VIRES
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A Pu b l i ca t i o n of t h e F l o r i d a S ta te Un i ve rs i ty A l u m n i Asso c i a t i o n S p r i n g /S u m m e r 201 8 Vo l u m e 10, I ss u e 1
O N T OP rtin's New Record Mike Martin's
At the Speed of Business
Fighter Pilot Zooms into Seminole 100
Art Appreciation 1101
A College Campus as Canvas
Portrait of an Artist
Getting Ed Jonas Just Right
The Moment Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2018 9:03 a.m. A VISIT FROM JACK FROST: A statue of a Florida State College for Women student in the Legacy Fountain on Landis Green is shrouded in ice after a mix of freezing rain, sleet and light snow hit Tallahassee. Even though most students had yet to return to campus for the spring semester, the severe winter weather caused FSU to close that day, giving faculty and staff the day off. Photo by Joe Rondone/Tallahassee Democrat
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CIRCUS DAYS: Each January, the students of FSU’s Flying High Circus perform the only act that requires the entire company: raising the tent. Once in place, the tent – 118 feet wide, 190 feet long and 60 feet high – hosts spring home shows and other performances throughout the year. It also provides a home away from home to the more than 100 students who take part in the Flying High, one of only two collegiate circus programs in the nation. Photo by Bob Howard
VIRES
VIRES is the first torch in the university seal and represents strength of all kinds: physical, mental and moral.
VIRES
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A Pu b l i ca t i o n of t h e F l o r i d a S ta te Un i ve rs i ty A l u m n i Asso c i a t i o n S p r i n g /S u m m e r 201 8 Vo l u m e 10, I ss u e 1
O N TOP n's New Record Mike Marti
At the Speed of Business
Art Appreciation 1101
Portrait of an Artist
Fighter Pilot Zooms into Seminole 100
A College Campus as Canvas
Getting Ed Jonas Just Right
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Cover: FSU Baseball Head Coach Mike Martin has been affectionately known by his uniform number for 43 years. Over that time, he became a living legend and the winningest coach in college baseball. To celebrate the man and his iconic number, VIRES magazine created this special version of Martin’s jersey. To read about his record-breaking coaching career, see “Eleven is No. 1” on Page 18. Photo by FSU Photography Services/Bruce Palmer
Contents
Departments
Features
Letters Catching Up With University News Ten Questions Association News Seminoles Forever Class Notes In Memoriam Parting Shot
6 7 8 32 60 68 70 80 84
18
Eleven is No. 1
How Mike Martin won more games than any other coach
in college baseball history
34
Seriously Successful Seminoles
Celebration counts down the Seminole 100 – the nation’s
fastest-growing FSU alumni-owned companies
36
Taking Flight
From fighter jet pilot to epic success in business, James
Barlow keeps on climbing
44
An Artistic View of FSU
Fountains, sculpture, paintings and architecture reveal
the abundance of artistic expression on campus
54
Revealing What’s Real
Nationally renowned artist Ed Jonas combines
movement, context and attention to details to bring
his works to life
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THE FSU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION IS PLEASED TO INTRODUCE THE NEWEST DIRECTORS OF ITS NATIONAL BOARD:
NICOLE BLONSICK (CURRENT STUDENT)
RON HOBBS (B.S. ’62, M.S. ’67)
College of Social Sciences and Public Policy Lake Mary, Florida President, Student Alumni Association
College of Arts and Sciences Tallahassee, Florida President, Emeritus Alumni Society
ALUMNI EVENTS Visit alumni.fsu.edu/events for updates and all upcoming alumni events.
AUGUST 24
67TH ANNUAL KICKOFF LUNCHEON
The FSU Alumni Association will celebrate the beginning of the Coach Willie Taggart era with the 2018 football team and thousands of fans.
OCTOBER 18-21
NATIONAL BLACK ALUMNI REUNION
OCTOBER 19-21 HOMECOMING
The weekend includes the Emeritus Alumni Society Reunion Weekend honoring the Class of 1968, the Homecoming Parade and the Homecoming Awards Breakfast.
OCTOBER 26
CIRCLE OF GOLD INDUCTION DINNER
NOVEMBER 16
YOUNG ALUMNI AWARDS DINNER
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THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES Edward E. Burr, Chair Mark Hillis, Vice Chair Todd Adams Maximo Alvarez Kathryn Ballard William Buzzett Emily Fleming Duda Jorge Gonzalez Jim W. Henderson Craig Mateer Stacey Pierre Bob Sasser Brent W. Sembler
THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS Executive Committee Craig T. Lynch, Chair Steve Pattison, Immediate Past Chair Max Oligario, Chair-Elect Samuel S. Ambrose, Vice Chair Robert Cox, Treasurer B. Dan Berger, Secretary Tom Jennings, Vice President for University Advancement and Foundation President Scott Atwell, Association President and CEO Jennifer Guy-Hudson, At-Large Rose M. Naff, At-Large Jean C. Accius Nicole Blonsick Christopher Bosler Jeff Boykins Stephen T. Brown John Crossman Tracie Domino Kyle R. Doney Mark Ellis Eric Friall Michael G. Griffith Ritesh A. Gupta Thomas C. Haney Maura Hayes Zach Heng Ronald H. Hobbs Clay Ingram Samantha G. Klaff Dazi Lenoir Sandra McMandon Bruce W. McNeilage Eric Muñoz Laura C. Russell Michael J. Sweeney James F. Thielen Joshua Tyler Scott Wiegand Allisson Yu
VIRES
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A PUBLICATION OF THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION 1030 West Tennessee Street Tallahassee, FL 32304 850.644.2761 | alumni.fsu.edu
PUBLISHER Scott Atwell EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jeffery Seay DESIGNER Jessica Rosenthal COPY EDITOR Ron Hartung EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Marquis Washington CONTRIBUTORS Brian Hudgins University Communications ALUMNI ASSOCIATION STAFF Scott Atwell Louise Bradshaw Valerie Colvin Keith Cottrell Anna Cruz Meaghan Eckerle Beth Edwards Scott Gerber Dawn Cannon Jennings Adam Kabuka Chance King Cristian Gonzalez Mendez Torri Miller David Overstreet Kaylee Parent Sergio Pinon Whitney Powers Juliet Reilly Jessica Rosenthal Jeffery Seay Angie Standley Jennifer Tobias Marquis Washington Aimee Wirth
Scott Atwell
FROM THE PUBLISHER Our alumni often describe their FSU experience as the best four years of their lives. What do you call it when it extends to 35 years? Perhaps … blessed beyond measure. I first rolled onto campus in 1983 as a graduate assistant in the FSU sports information office, spent 11 years covering the Seminoles as a local TV sportscaster and then came to work for the university in 1994. The last 10 years I’ve been at the Alumni Association, where we’ve enjoyed so much success that I’ve been recruited by the premier national firm that consults higher education institutions on their advancement initiatives. By the time you read this, I’ll be at Grenzebach Glier + Associates helping other alumni associations enjoy the kind of success we have at FSU, which includes a Top-10 ranking for alumni giving rate. Of course, no one can take individual credit for alumni success. FSU provides an extraordinary student experience – outstanding academics and unrivaled social opportunities, staged on a storybook campus. We graduate happy students who become happy alumni, and everyone who impacts student outcomes should take a bow. In these 35 years, I have most enjoyed telling the stories of talented FSU grads and have marveled at their success. Few come to FSU with silver spoons in their mouths, but they are passionate and driven and take what they’ve learned here to improve their communities and often become leaders of their professions. There are almost 350,000 FSU alumni around the world, creating an incomparable network that makes us all proud. As I head down this new path, there are too many to thank. Whether your FSU experience covered one year or decades, once you’re in this family, you’re in it for life. I am grateful that life’s road brought me to FSU. It’s been a blessed road, indeed. In Seminole Spirit,
Scott Atwell (M.S. ’15) President & CEO FSU Alumni Association THANK YOU TO OUR CORPORATE PARTNERS
VIRES is a registered trademark of the Florida State University Alumni Association. All rights reserved. © 2018
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LETTERS
Re: “The Golden Era,” Fall/Winter 2017 I read with great interest the article that recounted the origins of the National Merit Scholar (NMS) program at FSU. The article stated that the NMS recruiting program began in 1994; however, to be accurate, the program was well underway many years before then. As a Miami Columbus High School senior, I was actively recruited for the NMS program in 1978. Although several Ivy League schools and other prominent universities were actively recruiting me at the time, I was invited to FSU for a private weekend tour of the campus and several related events with other NMS candidates. My recollection, now 40 years later, is that my recruitment included offers of a full-tuition scholarship, advance registration, priority course selection, credits for advanced high school classes, specialized honors classes (taught by the top professors and deans at the university), student housing priority and access to a full-time NMS program coordinator for any other assistance needed. As an upperclassman at FSU, I also acted as a student recruiter for the NMS program and gave presentations at various recruiting events, both on- and off-campus, attended by prospective NMS students. Overall, the NMS program was a fantastic experience and certainly a primary reason for my decision to choose FSU over the competition. To this day, I am still extremely proud to have been a National Merit Scholar at FSU. Go Noles! John T. Metzger, Esq. (B.A. ’82 with Honors in English Writing, summa cum laude)
A view of Longpine Plantation in Thomasville, Georgia. Photo by Mark Atwater
Re: “The Golden Era,” Fall/Winter 2017 FSU did not just start recruiting National Merit Scholars in the 1990s. We got more National Merit Scholars than Harvard in the freshman class of 1978, and I was recruited in 1978-79. First, I got a letter merely congratulating me on being named a National Merit Scholar. Then, I got an application stamped “accepted” with a scholarship offer. I lived in Alabama at the time, and this recruitment strategy was a major reason I chose to attend FSU. Over the years, we have greatly expanded the Honors program, which I was also part of, and we have definitely upped our recruiting game. However, it is a disservice to both the students and the staff of the past to act as if these initiatives are new. Lee Metcalf (B.A. ’83) Director, International Affairs Program Florida State University
Re: “The Gatekeeper,” Fall/Winter 2017 I have always been fascinated by this area of the country. I grew up partially on a farm outside Douglas, Georgia. I just always felt a connection to the land when driving to and from school to go back home. Thanks for the good work you are doing. Norman Watson (B.A. ’56)
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Re: “The Gatekeeper,” Fall/Winter 2017 I sincerely appreciate all the work that is done by the FSU Alumni Association. The subject line of your email advertising the most recent issue of VIRES (“The most successful plantation broker in the South”) was initially very disturbing, and then to see a picture of a white man with a cowboy hat holding a gun was equally unsettling. I went on to read the article and understand its merit and Mr. Kohler’s many accomplishments. However, I ask that you remember to be sensitive to the inferences and potential misinterpretations of your words and pictures. My perceptions were based on historical context, socialization processes and personal experiences. Since we all have different lenses, there is a definite need for a diverse review committee to examine content for cultural appropriateness prior to publishing. Crystal Timmons, Ed.D. (B.S. ’93) Director, Office of Clinical and Field Experiences Delaware State University
We encourage letters from readers. They must be signed and may be edited for length, clarity and civility. Due to space limitations, submission does not guarantee inclusion. Write to Jeffery Seay, editor-in-chief, at jseay@fsu.edu or the FSU Alumni Association, 1030 W. Tennessee St., Tallahassee, FL 32304-7719. To view past issues, visit issuu.com and search for “VIRES.”
TRACY WRIGHT (B.S. ’93) Helping people succeed at Netflix For the past 11 years, Tracy Wright has been making sure Netflix content got successfully delivered to its more than 100 million customers around the globe. Need Turkish subtitles on that episode? Check. Quality control on thousands of streaming titles? Check. Now, the $12 billion company has recognized Wright’s talent for developing talent – elevating her to the newly created director’s role of human resources business partner. “The team I support is a global team, leaders from Tokyo to Singapore to Amsterdam,” Wright explains by phone, stuck in omnipresent Los Angeles traffic. She says the job is part coach and part mentor, infusing the celebrated Netflix culture that begins with 10 core values. “The one that jumped out to me when I started was integrity. The idea that you were transparent and candid about your opinion. You speak your mind based on what you believe to be best for the business, even though it may be controversial.” Photo by Seth Joel Photography
The Jacksonville native credits an FSU summer school class in political science with inspiring her voice, marveling “that I could form my own thoughts and opinions about what’s happening in the world and not just follow in my family’s footsteps. It helped me grow up, mature and recognize that I could be an independent adult – and that I wanted to be.” Wright also landed a part-time job in a Tallahassee music store that launched her career as a leader of people, and today she’s considered an integral part of Netflix’s success in helping women succeed in tech. “You learn a lot when you become a manager,” says Wright, now 48. “What are the business goals? How do I create goals for the people on my team and reinforce what they’re great at and coach what they’re not good at?” And above all, she leads them to channel their passion – what she calls the secret sauce of success. “If you love what you do, you never work a day in your life.” Vires 7
UNIVERSITY NEWS
FSU AT A GLANCE Highlights Perrewé named Lawton Professor Pamela L. Perrewé, professor of business administration in the Department of Management, has been named the 2018-2019 Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor, the highest honor given by the FSU faculty to one of its own. Over her 34-year career in the FSU College of Business, Perrewé has earned an international reputation for her research in business and human resources management, particularly related to job stress, coping and organizational politics. Pamela Perrewé
Top-notch online grad programs
Sport Management best in nation The College of Education’s sport management master’s program is No. 1 in the nation, according to College Choice. The program offers courses in sport marketing, sport and the media, legal issues in sport and facility and event management. Students also engage in sport-based service with various community organizations.
FSU’s online programs are among the best in the nation – highlighted by five graduate programs ranked in the Top 20 and three in the Top 10, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2018 Best Online Programs. • The College of Business’ online programs (non-MBA) in management information systems and risk management and insurance moved up three spots to No. 6. • The College of Communication and Information’s online graduate program in information technology cracked the Top 10, rising to No. 7 in the category of computer information technology. • The College of Criminology and Criminal Justice’s online graduate program held steady at No. 7. • The College of Education’s online graduate program continues to rank among the best in the nation at No. 13. • The College of Business’ MBA online program retained its No. 16 place overall.
Mark Riley
Would choose to enroll again A new dean World-renowned nuclear physicist Mark Riley has been named dean of the FSU Graduate School. Riley, the 2014-2015 Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor, had served as interim dean since August 2017, when the former dean, the late Nancy Marcus, stepped down.
Students who made the choice to come to FSU would do it all over again, according to the latest National Survey of Student Engagement. At FSU, 88 percent of seniors said they would attend the same institution if they had to start over, which was significantly higher than the other participating Florida public universities (83 percent) and national public research universities (84 percent). Stay updated: fsu.edu, news.fsu.edu
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National Black Alumni Cooperation between generations builds new Black Student Union A new Black Student Union has opened its doors in the heart of campus, near the southwest corner of Woodward Avenue and Jefferson Street. The facility – a dream years in the making – became reality in large part through the efforts of the FSU National Black Alumni. “During the past five years or so, National Black Alumni worked on the design, academic partnership scope and fundraising,” says President Eric Friall (B.A. ’90), who also serves as a director of the FSU Alumni Association National Board of Directors. The National Black Alumni developed lists of potential donors, many of whom were FSU alumni who were active with the BSU while students at FSU. “We led efforts to reach out to potential donors, helped with a fundraising marketing campaign, helped with advocacy to key state legislators, and made pledges and monetary contributions to the BSU House Endowment Fund,” says Cassandra Jenkins (B.S. ’79, M.S. ’81), Black Alumni parliamentarian. Tallahassee attorney Sean Pittman (B.S. ’90, J.D. ’94), whose Pittman Law Group represents FSU’s Student Government Association, led the lobbying effort to secure $1.5 million from the Legislature for construction. “I talked with SGA’s leaders about the BSU house and its legacy, and the need for financial assistance to make it a reality. Student body Presidents Stefano Cavallaro (2014-2015) and Jean Tabares (2015-2016) made the project a priority of their administrations, basically giving the green light for my firm to work with the Legislature to secure funds for the
Eric Friall, Cassandra Jenkins and Sean Pittman at FSU’s new Black Student Union. Photo by Photography Services/Bill Lax
house,” says Pittman, who served as FSU’s 1989-1990 student body president. “It was a team effort, and we couldn’t have done it without the help of Florida Sen. Oscar Braynon (B.S. ’00), who put the appropriation request in the budget.” With its sunlight-filled, two-story atrium, which beckons students to enjoy studying together in a common area, the new building is designed for maximum social interaction. The first floor features a spacious event room that can accommodate classes, conferences and socials. Offices for cabinet members are upstairs, along with the cabinet’s conference room, with dramatic floor-toceiling windows that overlook Jefferson Street. The second floor also includes offices for African-American Studies Program instructors who will teach various classes in the building.
While the new building signals a look toward the future, BSU history is reflected in images of handwritten signature- and quotation-covered walls from the old BSU house, which were photographed and transferred to canvases now adorning the walls of the new facility. Its history – and importance – as a refuge for like-minded people with similar experiences made the assistance given by National Black Alumni to FSU’s current black students all the more special. “I don’t know how long it would have taken the students without reaching out to the Black Alumni and the administration,” Pittman says. “But there is little we can’t do when we put our hands out across the generations and focus on what makes FSU better. This is one of the greatest examples of that.”
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Offering guidance to students Raising awareness of social media’s sting In this age of sexually charged social media, college students can easily tarnish their reputations and prospects for the future if they’re not careful.
FSU alumna and corporate image consultant Susan Bigsby talks to members of Kappa Delta in January. Photo by Hali Tauxe/ Tallahassee Democrat
“The image that college students project today is extremely important,” says professional image consultant Susan Bigsby (B.A. ’78), who is eager to help the college crowd learn to maintain control over their images and themselves. “They need to know that their own professional and personal brand begins now, while they’re in school. While they’re 20 years old. They are forming their futures now without even realizing it.” Bigsby, who for 30 years has worked with corporate executives who need to look their best while representing their brands and companies with the utmost professionalism, was invited to speak to the members of FSU’s Kappa Delta sorority in January. Her talk covered the proper attire and etiquette for job interviews as well as how to maintain image integrity. “The presentation I put together for Kappa Delta included lots of pictures I found online for all the world to see of college students dressed inappropriately and behaving inappropriately,” Bigsby says. “Unfortunately, social media has just exploded with sexually charged behavior, and many young people don’t realize at this point that these images can haunt them.” Bigsby’s takeaway for college students is simple: You never know who might be looking, so act appropriately – especially in personal pictures posted to the internet. “Young people need to come to terms and have a clear understanding of the messages they’re putting out there,” she says.
Bigsby began building her own personal and professional brand as a music therapy student at FSU. After classes were done for the day, she headed to a job in a local retail shop. “I began my career with Estee Lauder and eventually became the corporate image consultant for the entire company. And it all began when I was 20 at FSU. I have a very close relationship with this topic because I lived it.” And having lived it, Bigsby is in the right position to raise awareness among young people who might tune out the plea for prudence from a parent. “I think young people might be more willing to hear this from me because I’m not their parent, but
someone who has actually helped people go to the top of their game, with image being a vehicle.” Despite the R-rated nature of addressing what happens online, Bigsby is adamant that a sense of values needs to be reinforced in America’s college culture. After good media coverage from her talk to the Kappa Deltas, Bigsby was invited to speak to a sorority at Ole Miss. “I hope my message catches on like the ‘Me Too’ movement has,” she says. “This needs to be a movement for young women and young men to realize that what they’re putting out there matters.”
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UNIVERSITY NEWS Helping students succeed Four-year graduation rate among top 15 of publics This year’s freshman class arrived packing an average high school GPA of 4.1. But even the best and brightest can benefit from proactive guidance to increase the odds that they’ll return for their sophomore year and press ahead to graduate. This is where FSU puts its values into deliberate practice to ensure broad student success. “Keeping students through their first year and having them return for their second is a real problem for many institutions,” McRorie says. “You can’t have a good four-year graduation rate until you can have freshmen returning as sophomores, and that means maintaining a sharp focus on retention.” With a 94 percent freshman-tosophomore retention rate – another statistic of top-15 publics – FSU has come a long way in keeping dropouts at bay with these innovative solutions.
FSU’s four-year graduation rate for students in 2016-2017 was 68 percent, a dizzying figure that puts it in the top 15 of the nation’s public universities. The number doesn’t apply to any particular group of kids either, according to Sally McRorie, FSU’s provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. “Regardless of academic program, race, ethnicity or socioeconomic status, all of our students are graduating at this impressive rate. FSU is the highest-ranked public university in the country that can say our average is applicable to all our students. It speaks to our values as an institution.” In recent years, the quality of FSU’s students has continued to trend upward.
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•Academic maps: A listing of courses and academic milestones that clearly defines each major. “These maps are a straightforward way to help students progress toward a four-year degree,” she says. •The exploratory major: For students who are unsure of their eventual major. “This program is beneficial because so many of our students aren’t aware of the many degrees they could seek or all the different professions they could go into,” she says. “A lot of the time, they simply don’t know everything available to them, but with good academic maps and a major that helps erase uncertainties, they can get informed, make good choices and succeed.”
•Professional advisers: Serving mostly freshmen and sophomores, the professional advisers are trained to work with any student, regardless of major, and have every student’s complete record available to consult at the touch of a button. “This is a relatively new model for advising, different from the day when faculty members did all of the advising,” she says. “Our faculty now mainly advise upper-division students who are well into their majors.” •College Life Coaches: Serving students who FSU have some academic difficulties, they teach them to be more effective learners and can help them to connect with other students, build life and leadership skills, manage stress or develop goals. “We’ve hired these coaches for our students who are having some trouble, whom we’ve identified as not taking the proper coursework or successfully completing their coursework to be able to graduate,” she says. FSU also has launched Engage 100, a program designed to get students plugged into campus life from their first semester. It puts access to the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, Freshman Interest Groups, the Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement and other tried-and-true academic programs under a unified banner. “We know from our own data and from the national data that the more students are engaged, the better they do,” she says. “Their grades, their overall health and their well-being are all better.”
Remembering a military hero
Family and friends of Scott Speicher attend the memorial’s unveiling in February. Front row, from left: Madison Harris, JoAnne Speicher-Harris, June McCue, Buddy Harris, Meghan Wagner holding son Barrett, and Makenzie Harris. Back row, from left: Bob Harrington, Bryan Wagner, Brian McCue, John Sutherland, Billy Francis and Mike Buzzell. Harrington, McCue and Buzzell were Speicher’s squadron mates. Photo by FSU Photography Services/Bill Lax
Bronze sculpture honors Scott Speicher’s sacrifice The spirit of Scott Speicher (B.S. ’80), celebrated as a true American hero, is alive and well on the FSU campus. FSU President John Thrasher joined members of Speicher’s family in February to unveil a new memorial honoring the U.S. Navy pilot whose fighter jet was shot down on the first night of the Iraq War in 1991. The memorial, located at the entrance of the tennis facility named after him in 1993, features a bronze pilot’s helmet and eventually will include a bronze flight jacket and hat similar to what Speicher would have worn. “It’s important that future generations understand who he was and what he did for his country,” Thrasher says. “Twentyfive years ago, we named this tennis center in his honor. Today, we continue to tell the story of Scott Speicher with the dedication of this beautiful memorial and plaza.”
The story of Scott Speicher became an agonizing journey of twists and turns that continued for nearly 20 years because it was unclear if he was dead or alive. On Jan. 17, 1991, as the United States launched Operation Desert Storm, Lt. Cmdr. Speicher was piloting his F/A-18 Hornet toward Baghdad in pitch dark around 3 a.m. as his aircraft carrier battle group, led by the USS Saratoga, fired tomahawk missiles into Iraq. His mission was to destroy a battery of surface-to-air missiles. Speicher was within 45 seconds of his target when an enemy MiG-25 appeared and fired a missile that ripped off one of the wings on his jet. Witnesses saw a fireball in the sky and then, about 20 seconds later, a huge explosion on the ground. It looked like Speicher was killed in the crash, and the U.S. military classified him as killed in action. Years later, new evidence indicated Speicher had actually ejected from his jet around 13,000 feet. Satellite photos spotted the wreckage; the plane’s canopy
was located 1,400 yards away, indicating an ejection; and Speicher’s status was changed to missing in action in 2001. It marked the first time in the history of the U.S. military that a soldier was reclassified from KIA to MIA. In 2002, he was promoted to the rank of captain. Speicher’s remains were discovered in the Iraq desert west of Baghdad in 2009 — 18 years after his plane was shot down — and his case resulted in fundamental changes in the way the military handled cases of missing soldiers. Now, there must be proof of death before a search is called off; previously, that action would happen when there was no proof of life after 12 months. The memorial project was a collaboration between FSU’s Grounds and Landscape Operations, Master Craftsman Studio, Mad Dog Construction and Student Veterans Center. The memorial unveiling was held as part of Military Appreciation Weekend hosted by FSU Women’s Tennis.
UNIVERSITY NEWS Vires 13
UNIVERSITY NEWS
RESEARCH Biological Science
to ADHD symptoms. By “exercising” those areas of the brain that help guide behavior and control impulses, Kofler hopes the nonmedication therapy will deliver long-term benefits for children with ADHD.
