and several political campaigns. Most recently she was assistant vice president for alumni relations and development and campaign communications at the University of Chicago. In that position she was responsible for strategic and philanthropic communications and digital marketing. She also was
the first director of international communications at Chicago, working on public relations and reputation management in China, India, Europe, and elsewhere around the world. Centre President Milton Moreland praised Nolan as “an experienced higher education executive who has been working in strategic marketing at one of the world’s top universities.” Prayat Poudel, a member of the search committee who teaches in the mathematics program, was equally enthusiastic. He was impressed by the breadth of her experiences and also by her commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) issues. Nolan, he says, “has consistently demon-
strated a willingness to spend personal capital in advancing DEI concerns.” Prior to the University of Chicago, she was at the U.S. Department of State, where she held positions in the Secretary’s Office of Global Partnerships and helped
Sarah Nolan
develop public-private partnerships that brought together U.S. and foreign government officials, as well as business, academic, and civic leaders. Early in her career, she worked on a number of U.S. political campaigns at both state and national levels, including three presidential campaigns. Born in Washington, D.C., Nolan moved to Kentucky as a child. She earned a master’s in art history and modern history at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, then pursued further education at the University of Chicago in the advanced leadership program and through the executive education program at Chicago’s Booth School of Business.
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THE MORELAND CHAPTER BEGINS
THE INAUGURATION
of
MILTON C. MORELAND
AS TWENTY-FIRST PRESIDENT OF CENTRE COLLEGE by MICHAEL STRYSICK, Executive Director of Communications
Milton C. Moreland was inaugurated as Centre’s 21st president on Oct. 14 in a ceremony that focused on the theme “Building a Community of Inclusive Excellence.” “Our community flourishes when we are agile, open to new ideas, engage with people who have different identities, and pursue our curiosities,” Moreland said in his inaugural address. “That is Centre’s foundation for building an inclusive community.” Looking ahead to the aspirations he hopes to achieve during his tenure, Moreland focused on a number of initiatives intended to build on the College’s existing strengths. “Driven by our belief that the freedom and open exchange of ideas promotes a more just and inclusive society,” he said, “we will expand opportunities at this college for all of our students to be involved in applying their knowledge through experiential learning, community engagement, internships, and living and working in even more study abroad and study away locations as they prepare for their future careers.”
“Milton Moreland is the right person at the right time to lead this great institution that has grown from strength to strength since its founding in 1819.” MARK NUNNELLY ’80, BOARD CHAIR Moreland took office on July 1, 2020, but postponed his inauguration due to issues surrounding COVID-19 until it was safer to gather. Mark Nunnelly ’80, chair of the Centre Board of Trustees, presided over the ceremony. “Milton Moreland is the right person at the right time to lead this great institution that has grown from strength to strength since its founding in 1819,” Nunnelly said. “Rather than finding ourselves paralyzed by the grip of current challenges, I am immensely proud of the way Centre College has
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not merely managed to endure during the global pandemic but how it has thrived and positioned itself to be even stronger once we emerge from this extraordinary period.” Kentucky Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman ’04 brought greetings from the governor, Andy Beshear, and spoke about her experiences as a Centre student. “Many of the values that have come to define me were cultivated right here at Centre,” she said, including hard work, resilience, rising to meet the moment, and learning to see the world through the eyes of others. “When I came to Centre and was exposed to a diversity of experience and thought that was different than my own, I became a better student, a more informed citizen, and a more mindful leader,” she said. Marjorie Hass is currently president of the Council of Independent Colleges and was president of Rhodes College when Moreland was provost. In her remarks, she complimented Centre as a place that focuses on the “education of the spirit” and described its “real curriculum” as being about “helping each student come to see that their insights and actions matter.” Reflecting on their years working together, Hass added, “As a leader, Milton has a special gift for keen-eyed clarity and an ability to look challenges squarely in the eye. Yet he remains a boundless source of optimism and energy. Over and over again, I witnessed his creative and compassionate problem solving—I often describe him as Solomon-like for the way he spots hinge points that motivate people to find common ground and row in the same direction.” More than 1,200 guests attended the inauguration, including 100 alumni representatives and institutional delegates from colleges and universities across the country, trustees, and the campus community. The event was held the day before Homecoming and the October Board meeting. Following the ceremony’s conclusion, guests joined President Moreland, his wife, Dina, their two sons, Marcus and Micah, and their daughter-in-law, Caroline, for a reception in their honor on the lawn in front of the Norton Center for the Arts.
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THE MORELAND CHAPTER BEGINS
p Gabby Romines ’22 leads the inaugural procession with the bicentennial mace followed by new president Milton Moreland.
p Dear friends from Rhodes College
p Board Secretary Crit Blackburn Luallen ’74 puts the presidential medallion over the new president’s head. u Moreland with a childhood friend, Mike Powers, from Rocky Mount, Virginia.
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attended the celebration: Marjorie Hass, president of the Council of Independent Colleges and former president of Rhodes; Timothy Huebner, associate provost of Rhodes; Justin Rose, dean for faculty recruitment, development, and diversity at Rhodes; and Carroll Stevens, interim president at Rhodes, flank Moreland outside the Norton Center.
The Story behind the Name
HIGGINS HALL For more than 40 years, Frederick Marshall Higgins ’65 was the mastermind behind Minit Mart Foods,
an innovative convenience store chain that opened in 1967. At its peak it had 300 locations throughout the South and Upper Midwest and more than 1,200 employees. Centre is the beneficiary of a family trust. The building was dedicated as Higgins Hall at Homecoming. Centrepiece Fall/Winter 2021
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F Fred Higgins ’65
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red Higgins opened the first Minit Mart with his father, Ralph, while he was still a law student at the University of Kentucky. By the time he graduated, they had six stores throughout Lexington. “It wasn’t like a business,” Higgins told the Bowling Green Daily News in 1990. “We just had fun. We worked together as a family.” After two years with Army Military Intelligence during the Vietnam War, he incorporated the by then 18 stores in 1972, marking the official beginning of Bowling Green-based Minit Mart Foods. Minit Mart found its niche by locating in rural communities and small towns. It was one of the first convenience store chains to add the now ubiquitous gas pumps in the 1970s. Over the years they added groceries, gaming machines, video and DVD rentals, and branded fast food such as Godfather’s Pizza and O’Deli’s sandwich shops. Widely acknowledged as a leader in the convenience market arena, Higgins was elected chair of the National Association of Convenience Stores, an international trade association, in 1996. During his tenure, he oversaw the growth of technology and standards within the industry. He also was pivotal in strengthening the organization’s advocacy programs for convenience stores. “In the beginning, we had to educate ourselves; then we were educating the different groups that affect our industry and have influence,” said Higgins in 2010. “It’s educating legislatures about this industry. The thing that makes me most proud about this industry is having seen it come from its infancy to today. It is regarded as a force.” Among his honors was being named Citizen of the Year by the Bowling Green Noon Lions Club in 1990. “My mom and dad gave me an appreciation for the Lord and for the fact that in this world, you can’t just take,” Higgins said at the time. “You’ve got to give. That’s just something you should do.” Business First named him Regional Retail Entrepreneur of the Year in 1995. Other accolades included Ernst & Young’s Retail Entrepreneur of the Year (1995), Kentucky Grocers Association’s Grocer of the Year (1996), and Kentucky Association of Convenience Stores’ Convenience Store of the Year (2008). His civic ventures included being chair of Kids on the Block of Southcentral Kentucky, an organization that his late wife, Jamie, had co-founded. He was also chair of the
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Buckhorn Children’s Center and served two terms on the Centre board. During several mission trips to South and Central America with the Presbyterian Church, he helped install water purification systems to areas that lacked access to clean water. He died in 2019, at the age of 75, survived by his wife, Kathy Booth Higgins, three daughters, Carrie Leigh Thomas, Leslie Embry, and Heather Higgins Jeffrey ’97; and two stepchildren, Elizabeth Foley and Mark Booth. Higgins Hall represents the ever-evolving possibilities of Centre buildings. When it opened in August 1940, it was the men’s dining hall and had student rooms on the second floor. When Cowan Dining Commons opened in 1960, the first floor of the former dining hall was converted into Parsons Health Center and Infirmary with a $50,000 gift from Charles H. Parsons, Class of 1916, an Ashland, Ky., dentist. From 1946 to 2017, the building was named McReynolds Hall after a Supreme Court justice and Kentucky native who did not attend Centre but had made an unrestricted gift to the College upon his death. In 1997, the first floor was renovated to house Information Technology Services when the health center relocated to Sutcliffe Hall. The building still houses ITS and continues as a student residence. —D.F.J.
Remembering My Dad Dad used to say all the time if he could have figured out a way to stay in school forever, he would have. The next best thing was for Dad to share his love for Centre with the next generation. When he spoke of his professors, it felt like he was talking about rock stars or real-life spy novels. Higgins Hall is the perfectly tied bowtie on Dad’s Centre story. Centre never left Dad’s heart, and now Dad gets his wish. He will be in school forever. From remarks at the Dedication of Higgins Hall Heather Higgins Jeffrey ’97
FiveAlumni ElectedtoCentre Board of Trustees The fall meeting of the Centre College Board of Trustees took place Oct. 15 and included the election of five new board members. “We are pleased to welcome this talented group of alumni,” said President Milton Moreland. “Their commitment to the College and their leadership experiences will ensure that Centre continues to thrive.” The new trustees are Wijdan Jreisat ’91, Jane Hopkins ’94, John R. Farris ’95, Leonard Napolitano ’97, and Stephen Hodges ’99.
Wijdan Jreisat ’91 Wijdan Jreisat is a litigator with Katz Teller in Cincinnati, focusing primarily on family and employment law. She graduated from Centre summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa with degrees in English and history, before earning a law degree at the University of Virginia. Jreisat has many happy memories of her Centre experience, though she is proudest of being part of a group that planned and launched the College’s first residential study-abroad program, Centre-in-London, in 1990. “The current menu of travel abroad options brings me joy and great satisfaction at having played a small role in setting the plan in process,” she said.
The new trustees are Stephen Hodges ’99, John R. Farris ’95, Jane Hopkins ’94, Wijdan Jreisat ’91, and Leonard “Nappi” Napolitano ’97
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“Centre has always been one of my ‘happy places,’ a place with which I have a visceral positive connection,” she said. “But as I grow older, I appreciate all the ways in which it shaped the person I am. I hope to give back some of what this special place has given to me and to challenge us to greater success.”
Jane Hopkins ’94 While at Centre, Jane Hopkins participated in as many things as she could, including swim team, piano, Centre-in-London, and the sorority Kappa Alpha Theta. “One of the special things about Centre is that it nurtures the whole person, the academic life but also the social, the physical, and mental wellness,” Hopkins said. She is especially excited by the new Initiative for Wellness and Athletic Excellence, which she thinks will enhance the College’s long-standing emphasis on all aspects of its students’ lives. After graduating from Centre as a government major, Hopkins, originally from Lexington, Ky., obtained a master’s in public administration at New York University. She is now president of the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, an initiative the company began in 1986 to celebrate its 100th anniversary. Each year the foundation receives about 100,000 applications for its 150 scholarships that support high school seniors with strong academics, demonstrated service, and leadership experience. It’s a position that particularly suits Hopkins. She graduated from Centre convinced she was looking for “a calling with a purpose,” and the Coca-Cola scholarships are more than just financial support. “The hope is we are creating this whole network of service-minded leaders who remain connected to each other to amplify each other’s voices, to connect, inspire, and engage with each other,” said Hopkins. “We want this to be an ongoing investment in their leadership skills and to continue to help them show up as the best version of themselves in all situations.”
John R. Farris ’95 John R. Farris has seen Centre through almost every possible lens. As a student, he participated in Centre-in-London, played on
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the tennis team, and helped with research for economics professor Harry Landreth’s textbook before graduating Phi Beta Kappa with majors in economics and philosophy. After earning a master’s in public administration at Princeton, he taught part time for six years at the College and was interim CFO and an advisor on the endowment. Farris also worked as an analyst at the World Bank and as secretary of the Kentucky finance and administration cabinet. He recently started AgriCapture, an agriculture tech company that captures carbon off farms in the Mississippi River Valley. He also founded two other companies, LandFund Partners, which manages more than 40,000 acres of farmland in the Mississippi River Valley for pooled fund and direct investors, and Commonwealth Economics, which works with both public and private sectors to fund infrastructure projects. He is especially pleased that the three companies have hired a number of Centre graduates and about 25 interns over the years. “I had great internships and professional mentors while at Centre, so I have always tried to ‘pay it forward,’” he said. “It is so nice to see so many of my former students grow into leaders in business and their communities.”
