Oklahoma City University Alumni Magazine - FOCUS Fall 2022

Focus Alumni Magazine

2501 N. Blackwelder Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73106 405-208-7000 • okcu.edu/focus

STORY IDEAS: focus@okcu.edu

ALUMNI NEWS: alumni@okcu.edu

Focus is produced semiannually by the Communications & Marketing and Alumni departments for alumni and friends of Oklahoma City University. OCU is an equal-opportunity institution.

University Administration

Kenneth Evans, President Michelle Kiec, Provost

Amy Ayres, Vice President for Student Affairs

Corey Bray, Director of Athletics

Kevan Buck, Chief Financial Officer

Talia Carroll, Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Joey Croslin, Vice President for Human Resources and Chief HR Officer

Gerry Hunt (BS ’89, MBA ’05), Chief Information Officer

Casey Ross (BSB ’00, JD and MBA ’03), General Counsel

Adam Ryburn, Interim Assistant Provost

Lynann Sterk-Brooks, Vice President of University Advancement

Kevin Windholz, Vice President for Enrollment Management

Alumni Relations

Megan Hornbeek Allen (BA ’03), Executive Director of Alumni Engagement Alumni Advisory Board okcu.edu/aab-leadership

Editorial Staff

Nick Trougakos, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications

Rod Jones (MBA ’12), Editor of Focus and Associate Director of Communications

Kevin Miller, Creative Director

Lechelle Calderwood, Senior Graphic Designer

Writers

Terry Phelps, April Marciszewski, Destry Holzschuh, Rich Tortorelli, Chris Maxon Photographers

Ian Weston, Senior Photographer/Videographer

Eric Gomez, Photographer/Videographer Assistant

Michaela Childs, Class of 2024, Mass Communications

Nadia Alejandres, Class of 2025, Undecided

ON THE COVER

Among the many OCU alumni who own businesses are, from left, Daniel Mercer, Paula Marshall and Ira McCurry.

STORY PAGE 10

Greetings Alumni & Friends,

As some of you may know, business education is close to my heart. My Ph.D. was in marketing, and I earned an MBA with an emphasis in marketing and quantitative methods. I taught marketing at both the University of Missouri-Columbia and Arizona State University over a 20-year span.

Before becoming a university president, I was the dean of the business school at the University of Oklahoma. I’ve often taken pride in seeing my students go on to become successful business owners or entrepreneurs.

It is with considerable pride, therefore, that we dedicate this issue of Focus to begin a celebration of alumni-owned businesses.

There certainly is a lot to celebrate. For starters, it is well-documented that

our Meinders School of Business turns out many tremendous business leaders. Meinders grads play leading roles not only here in Oklahoma City, but also across the state, nation and globe.

What some may not realize is that many leading and up-and-coming business owners are OCU alums who didn’t get business degrees.

Two of the three wonderful alumni featured on the cover of this issue, for example, were not traditional business undergrads. Paula Marshall, who operates the Bama Companies with business in countries around the world, earned her bachelor’s degree through our Adult Degree Completion Program. Ira McCurry is the owner of a dance studio in Moore, but came there by way of a degree in American Dance Pedagogy.

SINCERELY,

There are numerous other examples like this among our alumni ranks. I take heart in knowing that an OCU education – with or without a business degree – helps build within our students the independence, critical thinking and problem-solving skills needed to be successful in the world today.

We’re happy to share the stories of a some of these business owners in this magazine. We also know there are many more stories to tell. To help us out, don’t hesitate to drop a line to our alumni office to let us know what you’re up to and how you’re making a difference in your community.

We are excited to hear from all of the OCU alumni-owned businesses out there and encourage you to check out the new alumni -owned business directory at okcu.edu/ alumnibusiness. Add your organization to this listing!

Photo by Nick Trougakos

Oklahoma City University alumna and The Bama Cos. CEO Paula Marshall addresses firstyear OCU students during a "Lessons in Leadership" presentation at the Meinders School of Business. Marshall is one of numerous OCU alumni who own and operate their own business.