Ocean acidification changing mussels Accelerating ocean acidification could be transforming the fundamental structure of California mussel shells. A team of researchers led by FSU biological science Assistant Professor Sophie McCoy found that while shell mineralogy has remained consistent for centuries, shell specimens collected within the past 15 years have experienced dramatic structural changes. When mussels are ready to build their shells, they first lay down an amorphous soup of calcium carbonate, which they later order and organize. More recent shells have started heaping that calcium carbonate soup where it needs to go and then leaving it there disordered. The team also found that recent shells exhibited elevated levels of magnesium, a sign that the process of shell formation has been disrupted. Read more: gonol.es/McCoymussels
Read more: gonol.es/ADHDgames
Psychology Video-game therapy treats ADHD without medication
Research garners MLK award recognition
A potential new option to treat children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder without medication involves playing “video games” that were developed by a team of researchers led by Michael Kofler, an assistant professor in FSU’s Department of Psychology. The novel approach has gained the attention of the National Institutes of Health, which has awarded $2 million for a new clinical trial. A huge demand exists for an ADHD treatment that does not require children to take prescription drugs every day. Kofler’s research team created specialized video games intended to target underdeveloped areas in the brain linked
Joedrecka Brown Speights received a 2018 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Distinguished Service Award from the university in recognition of her work in leading an FSU College of Medicine study published in 2017. Brown Speights’ research found 18 states on track to eliminate racial disparities in infant mortality by the year 2050 if current trends hold – or sooner if they accelerate. Published in the American Journal of Public Health, the study projected that more than 4,000 babies a year could be saved by eliminating black-white disparities in those states. Brown Speights, an associate professor and interim chair of the Department of Family
Michael Kofler displays his video game designed to treat ADHD by exercising targeted areas of the brain. Photo by FSU Photography Services/Bill Lax
Sophie McCoy conducts research on Tatoosh Island, Washington. Softer shells as a result of ocean acidification may intensify shell damage from parasitic organisms, as seen above in a close-up of a Tatoosh Island mussel.
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Medicine
Joedrecka Brown Speights receives a 2018 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Distinguished Service Award from FAMU-FSU College of Engineering Professor Okenwa Okoli, one of last year’s recipients, during the university’s 30th Annual MLK Week Commemorative Celebration in January. Photo by Andrew
Retail, Merchandising, Product Development Better protective gear to benefit first responders
develop a tool that can help predict which children will need more intensive speech therapy. Though cochlear implants can be a life-changing technology, researchers have documented a gap in speech outcomes among children who receive the device. Some acquire language and catch up to their peers with normal hearing, while others lag well behind.
Technology breakthroughs in clothing materials and design benefit everyone, but perhaps none more than first responders. Even though burn injuries among firefighters have plummeted in the past decade, cases of heat stroke, exhaustion and cardiac arrest deaths have spiked because protective gear is much more insulated. New research from FSU Assistant Professor Meredith McQuerry aims to shape the design of that gear to maximize protection and minimize heat buildup. McQuerry’s research study, published in The Journal of the Textile Institute, will inform the National Fire Protection Association as it looks for ways to safely remove nonessential reinforcements and additional fabric layers in firefighting suits to improve breathability without sacrificing burn protection.
Read more: gonol.es/Ingvalson
Read more: gonol.es/McQuerry
Salinero
Medicine and Rural Health, was praised in a letter of nomination for the award as “single-handedly responsible for integrating concepts of racism, poverty and effects of discrimination on health into all aspects of the medical education curriculum at the College of Medicine.” Read more: gonol.es/JBSpeights
Communication
Meredith McQuerry, an expert on protective clothing for firefighters, identified flaws in some high-tech firefighting suits, including less breathability.
Breakthrough could help children with hearing loss FSU researcher Erin Ingvalson, an assistant professor in FSU’s School of Communication Science and Disorders, was part of an international team that used brain scans and machine-learning algorithms to determine which areas of the brain were most associated with learning speech among deaf children with cochlear implants. The breakthrough, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, puts the team on track to
Photo by FSU Photography Services
Erin Ingvalson
UNIVERSITY NEWS Vires 15
UNIVERSITY NEWS First Words Project with caregivers. They followed that up in January with another list, “16 Actions with Objects by 16 Months.”
Amy Wetherby
Research finds gestures to master by 16 months By Elizabeth Svoboda Growing up, Amy Wetherby noticed how difficult it was for her cousin with autism to express himself. Her concerns got her thinking about how to help people like him get their ideas across. Was there any way, she wondered, to help all kids communicate early on so they would have an easier time later in life? It was a question that ultimately turned into a career path. Now a distinguished research professor in FSU’s College of Medicine and director of the university’s Autism Institute, Wetherby specializes in detecting communication problems before kids reach their second birthdays. Through her federally funded First Words project, her research team studies how some children’s development diverges from that of typical children, and she’s launched a nationwide campaign to educate parents about critical early milestones that drive speech development. Last year, Wetherby and her colleagues created “16 Gestures by 16 Months,” a list of simple motions babies should be making to connect
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Rates of communication disorders are on the rise. About 1 in every 68 American children meets the criteria for autism spectrum disorder, according to the Centers for Disease Control. But addressing signs of trouble soon after a child’s first birthday can minimize later problems with talking, learning and social skills. “Parents notice first their child is not talking. By the time parents really notice the signs of autism, usually the child is in the 24- to 30-month range,” Wetherby says. “You’re going to be able to change that child’s trajectory much more easily early on.” For years before Wetherby developed her lists, she was studying the minutiae of child development – what major skills typically showed up at what times, and what it meant when babies weren’t acquiring these skills. In her studies, she used what she calls “communicative temptations” to encourage babies to interact with caregivers – for instance, she might use a wand to blow soap bubbles from a bottle and place the bottle in front of the baby. Then she and her research team would watch what the baby did. Did she point to the bottle and look at her parent, as if to ask the parent to blow more bubbles? Or did she keep staring straight ahead, showing little interest in what was happening? Studying hundreds of children helped Wetherby zero in on 16 typical gestures that form the foundation for speech. As early as 9 months, babies should be able to shake their heads when they are not interested in something, such as a spoonful of food. By 14 months, they should be using their index fingers to point
at objects – perhaps pointing at a box of cereal when they’re hungry, or at a toy that’s on a shelf they can’t reach. And at 16 months, they should be trying out gestures to make social connections, like high-fives or fist bumps. (The gestures may not be as well-defined as they are when older children perform them: A head shake at 9 months may look more like a simple turning away than a complete back-andforth head movement.) Wetherby’s newest list, “16 Actions with Objects by 16 Months,” spells out some of the earliest ways babies begin to interact with their environment. “The very first action you see is really mouthing to explore objects. Around 9 months they’re mouthing and starting to bang and drop,” Wetherby says. By four months after their first birthday, children should be able to do simple actions like pushing a toy car, making dough shapes with a cookie cutter, and scribbling on paper. Tracking these early milestones closely is important, Wetherby says, because they form the basis for later, more complex social interactions. Research shows that a child’s mastery of actions and gestures before the age of 16 months predicts the level of that child’s language development years down the line. When a child gestures or points to something, the parent will usually say the word for it. That interaction jump-starts the language learning process, which in turn allows children to interact with others and eventually to read. That’s why, as Wetherby puts it, “the best time to get ready for kindergarten is between 9 and 16 months.” If babies aren’t yet making some of the movements on the lists, “it may be that they’ve never been exposed to them,” Wetherby says. “Encourage them to learn these.” When children have a true
9 MONTHS
10 MONTHS
communication deficit, she adds, they typically miss several milestones in a row, so being behind on a single skill is probably nothing to worry about. But if a young child has not managed to perform several key gestures or actions even with parental encouragement, parents should seek outside support or a referral to a developmental specialist. The ultimate goal of the lists, Wetherby says, is to empower parents to act when their babies are not meeting early milestones. To that end, she recently launched an online course called “About Autism in Toddlers,” part of autismnavigator.com, to educate parents to notice red flags in their children. Wetherby stresses that once trained experts show parents teaching techniques they can use at home, they can make a real difference in helping their children acquire bedrock skills. “This is the most rapid time of development in the brain. We really want to capitalize on that,” she says. “You’re impacting your children’s learning for the rest of their lives. What you do and say matters.” Learn more: firstwordsproject.com
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15 MONTHS
16 Gestures by 16 Months Communication development starts in the first year of life and goes far beyond learning to talk. By observing a baby’s early gestures, parents can obtain a critical snapshot of how their communication skills are developing. •9 Months – Give, shake head: Children learn to shake their heads to indicate “no.” They learn to push away to let you know they don’t want something. •10 Months – Reach, raise arms: Children learn through exploration with others as they reach to take objects or ask to be picked up. •11 Months – Show, wave: Children learn to hold up and show objects to get others to look and notice what they’re interested in. •12 Months – Open-hand point, tap: Children use an open-hand point with fingers spread and a tap of with the fingers together to draw the attention of others to things of interest. •13 Months – Clap, blow a kiss: Children begin to learn by observing others and copying what others do and say. •14 Months – Index-finger point, “shhh” gesture: Children learn to point with the index finger to reference things at a distance. •15 Months – Head nod, thumbs up, hand up: Children learn symbolic gestures that are essentially words, such as a head nod to indicate “yes” or pinching the nose to indicate “stinky.” •16 Months – Other symbolic gestures: Children learn gestures such as “I don’t know,” “high five” or the universal “peace” sign, which can bolster the learning of spoken words.
@FSUResearch
UNIVERSITY NEWS Vires 17
.
IS NO 1 How Mike Martin won more games than any other coach in college baseball history By Gerald Ensley (B.A. ’80)
Editor’s note: When legendary Tallahassee newspaper columnist Gerald Ensley wrote this cover story in January, he left an empty space after the third paragraph – and said he’d fill in the details when Mike Martin reached his milestone. Sad to say, life had other plans. On Feb. 16, Ensley died. So in this story we’ve filled in the details of Martin’s achievement – and on Page 82 we’ve written a tribute to Ensley. Like you, we'll miss him.
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Photo by AJ Studios Photography
If
Tallahassee Community College had not given up basketball in
1971, Mike Martin might have entered the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame this spring as a basketball coach.
Or if
Martin had not been golf buddies with major league
baseball player Woody Woodward, the only record Martin might own now might be “longest-serving teacher in the Leon County school system.�
But because
TCC did, and because he and Woody were,
Mike Martin this spring became the winningest coach in NCAA Division I college baseball.
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After the Seminoles’ landmark 3-2 victory over Clemson May 5, Mike Martin congratulates his team for never giving up. Photo by Ken Lanese
On May 5, with the nation watching, Martin led FSU in a hard-fought 3-2 defeat of Clemson to earn his 1,976th career victory, breaking Augie Garrido’s record. After nine innings, the Seminoles and Tigers were tied 2-2. Both teams went scoreless in the next three innings. Then, at the top of the 13th, Martin got the break he was looking for. Senior outfielder Steven Wells hit a solo home run to give the Seminoles a 3-2 lead and the eventual win. “It was a night I’ll always remember because of the way our young men battled,” said Martin, FSU’s head baseball coach since 1980.
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Surrounded by reporters after the game, Martin described his newly minted record as especially meaningful because every one of his 1,976 wins occurred while he was coaching at FSU. “The record means that, for a while – I don’t know when it will be broken – but for a while, it’s going to have Florida State’s name as the first two words associated with it, and that’s what means so much to me,” he said. “Because Florida State is the university that gave me a chance to coach.”
Pride of the Garinger Wildcats
Michael David Martin was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. His father, Baine, sold chemicals used in textile mills; his mother, Elizabeth, was a homemaker. He was the youngest of three children. Martin was a star athlete at Charlotte’s Garinger High School. He was the Wildcats’ center fielder and leading batter in baseball, top-scoring guard in basketball and backup quarterback in football.
One day during junior year, as he bent to get a drink of water from a two-nozzle school drinking fountain, he bumped heads with the other drinker: Carol Dellinger. Martin turned to apologize – and was dazzled by the pretty blond senior. He chatted her up and asked if she’d like to go on a date. He invited her to his next basketball game. The two began dating and were married in June 1964. They have three children, four grandchildren and celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary this year. “I had some pressure in my house (to date Martin): My father was a big sports enthusiast who knew all about Mike and was excited I was going to date him,” Carol says. “But that wasn’t the real reason. Mike was a big man on campus and a friendly, outgoing person. If he asked you out, you were going.” Martin went to Wingate Junior College, 30 miles east of Charlotte, on a basketball-baseball scholarship. He became a junior college AllAmerica in baseball and all-conference in basketball. His second season, the sharp-shooting Martin lit up the Davidson College freshman basketball team for a career-high 40 points. A few weeks later, Wingate played Davidson again. In the runway to the locker rooms stood legendary Davidson varsity basketball coach Lefty Driesell and his assistant coach, Terry Holland, later the head coach at Virginia. The two had come to scout Martin for a possible scholarship offer.
Martin missed his first seven shots and committed three early fouls. Before halftime, Driesell and Holland left. “I knew then I wasn’t going to be a basketball player,” Martin says with a chuckle. But he had a future in baseball.
Free out-of-state scholarship
Above left: Carol Martin is joined at the 2017 College World Series by grandson T.J. Martin, daughter Mary Beth Buchanan and granddaughters Lexi Buchanan and Hannah Buchanan. Above: Mike and Carol Martin in 2017 on Mike Martin Field at Dick Howser Stadium.
Morris McHone, the former equipment manager at Davidson (later an FSU assistant basketball coach and NBA head coach), had taken the same job at FSU. McHone talked up Martin to FSU baseball coach Fred Hatfield, who invited Martin to join the Seminoles. The Martins got married on a Saturday in Charlotte, spent the night in Columbia, South Carolina, and drove to Tallahassee the next day. After meeting with Hatfield, who offered him a full out-of-state tuition scholarship, the Martins headed off for their honeymoon. They stayed in an inexpensive motel on Panama City Beach, “So we could say we went to a resort on our honeymoon,” Carol says. “I thought I was hot stuff (to get a scholarship),” Martin says. “But when I started working at FSU, I learned they had an unlimited supply of outof-state scholarships back then. Anyone could get one.” Vires 21
The next Dean Smith?
Martin bounced back to have a great senior season, batting .373. But FSU lost in the NCAA playoffs and didn’t earn a berth in the College World Series Martin spent three seasons in the minor leagues with the New York Mets and Detroit Tigers organizations. Though making the major leagues had been his goal, he realized it wasn’t going to happen. “I got in pro ball and saw how tough it was,” he says. “You’re competing with men from not only all over the nation but all over the world, some of whom were unbelievable.” So Mike and Carol came back to Tallahassee. He landed a full-time job as teacher and basketball coach at Cobb Middle School, and she got a job with the state Department of Education.
Martin opened like a house afire that 1965 season. The starting center fielder had eight hits in his first 15 at-bats, including a game-winning home run and a game-saving catch. A photo of Martin swinging a bat was on the front page of the Tallahassee Democrat sports section. In midseason, he was still leading the team with a .325 average, four homers and 17 RBIs.
Above: In 1965, junior college transfer and center-fielder Mike Martin made a big splash in his first weeks as an FSU player. He banged out eight hits in 15 at-bats, including a crucial home run and a game-saving catch in center field, earning him a photo on the front page of the Tallahassee Democrat newspaper. Photos by FSU Sports Information
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Then, in a game at Clemson, Martin led off the eighth inning with FSU trailing 9-8. Trying to get on base, he let an inside pitch hit him on the left wrist. Though it hurt terribly, Martin went to first, watched as the next batter struck out, then was erased at second base when the third batter hit into a double play. When a teammate brought out his glove, Martin “could not for the life of me” pull his glove over a rapidly swelling left wrist. His season was over, which left him “devastated” when FSU qualified for the College World Series for only its fourth time since beginning play in 1947.
For three seasons, Martin coached a juggernaut, as the hustling, pressing Cobb Cubs basketball team became the scourge of local middle schools. Martin coached an up-tempo game of fast breaks and pressing, man-to-man defense and racked up wins. In 1970, he was hired to coach the inaugural Tallahassee Community College basketball team – surely becoming one of the first coaches to leap from junior high to junior college. Unfortunately, the Eagles played poorly and many players didn’t go to class. By the end of the season, Martin had only eight players still eligible, and TCC President Fred Turner decided the young school wasn’t ready for athletics. So he discontinued the program, which remained dormant until 1990. Martin was hired as the boys basketball coach at Godby High. From 1971 to 1974, he led the Cougars to three winning seasons. And he began entertaining visions of moving up the coaching ladder – in basketball. Then Woody Woodward called.
The job paid only $2,000 a year, and he had to quit coaching Godby basketball. He returned to Cobb Middle School as a physical education teacher, and had to use his leave time whenever FSU went on the road.
Left: Martin as an assistant coach to Woody Woodward in 1975.
But Martin never looked back. “Obviously,” he says, “it changed my life.”
The birth of ‘Eleven’
Woodward said Martin was his first choice. “I knew Mike and I had watched him coach basketball: His energy and his enthusiasm in coaching were just off the charts,” he says. “Plus, I knew he had played baseball at FSU and in the minor leagues, so he knew the game. When you can bring in someone who knows the game, you know you can turn over some aspects of coaching to him.
$2,000 a year
Woodward had been an All-American shortstop at FSU and the second FSU player drafted by major league baseball (1963), behind Dick Howser (1958). Woodward was still in the major leagues but was back at FSU working on a master’s degree. Martin and Woodward became friends and started playing a lot of golf together, especially after Woodward retired from baseball in 1971 and returned to Tallahassee as a vice president with the Winewood Corp. One day in 1974, while playing golf, Woodward told Martin that FSU President Stanley Marshall was thinking of hiring Woodward as FSU’s baseball coach for the 1975 season. Martin surprised himself by blurting out, “If you get hired as head coach, I’ll go with you and help.”
“I took the infielders and pitchers; Mike took the outfielders and catching; and we both worked the hitters. I didn’t have to check on him; his work was A-plus.” In those days, FSU baseball operated on a shoestring. After practice, Martin and Woodward had to count baseballs to make sure they’d all been returned. The team traveled by bus. The outfield “wall” was a chain-link fence. The press box was a six-seat wooden shed on top of the FSU dugout. The backstop was lined with chicken wire to catch foul tips. And FSU had only two sets of uniforms: white (home) and gray (road). “Today, I can name you seven combinations (of FSU uniforms) without even trying,” says Martin, whose team now has eight types of jerseys and five types of pants, yielding dozens of combinations.
“When I said it, I wasn’t sure I meant it,” Martin says. “I was happy at Godby and I knew what (the change) would entail.”
That paucity of uniforms led to Martin’s famous nickname, used by everyone from players to fans to umpires to small children: “Eleven,” which has been his uniform number at FSU for 43 years.
As it turned out, Woodward called the very next day: Marshall had offered him the job. So Martin became FSU’s first full-time assistant baseball coach, in a program that had played its first 18 seasons without one.
His number in high school and college was 15. But when he became an assistant coach, he was relegated to whatever number the players didn’t take. When his turn came, all that remained was No. 11. Vires 23
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A year later, 1979, Howser returned to the major leagues as manager of the Yankees for one season, before taking over the Kansas City Royals and leading them to their first World Series title in 1985. Howser died of brain cancer in 1987, and FSU named its baseball stadium for him in 1988. When Howser returned to the major leagues, FSU tapped Martin. Thirty-nine seasons later, he’s still the coach. “I never dreamed of being the baseball coach at FSU; I was happy in my role as the assistant,” Martin says. “It’s all been a blessing.” On the second or third day of fall practice his first year, he was hitting fly balls to the outfielders when player Jim Busby called out, “Hey, Eleven, when are we going to hit?” “That was the first time I’d been referred to as ‘Eleven,’” Martin says, “and it stuck.”
Woodward to Howser to Martin
After the 1978 season, when Woodward was enticed back to the major leagues as the assistant general manager for the Cincinnati Reds, he endorsed Martin as his successor. But FSU instead hired Dick Howser, who had played eight years in the major leagues after FSU and then spent 10 years as an assistant coach with the Yankees. Howser lived in Tallahassee during the off seasons and had become friends with Martin and Woodward. After he got the FSU job, Howser asked Martin to remain as assistant coach.
More to life than Omaha
By most measures, Martin has done a tremendous job as FSU head coach. His teams have had 24 50-win seasons and 38 40-win seasons. Under Martin, FSU has appeared in 38 straight NCAA regionals and won 19 conference championships (Metro and ACC). He’s produced 90 All-Americans, 19 first-round major league draft picks, eight National Player of the Year winners and four Golden Spikes winners – the baseball equivalent of football’s Heisman Trophy. Martin has taken FSU to 16 College World Series – a record that has become something of an albatross. FSU has never won a College World Series.
Above: Mike Martin, seated, studies game action in 1982 with assistant coaches David Fannin (standing) and Randy Gailey.
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Annually, Martin is subjected to a barrage of criticism – either because he didn’t get the Seminoles to the College World Series or he got them there and they didn’t win. Martin insists the criticism doesn’t bother him. “Nobody feels worse than I do when we don’t succeed,” Martin says. “But I always look at the criticism as, ‘This is the job I chose to pursue, and criticism comes with it.’ “This day and age is no different than it was when I first started, with the exception that it’s easier to get it out there because of social media. But I can remember people running up to the chicken wire (behind home plate) and screaming, ‘What are you doing!’ “Thank goodness we have passionate fans who want FSU to be successful. I’m the same way. Not the critical part but the desire to be successful.”
Martin claims the only talent he brings to coaching is a “competitive spirit.” Woodward and others point to Martin’s good planning, attention to detail and coaching flexibility: When he’s had teams with lots of good hitters, he played for the big inning; when he’s had pitchingdominated teams, he was a fan of the bunt, hit-and-run and stolen base. His personality has changed over the years, as Carol noted: “He used to be a wildman on the field; he wanted to win and he pushed the boys to win.” But he has mellowed over the last 20 years. Part of it was a stronger embrace of his Methodist faith: “He was chasing a national championship so hard, it was to his detriment,” Carol says. “He felt it wasn’t in God’s will to be a tyrant and head case.” Another factor was hiring his only son, Mike Jr., as an assistant coach in 1997. Mike Jr., who played for his father at FSU, is the team’s head of recruiting and hitting coach – and has helped his father better deal with the pressures of coaching.
Above: Three-year-old Mike Martin Jr. on the field with his father in 1976 and at age 6 in 1979, and in the dugout at age 26 during an alumni game in 1999. The younger Martin was FSU’s starting catcher from 1993 to 1995 before joining his father’s coaching staff. Vires 27
How did Coach Mike Martin become the winningest coach in college baseball? One milestone victory at a time: Feb. 5, 1989, 8-3 vs. Arizona State April 8, 1998, 4-3 vs. Jacksonville
Feb. 25, 2006, 12-4 vs. Minnesota
WINS
500
1000 1400
M
s e i r o t c i V e n o t iles 1500 1600
March 16, 2008, 17-8 vs. Georgia Tech “He’s adapted to the times; his ability to teach and play different styles is important,” says Mike Jr. “One change I’ve seen is he is not as fiery, yelling and screaming. He’s much more mellow. He takes time to explain things. I think that goes a long way with kids of any generation.”
‘I owe everything to Florida State’
In 2005, FSU’s diamond was named Mike Martin Field at Dick Howser Stadium and he was inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame. In 2007, he was inducted into the National College Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame. In 2012, he was selected the NCAA Coach of the Year. In May, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame of his native North Carolina. 28 Vires
Feb. 4, 2010, 9-6 vs. Virginia Tech His one-time $2,000 annual salary has grown to $577,000 and bonuses. He hasn’t decided if 2018 is his final season. In 2004, Martin was selected for the FSU Alumni Association’s Bernard F. Sliger Award, which recognizes those who’ve contributed to the university’s mission. In 2005, he was inducted into the Circle of Gold, which honors alumni and employees who represent FSU’s tradition of excellence. They’re Martin’s two most valued awards.
April 8, 2012, 8-4 vs. Georgia Tech
Feb. 19, 2017, 11-3 vs. Virginia Commonwealth
1700
1900 1800
1976
Surrounded by family and with fans cheering from the grandstands, Mike Martin is lauded for his record-breaking career wins during a special ceremony prior to the start of the final home game of the season May 19. Photo by Ryals Lee
April 21, 2014, 4-3 vs. Wake Forest
May 5, 2018, 3-2 vs. Clemson
“(Those awards) are not about what you’ve done on the field but what you’ve contributed to the university,” Carol says. Indeed, Martin is a relentless cheerleader for all things FSU, and he shrugs off compliments about his record saying, “I owe everything to Florida State.” “I’m not going to say the record doesn’t mean anything; everyone who works wants to achieve something that is a big challenge,” he says. “But I wanted the record for Florida State. I want those who know college baseball to always say, ‘Yeah, Mike Martin at Florida State’ (holds the record). “That’s what excites me. And I truly mean that. Florida State is special.” Vires 29
s g t r i a m h n d a l s s b b Ho n with baseball card collectio By Gerald Ensley (B.A. ’80)
�
Many baby boomers collected baseball cards growing up. And if their thoughtless mothers had not thrown them away while they were off at college, they’d still have hundreds of baseball cards – which surely would be worth thousands of dollars.