Leonard Napolitano ’97
Leonard “Nappi” Napolitano came to Centre after service in the Army, where he rose to the rank of specialist. He majored in history, played football, participated in Greek life as a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon, and was a member of the Army’s Reserve Officer Training Corps. Napolitano attended Centre thanks to the G.I. Bill, Pell Grants, the Green to Gold scholarship, and other financial aid. He has been such an enthusiastic volunteer that in 2007 the College named him Centre’s first Young Associate of the Year. As an Army reservist, Napolitano was mobilized in connection with the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Furthermore, he served as a Red Cross Disaster Action Team volunteer, a role that took him to the Gulf Coast for several months immediately following Hurricane Katrina. The New York native has enjoyed a remarkably successful career as an entrepreneur
in educational software for higher education. A founding employee of Blackboard Inc., then a start-up internet software company, he helped build it into one of the world’s premier providers of software to higher education. Most recently, he joined Capture Higher Ed, a leading enrollment management and marketing firm based in Louisville, in 2019, and is now its C.E.O. “Providing access and support, and enabling all students to achieve their exceptional potential has always been central to a Centre education,” Napolitano said. “I’m looking forward to being able to help ensure that for future generations of students.”
Stephen Hodges ’99 Stephen Hodges has made his career in banking and investing, most recently with ZimCal Asset Management, a company he founded in 2015 that invests in niche, illiquid, and complex credit-related opportunities. Prior to ZimCal, Hodges worked for two successful credit-focused investment firms. An economics major—and standout basketball player—at Centre, he was also a leader in the Diversity Student Union, organized an annual basketball camp for underprivileged teens in Danville, volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentucky, and tutored middle schoolers in mathematics. He later earned an M.B.A. at the University of Chicago, where he focused on analytical finance and graduated with honors. In addition to starting his own investment firm, Hodges also co-founded a nonprofit inspired, in part, by his mother’s generosity. She made him realize that “we should do as much as we can to help our neighbors and communities now rather than later,” he said. Born and raised in southern Africa, Hodges’ parents were from Zimbabwe and England, which imbued him with a multicultural viewpoint. Hodges came to the United States to attend Centre. “I’ve always felt incredibly grateful for the people and organizations that have helped me get to where I am today—and Centre is a big part of that,” he said.
HOMECOMING 2021
KIRK SCHLEA
HOMECOMING PHOTOS
Shane Talbot ’91 (left) and his husband, Wes Wright, chat with Kristi Burch, who works in the Center for Teaching and Learning at the College.
MATT BALLARD ’21
Honoring Fred Higgins ’65 at the dedication of Higgins Hall at Homecoming were his sister, Cathy Higgins Howard; his widow, Kathy Higgins; and his daughters, Leslie Higgins Embry, Heather Higgins Jeffrey ’97, and Carrie Leigh Thomas.
Zedrick Braden ’78, Richard Stoner ’78, Ray Morris ’79, Raymond Burse ’73, and James Smith ’80 get together at the African American tailgate before the Rhodes game.
Mills Mullen ’23 scored the first goal of the Homecoming game against Rhodes. Centre ultimately triumphed with a score of 3-0.
A project seven years in the imagining finally had a ceremonial groundbreaking (held inside due to rain). “Many of you have already heard me talk about the profound impact this project will have on present and future generations of Colonels,” athletic director Brad Fields ’98 said at the event. “The desire to compete—and succeed—in a game, a season, or a career runs deep with our student-athletes and coaches. And it is this ‘pressure’ and the subsequent victories, and, yes, defeats, that prepare our studentathletes for their future victories in life after Centre.” Centrepiece Fall/Winter 2021
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DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI The Centre Alumni Association presents three Distinguished Alumni Awards to honor alumni for their professional achievements, civic accomplishments and/or outstanding service to the College. The Distinguished Young Alumni Awards recognize alumni who have graduated within the last 15 years. DISTINGUISHED YOUNG ALUMNA
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA
SHARIYA TERRELL KENNEDY ’06
JACQUELINE COLEMAN ’04 Kentucky Lieutenant Governor Frankfort, Kentucky
Account representative for Omega Bio-Tek Atlanta
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hariya Terrell Kennedy ’06’s first summer research opportunity at Centre in the lab of biochemist Stephen Asmus sparked a lifelong passion for research. The next summer she participated in the Summer Honors Undergraduate Research Program at Harvard Medical School. “These experiences allowed me to learn new things, share knowledge, and make a positive impact on society, which is why I ultimately chose to pursue a career in science,” she says. After graduating cum laude from Centre with a degree in biochemistry and molecular biology and the E. Wilbur Cook Biological Sciences Award, she returned to Harvard to earn a Ph.D. in biological chemistry and molecular pharmacology in 2013 with support from a Predoctoral National Research Service Award from the National Institutes of Health. She also mentored ninth-grade inner city students and undergraduate biomedical trainees while working on her degree. She was a post-doctoral fellow at the Emory Vaccine Center in Atlanta and spent three years on Emory’s Minority Postdoctoral Council. During her time at Emory, she continued to mentor young scientists and participate in outreach activities at Emory University and within the Atlanta community. In 2016, she received the Schaffer Award for Outstanding Postdoctoral Presentation at the International Herpesvirus Workshop. Her presentation detailed scientific findings from research at Emory. She is now an account representative for Omega Bio-Tek. The Atlanta-based company is an essential business that supported the global testing supply chain during the coronavirus pandemic. A Los Angeles native, she relocated to Bowling Green, Kentucky, in 1994. She originally planned to study forensic sciences at a local university, but a campus visit convinced her to choose Centre instead. She says her career path was “serendipitous” and fell into place because she was alert to the good fortune that came her way. “I never planned on attending Harvard, pursuing a Ph.D., or transitioning from research to industry,” she says. “This is a result of having a supportive network and taking advantage of opportunities as they become available.” What would she advise students interested in science careers for themselves? “Don’t let fear of failure hold you back from trying new experiences,” she says.
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Centre Relatives: Husband, Chris O’Bryan ’96
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acqueline Coleman ’04, a longtime educator before becoming lieutenant governor in 2019, believes teaching has given her the opportunity to inspire young people. “Being a teacher in and of itself has come to define me and has come to give my life purpose,” says Coleman. “Education is so often about creating opportunity, showing students what is possible, and reminding them that there is more to this world—and to themselves— than they know.” In her acceptance remarks, she recalled her first experience at Centre was attending a basketball camp, where she was thrilled to find other girls who shared her love of the sport. “Growing up in a small town like Burgin, so often I was the only girl who played basketball,” she said. “But when I got to basketball camp, I saw the gym was full of other little girls who played basketball just like me. It was the first time that I’d seen anything like it.” At Centre, she was an enthusiastic member of the basketball team and a history major. She next earned a master’s in political science at the University of Louisville while serving as a graduate student assistant for the UofL women’s basketball team. Her teaching and coaching career included a stop at the Jessamine County school system, where she led her teams to five consecutive record-breaking seasons and one appearance in the Sweet 16. In 2015, she was named Regional Coach of the Year. Off the court, she taught high school government and political science, before eventually becoming assistant principal at Nelson County High School. Her experience with Emerge Kentucky, an organization that encourages women to run for office, led her to found her own nonprofit, Lead Kentucky, to prepare women to be leaders on their college campuses and later in their careers. She has also been a tireless advocate for public education. Coleman learned about public service from her father, a 13-year member of the Kentucky House of Representatives, and her grandmother, a teacher. In her Distinguished Alumna remarks, she also gave credit to Centre. “Perhaps most of all, [Centre] taught me that public service is a privilege worth pursuing,” she said.
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DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS
NORMAN FISCHER ’95
KURT WINSTEAD ’82
Priest at St. Peter Claver Catholic Church
Founding Partner, Rudy Winstead Turner Brigadier General (retired), Tennessee National Guard Franklin, Tennessee
Chaplain at Lexington Catholic High School Lexington, Kentucky
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orman Fischer grew up on a small farm in Perryville, Kentucky, in a devout Catholic family. As a child he would play priest, literally “preaching ‘til the cows came home.” His true calling would be enhanced through his Centre experience. In his first year at Centre, he became a college student delegate with the National Black Catholic Congress. He also embraced the life of the College, becoming an officer in the Black Student Union, competing on the track team, and serving for two years as a resident assistant. He volunteered at a local foster home for children and was a Big Brother to two youths. In the summer he worked as a recreational therapist at the foster home. He recalls that Ann Young made it fun and exciting to volunteer with CARE (Centre Action Reaches Everyone) before service hours became more of a trend. In remarks accepting the award, he reflected on Centre as a springboard for dreams. “I think of Centre being a place of budding promise every day: how in life nothing is given to you, but if you seek excellence, everything is here for you, to be a springboard to launch your dreams into reality,” he said. “Whether it is in the intimate classroom settings with passionate professors or guided in the art studios by incredibly gifted and conscientious artists, my mind was sharpened and affirmed by those who want you to shine and not play small.” He also valued the expansive nature of his Centre experience. “My friendships with diverse people helped me to experience and appreciate the narrative of others,” he said, “our little big planet here at Centre College.” After graduating from Centre with majors in art and psychology, he earned a Master of Divinity degree at Mundelein Seminary in Illinois. In 2000, he was ordained, becoming the first Black and Filipino priest in the Diocese of Lexington. He is a much-in-demand speaker, who loves to bring a bit of rap to his presentations. He especially likes to rework the energy of rap tunes using more spiritual words.
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Centre Relatives: Daughters, Bridget Winstead ’13, Mary Hannah Winstead ’16
urt Winstead parlayed his Centre economics major and a law degree from the University of Richmond into rewarding careers in the military and the law. But one thing he especially treasures from his time at Centre is a 1967 VW Beetle. As a student, he often reminded his economics professor Charles Campbell how much he admired the car his professor drove. While Winstead was working in the admission office right after graduation, Campbell offered to sell him the Beetle with the proviso that he take “special care” of it. “I agreed, took out my first bank loan in Danville, and bought my first car—a classic 1967 Volkswagen Beetle convertible,” Winstead recalls. “After 38 years, I am still cruising in—and taking special care of—that ’67 VW.” In addition to his beloved convertible, Winstead embraced Centre’s call for lifelong learning. “I chose the profession of law because it is always evolving and is the basis for our government, political, and justice systems that touch all aspects of our lives,” he says. “This, in turn, allowed me to serve in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps and as an adjunct professor of business law at Belmont University.” He also enjoys serving on nonprofit and government boards, state commissions, and historical foundations as a way to be “challenged and always learning,” he adds. His 30 years of military service has been “tremendously satisfying and a true honor,” he says. He joined the Judge Advocate General’s Corps in 1990 during the Gulf War and was deployed to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom III in 2005. Over the years he received such recognition as the Legion of Merit Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, and the Iraq Campaign Medal. He served as director of the Joint Staff for the Tennessee National Guard from February 2017 until his retirement from the National Guard in January 2021. “[Kurt] spends his time lifting others up,” said Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Holmes at a retirement ceremony. “He takes pride in seeing others succeed.”
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ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME The Athletic Hall of Fame honors outstanding athletes, coaches, and others who have contributed to the Centre athletic program. The Hall of Fame Committee accepts nominations at any time.
JIM SEABURY ’87 Nashville In Hall of Fame for: Tennis Major: Mathematics. Engineering, Vanderbilt University After Centre: CEO, Enterprise Electric Jim Seabury was a four-year letterman, four-time conference champion (three times as No. 1 doubles and once at No. 6 singles), and a member of Centre’s 1987 College Athletic Conference championship team. He is the only player in program history to win matches in both singles and doubles at an NCAA Tournament. His 50 singles and 45 doubles wins are the second most in a single season for a Centre player. He participated in 50 team match wins for the Colonels, a record that still stands 34 years later. In addition, he was a Centre trustee for 18 years, including four as vice chair. In 2019, he transformed the multi-use Chowan Hall into the Seabury Family Tennis Center, featuring three state-of-the-art indoor courts.
MARK GREEN ’89 Louisville In Hall of Fame for: Football, track & field Major: Economics After Centre: Educator and coach Mark Green was a four-year letterman in both football and track & field. He was a threetime College Athletic Conference Male Athlete of the Year (1986, 1987, 1989) and was conference champion in the 100-meter all four years. In a football game against Sewanee, he caught a 99-yard touchdown pass from Kelly Sandidge ’91 that will be in the NCAA and Centre record books forever. He won the Briscoe Inman Memorial Award given to the graduating senior with the most varsity letters in all sports. If in any year there is a tie, the award goes to the student with the highest academic standing.
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KEVIN CHAPMAN ’00 Louisville In Hall of Fame for: Football, track & field Major: Psychology. M.S., Eastern Kentucky University; Ph.D. in clinical psychology, University of Louisville After Centre: Founder and director of the Kentucky Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders and a master clinician and expert in cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety and related disorders. He has also been the team psychologist for Louisville City and Racing Louisville football clubs. Centre Family: Wife, Jackie Shaw Chapman ’00 Kevin Chapman was an eight-time conference champion sprinter, winning six individual awards and two more as part of relay teams, and he set six school records. He was named to the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference’s 15th anniversary team in 2016. He was also a three-time letter winner in football and earned All-Conference honors as a running back in 1999.