THE BIG PICTURE

Dawn of a New Era

President Kenneth Evans, along with Board of Trustees Chairman Gary Homsey, prepares for his inauguration ceremony in the north hallway of the Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel in April.

Photo by Ian Weston

Kiec named provost, VP of Academic Affairs

In March, Oklahoma City University President Kenneth Evans named Michelle Kiec as the school’s new provost and vice president of Academic Affairs.

Kiec joined the OCU campus in this role on July 5, following a 10-year stint in various positions at Kutztown University, in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. At that institution, Kiec served as interim vice provost for extended and lifelong learning; dean of graduate studies; acting dean of the College of Education; and dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts.

Her experience at Kutztown included leadership for programs related to certificates, accelerated degrees, embedded certifications, study abroad, workforce training, articulation agreements, graduate education and adult learning, all within traditional, hybrid and online learning formats.

“Michelle’s broad base of experience, notably in the spaces of online and non-traditional learning, is an ideal fit for the various enrollment initiatives now underway at OCU,” Evans said.

Kiec (pronounced “kick”) holds Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in clarinet from the Peabody Conservatory of Music at Johns Hopkins University. She earned a pair of undergraduate degrees from the University at Buffalo – Bachelor of Music in music performance and Bachelor of Arts in German.

“I know I’ll feel right at home in OCU’s performing arts culture,” Kiec said. “I’m also excited to be able to play a role in supporting and advancing all of the university’s academic areas.”

MSB, OKC Thunder announce partnership

The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Meinders School of Business earlier this year announced a partnership to launch dynamic learning opportunities for both graduate and undergraduate business students at the university.

The highlight of the announcement was the creation of the Thunder Leadership MBA program. Curriculum for the Thunder Leadership MBA includes collaboration with senior leadership from the NBA team administration, who will provide insight into strategic business initiatives and guidance to graduate students as they complete a semester-long project that culminates with a presentation to team executives at Paycom Center.

“The opportunity to engage Thunder Leadership MBA students in present-

day case studies and offer unique job-shadow experiences aligns with our vision to create the optimal conditions for people to thrive,” said Brian Byrnes, senior vice president of Sales and Marketing for the Thunder. “We are honored to collaborate with OCU’s MBA program and provide an innovative forum that will positively impact their professional journey.”

The partnership also includes opportunities for OCU undergraduate business students to leverage the home game experience as a Thunder practicum, enriching their understanding of business operations. Selected students will participate in a variety of exercises such as event planning, curating guest experiences, understanding marketing analytics, content design and multi-channel distribution.

More information about the collaboration is available at okcu.edu/thunder

Photo by Ian Weston

Nursing school summer camp lands BCBS grant

The Kramer School of Nursing was among the grant recipients from a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma (BCBSOK) initiative intended to improve the health and wellness of people in local communities.

The nursing school’s Camp Kramer Way, a summer camp for high school students, was one of 14 projects to benefit from BCBSOK’s Healthy Kids, Healthy Families initiative. Camp Kramer Way was created to help address the ongoing nursing shortage and recruit high-performing, diverse and academically motivated high school students from across Oklahoma into the Kramer School of Nursing.

“We are incredibly grateful for the grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma,” said Gina Crawford, interim dean of the Kramer School of Nursing. “This grant allowed us to host a three-day, twonight summer nursing camp for 20 high school students, in addition to offering one camp participant a college scholarship.”

The June summer camp was open to high school sophomores, juniors and seniors from across the state interested in learning more about the nursing profession.

“Utilizing the Kramer School of Nursing’s advanced facilities, high school students got to experience some of the many inherent rewards of nursing,” said Crystal Westmoreland, camp leader and chair of OCU's traditional BSN program. “With staffing shortages across the country, especially rural areas, we feel it is imperative to introduce nursing as a potential career to the next generation.”

Camp participants stayed in the university’s housing facilities, with meals and off-campus activities included, all free of charge.

