State University,
Official Publication
Published annually by the Northwestern Foundation & Alumni Association
Editors: John Allen & Jennifer Grassano
Art Direction/Designer: Jennifer Grassano
Story Contribution: Natalie Sacket, intern
Change of address notices and other correspondence may be sent to: John Allen Director, Alumni Relations
Northwestern Student Center 709 Oklahoma Blvd. Alva, OK 73717 580-327-8593
nwalumni@nwosu.edu
For information about making a contribution to Northwestern Oklahoma State University, contact:
Allen E. “Skeeter” Bird Chief Executive Officer 709 Oklahoma Blvd. Alva, OK 73717
580-327-8593
aebird@nwosu.edu
Alumni Association Board
Greg Bowman President
Rod Dunkin Vice President
John Allen Secretary/Treasurer
Kandee Almgren Recording Secretary
Have you ever wondered who is spreading Ranger Pride ‘round the globe? Get to know the stories of a few special Northwestern alumni who are showing the world what it really means to be a Ranger. p. 14
A princess from Korea travels to America for a Northwestern education and meets a sheriff’s son from Kansas. The rest is history. p. 22
Story By John Allen
p. 26
Story By Natalie Sacket
We’d love to hear from you. Send us your comments about the articles in this issue, or send story suggestions. Email nwalumni@nwosu.edu or mail to: Northwestern Foundation & Alumni Association, 709 Oklahoma Blvd., Alva, Ok. 73717.
Old MacDonald may have had a farm filled with cows, horses and chickens, but The Menagerie owners and Northwestern alumni, Jerad and JoDe Bradt, are bringing some stiff competition to the age-old nursery rhyme – and bringing a unique source of entertainment to the northwest region of Oklahoma. p. 28
Story by Jennifer Grassano
If you’ve been back to Northwestern this year, you have surely witnessed the spirit of Ranger Pride. Alva’s town square during Homecoming swelled with alumni, family and friends of Northwestern. Ranger Field and the new Dean Linder Press Box welcomed visitors and the Northwestern community. The deafening energy of the student body at the basketball game with Southwestern brought back memories of the past competitive fever of the fans.
Great weather and an outstanding group of alumni made Spring Alumni Reunion 2016 a day for catching up and making new memories.
Graduates, alumni, family, faculty and staff gathered at Ranger Field the first Saturday in May to celebrate commencement and the accomplishments of our new alumni.
If you haven’t been back to celebrate our alma mater, please plan to do so this coming year. Homecoming 2016 is October 1; make a note of it now. We’d love to have you here.
Next year’s Spring Alumni Reunion is April 29, 2017, and it promises to be an extraordinary event. Everything in between will make you glad that you’re a Ranger.
We want you connected. One of the best ways to do that is to join the Northwestern Alumni Association, where you’ll receive current updates on the university and have access to great benefits. Learn more about the Association in this issue (see page 8) or at http://my.nwfoundation.com/benefits.
We’re looking forward to meeting you back at Northwestern this year.
Ride, Rangers, Ride.
Greg Bowman President, Northwestern Alumni Association
Northwestern Oklahoma State University officials have unveiled plans to renovate the central mall area of the Alva campus, providing an aesthetic and functional space for students and breathe new life into one of the school’s most visible areas.
Depending on the features selected for the final plan, the project is expected to cost approximately $1.2 million. Funding for the project is included in the University’s capital campaign, and the plans are being shown to top donors.
“It is a long overdue project and one that will have immediate impact on the look of our campus,”
Dr. Janet Cunningham, university president, said. “Prospective students and their families often judge a univer-
sity by its exterior look. The mall area does not present a great first impression and certainly is not representative of our commitment to providing a great learning environment.”
The mall area stretches from Jesse Dunn Hall on the east side of campus westward to the Joe J. Struckle Education Center. In the center of the area are the Student Center, J.W. Martin Library, Science Building and Fine Arts Building.
“It is the most traveled area of our campus and provides access to some of our most used facilities,” Cunningham said.
The area is plagued by crumbling sidewalks, an unusable fountain, dated planting beds and inconsistent landscaping. The fountain was removed in a short-term effort to
improve the look of the area.
In recent listening sessions conducted as part of the strategic planning process, several groups, including students and alumni, cited the mall area as contributing to the look of an aging campus.
The proposed plan for the project replaces the previous square fountain with a new circular one. New features include a clock tower and an informational kiosk.
Existing walkways will be replaced by new concrete and brick pavers. Landscaping includes more than 40 new trees and 4,000 square feet of planting beds.
“The reality today is prospective students choose with their eyes,” Cunningham said. “We believe this project will not only enhance the look of Northwestern and address some major infrastructure needs, but likely change some perceptions as well.”
We knew it would happen.
This issue of roundUP nearly doubled in size from last year’s edition. The key reason for the added ink and paper is the result of the phenomenal journeys of our alumni. Rangers are carrying the black and red banner – and making a difference –all across the globe.
It was a challenge to decide which stories should make this issue. Ranger journeys are fascinating. More often than not, I or one of my colleagues walk away from a Ranger conversation and say “This story has to be shared.” Forgive us for bragging.
I’m confident that as you read the features, you will agree that Northwestern takes claim to a group of outstanding individuals – our alumni. To the recent graduates, embrace and enjoy your role as Northwestern alumni. You are in excellent company.
On behalf of my colleagues at the Northwestern Foundation & Alumni Association, we hope you enjoy this issue as much as we do.
Ride, Rangers, Ride.
John Allen Director, Alumni RelationsThe sun shone brightly as Ranger alumni gathered in celebration of Spring Alumni Reunion on April 25, 2015.
Graduates from the classes of 1945, 1955, 1965 and 1990, traveled from Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Missouri and all across Oklahoma to visit their Northwestern. They were each recognized during the annual pinning ceremony.
1999) were selected as Outstanding Graduates for 2015.
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9
10
11
12
Once again, Ranger alumni from near and far returned to the Northwestern-Alva campus to celebrate Spring Alumni Reunion 2016 on April 30.
The classes of 1946, 1956, 1966 and 1991 were welcomed to campus by a cool, spring day and honored with their beloved class pins.
Of this group, 72 percent were retired or current educators.
The Northwestern Foundation & Alumni Association sponsors events throughout the year to bring together hundreds of Northwestern alumni. What’s better than a room full of Rangers? In our opinion, nothing! These events give Northwestern alumni a chance to reconnect with one another and celebrate the passion they have for the Red and Black. Pictured here are several events throughout the 20142015 and 2015-2016 academic years. Are you interested in attending one or more of these events? Great! Stay updated on our schedule of events by visiting my.nwfoundation.com or join the Alumni Association and receive exclusive invitations to many gatherings.
BELOW:
ABOVE: Rowdy Ranger members, Byron Koehn, ‘79, and Hadley Hintergardt, ’70, grill hot dogs to prepare for the crowd at the annual Baseball, Hot Dogs & Apple Pie (BBHD&AP) event on April 21, 2015 at David Allen Memorial Ballpark in Enid, Okla.
TOP RIGHT: Dale Swigget, ‘66, (left) and Loyd Stout, ‘49, (right) discuss the game of baseball with longtime friend Jim Hurd (center) while enjoying free apple pies provided by McDonald’s at BBHD&AP.