But Ron Hobbs (B.A. ’62, M.S. ’67) really collected baseball cards. Hobbs has hundreds of thousands of cards worth many thousands of dollars. Hobbs, 77, grew up collecting “flip cards” – the term for baseball cards back in the day when they were used to “flip” in children’s gambling games, and as noisemakers (“flick-flick-flick”) in bicycle spokes. He has only a few of his childhood cards, which are nearly worthless today because of the abuse they took being flipped and tossed on sidewalks. But in 1988, following his first “retirement” as co-owner of a northern Virginia technology company, Hobbs went looking for a different hobby. Until then, he was a stamp collector. But as the cost of stamp collecting escalated – a pair of 1912 stamps he wanted were $3,000 apiece – he turned to baseball cards. A baseball card’s value depends on the fame of the player – and the condition of the card. A California company, Professional Sports Authentication, is an official appraiser of baseball card conditions. PSA grades run from 1 (poor condition) to 10 (mint condition). Cards with a PSA of 7 or above are considered “investment grade.” 30 Vires
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Collection of baseball heroes
Hobbs’ collection naturally includes some legends of FSU baseball, including these head coaches who also played in the major leagues: Danny Litwhiler, FSU’s coach from 1955 to 1963; Fred “Scrap Iron” Hatfield, FSU’s coach from 1964 to 1968; Woody Woodward, FSU’s coach from 1975 to 1978; and Dick Howser, FSU’s coach in 1979. In addition, Hobbs owns four complete graded sets of Topps cards (1952, 1953, 1956 and 1969). He also owns a complete set of Play Ball Hall of Famers, a 52-card collection, issued in 1940. He has had complete graded sets of Topps from 1951 to 1969, but over the past several years he sold them to focus on the above four sets.
Hobbs also has an “ungraded” collection of more than 250,000 post-1969 cards produced by later manufacturers (Fleer, Donruss, Upper Deck, Score, Panini, etc.), as well as Topps and Bowman (which was bought by Topps in 1956 but continued to issue cards). Some of his ungraded cards are still in the factory-sealed boxes. But many sets are indexed in plastic-pocket, three-ring binders. The value of baseball cards began declining in the 1990s, with the proliferation of cards and the rise of the Internet. A oncebooming card shop industry dwindled, and most business today is conducted online and at regional card shows.
Among his holdings, Hobbs has an “active” collection of 13 complete sets of pre-1970 baseball cards, for which he continues buying, trading and trying to improve. A complete set consists of every card issued by a manufacturer in a given year, including duplicate cards to correct errors. Hobbs has 4,000 cards in that collection, with each card’s condition a 7 or above.
Hobbs’ sons, Brian (B.S. ’03) and Reagan (B.S. ’95), operate the family’s longtime card shop, Collector’s Attic in Tallahassee. Brian is a collector of all kinds of sports memorabilia; Reagan is the owner of SummerBrooke golf course. In addition, they operate Twin Action Properties, the real estate and development company started by Ron and his twin brother, Roger, in 1988.
His complete sets include eight years of Bowman cards (1948-1955). Bowman’s was the major manufacturer of baseball cards until 1951, when Topps was founded and revolutionized the industry. The 1952 Topps set is the most sought-after in card collecting, in part because it includes the first Mickey Mantle cards printed by Topps. Hobbs has two 1952 Mantle cards, each worth more than $100,000.
For the Hobbs clan, the world of work, a hobby such as card collecting and a love for the garnet and gold is often a family affair. Ron’s wife, Carolyn (B.A. ’64), his brother Roger (B.A. ’65, M.B.A. ’70) and older sister Natalie Hill (B.S. ’60) are all FSU alumni. And Ron’s oldest granddaughter, Whitney Hobbs, is a current FSU student and is in her second year serving with the official bat girl organization of the FSU baseball team.
Opposite: Ron Hobbs proudly displays his 1952 Topps cards depicting legends of the game: Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese. Above: Hobbs’ collection includes FSU baseball coaches who played or managed for Major League Baseball: Danny Litwhiler, Fred Hatfield, Woody Woodward and Dick Howser. Photos by AJ Studios Photography
All about enjoying a hobby
Hobbs’ Bowman collection is currently considered No. 1 in the nation, his 1952 Topps set is No. 4 and he figures, “Among active collectors, I’m in the top 10 for all of my sets.” His favorite cards are those of his childhood heroes, the Brooklyn Dodgers (especially center fielder Duke Snider) and the Boston Red Sox, for whom he was a batboy during spring training in Sarasota. Which is to say Hobbs doesn’t collect cards for the fame or money. He’s in it for the hobby. He loves searching for cards he needs to improve his collection: If he finds a card that is graded 8 and his best version is 7, he’ll buy the 8 and sell the 7. He loves creating notebooks to display his cards. And he enjoys bonding with his two sons and grandchildren as they attend card shows. “To me, money is no good if you don’t do something with it. That’s why I like philanthropy and collecting,” he says. “Collecting baseball cards is my hobby.” Vires 31
FSU Vice President for Student Affairs Amy Hecht visits with students on Westcott Plaza. Photo by FSU Photography Services/Bruce Palmer Opposite: Amy Hecht with her future husband, Phi Delta Theta brother Anthony Macchio (B.S. ’02), at Alpha Chi Omega’s semiformal in 2000. 32 Vires
TEN QUESTIONS A
my
Hecht (B.S. ’01)
As a student at FSU, Amy Hecht immersed herself in campus life – living in a residence hall, serving as an SGA senator and joining a sorority. Those experiences informed her leadership style and thoughtful response last fall, when she was faced with an alcohol-related student death in Greek life, only months into her new job as vice president for Student Affairs. Our own Scott Atwell caught up with the College of Communication and Information alumna to discuss her role in helping FSU’s students look toward the future with an eye on success. What do you remember most about your experiences at FSU? Growing up in South Florida, everyone chose their Florida school to root for, and Florida State was mine. I was fortunate to have a Bright Futures Scholarship and lived in Jennie Murphree my first semester. I came to FSU wanting to become a television journalist and majored in communication. I spent a lot of time in Diffenbaugh. I got involved early on running for Senate in SGA, becoming a Lady Spirithunter, serving as a morale captain for Dance Marathon, interning at WFSU, and I joined Alpha Chi Omega as a sophomore. So many strong student leaders at FSU were members of Alpha Chi, and I wanted to follow in their footsteps. I eventually became chapter president. It was one of the hardest leadership positions, but taught me the most about myself and about leadership. During my time as president, we didn’t have a chapter adviser, which made the role even more challenging. But I had connected with one of our graduate assistants, who happened to be an Alpha Chi and had worked at AXO headquarters. She helped advise us unofficially that year. How did sorority leadership inform your career arc? I felt I had learned so much during my out-of-the-classroom experience, I wanted to do the same for others. Following graduation, I worked with Alpha Chi Omega national headquarters as a traveling leadership consultant, seeing campuses and chapters all over the country. I also used that year to check out graduate schools and study for the GRE. Without my FSU Greek experience, I don’t think I would have realized this was a possible career path. How did the opportunity to return to FSU as vice president for student affairs come about? I was contacted by the search chair, who mentioned I had been nominated. I had never thought I’d become the vice president for student affairs at my alma mater; these jobs rarely open up, and as a student I hadn’t thought I’d become a VP when I started exploring a career in higher education. After meeting the search committee, spending some time on campus and talking with students, I knew it would be a great fit. What do you envision for the future of Florida State and its students? As vice president for student affairs, I’m focused on the student experience. That includes much of the outside-the-classroom experience such as student activities, recreation, Greek life and leadership. It also includes wellness initiatives, student conduct, the career center, student support services and global engagement. As an officer of the university, I’m also working toward accomplishing our goal of reaching the Top 25. My goal is that our students are empowered to make positive change and have an impactful FSU experience, and that the university
continues to get even better. The progress we’ve made has improved the value of all of our degrees. I plan on continuing to advance that progress. How did you and President Thrasher decide to suspend all Greek activities? We didn’t come to that decision lightly, but we knew it was the right thing to do. It wasn’t based on just one incident; other incidents had let us know that we needed to make changes within the Greek community. President Thrasher and I knew we needed to pause, bring everyone to the table and really discuss where our Greek life was headed and where it needed to be. What was the result of the cooling-off period? Overall, I believe the student leaders understood we wanted to help the Greek system provide a positive experience at FSU. Students, alumni and national organizations came together to discuss challenges and possible solutions. We disagreed at times, but none of us walked away. Eventually, we started to see some consensus on new ideas, programs and policies. I was particularly proud of our student leaders, who really invested in the process and helped to shape our future direction. Where do we go from here? We’ve lifted the suspension and are now implementing the plan, which includes an increase in educational programs, new policies, an expansion of staff, an online scorecard and a revised conduct process. FSU is investing heavily, not only in Greek organizations but in other student programs as well. We know the challenges our students are facing are not unique to fraternities and sororities. We’re looking campuswide to make Florida State a healthier and safer environment. What role can alumni play in the reform? Getting involved to understand today’s student experience is helpful. To do that, an advising role may be appropriate, or perhaps giving to your organization to ensure that it has the resources it needs to excel. That could be mentoring a student, providing internships or hiring FSU graduates. Our students come to Florida State University to get a phenomenal education, launch their careers, make lasting memories and have a great time. When you visit campus, help model appropriate behavior. There are many ways to have an incredible college experience, and there are ways to enjoy yourself safely. As you’ve said, alcohol abuse is more than a Greek problem. How do you change the campus culture? Changing culture takes time. Culture is made up of so many pieces – like symbols, traditions, history and environment. Leaders play a role, too. FSU has an overarching student culture, but then each organization within FSU has its own culture and social norms. You can shift that slowly, by paying attention to those elements and making small changes. Some believe you have the toughest job on campus. What do you say? I think I have the best job in the country. Every day I get to work with students and shape the FSU experience. We have the best student leaders in the nation. They’re making a difference on our campus and beyond. We’re providing experiences that help them realize their potential, and we’re empowering them not only to shape what FSU becomes – but to shape the world. And to do that at my alma mater is an incredible honor. Vires 33
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 SERIOUSLY SUCCESSFUL SEMINOLES 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 Celebration counts down nation’s fastest-growing alumni-owned companies Drum roll, please.
The fastest-growing alumni-owned business in America is Blue Air Training. Owned by retired Air Force fighter pilot James “Chef ” Barlow (B.S. ’95), the company uses its privately owned air force to simulate combat air strikes to train the U.S. military’s joint terminal attack controllers. And from 2013 to 2016, it grew at an astronomical rate of 3,748.07 percent.
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 inaugural Seminole 16 17 18 19 20The21 22 23 24 100 25 26 set the bar high 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 for future honorees. 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97
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This past August, FSU and the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship in the College of Business rolled out the inaugural Seminole 100 as an alphabetical listing of the nation’s fastest-growing businesses owned by FSU alumni. As a group, the businesses were impressive. They employed more than 12,000 people and generated $1.6 billion in total revenue. But the question of how they stacked up against each other was not answered until the evening of March 3. During the Seminole 100 Celebration, a gala cosponsored by JMI and the FSU Alumni Association, the numerical ranking of Seminole 100 businesses, based on their growth rates, was counted down to reveal Blue Air Training’s No. 1 spot. “The inaugural Seminole 100 set the bar high for future honorees,” said Melissa Roberts, JMI’s managing director. “These companies play important roles facilitating economic growth in communities across the country. Their
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extraordinary success is a testament to the dedication, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit of Florida State University alumni.”
In the ranking’s first year, 80 businesses across multiple industries applied for consideration through a partnership with Inc. magazine. The businesses were ranked using a compounded annual growth rate during a three-year period. Several Seminole 100 honorees – including No. 1 Blue Air Training – also were named to the Inc. 5000, a comprehensive list of the 5,000 fastestgrowing businesses in the United States. In fact, 41 of the Seminole 100 appeared on the Inc. 5000 for the first time. (The window to apply for the 2019 Seminole 100 closed May 31.)
For more about Barlow and the Seminole 100’s No. 1 business, Blue Air Training, see Page 36. The numerical ranking of all 80 businesses is on Pages 40-43.
Opposite top: Honorees of the Class of 2018 at the Seminole 100 Celebration March 3 in Tallahassee. Above: James Barlow accepts his Seminole 100 trophy moments after his company, Blue Air Training, was named No. 1. Left: Jim Moran Institute Managing Director Melissa Roberts compliments FSU alumni for the economic growth their companies provide in their local communities. Photos by Steve Chase Vires 35
NO. 1 SPOTLIGHT: Blue Air Training >>
epic success in business, From the cockpit of a fighter jet to James Barlow keeps on climbing By Jeffery Seay (B.A. ’91)
Imagine yourself in military combat, standing in the end zone of Doak Campbell Stadium. You’re engaged in a gunfight with someone on the 30-yard line. Despite your short distance from the enemy, you need a fighter jet to swoop in and use its guns or drop a bomb. And because your life depends on it, you need the person calling in the air strike to be trained at the highest level. Welcome to the world of the joint terminal attack controller, or JTAC. He’s the guy who gets on the radio to call in that air strike and save the day. For the past seven years, James “Chef ” Barlow (B.S. ’95), a retired Air Force fighter pilot, has been revolutionizing JTAC training through his company, Blue Air Training. 36 Vires
Using reserve and retired military pilots, the company – a privately owned air force – provides contract close air support to the U.S. military to give JTAC trainees a realistic battle experience before going to war. This spring, Blue Air Training was named No. 1 on the inaugural Seminole 100, a list of the nation’s fastest-growing businesses owned by FSU alumni. The company also was named to the Inc. 5000.
From a young age, Barlow had an independent spirit and an entrepreneurial drive. Growing up in Tampa, he started a lawn-mowing business at age 11 and did other odd jobs. He moved out on his own as a junior in high school. To make ends meet, he worked weekends as a
carpenter’s helper and, later, as a framing carpenter. But by 14, he knew that he wanted to be a fighter pilot, so he made a call to the local Air Force recruiting office to find out how. “The recruiter laughed and told me that before I’d be able to pick out a fighter, I’d have to get all A’s in school. And play sports, then go to college and do well and join ROTC, and then go to flight school,” Barlow says. “I said, ‘OK,’ and that’s what I did.” Barlow started FSU at 18 as a Florida Academic Scholar. He joined Alpha Tau Omega and entered the Air Force ROTC. Then, a family emergency struck. “I gave all the money I had saved since I was 11 to help my family,” he says. “I was a new student at FSU with $48. Thank God I had an academic scholarship.”
Long before his fellow airmen dubbed him “Chef ” – because as a lieutenant, he supposedly always had something cooking – Barlow was known as “Scraps” among the ATOs. “I lived at the fraternity house because it was cheap. I worked as a server at the Pi Beta Phi sorority house on weekdays, which meant I could eat there. It was good for my budget and played into my subsistence requirements. They called me Scraps because I would save food from all the meals to eat over the weekends when I had nothing else to eat.”
After earning a bachelor’s in business marketing from FSU and his commission from the Air Force, Barlow finally stepped into his destiny piloting a fighter – the A-10 Thunderbolt. Despite his years in a cockpit, Barlow says the experience of flying never loses its thrill. “It is incredibly surreal. You have a sense that gravity and the laws of physics don’t really apply to you. If you want to go up, you go up. If you want to go down, you go down. After you’ve been doing it awhile, it’s like being
a bird in that you don’t think about it. So, if you need to be at a specific point in space doing a specific speed, upside down, sideways or whatever, you’re just there. It’s truly flying.” Barlow’s 20-year career in the Air Force is distinguished by a special milestone. He is the first fighter pilot since Vietnam to fly 100 combat missions in a single combat tour. Actually, 101. “My grandfather flew 25 combat missions in a B-29 in World War II and my foster dad flew 100 combat missions in Vietnam. I wanted to reach that milestone as well,” he says. Even while fighting a war in Afghanistan, airmen have a routine. They fly, go to the gym and eat, then do it all over again the next day. There also is time to watch movies. “I saw ‘Mr. 3000’ about a retired baseball star who didn’t actually get the 3,000 hits he was famous for, so he came out of retirement to make those hits. I was on schedule to fly 100 combat missions, but just in case I counted wrong, I flew 101 before I reported that I got my 100.”
In spite of the rush and satisfaction of controlling his own strikes, Barlow also contemplated the challenges of the practice in his master’s thesis, researching why there weren’t more air-strike controllers on the job. His resulting discovery was a bottleneck in training, so the following year, he proposed a radical idea to the Air Force: train JTACs by hiring a civilian company to fly its own training fleet. “The Air Force was resistant because it didn’t want to lose even a single flight-hour of funding,” he says.
NO. 1 SPOTLIGHT: Blue Air Training >>
Barlow had 56 gunfights in 2007, and in most of those air strikes, he strikecontrolled himself. As a qualified forward air controller, or FAC, the senior A-10 pilot was acting as his own JTAC. “It’s like riding a unicycle and juggling a chainsaw and a baby at the same time,” he says. FACs use their airborne perspective to monitor maneuvers on the ground so they can share that information with other jet fighters and get ordnance on the ground as quickly as possible.
In 2009, Barlow took command of Green Flag, the Department of Defense’s premier close air support training exercise. Despite a $3 million price tag for every two weeks of training, his assessment was that the training process still wasn’t sufficiently effective. So, in 2011, he made the decision to create his own training company, and Blue Air Training was born.
12345678 16 17 18 19 20 27 28 29 30 3 37 38 39 40 4 Opposite: A fighter jet in Blue Air
Training’s fleet prepares to make a sunset strike over the Special Operations Terminal Attack Controller Course near Yuma, Arizona. Above: James “Chef” Barlow completes his 100th combat mission. He is the first fighter pilot since Vietnam to fly 100 combat missions in a single combat tour.
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NO. 1 SPOTLIGHT: Blue Air Training >>
Creating a product that solves a problem for the consumer is the hallmark of every successful entrepreneur – the very thing that Barlow accomplished with extraordinary insight, according to retired Air Force fighter pilot Matty “Pratt” Whitney, Blue Air’s vice president for operations. “What he has created is incredible. It fills a void that we watched grow for nearly 20 years. We watched JTACs fail to get the training they needed. Chef ’s passion for the guys on the ground is why this company exists. He has a vision like no one I have ever met. He can see the solution working before anyone even knows there is a problem.” Whitney first met Barlow in 2002 while both were stationed in Texas teaching military student pilots. Like Barlow, Whitney flew the A-10 as well as the T-38 Talon, a training jet. Back then, the two of them would take their kids out for hamburgers and talk about how they would do things differently if they were in charge. “And here we are,” says Whitney. “I joined the company because I wanted to make a difference and be a part of something great.” The Special Ops community was the first to buy into Barlow’s vision. Worried less about funding and flight-hours and more about getting their personnel trained to go to combat and come home safely, they made Blue Air’s training a budget priority. The statistics for metrics such as mission capability, the quality of control and the quality of the controller went through the roof. “The regular Air Force couldn’t deny our numbers,” Barlow
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NO. 1 SPOTLIGHT: Blue Air Training >>
says. “Kicking and screaming, they finally admitted in 2016 that the type of training we offer was something they needed to do.”
Like marksmen who practice day after day with every type of weapon, Blue Air Training puts its JTAC trainees through intense paces as well. They have to be athletic, with physical toughness to operate in remote locations and with the intellectual aptitude to think in three dimensions to project where fighters are in the air and where personnel are on the ground. Training takes roughly a year and a half and begins with a year of shadowing a qualified JTAC. Then comes initial qualification training, a three-month program at JTAC “schoolhouses.” Blue Air is under contract to run Air Force schoolhouses near bases in Nevada, Washington and Florida, as well as the Special Ops Command schoolhouse in Arizona. “With this initial training, you’re like a redshirt freshman,” Barlow says. “You know your position and what the plays are, but you’re not ready to actually go to combat.”
The next step is three to six months of mission qualification training, which makes trainees combat-ready. “We train that guy on the ground how to discuss exact details and use established procedures on how to talk to both joint U.S. military forces and the air forces of our allies to distinguish where the good guys are and where the bad guys are, and make sure they drop their bombs or strafe with their Gatling guns in exactly the right place,” he says.
Blue Air’s fleet of 18 fixed-wing aircraft is impressive, with BAC 167 Strike Masters, a British attack jet, A-90s from the Finnish air force and IAR 823s, Romanian light-attack aircraft. The fleet also includes two AH-6 Little Birds, special ops helicopters. Barlow soon will be buying another three helicopters as well as 20 jets from Ecuador and 12 from Jordan. As a licensed arms importer, he can deal directly with foreign governments to legally import aircraft, weaponry and weaponry release systems without having to demilitarize them first. It’s a heady thing to trot the globe with that kind of shopping list, for sure. But
when you reinvent a crucial section of military personnel training and essentially create a new industry, things can scale up fast. “Our 3,700 percent growth is actually me trying to slow down the growth,” Barlow says. “Those were 2016 numbers. We beat 2016 in the first quarter of 2017, and we almost beat 2017 in the first quarter of 2018.” The company is set to expand into Europe in 2019 to train U.S. forces there. In the company’s early days, Barlow pulled out his personal credit card to pay for the repair of a blown jet engine. After years of successfully proving his training concept, he took his first Blue Air paycheck in 2016. The broke college kid known as Scraps is a distant memory, and Chef still has something cooking.
12345678 16 17 18 19 20 27 28 29 30 3 Opposite top: James Barlow and his son,
Ben, working on the gun bay of a BAC-167 attack jet in 2015. Ben has now joined the Air Force and is stationed in Tampa. Opposite bottom: Barlow and his future wife, Gretchen, an Air Force captain, in Afghanistan in 2007. The couple calls this their first date: accompanying the Australian military on a mine-clearing mission. Above: A view of the Strike Masters and IAR-823s at Blue Air Training’s Yuma location.
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THE NUMERICAL RANKING: No. 1 to No. 80 >>
SEMINOLE 100
THE NUMERICAL RANKING: No. 1 to No. 80
The Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship at FSU revealed the 80 businesses of the inaugural Seminole 100 by rank, according to their growth rates from 2013 to 2016, at the Seminole 100 Celebration held March 3 at the University Center Club, Doak Campbell Stadium. (In the ranking’s first year, only 80 businesses applied for consideration.) This list includes company names, growth rates and owners. It also recognizes the 57 businesses named to the Inc. 5000 (as noted with an asterisk), including 41 that appeared on that ranking for the first time.
NO. 11: CFO Alliance* 293%, Brooke Evans (B.S. ’97)
NO. 12: Bourbon and Boweties* 290.02%, Carley Ochs (B.S. ’08)
NO. 13: Insurance Specialty Group* 258.11%, Bruce Harrell (B.S. ’73, M.Acc. ’75)
NO. 14: A-LIGN* 247.59%, Scott Price (B.S. ’97, M.Acc. ’97)
NO. 15: Black & Denim Apparel Company* 245.23%, Roberto Torres (B.S. ’05)
NO. 16: Bolay Enterprises* 243.52%, Chris Gannon (B.S. ’09)
NO. 17: Visiture* 234.80%, Ron Dod (B.S. ’11, M.S. ’12)
NO. 18: Convert IT Marketing* No. 4 Kerrie Hileman of the White Magnolia Bridal Collection accepts the No. 4 Seminole 100 trophy from Jim Moran Institute Director Randy Blass, Vice President for Advancement Tom Jennings and Alumni Association President Scott Atwell.
NO. 2: Fan Fest* 1,855.16%, James Frazier (B.S. ’00)
NO. 3: BD Guidance 1,230.06%, Deb Goslin (B.S. ’74)
NO. 4: The White Magnolia Bridal Collection*
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NO. 19: LandSouth Construction* 222.09%, James Pyle (B.S. ’82)
NO. 20: The Connect Agency 211.96%, John Ream (B.S. ’00)
NO. 21: GMF Steel Group*
NO. 1: Blue Air Training* 3,748.07%, James “Chef” Barlow (B.S. ’95)
233.18%, Paul Rubenstein (B.S. ’99)
NO. 6: Veteran Energy 621.43%, Rich Blaser (B.S. ’91)
NO. 7: Gulf Beach Weddings* 507.91%, Brandon Wheeler (B.S. ’06)
NO. 8: ROI Healthcare Solutions* 468.78%, Bill Starks (B.S. ’98)
NO. 9: Oasys*
930.58%, Kerrie Hileman (B.S. ’07)
443.58%, Tony Johnson (M.S. ’00)
NO. 5: Southern Proper Hospitality*
NO. 10: Auto Data Direct*
735.42%, Chris Hadermann (B.S. ’94)
310.54%, James Taylor (B.S. ’79)
211.94%, Andy Norman (B.S. ’97)
NO. 22: Fiore Communications 209.20%, Dave Fiore (B.S. ’86)
NO. 23: Ardent Eagle Solutions* 200.60%, Joe Albano (B.S. ’06)
NO. 24: The Mortgage Firm* 191.55%, Brett Lindquist (B.S. ’83)
NO. 25: Kupanda Capital* 169.86%, Bobby Pittman (B.S. ’97)
THE NUMERICAL RANKING: No. 1 to No. 80 >>
No. 14 Gene Geiger, third from left, and Scott Price, third from right, of A-LIGN with family members at the reception prior to the Seminole 100 Celebration.