Created in 2011, the Healthy Kids, Healthy Families initiative supports nonprofit organizations providing various health-related services with proven sustainable and measurable programs. The initiative includes funding for programs that reach children and their families in four key areas: nutrition, physical activity, preventing/managing disease and supporting safe environments.

“For 10 years, the Healthy Kids, Healthy Families initiative has helped improve health in communities through our partnerships,” said Dr. Joseph R. Cunningham, president of BCBSOK. “In total, HKHF has awarded nearly $10 million to more than 150 organizations across the state to make a positive impact for all Oklahomans. It’s imperative we continue to invest in programs to offset health factors that have been exacerbated by the pandemic and present ongoing health challenges for Oklahomans.”

Photos by Michaela Childs

A summer camp student practices nursing skills on a manikin.

Beldona assumes leadership role at MSB

Following a nationwide search, OCU officials named a new dean for the Meinders School of Business.

Sri Beldona, a former professor of management at the University of Dallas, started July 5 as dean of the business school.

Beldona started in 2001 at the University of Dallas, serving as associate dean for international initiatives and associate dean of academic affairs. In the latter role, Beldona was responsible for introducing multiple STEM-designated programs, stackable degrees and microcredentials. Prior to his time in higher education, Beldona worked in the private sector as a vice president of strategic planning at a Fort Worth, Texas, brand marketing firm.

“Sri brings the right mix of business acumen, higher education experience and innovative thinking to our business dean position,” OCU President Kenneth Evans said at the time of Beldona’s appointment. “His track record of developing and implementing a variety of educational programs and degree options will serve our student body, prospective students and the Oklahoma business community well.”

Beldona holds a Ph.D. in business administration and a Master of Science in international business from Temple University in Philadelphia; a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in marketing from Pune University in India; and a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Gulbarga University in India.

“Students and faculty at the Meinders School of Business play a key role in supporting and growing business in the region,” Beldona said. “I hope to continue and build upon the Meinders legacy.”

Online program manager partnership begins in earnest

The first cohorts of students in the university’s new online nursing programs began classes in August.

Classes launched in the online RN-BSN and Master of Science in Nursing programs, the result of the university’s partnership with online program manager Everspring.

A Chicago-based company, Everspring supports higher education partners in growing enrollment by providing technology, marketing, admissions and student retention services for selected online programs.

ANTO VI EW A VID

The partnership between Everspring and OCU was announced in February, and faculty and staff at the Kramer School of Nursing, along with staff members from various university departments, worked closely with the company to ready for the August class start.

“In order to advance existing nurses in their careers and bring new nurses into the profession, it is vital that nursing schools provide flexible, accessible programs with the support students need to complete their programs successfully,” OCU President Kenneth Evans said at the time of the Everspring announcement.

The partnership with Everspring may include the launch of additional online programs as the university aims to carve out a broader foothold in the online education marketplace.

Photo by Ian Weston

Sri Beldona, dean of the Meinders School of Business

President Evans begins Presidential Faculty Fellowship

President Kenneth Evans in the spring of 2022 announced the inaugural recipients of the Presidential Faculty and Student Research/Creative Activity Fellowship.

The professors, their student assistants and projects are:

• Sabina Amanbayeva, associate professor of English; Nathan Do (sophomore English major). Amanbayeva’s research titled “Transcultural Influences in Soviet and Russian Animation” aims to demonstrate the richness of crosscultural links between Russian and Western animators.

• Tracy Floreani, professor of English; Cameron Austin Brown (senior acting major). Floreani’s research agenda centers on two books, 1) a biography of Fanny McConnell Ellison, the wife of novelist and public intellectual Ralph Ellison (winner of the 1953 National Book Award for “Invisible Man”), and 2) an edited collection for the Modern Language Association’s long-running and influential Approaches to Teaching literary pedagogy series.

• Jacob Johnson, associate professor of musicology; Caroline Morath (senior music theater major). Johnson’s research is tentatively titled “Beverly Hills Housewife: Betty Freeman, the Music Room, and a Story of New Music in Los Angeles.” This digital gallery examines a series of musicales hosted from 1980 to 1994 by one of the most important music patrons and art collectors of the 20th century.