Once again, the past and present united during Northwestern’s Homecoming, Oct. 10, 2015. Ranger alumni and friends, along with current students, faculty, staff and community, gathered together to celebrate the place they still call “home”.
While tradition continued with the Homecoming Parade on the streets of downtown Alva, the alumni lunch on the courthouse lawn and the alumni band rehearsal, the excitement of the newly-built Dean Linder Press Box and turf field had Rangers rushing to the field for game day. Fans celebrated as the Rangers defeated Southeastern Oklahoma State University 31-16.
While the physical appearance of Ranger Field may have changed, Ranger spirit remains strong and alive.
JENNIFER GRASSANO (12)
The Ranger Legacy Society, a planned giving program, was created to honor its supporters for their commitment to Northwestern Oklahoma State University and the education of its students. Members of the society understand the critical need to strengthen Northwestern’s future by providing gifts that will support scholarships, academic programs and capital needs. Legacy gifts from members - through their wills, trusts or other estate gifts - ensure the continued success of the university from one generation to the next.
Please fill out the Bequest Pledge Form at my.nwfoundation.com/BecomeALegacy to begin the process of joining the Ranger Legacy Society.
Questions? Call the Northwestern Foundation & Alumni Association at 580-327-8593 or email Skeeter Bird at aebird@nwosu.edu.
“There is no better investment than the investment in our future generations.”
Donovan Reichenberger, Ranger Legacy Society member
Northwestern graduates are often recognized for their boundless spirit and welcoming arms. Rangers can be found dispersed across the United States, but have you ever wondered who might be spreading Ranger Pride ‘round the globe? We did, so we went out and found a few special alumni stories in Germany, Panama, Canada, England
By John Allen & Natalie Sacketand Japan to share with you.
Just like their geography, these alumni professions are diverse. They are graduate students, doctors, executive hospitality management and corporate strategy managers. But one thing holds them in common – they all agree they would not be where they are today without the education they received while at Northwestern.
Born and raised in Alva, Okla., this 1988 graduate has seen the world. Tim Kinzie was born to Wayne and Beverly Kinzie. A graduate of Alva High School, Kinzie easily adjusted to life at Northwestern. He was a highly involved student, active in college band, ROTC, science club and student government. Leadership is essential to Kinzie, and he displayed this as the student government president during his final two years at the university.
Kinzie spent the summer before sophomore year in a program with the Sea Education Association based in Cape Cod, where he studied oceanography and designed research projects. There, he spent six weeks in the classroom and six weeks aboard a research vessel in the North Atlantic, offshore from Newfoundland and Nova Scotia.
“Coming from landlocked Oklahoma, it was a bit of a shock to go the first 10 days of the venture without ever seeing land and being close enough to whales to be able to reach out and touch them in the middle of the ocean,” Kinzie said. “We faced storms requiring us to tie ourselves to the ship so as not to get swept overboard.”
These unique experiences, paired with Kinzie’s interest in biology and anatomy, led to his decision to pursue a career in the medical field.
“I thought to myself, ‘where can one go to learn all there is to know about anatomy,’ and medical school seemed to be the answer,” Kinzie said.
As a member of ROTC, Kinzie also had an interest in the military, which would one day be his calling. He was a member of the final group of cadets graduated from Northwestern. During his time in ROTC, he earned the Superior Cadet Award in 1985
Jeff Martin, ‘15
and 1986, exemplifying his stellar leadership skills. He graduated as the Distinguished Military Graduate and was commissioned into the reserves with the rank of second lieutenant.
Following his graduation in 1988, Kinzie attended Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine with the aid of a Health Profession Scholarship from the United States Army. Because of this, he spent his summers unlike other college students working at military clinics and hospitals.
“The four years in medical school all seem like a blur now, and I’m glad they are behind me,” Kinzie said.
In 1992, he became a physician and received a promotion to a captain of the U.S. Army.
Following medical school, Kinzie began an internship and residency at Womack Army Medical Center in Fort Bragg, N.C.
“The three-year military training program gave me a lot of opportunities I felt I wouldn’t have had in a more traditional civilian program,” Kinzie said. “Soldiers at Fort Bragg at the time were deployed to over 60 countries, and some were returning with unusual diseases not normally seen in a more traditional family medicine residency. On one rotation, I traveled to the jungles of Honduras to care for people in small villages who had no local health care and had rarely seen a doctor.”
In his final year of residency, Kinzie served as the chief resident. Upon graduation, he reported to Katterbach, Germany for his first tour of active duty. Katterbach, located in the southern part of Germany, was an army post containing nearly 5,000 people. After just one year at Katterbach, Kinzie was placed in charge of the clinic and served as a commander for the next three years.
In 1999, Kinzie was deployed as the Director of the Medical Center, Headquarters and Command Surgeon for the U.S. National Support Element in Albania supporting Operation
Age: 23 Major: BS in Biology, BS in Health & Sports Science
Location: London, Ontario, Canada
Currently: Pursuing a Master’s degree in Biology at The University of Western Ontario
“Northwestern has been essential in my educational life. I wouldn’t be here without the opportunities I’m convinced are unique to small universities such as Northwestern. The small classes and personal interactions with professors were instrumental to my acceptance into graduate school. Getting the opportunity to do hands-on work on a variety of projects has helped me beyond words.”
Shining Hope.
“Essentially, I was the sole physician for over 800 U.S. and multi-national soldiers from 16 different nations with the mission to support relief efforts for Kosovo refugees fleeing to Albania,” Kinzie said. “In addition, I cared for some of the local Albanian population, briefed Albanian military medical forces and served as a staff officer for a three-star British General Officer.”
After serving this post, Kinzie returned to Germany where he met his wife, Diane. She served as an elementary school teacher for the Department of Defense, teaching the children of soldiers and civilians assigned to the post. The couple married in 2000 and returned to the United States one year later, when they had their first child at Fort Sill, Okla.
Back in the United States, the Kinzies moved to Missouri where he would begin work at a civilian practice.
Over the next 10 years, the couple added three more children to the family, the youngest being adopted from Russia.
Having exciting lives behind them, Tim and Diane began looking for a new adventure to share with their children.
“It turned out, the opportunity found us,” Kinzie said.
The commander of the clinic in Illesheim, Germany called Kinzie in April 2012, asking if he was interested in return-
Age: 22 Major: BA History
ing to government service and working as a civilian physician in the clinic.
“I am pretty sure I said yes before he had finished asking the question,” Kinzie said.
In July 2012, they returned to the clinic they had served 11 years before.
“It has been worth it to give our children the chance to experience new cultures, traditions and people and see parts of the world they might otherwise not get a chance to,” Kinzie said.
Although he is nearly 5,000 miles away, Kinzie is often reminded of his home in northwest Oklahoma.
“It’s a small world, Kinzie said. “Even in Germany, I occasionally run into soldiers or their family members who have a connection with northwest Oklahoma, either being raised near Alva or having family in the Kinzie said he attributes much of his success to Northwestern and its faculty.
“From SEA Semester to medical school and from residency to selection for army command, I have always been the one from the smallest college and never have I felt that it was a disadvantage,” Kinzie said. “ I am proud to be an alumnus of Northwestern.”