NO. 26: Owenby Law* 167.09%, Joy Owenby (B.S. ’93)
NO. 36: Convergence Consulting Group*
NO. 45: North American On-Site* 77.59%, Jesse Vance (B.S. ’82)
98.82%, Sam Powell (B.S. ’99)
NO. 27: iMobile3* 161.62%, Bob Leonard (B.S. ’85)
NO. 37: IANSITI Performance Group*
NO. 28: Accountable Healthcare Staffing*
94.77%, Christopher Iansiti (B.S. ’92, M.S. ’94)
155.43%, Kevin Little (B.S. ’92)
NO. 38: AlliedPRA New Orleans*
NO. 46: Advanced Systems Design* 77.23%, John Dubard (M.A. ’73, Ph.D. ’93)
NO. 47: MCCi* 76.16%, Donny Barstow (B.S. ’01)
90.29%, Jeff O’Hara (B.S. ’89)
NO. 29: CIO Partners*
NO. 48: First GREEN Bank*
154.69%, Mike Burgett (B.S. ’90)
NO. 39: Maryland Foot and Ankle Specialists
75.33%, Ken LaRoe (B.S. ’81)
NO. 30: Kerigan Marketing Associates
86.96%, Justin Lewis (B.S. ’02, M.S. ’04)
NO. 49: Allied Instructional Services*
145.83%, Jack Kerigan (B.S. ’90)
NO. 40: Mad Dog Construction*
72.54%, Karen Walker (B.S. ’87, M.S. ’88)
84.72%, Laurie Dozier (B.A. ’72)
NO. 31: ReEmployAbility*
NO. 50: AgileThought*
141.83%, Debra Livingston (B.S. ’87)
NO. 41: Axis Management Group Holdings*
70.03%, David Romine (B.S. ’96)
NO. 32: Aerospace Quality Research & Development*
83.33%, Mike Smith (B.S. ’84)
NO. 51: Creative Sign Designs*
127.95%, Suresh Narayanan (B.S. ’08)
NO. 42: Southwest Georgia Oil Co.*
67.48%, Jamie Harden (B.S. ’90) 82.97%, Mike Harrell (B.S. ’84)
NO. 33: 4 Rivers Smokehouse* 110.17%, John Rivers (B.S. ’89)
NO. 52: Altrua Global Solutions* 66.67%, Melode Smelko (B.S. ’85)
NO. 43: Boos Development Group* 82.38%, Robert Boos (B.S. ’91)
NO. 34: Florida Event Décor*
NO. 53: Tal Search Group* 65.10%, John McFarlain (B.S. ’97)
103.96%, Eric Karter (B.S. ’96)
NO. 44: Florida Environmental and Land Services
NO. 54: Venture Medical*
NO. 35: Peterson Foods
79.41%, Elva Peppers (B.S. ’90)
64.53%, John Pritchard II (B.A. ’96)
101.29%, Bill Peterson (B.S. ’78) Vires 41
Inaugural Seminole 100
APPLICATION INFORMATION •
HOW TO APPLY Apply at seminole100.fsu.edu
•
REVISED CRITERIA Opportunity for more businesses to make the list.
•
NO COST TO APPLY Applying consists of a simple, three-step online process. There is no fee to apply.
•
NOMINATE Nominate a FSU alumnus at seminole100.fsu.edu/nominate
QUESTIONS? Contact us at: 850-644-7896 seminole100@fsu.edu
SEMINOLE 100
R
Alumni from Florida State University are responsible for some of the most innovative and profitable businesses in the world. The Jim Moran Institute For Global Entrepreneurship at FSU’s College of Business, the FSU Alumni Association and EY are proud to recognize these incredible entrepreneurs through the Seminole 100 awards program. Seminole 100 recognizes the 100 fastest-growing FSU alumni owned businesses at a celebration on FSU’s campus each year, during which each company learns their numerical ranking and receives their award. This event honors FSU’s entrepreneurs and allows them to share valuable business insights with each other. Honorees and their businesses will also receive increased publicity and visibility via national, local and industry media exposure. Apply today at seminole100.fsu.edu.
NO. 64: Information and Computing Services*
62.96%, Carlos Campos (B.S. ’96)
44.35%, Jorge Morales (B.S. ’70)
NO. 56: Asker Distributors*
NO. 65: Diverse Computing*
60.73%, Alan Asker (B.S. ’75)
43.65%, Daniel Percy (B.S. ’96, B.S. ’97)
NO. 57: BowStern*
NO. 66: Moisand Fitzgerald Tamayo*
55.31%, Kelly Robertson (B.S. ’05)
42.95%, Dan Moisand (B.S. ’89)
NO. 58: TRINITY Analysis & Development*
NO. 67: Simpluris
55.31%, Mo Evans (B.S. ’86)
38.05%, Troy Hoffman (B.S. ’02)
NO. 59: Global Sales*
NO. 68: Pathways Psychology Services
50.50%, Jeff Collins (B.S. ’86)
No. 60
36.62%, Joe Roszkowski (B.A. ’96)
NO. 60: Tribridge* 49.97%, Tony Dibenedetto (B.S. ’87)
NO. 69: Momentum Medical 36.06%, Darryn Dierickx (B.S. ’98)
THE NUMERICAL RANKING: No. 1 to No. 80 >>
NO. 55: San Francis Veterinary Hospital*
Tribridge co-founder Tony DiBenedetto with his wife, Shannon.
NO. 61: Dorsia 48.43%, Christopher Lanza (B.S. ’07)
NO. 70: Hamic Previte & Sturworld PA
NO. 62: Lynch Oil Company*
31.83%, Steve Hamic (B.S. ’78)
26.12%, Sebastian Aleksander (B.S. ’01)
NO. 71: Men’s Divorce Law Firm
NO. 73: Partners in Association Management
28.22%, Jeffrey Feulner (J.D. ’97)
25.80%, Bennett Napier (M.S. ’02)
45.30%, Craig Lynch (B.S. ’83)
NO. 63: Paul Consulting Group*
NO. 72: The Aleksander Group
44.83%, Marc Paul (B.S. ’95)
NO. 74: AVION Insurance Jim Taylor of Auto Data Direct and Mo Evans of TRINITY Analysis & Development, with Kristi Evans.
21.87%, Scott Langevin (B.S. ’95)
NO. 75: Warchant.com 16.03%, Gene Williams (B.S. ’88)
NO. 76: BSM Media 15.65%, Maria Bailey (B.A. ’86)
NO. 77: Deep Blue Yacht Supply 14.66%, Ryan Charles (B.S. ’97, B.S. ’99)
NO. 78: Accurate Temperature Control 6.13%, Jenny Vincent (B.S. ’94)
NO. 79: Synergy Settlement Services 3.08%, Jason Lazarus (J.D. ’96)
No. 10
No. 58
NO. 80: Wherry Truck Lines 2.11%, Kendell Wherry (B.S. ’87) * Also on
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Can you name three campus statues? Or count its stone frogs? From fountains to sculpture, paintings to brilliant glass, the FSU campus is bristling with artistic output. Look around. Drink it in. There’s magic there. By Marina Brown
FSU’s campus holds myriad visual delights. Above left and center: DODD HALL 1922-1929. One of the signature elements of this campus landmark are its front windows with fine stone tracery. Above right: WESTCOTT BUILDING “Landis Green,” Antonia Crook, 2011. The watercolor painting hangs in the President’s Office suite and depicts the green, looking north, with Strozier Library looming in the background. Photo by FSU Photography Services 44 Vires
The view across Landis Green shimmers in the early spring warmth. Dotted by splashes of red and cerulean, it is a watercolor painting framed by campus oaks and red brick halls. Nearby, students string a hammock between two longleaf pines and now dreamily stare into the branches. Seurat would have painted them, or Renoir made them in pastel. And from the youths’ vantage point, where the angles of Dodd and Williams and Eppes power upward, their gables and crenellations skewed
sideways, their angles askew, the Florida State University campus could come to resemble an abstract by Kandinsky or Mondrian. That is to say, art – ART – is not only on the walls, not only in the architecture, exemplified by the sculpture or tinkling from the fountains of FSU, but rather, on the university’s 476 acres and among its 41,000 students, beauty is a living, breathing – needed – presence. To become aware of all of that art – inside, outside and even off campus itself – is what several touchstone programs at FSU hope to bring about.
Above: The Westcott Building in early-morning light. Inset: JENNIE MURPHREE HALL 1921. An owl and two shield-bearing alligators stand sentinel over a rear entrance to the building. Vires 45
a place where a mind might soar. In 1979, the state of Florida, through the Division of Cultural Affairs, decided that when allocations were made for new construction on each of the 10 Florida university campuses, 0.5 percent, up to $100,000, would be set aside for “Art in State Buildings.” After all, as one facilities management director says, “Art gives a sense of place to a university. An online website isn’t all that inspiring.” Above: WILLIAM JOHNSTON BUILDING “Draper,” Rob Ley, 2011. Composed of hundreds of stainlesssteel strips, this massive, 66-foot-tall sculpture is an experiment in how mass, gravity and the spring-like properties of steel can create a carefully tuned lattice. Photo courtesy of Rob Ley
Above right: GREEK PARK AT FSU SOUTH GATE “Alpha Delta Pi Meditation Pavilion,” 2009. With Gothic arches, a cast-iron clock and stainedglass windows interposed with symbols meaningful to the sorority, the pavilion was renovated into its current iteration in celebration of Alpha Delta Pi’s 100th anniversary at FSU. The stained-glass pieces were created by the FSU Master Craftsman Studio. 46 Vires
INSIDE THE HALLOWED HALLS Although not all of the university’s 542 buildings are located on the downtown Tallahassee campus, dozens of academic halls, residences, service buildings and gathering centers are. And inside most of them there is art. Sometimes a display will be dramatic, covering a wall, fabricated from materials bent to the will of the artist, or perhaps dangling from a ceiling and undulating overhead. Or it may be subliminal, as when light through Arthur Stern’s bower of glass casts dancing leaves across the floor, or the copper panels of Cheryl Safren’s “Dendrites” and “Synapse” alert a psychology student to the represented magic of nerves. Just as a fire in a fireplace gives a physicality to an environment, so too does art. And perhaps it was the awareness by the Legislature that just as four walls, a floor and a ceiling do not make a home, neither does a stripped-down environment make
Allys Palladino-Craig, who is also director of the university’s Museum of Fine Arts and oversees the Art in State Buildings program, loves showing off the variety of pieces hung on walls and gracing the campus from the Dunlap Student Success Center to the King Life Sciences Building and to the FSU College of Business. “Most pieces are site-specific, commissioned artworks that are chosen through competition by a committee comprised of Art in State Buildings administrative staff, the site’s work staff, the architect and an arts professional,” says Palladino-Craig. Currently there are 300 professionally created pieces ranging from metal and enamel sculpture to works on canvas and fabric, to ceramic, glass and large outdoor freestanding pieces that give artful and artistic respite to students whose minds may be juggling sheer facts. Whether it is a large single purchase like the outdoor murals on the College of Medicine building by Steven
Weitzman or a number of smaller works by the likes of Ray Burggraf, Ivan Chermayeff or Leon Mead, varying budgets set aside for art purchases have been used for both dominating pieces of art and more subliminal artistic investments in an atmosphere of higher learning. ART IN ARCHITECTURE First impressions count. Even from afar, even in memory, FSU’s architectural profile looms large. The “Cherokee red” bricks, the Jacobean Revival arches and the carved tracery communicate to students and alumni alike a place of stability, a place where their lives were changed.
And all of those bricks, carvings, roofs and the history embedded in them take loving care. Mark Bertolami is the ebullient director of Planning and Space Management, who is part historian, part guardian of the sprawling premises of FSU. “Look at those owls!” Owls are everywhere, once you look. Even an owl apparently being stared at by two Florida gators over a door of Jennie Murphree Hall. “Look at those frogs!” he says of the little amphibian carvings peeking from the Eppes Building. “Eppes was originally an education building, so one theory as to why there are frogs on the south entrance is that students will evolve academically just as frogs develop from tadpoles.” Bricks become a fascination as well. “There are more than a dozen ways to lay bricks,” says Bertolami, pointing to whole walls that seem to be brick tapestries. Here the ruddy brick palettes turn plain buildings into Collegiate Gothic art.
Left: EPPES HALL 1918. Among the most interesting of architectural flourishes at FSU are the twin depictions of a frog clutching a shield that flank the front doors of the building.
Bottom: LANDIS GREEN “Commemorative Benches,” Master Craftsman Studio. With Montgomery Gym as a backdrop, these benches commemorate FSU’s Alma Mater, “High O’er the Towering Pines,” and the university seal. In 2000, the Master Craftsman Studio began designing and fabricating benches for purchase by individuals or groups that want to memorialize people, places or things related to FSU.
Yet more subtle art lies in the grounds at large. “Surrounded by buildings, small courtyards are created – places of academic refuge, in a way,” says Bertolami. Small glens may appear, or a fountain in the Friendship Garden in a corner of the Mina Jo Powell Green. Another garden wraps around a newly placed sculpture of dancer Rudolf Nureyev that combines cast art with that of the quietude of Mother Nature.
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ART ON CAMPUS INITIATIVE Though art may be discreet or head-snappingly powerful, it can’t be either without artists to make it. Lilian Garcia-Roig, a professor in the Department of Art, is director of the Art on Campus Initiative, which she developed in 2011 to seek placement of works by students, alumni and faculty in offices and high-visibility settings all over campus. The university’s Department of Art is the third-largest department in the College of Fine Arts, with 350 undergraduates and 32 graduate students, as well as 21 faculty members. The department, says Garcia-Roig, supports these opportunities to present works by student-artists and practicing professionals, which benefit all in different ways.
But perhaps no other site on campus comes near the quasi-ecclesiastical architectural beauty of Dodd Hall’s Reading Room. Now a museum within the campus, the 45-foot-high ceilings, crisscrossed with darkly Gothic hammer-trusses, and the university-produced stained-glass windows seem to splash the floors and walls with a scatter of rubies and emeralds. Outside, the massive arched entry is framed by glazed ceramic tiles that, against the limestone lines, look positively festive. “The half of knowledge is to know where to find knowledge,” emblazoned in gold overhead, reminds those who enter that perhaps not all learning is found in books. Perhaps some of it can be absorbed through art itself. 48 Vires
“We have student pieces in the Honors, Scholars and Fellows House, in the Dean of Graduate Studies office, in all of the vice presidents’ and the provost’s offices, the home of President Thrasher, as well as over 35 pieces in the Turnbull Center by faculty artists such as Judith Rushin, Mark Messersmith, Carrie Ann Baade and myself,” Garcia-Roig says. “For students, there are small awards for those chosen to show works in the Honors House. For our faculty presenters, we offer the groups passing through the Turnbull Center the opportunity to see larger, fully matured pieces.” Diane Burnette, who works at a computer in the office of the provost, remarks, “In an office without a window, the painting above my desk brings me ‘escape.’ I lose myself in it, its colors, the paths that seem to lead into the woods.”
Garcia-Roig says that it is this power of art to change an environment that gives creative pieces their value. She stresses too that seeing art on a daily basis, missing it when it is moved or gone, establishes a “culture of art that is valued – that has value.” “We wouldn’t ask a plumber to fix our pipes for free; and we should give art and artists the same consideration.” Most of the works on display are available for sale. The venues may represent one of the first thrilling times a student’s work has been presented in a public atmosphere. And there is learning there, too, says Garcia-Roig: “How to frame, how to organize a portfolio for competition, understanding how your art shows in a large space.” A portion of the sales price of the work goes directly to the artist and the other portion goes through the FSU Foundation, which becomes
Housed beside the new Declaration sculpture (which was designed by Kenn von Roenn and created by the studio), the Master Craftsman Studio appears little more than an expanded Quonset hut at the Gaines Street roundabout. Yet inside, artisans and their interns are turning iron, glass, metal, clay and brick into crafted pieces of beauty that must withstand what Mother Nature rains down. John Raulerson, the studio’s director, knows stone and he knows metal. And he knows how to preserve works created by others. Under his direction, the studio not only attends to works of art on campus, like the frolicking figures in the Legacy Fountain created by Tallahasseean and FSU alumnus Ed Jonas (B.F.A. ’71), but creates new ones for both the university and outside entities.
Opposite Top: The second-floor concourse of the Augustus B. Turnbull III Florida State Conference Center is an example of a campus space that doubles as a place to display artwork by FSU faculty members and students through the Art on Campus initiative.
Opposite Inset: AUGUSTUS B. TURNBULL III FLORIDA STATE CONFERENCE CENTER “Vespertine Sacrifice,” Mark Messersmith, 2006. In this oil on canvas artwork, dogs, representing human control, have chased wild animals up into the trees, as the animals attempt to escape human encroachment into their world, suggested by a log truck in the lower left of the painting.
Left: WOODWARD PLAZA “Integration: Books, Bats and Beauty,” Sandy Proctor, 2004. Placed in one of the most prominent areas of campus, this monument celebrates the 50th anniversary of integration at FSU and the trailblazing students of that era. It features statues of Maxwell Courtney (B.A. ’65), FSU’s first black graduate, Fred Flowers (B.A. ’69, M.S. ’75), FSU’s first black athlete, and Doby Flowers (B.S. ’71, M.S. ’73), FSU’s first black Homecoming princess.
a tax-deductible donation to the Art Department Student Scholarship Fund. Teaching young artists to believe in their own vision’s value has value in itself, according to Garcia-Roig. THE MASTER CRAFTSMAN STUDIO It’s hard to believe how Florida State University managed to do without the Master Craftsman Studio for so long. Not established until 2000, the studio, in an auxiliary capacity with Facilities Management, not only maintains and preserves works of art on campus, but designs, fabricates and places new pieces wherever needed or desired.
“We are self-sustaining,” says Raulerson. “Our salaries are paid by the contracts we have with a customer – very often the university, but with others in the city as well. At present, we are doing sculptures for Big Bend Hospice and restoring a dolphin for Tallahassee Memorial Hospital.” But the relationship with FSU is paramount. “We offer volunteer, paid and unpaid internships to students where they can earn college credit hours.” Passing one of several gigantic kilns owned by the studio, Raulerson picks up a 3-foot, metal feather from the headdress of the homecoming queen Vires 49
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in the Integration sculpture by Sandy Proctor on Woodward Plaza. “Came loose,” he says, with the grin of someone who knows about the tactile pleasure of interactions with sculptures on campus. With over 40 life-sized bronze bodies and busts that sit, stand, gallop and frolic in fountains, the work of keeping their metal intact and their patinas perfect never ends. With classical works as well as megalithic contemporary pieces to care for, the studio’s expertise is deep and its portfolio wide.
Left: Before being sent to Atlanta’s
Need an ornamental garden? A pavilion for meditation? Perhaps a massive wall of stained glass panels for your Gothic reading room? Better still, how about a life-size bronze of yourself appearing worldly and wise? The studio’s Chris Horne is completing just such a statue that will soon be cast into the bronze effigy of FSU’s former President Eric Barron. His smooth clay skin is being planed and his countenance is fair. If you’d like one, too, just ask. The Master Craftsman Studio is up to the task.
Bottom: GAINES STREET ROUNDABOUT “Declaration,” Kenn von
Inferno Art Foundry in February to be cast in bronze, the clay sculpture of former FSU President Eric J. Barron (B.S. ’73) receives finishing touches, supervised by Master Craftsman Studio artist Chris Horne. Once completed, the statue will be installed at FSU’s new Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science building as a salute to Barron’s background in geology.
Roenn, 2014. A stone’s throw from FSU’s College Town neighborhood, this 40-foottall glass, metal and light sculpture resembles a Seminole spear with its hundreds of panes of glass arranged in an inverted cone, lit by 12 encircling lights. At the time of its unveiling, Von Roenn was director of the Master Craftsman Studio.
THE RINGLING COLLECTION The year 2000 was a banner one for art for FSU. Not only was the Master Craftsman Studio established, but FSU assumed governance of The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota. With a massive collection of some 28,000 works of art and the poorly-cared-for estate and museum that John Ringling had built in the ’20s under its purview, the university, the Legislature and the museum provided the funds to restore its facilities and develop academic programs to enhance it. Florida State additionally benefits from the relationship with the Ringling through the loaned works of art that grace the homes of the Florida governor and FSU president. Today approximately 30 works can be seen in the home of President and Mrs. Thrasher, each of them individually selected by the couple. Jim Stanley, for 38 years the operations manager for the President’s House, knows the residence inside and out. With 150 events to plan for on the grounds and inside, and approximately 20,000 people “coming to visit” every year, he watches over thousands of pieces of furniture, crystal, china, silver and, of course, the art. From the fourth floor, where visiting grandchildren occasionally sleep, to the third floor’s private living quarters, the second floor’s elegant receiving rooms and salons, down to the ground level’s Vires 51
Inset: FSU PRESIDENT’S HOUSE “Returning Herd,” Marie Dieterle, not dated. This oil on canvas work is an example of the artist’s affinity for the depiction of animals.
Below: FSU PRESIDENT’S HOUSE “Grand Entry,” Gifford Reynolds Beal, not dated. While this oil on Masonite work depicts circus life, Beal’s subjects varied from holiday crowds to hunting and fishing scenes. Both paintings are part of the collection of the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. Photos by AJ Studios Photography, except where noted
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casual space with its knotty-pine walls and utilitarian flooring, Stanley keeps an eye on all 13,000 square feet. As each new president has taken up residence since the home’s completion in 2007, the couples have expressed their own tastes and personalities through the art they display. Their choices may seem endless since they have not only FSU’s own Museum of Fine Arts and art by students and faculty from which to choose, but also much of the Ringling Collection. “While some tastes may lean to the classical, another president may prefer something totally different,” Stanley says. “For instance, President and Mrs. Barron liked more modern,
contemporary pieces. ‘Grand Entry,’ by Gifford Reynolds Beal, is one they chose. And the Thrashers like it, too, and keep it over the fireplace.” But Jean Thrasher has picked a variety of pastoral scenes and still lifes that with their subdued tones, gilded frames and relatively small sizes seem to fit the style and scale of the home. So precious that the Ringling Museum sends up conservators to dust and straighten the paintings, the modest-appearing scenes of drowsy sheep and soft-skinned cows add a sense of gentle gravitas and grace. On the Florida State campus – whether art appears as a pensive bronze statue, a perky stone frog, splashes of color that drip and run, whether it is small, or large enough for you to sit on or sleep on, or let it draw you into its very middle, whether with a capital “A” or a fountain’s bubble – the commitment to artistic expression is unfailing. Let us open our eyes and drink it in.
FROM ART GALLERY TO MUSEUM: The
MoFA Grows Up By Marina Brown
In a tiny niche in a busy hall of Florida State’s Museum of Fine Arts sits Allys PalladinoCraig (B.A. ’67, M.F.A. ’78, Ph.D. ’96). One might pass by the desk without noticing that here sits the beating heart of the museum. Under her direction, what began in 1970 as a gallery with an intermittent schedule has evolved into a fully accredited museum. The MoFA is now the site of art activities that stretch across campus and present both FSU and the Tallahassee community with opportunities to see art from its own collections as well as locally made pieces and international exhibitions. But it wasn’t always so. From 1970, as part of the Fine Arts Building that housed a theater and various arts education offices, the East Wing’s gallery would remain in a kind of suspended animation. There was scant registration of the permanent collection. And though graduating students held their exit exhibitions there, the gallery was a responsibility of often-interrupted administrative appointments of faculty.
Even by 1983, when Palladino-Craig arrived, the annual budget was under $4,000 and the staff consisted of the director and a part-time secretary. Palladino-Craig, who taught studio art and museum practicum courses at FSU and had begun her academic career with an interest in literature, earning a master’s in painting and graphic arts and a doctorate in humanities, appeared the perfect choice to lead the gallery to its next iteration. But what might seem a simple “upgrade” from gallery to accredited museum was anything but. It wasn’t until 1991 that the first computer arrived. Prior to that, there had been only 3-by-5 cards with hand-drawn sketches to catalog the works held in the gallery. Under PalladinoCraig’s direction, several registrars, concluding with Jean Young, took on the task of digitally archiving and organizing the pieces. Grant writing was begun in earnest to secure funds for preservation and acquisition; insurance agreements
were developed – all things necessary for elevation to the status of a true museum and accreditation under the American Association of Museums. In 2003 and again in 2012, the coveted accreditation was achieved, currently awarded through 2026. Today, with over 6,000 pieces in its permanent collection, international exhibitions as well as those by faculty, students and local groups such as the Tallahassee Watercolor Society and the Artists’ League are presented on a regular basis. The Museum of Fine Arts has become a crossroads where scholarship and creativity meet. Published research and elegantly produced catalogs, as well as shows that comprise performance, installation, traditional and experimental media, are showcased by BFA and MFA students in their thesis productions. The Museum of Fine Arts is proud of its evolution and its ongoing contributions to FSU and Tallahassee.