• Lance Marsh, professor of theatre; Kristen Chua (senior acting major), Emmett Reese (senior acting major), Mackenzie Shaw (senior acting major) and Lauren Smith (senior acting major). Marsh’s current and ongoing research project explores the intersection of classical theatre in performance with modern spaces, as well as modern actor and audience sensibilities.

• Yi Shao, professor of psychology; Rae Hundley (junior psychology major), and Abigail Willis (junior psychology major). Shao’s research focuses on memory under the influence of metacognitive, cognitive and social factors.

The fellowship was established to identify, recognize, reward and support faculty research and creative projects. Thanks to the generosity of donors, OCU is able to advance the important work these recipients produce.

“One of my objectives since arriving at OCU has been to find more ways to facilitate faculty members’ scholarship in their respective areas of study, then share that expertise with the rest of campus,” Evans said. “This fellowship program is one tool in helping to accomplish that goal.”

Recipients are selected based on their demonstrated potential for outstanding scholarly research or creative activity in their field, and their intentional engagement of OCU students in meaningful roles in their scholarly or creative projects.

The fellowship provides cash stipends for faculty members and students, as well as funding for professional development, travel or other expenses related to their projects.

Photo by Ian Weston

President Kenneth Evans greeting faculty after his investiture

Lightning in a bottle

BY ROD JONES

Talk about instant success. Theatre alumna Laura Kariuki landed a big role in a major series before the president’s signature was dry on her college diploma.

Kariuki started auditioning for what would become her first professional role in late October of 2020, just a few months after graduation, as J.J. Stewart in the “electrical superhero” CW series “Black Lightning.” Although that series was winding down toward its finale, she started concurrently working on an even bigger role, as Kim Williams in the hit ABC reboot of “The Wonder Years.” Luckily, both productions were filming in Atlanta, which has quickly become the next Hollywood for film studios.

“That was the busiest time of my life,” she recalled. “I would be in my ‘Black Lightning’ character, then had to completely transform into my ‘Wonder Years’ character on the same day.”

Yet it was a role she was not going to let pass her by. Kariuki remembers reading the “Wonder Years” script for the first time right around January 2021.

“I was reading it and thinking, ‘I’ve got to get onto this.’ I loved the characters. They were so smart and complex, very well-written. And it hits on so many important social issues,” she said.

She auditioned and went through two rounds of callbacks in late winter. A couple weeks later, she got the news she dreamed of hearing.

“Happy tears. That’s all I can say,” she said.

Kariuki is a born entertainer. She was born in Iowa then moved to Lenexa, Kansas, near Kansas City, when she was about 8 years old.

“When I was younger, I loved putting on little plays for my parents. There are tons of videos out there of me doing my silly shows,” she said.

Kariuki started taking classes at a community theater in about the third grade, then performed in her first show in the fourth grade — the junior version of “Once on this Island.” She did the junior version of “Into the Woods” the following year.

She sang in choir through high school, but gravitated more into acting over her high school years. She counts Patina Miller as one of her inspirations, especially for her work on “Pippin” the musical.

“I wanted to be a doctor for the longest time. Right around my sophomore or junior year I said ‘Wait, I think I can do this for a career and not just a hobby,’” she said.

She chose Oklahoma City University over a few other colleges. Her first time to the city was for Stars 101 right before freshman year began. She spent her first semester doing Out of the Box productions, and in the second semester was cast in the chorus for “House of Atreus.”

She started out being more into musical theater, then shifted her interest into theatre acting as her college days progressed.

Kristen Cerelli was her favorite professor, and head of performance Lance Marsh taught some of her favorite classes - Chekhov and Shakespeare. Marsh took a group of OCU students, including Kariuki, to China in 2019 as the only school from the U.S. to participate in the International Theatre Festival.

"I remember when Laura walked out of her first mainstage audition, guest director Leslie Swackhamer and I turned to each other and said, ‘She's going to be a star’ at exactly the same time," Marsh said.

Just before finishing her senior year, COVID hit.

