CLASS NOTES
1963
Robert C. “Bob” Chapman, of Cropwell, was inducted into the UM Athletics Hall of Fame. (See page 12.)
1968
Sandi Falkenhagen, of Hoover, received the 2021 Mary Lou Elder Williams Alumni Loyalty Award from the UMNAA at the University’s 2021 Founders’ Day celebration. (See page 15.)
1975
Tom Walker Jr. was featured in Alabama Living in July for his eforts to found and grow the Alabama Village Citizenship Trust and American Village in Montevallo. Tom is the executive director of American Village which works to educate children throughout the state about the nation’s history. Tom and wife Betty Walker ’75 reside in Montevallo.
1977
Karen Pendleton, of Montevallo, retired as director of Shelby Emergency Assistance in Montevallo in December 2020 after more than 20 years with the agency. SEA provides services to individuals facing crisis situations throughout Shelby County.
1980
Julie Janert, of Birmingham, helped the Birmingham women’s tennis team win the U.S. Tennis Association’s Alabama State Championship in the women’s 55 and over division in May. Julie works as the general surgery team manager in the operating room of Children’s of Alabama in Birmingham.
24 | Montevallo Today
Dr. Lynne Richardson has been named dean of the LaPenta School of Business at Iona College in New Rochelle, New York. She previously served as the dean of the College of Business at University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Tammy Richardson was inducted into the UM Athletics Hall of Fame. (See page 13.)
1982
Dr. Susan Keith, of New Brunswick, New Jersey, was elected president of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication for the 2021-2022 term. Susan is an associate professor in the Department of Journalism and Media Studies at Rutgers University.
Dr. Ruth Truss was named dean of Montevallo’s College of Arts & Sciences in August. Ruth has been with UM since 1993 and previously served as professor of history, chair of the Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences and interim dean of the College of Arts & Sciences.
1983
Dr. Kenneth Hope, of Kingwood, Texas, was appointed to serve a one-year term as president of the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers in May. Te STLE is the technical society serving individuals, companies and organizations comprising the tribology and lubrication engineering business sector nationwide. Kenneth is the global polyalphaolefns technical services manager for Chevron Phillips Chemical in Te Woodlands, Texas.
1984
Yin Ingram, of Birmingham, retired in May after working for more than 20 years as a corporate account executive with the WBHM radio station in Birmingham.
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America and Target ALS established posthumously the Rebecca Luker Courage Award in memory of the alum Broadway star who died from complications of ALS in December 2020. Te annual award will spotlight people who have made a positive impact on the Lou Gehrig’s disease community. Susan Spencer, of Birmingham, recently retired as an American Airlines fight attendant after working for the company since 1987.
1986
Eddie Bullock, of Anniston, was awarded a Making a Difference Award by the Alabama High School Athletic Association and Alabama High School Athletic Directors and Coaches Association in June. Eddie has coached the Anniston High School girls’ basketball team for the past 16 years, compiling a 385-111 overall record. Joy Perryman, of Gadsden, directed “Charlotte’s Web” for Teatre of Gadsden’s TreeHouse Teatre Series in July. Joy previously worked on many stages and screens in and around the Nashville area, most recently as artistic director at Chafn’s Barn Dinner Teatre.
1989
Buffie Burson M.Ed. ’91 was
inducted into the UM Athletics Hall of Fame. (See page 12.) Raynette Ellison M.Ed. ’90, of Jemison, was featured in Te Clanton Advertiser in August for starting the culinary arts program at Jemison High School. Tis program serves students from throughout Chilton County. She also retired this year after 30 years of teaching at Montevallo Middle School and Jemison High School. Genet Holcomb M.Ed. ’94, of Helena, was hired as the principal of Helena Elementary School in July. Prior to accepting this position, Genet had served as principal at Calera Elementary School and assistant principal at Helena Intermediate and Inverness Elementary.
1990
Jalete Nelms, of Homewood, has been hired as the director of stewardship and donor engagement in the UM Ofce of Advancement. She previously worked as an alumni afairs specialist in the UAB Collat School of Business.
1991
Kevin Fowler was inducted into the UM Athletics Hall of Fame. (See page 12.) Michele Frazier, of Goodlettsville, Tennessee, was hired as the director of operations and leader of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Program for Music City Baseball in Nashville in May. She previously served as the chief operating ofcer for Rivergate Dental. Donna Sorensen, of Jackson, Mississippi, was hired as the superintendent of the Mississippi