Above: Allys Palladino-Craig with artist Jim Roche and director Jonathan Demme at the 2011 opening of Roche’s “Glory Roads” exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts. Vires 53
Ed Jonas in his studio. Photo by AJ Studios Photography 54 Vires
REVEALING REAL Nationally renowned artist ED JONAS combines movement, context and attention to details to bring his portraits and sculptures to life By Steve Dollar
AMID THE ARRESTING JUMBLE of a garage workshop, Ed Jonas (B.F.A. ’71) stands, the tiny replica of a human head gently pinched between his fingers, held before his eyes as if he were Hamlet beholding a miniature Yorick. Part exposed skull, part full-featured flesh, the waxy scale model is at once an essential facet of the painter and sculptor’s creative process, and a fascinating curio all on its own. It is only one of perhaps hundreds of pieces that fill the Jonas home, an extensively renovated World War II army barracks in Tallahassee’s woodsy Indianhead Acres neighborhood. The high walls of the artist’s studio are filled with portraits, while any random glance lands on something unusual or compelling, like a row of sculpted hands that dangle, disembodied, hooked to a mantel above thick clusters of paint brushes. If a visitor picks up on a bit of a “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” vibe, that’s not entirely off-base. The artist refers to his sculptural work as born from a kind of
forensic process, stripping everything back to the essence. “Bone structure is so important for sculptors and even painters to understand what’s beneath the skin,” says the artist, who is so thorough in his anatomical process that he fashions foam skulls of his subjects before he begins to paint their portraits. When recreating the human form, he begins with the very bones that undergird everything, and builds from there. As he says, “Movement projects from the bone outwards.” All of this is, to be certain, evidence. The abundant proof of a five-decade professional career that has made Jonas, 69, if not a household name, an indelible part of the landscape of Tallahassee and Florida State University, as well as a leader among American portrait artists – and the founder of the Tallahassee-based Portrait Society of America. Vires 55
Above: Initial sketches allow Ed Jonas to experiment with ideas about how to compose his paintings – in this case, the official presidential portrait of Talbot “Sandy” D’Alemberte, FSU’s 12th president. Sketches are followed by color studies that help clients select a final design. By leaving facial expressions unfinished, Jonas shows clients that pose and environment are just as important to the overall impression of the work. Below: Jonas at work in his studio in February. Photos by AJ Studios Photography
His campus monuments include “Sportsmanship,” a 15-foot-high bronze sculpture that stands in Strum Plaza at Doak Campbell Stadium, and the Legacy Fountain on Landis Green – richly humanist works that radiate compassion and joy. Before he began sculpting professionally, Jonas already was a prolific portrait artist. His subjects include three former FSU presidents – T.K. Wetherell (B.S. ’67, M.S. ’68, Ph.D. ’74), Talbot “Sandy” D’Alemberte and Eric Barron (B.S. ’73) – as well as golf champs Fuzzy Zoeller and Greg Norman, among numerous other sports and institutional figures. His latest high-profile job is the official portrait of outgoing Florida Gov. Rick Scott. “I tried to retire several times,” says Jonas, at ease on a recent afternoon in his spacious studio, as light filters through the dripping Spanish moss visible beyond a 20-foot-high picture window. “But I can’t seem to get away from these commissions.”
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Jonas wasn’t always certain he could make a career living in Tallahassee. “The art community here is rather thin and it’s certainly not well-heeled,” he says, “because we have no industry except state workers.” After graduating from FSU with a degree in studio art, he left town for a year to teach art at his old high school in Cocoa. “I wondered: Is this the right town to be in? It’s kind of isolated. Do I need to go to Jacksonville? Do I need to go to Washington?” Nonetheless, he came back to Tallahassee, and took a brief stint as a construction worker before he landed at the thennew Museum of Florida History as a staff artist. Ten years later, he had done as much as he could with his post. He met his wife, Christine, and set up shop in a trailer on her property west of the city. Seasoned by his decade with the museum, Jonas has never stopped working since.
heaps of detail are useless on their own. “It’s still going to look like a mannequin if you don’t have good movement.”
Portraiture, he believes, doesn’t always get the respect it deserves. “A lot of artists have looked down their nose at it,” Jonas says. “They’re jealous because they can’t get into the business or they think it’s a cliché. It’s a misunderstanding about portraiture. If you do that, you’re not being truthful about what you’re doing. If you’re not trying to put everything into it that you can sense, then you’re not doing your job.”
One method he uses to work around such obstacles is to “paint as I see without my glasses,” he says. “Everything’s a little soft.”
Jonas’ perspective was shaped, early in his college career, by an art professor named Fred Holshul, one of several German artists who came to the university in the 1930s, as Hitler took power. “Fred was so good,” Jonas recalls. “I just kept taking him semester after semester. He just tore me apart and rebuilt me.” There were a lot of bad habits to unlearn. Jonas began doing portraits when he was about 14 years old, and soon set himself up in a Belk Lindsey department store off U.S. 1 in Cocoa, where he grew up and attended community college. The young Jonas immortalized customers for $30 a head. “It was quite intoxicating to get a likeness,” he says. “But I was very tight, and that’s what happens with self-taught people. There’s no freedom. You’re scared to make a mistake. And that’s not the right way to go about it.” What Holshul instilled in Jonas became the foundation of his artistic approach. “His point was that you can do detail or you can do movement, and when you do movement and it’s gestural and it has a strength and a power, then it has a sense of [something] living,” he says. On the other hand,
When he accepts a commission to do one of the 10 or so portraits he completes each year, Jonas relies on photographs he makes of his subjects, who don’t always have a lot of time to devote to a series of extended sittings. But the artist also is wary of the medium. “No one would think that an artist that had only one eye would be that good at depth,” he says. “That’s what a camera is. It’s very contrasty and it distorts perspective. There’s a lot of things that a camera brings that, unless you’re very experienced in painting from life, you’ll fall into those problems.”
What’s also important is context. When he met the professional golfer Fuzzy Zoeller, for instance, the PGA great wasn’t concerned with lionizing his prowess on the links. Jonas was taken by the beauty of the golfer’s farm, atop a mountain in New Albany, Indiana. The pasture became the backdrop in a portrait of Zoeller with his two dogs, whose dappled fur shares a certain textural relationship to the grassy landscape. The portrait conveys a sense of downhome contentment and vitality without the bucolic cliches of those canvases glimpsed in every hunting lodge. Liberating Zoeller from his 7-iron also illustrates one of Jonas’ goals. Portraits shouldn’t act as resumes, the artist insists. “You’re not trying to sell yourself. You’re trying to reveal whether you’re a decent person or not. There’s a lot of people you come across that are very wealthy and very successful and they’re just terrible people and they’re very hard to get along with. You don’t want to do portraits of these people. You best just back away, because if you understand that, then it’s going to come through in the portrait, I’m afraid.” Capturing the spirit of a subject in politics comes with certain expectations, reflective of institutional gravitas. Gubernatorial portraits have to “bow to tradition … you are painting the position as much as the man,” Jonas says. But even with a public figure as controversial as Gov. Scott, there’s room for surprise. Vires 57
Opposite top: Three bronze figures from Ed Jonas’ “Legacy Fountain” on Landis Green: an FSCW girl wearing an “F” sweater and an FSU girl and boy. The statues and fountain, dedicated in January 2005, have become visual shorthand for the institution’s history and transition from women’s college to coeducational university, as demonstrated by its use on the cover of VIRES to commemorate FSU’s 70th anniversary.
“He’s been very easy to work with,” says Jonas, who conscientiously pulls such subjects away from their reputation. “When you deal with them on an individual basis, they kind of open up and you find a totally different person. That’s who you want to get.” Jonas embraces a professional objectivity. “I have to leave politics at the door, because I’m a very liberal person,” Jonas explains. “I have to think of myself like a heart surgeon. If [someone like Scott] came in and had a heart attack, would I say, ‘No, I can’t because he’s a Republican’? If so, I don’t need to be in medicine.”
Jonas takes great pleasure in his historical work, applying himself to extensive study with each new project. “The amount of research I have on Eppes is this thick,” he says, miming a hefty file. The artist defends the sculpture, which he contends is different in context from the monuments honoring Confederate heroes, many of which have been removed after protests around the country. “Eppes never served in the military,” he says. “I grant you he did own slaves, but he also did a tremendous thing, which was to bring Jeffersonian ideals about education into Florida.” The artist elaborates on his viewpoint, which extends to his work as a whole. “You can’t take a narrow view of somebody and approve or condemn them based on that,” he says. “I’m not here to judge. I’m here to record and that’s the way I see it. That’s my job.” Jonas was D’Alemberte’s “first and only choice” to do his presidential portrait, having first commissioned the artist to do the Eppes monument. “He cares a lot about the details,” D’Alemberte says. “The Eppes sculpture is now the subject of some controversy, but not because of Ed’s artistry.” More universally embraced, the artist’s other major campus monuments set a high standard for everything in their wake. “Sportsmanship” launched Jonas’ career as a sculptor in 1999, when he began work on the formidable project, a commission funded by a donor who was FSU’s first cheerleader, Margaret Strum Allesee (B.A. ’49). The piece depicts a standing football player offering a hand to a fallen competitor. “They wanted it big enough not to be dwarfed by the size of that stadium and, well, there’s not much that’s not dwarfed by the size of that stadium!” Jonas says, recalling the heft of his challenge as akin to “jumping into the deep end of the ocean.”
Above: Ed Jonas’ “Sportsmanship” is a 15-foot-tall monument to the best ideal of athletic competition. Commissioned by Margaret Strum Allesee (B.A. ’49), FSU’s first cheerleader, the monument has stood sentinel since November 2000 at the west entrance to Doak Campbell Stadium in Al Strum Plaza. Photos by AJ Studios Photography
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Nonetheless, the thoughtful and even-keeled artist finds himself, or, at least, one of his works, at the center of controversy. A 2002 Jonas sculpture of Francis W. Eppes, a 19th-century Tallahassee plantation owner who helped to found what later became FSU, has been the focus of student activist efforts to remove the piece from its spot near the Westcott building. The students argue that Eppes was a slave owner and supporter of the Confederacy. A university panel on namings and recognitions has recommended the removal of the statue, pending President John Thrasher’s ruling.
If “Sportsmanship” is imposing in scale, the artist’s work on the Landis Green Legacy Fountain is purposefully designed to be on a human level. The water feature juxtaposes three female students, representing the university’s origins as the Florida State College for Women, with three contemporary students, all romping and splashing amid the actual fountain. Jonas designed it to be interactive. “You’re not going to keep students out,” says the artist, who proudly notes that the work once ranked seventh among water features at the nation’s colleges. “I was pretty happy with that.”
As the fountain arouses the senses with its refreshing spray, it’s worthwhile to pause and appreciate the details. “I think it’s the cap of a serviceman on the edge of the pool,” D’Alemberte says, noting how a simple element reflects on the school’s inclusion of male students after World War II. The coeds depicted from the pre-1940s era also reward closer study. “Look at those costumes the sculptures are wearing. There’s several different decades. The bathing attire becomes a little bit less modest as time goes on.” Although he speaks hopefully of soon attending to personal projects, Jonas maintains a full slate of activity. He knows he is an exceptional case within a difficult arena. “The amount of people who come out of art schools to make a living in the field is a percentage of 1 percent, it’s very, very low,” he says. “Every kid who picks up a football thinks he can make the NFL.” These days, Jonas finds that his reputation echoes across generations. “I’m doing [the portraits of] children of children I first did when I started my career,” he says. “There’s no secrets. People assume that there’s secrets. There’s not. It’s just hard work.”
Ed Jonas
ED JONAS ORIGINALLY CAME TO FSU not for its art program, but for its gymnastics. After spending two years on the gymnastics team of Brevard Community College, he was offered a gymnastics scholarship to Penn State and was being courted by Louisiana State and Georgia Southern. But the strength of FSU’s gymnastics program – coached by Hartley Price – and its more affordable in-state tuition sold Jonas on FSU. “Hart had been the gymnastic coach at the Indianapolis Naval Academy, but came to FSU in the ’50s,” Jonas says. “He built FSU’s fabulous 1957 team, which brought the first collegiate national title to FSU. They beat the Swedish Olympic team at a meet, twice. Most of FSU’s team made the U.S. Olympic team during those years. That built FSU’s reputation and it was a good reason for me to decide to come to FSU.” Jonas started with the gymnastics program in the fall of 1969 and spent countless hours in Tully Gym over his two years at FSU. “We practiced six days a week, three hours a day, and of course we socialized outside of practice, so it really was like a fraternity to be on the team.” He competed in every event – rings, parallel bars and floor exercises – but his specialty was the side horse. To help pay his way through school, Jonas began coaching part time for Tumbling Tots, the gymnastics program started by Price for the city of Tallahassee. One of his students was Ron Galimore, who became the first black athlete to be named to the U.S. Olympic team. Galimore was inducted into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2016. “One of the nicer things about my gymnastics career was playing a part in seeing that young man excel,” Jonas says. “I just loved Ron. He was the finest young man you’d probably ever meet.” Vires 59
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LEADERSHIP WEEKEND The Alumni Association held its annual Leadership Weekend in mid-April to give Seminole Club® and Chapter leaders an opportunity to exchange ideas and share best practices. Members of the association’s Young Alumni Council also participated in these collaborative discussions. 1. Seminole Club and Chapter leaders from across the nation take this year’s class picture on the front porch of the Pearl Tyner House at the FSU Alumni Center. 2. One of the centerpieces of the weekend was a discussion about ways to enhance the association’s membership and marketing efforts. Nathan Molina (B.S. ’17), representing the Young Alumni Council, Ashley Folladori (B.S. ’04), representing Seminole Clubs and Chapters, and Eric Muñoz (B.S. ’00), representing the Alumni Association’s National Board of Directors, anchor the panel discussion. 3. Longtime association volunteer Wayne Wallace (B.S. ’74), a former president of the Tallahassee Seminole Club, and 4. members of the Manatee Seminole Club participate in the discussion. Photos by Steve Chase
CLUBBIES The Clubbies, the Alumni Association’s recognition for outstanding Seminole Clubs and Chapters, were awarded April 14 during Leadership Weekend. Each club was recognized for the things they do best. In addition, Unconquered Spirit awards were given to five club leaders: Natalie Blackwell (B.S. ’00) of the Chattanooga Seminole Club; Julian Hills (B.A. ’98) of the Pinellas Seminole Club; Donnie Melendy (B.S. ’90) of the Manatee Seminole Club; Jim Pennington (B.S. ’02) of the Seminole Club of the Rockies; and Jesse Wexler (B.S. ’06) of the Seminole Club of New York City.
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5. Jim Pennington (B.S. ’02), who was instrumental in growing the Seminole Club of the Rockies beyond Denver into Fort Collins and Colorado Springs, receives an Unconquered Spirit Award from Keith Cottrell (B.S. ’00, M.S. ’02), director of clubs for the Alumni Association. 6. After the award presentation, club members show off their new banners, which were redesigned this year. The banners are always proudly displayed during local events. 7. Julian Hills (B.A. ’98) and Jesse Wexler (B.S. ’06) congratulate each other as recipients of Unconquered Spirit awards. Photos by Steve Chase
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Members of the association’s Seminole ClubsŽ and Chapters made a garnet and golden difference in their local communities during the 7th Annual Seminole Service Day in March. Alumni took part in more than 45 community service projects from coast to coast, proudly wearing garnet and gold as they worked to serve their neighbors. 8. Members of the Manatee Seminole Club spread straw and mulch to beautify a local park. 9. Members of the Seminole Club of Greater Washington, D.C., serve meals to people experiencing homelessness at the Central Union Mission. 10. Members of the Panama City Seminole Club clear brush at a local park. View more Seminole Service Day photos: gonol.es/Service18 Vires 61
Celebrating Three Decades! Thank you for supporting Noles with the purchase of an FSU License plate! Your contribution helps advance FSU’s ranking as one of the top universities in the nation. Visit any tax collector’s office to get yours today. For more info please visit mytag.fsu.edu. All proceeds go to student scholarships!
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ASSOCIATION NEWS CIRCLE OF GOLD The FSU Alumni Association’s Circle of Gold recognizes worthy individuals who, through their service and achievements, personify the university’s traditions of excellence. 1. Five prominent members of the FSU family were inducted during the spring COG ceremony April 14. They are, from left: • Max Zahn (B.S. ’71), retired Xerox Corporation sales executive. He was the original Seminole Booster area chairman for Jacksonville in the 1980s and today works as the regional annual fund director for Seminole Boosters. • Alicia Crew (B.S. ’69), retired director of FSU Campus Recreation. She continues to serve as an advocate for the preservation of FSU history and as a board member for Torchbearers, Women for FSU and Seminole Boosters. • Odell Haggins Jr. (B.S. ’93), associate head coach/defensive tackles coach of the FSU football team. A highlight of his quarter-century of coaching at FSU includes taking the field as interim head coach for the final two games of the 2017 season. • Billy Francis (B.A. ’86), director of the FSU Student Veterans Center. The retired Air Force colonel has dedicated his career at FSU to helping our nation’s veterans transition from active duty military service to life as a college student. • Judy Pate (B.M. ’67), the first female band director of Leon County Schools. She was part of the first alumni band to participate in Homecoming activities in 1970 – a tradition that has continued every year since – and is featured on the College of Music Wall of Fame.
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2. Craig T. Lynch (B.S. ’81), board chair of the Alumni Association’s National Board of Directors, makes opening remarks. 3. Former Tallahassee Democrat Publisher Mike Pate (B.S. ’68), a member of the COG, congratulates his wife, Judy Pate. 4. Francis and first lady Jean Thrasher visit during the reception. 5. Coaching legend and COG member Bobby Bowden offers congratulations to Haggins. 6. Bowden shares a laugh with President John Thrasher (B.S. ’65, J.D. ’72), a COG member. Photos by Steve Chase
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View more Circle of Gold photos: gonol.es/CircleSpring18
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NOLES ON TAP Nothing beats a night on the town to hang out and meet new friends – except a night out with nothing but fellow Seminoles! The Alumni Association’s spring networking tour, Noles on Tap, brought the party to St. Petersburg (Feb. 22), Fort Lauderdale/Pompano Beach (March 8), Tampa (March 15), Orlando (March 22) and Jacksonville (May 31).
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1. Kevin Gordon (B.S. ’86), provost of St. Petersburg College, Judy Schmeling (B.S. ’82), former president and COO of HSN, Peter Jones (B.S. ’77), president of Franklin Templeton Distributors and member of the FSU Foundation Board of Trustees, and Greg Phillips (B.S. ’84, M.Acc. ’86), co-managing director of IMG Academy, serve as alumni panelists at the St. Petersburg event. 2. Renee Killian and Matthew Auster (B.S. ’13, M.B.A. ’14) enjoy pizza and beer at Green Bench Brewing Co. in St. Petersburg. 3. Julian Hills (B.S. ’98), past president of the Seminole Club of Pinellas County, discusses how graduating from FSU changed his life for the better and the importance of being an active alumnus. 4. Todd Clarke (B.S. ’94), an attorney with JM Family Enterprises, Tom McAlpin (B.S. ’81), CEO of Virgin Voyages, Steve Pattison (B.S. ’79), CFO of Restaurant Services and immediate past chair of the Alumni Association’s National Board of Directors, and Tony Segreto, a retired South Florida news anchor and FSU dad, take part in a panel
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discussion at the Fort Lauderdale/Pompano Beach event. 5. Racks of barrels make an impressive showing during the alumni tour of Green Bench Brewery. 6. A staff member at 26 Degrees leads alumni on a tour of the brewery. 7. A group of young alumni, including Andrew Santini (B.S. ’15), Alec Laethem (B.S. ’17), Bradley Cassidy (B.S. ’15), Megan McGee Bailey (B.S. ’16) and Connor Barton (B.S. ’17), socialize at 26 Degrees Brewing Co. in Pompano Beach. 8. Elena Trescastro (B.S. ’17) shows her alumni pride at 81 Bay Brewing Co. in Tampa. 9. Laura Webb (B.S. ’97), president of Webb Insurance Group, Max Oligario (B.S. ’99), senior vice president of the global commercial banking group of Bank of America/Merrill Lynch and chair-elect of the Alumni Association’s National Board of Directors, John Holcomb (B.S. ’77), a shareholder with Hill Ward Henderson, and Janet Davis (D.N. ’14) serve as panelists at the Tampa event. 10. The crew at 81 Bay, brimming with Seminole spirit: Matt Borasch (B.S. ’05), co-owner; Michael Beard (B.S. ’07), owner and president; Joey Wildes (B.S. ’04), director of sales; Briant Mertz (B.S. ’07), director of marketing; and Keelan Cottle (B.S. ’08), owner. 11. FSU Foundation Director of Development Colette Podgorski with members of the Nole Nurse Alumni Group: Lauren Poiley (B.S.N. ’17), Marilyn McGhee (B.S. ’05, M.S. ’06, Ph.D. ’15), Alicia Craig-Rodriguez (D.N. ’16), Kathleen Wilson (B.S. ’78, M.S. ’80, Ph.D. ’92) and Janet Davis (D.N. ’14) at 81 Bay.
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View more Noles on Tap photos: gonol.es/AlbumsSpring18
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INSPIRE NYC The Alumni Association hosted Inspire New York, a special program to showcase FSU’s inspiring faculty, provide an update on the university’s Raise the Torch capital campaign and give alumni and friends a chance to connect with their fellow Seminoles. The event, held May 10, featured a panel discussing their careers and the FSU faculty members who first inspired them. 1. Dozens of alumni attend Inspire NYC, held at Ten on the Park in the Time Warner Center, which overlooks Columbus Circle and Central Park in Midtown Manhattan. 2. The panel in action: Jeff Boykins (B.S. ’92, M.S. ’93), Ritesh Gupta (B.S. ’98), Maura Hayes (B.S. ’82) and FSU President John Thrasher (B.S. ’65, J.D. ’72). 3. Christopher Iansiti (B.S. ’92, M.S. ’94), president of Iansiti Performance Group, with FSU first lady Jean Thrasher and Tim Chapin, dean of the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy. 4. Madison Langford (B.S. ’13) and Jason Cook (B.S. ’12) – who were married May 26 – with Jesse Wexler (B.S. ’06) of the Seminole Club of New York City and Jeff Boykins (B.S. ’92, M.S. ’93). 5. Jonathan O’Leary (B.A. ’15) and Ally Flynn (B.A. ’15). Photos by Bart Stadnicki More photos: gonol.es/Inspire2018
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GRADUATION CELEBRATION With the long hours of classwork, lab work and homework now behind them, FSU’s newest alumni take time to celebrate the hard work they put in to complete their degrees at the Alumni Association’s Spring Commencement Celebration. Graduates, along with their families and friends, enjoyed photo ops, champagne and a luncheon at the Alumni Center Courtyard and Grand Ballroom. Photos by Steve Chase View more photos: gonol.es/Spring18
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FSU Flashbacks to 1988 Looking back 30 years ago to the Class of 1988, we shared photos and milestone events of the year.
like, comment
Jay M. My senior year 30 years ago. Front page of the Gainesville Sun after beating Florida 28-14 (game late Nov. 1987) Douglas K. 6th row for the AC/DC concert. Go Noles!
FSU Alumni Association
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5-’91 from ’8 ke at FSU ali s a k w o I lo . l Louis C eorge Michae G y e a th rd a ak este om ls like y r you fr LOL fee membe lol re I . L t e rm r a o Marg at the d ! vators r you!!!! the ele 420 membe re I g ’88 Om ’89 but y Kim S. ated in m u d ly e ra it G n 33 Shares defi a T.: Barbar ith was too. Fa was fun #emnoles View more comments g. fav son e in Diane F. Met my husband while standing in line at drop/ s degre 9. chelor’ ’8 a B A .: B R M add at Leon Civic Center in ’87. We graduated together in Mike n ’88. nicatio on was the December ’88. Deion Sanders was in my freshman orientation s Commu a -’88 se Dynasty Era. class. Today, our daughter is an FSU alum/risk management The ’87 of the g in n Beat UF in and our son is a senior in the FSU College of Engineering. beg nation. e th sitting in #Nolefamily No. 2 nd was wamp a ne. Was Like • Reply at the S in the end zo orts w Sp front ro internship in y t when m n e g m Whit B. Met my wife in first week of grad school. We earned doin Depart n o dicated ti e a d master’s in urban planning in 1988; our daughter earned her Inform m was iu d ta ainst S g FSU master’s in fine arts 2018. Another one set to graduate Howser game a hibition e x e th h in 2019. to it w go and Got to teams Like • Reply Royals. ith both Brett. w e u c barbe eorge round G Thomas P. I was on the speech and debate team. FSU sent hang a
me to Arizona State to compete in nationals. I will never forget that experience. Thank you Curtis Austin, School of Communication, and FSU! Like • Reply Shelley D. Graduated in ’88!! So fun reading this! Good memories and wish I could do it all again. Like • Reply
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Leon County Civic Center, Tallahassee 10-20-1988 Blow Up Your Video World Tour
FSU Alumni Association 1988 was the year of the FSU Football “Seminole Rap.” Watch it here: gonol.es/88SeminoleRap
Tonya S. #Classof88 Primetime was killing it on the football field!
To see more flashbacks from ’68 - ’08,
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL! Facebook /FSUalumniassociation Instagram @FSUalumni Pinterest @FSUAA Twitter @FSUalumni YouTube /FSUAlumniAssn
Thank You to Our New Life Members The following alumni and friends recently* became Life Members of the FSU Alumni Association. Their support creates opportunities for our students, alumni and members who are and will always be #SeminolesForever. Find out more about alumni membership: alumni.fsu.edu/join.