“I remember that last day of school before lockdown and we knew what was going to happen. It was right before spring break,” Kariuki said. “We were in rehearsals for ‘Trojan Women.’ We were so bummed we couldn’t come back and do the show.”

Marsh has similar sentiments.

"One of my greatest regrets about the onset of COVID and the cancelation of our production was that no audiences would get to see the raw, emotional and brilliant work that Laura was doing in the play," he said.

But there would come a silver lining. Kariuki auditioned and was accepted for both the New York and Los Angeles annual showcases. Instead of taking the in-person trips, the actors recorded and uploaded their audition tapes to a website for agents to review. The online platform meant more reviewers could see their work.

“That’s how I got my current agent. He started sending me to auditions in late summer and I was booked on ‘Black Lightning’ in November,” she said.

Kariuki worked as a teacher at the Oklahoma Children’s Theater throughout college, including that summer before her big move into show business. She and some friends had been looking for an apartment to share in New York City. A couple weeks after their search commenced, she learned of her booking on “Black Lightning.” It was on to Atlanta instead.

Kariuki recalls fond memories of her time at OCU, along with the lessons she learned that helped her carve a path to a successful career right out of graduation.

“So glad I went to OCU. I had an amazing experience,” she said. “It’s where I met my best friends and learned so, so much.”

Favorite musical : “Spring Awakening”

Favorite OKC restaurants : Rev, The Loaded Bowl, Goro, Okie Poke, Red Cup Two days after wrapping on filming "The Wonder Years" pilot, went to act in the Netflix original film, "Along for the Ride"

The Oklahoma City University School of Theatre is hitting the century mark this year. To celebrate, the school is hosting a variety of special events with a program titled “100 Days of Plays and Players” throughout the season, including the induction of six more members to the OCU Theatre Hall of Honor. The celebration will include special events, productions and guest artist visits.

“To celebrate this milestone, we will be celebrating all of our extensive production work with at least 100 separate performances while also trumpeting the successes of our talented alumni,” said D. Lance Marsh, the School of Theatre’s head of performance.

The Department of Dramatics and Speech was established when the university, then called Oklahoma City College, was located at NE 12th Street and Walnut Avenue near downtown. It moved to the current campus along with everyone else the next year, when the entire campus was housed inside what is now the administration building. Celebrity pilot Charles Lindbergh turned the first shovel of dirt at the groundbreaking of its next and current home, the Fine Arts College, in 1927.

There were 15 college players in the inaugural class. Wayne Campbell, who had a stellar reputation in the state as an orator and entertainer, was brought in to get things started and remained with the school until retiring in 1952, becoming professor emeritus in the process. He had several years of “stage experience as well as years on the lyceum and Chautauqua platform,” according to his bio entry in the 1936 Scarab yearbook. His official title was instructor in public speaking and dramatic art.

One of his students was Cathy O’Donnell, who went on to star in major motion pictures including “The Best Years of Our Lives.”

Laura Kariuki, second from right, poses for a promotional photo with her fictional family from ABC's "The Wonder Years." (ABC/Matt Sayles)

Laura Kariuki Fast Facts

STAR Alumni STAR Businesses

BY ROD JONES

The three alumni featured here kick off a new Focus series highlighting Oklahoma City University alumni who own businesses. See more in the OCU Alumni-Owned Business Directory at okcu.edu/alumnibusiness .

A slice of sweet success

The Bama Companies story reads like a version of the American Dream realized.

Soon before the Great Depression, a mother of a growing family in Dallas became the family’s primary breadwinner by knowing how to do a particular thing really, really well – bake delicious pecan pies, and lots of them. The father had a complementary skill when it came time to expand – selling things door to door.

This humble home-based family business would evolve, grow and inspire spin-offs to become a major food supplier to some of the largest restaurant chains around the world: McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, KFC and more.

That couple was the current Bama CEO’s grandparents. Paula Marshall (BS ’83, HD Commercial Science ’93) shared her company’s origin story during a “Lessons in Leadership” talk at a first-year student orientation activity.