Location: Canterbury, Kent, England
Currently: Pursuing a Master’s degree in War, Media and Society at the University of Kent
“From SEA Semester to medical school and from residency to selection for army command, I have always been the one from the smallest college and never have I felt that it was a disadvantage. I am proud to be an alumni of Northwestern.”
– Tim Kinzie, ‘88
“Northwestern provided me with so many skills that I have been able to apply since graduation . One example is how the social/historical research capstone course helped me develop the skills needed to write sizable research documents. I have been especially grateful for this while studying at a British university. I’ll forever be grateful to Dr. Decker for making sure I graduated with a well-developed research proposal under my belt.”Hannah Dirks, ‘15
President Jimmy Carter. Dan Rather. Henry and Nancy Kissinger. Lady Bird Johnson. Walter Mondale. Happy Rockefeller.
Add to that impressive list the names of Alan Alda, Anne Bancroft, Kevin Costner, Mel Brooks, Boz Scaggs, Ed Asner and Sarah Vaughan.
And then there were Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Prince Charles.
E. David Brewer, ’60, English, has hosted newsmakers, world leaders, entertainers, and many others during his career in the luxury resort industry. But the names of those who helped him discover his successful career reside in the history of Northwestern.
Dr. Mryna M. Boyce, professor of history.
“What a scholar she was. She made history jump out of the textbooks and come alive. It was Dr. Boyce who suggested I aim for the hospitality industry.”
Dr. Frank K. Wadley, professor of history and government.
“He was a superb teacher, especially for me, a young student from overseas.”
Others who left a lasting impression were Drs. Anna B. Fisher, Marie Arthurs and J. Louis Bouchard; Jean Holland; Frances DuVall; Edith Gorman; and Dick Ratliff.
While he didn’t have Fisher or Bouchard, Brewer recognized the value of human kindness and concern for others in their kind demeanor…characteristics he found in the people living in the community of Alva and surrounding towns.
Brewer realized after several years on the family farm
Ken Omori, ‘04
in Wales that the life of agriculture was not for him. Having met several Americans who encouraged him to “head to America”, he looked at the United States as the next part of his life journey. In order to go to school in the United States, he had to find a sponsor with whom he could live. An American military man found him his sponsor in Hardtner, Kan., 18 miles north of Alva.
Enrolled at Northwestern, Brewer soon moved to Alva. The residents of Alva and Hardtner are memorable to Brewer in the way they supported the university and the students.
“The residents and the faculty were so kind and friendly; I immediately felt welcome and ‘at home’ so far from my native country and family. I felt this welcoming from day one to graduation.”
Brewer recalls that during his time at Northwestern he was one of a handful of international students. Today’s significant increase of more than 100 international students on Northwestern’s campuses impresses him.
“I agree that international enrollment leads to greater understanding and appreciation of the life and culture of the larger world.”
Brewer spent his summers and holiday breaks with other students working at The Hotel Jerome in Aspen, Colo. With his best college friend, Jerome Reichenberger, ‘59 Chemistry, the two took full advantage of working in and learning the details of the luxury service industry. While Reichenberger went on to earn his medical degree, many of his friends and associates were fortunate to receive the delicious results of his own “world class” culinary skills.
After his Northwestern commencement, Brewer went on to earn his master’s degree in political science from the University of Oklahoma in 1963.
Age: 34 Major: BA History Location: Tokyo, Japan
Currently: Strategy Manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)
“I came to Northwestern because I wanted to expose myself to somewhere completely different from my hometown of Tokyo and somewhere I could learn English. My favorite memory of Northwestern was meeting my wife at a neighboring college.”
After a stint as the front office manager at the Grand Teton Lodge Company in the Grand Teton National Park, Brewer continued his professional career in the tropical paradise of Caneel Bay on St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. He was fortunate to learn under the guidance of Rockresorts’ legendary owner Laurance S. Rockefeller.
Rockefeller, a third generation member of the famous Rockefeller family, was an American philanthropist, businessman, financier and conservationist who developed environmentallyfriendly hotels. He was instrumental in establishing Brewer’s reputation as one of the most distinguished and sought-after leaders in hospitality.
With Rockefeller, Brewer’s career soared from executive assistant manager to vice president and general manager. His career has included executive management of some of the nicest resorts in Hawaii, both the British and U.S. Virgin Islands, the West Indies and Jamaica. Brewer has been recruited to create new business models with updating facilities, hiring world-class chefs, increasing profitability and eliminating deficits, all while ensuring the customer has an excellent, memorable experience that will encourage return visits.
While building his impressive portfolio, there were
humorous incidents along the way. One famous guest arrived with her small dog that created havoc and did damage to a well-adorned cottage. Brewer, with his Welsh accent and charm, handled every episode as an opportunity to offer dignity, respect and unflappable conduct to every guest.
Brewer believes there were several “aha” moments when he realized the value of his Northwestern education and experience. The first time – and perhaps the most significant –was when he joined Rockefeller’s Rockresorts company.
“I look back and say to myself how grateful I am for those days at Northwestern. Without that background of education, my career could have turned out quite different. Northwestern played a major part.”
Today, Brewer remains in the Republic of Panama and enjoys family life with his wife, Michelle, and twin sons, Peter and Scott. He enjoys novels by authors Jeffrey Archer and Ken Follett, and walks to unwind.
And at 4 in the afternoon? English black tea, of course.
“I look back and say to myself how grateful I am for those days at Northwestern. Without that background of education, my career could have turned out quite different. Northwestern played a major part.
– E. David Brewer, ‘60
On August 22, 2015, one Northwestern student boarded a plane for the United Kingdom, knowing she would not return home for months. Destination: Swansea, Wales. Mission: to have an incredible study abroad experience.
Chandler Steckbeck, a junior English major and Spanish minor at Northwestern, was the 2015 recipient of the Brad Henry Scholarship, a program that sends one Oklahoma student to the University of Swansea.
Steckbeck, in an unfamiliar country, found she needed to adapt quickly. For one, Swansea University hosts approximately 18,000 students and is expanding rapidly. She found herself in lecture halls with more than 100 people. This was quite an adjustment from her typical university setting at Northwestern, where the average class size consists of less than 20. Though nearly everyone spoke English, she found that the connotations of words varied between the United Kingdom and America. Often, she’d find herself a bit baffled in class.
“A Northwestern professor told me before I left I would find I was speaking the same language, but would still be separate,” Steckbeck said.
The atmosphere of her new home country was different as well.
“Wales, in general, is much slower than the other UK areas,” Steckbeck said. “The atmosphere is relaxed and very family-oriented.”
She largely contributes this cul-
tural difference to the Welsh way of life.
“I think it’s just that they have a different perspective on life,” Steckbeck said. “Here in the states, everything we do has a specific goal in mind. We go to high school so we can go to college, and we go to college so we can have a job. In Wales, there seems to be more of a sense of enjoyment in slowing down.”
For Steckbeck, who is a selfproclaimed Type A personality, this pace of life was an adjustment as she typically leads a busy schedule at Northwestern.
“Ultimately, it was great to step back and take time to enjoy these new experiences,” Steckbeck said.