David M. Bair (B.S. ’92) and Aileen F. Bair John E. Bates (B.S. ’68) Janna C. Boevink (B.S. ’97) Erin Bratic (B.A. ’96) and Alan Bratic Sean A. Buchanan (B.S. ’06) and Desiree Z. Buchanan (B.S. ’03, B.S.N. ’06) Natalie C. Carr (B.S. ’06) Lorine H. Eliason (B.A. ’89, M.S. ’91) Taylor K. Eubanks (B.M. ’17) Renee M. Farrell (B.S. ’85, B.S. ’86) and Miller R. Farrell Madalyn S. Gainey (M.S. ’17) Brent L. Gann (B.S. ’13, M.B.A. ’17) and Anna Gann Reynaldo A. Garnica II (B.S. ’03) and Robert A. Cortes (B.S. ’11) Jorge L. Gonzalez (B.S. ’87, M.S.P. ’89) Larry W. Gracie (Ph.D. ’76) and Joan D. Gracie Amy Hecht (B.S. ’01) Edward Hutchison Jr. (B.S. ’83, J.D. ’86) Lai Huynh (B.S. ’05)
Glen C. Jacob (B.S. ’97) Joy S. Jinks (B.A. ’71, M.S.W. ’75) Rebecca Keith (B.S. ’87) and David Keith (B.S. ’94) Preston R. Kirby (B.S. ’73) Russell T. Kohl (B.S. ’88) Julie G. Kritz (B.A. ’98) and Kyle Kritz Paul M. Malone (B.A. ’10, B.S. ’10) and Yolanda S. Malone (B.S. ’12) Jennifer L. Martin (B.S. ’89, M.S.W. ’90) Daniel W. Mathis (B.S. ’67, M.B.A. ’72) Jason D. Maxwell (B.S. ’99) Thomas E. McCormick (B.S. ’87) Christopher McCray Jr. (B.S. ’69, M.S. ’71) and Rita G. McCray Glen R. McDonald (B.S. ’89, M.B.A. ’99) Lesley L. Miller (B.S. ’86) Carolyn A. Minear (B.M.E. ’70, M.M. ’77) Carl H. Moser IV (B.S. ’89, M.S. ’91) and Kimberly Moser Barbara J. Myrick (B.S.W. ’71) Alexander B. Nollman (B.S. ’04, M.B.A. ’10) and Jessica Nollman
Jimmy T. Patronis Jr. (B.S. ’96) and Katie L. Patronis (B.S. ’08) J. Earl Perry (B.A. ’60, M.S. ’63) Patrick J. Phelan Jr. (B.S. ’85, J.D. ’88) and Janine B. Phelan Katrina H. Pitt (B.S. ’15) Michael C. Price (B.S. ’14) Robin K. Selbach (B.S.N. ’84) and Taylor S. Selbach (B.S. ’16) Connie C. Shepherd (B.S. ’87) and Shelby Shepherd Patricia G. Spear (B.A. ’64, Ph.D. ’69) Vernon C. Stutson (B.S. ’66) Lillie S. Thomas (B.S. ’96, M.P.A. ’01) Cynthia H. Wagner (B.S. ’78) and Bruce E. Wagner (B.S. ’79, M.S. ’88) John L. Wasik (Ed.D. ’67) Paige R. Webster (B.S. ’84) and Thomas N. Webster Maria C. Yu (B.A. ’96) *This list includes individuals who joined the FSU Alumni Association as Life Members between Oct. 1 and March 31.
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CLASS NOTES Indicates FSU Alumni Association Life membership Indicates FSU Alumni Association membership
EMERITUS Marilyn Miller Blandford (B.S. ’61), CEO of Miltec UV, is celebrating the company’s 28th year in business and the launch of its new lithium-ion battery technology. The new highspeed coating and curing technology will allow battery manufacturers to produce lithium-ion batteries at a much faster pace, with much less floor space and carbon footprint, and provide significant cost savings.
Bertha Henry (B.S. ’77, M.P.A. ’78), the administrator of Broward County, Florida, was named one of nine Public Officials of the Year for 2017 by Governing magazine. Henry was praised for her financial management during a recession and for brokering a deal to end a dispute between the county and ride-sharing companies.
Mark Ellis (B.S. ’79, J.D. ’84), executive director of the International Bar Association, co-wrote a book, “The International Criminal Court in an Effective Global Justice System,” which was reviewed in The New York Review of Books (“A Glimmer of Justice,” March 8, 2018). Ellis is a director of the FSU Alumni Association’s National Board of Directors. ▲ Mark Ellis
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▼ Steve Pattison Steve Pattison (B.S. ’79) received the Spark Plug Award from the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association for leadership in representing the restaurant industry in a collaborative project, “Supply Chain Optimization.” In addition, Pattison was elected to the national governing board of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. He is the immediate past chair of the FSU Alumni Association’s National Board of Directors. Jawole Willa Jo Zollar (M.F.A. ’79), a Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor and the Nancy Smith Fichter Professor of Dance at FSU, received the 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award from the New York Dance and Performance Bessie Awards. The Bessies are the Tony Awards of dance.
Rita Coolidge (B.A. ’67), a two-time Grammy winner, released a new album, “Safe in the Arms of Time.”
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Jane Boyd Ohlin (B.S. ’79, J.D. ’86) and Sten T. Sliger (B.S. ’84, J.D. ’94) co-wrote a book, “Hotel, Restaurant and Travel Law: A Preventive Approach,” which won a 2018 Textbook Excellence Award from the Textbook & Academic Authors Association. The book’s third author is Karen L. Morris.
▲ Mark Ellis
1970s Edward Staros (B.S. ’72), vice president and managing director of the Ritz-Carlton, Naples, was inducted into Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida’s Business Hall of Fame, Collier County. Neal Golden (Ph.D. ’77), a computer science faculty member at Brother Martin High School in New Orleans, wrote an article, “Jim Piersall’s Tumultuous 1952 Season,” published in the journal of the Society for American Baseball Research. He also publishes goldenrankings.com, an online football magazine that features articles on FSU football. 70 Vires
Laura L. Martin (B.M. ’80) and Bruce Helbig, who attended FSU at the same time, were married Oct. 14, 2017, in a sunset ceremony on the beach on Dauphin Island, Alabama, 41 years after they first met at FSU. Martin, a writer and publisher (IslandPublishing.net), nature photographer (art. LauraMartin.org) and composer-singer-songwriter (LauraLouise.net), was a Chi Omega, and Helbig, a retired professional golfer, was a Lambda Chi Alpha. Burt Reynolds (Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters ’81), Hollywood icon and former FSU football player, starred in the critically acclaimed “The Last Movie Star” (2017), about an aging movie star forced to face the reality that his glory days are behind him. Bill Faucett (B.A. ’85, Ph.D. ’92) wrote a book, “The Marching Chiefs of Florida State University: The Band That Never Lost a Halftime Show.” Faucett chronicles everything from the institution’s early efforts to found a marching band before the program’s 1939 establishment at the Florida State College for Women to the Chiefs’ attaining “world renowned” status. Timothy J. Center (B.S. ’88, J.D. ’91), founder of Centerfield Strategy and CEO of the Capital Area Community Action Agency, was appointed to the board of directors of CareerSource Florida by Gov. Rick Scott.
SANDRA ”SANDY” BARKER (M.S. ’76, PH.D. ’78)
CLASS NOTES
Striving to be one of a kind meant Sandy Barker and her peers faced some growing pains, but the goal of contributing to improved mental health kept Barker focused on forging a new path. Barker is the director of the Center for HumanAnimal Interaction at Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Medicine. The center’s Dogs On Call therapy-dog program provides a living lab for researching the benefits of human-animal interaction. Barker witnesses the effect dogs have on a daily basis. “You can’t walk through a medical center with a dog and not see people smiling,” says Barker, who received the FSU College of Education’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2001. Dogs on Call enables canines to comfort patients and staff members throughout the VCU Medical Center: pediatrics, oncology, psychiatry, emergency medicine, rehab and palliative care. The center was established in 2001, and services have gradually expanded over 17 years. “When we were first asked by University Counseling Services to provide therapy dogs during exams, a record 1,000 students attended,” Barker says. “We still provide that twice each semester, and our research documents reduced student stress.”
▼ Jennifer O’Flannery Anderson
Due to infection control issues, the center's programs are limited to dogs as opposed to cats or other animals. When Barker addresses questions about business-based use of resources, she has a fellow FSU graduate ready to lend advisement. Husband Randolph Barker (B.A. ’73, M.A. ’74, Ph.D. ’76), an emeritus faculty member at VCU in business, contributes his knowledge. “I come from a counseling and research background, so it is important to have that business perspective,” Sandy Barker says. The center also contains a teaching component for medical students and residents. It is an interdisciplinary team effort by Barker, the staff and 90-plus therapy-dog teams and many campus departments. “There was never a time when someone closed the door and said, ‘That’s crazy!’” she says. Sandy Barker with Tippie, one of the therapy dogs from the Dogs On Call program.
1990s ▼ Ben Crump Jamie Harden (B.S. ’90), president and CEO of Creative Sign Designs, received the Governor’s Business Ambassador Award. In addition, Harden is chair-elect of the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce and honorary commander for a pair of units stationed at the 927th Air Refueling Wing and 6 Air Mobility Wing at MacDill Air Force Base. (Creative Sign Designs is ranked No. 51 on the 2018 Seminole 100, a listing of the fastest-growing FSU alumni-owned businesses in America. For more, see Page 41.) Mokgweetsi Masisi (M.S. ’91) was appointed interim president of Botswana upon the departure of President Seretse Khama Ian Khama. Masisi has served as Botswana’s vice president and minister of education since 2014. Frank Terraferma (B.S. ’91, M.S. ’93) was hired as executive director of the Republican Party of Idaho.
Jennifer O’Flannery Anderson (B.S. ’89), vice president of advancement and community relations at Nova Southeastern University, received the 2017 Athena Leadership Award from the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches. The award honors individuals and organizations that are leaders in their field, have mentored women and have given back to the community.
Mark Wilson (B.S. ’91) serves as the primary evening news anchor at WTVT FOX13, covering the Tampa Bay area. He has worked at the station for 20 years.
Ben Crump (B.S. ’92, J.D. ’95), noted civil rights attorney and owner of Ben Crump Law, starred in a six-part A&E series, “Who Killed Tupac?” The series’ investigation into the 1996 murder of Tupac Shakur includes Crump’s personal and legal analysis aimed at corroborating or disproving the theories that have swirled around the case for two decades.
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CLASS NOTES David Willson (B.S. ’92, M.S.W. ’93, Ed.S. ’97, M.S. ’97) wrote a book, “Theodore Tobias Greenwood: A Child of Grace,” about an orphan who, despite the tragedy of losing his parents, emerges as a man of deep faith and moral character. A percentage of the proceeds from the book help fund the administration of A Thousand Brothers, a nonprofit established by Willson that assists families who have lost children. Monty Greenlee (M.F.A. ’93) co-wrote and coproduced “Too Many Days Without,” an extendedplay album by artist J. Ramada. Mark Perez (B.A. ’93) wrote the movie “Game Night” (2018), starring Rachel McAdams and Jason Bateman, a comedy about a group of friends who meet regularly for game nights but find themselves involved in solving an actual murder. Perez provided the story for “Herbie Fully Loaded” (2005) and wrote “The Country Bears” (2002). Eric Tenbus (M.A. ’93, M.A. ’97, Ph.D. ’01), an expert on British and Middle Eastern history and the current president of the North American Conference on British Studies’ Midwest region, joined Georgia College as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Jeff Lerner (M.F.A. ’94) produced a 35thanniversary featurette for the restored Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD disk of “The Dark Crystal” (1982). The featurette includes interviews with Lisa Henson,
daughter of Jim Henson, the film’s co-director, and Toby Froud, son of Brian Froud, the film’s costume designer.
Matthew L. Wax (B.S. ’96, J.D. ’99) joined the Orlando office of Chartwell Law as an insurance defense and workers’ compensation attorney.
Lana Olson (B.S. ’95), an attorney with Lightfoot, Franklin & White, was recognized as a “Litigation Star” in the 2018 edition of Benchmark Litigation, an annual guide to leading U.S. litigation firms and lawyers. In addition, Olson was named to Who’s Who Legal: Product Liability Defense for 2018 for the second consecutive year. She also was named to Benchmark Litigation’s Top 250 Women in Litigation for 2017.
Charles Adcock III (B.S. ’97) was promoted to president and CEO of the FSU Credit Union. In addition, Adcock was chosen as a 2017 Credit Union Rock Star by the Credit Union National Association (CUNA). Adcock was the only honoree from Florida and one of just 54 Credit Union Rock Stars selected nationwide by CUNA and Credit Union Magazine. ▲ Charles Adcock III
Melissa Carter (M.F.A. ’96), an executive producer of the OWN series “Queen Sugar,” was part of the producing team to receive the award for Outstanding Drama Series at the 48th NAACP Image Awards. Miles Kahn (B.F.A. ’96) was nominated for four Emmy Awards: Outstanding Variety Talk Series as executive producer of “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee”; Outstanding Variety Special as executive producer of “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee Presents Not the White House Correspondents’ Dinner”; Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series as a writer of “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee”; and Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special as a writer of “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee Presents Not the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.”
GINA MITCHELL HILL (B.S. ’88) Although she enjoys the opportunities contained in the big-city environment of Jacksonville, Gina Hill found one of her most memorable moments as an engineer included a small-town blast from the past. “I was able to go back to my roots and provide structural engineering for my elementary school, Kate Smith Elementary School in Chipley, Florida,” Hill says. “That personally was very rewarding to be able to go back to my hometown and be part of something that was as important to the community as a new school.” It was one of Hill’s high-water marks as the owner of G.M. Hill Engineering Inc. She originally focused more on the residential side of structural engineering because that service was in high demand prior to the housing-market collapse roughly a decade ago. That downturn prompted Hill to go back to her engineering strengths, dealing with commercial and educational facility projects. Hill’s company has worked for the Duval County School Board – performing inspections and design services – for nine years. The University of
North Florida campus is home to another place that has an emotional connection for Hill. “One of my favorite and most challenging projects as a younger engineer was the North Florida Fine Arts Center,” she says. “I love to go to events there and just look up and recall all the various components associated with designing such a technically challenging facility.” The early part of honing those skills happened in a small and welcoming environment at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. “The classrooms are much smaller than most of the other universities offering engineering,” Hill says. “There was that one-on-one relationship that you had with professors. They truly cared about you and wanted you to be successful. It was a great place to learn. They challenged you to be better, to be a problem-solver and an outside-thebox thinker.”
Gina Hill Vires 73
CLASS NOTES Rob Butler (M.F.A. ’97), a film editor, was nominated for an Emmy in the category of Outstanding Picture Editing for an Unstructured Reality Program for the Discovery Channel series “Deadliest Catch: Uncharted Territory.” Ruth Hernandez (M.F.A. ’98), a film editor, won an Emmy in the category of Outstanding Sound Editing for Limited Series, Movie or Special for “Subtle Beast,” an episode of the HBO series “The Night Of.” Nathan Alexander (B.F.A. ’99) won two awards – the Bronze for Best Internal Marketing Sizzle for Hulu’s 2016 “upfront” and the Silver for Best Image Campaign for Online, Cable or Satellite for Hulu’s 2016 summer campaign – at the 2017 PromaxBDA Awards. Michelle Eisenreich (B.F.A. ’99) served as the visual effects producer for Double Negative on “Blade Runner 2049” (2017). Craig Kief (B.F.A. ’99) served as the cinematographer on HBO’s “Tour de Pharmacy” (2017), a mockumentary starring Andy Samberg about the 1983 Tour de France. In addition, Kief is serving as cinematographer on CBS’ “Me, Myself and I” and served as cinematographer on Season 1 of Fox’s “The Mick.”
Wendy Mericle (M.F.A. ’99) is beginning her sixth season as an executive producer of the CW series “Arrow.” Miguel Romano (B.A. ’99) was named president of Ascension Texas Foundations. Ascension Texas is part of Ascension, the largest nonprofit health system in the nation and the world’s largest Catholic health system. Kelsey Scott (M.F.A. ’99), an actress and writer known for “12 Years a Slave” (2013) and the ABC series “How to Get Away with Murder” (2014), played the mother in Lifetime’s “The Simone Biles Story: Courage to Soar” (2018). Scott chaired “A Crash Course in Writing for the Screen,” part of Florida A&M University’s Knight Chair Speaker Series celebrating Black History Month. In addition, she was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series for her role as Sierra in AMC’s “Fear the Walking Dead: Passage” (2016).
2000s Grisha Alasadi (B.F.A. ’00) served as a film editor on “To Climb a Gold Mountain” (2015), a documentary about the struggles and triumphs of four women of Asian descent who lived in America over a period of 160 years and fought in their own ways to make a difference in the lives of others. The documentary won the 69th Los Angeles Area Emmy for Best Independent Programming.
Matt Blundell (B.F.A. ’00) wrote and directed “Hey, Kiri” (2016), which won Best Short Film-Comedy at the Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema. In addition, the movie was the lowest-budget film at the festival. Shaughnessy Hare (B.F.A. ’00), a sound effects editor, was nominated for an Emmy in the category of Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series for “XXXVII,” an episode of the Starz series “Black Sails.” Chris Weinke (B.S. ’00), who led the Seminoles to a football national championship in 1999 and won the Heisman Trophy in 2000, joined the football staff of the University of Tennessee Volunteers as the running backs coach.
Alissa McKee Ellison (B.S. ’01), a shareholder at the GrayRobinson law firm, was appointed by Florida Gov. Rick Scott to serve as a judge on the Hillsborough County Court.
Aaron Kautz (B.S. ’01) co-founded One Fresh Pillow, an entrepreneurial venture that manufactures pillows filled with fluffy-soft down on one side and supportive memory foam on the other. Kautz, a licensed massage therapist, serves as CEO of the company.
BJ PITTMAN (B.S. ’97) BJ Pittman thrives on a huge continent partly because of a lesson he learned in a relatively small office. Before Pittman became the managing partner at Kupanda Capital, a Washington, D.C.-based investment platform established to create, capitalize and scale pan-African companies, he was the special assistant to the president and senior director for African affairs at the White House. “After briefing the president in the Oval Office, the world becomes a lot less intimidating,” Pittman says. (Kupanda Capital was ranked No. 25 on the 2018 Seminole 100, a ranking of the fastest-growing businesses in America owned by FSU alumni. See page 40.) Talking to President George W. Bush meant Pittman had to understand what was happening across different levels of Africa regarding banking, business trends and development. “In the second term, I was the lead adviser, so I had to be responsible for all of the continent,” Pittman says. “It was an exciting but also a busy time.”
That experience, coupled with Pittman’s pursuit of an economics degree at FSU, gave him solid footing for taking a managing partner role at a venture capital and private equity firm. “A lot of professors at FSU had open doors,” Pittman says. “I was really grateful for that and that I had a lot of rigorous academic work. It served me really well.” Pittman has seen growth in Africa over the past two decades across a number of roles, including having served as vice president of infrastructure, private sector and regional integration at the African Development Bank. In that role, he managed more than $25 billion in projects across 52 African countries. “During the past 20 years, there has been vibrant growth in Africa,” Pittman says. “A lot of those new consumers want access to music, movies and other entertainment. It’s exciting that we have a new emerging consumer class.”
BJ Pittman in 2010 with Rwandan President Paul Kagame discussing investments in that nation’s energy and banking sectors. 74 Vires
CLASS NOTES Sheree Mitchell (B.A. ’01, M.S. ’04) was recognized as a travel expert by The New York Times and is a guest speaker at The New York Times Travel Show for 2018. Mitchell is the founder and president of lmmersa Global, an experiential travel company that offers highly curated cultural immersion programs for adults in Costa Rica, Portugal and Israel. ▲ Sheree Mitchell
Heath Woodlief (B.S. ’01) serves as a senior producer for the Tennis Channel. He produces a variety of original content, including documentaries, travel/lifestyle shows and short-form media, and often travels to tennis tournaments around the world to conduct player interviews or produce film content. Wes Ball (B.F.A. ’02) directed “Maze Runner: The Death Cure” (2018), his third film in the popular series about a dystopian future. In addition, he is set to produce the series pilot for “Mosaic,” a futuristic drama in development for NBC.
Morgan Hanner (B.F.A. ’03) served as an editor on two episodes of the CNN Original Series “The Nineties”: “Clinton: The Comeback Kid” and “Terrorism Hits Home.” He also served as an editor on “The Sixties,” another part of CNN’s Decades series. ▼ Elise Ramer
Alexander Fernandez (B.S. ’02) was promoted to vice president of financial services at Broward Health. He is responsible for providing strategic leadership and systemwide oversight of the daily operations of general accounting, financial planning and patient billing services.
Jennifer Whelihan (B.A. ’01, M.A. ’02), the economic development manager for Hillsborough County, Florida, and CEO of j.whela Productions, received a 2017 NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The NFL and the Hispanic Heritage Foundation recognize the contributions of Hispanic leaders in each NFL market during Hispanic Heritage Month.
Cassandra Freeman (B.F.A. ’02) starred in “My Other Home” (2017), a biographical movie about professional basketball player Stephon Marbury, who played himself. In addition, Freeman appeared in an episode of the CBS series “Blue Bloods” (2017) and in three episodes of the Netflix series “Luke Cage” (2016). Zach Sieffert (M.F.A. ’02) served as B-camera 1st AC/operator on Season 2 of the Sony/AMC series “Preacher.”
Elise Ramer (B.A. ’03) joined Premier Sotheby’s International Realty as the company’s senior director of public relations. Ramer’s public relations career spans over 15 years with experience including luxury brands, residential and commercial real estate, and consumer products.
BOBBIE CAVNAR (B.S. ’99) When the people in Belmont, North Carolina, found out that Bobbie Cavnar had been named the nation’s top classroom teacher by the National Education Association, he was quick to point out the honor was a team championship. “They interviewed my administration, fellow teachers, support staff and custodians, as well as my past and present students and their parents,” Cavnar says. “It was dozens of people all attempting to create a picture of who I am as a teacher and what impact I had on their lives.” Cavnar, an alumnus of FSU’s College of Education, received the NEA Foundation’s 2018 Member Benefits Award for Teaching Excellence in February at a gala in Washington, D.C. He says his interest in the history of schooling – its law, policy and teaching practices – added to his stature in the NEA competition. For the past 15 years, Cavnar has taught English at South Point High School near Charlotte. “It’s still about building relationships,” he says. “You have
to get kids to buy in and get them excited about the curriculum. How do you convince them of the importance of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ and keep it relevant?” Cavnar credits his FSU education as crucial to molding him into the teacher he is today, from early exposure to student teaching to the technology that enables distance learning. “They were already working on things like distance learning and learning labs. FSU was right in front on that 20 years ago.” He says technology remains a vital component of how he teaches English. “The ability to work together as writers across the same document through technologies like Google Docs allows me to create a virtual writers’ workshop for my students. The ability to capture images and video and have students interact with those performances in class makes Shakespeare come alive.”
Bobbie Cavnar teaching an English class at South Point High School. Vires 75
CLASS NOTES Steven J. “Stevo” Chang (M.F.A. ’04) and Fran Ervin (M.F.A. ’04) co-wrote a movie, “Revoked” (2017), which won Best Virtual Reality Documentary or Empathic Film at the Cinequest Film Festival. In addition to writing the film, Chang directed it and Ervin produced it. Sara Bennett Crowley (B.F.A. ’04), a producer with ShadowMachine, served as production manager and 1st AD for the pilot and six episodes of “The Shivering Truth,” an animated show for Adult Swim. In addition, Crowley produced six 30-second commercials, billboards and stills for the Southern California Honda dealers’ Happy Honda Days campaign.
Thomas S. Nowlin (B.F.A. ’05) wrote the screenplay for “Maze Runner: The Death Cure” (2018), based on the novel by James Dashner. Nowlin previously wrote the screenplay for “Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials” (2015). Alonda Thomas (M.S. ’05) was appointed director of public relations at Howard University. In addition, Thomas was named one of the Top 25 African-American PR Millennials to Watch for 2017 by the Huffington Post. ▲ Alonda Thomas
Thais Asper (B.A. ’05, M.S. ’06) joined AT&T as external affairs director for Miami-Dade, Monroe and Collier counties in Florida. Asper will be in charge of legislative affairs and will assist with new technology deployment and infrastructure investment. Marc Carlini (M.F.A. ’05) directed and co-wrote the forthcoming independent film “She’s in Portland” (2018). Patrick Alexander (M.F.A. ’07) co-wrote the movie. Greg O’Bryant (M.F.A. ’04) served as executive producer. The movie was produced by Carlini’s Tilt/Shift Films. Michael McGee (B.S. ’05) attended the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games to manage the marketing programs of top Olympic sponsors.
April Billingsley (B.F.A. ’06) won her second Best Actress Award at the American Filmatic Arts Awards for “The 12 Lives of Sissy Carlyle,” a light-hearted romp about a woman who creates alter egos in her journals as she tries to discover herself. Andrew Fay (B.S. ’06, J.D. ’10), special counsel and director of legislative affairs, cabinet affairs and public policy for Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, was appointed to the Florida Public Service Commission. Ivan L. Harrell II (Ph.D. ’06) was named the 11th president of Tacoma Community College. Jacob Motz (M.F.A. ’06) was promoted to director of development at Portal A. Miguel Nolla (B.A. ’06, B.F.A. ’06), who has served on the production staffs of “Scandal” and “Grey’s Anatomy,” will serve as a writer and co-executive producer of a yet-to-be-titled pilot for ABC inspired by the musical legacy of Mexican-American pop icon Selena Quintanilla. Aakash Patel (B.A. ’06) received the Deanne Dewey Roberts Emerging Leader Award from the Tampa Chamber of Commerce. The award highlights a young Tampa professional who stands out as a community builder and advocate. Patel owns Elevate, a business consulting firm.
