The (1960s)
C S E PUNN M O A C (C
) N O I T
Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 1339 Wichita, Kansas RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
IN THIS (ISSUE) News from your class agent News From Your Class Agent 1 What’s New With You? 2 Classmate Updates 2 25 Years of Graduate Education 2 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees 3 Inauguration Date Announced 3 More News From Your Agent 3 Spring Alumni Events 4 From the Desk of Lisa Tilma 4
Sherrie (Lindstrom) Andersen, G’68 1960s Class Agent pirsqrd24@hotmail.com You are invited to the inauguration of President Dr. T.J. Arant.
Here we are at the beginning of another new year. What have you got planned for 2012? Will there be special trips to far away countries or across America? New inspirations, gaining some new knowledge, an opportunity to help others, or just time to sit and wonder at our many blessings? It doesn’t seem to be as big a transition as when I was younger but it is still exciting to anticipate the months ahead.
Army at the end of World War II. It was at the Sugamo prison located near Tokyo that he saw and met some of WWII’s most infamous war criminals, including Iva Togori D’Aquino, otherwise known as “Tokyo Rose”. She was the broadcaster who taunted American servicemen with her program, “Zero Hour.” She had been imprisoned in the jail and Johnson, who was then 23, working at the jail, decided he wanted to meet her.
2011 was the 150th year for the State of Kansas. A daily column by Beccy Tanner in the Wichita Eagle has given some trivia about the state or someone in the state. One of our own from Friends University was the subject of one of the those columns. He taught in a room in A Hall to the south of Watkins Hall and I was always a bit suspicious of what was going on in that Physics classroom. I remember a Chapel service when he made David Quick’s hair stand on end! Yes, the column was about Robert W. Johnson.
“GI’s were not supposed to talk with war criminals,” he said. “But I wanted to make some kind of contact and so I managed to talk with Tokyo Rose in her cell. I managed to not have the light go on in her cell. And being the prison electrician, I had to go fix her light. That’s when I was able to talk with her.”
Professor Johnson was a Quaker from western Kansas and an electrician with the 144th Operations Detachment of the U.S.
He took a small step ladder with him into the cell and had a short conversation with Tokyo Rose while he changed the light bulb. His conversation revealed that she had studied entomology in the states and spoke perfect English. Granted it was small talk, he said, but that’s all the conversation he was able to have before the prison’s military police came to the cell to check on him. (Continued on page 3)
WHAT’S NEW WITH (YOU?)
Friends University is more than just getting a degree, but developing a lifelong friendship, which is why we want to stay connected with you as a member of the Friends University Alumni Association. If you have some exciting news that you would like to share with your classmates, let us know! You can update your information online at www.friends.edu/update-your-information. Use your ID number to process the changes quicker.
Spring 2012 • The (1960s)
Classmate updates
CAMPUS (CONNECTION)
With the new format for the Campus Connection class newsletter, the Alumni Office heard from several of you and now there is room to put some tidbits of those communications in our newsletter. •
Noel Zahn, G’68, is teaching Industrial Arts at Circle High School in Towanda, Kan. He writes, “I have often stated that the two most influential things in my life are my parents and Friends University.”
•
Gerald Neece, G’60, is a foster grandpa at Dodge School in Wichita. His granddaughter and her husband are both graduates of Friends.
•
Kenneth Bishop, G’66, writes to say that he retired in 2004 with 35 years of public school teaching experience. His wife is Patricia (McKean) Bishop, G’66.
•
Lana (Rising) Lambert, G’67, writes that she retired in 1998 after working 26 years for the State of Texas in the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services. She has three children, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
•
Mary (Shelton) Lonneke, G’60, is living in Dallas. Her husband, John, passed away in July 2009. He was very active in his class of 1961.
•
Robert Clark, G’68, passed away Nov. 21, 2011, in Sunset Beach, N.C. His wife, Anita (Oestreicher), G’69, remains in N.C. Bob had ALS.
•
Richard Sutton, G’61, passed away in Dallas on Sept. 19, 2011.
•
Robert Eyres, G’60, writes, “After being away from Wichita for 49 years, we returned to make our home.” His grandson, Joshua Luton, is a 2009 graduate of Friends. Another grandson, Ben Luton, is presently a sophomore at Friends.