Although Steckbeck took courses in gender studies, creative writing and British politics and history, she also found she learned several important life lessons.
“It’s okay to ask for help,” Steckbeck said. “I think most people in the world are willing to help you, but you have to be willing to step up and say you’re needing it.”
During her time overseas, Steckbeck visited locations including Paris, London, Cardiff and Edinburgh. She enjoyed museums dedicated to favorite authors including Jane Austen and Dylan Thomas. She visited the home of William Shakespeare at Stratford Upon Avon, a location she’s longed to visit for years.
Paris was one of her favorite locations because, as she says, “it’s Paris. It’s the
From: Enid, Okla.
Major: English
city of lights and a magical place.”
Steckbeck said she was deeply enthralled by the rich history of these areas.
“The history is just so incorporated in these places,” she said.
She also enjoyed the natural aspects of Europe as well, as she was able to visit Loch Ness and the Cliffs of Moher.
“It’s sheer, raw nature, and it’s so powerful,” she said. “There’s just no way with all the technology we have that we could ever want to tame those areas.”
Though Steckbeck had many incredible experiences, her favorite moments were spent with her six flat mates, all from different locations around the world. They would spend the evenings together over dinner, laughing and talking about their different backgrounds.
“Even though we came from such
Chandler Steckbeck, ‘17 PHOTOS PROVIDED BY CHANDLER STECKBECKdifferent parts of the world, everything we felt or were going through the others had experienced, even if it had been in a different location or in a different language,” she said.
Steckbeck, who intends to graduate in the spring of 2017 and pursue a master’s degree in English and a Ph.D. in Renaissance Drama, considers these experiences invaluable to her educational and professional pursuits. The cultural perspective gained in her studies overseas will contribute to her goal of becoming a university professor of English and Renaissance Drama. Having been a foreign exchange student, she said she believes she has gained a new empathy for other students.
“I want my students to understand that my classroom is an open environment, and just because your other classmates understand something, that doesn’t mean you’re expected to also,” Steckbeck said.
While Steckbeck was ready to return to the states and her friends and family, she said she is incredibly grateful for this opportunity.
“Ultimately in life, you can go anywhere you want to; but a lot of the time it requires you stepping out and trying.”
Hear more about Chandler’s trip
VIDEO: youtube.com/nwOKst
“Ultimately in life, you can go anywhere you want to; but a lot of the time it requires you stepping out and trying.”
– Chandler Steckbeck, ‘17ABOVE: The Abbey Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Bath, commonly known as Bath Abbey, is an Anglican church and a former Benedictine monastery in Bath, Somerset, England. TOP RIGHT: Urquhart Castle sits beside Loch Ness in the Highlands of Scotland.
By John Allen
Alva, Oklahoma in January 1954. A beautiful princess from Korea steps onto campus and soon meets the sheriff’s son from Elkhart, Kansas.
Woo Yeun Lie (Lee) left her native Korea and traveled across the globe to seek the promise of an excellent
education in music. Jess Paul – a tall, dark-haired, all-American athlete and education major – spots the shy but elegant beauty across the cafeteria and moves to begin a conversation.
And their love story began.
ABOVE: Jess D. Paul, ‘55, and Woo Yeun Lie, a former international student at Northwestern, were married in Northwestern’s chapel on Nov. 23, 1954.
Woo Yeun Lie (Lee), was born on March 18, 1929, to a family of aristocracy and prominence. Her father, Cap Chu Lie, was the mayor of Seoul, Korea, during the Korean conflict. Historically, this position was considered one of the most powerful in the country. Lie’s political rise secured his family’s already affluent lifestyle.
Presently, there is a general recognition of royal lineage in Korea; during Lie’s mayoral position, however, formal titles were given to the offspring of specific dignitaries. Lie’s children were recognized as princes and princesses. Lee recalls the environment of luxury she once had.
“I never had to brush my own hair or dress myself,” Lee revealed. “We had servants who did everything for us.”
Lee grew accustomed to meeting famous people. Generals Maxwell Taylor, James A. Van Fleet and Douglas MacArthur were just a few of the many notable individuals who visited her father at their palace. Then United States Vice President Richard Nixon also was a guest who stayed at the family’s summer palace, located near the 38th parallel north in the mountainous countryside.
Lee, a gifted pianist, was attending school in Switzerland while her father was considering her next academic step. Versailles was one option. His secretary at the time, Dr. Chun, had a brother who had attended Northwestern to earn his undergraduate degree in science before going to medical school.
“My father’s secretary said ‘you must send your daughter to Northwestern in America’. He said it was a wonderful school with excellent teachers. He also spoke about the town of Alva and how friendly Oklahomans were.”
After arriving at Northwestern, Lee remembers remaining in her dorm suite when not in class. A friend persuaded her to explore the American culture.
“My friend, Lila Goodnight, said to me, ‘Lee, you’ve got to get out of your room! There are people who want to meet you. And, there are several young men who would like to get to know you.’ I told her that I could never go out with anyone from the area, as my family would disown me! Lila said, ‘Your family is clear across the ocean…they’ll never find out.’”
Lee joined Goodnight and went to the cafeteria to stand in line for their meals. Soon, students walked by and introduced themselves, including several young male students. Of these young men showing interest during the next few weeks, one was planning to go to medical school, another had aspirations for law, and two others came from prosperous backgrounds.
But the man who stole Lee’s heart did not come from wealth. Jess Paul was, according to Lee, “dirt poor”. He lost his father – the town sheriff – early in his life, and his mother worked several jobs to raise Jess and his two sisters.
Paul immediately impressed Lee because, unlike the other suitors, he was not interested in her affluent, privileged lifestyle. He was interested in what she wanted to do with her life. She quickly learned that Paul was focused on a career where he could
make a difference in the lives of young people.
Many tried to persuade Lee not to date Paul. Dr. Myrna Boyce, dean of women at the time, called Lee to her office and tactfully told her that she needed to set her sights higher. Toward the end of the conversation, Boyce asked Lee, “Do you understand what I’m saying and why it is so important?” With composure and determination wrapped in respect, Lee thanked her for her concern and then said, “I will not change my mind.”
On November 23, 1954, Lee and Paul were married in the Northwestern chapel, with Professor C.E. Campbell, dean of men, escorting the bride down the aisle. The Alva community surrounded the couple with support and well wishes, which softened the pain from her family’s unwillingness to approve of the marriage.
With his physical education diploma in hand, Paul taught and coached in several Kansas school districts before serving as principal and/or superintendent at Peyton, Colo., and the Kansas communities of Wilmore, Bluff City, Dorrance, Chase and Bazine. Like many educators, Paul recognized the needs beyond the classroom. Quietly and without disclosure, he would buy athletic shoes for students who could not afford them. Many times he took money out of his own pocket to ensure that lunches were available for children from struggling families.
“I know his loving, determined mother and the encouragement from his college professors helped shape the inspiring role model who I called Dad,” said Nancy Nance, one of the Pauls’ three children.
Lee managed the transition from royalty to teacher’s wife with grace, tenacity, a few fumbles and much laughter.
“In the beginning, Jess knew where he could order great
food at the last minute in the event my dinner couldn’t be served to our guests,” Lee confessed with a smile.