JULIAN TRIVINO (B.S. ’08, M.S. ’10) When the people of Puerto Rico had their lives turned upside down by Hurricane Maria, Dr. Julian Trivino and his peers found a way to help the healing process. Trivino was part of a team that spent two weeks last fall providing emergency medical assistance in the aftermath of Puerto Rico’s worst natural disaster. “One of the physicians I work with is friends with a gentleman in the Coast Guard,” Trivino says. “Because of him, we got a Coast Guard flight out of Jacksonville so that we could get there as quickly as possible.” After they landed at 1 a.m. in San Juan, the team barely had time to get settled into their hotel rooms before starting their first day at 7 a.m. They continued working until 1 a.m. the following day. In addition to the challenges of getting from place to place, there were plenty of challenges in treating patients, starting with a lack of patient histories to consult. And while most of the injuries they encountered were similar to those they might treat anywhere, some were medically unique. “Part 76 Vires
of emergency medicine is improvising (based on conditions),” Trivino says. One patient had a heart issue and needed a pacemaker. Another man had suffered upper-body trauma because a car had fallen on him. “We had to stabilize him and get him to a trauma center so he could get a CT scan and additional scans to evaluate his abdominal injuries,” Trivino says. “We had a lot of other cases where people had suffered injuries from chainsaws or machetes when they were trying to cut down trees.” After his return to Florida Hospital in Orlando, where he is the chief resident physician in emergency medicine, Trivino had a new skill set and a new appreciation for the resources at home. “That trip makes you realize how much you can do with very little,” he says. “ Dr. Julian Trivino with a tiny patient – a bright spot during his emergency medical mission to Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.
CLASS NOTES Sarah Beth Shapiro (M.F.A. ’06) served as a film editor for “Flower” (2017), an edgy coming-of-age dramedy about a girl who forms an unorthodox kinship with her mentally unstable stepbrother. Nicole Emanuele (B.F.A. ’07), who works on scripted series and movie projects and movie acquisitions for YouTube, is overseeing three series: “Step Up: High Water” (2017) with executive producers Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan Tatum; “Impulse” (2018); and “Youth and Consequences” (2018).
JUMBOTRON TRIBUTE: Siblings Stephanie Robinson (B.A. ’13, B.S. ’13), a Navy lieutenant junior grade, and Christopher Robinson (B.S. ’15), a Navy ensign, were recognized as “Military Heroes of the Game” by the Dallas Cowboys during a special family military appreciation ceremony on Thanksgiving Day at AT&T Stadium. As FSU students, Stephanie studied international affairs and Russian and Christopher studied business. In the fall, Stephanie was selected for Naval Postgraduate School to complete a master’s degree in network administration/cybersecurity, and Christopher passed the Surface Warfare Supply Corps Officer qualification boards. He had more to celebrate in January: a promotion to lieutenant junior grade in a ceremony aboard the USS Wisconsin.
Blake Taylor (B.F.A. ’07) wrote an episode of the CBS series “Salvation” titled “Chip Off the Ol’ Block” (Season 1, Episode 6). The series is about an MIT grad student and a tech superstar who bring a low-level Pentagon official a staggering discovery – that an asteroid is just six months away from colliding with Earth. Kathryn L. Whitson (B.S. ’07), a nursing education specialist for the Mayo Clinic, was appointed to the Florida Board of Nursing by Gov. Rick Scott. Valerie Wicks (B.F.A. ’08) served as visual effects assistant coordinator for “Black Panther” (2018). Nikesha Elise Williams (B.S. '08), an Emmy- and Florida Associated Press Broadcasters Awardwinning news producer, released her debut novel, “Four Women,” in 2017. Jessica Wilson-Silas (B.F.A. ’08) served as visual effects coordinator for “Black Panther” (2018). Eric Bader (M.F.A. ’09) served as cinematographer on “Champion,” a music video by Fall Out Boy. The shoot was assisted by Eric Clark (M.F.A. ’09), who served as gaffer, and Paul Tackett (M.F.A. ’15), who served as grip. Brian Barrow (B.F.A. ’09) served as an editor on the Hulu series “Betch,” a sketch-comedy series. Sylwia Dudzinska (M.F.A. ’09), an assistant director and producer, served as a panelist on the “You Do What? Women in Film Production” panel at the San Diego Comic-Con. Ryan O’Connell (M.F.A. ’09) joined Grand Canyon University as an adjunct instructor of film production. Andy Thompson (B.F.A. ’09) served as associate producer for “Dunkirk” (2017), which won best sound editing, best sound mixing and best film editing at the 90th Academy Awards. It won best editing at the 23rd Critics’ Choice Awards.
2010s Andrew Bachelor (B.S. ’10), an actor/comedian known as “King Bach,” debuted as the leading man in his first feature film, “Where’s the Money” (2017). Bachelor has made appearances in “Angie Tribeca,” “Workaholics” and “Key and Peele” and has a recurring role on “House of Lies.”
Matthew Barnette (B.A. ’10, M.F.A. ’12, M.S. ’12) was one of the writers of “Muppets Take the Bowl,” a live stage show at the Hollywood Bowl. Kelly Bumford (B.F.A. ’10) served as a producer on a series of videos for hitRECord x ACLU, “Are You There, Democracy? It’s Me, the Internet.” The series was nominated for an Emmy in the Outstanding Original Interactive Program category.
Christopher Amick (B.F.A. ’11) and Ben Mekler (B.F.A. ’11) are working as staff writers on the forthcoming TBS series “Final Space.” The animated science-fiction show features the voices of Fred Armisen, Conan O’Brien, Andy Richter and Ron Perlman. Adam Carboni (B.F.A. ’11) directed the music video for Sufjan Steven's song “Life with Dignity,” which tells the stories of three real-life cancer patients.
Curtis “C.J.” Leonard (B.S. ’10) was promoted to senior accountant in the Tallahassee office of James Moore & Company, a tax, auditing and accounting firm.
Erica Chanti (B.S. ’11) joined The Rubin Group, a governmental-affairs firm, as head of its Miami office.
Christopher Salak (B.S. ’10, B.S. ’14) was promoted to senior accountant in the Tallahassee office of James Moore & Company, a tax, auditing and accounting firm.
Faren Humes (M.F.A. ’11), an emerging filmmaker, was awarded the Chaz Ebert Foundation Fellowship through the Sundance Film Festival for 2018. The fellowship includes a $10,000 stipend. Vires 77
CLASS NOTES Jared Lyon (B.S. ’11), president and CEO of Student Veterans of America, was one of 59 Americans to be named to the fourth annual class of Presidential Leadership Scholars, a partnership between the presidential centers of George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Lyndon B. Johnson.
Lauren Brinkman (B.F.A. ’12) was promoted to manager of development at Lightbox. In addition, she served as assistant to the producer for “LA 92” (2017), a movie produced by Lightbox about the events that led up to the 1992 uprising in Los Angeles following the Rodney King beating by police. The movie won an Emmy in the Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking category. Curtis Adair Jr. (M.F.A. ’13) wrote a movie script, “Straw,” which was one of 25 finalists in the 2017 ScreenCraft Film Fund Grant Program. The competition drew more than 2,000 applicants. Neal D. Chianese III (B.S. ’13), an accountant turned co-founder of Personal Health Management, a medical device manufacturing and distribution firm, is working to bring an at-home, selfadministered Pap smear test to market and spread
awareness of prevention as it pertains to cervical cancer. Chianese serves as the firm’s vice president of accounting and finance.
▼ Christopher Bruin
Isabel Lawton (M.S. ’13) and Alisha Russell (B.S. ’11, M.S. ’13), speech-language pathologists with the Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital System, cocreated BRAV (Brooks Rehab Alternative Voices), a program that works to bring speech-activating equipment to patients who are unable to speak. It provides consistent and up-to-date training with augmentative and alternative communication systems – specifically speech-generating devices – to speech language pathologists across the Brooks organization. Ning Liu (B.A. ’13) joined James Moore & Co. as a staff accountant. Caitlin Strawder (B.S. ’13) won a prestigious Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship. The fellowship program, supported by the U.S. Department of State, provides funding, mentoring and professional development for a job in the U.S. Foreign Service. David B. Tanner (B.S. ’13) served as a co-producer of the Netflix series “Real Rob,” starring Rob Schneider. Jordann Allen (B.S. ’14) joined the Radey Law Firm in Tallahassee as an associate focusing primarily on labor and employment law and commercial litigation.
Christopher Bruin (B.A. ’14) joined The Weather Channel as an on-camera meteorologist. Hannah Cameron (M.S.N. ’14, D.N.P. ’17) wrote a manuscript, “Nurses’ Perceptions and Practices Related to Alarm Management: A Quality Improvement Initiative,” that was accepted for publication by the Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing.
MIKE BRACCIALE (B.S. ’15), NICK TELFORD (B.S. ’17) Studying with your girlfriend during fall finals in Strozier Library is cool. Having bad breath after scarfing down a chicken pesto sandwich and coffee, not so much. This real-life story left Fly Mouthwash co-founders Mike Bracciale and Nick Telford pondering a problem: Is there an effective way to remedy bad breath on a longterm basis with an item that is easily portable? In early 2016, the pair set out to develop their own mouthwash because gum and mints, while portable, don’t cut it. “Mike knew a little chemistry,” Telford says. “We ordered the ingredients and tried to develop a formula in my kitchen. It turned out to be a total disaster.” Bracciale and Telford next turned to a product development company, but the deal fell through. After that, Telford started making cold calls to other product developers and chemists, including Dr. Martin Giniger, who brought the Power Swabs teeth-whitening system to market. “He was my 20th call and our lucky break. I was in Boca Raton; he was in Delray Beach, 20 minutes away. I explained the concept and he said, ‘I think I can make this happen.’”
Fast-forward to January 2018, when they rolled out Fly Mouthwash. It’s a liquid that, when mixed with a swallow of water, provides fresh breath for up to eight hours. And it comes in a handy pocket-sized, TSA-friendly bottle. Like all good entrepreneurs, the pair worked steadily over 2016 and 2017 to grind out their idea. “I was working full time doing physician recruiting, so I’d go to Dr. Giniger’s office before and after work and on my lunch break to work on variations of the formula with him,” Bracciale says. In turn, they would send the variations for testing to Telford, who was still attending FSU. “I would take what they sent me and let my friends, other students and faculty members try it out,” Telford says. “I gathered as much feedback as I could to send back to them. We repeated this process until we finally got it right.”
Nick Telford, left, and Mike Bracciale proudly show off the fruit of their labor: a bottle of Fly Mouthwash. 78 Vires
CLASS NOTES Eric Jaffe (B.F.A. ’14), a writer and producer, won the first-ever Pitch to Pilot competition. Jaffe’s show idea, “Talking to Myself,” about strangers with the same name meeting and getting to know each other, will become a pilot produced by New Form. In addition, he released a history podcast geared for children, “Time Turners,” on iTunes. Stacy Milbourn (M.F.A. ’14) joined the Season 2 production of the NBC series “The Good Place” as a post-production assistant.
Suk Joon Hwang (Ph.D. ’16) was named one of 25 Founders Fellows for 2017 by the American Society of Public Administration. The program recognizes outstanding students and new professionals in the field of public service and public administration. Nicole Machon (B.F.A. ’16) joined the Season 4 production team of the Amazon series “Mozart in the Jungle” as production secretary.
Nicole Strayhorn (M.S. ’17), a Library ORISE Fellow of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was named an associate fellow of the National Library of Medicine, the largest medical library in the world. ▼ Mike Yuhas
Stephanie Williams (M.F.A. ’14) worked as the post-production coordinator for two films that received Oscar nominations: “Phantom Thread” (2017) and “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” (2017). Evelyn Bradfield (B.S. ’15) serves as a casting associate producer with Leopard USA, the company that produces HGTV’s “House Hunters International.” Anthony Cabrera (B.F.A. ’15), a visual effects artist at ILM, worked on two films for which ILM received Oscar nominations for visual effects. He served as production coordinator for “Kong: Skull Island” (2017) and worked on the stereo pipeline for “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” (2017). Veronica Delgado (B.F.A. ’15), an editor for Brave Man Media, a boutique production company, is working on her second commercial campaign for Remitly, a money-lending app. The first campaign ran nationally on Univision.
Mike Yuhas (M.S. ’17) joined Thomas Howell Ferguson as a staff accountant in the tax services department. ▼ Madeline Ruttenbur
Matt Hughes (B.S. ’15) was appointed chief financial officer of Plantation General Hospital, overseeing its internal and external financial reporting, capital expenditures, case management and resource utilization. Fred Johnson (M.F.A. ’15), one of the bachelors on Season 13 of the ABC series “The Bachelorette,” joined Studio71 as a talent manager. Darrel Raymundo (B.F.A. ’15) joined Gentle Giant/3D Systems as a 3-D character artist. Working as a sculptor for film, toys and collectibles, he has completed projects for clients such as Marvel, Disney, Lucasfilm and Pokemon. Jacqueline Rojas (B.A. ’15, B.S. ’15) received a 2017 Donald M. Payne International Development Fellowship. As a Payne Fellow, Rojas will pursue a master’s degree in global human development at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service. James Stage (B.S. ’15, M.S. ’16) received a Governor’s Young Entrepreneur Award for 2017 from Florida Gov. Rick Scott. Stage created the educational software business Queralyze, which sells educational software designed to help students improve critical thinking skills in research and writing. Whitney Clinkscales (M.F.A. ’16) served as a main stage manager for “The Oscars: All Access” show, which was nominated for an Emmy.
Madeline Ruttenbur (B.S. ’16) joined Thomas Howell Ferguson as a staff accountant in the assurance services department. Melissa Shega (B.F.A. ’16) became a partner of CGO Studios, a virtualreality production company that works with leading experts to re-create important moments in history. In addition, Shega served as production manager on the forthcoming movie “Burning at Both Ends,” starring Cary Elwes and Jason Patric. Brianna Shoaf (B.S. ’16) was promoted to account manager at CoreMessage, a public relations firm. Hunter Truman (B.F.A. ’16) launched Box Party Films, a Los Angeles-based production company and filmmakers collective that will create original shortform narrative and commercial content. Ashley N. Campbell (M.S. ’17), a speechlanguage pathologist, has joined the Department of Veterans Affairs in San Diego as a clinical fellow. She works with people who have swallowing or voice disorders, traumatic brain injuries, aphasia, apraxia of speech and dementia.
e re c en t re c o gn i z es t h m n i . C l a s s N ot es a lu en ts o f F S U a c c o m p li s h m li c a t i on , e m s fo r p ub e du To s ub m it it su. m @ a lu m n i . f ub j ec t e m a i l f s u a lu e s N ot es ” i n t h w it h “ C l a s s m es n c lu de t h e n a li n e . P le a s e i ass yea rs a i de n ) an d c l ( i n c lu d i n g m lu m n i . P h ot o g r ap h s a b ers o f a ll re le va nt oc i a t i on m e m i nt s s A i n r p o f A lu m bu t s h ou ld b e a re a c c ep t e d ls e per a st 3 0 0 p ix qu a li ty ( a t le . 6 ” an d 1 M B ) inc h at 4” x d b et w ee n I t e m s re c ei ve t e m b e r S ep A p r i l 1 an d the on s i de re d fo r a c e c e b 3 0 w i ll sp s s ue . D ue t o f a ll / w i nt e r i es s ub m i s s i on do li m it a t i on s , i n c lu s i on . n ot g u a r an t ee
Vires 79
IN MEM O RIA M 1930s Alice (née Jones) Leonard (B.S. ’37) Valera (née Fitch) Rickard (L.Inst. ’37) Katherine (née Bacon) Hultquist (B.A. ’39)
1940s Dorothy (née Sanford) Gatchel (B.M. ’40) Illa (née Maki) Van Vlack (B.S. ’40) Wilda (née Finlayson) Yancey (B.A. ’40) Vivian (née Guagliardo) Palori (B.S. ’41) Pauline (née Dale) Palmer (B.S. ’42) Norma (née Pennoyer) Kerkow (B.A. ’43) Mildred (née Anderson) Lewis (B.S. ’43) Celia C. Mangels (B.S. ’43) Avis (née Thomas) Wilkinson (B.A. ’43) Patricia A. (née McHenry) Bross (B.S. ’44) Neva Chillingworth (B.S. ’44) Mary L. (née Thomas) Howington (B.S. ’44) J. Elizabeth Jeffress (B.S. ’44) Martha (née White) Parker (B.M. ’44, M.M.E. ’51) Harriett T. (née Lynch) Pierce-Ruhland (B.A. ’44) Juliana (née Erck) Runyon (B.A. ’44) Margaret (née Walker) Sumner (B. ’44) Anne (née Williamson) Thompson (B.S. ’44) Elizabeth (née Ruhl) Tinsley (B.A. ’44) Rachael E. Bail (B.A. ’45) Marjorie L. (née Batey) Becker (B.A. ’45) Hilda (née Ward) Bell (B.A. ’45) Edith (née Knight) Gray (B.S. ’45) Rosemary (née Thrasher) Greene (B.M. ’45) Mary S. (née Carr) Harkness (B.S. ’45) Carolyn (née Forehand) Henderson (B.S. ’45) Elizabeth (née Brown) Mann (B. ’45, Adv.M. ’69, Ph.D. ’72) Margaret (née Smith) McAlister (B.M. ’45) Barbara (née Bess) Payne (B.A. ’45) Joyce (née Odom) Kelly (B.S. ’46) Carolyn (née Flewellen) Martin (B.S. ’46) Martha J. (née Brown) Rutland (B.A. ’46) Elizabeth (née Collins) Carter (B.S. ’47) Helen A. (née Colvin) Farmer (B.A. ’47) Artie J. (née Flanders) Leonard (B.M. ’47) Ysobel (née DuPree) Litchfield (B.S. ’47) Margery (née Holm) McDaniel (B.S. ’47, M.S. ’48, M.S.W. ’48)
Julia (née Nesius) Mitchell (B.S. ’47) Marjorie (née Miller) Waterman (B.A. ’47) Hellen (née Hasley) Ahern (B.S. ’48) Felicia (née Alessi) Ciaccio (B.S. ’48) Adeline (née Ynes) Garcia (B.S. ’48) Marie (née Aiken) Kohler (B.S. ’48, M.S. ’49) Marie (née Cox) Lyons (B.S. ’48) Doris (née Jones) Patrick (B.A. ’48, M.A. ’49) Nancy (née Streater) Peterson (B.A. ’48) Frances (née Yancey) Robison (B.S. ’48) Carol (née Coghlan) Allen (B.S. ’49) Barbara (née Simon) Baker (B.S. ’49) Joy (née Harper) Bower (B.S. ’49) Eltse (née Barnhill) Carter (B.S. ’49) Evelyn (née Johns) Eissey (B.A. ’49) Peter M. Findley (B.A. ’49) Lucy (née Stapleton) Hawkins (B.S. ’49) Charles W. Hendry Jr. (B.S. ’49, M.S. ’51) Francis L. Jackson (B.A. ’49) Margaret L. Kranz (M.A. ’49) Hester (née Chazal) Mundee (B.S. ’49) Jane (née Shropshire) Taylor (B.S. ’49)
1950s Carol (née Harvey) Allbritton (B.S. ’50) Thomas L. Berkner (B.S. ’50, M.S. ’56) Edward M. Eissey Sr. (B.S. ’50, Ph.D. ’67) Richard C. Pauline (B.S. ’50) Johnie L. Perry (B.S. ’50) Lewis H. Peters (B.S. ’50) Mary F. (née Miller) Shores (B.S. ’50) Donald Thompson (B.S. ’50) Glenn O. Turner (B.S. ’50) Alva L. Wilkerson (B.S. ’50) Nelle (née Bussey) Ball (B.A. ’51) Jean (née Kabrich) Bess (B.S. ’51) James R. Coleman (B.S. ’51) Sara (née Culbreth) Cooper (B.S. ’51, M.S. ’73, Ed.S. ’75) John R. Darsey (B.S. ’51) Georgia B. (née Hutchins) Houston (B.S. ’51) Edgar D. Lintz Jr. (B.S. ’51, M.S. ’52) Donald E. Mowrer (B.A. ’51, M.A. ’53) Alice (née Nichols) Woods-Johnson (B.S. ’51) Jean (née Sayer) Wright (B.S. ’51) Joseph B. Yawn (B.S. ’51) Marie (née Mainelli) Yudowitch (B.S. ’51)
James M. Doss Sr. (B.S. ’52) James E. Faircloth Sr. (B.S. ’52, M.S. ’57) Donald R. Farren (M.A. ’52, Ph.D. ’61) Robert H. Fulford Sr. (B.S. ’52, M.S. ’58) Lee E. Jeffers (B.M. ’52, M.M. ’58) Dorothy (née Mathews) Lyon (B.A. ’52) Shirley (née Gregory) McBride (B.S. ’52) Thomas N. Morgan Jr. (B.A. ’52) JoAnn (née Lovett) Sandy (B.S. ’52) Stan R. Schmidt (B.S. ’52) James C. Bassett Sr. (B.S. ’53) Donald G. Bookmyer (B.S. ’53) Lois (née Swingle) Cannon (B.S. ’53) John W. Gray (B.S. ’53) Beverly (née Edenfield) Kuch (B.S. ’53) William T. Anderson (B.S. ’54) Barbara H. Capps (B.S. ’54) John W. Curry (B.S. ’54) William S. Engelson Jr. (M.S. ’54) Edward D. Johnson (B.S. ’54, M.S. ’57) Charles E. McDaniel (B.S. ’54, M.S. ’57) Nathetta (née McWherter) Patterson (B.S. ’54) Jean (née Hinson) Stephens (B.S. ’54) George E. Benedict III (B.S. ’55) Walter C. Conrad (B.S. ’55) Alice G. (née Pound) Dixon (M.S. ’55, M.S. ’64) Richard Gutting (B.S. ’55) William M. McArthur (B.S. ’55) Patricia (née McCall) McCormick (B.S. ’55) Roy D. McDonald Sr. (B.S. ’55) Geraldina Ortiz (B.A. ’55, M.A. ’58, Ph.D. ’60) Ivester A. Pope Sr. (B.S. ’55) Patricia (née Cooper) Rapp (B.S. ’55, M.S. ’71) Harold S. Schaus Jr. (B.S. ’55, M.S. ’56) Hildegard (née Wagner) Schow (B.A. ’55, M.A. ’56) David E. Whittlesey (B.A. ’55) James V. Williams (B.S. ’55) Mary V. Allen (B.A. ’56) Anthony L. Ash (B.S. ’56) Mary (née McLeod) Cobb (B.S. ’56) Herbert C. Curl (Ph.D. ’56) Mason R. Davis (B.S. ’56) Diana (née Perez) Gonzalez (B.S. ’56) Mary (née Cofer) Huggins (B.S. ’56) Jeronie J. Hyde (B.A. ’56) Willie C. Kicklighter (B.S. ’56) Joseph T. Manning (B.S. ’56)