AMANDA MCCRACKEN ’00 Boulder, Colorado In Hall of Fame for: Cross country, track & field Major: English. M.S. Indiana State University After Centre: Award-winning journalist, certified massage therapist, endurance coach, and on the faculty of the University of Colorado. She has completed more than 30 triathlons. Amanda McCracken lettered four years in cross country and three years in track & field. She was named Kentucky’s NCAA Woman of the Year in 2000. She won the Briscoe Inman Memorial Award given to the graduating senior with the most varsity letters in all sports. If in any year there is a tie, the award goes to the student with the highest academic standing. She was All-SCAC and All-Region in cross
country and received All-SCAC honors in the 800-meter. At the time of her graduation, she held school records in the 3000-meter, the 4x400-meter, and distance relays.
EILEEN SCHILLING HAEBERLE ’07 Louisville In Hall of Fame for: Cross country, track & field Major: Psychobiology, Spanish. D.M.D., University of Louisville After Centre: Pediatric dentist Centre Family: Sister, Riley Schilling Kmetz ’11 Eileen Schilling Haeberle was a two-time All-American. The SCAC named her 2003 campaign as one of the conference’s top-20 cross-country moments of all time. She was Centre’s first cross-country All-American. In 2006, she was named to the SCAC’s 15-year anniversary team for cross country, the only active athlete to make the list. In track, she was a four-year All-Conference in the 10K and 5K. She still holds the conference record in the 5K.
ERIN MENARD SPALDING ’09 Louisville In Hall of Fame for: Soccer Major: Design and culture (self-designed); graduate degree in sports leadership, University of Kentucky After Centre: VP of Digital Integration and Global Digital lead for Maker’s Mark Bourbon at Doe-Anderson Advertising Agency Centre Family: Husband, JC Spalding ’10 Erin Menard Spalding scored 24 goals as a first-year, the second most in a season in program history. She ended her career with 59 goals and 12 assists. She was Great Lakes All-Region first team and was Centre’s first All-American in women’s soccer. She played on Centre’s first women’s soccer team to reach the NCAA tournament.
HOMECOMING 2021
By Jeff Fieberg ’91, Walkup Professor of Chemistry
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“Everywhere, plastered over every building, was the jubilant C6-HO, Centre’s ‘poison formula’ for victory. There was even a cow running loose, painted green, with C6-HO on its side to proclaim the results of the game. The town, in short, was in utter pandemonium.”
s the College began to consider ways to mark the centennial of the football game that put Centre on the national map, I wondered how I could contribute. At least one prominent example of the C6H0 paint remains—on the side of Walnut Street House. Why not investigate the C6H0 on campus using x-ray fluorescence (XRF)? It is serendipitous that the date of the game—1921—is the date when titanium white paint was first manufactured in the United States. Therefore, any titanium found would indicate that the original paint had been overpainted. Much of my coursework and research focus on the chemical analysis of paint in works of art. For example, Greg Smith ’95, senior conservation scientist at the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields, and I were able to determine using x-ray fluorescence that 38 percent of the white flowers in Vincent van Gogh’s painting Undergrowth with Two Figures had originally been pink. I also teach a class, CHE 464: Chemical Analysis of Modernist Paintings, that uses chemical analysis to investigate paintings
on campus. The C6H0 is painted in white, so the first thing to consider is the three primary types of white paint available then. Lead white has been used since antiquity. It covers well, but it is a carcinogen, teratogen, and suspected mutagen. Benjamin Franklin warned of its hazards in 1786 and it was identified as a source of lead poisoning in children in 1904, but it was not banned in the United States until 1978. In 1834, an alternative paint was developed: zinc white. Zinc white is nontoxic and less expensive, but it is not as opaque as lead white, dries slowly, and cracks. In 1921, a better alternative was first manufactured in the United States: titanium white. One of the tools that I use in my research is an x-ray fluorescence spectrometer. This technique identifies the characteristic elements in paint—or any object—in seconds. My students Zhujun Hou ’20 and Carter Alvey ’22 and I used the spectrometer on the C6H0 painted on the side of Walnut House. We first tested the brick to get a background reading. We then looked at the loop of the “6”
“C6-H0: The Centre Harvard Game of 1921” by Valarie H. Ziegler ’76
Zhujun Hou ’20 wields an x-ray fluorescence spectrometer to examine exactly what elements are in the white paint on the side of Walnut Street House. The elements could help date when the C6H0 was painted. She and chemist Jeff Fieberg ’91 did their paint research in 2018 and 2019.
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to find it was titanium white. There was no lead. But the upper left of the “0” had lots of lead-based pigment and some titanium. The titanium was everywhere. It looked as if it had been overpainted on the original lead paint. To appreciate the story, we need to look at the building’s history. According to the 1914 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map of Danville, the Walnut Street House is labeled “general merchandise.” By 1948 through 1975, it was a coffee shop and College hangout first called the Coffey Cup Restaurant and later, with new spelling, the Coffee Cup Restaurant. The building then became the Station House, a restaurant serving family-style meals. After the restaurant closed, the building was empty for a while. Eventually, Centre bought it from the Critchfield family in 1992. When Jim Critchfield and his brother removed a large Royal Crown Cola sign before selling the building, it revealed a faint C6H0 underneath. The building had a lot of soot from the coal used for the nearby steam engines. John Miles (son of emeritus chemistry professor Preston Miles ’70) and others spent a summer cleaning the brick. Later Centre brought in a professional crew to pressure wash the building. Following the pressure wash, a shadow of the original C6H0 remained. The paint had protected the brick. The legendary Wayne King, who worked at Centre for 47 years, was assigned the task of repainting it. Based on the shadow and bits of remaining white paint, King took a magnifying glass and traced the C6H0 in pencil to put it back
Carter Alvey ’22 points to the remains of white paint now barely visible on Old Centre.
A postcard illustration of Old Centre with C6H0 painted on the front as accurately as possible. He practiced first on similar bricks and blended the new paint with the remaining paint. The scientific analysis is consistent with this recollection; titanium is everywhere. C6H0 was also painted on either side of the Old Centre front door. At some point, the formula was overpainted with brown rectangles, which were removed when the building was power washed during the 1990-91 restoration. Based on a photograph of the C6H0 paint, we scoped for any signs of white paint remaining. We found a trace of white material on Old Centre. When we analyzed the material with the spectrometer we found lead! Our hypothesis is that some of the original lead paint from 1921 remains on Old Centre—an incredible find. What conclusions can we draw from our study? Signs of original lettering remain on campus 100 years later—both on Walnut Street House and on Old Centre. This story reminds us that anything is possible at Centre—including the “Impossible Formula” to beat Harvard in 1921.
We found a trace of white material on Old Centre. When we analyzed the material with the spectrometer, we found lead! Our hypothesis is that some of the original lead paint from 1921 remains on Old Centre—an incredible find.
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C6H0 C
entre’s shattering upset of Harvard, forever immortalized by the iconic formula C6H0, took place on Oct. 29, 1921. The victory was of such significance that on its 50th anniversary in 1971, the New York Times called it college football’s “Upset of the Century.” Kinogram newsreels of both the 1920 and 1921 Centre-Harvard games were shown in movie theaters in Boston; Danville; and Lexington, Kentucky. One hundred years later, people still talk about the game. To mark the occasion, Centre archivist Beth Morgan ’01 put together an exhibition of objects and images from Centre’s collection, including Bo McMillin ’22’s winter jacket, a copy of a novel about
A CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
the team, First Down, Kentucky! signed by the players, and part of a uniform that belonged to Frank Talbot Allen-1919. The College also hosted a panel discussion on Oct. 29, the 100th anniversary of the game. Many family members of the 1921 team attended the centennial weekend. “Little Centre College had beaten mighty Harvard. Little Centre College had changed the face of college football,” says Rob Robertson ’63, one of the panelists and author of The Wonder Team: The Story of the Centre College Praying Colonels and Their Rise to the Top of the Football World. In his remarks, Robertson set the stage for that fateful game on Oct. 29. It was not by chance that Centre found itself on the Harvard
The novel First Down Kentucky! with signatures of the Praying Colonels
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schedule in 1921. Robert “Chief ” Myers-1907 had returned to his alma mater with an “audacious dream,” said Robertson. At the time college football was centered on Harvard, Princeton, and Yale. For several years, Myers and Centre’s coach, Uncle Charlie Moran, studied the big three schedules and lobbied to play their opponents the following week, when the teams would be tired. Eventually Centre won enough games that a Boston Post sportswriter took notice and began to ask why Harvard hadn’t played the little school that was defeating so many Crimson challengers. Jeremy Swick, historian and curator of the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta and another panelist, talked about how the Centre victory really made the East Coast game of football popular throughout the South. “Although I might not have been there 100 years ago, it feels like just yesterday that Bo McMillin was scoring that touchdown that put Centre ahead of Harvard six-nothing,” he told Lexington’s WTVQ. Bruce K. Johnson, a Centre economist with an interest in sports, noted how much the economic landscape of college football had changed since 1921. Of the top 100 schools in Duke economist Charles Clotfelter’s “Power Rankings,” Centre was No. 3. A total of 28 schools on Clotfelter’s list were liberal arts colleges or small regional
universities. The rankings reflected number of games won, quality of the opponents, and higher winning margins, among other categories for the 1919, 1920, and 1921 seasons. Aly Lilley, the final panelist, is deputy athletic director at Centre and a former volleyball standout and coach. She spoke about the excitement of being part of a moment in history that’s defined by a win. Even though it was 100 years ago, she said, “it matters to us still. You know what that 1921 team felt like when they won.” Yet the weekend was not just about Centre’s storied past. It was also about the future. The Oct. 30 game against Rhodes College was the last that will be played in the existing Farris Stadium. As part of a $50 million initiative for wellness and athletic excellence, the stadium will be completely rebuilt. Bruce Bubier ’80, Bo McMillin’s grandson, was one of several McMillin family members who attended the centennial weekend. “This is the last game that’s going to be played in Farris Stadium before it’s going to be torn down and they build a new stadium,” he said. “The fact that this honor is happening on this occasion is extra special. Makes my heart go pitty-pat.” Centre won its game against Rhodes, 49-6, an appropriate bookend for the last football contest in the stadium made possible by the Wonder Team of 1921. —D.F.J.
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Objects in the C6H0 exhibit included Bo McMillin-1922’s winter jacket and a game schedule card featuring McMillin, a novel about the team signed by the players, and a football boot with mud cleats. “There is evidence that this shoe was used by James ‘Red’ Weaver-1921 when he set a record that still stands by kicking 99 straight successful extra points during the 1919-20 season," according to Rob Robertson ’63, author of a book about the Wonder Team.