25 YEARS of GRADUATE EDUCATION Since 1986, Friends University has offered graduate education for professionals ready to take their careers to the next level. Friends University’s graduate offerings have grown from two programs and 41 students to 12 programs and more than 700 students. Currently, graduate students account for more than one-third of enrollment. Looking to the future, “the Graduate school’s next big step is to begin considering doctoral degree programs, as well as adding additional master’s degrees,” said Dr. Evelyn Hume, dean of the Graduate School. Learn more at www.friends.edu/grad-25.
ATHLETIC HALL of FAME Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012 In between the women’s 2 p.m. and the men’s 4 p.m. basketball games Garvey Physical Education Center
Ron Becker, G’80/M’96 football, basketball, tennis
The Friends University Athletic Hall of Fame currently honors 55 inductees, including athletes, coaches and supporters. This year’s inductees were selected by a committee of staff and alumni based on nominations received from members of the Friends University community. Congratulations to the following alumni and coach who will be inducted into the 14th annual Athletic Hall of Fame.
Inauguration the Presidential
Robert “Bob” Moore, 1957-1967 coach, athletic director Joseph “Joe” Hill, G’04 football
of
Thirteenth President of Friends University
Friday, the Thirtieth of March, Two Thousand Twelve 2100 W. University Ave. | Wichita, Kansas Learn more at friends.edu/inauguration.
As Friends University’s new president, Dr. T.J. Arant’s engaging nature and passion for excellence make him an ideal fit to take the University to the next level.
While the role of teacher is among the most fulfilling for Dr. Arant, he describes his family as his great joy: his two grown daughters and his wife, Susan, a fundraiser and former director of alumni affairs at a small, private college.
After the war, Professor Johnson taught physics at Friends University for 12 years and was also a research engineer for Boeing. He retired in 1993. He died in 2008 at the age of 85. Some of you, no doubt, have some great stories to tell of your time in the classroom with Professor Johnson. Share them with us and we may be able to use them in a future issue of our class newsletter.
About Dr. Arant
Dr. Arant hails from the east with a doctorate in English from Duke University; a master’s in English from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; and a bachelor’s from Vanderbilt University.
James Erik “Rick” Tjaden, G’72 football
Page 1 Continued
Dr. T.J. Arant Hold the Date
Lori (Cox) Carter, G’90 volleyball
That’s it for now. Our lives can be hectic and time slips away so stay in touch with those you love and us.
Dr. T.J. Arant Thirteenth President of Friends University
Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012 Between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. basketball games. Wichita Campus
SEE YOU (SOON!) FROM THE DESK OF (LISA TILMA)
Friday, March 30, 2012 • Wichita Campus
Annual Easter Egg Hunts
Saturday, March 31, 2012 • Topeka Education Center Saturday, April 7, 2012 • Wichita Campus
Chili Cookoff
Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012 from 5 to 7 p.m. Wichita Campus
Applications due for 2012-13 Alumni Scholarships Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012 at 5 p.m.
Graduation Fair
2012 Commencement Exercises Wichita - Saturday, May 5, 2012 INTRUST Bank Arena, 500 E. Waterman
30th Annual Urban Chicago Trip Reunion
Friday, May 13, 2012 • Wichita Campus
Thursday, March 15, 2012 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wichita Campus
Many thanks to everyone who had an opportunity to write the Alumni Office and share all the exciting things that have been happening in your lives since the last issue of Campus Connection. I am excited to say that with our new layout of the class newsletters, we received a record number of updates from our readers! Even more exciting is that we were able to spotlight some of our alumni in the various class letters as an opportunity to not only
Alumni Office 316.295.5900 800.794.6945 ext. 5900 alumni@friends.edu www.friends.edu/alumni
MORE (INFO)
Inauguration Ceremony for President T.J. Arant
Friends University does not discriminate against academically qualified students on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association, 230 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604; www.ncahlc.org; 1-800-621-7440.
Stay up-to-date with Friends Flash! at www.friends.edu/friends-flash!
showcase their accomplishments and talents, but also to hopefully reacquaint them with former classmates and introduce them to you as a new friend or business contact. As I’m sure you’ve heard, it’s not only what you know but who you know in today’s world to be successful. So isn’t it nice to know you will always have Friends? Best wishes to all our alumni and their families for a blessed New Year - we look forward to seeing you and hearing from you in 2012!
Lisa Tilma, G’01/M’04 Executive Director of Alumni Relations