WILLIAM CARL COBURN JR . (M.A. ’51, PH.D. ’54) William Carl Coburn Jr., a retired chemist, died April 14, 2018, at age 91. After earning a doctorate in chemistry from FSU, Coburn spent a distinguished 40-year career with the Southern Research Institute in Birmingham, Alabama, where he retired as head of the molecular spectroscopy lab. Coburn is survived by his wife of 66 years, Olga Coburn (B.A. ’50); a brother, Robert; a sister, Sharon; a son, David Coburn (B.S. ’73, M.S.P., J.D. ’77), and his wife, Mary Coburn (B.S. ’74, M.S. ’76, Ed.D. ’92); a daughter, Diana Coburn Kaiser (B.A. ’78) and her husband, Randy Kaiser (B.S. ’75, M.S. ’76); five grandchildren: Katherine and her husband, Jeffrey; Laura (B.S. ’05) and her husband, Byron; Sean and his wife, Katie; Kimberly (M.S. ’15); and Kristine; and two great-grandchildren. Carl and Olga Coburn celebrate son David Coburn’s 2009 Westcott Medal with Mary Coburn and their daughters, Katie and Laura. 80 Vires
James J. Olsen Sr. (B.S. ’56) Billie J. (née Beal) Roble (B.S. ’56) Frankie E. (née Harrison) Strickland (B.S. ’56) Celia T. Wells (M.A. ’56) Charles H. Cox (B.S. ’57) Edward M. Dyal (B.S. ’57) William S. Gregory Jr. (B.S. ’57) Loretta (née McLaughlin) Hinds (B.S. ’57) Naren L. Jackson (B.S. ’57) James F. Kauffman (B.S. ’57) Marjorie (née Fields) Lewis (M.A. ’57) Lawrence J. McCarthy (B.A. ’57, M.A. ’61) C. Niles Ray (B.S. ’57) Ted M. Reiter Sr. (B.S. ’57) Robert T. Schuler (M.S. ’57) Delma W. Swilley (B.S. ’57) Joseph Q. Tarbuck (B.A. ’57) Robert M. Temple Jr. (B.S. ’57) Russell O. Anderson (B.S. ’58) Wilbur L. Bashaw (B.S. ’58, M.S. ’60, Ph.D. ’63) Edward Caldwell Jr. (Ed.D. ’58) Martha (née Bradley) Digman (B.S. ’58) Lee A. Dudley (B.S. ’58) George H. Eanes (M.S. ’58) Suzanne (née Keefe) Haynes (B.S. ’58) William C. Johns (B.S. ’58) Beth (née McDonald) Lucas (B.S. ’58) Gordon L. Osborne (M.S. ’58) Janice (née Kaminis) Platt (B.A. ’58) Frederick S. Tyson (B.S. ’58) Bruce S. Wagenseller Jr. (M.S. ’58) William A. Whiteside (B.S. ’58, M.A. ’66) Marilyn A. (née Phares) Brennan (B.S. ’59) Fred A. Burkhart (B.S. ’59) Charles J. Champion Sr. (B.S. ’59) Curtis B. Chapman (B.S. ’59) Charles Q. Duxbury (B.S. ’59) Jeanette (née Garrett) Gatje (B.S. ’59) Curtis E. Jackson (B.S. ’59, M.S. ’66) William R. Lassa (M.A. ’59) John A. Leese (M.S. ’59) Sandra E. (née Rhodes) Neel (B.S. ’59) Sandra (née Rosenberg) Osborn (B.S. ’59, M.S. ’63) Michael A. Rou (B.S. ’59) William F. Schrimsher (B.S. ’59) Dianne (née Williams) Smith (B.S. ’59) Leonard I. Thurman (B.S. ’59) Sharon (née Poyser) Williams (B.S. ’59)
1960s Ronald E. Clark (B.S. ’60) Robert W. Colby Sr. (B.S. ’60, M.S. ’61) Jesse L. Coulter (Ed.D. ’60) Susan (née Fehlberg) Dixon (B.S. ’60) Lanola (née Simpson) Dunlap (B.S. ’60) William H. Ford Sr. (B.S. ’60) Merline (née Johnson) Harbin (B.S. ’60) Malcolm L. Hill (B.S. ’60) Laura (née Caswell) Jenkins (B.S. ’60) James P. Leabo (B.S. ’60) Marshall R. Ledbetter Sr. (B.S. ’60, Ed.S. ’77) Sandra (née Beskind) Lewis (B.A. ’60) Carlton E. Mayhall (B.S. ’60) Ray L. McConnell (B.S. ’60) Ruth (née Becker) Newcomb (M.S. ’60, Ph.D. ’68)
Jane (née Perry) Schiffman (M.M. ’60, Ph.D. ’68) Carolyn (née Cuppett) Thornton (B.S. ’60) Georgia (née Newsom) Wadsworth (B.S. ’60) Betty (née Sanford) Watson (B.S. ’60) Bobby C. White (B.S. ’60) Jack D. Bergstresser Sr. (B.S. ’61) Alwyn C. Cash Jr. (B.S. ’61) William R. Conway (M.S. ’61) William O. Grimsley (B.S. ’61) Robert C. Harrison (B.S. ’61) Jack M. Jones (B.S. ’61) Herbert R. Schneider (B.S. ’61) James A. Sellars (B.S. ’61) Michael A. Stouffer (B.S. ’61) Paul V. Ward (B.A. ’61, M.S. ’62) James R. Bayless Jr. (B.S. ’62) Raymond E. Biedinger (B.S. ’62) Charles B. Buhrman (B.S. ’62, M.S. ’63) Joan E. (née Abbott) Crook (B.A. ’62) Ellen A. (née Dillon) Eikman (B.S. ’62) John N. Flanders (M.S. ’62, Ed.D. ’65) Claudia (née Koneval) Friedman (M.S. ’62) Jackie E. Henderson (B.S. ’62) Eula (née Hurst) Hendrix (B.S. ’62) Douglas D. Knight (B.A. ’62) Marilyn W. (née Slaughter) Lanning (B.S. ’62) Gordon L. Mize (B.S. ’62) John M. Motes (M.S. ’62, Ph.D. ’65) Gerald F. Renner (B.S. ’62) Robert T. Sammons (B.S. ’62, M.A. ’66) John L. Williams (B.S. ’62) Albert J. Worm (M.S. ’62) Jimmie D. Atkins (B.S. ’63) Sally (née Wentzell) Ayres (B.S. ’63) Edgar J. Barnett Jr. (B.S. ’63) Raymond A. Brooks (B.S. ’63) Sharon K. (née Powell) Cooper (B.S. ’63, M.S. ’73) Teddy B. Cottrell (M.S. ’63, Ph.D. ’64) Charles A. Falkowski (B.S. ’63) George L. Kramerich Jr. (B.S. ’63, M.S. ’64) Nancy (née Harms) Rachels (B.A. ’63, M.A. ’64, Ed.S. ’68) Lorraine A. Redderson (B.S. ’63) Lee R.P. Rivers (B.A. ’63) John A. Rogers (B.S. ’63) Nathaniel E. Smith (B.A. ’63) Janice (née Prager) Smith-Dann (B.S. ’63, M.S. ’65) J. Bart Abstein Jr. (B.S. ’64) Joseph P. Bednarz (B.A. ’64) Cathlyn (née McClain) Benoit (B.S. ’64) Kenneth G. Boback (B.S. ’64) John P. Harllee III (B.S. ’64) William Huckaby (B.S. ’64) Harold H. Jaus (B.S. ’64, M.S. ’66) Louis C. Jeter (B.S. ’64, M.S. ’89) Richard A. Voyles (M.S. ’64) Donna L. (née Shaw) Burton (B.S. ’65) Susan (née Buzzett) Clementson (B.A. ’65) Leo T. Gregory (B.S. ’65) Arthur C. Haney Jr. (B.S. ’65) Geraldine (née Lowe) Kovach (B.S. ’65) William B. Malthouse (B.S. ’65) Paul M. Roberts (B.A. ’65) Anna M. (née Cecil) Sartin (B.S. ’65)
Thomas D. Schocke (M.S. ’65) Nina (née Evans) Sims (B.S. ’65) Charles D. Trader (Ph.D. ’65) Robert F. Van Duzer Jr. (B.S. ’65) Alvin F. Weigel (B.S. ’65) Karl R. Willers (B.A. ’65, M.S. ’68, Ph.D. ’69) Robert A. Browne (M.S. ’66) Daniel R. Cox (M.S. ’66) Elliott D. Dulaney (M.S. ’66) Carmen (née Parker) Fetters (M.S. ’66) Norman D. Gregory (B.S. ’66) Richard D. Houk (Ph.D. ’66) Sidney T. McDaniel (Ph.D. ’66) Dorothy J. (née Timm) Meili (B.M. ’66) Catherine (née Jones) Norris (B.A. ’66) Edward G. Rawa (M.S. ’66) Gail (née Holloway) Shelby (B.S. ’66) Willabeth Thompson (M.S. ’66) Ashley M. Ahl (B.A. ’67, M.F.A. ’72) Janice F. (née Clinedinst) Armstrong (M.S. ’67, Ed.S. ’77, Ph.D. ’78) Irving H. Bowen (B.S. ’67) Sidney L. Buckley (D.M. ’67) Genelda (née Flowers) Bullard (B.S. ’67) James L. Clark (B.A. ’67) Joan Crosthwait (B.S. ’67) Bruce W. George (B.A. ’67) Patricia (née Stoup) Graf (B.S. ’67, M.S. ’71) Lester F. Hamrick Sr. (B.S. ’67) William H. Howell (B.A. ’67) William K. Jennings (B.A. ’67, M.S. ’68, J.D. ’72) Douglas M. Koenig Sr. (B.S. ’67) Prudence (née Ronan) Mabry (B.S. ’67) Ronald L. Malmen (B.S. ’67) Lynn (née Phillips) Munroe (B.S. ’67, M.S. ’72) Larry B. Pelham (B.S. ’67, J.D. ’71) Sammie Wade (M.A. ’67) Lloyd K. Wells Jr. (M.S. ’67) Robert E. Wilkinson (M.S. ’67, D.B.A. ’74) Matthew J. Yankovich Jr. (B.A. ’67) Millard J. Bienvenu Sr. (Ph.D. ’68) Velda (née Burke) Bloodworth (M.S. ’68) John L. Brennan Jr. (B.A. ’68) Roger F. Crowe (B.S. ’68) Leroy Hennings Jr. (M.S. ’68) Vernell (née Bruner) Holley (B.S. ’68) James P. King (Ph.D. ’68) George W. Phelps (M.A. ’68) Larry W. Raulerson (B.S. ’68) Joseph M. Running (D.M. ’68) Hans J. Schacht (M.A. ’68) James H. Sutton (B.S. ’68) Christina M. Tomczak (B.S. ’68) H. David Trautlein (Ph.D. ’68) Dennis C. Beyer (B.S. ’69) Yvonne L. (née Carrin) Castiglia (B.S. ’69) George R. Caswell (B.S. ’69) Theron A. Henry Jr. (M.S. ’69) Thadeus S. Janasiewicz (B.A. ’69) Neal A. Porter (B.S. ’69, M.S. ’70) John H. Shannon (B.S. ’69) Robert L. Shearer (B.A. ’69, M.M. ’73, Ph.D. ’76) Randall M. Shelton (B.S. ’69) Kenneth M. Smith (B.S. ’69) Vida E. Stanius (M.S. ’69) Vires 81
GERALD ENS LEY (B.A. ’80)
Gerald Ensley, a quintessential newspaperman who spent his 36-year career working at the Tallahassee Democrat, died Feb. 16, 2018, at age 66. Ensley won more than 50 state and national awards for his wide-ranging work as a sports reporter, news and features writer and columnist. He compiled a book of the late Democrat sports editor Bill McGrotha’s columns, “From the Sidelines: The Best of Bill McGrotha” (1993) and wrote a 100th-anniversary history of the Democrat, “Tallahassee Democrat: 100 Years” (2005). A devoted alumnus of FSU, Ensley wrote numerous feature stories for the FSU Alumni Association’s VIRES magazine. Because of his stature as a journalist, he was inducted into the Alumni Association’s Circle of Gold in fall 2016. It is a distinction for FSU alumni who personify the university’s best traditions of excellence. Ensley earned a bachelor’s degree in political science/government from the FSU College of Social Sciences and Public Policy. He is survived by his wife, Sally Karioth, a beloved FSU professor of nursing, and his daughter, Amanda Thompson. To make a contribution to the Gerald Ensley Emerging Journalist Award, visit gonol.es/Ensley. Write “Gerald Ensley Fund” as the gift designation.
Florence S. Weaver (Ph.D. ’69)
1970s Kelly E. Bussell Jr. (M.M. ’70) Roy I. King (B.S. ’70, M.S. ’74) James P. McHone (B.S. ’70) William A. Mego (Ph.D. ’70) Wendy (née Kovac) Powell (B.A. ’70) John B. Richardson III (M.B.A. ’70) Stephen P. Wilson (B.A. ’70) Michael E. Allen (B.S. ’71) Warren C. Anderson (B.S. ’71) Roger L. Ball (B.S. ’71) Julius H. Buford (B.A. ’71) Joseph D. Collner (M.S. ’71) Hugh K. Darden Sr. (B.S.W. ’71) Theodore L. Daywalt (B.S.W. ’71) Daniel B. Duncan (B.S.W. ’71) Charles L. Eason Jr. (B.S. ’71) Benjamin R. Ellis (B.S. ’71) Patsy (née Dalton) Herring (B.S. ’71, M.S. ’82) Michael J. Herz (M.S. ’71) Jeffrey J. Hogle (B.M.E. ’71) Leo J. Krziza (B.A. ’71) Travis P. Marchant (B.S.W. ’71) Benjamin L. Moore (M.S. ’71, Ph.D. ’73) Joyce R. Raby (B.S. ’71) John E. Richey (B.S. ’71, Ph.D. ’76) Shirley (née White) Smith (B.S. ’71) Edward N. Tidwell (B.A. ’71) John A. Watson Sr. (B.S. ’71, Ph.D. ’93) John C. Wilkins III (J.D. ’71) Lauren (née Turner) Barile (B.S. ’72) Robert W. Davenport III (B.A. ’72, M.P.A. ’79) Ronald E. Downing (B.S. ’72) Elinor (née Wall) Ellis (Ed.D. ’72) Harry L. Lamb Jr. (J.D. ’72) Judith A. McElligott (B.S. ’72) William S. Pedrick (B.M. ’72) Stephen S. Poche (J.D. ’72) Robert C. Pollard Jr. (B.S. ’72) Charles W. Sappington Sr. (Ed.D. ’72) Mary (née Felix) Slater (M.S. ’72) 82 Vires
David P. Stair (B.S. ’72) William J. Surowiec (B.S.W. ’72, M.S.P. ’76) Lawrence Weisman (Ed.D. ’72) Charles W. Wolfe Jr. (B.S.W. ’72) William R. Alheim (Ph.D. ’73) Anwar A. Farah (B.A. ’73) Ralph H. Hebert (Ph.D. ’73) Deborah (née Steffens) Hurst (B.S. ’73) William D. Kennedy Jr. (M.S. ’73, Ed.S. ’77) H. Floyd Mann II (B.S. ’73, M.S. ’74, J.D. ’88) Carole (née Bailey) Mott (B.S. ’73) Beverly L. Nicholas (B.S. ’73) Bruce L. Perri (B.S. ’73) Carol A. Prewett (B.S. ’73) George A. Ragans Jr. (B.S.W. ’73) Patrice (née Mongillo) Riley (B.A. ’73, B.S. ’82) Susan K. (née Lewman) Smart (B.S. ’73) Marion P. Smith (B.A. ’73) Thomas P. Tedor (B.A. ’73) Robert C. Wilson (M.S. ’73) Leslie Wyche Jr. (M.S.W. ’73) Richard J. Biesiadecki (M.B.A. ’74) Deborah A. Coggins (B.S. ’74) Stephen D. Elkins (B.A. ’74) Devurn H. Glenn (Ph.D. ’74) Michael L. Harrington (B.S. ’74) Wanda S. (née Boggs) Howell (B.S. ’74) Harlan W. Long (M.S. ’74) John S. Mathews (B.S. ’74) Richard E. Parker (B.S. ’74) Fleetwood M. Pride III (B.S. ’74, B.A. ’79) Robert T. Suding (Ph.D. ’74) Susan K. (née Vagle) Angles (B.M. ’75) Frederick T. Borchert Jr. (B.S. ’75) Charles W. Holmes (M.S. ’75, Ph.D. ’76) Barbara J. Kennedy (M.S. ’75) Allan A. Koslofsky (M.S.W. ’75) Alathia (née Blauvelt) Lister (B.S. ’75) Wanda D. (née Bishop) Paulk (B.S. ’75) Tal S. Smith (B.S. ’75) Ira F. Wilson Sr. (B.S. ’75) Daryl H. Albee (D.M. ’76) Larry H. Browdy (B.S. ’76, M.S. ’76)
Don E. Bruno (B.S. ’76) Kent B. Hutchinson (B.S. ’76) Michael B. King (B.S. ’76, M.S. ’79) Jeffrey A. Kugel (Ph.D. ’76) Larry H. Kuhl (Ph.D. ’76) Dallas P. Lee (B.S. ’76) Nancy J. (née Newhard) Melton (Ph.D. ’76) Deborah S. Raby (B.A. ’76) Rozel A. Swain (B.A. ’76) John R. Varland (Ph.D. ’76) Betty A. (née Dudley) Wilson (B.S. ’76) John T. Wolinski Sr. (Ph.D. ’76) Guy E. Burnette Jr. (J.D. ’77) Joseph M. Griffin (B.S. ’77) Frank F. Kelley (M.F.A. ’77) Peter M. Pasciak (B.S. ’77) Thomas A. Powell (B.S. ’77) Harold C. Sweat (B.S. ’77) Jesse B. Taintor (Ph.D. ’77) Charles W. Widmaier Jr. (B.S. ’77) Robert D. Barnett (B.S. ’78) Henry C. Cain (Ph.D. ’78) Anna (née Hutcheson) Duncan (M.S. ’78) Douglas M. Guetzloe (B.S. ’78) James E. O’Neal III (B.S. ’78) Ila P. Reiss (M.A. ’78, Ph.D. ’83) Joyce (née Robinson) Savell (M.S. ’78) Richard W. Bartels (B.S. ’79) Edmund H. Clark (Ph.D. ’79) Kathryn (née Jones) Clodfelter (B.S. ’79) Lizbeth (née Jegerski) Hampton (B.S. ’79) Robert M. Rankeillor (M.S. ’79) Michael J. Sinclair (B.S. ’79) James D. Wiggins (Ed.D. ’79)
1980s Frank L. Bernstein (B.S. ’80) James S. Howell III (B.S. ’80) Barbara A. Mann (Ph.D. ’80) Christie A. Moore (M.Acc. ’80) Paul J. Pettofrezzo (B.S. ’80, M.S. ’81) Gerald L. Taber (B.S. ’80) Charles P. Woodbury III (J.D. ’80)
Richard C. Bellak (J.D. ’81) Thomas J. Brennan (B.S. ’81) David S. Hood (B.S. ’81) James W. Mears (B.S. ’81) Ernest W. Powell Jr. (B.S. ’81) Theodore J. Smida (M.M. ’81) Joseph G. Adams Jr. (B.S. ’82) Elvia R. (née Aleman Cale) Brannon (B.S. ’82) Paul A. Dolnick (B.S. ’82) Jeffrey D. Jones (B.S. ’82) Ann (née Billings) Mayne (M.S. ’82) Linda (née Varcadipane) Rybeck (B.S. ’82, M.S. ’86) Alisa Weems Kelley (B.S. ’82, M.S. ’84) Linda D. Allen (Ph.D. ’83) Mary S. (née Sellers) Stickney (B.A. ’83, M.S.W. ’86) Roger O. Godwin (B.S. ’84) William S. Kahler (M.B.A. ’84) Edward M. Rodriguez (M.S. ’84) Doreen A. Spadorcia (J.D. ’84, M.A. ’84) Robert R. Achhamer Jr. (B.S. ’85) Christine S. Clark (M.S.W. ’85) Rhoda B. Goodson (J.D. ’85) Margaret R. Henkle (B.S. ’85) Anita J. (née Briscoe) Nilson (B.S. ’85, J.D. ’88) William D. Johnson (M.B.A. ’86) Donald R. Kerr Jr. (Ph.D. ’86) Daniel C. King (B.S. ’86) Laura D. Pan (B.S. ’86, M.S.W. ’87) Richard W. Snow (B.S. ’86, M.B.A. ’88) Cathi J. Atkinson (B.S. ’87, M.S.W. ’88) Lauretta H. Jones (M.S.W. ’87) David J. Lakatos (B.S. ’87) Ann (née Jones) Marshall-Jones (J.D. ’87) Michael J. Faby (B.S. ’88) Robert H. Hagan Jr. (B.S. ’88) Larry O. Rappe (M.S.W. ’88) Oscar E. Sarmiento (B.A. ’88) Jeffrey A. Burnam (B.S. ’89) Tracy L. Colchamiro (B.S. ’89) Kelly A. Cruz-Brown (B.S. ’89, J.D. ’92) Carmen (née Roberson) Greiner (B.S. ’89)
Shannon E. (née Bossert) Jager (B.S. ’97) William E. Buckley (B.S. ’99) William R. Ingram Jr. (B.S. ’99)
1990s
Rodger L. Belman Reginald T. Brown Hubert C. Clack
Kevin C. Stack (B.S. ’90) Donald C. Bracco (B.S. ’91) Anna C. (née Coates) Cassani (M.S. ’91) Pauline Ellis (Adv.M. ’91) Sheila (née Levine) Erstling (J.D. ’91) James T. Harrison Jr. (J.D. ’91) William E. Haynes (M.M.E. ’92) Kar W. Sze (M.S. ’92, Ph.D. ’96) John D. Guedes (Ph.D. ’93) Deborah L. (née Condojani) Meador (B.S. ’93) Thomas D. McKnight (B.S. ’94) Lyle E. Tutterrow Jr. (B.S. ’94) William B. Cameron II (B.S. ’95) Ivan D. Glymph (B.S. ’95) Brian A. Higgins (J.D. ’95) Alton E. Raines Jr. (B.A. ’95) Mark A. St. Clair (M.S. ’95) Rita (née Worrell) Tanksley (Ph.D. ’95) Robert W. Todd (B.S. ’95, M.S. ’96) Elizabeth J. Riegner (Ph.D. ’96) Monique D. Barron (B.S. ’97)
2000s Jennifer K. (née Campbell) Hagan (M.S. ’00) Tammy V. Sherman (B.S. ’00) Debra A. Garay (B.A. ’01) Anthony J. Garrido (B.S. ’01) Kelly M. Klein (B.S. ’01, J.D. ’04) Aimee R. Lodwick (B.A. ’01) Sonia D. (née Antenor) Phillips (B.S. ’02) Amy B. Swan (B.A. ’02) Matthew T. Reninger (A.A. ’04) Tiffany N. Roberson (B.S. ’04) Jonathan M. Barber (B.S. ’05) Amy L. Flanegan (B.S. ’05) Belle N. (née Dusseault) Hambacher (B.S. ’05) Willie D. Johnson II (B.S. ’05) Amanda (née Rhodes) Rhodes-Hales (B.S.N. ’05) Marcus R. Stouffer (B.S. ’05) Kathleen M. Connolly (M.S.W. ’06) Edward L. Saindon (M.F.A. ’06) David T. Davis (B.S. ’08) Carl Enis (B.S. ’08, M.B.A. ’17) Ashley N. Terrell (B.S. ’08)
2010s Stephen T. Armstrong (B.S. ’10) Rebecca L. (née Fleminger) Finch (B.M. ’11, M.A. ’16) Marion L. Cook (M.S.P. ’12) John M. Kim (B.S. ’15)
Faculty/Staff Trevor Bell, studio art professor emeritus, died Nov. 3, 2017, at age 87. A native of England, his large-scale and irregular canvases and lavish use of color helped define the modern art of the community of St Ives, the epicenter for British abstract art.
William J. Claggett, professor of political science, died Sept. 29, 2017, at age 67. Mary L. (née McKevitt) Dailey Virginia B. (née Pugh) Eitman Lila (née Turner) Eubanks Raymond J. Graf Patricia (née Conaway) Griffin Cleoretha (née Emanuel) Hendrix Anthony Holbrook Nancy G. Ingram Nelda J. James Ladislav Kubik, professor of music composition, died Oct. 27, 2017, at age 68. Ethel (née McKenzie) McCoy Richard C. McFarlain
Simon Ostrach, distinguished professor of engineering, died Oct. 2, 2017, at age 93. Barney Parker III Braiden T. Pittman Kay (née White) Rivard William W. Rogers, history professor emeritus, died Oct. 7, 2017, at age 88. Prominent in the areas of Florida and Southern history, Rogers wrote or co-wrote 27 books. After retiring from FSU, he founded Sentry Press in Tallahassee, overseeing the publication of more than 50 books by other authors. Daisy L. (née Kemp) Shelton Edward Shelton Alice (née Wickliffe) St. John Robert G. Stakenas Andrew Sun Edna (née Brantley) Tessein Garry Thomas Scarlita L. Townsend William L. Wallis Sr. Bonnie S. Webb Deanna O. (née Mixon) Williams Joan M. (née Willingham) Worthington Martha J. (née Koontz) Zachert
NANCY MARCUS
Nancy Helen Marcus, an educator and administrator who spent the last 12 years of her 30-year FSU career as dean of The Graduate School, died Feb. 12, 2018, at age 67. Marcus planned to stay at FSU only a few years when she was hired as an associate professor of oceanography in 1987. From serving as director of the FSU Marine Laboratory to establishing the Women in Math, Science and Engineering Living and Learning Community, Marcus contributed to FSU in multiple ways. She retired as dean emerita of The Graduate School, having set an entirely new standard for future graduate deans to follow in mentoring and supporting graduate students. She was named the Mary Sears Professor of Oceanography in 2001 and received the Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor Award in 2002. The Dr. Nancy Marcus Professorship was established in her honor in 2003. The main auditorium of the FSU Honors, Scholars and Fellows House was named the Nancy H. Marcus Great Hall in 2014. Marcus earned a bachelor’s degree from Goucher College in 1972 and a master’s and doctorate from Yale University in 1976. She is survived by her partner, Cecile Reynaud; her mother, Betty Marcus; and her brother, Theodore Marcus, and his wife, Barbara. To contribute to the Nancy Marcus Endowment for Graduate Student Excellence, visit gonol.es/Marcus. Write “Fund #F08577” as the gift designation. Vires 83
84 Vires
LAST CALL BEFORE THE WRECKING BALL FSU students break out their best moves during a noontime dance party to commemorate the final Market Wednesday at the Oglesby Union April 25. Demolition of the current Oglesby Union, which began May 7 and will continue through the summer, will make way for a new, four-story Oglesby Union with updated versions of the food court, Club Downunder, Crenshaw Lanes, the Art Center and, yes, Market Wednesday. Photo by FSU Photography Services/ Bruce Palmer
Over the past two legislative sessions, the Seminole Caucus has provided incredible support to Florida State University. We received record funding for key building projects as well as an increase of more than $60 million to recruit world-class faculty, provide academic support for our students and fund strategic investments in our graduate and professional degree programs. To our faithful legislative alumni who provide FSU with the necessary resources to rise in national prominence and excellence, we say “thank-you!”
Senator Dennis Baxley (B.A. ’74)
Senator Oscar Braynon (B.S. ’00)
Senator Gary Farmer (B.A. ’86)
Senator Audrey Gibson (B.S. ’78)
Senator Bill Montford (B.S. ’69, M.S. ’71)
Senator Bobby Powell (B.S. ’03, M.S.P. ’06)
Senator Dana Young (B.S. ’85)
Representative Halsey Beshears (B.S. ’07)
Representative Jim Boyd (B.S. ’78)
Representative Kimberly Daniels (B.S. ’91)
Representative Byron Donalds (B.S. ’02)
Representative Joe Geller (B.A. ’75, J.D. ’79)
Representative Tom Goodson (B.S. ’75)
(B.S. ’99, M.B.A. ’02)
Representative Clay Ingram (B.S. ’00)
Representative Evan Jenne
Representative Larry Metz (J.D. ’83)
Representative Daniel Perez (B.S. ’09)
Representative Mel Ponder (B.S. ’90)
Representative Elizabeth Porter (B.S. ’87)
Representative Holly Raschein (B.S. ’03)
Representative Ross Spano (B.S. ’98)
Representative Carlos Trujillo (J.D. ’07)
(B.S. ’99, M.P.A. ’02)
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Representative Joe Gruters