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REUNION PHOTOS
Golden Reunion Luncheon (First row, from left) Frances Lambert Johnson ’59, Virginia Ragland Biles ’56, Frank Edelen ’66, Susan Hyman Couzens ’66, Barbara Wilson Sanders ’66, Joan Pace (wife of Jack Pace ’61), Sarah Carroll Edmiston Fox ’55, Carlene Gobert ’66, Nancy Sweazy Mayer ’66; (second row) Sylvia Clark Pulliam ’67, Tony Haynes ’67, James Robert Wilson Jr. ’55, John Ligon ’65, Dianna Teater Walke ’66, Karen Willis Smith ’66, Laurie Lewis Maguire ’66, Alice Rice Bratcher ’60, Jack Pace ’61, Ed Lewis ’61; (third row) Michael Pulliam ’66, Bill Garriott ’66, Ken Mardick ’66, Richard Raymond ’66, Hal Smith ’64, C.H. Maguire ’65, and Taylor Sanders ’65 Class of 1966: 55th Reunion (First row, from left) Karen Willis Smith, Dianne Teater Walke, Susan Hymen Couzens, Carlene Gobert, Laurie Lewis Maguire, Nancy Sweazy Mayer; (second row) Bill Garriott, Frank Edelen, J. Michael Pulliam, and Richard Raymond
Class of 1970 Luncheon: 50th Reunion (First row, from left): Forrest Roberts, Genie Drossos; (second row) Rob Gamage, Larry Hood, and Basil Drossos
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Class of 1970 Party (First row, from left): Forrest Roberts; (second row) Gary Kleine, Rob Gamage, and Charlie Asher
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Class of 1971 Luncheon: 50th Reunion (First row, from left): Rita Ferguson-Ross, Ginny Wise Butler, Mary Anne Martin Loy, Linda Freeman, Linda Taylor Lowery, Nancy Groves, Marion Hakans Beleski, Hariette Peart Johnson; (second row) Lynn Theiss, Jean Erlandson Theiss, Walter Mills, Andy Webster, Dabney Edwards Parker, Ann McNeal Heller, Roger Trent, and Bill Stewart
Class of 1971 Party (First row, from left): Marion Hakans Beleski, Linda Taylor Lowery, Linda Freeman, Jean Erlandson Theiss, Ginny Wise Butler, Harriette Peart Johnson, Rita Ferguson-Ross, Mary Anne Martin Loy; (second row) Freddie Creech Lockett, Mary Moore Jennings, Lynn Theiss, Janie Higgins Elliott, Barry Loy, Babs Purinton Kleine; (third row) Dabney Edwards Parker, Andy Webster, Phil Lockett, Michael Murphy, Skip Sears, Robin Jennings, Bob Gatewood, Bobby Elliott, Roger Trent, Scott Hunt, Ed Ackerman, Ann McNeal Heller, and Nancy Groves Class of 1975: 45th Reunion (Front row, from left) Keith Wilhelmi, Chuck Martin, Tom Poland, Helen Williams Dedman, Linda Bargo Radford, Dia Mitchell Canter, Joseph Schmidt, Toy Mitchell; (second row) Jim Zavist, John Webb, David Morgan, Kevin Henry, Wynn Radford, Steve Richardson, Dave McCune, John Getz, Dave Horine, Jack Frost, and Greg Young
Class of 1976: 45th Reunion (Front row, from left) Alayne Lackey White, Nancy Breeze, Allison Kelley Bryant, Tom Fenton, Karen Haswell Fenton, Doug Burgess, Wendy Hatfield; (second row) Bart Peterson, Janet Page Lile, Mike Miller, Bettie Threlkeld Poland, Beth Evans Richardson, Gayle Hammers Wilhelmi, Mike Bowman, Chuck Keiser, Cary Moon, and Kim Dement
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REUNION PHOTOS Class of 1980: 40th Reunion (First row) Amy Hobson Parker, Ginny Graham O'Donnell, Kris White Preston; (second row) Frank Parker, Gordon Russell Jacobs, Dean Langdon; (third row) Jeff Burns, Mary Ann Serratt King, Julie Rodes, John Rodes; (fourth row) Joseph Fehribach, Ray Hoppenjans, James Smith, Noel Booker, Ben Davis, and Henry Sanders
Class of 1981: 40th Reunion (First row) Julia Russell Leggett, Gayla Winkler Young, Georgia Reeves de Araujo, Martha Hill Ferguson; (second row) Shayna Wombles Cooper, Madelyn Hopson Retersdorf, Steve Lownds, Missy Wiedmer Perry, Lisa Newberg Patterson; (third row) Russell Atchison, Suzanne Wells Miell, Barbara Sonntag Koenig, Paul Burkey; (fourth row) Doug Gunkelman, Mac Holder, Nancy Groot Villwock, Betsy Rogers Hawkins, Kevin Cottrill, Brian Miller, Dan Yates, Shawn Lyons, Tim Rush; (fifth row) Danny Pawley, Seth Aldrich, and Hart Sledd
Class of 1985: 35th Reunion (First row, from left): Tom Cowens, Maryellen Dicken Donahue, Julie Kirkpatrick Lemaster, Barbara Gannaway; (second row) Dan Morgan, Vicki Duckworth Lete, Terry Burns, Henry Kelsey, Jerry Cowens ‘86, Jim Clontz, and Hugh Gates Hines
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Class of 1986: 35 Reunion (First row, from left) Sam Thompson, Jim Kelly, Gail Cummins, Tiffany Gold Sights, Nan Bowmer Harnice, Marc Mourer; (second row) Mark Dickens, Robert Paxton, Mark Ordel, DeAnna Duncan-Grand, Sarah Willmott Cowens; (third row) Brian Ellis, Ann Feldkamp Triebsch, Kate Bowmer Lindsay, Hallie Peyton; (fourth row) Lisa Swank Leonard; (fifth row) Heather Winters Alford ’87, Steve Wells; (sixth row) Raymond Pribble ’87, Deneen Gilliam Zimmerman; (seventh row) Tiffany Russak-Pribble, and Teel Bruner
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Class of 1990: 30th Reunion (First row, from left) Ann Freytag, Kathy Nowatka Doeringer, Susanna Allenmang Sharp; (second row) Bill Howell, Eric Heckman, Liz Hickcox Smith, Elizabeth Bowling Heckman, Alisa Handorf Curtis, and Sara Alexander Dekker
Class of 1991: 30th Reunion (First row, from left) Cliff Sulcer, Stephen Maguire, Tao Le, Pat O’Leary, Lois Winner Stemmler, Denise Bottolfs Cornell, Stacy Estlick Wright, Bridget Carpenter, Erin Gary, Julie Crump Cox, Mary Helen Bailey Bondurant, Joel Snider, Bill Erwin, Brian Glasshof, Mike Jackson, Chuck Vaughn, Tish Oldham; (second row) Ted Boone, Brad Thomas, Andy Chambers, Beth Scott, Lynn Reynolds, Cecily Yost Verhoven, Sara Kesten Howell, DeDe Speer, Cari McLarty Johnson, Lori Eisnaugle Nadler, Jeff Fieberg, Damon Gatewood, Donna Feldkamp Gatewood, Dave Briles; (third row) Bob Nesmith, Dana Bland Cowlishaw, Patrick Points, Wijdan Jreisat, Milton Reigelman (retired professor), Laura Benton Elliott, and Angie McDonald Evans Class of 1995: 25th Reunion (Back row, from left): Norman Fischer, Chris Stewart, Jennifer Deutsch Foery, Trefor Thomas, John Farris, Laura Weihl Blackorby, John Brenzel, Brian Mefford, Bo Bunnell, Stuart Sanders, John Kinkade; (front row) Lisa Earp Nesmith, Amy Strehl Silvert, Shelley Holman Bigelow, and Jenny Neighbors Sanders
Class of 1996: 25th Reunion (First row, from left) Roxanne Baus Edling, Sara Beaumont Lusk, Kristen Webb Hill, Noelle Clark Sinex, Ashley Foley Klein, Megan Kula ’92, Karalee Walters Massie, Krissy Long Davis, Tara Neltner, Jenny McClure (wife of Patrick McClure), Phillip Brown, Elizabeth Jones Brown, Patrick McClure; (second row) Melissa Tamme ’95, Suzanne Shearer, Courtney Quisenberry Crews, Katie Jo Berkshire Kirkpatrick ’95; third row) Steven Edling, Traci Williams Mazur, Barcley Houston, Jamey Elliott, George Schultz ’93, Tony Kurlas ’93, Elizabeth Butler Hinkebein, Alex Hinkebein ’94, Jay Crews ’93, Eric Wiegand, Matt Anderson, Rob Alford, Glen Arnold, Ryan Keith, and Kyle Kirkpatrick (son of Katie Jo Berkshire Kirkpatrick)
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REUNION PHOTOS
Class of 2000: 20th Reunion (From left) Amanda McCracken, Jamie Harris, Celia Isenhour Dyer, and Drew Briese
Class of 2001: 20th Reunion (First row, from left): Allison Elliott-Shannon, Sabrina Kitsos, Scott Davis, Michael Lucchese, Cliff Jenks, Stacy Smith Epstein, Torie Shively Graham; (second row) Jeremiah Ross, Todd UIlrich, Antonia Lindauer, Spencer McKiness, Daron Mills, Meghan Floyd Frakes, Leslie Smith-Word, and Russ Guffey
Class of 2005 & Class of 2006: 15th Reunion (First row, from left) Julia Covington Abbott, Ashley Reser, Amanda Smith Browne, Jenny Wilkinson Posten, Abby Winterberg Hess, Diane Thomas Lally; (second row) Cole Henson, Stacey Hohl, Tommy Poland, Adam Browne, Joshua Abbott, Charlie Boyd, Matt Lally, Bryan Hess, Justin O’Malley, Christina Garcia, and Alex Chase Beethem
Class of 2015: 5th Reunion (Front row, from left) Maggie Hartlage Carlson, Katie Stevenson; (second row) Emily Streit Teague, Alex Mulhall, Andrew Ledford, and Pete Eddings
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Class of 2016: 5th Reunion (First row, from left) Lauren Samuelson, Teal Wrocklage, Paige Poggemeier Ledford, Caty Herd Retersdorf, Morgan Robinson, Shannon Keene Martin, Emily Bickel; (second row) C.J. Leopold, Ross Larson, Daniel Wicker, Grant Blaney, Gray Whitsett, Clay Taylor, Blake Martin, Zach Montgomery, Rob Caudill, and Stephen Shunk
CLASS NEWS
1 Bob Kelley ’51 still enjoys working in his garden
in Troy, Ky. “He has a beautiful garden and is very active at the age of 93! I love being able to enjoy the garden with him,” writes his granddaughter Anna McCauley ’18.
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2 Class of ’63 friends at Herrington Lake: (front row) Ruth Anne Beers Boklage ’63, Pattye Craig Kunst ’63, Jeanie Crosby ’63; (back row) Betsy Hatfield Berchou ’63, Meegie Rogers Glass ’63, and Susanna Shumate Hall ’63
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3 Nelson Rhodus ’75 with grandsons Dev and Alvy
Rhodus 4 Deke Creekers hold their 30th consecutive gathering at Lake Martin, Ala., in 2021: (front row) Reggie Mudd ’75, Dick Heaton ’76, Mike Leising ’75, John Rhorer ’78, Jim Worten ’77; (back row) Dan Young ’77; John Atchison ’77, Rick DiGiorgio ’78, Louis Prichard ’76, John Corey ’79, Mike Miller ’76, and LeRoy McEntire ’78
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1954
Dan and Jo Frances Gates Purdom ’56 list their new address as 21 Woodlee Road, Apt. 119, Staunton, VA 24401. They can be emailed at jfpurdom@aol.com.
1962
Anne Evans Donnell published two books, The Gift of Christmas and Almost a Year’s Worth (both by Grassleaf Publishing, 2020), musings about the final months of her husband's life.
1964
Hal Smith was the subject of an article in the Northern Kentucky Tribune by sportswriter Billy Reed that said Smith’s membership in the Northern Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame was long overdue (July 18, 2021). In November, he was finally inducted Class News Details Submit class news and address changes at alumni.centre.edu/centrepiece or email them to alumnews@centre.edu. Digital photos MUST be at least 300 DPI when sized to four inches wide. Low-resolution photos taken with a phone are too small to run in print. Alumni names will continue to be in bold type in the Class News and In Memoriam sections of the magazine. Alumni names elsewhere will continue to include class years but will not be in bold type. This issue reflects information received as of Aug. 15, 2021.
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into the Hall of Fame. His wife is Karen Willis Smith ’66. Their son is Andy Smith ’99.
Nelson Rhodus remains active as a Morse Distinguished Professor at the University of Minnesota. He was inducted into the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.
College in Baton Rouge, La. She completed her Ph.D. at Louisiana State University and edited a critical collection, Feminist Interventions in Early American Studies (University of Alabama Press, 2006). She has published articles on early American writers, including Anne Bradstreet, Mary Rowlandson, and Charlotte Perkins Gilman, as well as contemporary writers Suzan-Lori Parks and Natasha Trethewey. Her email address is carruth.mary@gmail.com. Jim Mayfield recently retired after 33 years as a water quality scientist for the New York City Bureau of Water Supply. He and his wife, Barbara, list their new address as 607 Nottingham Parkway, Louisville, KY 40222. His email address is jmayf@aol.com. Barbara’s brother is Charlie Castner ’79. Duff Watkins co-hosts the career/life podcast, “10 Lessons It Took Me 50 Years to Learn,” which features leaders and luminaries from around the world sharing their life lessons for Centre grads and others. His email address is duffwatkins@outlook.com.
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Tom Kinman retired after 49 years as a Baptist pastor. He was pastor of churches in Kentucky, Georgia, and North Carolina. He and his wife, Betty, list their address as 1013 Garibaldi Ridge Court, Belmont, NC 28012.
1972
Beth Burdine Hahn reports that at a dinner at Shaker Village in May, she and Barbara Smith Bean ’72, Betty Hill Ingram ’72, and their spouses, joined Courtney Newman Spear ’77 and Lloyd Spear ’76 enjoyed that special place again. “Eight children and 12 grandchildren later we still remember good times at Centre,” she says.
1975
Mary Carruth has been tenured and promoted to associate professor of English at Southern University and A&M
Chris Vaida reports that after teaching theater for 30 years, he decided to teach a new subject, exceptional education,
Centrepiece Fall/Winter 2021
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CLASS NEWS
A MESSAGE FROM THE
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT
Providing innovative academic opportunities since 1819 By PAM DEITCHLE ’97
When meeting new people, I’m often asked about where I went to school. My go-to answer is “Centre College, a great liberal arts school in central Kentucky. You may know us from our football upset of Harvard in 1921.” That last bit typically generates an awkward chuckle, but provides an opening to brag about all the things held in a Centre alum’s brag bag. For me, C6H0 is low-hanging fruit for small talk. It’s been particularly useful lately, not just because I’m a Centre alum and it’s the 100th anniversary, but because my dad went to Texas A&M, is a football season ticket holder, and we go to football games. This year, A&M has been celebrating the 100th anniversary of its upset of the mighty Centre College Praying Colonels a couple of months after the C6H0 game. You’d be surprised how many folks are thrilled to meet a Centre alum. Whatever you may think about the centennial celebration of C6H0, it’s nothing compared to the 12th Man that dominates all aspects of A&M culture and is the central theme of this football season. It’s safe to say there’s a fine line between “this may be a cult” and “wow! what a tradition!” Thankfully, Centre is not a cult. Mafia? Arguable. But cult? Nope. Centre celebrates—but does not dwell on—the past. At Homecoming 2021, we recognized the outstanding accomplishments of our alumni, reconnected with old friends, and gathered to honor a life-changing professor, Harry Landreth, and his wife, Donna. We also officially welcomed Milton Moreland to his role focused on leading Centre into its third century. We broke ground on the Initiative for Wellness and Athletic Excellence that will serve generations of Centre students, alumni, and the community. I also managed to drop in on a couple of fraternity parties and can report that the kids are, in fact, all right, even though their “music” (and some food trays) were a bit suspect. Yes, Centre may not be “sawing off” any rival’s horns. But its focus on providing innovative and diverse academic, residential, athletic, and service opportunities is certainly consistent with the traditions and values we’ve associated with Centre College since 1819. May all of you have a healthy, safe, and prosperous 2022. See you next Homecoming! Pam Deitchle ’97 is a trademark and business lawyer in Austin, Texas. Her two-year term as president of the Centre Alumni Association began in August 2020. Her email address is pamdeitchle@gmail.com.
for Metro Nashville Public Schools. “Having a daughter with disabilities, I have practical life experience in this field and wanted a new challenge after directing 120 productions in 35 years of professional/educational theater,” he says. “I am amazed that I still love teaching.” He lists his address as 5263 New John Hagar Road, Hermitage, TN 37076. His email address is
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christopher_vaida@yahoo.com.
