CLASS NOTES

’50s

Dexter Cooley ’57 and his spouse, Rosemary (Thompson) ’58, are residents of Greenwood, Indiana, and the parents of three grown children, Brian, Barbara and Brent. They also have eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

’70s

Mark McNeely ’70 recently was named an emeritus member of the Indiana Continuing Legal Education Board of Directors. He previously was on the board for 12 years, including two years as president.

Margaret A. Height ’72 recently was re-elected to serve a second three-year term on the Germans from Russia Heritage Society (GRHS) Board of Directors, which has headquarters in Bismarck, North Dakota. GRHS promotes and preserves the genealogy, culture and history of Germans from Russia and Ukraine. Her father, Joseph S. Height, Ph.D., a Franklin College professor emeritus of German and linguistics, was a founding member of GRHS in 1970, during his tenure. Margaret currently chairs the GRHS Joseph S. Height Literary Awards Committee, which, since 1979, has recognized excellence in four categories of writing which pertain to Germans from Russia.

Mark D. Elliott ’79 is an instructor at D & D Driving School and helps the business serve numerous community groups by addressing topics of speed reduction, railroad safety and underage drinking. He resides in Lebanon, Ohio.

’80s

Daniel Markham ’85 had his book, 52 Masses, published in 2022 by Peregrino Press. Over the course of two years, Markham attended Catholic Mass in the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to explore ways Catholics are living the faith. His book includes stories about someone or something at each parish he visited.

Dan Osborn ’87, M.D., was recognized this May by the Missouri Eye Institute for the 37 corneal transplant surgeries he performed in partnership with Saving Sight last year. The nonprofit provides donor corneal tissue for a variety of procedures to help restore people’s sight.

Wayne Wheatley ’87 is an auto insurance underwriter at State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. and resides in Noblesville, Indiana.

Julia (Graham) Edwards ’89 is the juvenile and family court reporter for the Johnson County, Indiana, government. She resides in Franklin.

Patty Converse Nowlin ’89 and her spouse, Bruce, purchased Martha’s Vineyard Bed & Breakfast in South Haven, Michigan, in 2021. She shared, “We live and work in our mission field, where we strive to provide extravagant hospitality and Jesus-like love to those who make our home theirs during getaways.”

’90s

Rafael Sánchez ’92, an Emmy-awardwinning anchor and investigative reporter for WRTV Indianapolis and a Franklin College trustee, was recognized with the Leadership Award at Conexion Five for 500. The annual event, organized by the Indy Chamber’s Hispanic Business Council, recognizes individuals who are paving the way for Hispanic progress in the community. Sánchez was applauded for his longtime broadcast journalism career and widespread volunteerism, typically helping at 50 community fundraisers annually.

Charley Scarber ’92, assistant country attaché to The Bahamas, is part of a new Anti-Gang and Firearms Investigation Task Force aimed at tackling illegal weapons and gang violence.

Julie Eckerle ’93 published a scholarly edition of two 17th-century manuscripts by Dorothy Calthorpe, “News from the Midell Regions” and “Calthorpe’s Chapel,” in 2022. Eckerle teaches English literature at the University of Minnesota, Morris.

Shannon (Baunach) Anderson ’95, a longtime educator and award-winning children’s book author, was a featured presenter during a TEDx event at Michigan State University. She presented on Ikigai, the Japanese concept of “reason for being,” and shared ideas about aligning it with one’s reticular activating system for maximum success in achieving goals.