In the 1970s, Lee received a sizeable monetary gift from a family member. Rather than spend it on a trip abroad – as several friends suggested – or other luxuries, Lee knew she needed to “invest it well.” And, that, she did.
Lee found 160 acres of Kansas farmland and purchased the property at public auction. Her husband was less than impressed with her purchase. But Lee’s penchant for quick resolution and her sense of humor prevailed.
“On the trip back home, Jess said it was not good farmland and continued to tell me I had thrown away my money.”
The criticism was unrelenting. The former princess controlled her reaction.
“I looked around the car and found a box of Kleenex. I pulled out one tissue, tore it in half and then wadded up both halves. I stuck one half in one ear and the second half in my other
ear. The rest of the ride home was pleasant.”
Lee further explained, “What my dear husband did not realize was that there was oil and gas under that poor dirt.”
The original 160-acre investment has grown to 800 acres, some with oil and gas production. This turn of good fortune was just the beginning of a lifestyle change for the Paul family.
When Paul left the education field, he began a second career as a diplomatic consultant in Tokyo. Lee enjoyed the return to beautiful gowns and state dinners, while “Jess hated dressing in tuxedos.”
Paul also traveled through Asia and the Middle East, remitting reports on the development of third-world countries. During one investigative trip, he discovered local officials were selling grain shipments received from CARE – the humanitarian organization with the mission to “serve individuals and families in the poorest communities in the world” – to wealthy merchants who then resold the grain. The poor never received the grain. Paul’s reporting led to an investigation and reform.
After two years of the international assignment, the Pauls returned to the United States to allow their children to finish their education in their native country. Paul passed at the age of 84 on May 18, 2014, leaving Lee, daughters Margaret Paul and Nancy, son Jess Paul, Jr., and three grandchildren to carry on the legacy of love, commitment and humor that he and Lee began.
The love and good-natured joking continued at Paul’s funeral. Often he would ask Lee to promise him that she would bury his money with him, because, as he put it, “It will do as much good in my casket as what you will spend it on.” Finally, she agreed to his wishes.
In her words: “I simply wrote him a check and placed it with him in his casket.”
Today, Lee continues to live with the spirit, the determination and the satisfaction that she married the man whom she was destined to share her life.
“He was a great man.”
And she remains, forever, a Ranger.
“I love Northwestern. I love the people of Alva; they were so good to me. My time there was a time of joy.”
Crossing her arms over her heart, she proclaims, “I am an Okie.”
Yes, Lee, you are.
“I love Northwestern. I love the people of Alva; they were so good to me. My time there was a time of joy...I am an Okie.”– Woo Yeun Lie (Lee)
In retirement and reflecting on his career as an educator, Jess Paul told his daughter, Nancy Nance, that he hoped he had made a difference in the life of a child.
“I sure hope I did,” he said.
A short time later, he received a letter from a former high school student.
As a student, this young man had much going against a chance of success. His home life was dysfunctional, and he was destined to follow other family members into a life of jail time and poor choices.
In his letter to his former teacher, he shared that “Mr. Paul” had made a significant, life-changing impact on him. As a student, he watched and listened to Paul. The encouragement from Paul’s lips and actions penetrated deeper into the
young man’s soul than the chaos he found at home. Eventually, he went to college and earned his education degree. He told his mentor that he was now teaching and coaching, following Paul’s career path. Before he ended his letter, the former student revealed another bit of information. He asked Paul to recall when he first arrived to begin his tenure at the school, someone had poured sugar into his gas tank. That someone was the author of the letter.
In the character of a “great man”, Paul laughed while remarking, “I always wondered who did that.” In his heart was forgiveness and humility.
Jess Paul’s legacy of making a difference continues for countless generations.
ABOVE: Jess Paul pictured from the 1955 Northwestern yearbook. Jess Paul and Woo Yeun Lie pictured with their children, daughters Margaret Paul and Nancy Nance, and son Jess Paul Jr., along with their three grandchildren.
By Natalie Sacket
It’s a story that has been told before: a man raised in humble settings goes on to achieve extraordinary success. However, the story of Doyle Hill is special.
Hill possesses great humility, rarely using the pronoun “I,” often speaking of “we.” He is intensely loyal, not only to his family and friends, but to colleagues as well.
He is a product of humble beginnings, born in Anthony, Kan. on October 15, 1946. When Hill started fifth grade, his father moved the family to a 160-acre farm near Amorita, Okla.
At the age of 15, Hill suffered tragedy when he lost his beloved mother to breast cancer. However, his family and community provided great support, encouraging him to pursue his education.
During his time in high school at Burlington, Okla., a science teacher and an agriculture teacher recommended Northwestern as the university where Hill would benefit most in continuing his education.
Hill began his collegiate career, uncertain of what his future plans were. Undecided in his field of study, he began to take general education courses. During this time, he found he enjoyed his biology and chemistry courses, which led him to take additional science classes.
Hill had found a passion to pursue.
He credits his Northwestern mentors – chemistry professor Stearns Rogers and biology professors J. Louis Bouchard and Anna B. Fisher – for aiding in keeping him focused. These individuals were the ones who encouraged him to pursue graduate school.
After graduating from Northwestern in 1968, Hill began graduate school at Oklahoma State University where he received his biochemistry Ph.D. in 1972. During his time at OSU, Hill also enrolled in ROTC and attended Fort Benning for basic training. Soon he was commissioned as second lieutenant in 1970, receiving educational deferment to finish his Ph.D. degree.
After his time at OSU, Hill served in active duty for the Fifth Army Medical Lab, where he conducted research and utilized advanced practices on burn victims at Fort Sam Houston in Texas.
In September 1972, shortly after his graduation from OSU and military services, Hill received a National Institutes of Health (NIH) post-doctoral research grant to study at Cornell University. At Cornell, Hill worked with colleagues from numerous countries and cultures. After four months with the research team, his supervisor and the chemistry department chairman asked him to manage the laboratory.
While achieving these accomplishments, Hill also was ranked the first of his class at both OSU and Cornell.
Hill said he credits his Northwestern education for his successes, as he believes Northwestern prepared him for graduate school and obtaining his Ph.D. better than any other university could have.
“Northwestern allowed me to obtain a very solid education for a reasonable cost near my home,” Hill said. “This education allowed me to compete effectively at larger universities and in industry.”
He went on to work for Eastman Kodak in 1974, a company he would serve for the next 20 years. There, he worked on a project developing blood chemistry testing using a thin film format that required only a drop of blood to complete a test. This format allowed medical labs to advance their productivity. During
this time, he was awarded half a dozen patents. His leadership also aided in helping Eastman Kodak gain the largest hospital laboratory market share in the United States at the time. He lived in Europe from 1986 to 1989, where he set up the marketing organization for Eastman Kodak’s product.
Then in 1994, Eastman Kodak decided to leave the medical business. However, Hill was not defeated. He led a team that went on to negotiate a billion dollar divestiture deal with Johnson & Johnson. Loyalty had always been a primary characteristic of Hill and this instance was no exception. He successfully negotiated taking all of his 700 employees with him to Johnson & Johnson, along with their savings and investment plans and benefit packages. A negotiation of this scale and success is not only rare, but showed great character on Hill’s part.