1982
Kurt Winstead retired as a brigadier general from the Tennessee National Guard in 2021 after a 30-year military career that included being director of the joint staff, state’s senior staff judge advocate, and brigade command judge advocate during Operation
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Iraqi Freedom III. He has practiced law in middle Tennessee since 1988 and is a founding partner at Rudy Winstead Turner. His daughters are Bridget Winstead ’13 and Mary Hannah Winstead ’16.
1983
Robb Nash is the medical director for a new medical respite center in Nashville at Glencliff United Methodist Church. The program is the first in the city to serve homeless people who have nowhere to go after a hospital stay. His brother is Will Nash ’86.
1984
Laura Harbolt graduated from Spalding University in June with a doctorate in leadership. She is the executive director of volunteer services at Hosparus Health, one of the largest nonprofit hospice and palliative care organizations in the United States. Her children are Mary Dyche ’19, Aaron Dyche ’16, and Katy Dyche Lyvers ’11. Her husband is John David Dyche ’82. Tom Thurman produced Walter Tevis: A Writer’s Gambit, a documentary film for Kentucky Educational Television that explores the life of Kentucky writer Walter Tevis, author of several novels adapted for the screen, including The Queen’s Gambit, The Hustler, and The Color of
CLASS NEWS
1 Three Leadership Middle Tennessee alumni:
Buist Richardson ’84, Reggie Mudd ’75, and LMT chair Kurt Winstead ’82 2 Reunion of 1978 record-breaking and long-standing record-holding 800-yard free relay team at the memorial service in Indianapolis for Craig Johnson ’75: Doug Burgess ’76, John Atchison ’77, Lance Dosch ’78, and Gary Colton ’76.
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3 Kurt Winstead ’82 4 Geoff Pope ’85 5 Michael Jackson ’85 6 Centre friends gathered in Indianapolis in June
6 Money. The film debuted in July. Tom’s daughter is Lucie Thurman ’16.
1985
Taylor Hayes was named president/ CEO of the Christian County Chamber of Commerce in Hopkinsville, Ky., in July. He previously spent nearly 40 years in the news business, including publisher/CEO of the Kentucky New Era Media Group for 21 years. His son is Hunter Hayes ’10. Michael Jackson will serve as president of the Alabama District Attorneys Association 2021-22, the first African American to serve in this role. He is district attorney of Alabama’s 4th judicial district. Geoff Pope placed second in the men’s 55-59 200-meter dash at the Northwest Masters Track & Field Championships in Seattle in July 2021. Geoff is an English instructor at Green River College.
1986
Gail Cummins is community engagement manager for Unite Us, an enterprise technology company that networks with community-based organizations to improve the social determinates of health in the south-central and southeastern regions of Kentucky.
1987
Gene Hughes was promoted to the rank of major general and was named Air National Guard military assistant to the commander, Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale, La. He has more than 34 years of service.
1988
Liz Soben Haynes has joined NOAA’s Global Systems Laboratory team in Boulder, Colo. She is scientific project coordinator working on projects related to weather and climate change. Her husband is Doug Haynes ’87. She lists their new address as 10271 Willowbridge Court, Highlands Ranch, CO 80126. Her email address is lizhaynes1@ me.com. Their daughter is Amy Haynes ’20.
1989
Dave Schoonaert continues to do freelance IT work for major events, including a stint as a venue IT manager at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics water polo venue. He also provided technical support for the #Donate&Protect mask initiative started by his 13-year-old son, Joshua. It raised more than 3000€ (~$4000) for local charities in Frankfurt, Germany, where they live.
1992
Beth Pratt Bernardi writes that she is so proud she was able to
for the memorial service of Craig Johnson ’75: (kneeling) John Lacy ’79, Chuck Martin ’75, Doug Burgess ’76, Franklin Foster ’73; (first row) John Atchison ’77, Jim Compton ’77, Becky Wallace Pugh ’77, Cindi Gower Lacy ’79; (second row) Ken Vance ’77, Mike Miller ’76, Julie Clemmens Rodes ’80, Mary Ann Remke ’77, Karen Svendsen-Houtchens ’78, Debra Loewit ’78, Linda Bargo Radford ’75, Nancy Breeze ’76, Suzanne Moore Colton ’77, Gary Colton ’76; (third row) James Smith ’80, Charlie Smith ’75, Mike Bowman ’76, Lance Dosch ’78, Wynn Radford ’75, Steve Habeeb ’73, Susan Neal Habeeb ’74, Beth Meredith ’76, Bettie Threlkeld Poland ’76; (back row) John Musterman ’73, Charles West ’77, John Getz ’75, Ray Morriss ’79, S. David Smith ’72, John Rodes ’80, Dave McCune ’75, Ed Hatchett ’73, and Tom Poland ’75
“indoctrinate” her daughter, Laurel Wallace ’25, to become the fourth generation of Pratts to attend Centre when she enrolled this fall. Laurel’s grandfather was Bill Pratt ’62, and her great-grandfather was H. DeVaughnPratt-1930. Beth’s brothers are Mike Pratt ’88 and Mark Pratt ’90.
1993
Brennan Fitzpatrick was named the first chief medical officer of the Women's Hospital in Newburgh, Ind.
1995
Kat Cody and her Lexington, Ky., business, Paws & Claws Pet Sitting and Dog Walking, was featured on news station WLEX18 Best of the Bluegrass segment (July 1, 2021). Kat reports that she started with a Craigslist ad 10 years ago and now has clients throughout the region. Beth Craig Hall co-founded ACT Louisville Productions, a performing arts production company to develop and train young talent. Centrepiece Fall/Winter 2021
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CLASS NEWS
SERENDIPITOUS REUNION
The Lure of Iceland A Centre baseball cap brought Don and Amy Wallace Parker ’85 and ’84 and Keith and Nancy Ballman Swigert ’75 and ’75 together at a particularly windy stop near a waterfall in northern Iceland. The four were on the same Viking cruise around Iceland last August but didn’t realize the Centre connection until the Swigerts spotted Don’s Centre cap about halfway through the trip. “Amy and I took the cruise because we had both been working extremely hard for over a year, we needed a real break, and we were tired of being hot,” says Don, a lawyer in Charleston, W.Va. Amy is a Presbyterian minister. “The mountains are incredible, the air is clean, the people are friendly, and if you time it right, the weather can be quite comfortable—low 50s to high 60s for most of our cruise,” says Don. “I even wore shorts during a few of the shore excursions.” Keith and Nancy, for their part, are avid travelers who had felt constrained during COVID, especially after they had
to cancel a trip to Glacier National Park because there were no rental cars available. “We set our sights on a destination that wouldn’t require a rental vehicle and one that would present a reduced risk of exposure to COVID,” says Nancy. After considering the safeguards in place (all passengers and crew vaccinated and daily testing) they decided that they had less risk of exposure on the cruise and in Iceland than they likely did in North Carolina, where they live. “We crossed into the Arctic Circle twice as we circled the island,” Nancy adds. “Iceland is both stark (lots of volcanic rock and very few trees) and stunningly beautiful (rich green mountains covered in moss, not trees) around the fjords. Waterfalls are everywhere. We even did several ambitious hikes.” All four had a wonderful time on the cruise, they concur, and highly recommend Iceland as a vacation spot. “What luck we found each other,” says Don. —D.F.J. Don and Amy Wallace Parker ’85 and ’84 and Keith and Nancy Ballman Swigert ’75 and ’75
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6 Network. Kevin also owns Premier Financial Group and The Lane Report. His email address is kevin1@pfgnet.com.
1999
Maggie and Nathan Mick announce the birth of Hayward “Hank” Lovell on June 22, 2021. He joins a sister, Birdie (3½). Nathan is now director of federal and state advocacy for the American Association of Orthodontists. While the organization is headquartered in St. Louis, they will continue to live in Lexington, Ky.
2000 The company mounted The Wizard of Oz at the Iroquois Amphitheater in July and August as part of a pilot program called ARTS at the AMPHITHEATER. Her husband is Mark Hall ’94.
1996
Jamey Elliott is senior major gift officer at Centre. His parents are Bobby and Janie Higgins Elliott ’71 and ’71. Patrick McClure received a 2020 Five Star Award as a lawyer of distinction for excellence in family law, a peer-nominated award. He also
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made the American Institute of Family Law Attorneys 2021 list as one of the 10 best attorneys for client service and satisfaction as nominated by clients. He is senior partner of McClure, McClure & Bailey in Danville and reports that his growing practice has added an associate and a paralegal handling chapter 7 bankruptcies. Kevin Stinnett bought the property and casualty insurance agency Lexington Insurance Agency in July 2021. It is the oldest locally owned, independent insurance agency in Lexington, Ky., and is part of the Keystone Insurers
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Kristin Smith Barnett teaches third grade at Athens Academy. Her husband, Kent Barnett ’02, has been appointed associate dean for academic affairs at the University of Georgia School of Law, promoted to Hosch Professor of Law, and received the law school’s 2021 Ellington Excellence in Teaching Award. They live in Athens, Ga., with twin sons Pierce and Jake. Julee Baber Brooks is CEO of Woodcraft Rangers, a 100-year-old nonprofit organization serving 14,000 youth each year throughout Los Angeles. She was named a finalist for CEO of the Year by the Los Angeles Business Journal as part of its 2021 Women’s Leadership Series and Awards.
CLASS NEWS
1 Gail Cummins ’86 2 Gene Hughes ’87 3 Mike Pratt ’88 and Beth Pratt Bernardi ’92 wel-
come their niece and daughter Laurel Wallace ’25 to the Centre fold. 4 Julee Baber Brooks ’00 5 Wes Fugate ’02 6 Class of ’93 members celebrate turning 50 at
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Miramar Beach, Fla., in May: Kim Brunk Kingsley ’93, Dana Bright Wissman ’93, LeeSa Gerst Page ’93, Beth Lee Sewell Schneider ’93, Lani Gerst Babin ’93, and Whitney Tucker Ensor ’93. 7 Miriam Kienle ’01 and John Norris ’00 at John’s
exhibit at the Kentucky Museum of Art & Craft 8 Kent and Kristin Smith Barnett ’02 and ’00, with twins Jake and Pierce
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Justin Gilfert sold his interest in Aperture Health to Stone Point Capital. Aperture Health, a Louisville-based Humana spinoff, has become the largest healthcare credentialing organization in the country, with offices in Louisville, Kansas City, Minneapolis, and New York City. Stone Point Capital also acquired Verisys Corporation, a competitor to Aperture. Justin will stay on as the executive general counsel to the newly combined Aperture-Verisys entity. He lives in Crestwood, Ky., with his wife, Stacy Rickwald Gilfert ’01, and their three children, Ellie Kate, Prescott, and Alec. His email address is gilfertlaw@yahoo.com Steve Herron was elected to the board of directors of Khode, distributor of CBD products. Steve is director of sales of CBD Unlimited.
2001
Allison Elliott-Shannon has a new position as associate director of alumni & family engagement at Centre. Miriam Kienle received tenure and promotion to associate professor of art history at the University of Kentucky. Her husband, John Norris ’00, is assistant professor of drawing and digital illustration at UK. John’s father is Mike Norris (communications, emeritus). Lindsay Mullaney Wirthlin was promoted to
7 principal lean-agile coach at MetLife and is US Group Business portfolio coach.
the first woman in this role in the organization’s 178-year history.
2002
2005
Wes Fugate was elected to a threeyear term on the board of trustees of the Omicron Delta Kappa Society and Educational Foundation. His brother is Les Fugate. Jed Keith is a social studies teacher at Pulaski County High School. He is also social media coordinator for Good Times Event Services, a company offering racing services, including tracking official results and providing sign-ups for races in Kentucky and beyond. Melinda Weathers is director of diversity and inclusion education at Centre.