With a highly successful career behind him, Hill retired in 2002 as the Group Vice President of research and development. At the time of his retirement, he was managing the research and development of four separate companies for Johnson & Johnson, all of which are now generating an excess of $2 billion in revenue. However, Hill became neither boastful nor proud of his successes. Rather, he remains humble, crediting his background for his accomplishments.
When asked what he attributed his success to, he stated the values imparted by his father and mother were a major factor. Hill’s father encouraged his children to obtain an education, to get off the farm and go to school, to work hard and to live an honest life. He also credits the influential teachers and mentors he had with guiding him to success.
“Coming from a small town grounded me and gave me values that have proven to be priceless,” Hill said. “I was supported well in my life by family and friends from that community. The world can look awfully scary when you come from a small town, but a good education, hard work, and support from home will get you through.”
Presently, Hill is the head of a blended family, with three children from his first marriage and two stepchildren from his current wife of five years, Renee. The couple lives in Charleston, S.C. His children are Kyle, a CFO for a private oil and gas company in Tulsa; Taylor, his daughter, an assistant to the Superintendent of Schools in Claremore; and Todd, a physician who died in an accident in 2006. Renee’s children are Christopher, who works for the state of Georgia, and Crystal, a physician’s assistant in Charleston.
Apart from his career in science and business, Hill’s primary motivation is family. He is intensely proud of Renee and her accomplishments as an elementary school teacher with a specialty for children with emotional behavior disorders. He speaks highly of the opportunities brought as a result of education.
Doyle Hill is proof that with hard work, dedication and strong character, the unimaginable can be achieved.
“The world can look awfully scary when you come from a small town, but a good education, hard work, and support from home will get you through.” – Doyle Hill, ‘68
“This is ridiculous – we have a petting zoo!” JoDe Bradt grumbles to her husband Jerad, who grins at the fact he was able to talk his wife into yet another purchase. They are hauling a trailer full of llamas, donkeys and goats down a dirt road behind their white Ford F-150, soon to be joined with a herd of other mammals on their 38-acre farm. That’s when it hits her.
“Wait a minute…we have a petting zoo!” says JoDe, now eyes wide with excitement from the imaginary light bulb flashing above her head. In this moment, the idea of The Menagerie is born. The first step the Bradt’s must take, however, is figuring out how to turn their land and home into a premiere spot for Oklahoma Agri-Tourism. Time to get to work.
Like many others, after graduating with degrees in speech and theatre, Jerad, ’05, a native of Alva, Okla., and JoDe, ’01, from Waynoka, Okla., thought they knew what life had in store for them. JoDe began her career in education as a high school teacher in South Barber School District in Kiowa, Kan. Jerad was a jack of all trades, working as the sound and theatre technician at Northwestern Oklahoma State University for seven years, laboring on their family wheat farm and owning and operating Boss Music, a DJ company passed down to him from his father. Little did they know, things were about to get fuzzy.
While raising, at the time, two young sons Braylon and Brickman, Jerad grew frustrated with the amount of time they spent with eyes glued to tv screens and video games.
“They were complacent around the house and never wanted to go outside,” Jerad said. “One day I lost my cool with them not doing anything so I asked them on a Monday to have all the sticks in our yard picked up by Sunday so I could mow after church.”
Not wanting to give the boys dangerous work on the farm, Jerad decided picking up sticks was a safe way to provide them with fresh air and away from the hypnotic-like hold the tv had on them. When Saturday rolled around and the sticks were laying unmoved in the yard, Jerad realized it more than likely was not going to get done.
“I told my wife, JoDe, ‘that’s it – something has to change!’” Jerad said.
The couple sat down and discussed ways they could get their boys to want to be outside, and Jerad thought caring for chickens would be an easy and non-dangerous task for their children to take on.
“I was against the idea because my dad had chickens when I was growing up and I didn’t enjoy the chores,” JoDe said. “We argued for a couple weeks about whether or not to get chickens.”
“I won on that one,” boasts Jerad.
With the decision made, the Bradts ordered two dozen multi-colored chicks from a local hatchery. This quickly caught the attention of their sons, especially the oldest, Braylon, who began spending countless hours taking care of the family’s new chirping friends. Twenty-four chicks quickly turned into 48 after another order, and soon the boys started an egg route in Alva, learning how to manage their profit.
With the initial goal of getting their boys out of the house accomplished, the Bradts (mainly Jerad), began thinking of adding to their “collection.” On their way to Music Theatre Wichita one Sunday, Jerad and JoDe discussed taking in a couple of goats from a friend who needed to get rid of them.
However, the conversation was quickly put on hold when they returned to town to find Jerad’s father had passed away that night from a car accident.
“Jerad was really close to his dad,” JoDe said. “Everything he did he learned from his dad. It was really hard on him.”
After the tragic accident, Jerad’s once-eager attitude towards expanding their collection of farm animals turned stale. “I was over it at that point,” he said. “I wasn’t even sure I wanted to get them anymore.”
Yet once the Bradts learned the goats just had three babies, they decided to move forward with their plan. They took all five goats, which became the first of many named animals on the Bradts’ farm – Medusa, Hera, Hercules, Aphrodite and Zeus.
“I told my wife, JoDe, ‘that’s it – something has to change!”
Almost overnight, the goats had multiplied from five to ten. With a future purchase of some miniature donkeys –which only added to JoDe’s frustrations – Jerad began spending any extra time away from his three jobs outside with his boys and the animals.
“At one point it dawned on me what I was doing,” Jerad said. “I was using the animals as my form of therapy for dealing with the loss of my dad.”
Once Jerad explained to his wife how the animals were helping him cope, JoDe’s frustrations with a growing animal farm quickly dissolved.
“I realized a coping mechanism could be so much worse,” JoDe said. “His was non-destructive – except to our pocket book.”
With spending more than $1,000 a month on feed for their animals, bringing home the aforementioned trailer of llamas, donkeys and goats was only making Jerad’s coping mechanism more expensive.
After JoDe realized they did indeed have the makings of a petting farm, she thought, “If the animals could just make enough money to pay for themselves, I wouldn’t have to keep nagging Jerad about getting rid of his coping mechanism.”
One phone call and a visit from former Oklahoma Agri-Tourism representative Lori Coats done, the Bradts began working on the large list of items that needed fixed before they could officially operate as a petting zoo.
Six short months later – Jerad had the list checked off. The Bradts invited Coats back for a visit in September 2012 with
fingers crossed they would get the green light to open their family business.
“Lori was in shock,” JoDe said. “She told us it normally takes people a couple of years to check off her list. She couldn’t believe we had it finished in six months!”
Just like that, Bradts Menagerie became the largest independent petting farm in Oklahoma Agri-Tourism and has been helping keep Alva, Okla. on the map ever since.
With the addition of a baby zebra and some Scottish highland cattle – along with their newborn son, Breaker – the Bradts were open for business. As the success and popularity grew, The Menagerie went from appointment-only visits to being open Saturdays and Sundays from April through November.
In September 2015, an 890-bale hay maze was added and
instantly became a hit. The Bradts almost tripled their profit from the following year and have seen a larger amount of growth from outside areas.
“It doesn’t matter the amounts we have made, but the people and growth we have seen are amazing,” JoDe said. “One thing that has changed for us recently is now people are visiting from all over the state. In 2014 we were more of a staycation, but for Spring Break 2015 we were a destination spot all over Oklahoma and Kansas.”
Jerad and JoDe enjoy being able to share their animals with others and seeing the joy on other people’s faces.
“Everybody has that one vacation or that one place they think back on in their adulthood – we want to create that memory,” JoDe said. “Every day that we open, I don’t go out and rake
the pins like the boys, but I’m in here praying over the Menagerie and that our visitors will be blessed by what they see and those blessings will go with them.”
Today, the farm is home to more than 300 chickens, in addition to multiple breeds of turkeys, ducks, peacocks, geese, goats, miniature donkeys, llamas, rabbits, sheep, cattle, a miniature zebu steer, a water buffalo, a yak, an Indu-Brazilian steer, a miniature horse, a longhorn, alpacas, micopigs, emus and camels (just to name a few).
In addition to the animals, The Menagerie provides other activities for families to enjoy, including a hay slide, treasure dig, tractor tire playground and the uniquely named game of “Chuck the Cluck”. However, the Bradts want people to know The Menagerie is not just for children.
“We have one family who comes out with four generations of family members,” Jerad said. “It’s really neat to see a four-generation family come out and all enjoy the experience in different ways.”
The Menagerie has been featured on television shows “Discover Oklahoma” and “Is This a Great State Or What?”. The Bradts also were fortunate to receive a grant through Woods County Tourism to help pay for their signage and pavilion which are used every day. These opportunities have helped the Bradts
get closer to their goal of putting Oklahoma Agri-Tourism on the map in Alva.
Although Jerad and JoDe are no longer using their college degrees in the traditional sense, JoDe says she is still teaching people on a daily basis.
“Obviously I’m not in the classroom anymore but I approach giving people information in a completely different way than Jerad does because of my background in education,” JoDe said. “I especially love field trip season because of the educational aspect. Even though the direction of my life and the intent of my degree changed, I still get to use the skills learned in the classroom at Northwestern.”
“Even though the direction of my life and the intent of my degree changed, I still get to use the skills learned in the classroom at Northwestern.”
class NOTES: Where Are You Now?
‘09 Cody Austin and ‘12 Brittney (Crump), on Aug. 8, 2015.
‘14 Mallory (Atchley) and Lucas Bryant, on Nov. 7, 2015. Mallory graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
‘15 Michael Degan and ‘15 Abigail (Daniel), on July 18, 2015.
‘15 Alixandra (Kirtley) and Warren Gavitt, on Feb. 27, 2016.
‘59 James Bradley is retired from the United States Air Force and living on the farm where his wife’s, Marian Bradley, family settled in 1870 in Westmoreland, Kan. They have two children, Scott and Beth.
‘66 Marilyn Aaron retired in Choctaw, Okla. after teaching for 32 years. She has been married to her husband, Fred Aaron, for 43 years. They have two children, Michelle and Thomas.
‘15 Ryan Radcliff and ‘15 Tatum (Hansen), on Aug. 1, 2015. Ryan graduated with a degree in agriculture and Tatum graduated with a degree in education.
‘63 C.W. “Junior” Simmons was awarded the top Music Educator award by the National Federation of High School Music Educators. Simmons received a bachelor of arts degree from Northwestern, with a double major in vocal and instrumental music.
‘68 Robert (Bob) Rottinger retired after 30 years at American Airlines Corporate Headquarters. He currently resides in Arlington, Texas.
‘72 Howard Aitken is a teacher and farmer in Buffalo, Okla. He and his wife, Claudette, have two children, Gilbert and Chelsey.
‘72 Richard Szczepaniak is retired in Enid, Okla. He and his wife, Bonnie, have two children, Brad and Angela.
‘74 Steve Hickman, Cherokee Track and Field Coach, was named the NFHS Coaches Association 2015 State Coach of the Year.
You became a Ranger here. Once a Ranger, always a Ranger. So where are you now?
Have you started a family? Do you own a business? Who have you become? We want to know!
Please complete the form at my.nwfoundation.com/whereareyounow and tell us about your journey!
‘75 Lyle Crane was appointed to Seat No. 5 on the Afton Board of Education in Jan. 2016. He will serve a four-year term. Crane graduated from Northwestern with a master’s degree in education administration.
‘66 Jim Edwards and Frances (Bowman) Edwards celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Aug. 24, 2015.
‘70 Thomas Gruber, a GableGotwals attorney, was named to the 2016 Edition of Best Lawyers for his work in the category of Administrative/ Regulatory Law.
‘76 Stephen Stands is the Natural Gas Marketing Director at Enable Midstream Partners in Edmond, Okla. He has three children, Casey, Erin and Kelsey.
‘77 Raymond Robins is an accountant in Crescent, Okla. He and his wife, Cindy, have two children, Ryan and Reagan.
‘78 Stan Pinney is the Division Order Advisor for Chesapeake Energy in Edmond, Okla. He and his wife, Debra, ‘79, have four children, Jason, Jeremy, Katie and Lesley.
‘80 Karen Koehn is a guidance counselor at Northwest Technology Center in Alva. She has been married to her husband, Byron, ‘79, for over 33 years.
‘82 Mickey Stout teaches and coaches basketball, track and volleyball in Fowler, Kan. He and his wife, Amanda, reside in Minneola, Kan. They have two children, Morgan and Logan.
‘83 Bob Schmidt & ‘84 Monica (Mayer) are retired in Colorado Springs, Colo. Monica was inducted into the Northwestern Sports Hall of Fame in Feb. 2016. They have one son, Jason.
‘85 Scott Fees is a police officer for the Edmond Police Department. He and his wife, Shelley, have one daughter, Jessica, and a son-in-law, Jake.
‘86 Larry Jantzen owns Larry’s Home Oxygen in Enid, Okla. He resides in Ringwood with his wife, Audrey.
‘91 Penny Emmele is the District Manager at Wichita Kansas Social Security Administration. She resides in Augusta, Kan. with her husband, Ken.
‘91 Jeff Roberts teaches in Yukon, Okla. and coached baseball, softball, football and basketball for 21 years. He married his wife, Brianna, on June 30, 2014.
‘91 Kevin Taylor is a physical therapist in Oklahoma City. He and his wife, Beth, have four children, William, Tate, Cora Beth and Kinley. They reside in Piedmont, Okla.
‘92 Donna Anderson was hired as superintendent of Cherokee schools in July 2015. She resides in Cherokee with her husband, Charlie. They have three children, Amanda, Taylor and Jake.
‘93 Lewis Kuchar is the location manager for P&K Equipment in Blackwell, Okla. He and his wife, Lisa, have four sons, Lucas, Landon, Logan and Loren.
‘93 Dustin Miller is the Community Services Director for the City of Pampa, Texas. He and his wife, Dori, have three sons, Reid, Trey and Drew.
‘94 Audra Mason is the lead counselor at Ponca City High School. She resides in Ponca City, Okla. with her husband, Todd. They have two children, Taylor and Cole.