2003
Lauren Crissey Abeyta was selected by the Dallas Business Journal as a “Top 40 Under 40” honoree in the Dallas business community. She is co-founder and chief operating officer of Construction Discovery Experts, a legal technology and consulting firm specializing in the construction industry. Her father is Steve Crissey ’75. Her mother is Sharon Craft Crissey ’75. Anna Hehman has been promoted to executive director of the Cincinnati Observatory, the oldest public observatory in the country. She is
Andrea Brooks is board chair for the Kentucky Board of Licensed Professional Counselors. She is an associate professor at Lindsey Wilson College and is also the program director for the master’s program in counseling and human development. Alex Chase is chief legal officer at Miga International in Clarkston, Mich. She was previously general counsel at Aspen Technology. Ben Golden was named director of change management at Inspire Brands. He leads policy change initiatives across the company and brands that include Arby’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, Jimmy John’s, Sonic, Dunkin’, and BaskinRobbins. He is based in Atlanta. Nikki Hollabaugh received the G.E. Philbrook Teaching Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching from the Northeast Georgia Section of the American Chemical Society. She is an associate professor of chemistry at the University of North Georgia.
2006
Beth Caudill Ley and Patrick Ley ’08 announce the birth of a daughter, Merritt Annabelle, on Jan. 6, 2021. She joins sister Collins Elizabeth (3). Centrepiece Fall/Winter 2021
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CLASS NEWS
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2008
Adam Owens is the owner of Cleveland-based Oak Hollow Woodworking, a custom furniture and cabinetry shop for both commercial and residential customers.
2009
Matthew and Sally Fish Houser announce the birth of a son, August Matthew, on Sept. 13, 2020.
2010
Trey and Melissa Douglas Jenkins announce the birth of a daughter, Claire Elizabeth, on July 8, 2021.
2010
Tom and Rachel Watkins Czechura now live in Lincoln, Neb., with their sons, Clark (3) and Wells (1), and dog, Huckleberry. Tom earned a Master of Public Health at Dartmouth College, completed dental school at the University of Louisville, and finished his oral and maxillofacial surgery residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Rachel earned a Master of Education degree at DePaul University, taught at Kentucky Country Day, and was a founding teacher at Episcopal School of Nashville.
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2011
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Jason Boldt is director of expansion at WorkBoard, an enterprise strategy and results management platform for enterprise CEOs and leaders. His siblings are Kaitlin Boldt ’14 and Josh Boldt ’18. Greg Chery is one of four senior associate directors of admission at Dartmouth College, managing the Access Team and overseeing the Quest Bridge recruitment process. His team also plans two College Access Programs, including Dartmouth Bound, which brings rising seniors from low-income, first-generation, and diverse backgrounds, and the indigenous Fly-In, which brings students from all over country who have an interest in Native community and Native American Studies. He also liaises with campus partners and stakeholders who work directly with diverse students on campus. Laura Clay opened Laura Lou Pâtisserie in November 2020 in Lexington’s bourgeoning Greyline Station market. The Pâtisserie began Social Justice Sunday, donating 10 percent of all Sunday sales to selected causes. “I am grateful to Centre every single day as I employ my French and Art degree and abroad experiences to cultivate this little Francophile corner of Kentucky,” she says. Rebecca Jackson Doss returned as a speaker at the annual Diamonds online conference for
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13 chronically ill Christians in January 2021. She and husband Roger also held a joint session and Q&A for the summer event in June about marriage in chronic illness. Lauren Everett is director of design research at Angi, focusing on customer research and end-to-end digital product design. Her sister is Katherine Everett Iskin ’06. Gray Hunter is director of workforce technology and director of undergraduate statistics at the University of Arizona Eller College of Management. Ben Schlosser married Elizabeth Berryman ’12 on April 10, 2021. Ben’s brother is Hunter Schlosser ’14. His father is Jeff Schlosser ’80. Laura and Daniel Walton announce the birth of a daughter, Calliope Mae, on March 30, 2021. Daniel is assistant editor of the alt-weekly newspaper Mountain Xpress in Asheville, N.C., and received a first-place feature reporting award from the North Carolina Press Association for his August 2020 article “Head for the Hills: Climate migration could bring influx to Western North Carolina.”
2012
Trish Bredar received a Ph.D. in English with a graduate minor in gender studies from the University of Notre Dame in May. The idea for her dissertation
CLASS NEWS
1 Lauren Crissey Abeyta ’03 2 Katherine Lander ’03, Mary Tanner Bryson ’14,
and Catie Coldiron Joseph ’14 attended a preview event for a KET documentary, Walter Tevis: A Writer’s Gambit—directed and produced by Tom Thurman ’84. 3 Andrea Brooks ’05 4 Nikki Hollabaugh ’05
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5 Adam Owens ’08
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6 Andrew and Hillary Monroe Smith ’05 with twins Sebastian and Callahan and Granger, the Wheaten terrier 7 Beth Caudill Ley ’06 and Pat Ley ’08 with Collins and Merritt Annabelle 8 Sally Fish Houser ’09 with August Matthew 9 Tom and Rachel Watkins Czechura ’10 and ’10
with Clark and Wells 10 Trey and Melissa Douglas Jenkins ’10 with Claire Elizabeth
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11 Gray Hunter ’11 12 Laura and Daniel Walton ’11 with Calliope Mae
project, “Paths of Resistance: Walking Women in Nineteenth-Century British Literature,” first took root while working on her John C. Young project at Centre. Next year she will serve as a postdoctoral fellow at Notre Dame, teaching and researching on campus and at the university’s Global Gateway in London, England. Ellen Cartmell is communications co-chair for New Leaders Council’s Kentucky chapter. Andrew Hornick finished his residency and chief residency in internal medicine at Case Western University Hospitals in Cleveland and is now a first-year cardiology fellow at Ohio State University. Sebastian Ortiz and Jenny Umana announce the birth of a son, Felipe Itzae Ortiz, on June 4, 2021.
2013
Macy Begley married Maxwell Kommor in May 2021. Macy is a practicing general dentist in Nashville. David and Elizabeth Frank Farc announce the birth of a daughter, Eleanor Saoirse, in May 2021. Elizabeth’s brother is Matt Frank ’14. Carolyn Morris is a data scientist with Everlane, a mission-driven retail company leading in sustainability. Her siblings are Chris Morris ’11 and Bridgit Morris ’15. Anne Roessler is senior scientist, parenteral
center of excellence team lead on the portfolio team with Pfizer. She directs teams of scientists across multiple disciplines and acts as the point of accountability for all pharmaceutical science aspects of projects. Her grandfather is Malcolm Roessler ’57.
2014
Blaine Lewis graduated with a Ph.D. in industrial/organizational psychology from the University of Houston in the summer of 2021. Robbe Tarver married Kelsey Gordon ’17 on July 23, 2021. Morgan Walters is a detection system engineer at PHDS, a company that detects, identifies, locates, and quantifies radioactive materials.
2015
Ali Gautier is public relations and event coordinator for Change Today, Change Tomorrow, a Black woman-led nonprofit organization in Louisville that focuses on service, food justice, education, and public health. Kinsey Hisle is youth services department manager at the Boyle County Public Library. Her siblings are Laurin Hisle ’17 and Mark Hisle ’20. Morgan Mayes is an associate in the corporate group at Covington & Burling in Washington,
13 Laura Clay ’11 14 The wedding of Elizabeth Berryman ’12 and Ben Schlosser ’11: (front row, from left) Ben Anderson ’11, Abby Self ’12, Laura Bramblett Lamont ’12; (second row) Ali Judah ’12, Elizabeth Chandler ’12, Ben Newstadt ’12, Liz Ratliff ’12, Turner Silk ’11, Elizabeth and Ben, Sara Small Malone ’12, Devon Cobb Sharp ’12; (back row) Ben Hume ’12, Grant Sharp ’11, Nick Hobbs ’11, Hunter Schlosser ’14, Haley Buchanan ’12, Elizabeth Heston ’13, Michelle Balaklaw ’12, and Mary Gordon Stough ’14; Not pictured: Jeff Schlosser ’80 15 Trish Bredar ’12
WRITERS WANTED We want you to submit an Endpiece! For more information or to submit an Endpiece, contact the Centrepiece at diane.johnson@centre.edu or 859.238.5717
Centrepiece Fall/Winter 2021
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CLASS NEWS
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2016
Evan Baylor joined the Washington, D.C., office of Babst Calland as an environmental associate. Previously he was an honors attorney at the U.S. Department of Transportation after graduating from Vermont Law School in 2019. Dexter Horne was elected as a co-director to lead New Leaders Council Kentucky, which recruits, trains, and promotes rising progressive leaders. He is a research analyst at the Council of State Governments focusing on barriers to employment for people with disabilities. Jeri Howell released a folk/Americana duo album titled Holding On in 2021 with Nat Colton. The album also features Nathan Link (music) and Braden Urevick. Emily Morrell graduated with a master’s degree in divinity and a master’s in arts from Columbia Theological Seminary in May. She began a Ph.D. program in history at West Virginia University in the fall. Abby Tudor is the recruitment chair for New Leaders Council’s Kentucky chapter. Centrepiece Fall/Winter 2021
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D.C. Morgan previously practiced as an associate at K&L Gates in Charlotte, N.C.
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2017
Ian Black married Katrina Durbin on June 11, 2021. David Boyd was ordained to the Sacred Order of Priests in the Episcopal Church on June 26, 2021. He will be serving as the associate rector of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Rome, Ga. His wife is Sarah Harris Boyd. Ethan Campbell completed his master’s degree in experimental psychology at the University of New Mexico and began a Ph.D. program. Cole Jordan married Aaryn Chandler ’19 on May 22, 2021. They live in Louisville. Caitlin Johnson is finishing her two years as an inaugural recipient of the NAFSA (Association of International Educators) RISE Fellowship. As a RISE Fellow, Johnson participated in the selective one-year NAFSA Academy program. She is a member of Diversity Abroad’s national 2021 task force on career advancement and belonging. David Malicote won the Dean’s Award for Scholarship, University of Louisville Medical
HOMECOMING 2022 October 14-15
School’s top academic award, at the 2021 honors ceremony. He is now doing a residency in internal medicine at the University of Michigan. Shruti Shankar Ram married Davis Kinkel ’18 on May 29, 2021, followed by a Hindu ceremony on May 30, 2021. Carter Richardson married Carly Hertel on June 19, 2021.
2018
Caroline Abbott is working on a dual J.D./M.B.A. at the University of Notre Dame as a Forté Fellow. She spent the summer of 2021 as an associate in the healthcare and FDA practice at Greenberg Traurig in Washington, D.C. She previously clerked with the Tennessee Attorney General's Office as well as the General Counsel’s Office of Loyola University Health System in Chicago and Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center in South Bend, Ind. Mac Hart is universal banker for Bank of the Bluegrass. Henry Hawkins graduated from Columbia Law School in May 2021, earning both the Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and Kent Scholar academic awards. He works in capital markets and mergers & acquisitions at Davis Polk & Wardwell’s northern California office. His brother is Will Hawkins ’21.
CLASS NEWS
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1 Jenny Umana ’12 and Felipe Itzae
2020
2 The wedding of Macy Begley ’13 and Maxwell Kommor: Emily Mills Clavin ’13, Liz Ratliff ’12, Allie McKinney ’13, Rebecca Juhl ’12, Kelly Hogan ’13, Chase Davis ’12, Khaki Lacy ’13, CJ Farris ’11, Jessica McLean Farris ’13, Elizabeth Chandler ’12, Michael Freshley ’13, Anne-Ward Arbegust Eshelman ’15, Ali Judah ’12, Patrick Deffendall ’13, Hillary Henize ’13, Cadey Phipps ’13, and Catherine Mannon Deffendall ’13
Carrie Fowler began a master’s in puppet arts at the University of Connecticut. It is the only college in the United States to offer a graduate-level degree in puppet arts/puppetry. Sarah-James Miles married Garrett Dennis Sendor on June 24, 2021.
Thomas Burkey is coordinator for student life at Centre. His siblings are Dan Burkey ’09, Hunter Burkey ’11, Martha Grace Burkey Moore ’14, and Nancy Katherine Burkey ’21. His parents are Paul and Ruth Dudley Burkey ’81 and ’83. AJ Guerrier is an admission counselor at Centre.
2021
Nancy Katherine Burkey is coordinator for residence life and housing at Centre. Her siblings are Dan Burkey ’09, Hunter Burkey ’11, Martha Grace Burkey Moore ’14, and Thomas Burkey ’20. Her parents are Paul and Ruth Dudley Burkey ’81 and ’83. Mary Grace Rapier played the lead role of Jeanie, wife of the titular character in The Stephen Foster Story, the long-running outdoor theatre production in Bardstown, Ky.
3 Kinsey Hisle ’15 4 Dexter Horne ’16 5 David and Sarah Harris Boyd ’17 and ’17 at David’s
ordination
6 The wedding of Ian Black ’17 and Katrina Durbin: (front row) Abby Zaman ’17, Caroline Tyler Horn ’17, Katrina, Shelby Adams Bostick ’17, Caitlin Yockey ’17; (second row) Andrew Horn ’17, Ian; (back row) Connor McCarthy ’17, Ben Davis ’17, Carson Riley ’17, Andrew Steggeman ’17, Ben Bostick ’17, Dakota Jarman ’17, and David Jones (golf) 7 The wedding of Cole Jordan ’17 and Aaryn
Chandler ’19
8 Caroline Abbott ’18 9 The wedding of Carter Richardson ’17 and Carly Hertel ’17: (from left) Claire Samuels ’19, Ethan Landherr ’19, Anne Carole Preuss ’15, Gunnar Miller ’17, DJ Carter ’17, Tanner Sauley ’18, Paxton Duff ’18,
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Brett Jones ’17, Meghan McGinty ’17, Sam Lukens ’18, Will Hellman ’18, Ben Cooper ’17, Tori Dillard ’17, Stephen Marks ’17, Will McGarrigle ’18, Lucas McAvoy ’17, Andrew McKinney ’18, Mitchell Adamic ’17, Trevor Brewer ’17, Zach Tarter ’18, Andrew Olson ’17, Carson Ebert ’19, Casey Klein ’18, Erin Macleod ’17, Nick Hoffman ’19, Jacob Pike ’16, Libbie Sparks ’17, Dakota Jarman ’17, Will Maguire ’18, Aaryn Chandler ’19, Cole Jordan Chandler ’17, Ben Davis ’17, Abhi Alur ’14, Matt Gump ’17, Olivia Schad ’18, Chris Duzyk ’14, Maddie Mescher Duzyk ’14, Brooklyn Bell Pike ’18, Matt Broering ’16, Taylor Singleton ’19, Matt Touhy ’16, Charlie Grigsby ’16, Devon Simms ’17, Hannah Bellamah ’18, Abby Patterson ’17, Christian Gateskill ’17, Falon McGinty ’18, Hayley Barker ’18, Sydney Preston ’17, and Robel Abate ’19 10 University of Louisville School of Medicine
graduates Jeremy Tarter ’89 (left) and Dan Finn ’90 (right) celebrate the UofL White Coat Ceremony this spring with their children Zach Tarter ’18 and Maggie Finn ’18.
11 The wedding of Shruti Shankar Ram ’17 and
Davis Kinkel ’18: Shruti and Davis (center), Michael Greathouse ’18 (second left), Courtney Edens ’17 (third left), Ava DiNella ’17 (fifth left) and Andrea Marchyn ’17 (second right)
12 Henry Hawkins ’18 13 Carrie Fowler ’19 with Twiggy, a puppet. Centrepiece Fall/Winter 2021
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FACULTY AND STAFF NEWS David Anderson (economics & finance) co-authored an article, “Pivoting to Childbirth at Home or in Freestanding Birth Centers in the U.S. During COVID-19: Safety, Economics and Logistics,” in Frontiers in Sociology (March 2021). The article is related to a chapter by Anderson and his Canadian co-authors in a new book on birthing models and human rights. In addition, Where’s My Midwife? A Podcast recently featured Anderson and his same co-authors discussing their article and chapter. Sara Egge (history), author of Woman Suffrage and Citizenship in the Midwest, 1870-1920, was the keynote speaker at the General Federation of Women’s Club (GFWC) state convention in Yankton, S.D. William R. Levin (art history, emeritus) published an article, “‘Sepellire imorti poueri et miserabili’: La Settima opera di carità e la Misericordia fiorentina nei suoi primi anni di formazione,” translated as “‘To Bury the Poor and Wretched Dead’: The Seventh Work of Charity and the Florentine Misericordia in its First Years of Formation” in English, in the online journal Iconocrazia: Potere delle Immagini / Immagini del Potere, vol. 17 (2020), disseminated by the Università degli Studi di Bari “Aldo Moro” (Italy). In mid-September he addressed this theme more generally in a lecture to students, faculty members, and the local public at Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C., on the origins of confraternities of charity in late-medieval and early modern Florence, their varied objectives, and the artistic patrimonies of two of them. Chantell Limerick (Spanish) participated in a Fulbright-Hays Seminar Abroad in Mexico on the
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Centrepiece Fall/Winter 2021
topic of exploring African heritage in Mexico, one of her scholarly interests. As part of the competitive award, she spent the month of August traveling in Mexico City and the states of Veracruz, Puebla, and Oaxaca. Tom McCollough (religion, emeritus) gave the “New Voices” lectures in January 2021 at the First Presbyterian Church in Myrtle Beach, S.C. on “Putting Jesus in His Proper Place: Setting the Geographical Frame for Engaging the Historical Jesus.” His lectures at the University of Helsinki have been published under the title “The Synagogue at Khirbet Qana in Its Village Context”' in The Synagogue in Ancient Palestine: Current Issues and Emerging Trend (Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2020). McCollough has also been appointed director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Coastal Carolina University. Stacey Peebles (English) and Benjamin West are co-editors of the collection Approaches to Teaching the Works of Cormac McCarthy (Modern Language Association, 2021). In the decades since his 1992 breakout novel, All the Pretty Horses, Cormac McCarthy has gained a popular readership and great acclaim as a contemporary American author. This book offers information on biographical and critical contexts, notes on different editions, and resources for teaching the author's work in a variety of classroom settings. Peebles has been editor of the Cormac McCarthy Journal at Penn State University Press since 2010. Tara Strauch (history) had an opinion piece, “Laws don’t truly make holidays. We have to learn how to celebrate them together,” in The Washington Post (June 18, 2021). The essay addressed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act as well as the history of Juneteenth itself.
Ellen Swanson (mathematics) used her experience in applied mathematics as a consumer reviewer of breast cancer treatment through a Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program, evaluating potential treatments and helping to determine which ones should be allocated more funding. The program is run through the U.S. Department of Defense via the Congressional Special Interest Medical Research Programs. She finds that the program and her own research—also on cancer—have been mutually beneficial. She also drew on her involvement with the organization Living Beyond Breast Cancer for her role as consumer reviewer.
RETIREMENT
Yvonne York Morley retired Sept. 30, 2021, after nearly three decades in the President’s Office. As executive assistant to the president and assistant secretary of the board of trustees, she worked with four presidents— Michael Adams, Milton Reigelman, John Roush, and Milton Moreland. She received the annual Presidential Award for Excellence in 2020. Before retiring, she sent a message of thanks to the College’s senior staff, with whom she worked so closely for so many years. “October 1, 1993, was my official start date at Centre, so my retirement on September 30 will mark 28 years to the day that I have been fortunate enough to call Centre my work home,” she wrote. “And, what a home it has been! Having had the opportunity so meet and work with so many wonderful people—faculty, staff, students, Board members, and alums—at Centre through the years has been one of the richest blessings of my life.” She ended her message with an expression of gratitude for her time at Centre. “Centre will always be in my heart,” she wrote. “While not an alum, being an employee for 28 years and now a ‘past parent’ [her son is McCallum Morley ’21], I treasure the deep connection I have to this place and its people.”
IN MEMORIAM
1951
The alumni office has learned of the death of Ann Trowbridge Johnston, 88, of Marietta, Ga., on March 26, 2018. Her daughter is Lynne Johnston ’80.
1952
John A. Gregory, 90, of Murray, Ky., died May 29, 2021. He graduated from law school at the University of Kentucky and was a captain in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Corps before settling in Murray, where he joined the law firm Nat Ryan Hughes. He was a member of the Murray First Presbyterian Church, where he served on the board of elders and as board chair. He had a lifetime love of hunting and fishing and especially enjoyed his many bird dogs and hunting companions. He was proud to have been an Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts of America in Harlan, Ky. Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Charlotte O’Keefe Gregory ’54; two daughters, Anne Mills and Keane Hale; and three grandchildren.
1953
David L. McNeill, 88, of New Orleans, died Feb. 24, 2020. He was an ophthalmologist for more than 50 years and had been an Air Force flight surgeon and chief of aviation medicine at the Air Force Base in Edwards, Calif. He received his medical degree from Baylor University College of Medicine in 1958 and trained at several other universities, including Tulane Medical School Ophthalmology and Charity Hospital, during his residency. He was president of Tulane Eye Alumni Association. He was clinical investigator at McGhan Medical in 1976 and conducted the first intraocular lens implantation. He was a clinical investigator for Cilco Medical in 1980. His honors included a certificate of merit from the City of New Orleans, commendation from Louisiana Senate, and being named Outstanding Tulane Eye Alumnus in 2008. He was also active in the Clan McNeill Association of America. Survivors include his wife of 22 years, Linda Paradise McNeill; a daughter, Jennie-Lynn McNeill Campbell; a son, Ronald David McNeill; stepdaughters Karen Freese, Missy Schulz, Gretchen Riddle, and Jennifer Coats; his sisters, Margaret Anne Goldstein, Dorothy McNeill Koomey, and Evelyn Koudal; and eight grandchildren.
1954
Amelia Green Nichols, 88, of Danville, died Jan. 6, 2021. She was a housewife and an active volunteer in her church, Danville Presbyterian Church, as well as the
Boyle County Public Library, Centre College, and the Humane Society. Her hobbies were pets, bird watching and hiking, She ran the Empty Nest Bed & Breakfast in her home for 20 years. Survivors include her three children, Kitty Sears, Reidy Guild, and Alex Nichols ’85; and four grandchildren. The alumni office has learned of the death of Carolyn Toy of Louisville on Jan. 22, 2019.
1956
Josephine Cramer Hoover, 85, of Evergreen, Colo., died Feb. 9, 2021. In 1959, she was assigned to Saudi Arabia as a CIA analyst for three years. She was one of, if not the first, women to drive in Saudi Arabia, transporting diplomatic pouches. She moved to Evergreen in 1972. For many years she volunteered with what became the Evergreen Mountain Area Historical Society, serving on the board and as its librarian, cataloging oral histories, photographs, and documents in the collection. She was also honored as one of the longest-serving volunteers in the Jefferson County Open Space program. She earned a master’s in library science at the University of Denver in 1977 and was a librarian for the Stearns-Roger Engineering Corporation and the Jefferson County school district. Survivors include her daughters, Amelia Adair and Teresa Holden; and her siblings, Judith Cramer Kite ’59 and Noel Cramer. Robert W. Nichols, 85, of Louisville, died Nov. 30, 2020. He was a Navy veteran and a retired investment advisor. Most of his career was spent at the old First National Bank/Kentucky Trust Company, where he was a senior vice president. He retired from Raymond James in 2004. He enjoyed family, friends, the arts, politics, extensive travel, and golf. A lifelong Presbyterian, he was a member of Second Presbyterian Church, where he served as a trustee. Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Martha Clay Nichols; children Martha Nichols-Pecceu ’85 and Robert Nichols ’88; and four grandchildren.
1957
Ewing Marsh Goodson, 85, of McMinnville, Tenn., died Dec. 11, 2020. He was a member of Centre’s undefeated 1955 football team, one of only four teams inducted into Centre’s Hall of Fame. He was a football and track coach in Arkansas, Tennessee, and Georgia. In 1967, he joined the inaugural faculty at Jackson State Community College in Tenn., where he taught and was an administrator until he retired in 1994. In 2013, he
was inducted as a member of the Tennessee Community College Athletic Association’s Hall of Fame. Marsh is survived by his wife of 57 years, Katharine Pearsall Goodson; his daughter, Marsha Kaye Dennison; his son, Jeffrey Todd Goodson; and four granddaughters.
1959
The alumni office has learned of the death of James E. Cahill of Senatobia, Miss., on Aug. 21, 2020. Guilio “Julian” Guinchigliani, 88, of Louisville, died Nov. 15, 2020. He was an Air Force veteran of the Korean War and was in the Reserves. He spent more than 35 years at Citizen’s Fidelity, later acquired by PNC, and retired as a vice president in the accounting department. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, he was instrumental in implementing the automated teller machine process for the bank. He was considered an expert in “overnight float” and was often loaned out to regional banks as a consultant. Survivors include his son, Tony Guinchigliani; daughter, Gina G. Hina; and three grandsons. Mary Jo Settle Lones, 83, of Atlanta, died March 11, 2021. She was a retired elementary school teacher who taught for many years in Scottsville, Ky. Survivors include her daughter, Laura Lones; sister, Emily Polson; and brothers, Bill Settle, Wilbur Settle ’62, and Francis Settle.
1964
Winston F. Clifton, 78, of Charleston, S.C., died March 22, 2021. He was a retired systems analyst for the State of Kentucky and a member of the Barbourville First United Methodist Church. His passion was always University of Kentucky men’s basketball. Survivors include his daughter, Elizabeth Clifton O’Leary ’92; brother, Charles Randall Clifton; and grandchildren, Declan O’Leary and Erin O’Leary ’24. H. Gordon DePoyster, 78, of Greenville, Ky., died Jan. 12, 2021. He was a dentist and a member of First Christian Church in Greenville. Survivors include his wife, Lamar Hansen DePoyster; and longtime family member Greg Haley of Greenville. G. William “Bill” Kingsbury, 79, of Snellville, Ga., died March 10, 2021. He received a Master in Urban and Regional Planning from Virginia Polytechnic Institute. He worked with communities and the private sector in Kentucky, Colorado, and Georgia to establish economically sound improvement programs for
Centrepiece Fall/Winter 2021
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IN MEMORIAM
parks, industrial sites, resorts, hotels, airports, campgrounds, retail development, roadways, and housing. At the time of his death, he was chair of the Snellville Planning Commission, secretary of the Snellville Downtown Development Authority, and principal advisor to obtain an affordable senior housing development for Snellville United Methodist Church. Survivors include his wife, Shaysha “Shirley” Davidson Kingsbury; children, Beth Duncan and Mark Kingsbury; stepchildren, Lonnie Ford and Melanie Freeman; and seven grandchildren. John B. “Jack” Roe, 78, of Holmes Beach, Fla., died Nov. 27, 2020. He practiced law in Rochelle, Ill., for more than 20 years and was admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court. He was elected Ogle County (Ill.) State’s Attorney, circuit judge for the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, and to two terms in the Illinois Senate. He was appointed chief justice of the Illinois Court of Claims. After retiring as a judge in 2000, he became an adjunct professor at the Stetson University law school in St. Petersburg, Fla. He enjoyed horse racing, golf, reading, and traveling. Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Phyllis; son, Ben Roe ’97; stepdaughter, Julie Watt; sister, Ruth Roe Arth; and four grandchildren.