‘96 Max Vela has owned Studio 5, Inc., a school portrait and yearbook company in Denver, Colo., for the past 20 years. He resides in Thornton, Colo., with his wife, Debra. They have two children, Kailee and Vincent.
‘83 Chris E. Rivera was named chairman, president and CEO of Nativis, Inc. in Jan. 2016. Nativis, Inc. is a clinical stage bioelectronics company developing non-invasive therapies for cancers and other serious diseases. Rivera and his wife, Sally, reside in South San Francisco, Calif.
‘90 Lance Harper retired from law enforcement after a 20-year career and began his second career as a land coordinator with Continental Resources. He and his wife, Renee, have two children, Jeremy and Caden.
‘91 Ted Cox owns a CPA firm in Purcell, Okla. He and his wife, Lori, have four children, Gavin, Lauren, Landon and James.
‘93 Melanie Moody teaches math at Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School. She resides in Lake St. Louis, Mo., with her husband, Neil, ‘92. They have two children, Darian and Garrison.
‘93 Tim Rundel is the City Manager for the City of Auburn in Calif. He and his wife, Brandy, have two childern, Grace and Braden.
‘97 Mark Marriott is the Finance Director at BATS Global Market. He married Sloan (Tilley), ‘97, shortly after graduating from Northwestern. They reside in DeSoto, Kan.
709 Oklahoma Blvd. Alva, OK, 73717
‘86 Tony Crouch was named Vice President for Business Operations at Carl Albert State College in July 2015. Crouch graduated from Northwestern with a major in accounting and a minor in business management.
‘93 Julie (Short) Zollinger was named the 2015 Kansas School Psychologist of the Year. Zollinger graduated from Northwestern with a degree in Psychology and received her Master’s degree in School Psychology from Utah State University. She resides in Hays, Kan. with her husband, Brett Zollinger, Ph. D., ‘92.
‘99 Shawnna (Brummett) Burgess is the owner and manager of the Cuttin’ Edge Salon in Mooreland, Okla. She is married to husband, Dallas, ‘06, and they have two children, Tristyn and Dawsyn.
‘03 Jason Rose is the chef and general manager at Carson’s Food Service Management. He resides in Oklahoma City with his wife, Monica. They have three children, Mack, Shealee and Brandon.
‘03 Renee Stahlman-Imler is a kindergarten teacher in Boise City, Okla. She is married to husband, Minor Imler.
‘04, ‘14 Jenny West is a mental health professional at Edwin Fair Community Mental Health Center in Ponca City, Okla. She resides in Newkirk with her husband, Rylan. They have two children, Kaylin and Jaxton.
‘05 Lysse Vadder completed her clinical residency at Norman Regional Hospital and is now a clinical pharmacist at Integris Hospital in Enid, Okla. She resides in Enid with her husband, Samuel.
‘05 Tammy McCauley is a general education pre-k teacher in Midwest City, Okla., and completed her Masters in Education for Elementary Education at East Central University. She is married to husband, Stephen. They have five children, Gabriel, Stevie, Tyler, Kanza and Britanee.
‘06 Elizabeth Davis is the Director of Distance Learning at the Allied Health Career Training Center in Wichita, Kan. She resides in Andover, Kan. with her husband, Stephen, ‘05.
‘07 Dominique Parker is the head boys basketball coach at South Garland High School. He resides in Richardson, Texas with his wife, Rhonda, ‘07, and children Jayden and Taylor.
‘09 Felipe Eichenberger was named the Associate Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Denver Nuggets. He joined the Nuggets in 2011 as the Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach. Eichenberger was a four-year member of the Ranger basketball team.
‘10 Craig Wood is a physician assistant at a family practice and urgent care center in the Denver, Colo. area. He resides in Denver with his wife, Erica.
‘12 Amanda Dixon qualified for the United States Golf Association’s U.S. Women’s MidAmateur championship in Sept. 2015.
‘12 Matthew Hill is a social worker for the Kay County Department of Human Services. He resides in Blackwell, Okla. with his wife, Tonya, ‘12. They have three children, Dustin, Marissa and Samantha.
‘63 Dr. Vernon Powders, on Nov. 6, 2015 at age 74.
‘63 Gary Wolgamott, on Dec. 18, 2015 at age 75.
‘65 John A. Ybarra, on May 29, 2015 at age 77.
‘66 David McKaig, on March 26, 2016 at age 87.
‘67 Gary Keltner, on Feb. 3, 2016 at age 71.
‘69 Larry D. Dobbins, on Nov. 12, 2015 at age 69.
‘69 Anthony John “A.J.” Kotich, ‘96 Outstanding Graduate and husband of ‘14 Outstanding Graduate Linda Ybarra-Kotich, on Oct. 20, 2015 at age 69.
‘70 Donald Eugene Kilmer, on Dec. 19, 2015.
‘70 Billy A. Stewart, on April 16, 2015 at age 74.
‘71 Luanne Boham, on Jan. 24, 2016 at age 66.
‘71 Judith Ann Gilliam on Jan. 30, 2016 at age 66.
‘38 Della Agnes King Jack, on Dec. 7, 2015 at age 101.
‘39 Dr. Earl Alvin Sargent, on April 4, 2016 at age 98
‘43 James Harrison Noble, on Nov. 30, 2015 at age 94.
‘60 Gene Loyd Belcher, on Sept. 20, 2015 at age 78.
‘60 Eva M. Bird, on June 14, 2015, at age 99.
‘73 Dr. Clarence Johnson, former Northwestern professor of English, on Aug. 25, 2015 at age 68.
‘74 Jack R. Ewing, on Sept. 9, 2015 at age 63.
‘81 James Edward Glaze, on Sept. 3, 2015 at age 59.
‘90 Ava (Thompson) Keeney, on Sept. 21, 2015 at age 56.
‘91 Rev. Robert Grimmett, on Dec. 3, 2015 at age 61.
‘96 Jeffrey Carl Johnson, on Aug. 4, 2015 at age 43.
‘08 Britanie (Welty) Bradshaw, on Jan. 13, 2015 at age 28.
Ragina Knedler, wife of former Northwestern professor Dr. Mike Knedler, on Jan. 18, 2016 at age 61.
Berta Roca de Martinez, wife of Northwestern professor Dr. Francisco Martinez, on April 26, 2015 at age 66.
W. Dean Murrow, on Jan. 28, 2015 at age 92. He attended Northwestern in 1940.
Wilma Ruth Reeg, on Jan. 24, 2015 at age 53. She attended Northwestern from 1981-1983.
Theodore George “Ted” Robinson, Jr., Chartwells Director at Northwestern since 2002, on April 6, 2016 at age 60.
Britten Shuck, a member of the 2014-2015 Ranger baseball team, on March 26, 2015 at age 19.
Dr. Charles Louie White, former Northwestern professor on Aug. 3, 2015 at age 87.
Submit your Class Notes contributions to: nwalumni@nwosu.edu or mail them to: Northwestern Foundation & Alumni Association, 709 Oklahoma Blvd. Alva, OK, 73717
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Northwestern Foundation & Alumni Association 709 Oklahoma Blvd. Alva, OK 73717
580-327-8593
nwalumni@nwosu.edu
my.nwfoundation.com