1967
Edward H. “Bing” Walter, 75, of Danville, died Dec. 9, 2020. He served a number of years as controller at Centre, then was a vice president of Citizens National Bank. He had been treasurer of the Danville-Boyle County Humane Society, a board member of McDowell House, and president of the Danville Country Club. He was a member of the Presbyterian
Church of Danville, where he had been a deacon and treasurer. He was an avid University of Kentucky Wildcats fan. Survivors include a daughter, Julia Walter; a sister, Leslie Walter Dedman ’69; and four grandchildren.
1968
Beverly Morris Monohan, 74, of Louisville, died March 12, 2021. She earned a master’s in education from the University of Louisville and taught for many years at Smyrna Elementary School in Louisville. Her many volunteer works included two years with the Association for Retarded Citizens using handicapped puppets. She enjoyed travel, especially to the beach. She was a member of St. Leonard Catholic Church. Survivors include her husband of 51 years, Jim Monohan ’69; daughters, Elizabeth Monohan ’95 and Erin Monohan Whitlock ’98; siblings, Linda Davis and Edward Morris; and five grandchildren.
1969
The alumni office has learned of the death of Judith Preuss Erler of Louisville on July 31, 2020. E. Scott Kimbel, 74, of Frankfort, Ky., died April 6, 2021. He retired as a well-respected professional farrier, specializing in the care of thoroughbred foals. Some of his favorite activities were horseback riding, fly fishing, and playing the guitar. Survivors include his wife, Kathryn Anne Kimbel; and his brother, Wayne Herrick Kimbel.
1979
The alumni office has learned of the death of Michael Troutman of Lexington, Ky., on March 17, 2019.
THE LEGACY AWARD
1984
The alumni office has learned of the death of Kathleen McEnerny of Arlington, Va., on Sept. 26, 2020.
1996
William E. “Wes” Stilwell, 46, of Midway, Ky., died Oct. 19, 2020. A master logger, he owned Tree Tenders. He was an avid outdoorsman and especially loved fishing and being in the woods. He coached several youth soccer teams. Survivors include his mother, Doris Stilwell; children, Brooke Stilwell and William “Earle” Stilwell; and sister, Belen Angel.
2014
Logan James Humphrey, 29, of Paris, Ky., died July 1, 2021. He received his doctorate in physical therapy at the University of Kentucky and was a physical therapist at ARK Rehab. He enjoyed anime, listening to hip hop, Godzilla, and playing video games. Survivors include his parents, Rodney and Linda Morris Humphrey; brother, Landon Chase Humphrey; grandparents, Anna Lee Morris, Alice Faye Means, and Carroll James Humphrey; and girlfriend, Kara Christiansen. Zachary Thomas Trette, 29, of Frankfort, Ky., died Dec. 30, 2020. He worked for EPIC Systems and Metcalfe’s in Madison, Wis., before returning to Kentucky to work at Keeneland. While at Centre, he was a member of the Association for Computing Machinery competitive coding team and created a Perryville Civil War Battlefield Casualty Database for the Kentucky Historical Society. He played handbells and sang at church throughout his life and enjoyed history, mathematics, culinary arts, tennis, sushi, pizza with extra sauce, video games, and anime. Survivors include his parents, Frank and Sally Clark Trette; his siblings, Clayton Trette ’16, Evelyn Koger, Olivia Trette, and Matthew Trette; and grandparents, Marilyn Lacy Clark and Margaret Trette.
FORMER STAFF
$3000 RENEWABLE ANNUALLY for the
CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN of ALUMNI. For information, contact the Admission Office at 800.423.6236 or email at admission@centre.edu.
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Phillip Anderson, 62, died Oct. 29, 2021. He retired as a maintenance mechanic in July 2021 after more than 17 years at the College. He received a Horky Award in 2008. A Navy veteran, he previously worked for 20 years at Penn Ventilator. He was an enthusiastic fisherman. Survivors include his wife of 38 years, Barbara Tamme Anderson; three children, Cassie Chester, Kristin Anderson, and Hunter Anderson; and grandchildren.
EMERITUS FACULTY IN MEMORIAM
CHARLES A. GIRARD Charles A. “Chuck” Girard, a 27-year member of the chemistry faculty, died Oct. 15, 2021. He was 89. Girard served four years with the U.S. Army in Austria in the early 1950s before earning chemistry degrees at Ohio State University (B.S.) and the University of Kentucky (M.S., Ph.D.). While at UK, he met his beloved wife, Annabel, who survives him. They were married almost 52 years. A Massachusetts native, he was senior associate chemist at IBM in Lexington, Kentucky, 1962-66 and held a patent related to printing and developing. He joined the Centre faculty in 1968 to teach theoretical chemistry. “I’ve always been curious,” he once said. “That’s why I came to Centre—so I’d have the opportunity to interact with other disciplines.” His curiosity took him in many directions. He spoke three languages—English, German, and French—studied the constellations with a refractor telescope, and tracked meteorology using a rain gauge and a wind vane on his house. He played the piano and organ for many years and even built a pipe organ after reading about how old organs were made. He used a vacuum cleaner motor for the organ’s blower. He also built paper cathedrals and a greenhouse, loved opera, operated a ham radio, painted, and usually had a good cigar in his hand. “Chuck Girard was a true renaissance man with knowledge in so many fields—from foreign languages, to music, to the sciences,” says Jeff Fieberg ’91, who joined the Centre chemistry faculty in 2005. “He demonstrated that learning should be fun and that laughing a lot is contagious! He is one of two professors I have tried to emulate during my past 24 years of college teaching. I try to make my classes as fun as his were to motivate my students to study chemistry.” Debbie Massey-Eyre ’91, now a pediatric physician, concurs. “He is the reason I became a chemistry major,” she says. “He was such a fun professor and so very kind.” She also remembers him as a true character who loved music.
“I can see him now in one of his famous pullover sweaters, cigar not far away,” she recalls. “I am confident that when he passed through the pearly gates, the angel choir serenaded him with ‘Danke Shoen’ as he so often sang to us, and that dear Dr. Sagar was waiting for him with a bushel of kumquats, which is what Dr. Girard famously offered students who answered his questions correctly.” Girard received a number of honors for his work with Boy Scouts, including the District Award of Merit, District Commissioner of the Year, and the Silver Beaver (highest award at the council level). He was a member of the Order of the Arrow and in 1989 received the St. George Medal, presented by the Catholic Church to outstanding Scout leaders. For many years he was troop committee chair for Troop 119 in
“I’ve always been curious. That’s why I came to Centre— so I’d have the opportunity to interact with other disciplines.” CHARLES “CHUCK” GIRARD Danville. He was very involved with his church, Saints Peter and Paul, in Danville. When he retired in 1995, he was asked what final advice he would like to give his students. “You have the wherewithal within you to be anything you want,” he said. “But to be that, you need to set a goal and focus on it.” In addition to his wife, he is survived by his son, Charles Girard; his daughter, Mary Girard (a librarian at Centre); two grandchildren, Veronica Annabel Girard and Arturo Constantine Borges; and his brother, Arthur Girard. —D.F.J. Centrepiece Fall/Winter 2021
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ENDPIECE
A Little Organization by EMMA EDERHEIMER OBERDIECK ’93
I brought my son home from college last summer after his freshman year. As he regaled me in the car with tales of the activities he was going to join in his sophomore year, I laughed to myself. I remember my sophomore year—the busiest year of my entire academic career. I carried around a planner. If you’re old enough, you may remember them: spiral bound, two pages for every day, segmented by the half hour, with a small section of white space for extra notes. I was never without it. It was one of many books I carried to and from class. Did I have time for a study session? Maybe I could pencil it in after play practice but before the R.A. meeting . . . or after Centre Singers, but before I had to open the Norton Center for the evening Chanticleer concert . . . or after the baseball game but before the party in the quad. You get the picture. I remember my best friend, Laureen Justice McCorkle ’92, looking through the planner and questioning my sanity. Not to be deterred, I simply replied, “Why do only one or two things when I can do them all? It just takes a little organization.” Thirty years later, I have to laugh to myself. I am definitely older. But if wisdom comes from slowing down, I’m definitely none the wiser. I may no longer have a paper planner (though it took me more than a decade to give up on them), but I’m still a planner at heart. When it was just my husband, Brian, and me, we could write on a monthly calendar hanging in our kitchen. A church meeting here. A choir practice there. A random game night with friends. Then our boys came along, and I upgraded to a large white board calendar so we could erase, make text smaller, and squeeze in just one more thing on any given day. Trumpet lessons, t-ball, Boy Scouts, play practice, robotics club. You name it, they did it. And Brian and I never slowed down with our own commitments. True
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Centrepiece Fall/Winter 2021
story: One year at our small town’s annual festival, the five of us had so many commitments I created a color-coded spreadsheet to track everyone and their transportation and food needs. (Yes, I still get teased mercilessly over that.) Our parents consistently told us over the years how they marveled at our commitment load. “Why do only one or two things, when we can do them all?” I replied every time as my little joke. “It just takes a little organization.” Type A? High strung? I’ve heard them all, and I own up to every one of them. I’m a planner because planning allows me to be fully present. And when I am fully present in the moment, I experience joy. Can I account for every contingency? No. But bring on the surprises and the hurdles! My organizational skills allow me to be resilient and positive, whatever comes. Case in point, in only two months this year we moved to a new home, our oldest son graduated from college and got married, our youngest son graduated from middle school, and my husband both started a new job and went back to school. Surprises and hurdles galore. But lots of joy! And as he predicted, my middle son embarked on a sophomore year to remember with classes, jobs, and more extra-curriculars than I could imagine. He has so much to do. I marvel at his commitment load. Perhaps I should get him a planner. Why do only one or two things, when we can do them all? It’s life. It’s a joy. It just takes a little organization. Emma Ederheimer Oberdieck ’93 lives with her family and two golden retrievers at their lake house in Southern Indiana. She is an experience strategist and transformation lead for Digital Health & Analytics at Humana Inc. When she’s not working, she enjoys time with family and friends and singing in her church choir.
Emma Ederheimer Oberdieck ’93 and her son, Daniel, now enjoying his sophomore year in college.
“Why do only one or two things, when we can do them all? It’s life. It’s a joy. It just takes a little organization.”
CE NTRE C OLLECT ION
Cozy Up with Centre 1 Infinity Scarf
1
Soft, smooth 100 percent cotton loop (29” x 70”) with custom Centre design featuring the Centre seal. Hand wash and line dry. $45 includes s/h
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2 Tapestry Throw Exclusive 100 percent cotton tapestry throw (68” x 52”) for couch or bed. These custom tapestries are produced using the same jacquard weaving process found in high quality retail stores. Machine washable. $64 includes s/h
3 Snowy Old Centre Print Print (20” x 24”) by James D. Werline. Unframed limited series signed and numbered by the artist. $85 includes s/h
4 Old Centre Socks Cotton Old Centre socks. Custom designed for the Alumni Association. One unisex size fits most.
3 4
$22 includes s/h
5 Old Centre Jigsaw Puzzle Spend time with friends and family piecing together this 500-piece puzzle with an image of Old Centre. Each puzzle is packaged in a matte-finish box, perfect for gifting, re-use, and storage. $30 includes s/h
6 Our Standard Sure: Centre College Since 1819 Tom Hardin ’63, former director of photography at the Louisville Courier-Journal who shared in three Pulitzer Prizes, teamed up with retired Courier-Journal columnist and feature writer Bob Hill to produce a colorful and picturesque stroll through Centre history, from the College’s founding in 1819 through the Roush era. The 280-page, 9”x12” book includes more than 700 photographs and other illustrations. $32 includes s/h
TO ORDER YOUR ITEMS Contact MacKenzie Snow ’19 Email: mackenzie.snow@centre.edu Web: alumni.centre.edu/shop Phone: 859.238.5500 or toll-free 877.678.9822 Mail: Centre College, 600 West Walnut St., Danville, KY 40422 Make checks payable to Centre College.
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CENTREPIECE CENTRE COLLEGE 600 WEST WALNUT STREET DANVILLE, KY 40422-1394
NON PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID LOUISVILLE KY PERMIT #879