The story begins in the 1920s, when Cornelia “Bama” Marshall awoke earlier and earlier each morning to bake an ever-growing quantity of pies before working her shift at the soda fountain in a Woolworth’s department store.

“She knew how to bake,” Paula said. “And her desserts ‘went viral.’ People started coming up to Woolworth’s, lining up around the store to buy her pies.”

by Ian Weston

OCU is a

Bama’s product became so popular they decided to expand their operations beyond the store. Cornelia's husband, Henry, who previously sold sewing machines door to door, took the pies on the road. His sales route kept growing further and further outside of Dallas.

Bama’s son and Paula’s father, Paul, would become a delivery driver for the company. He later headed to Tulsa to start a spinoff company, Bama Pies, under a different business model. Paul’s company specialized in selling pre-baked frozen pies to stores and restaurants.

In the mid-1960s they became a major supplier of fried fruit pies for the largest quick-serve restaurant chain in the world, McDonald’s. That single contract represented around 90% of Bama’s total sales at the time. They’ve since added Pizza Hut, Nabisco and other major players to their portfolio, while adding biscuits, buns, pie shells and pizza dough to the product line. Bama Companies is now considered one of the largest producers of flourbased products on the planet.

With an eye toward the company’s future, Paula knew she would need a business degree if she hoped to keep the company in the family. Her father’s health was deteriorating, and the prospect of retirement became more eminent.

“I knew when my parents decided to retire, this was what I wanted to do,” she said. “And then dad’s illness moved that decision along.”

She chose Oklahoma City University for its quality business programs and its willingness to personalize her path to a degree. Her professors were willing to help her beyond class time.

Not long after graduation, her father had a heart attack. The succession plan was accelerated, and Paula was named CEO in 1984.

“I moved into his office, changed the décor. I remember thinking ‘this feels weird.’ But I felt like I knew what the requirements were in running the business, and instinct took over,” she said.

Paula was only 27 years old at the time, but she did have five years of experience working next to her father.

While running the company, Paula worked toward a doctorate degree from OCU. She used the company for her doctorate thesis case study.

“A lot of my professors, I could call and talk to them about some problems we needed to work through. I wasn’t just learning a bunch of theory. Most of them have real-world experience,” she said.

Paula eventually took the company international. They’ve had operations in China and a branch in Poland. Although the facilities in Tulsa have changed over the years, Bama Co.’s headquarters are at their original location on Route 66 east of downtown.

The company is known for its humanistic culture, a sentiment Marshall shared during her presentation at OCU. She explained her company’s motto, “people helping people be successful.”

“People aren’t the cause of the problem – the system is to blame. We focus on the process first, not blame the people,” she said. “I want them (team members) to find joy in the work they do.

“Happiness is directly attributed to productivity. People appreciate when they feel like their opinions are heard. Our team members won’t leave if we listen to them.”

A fourth generation has since joined the Bama ranks. Jacob Chapman, Paula’s son, is working to finish his business degree at OCU while serving as Bama’s director of business development.

He grew up around the facilities, as a young boy playing with toy Bama delivery trucks in the office while his mother worked. Now, while working on his OCU degree, he has worked his way through several positions at the company, learning as many sides to the company as he can.

“Our family has a lot of history in Tulsa. It’s so cool to be a part of that,” he said. “When I read about Bama in history books of Tulsa, to be a part of a city’s history and to carry that on is very enticing to me. It’s motivating.”

Bama Companies was one of two businesses in the state to make the Women Presidents Organization’s list of the 50 fastest-growing women-owned businesses.

wonderful school.

It’s a big part of my story.”

PAULA MARSHALL, CEO OF BAMA COMPANIES

Brewing success

After a few twists and turns, Daniel Mercer (BSB Economics ’01) ended up in a strange place – owner of one of the largest craft breweries in the state, COOP Ale Works in Oklahoma City.

One major life story plot twist came in the middle of his college term. Originally on the path to a degree in criminal justice, Mercer changed his major to economics after enjoying an intro class taught by recently retired professor Jonathan Willner.

“They looked at me like I was crazy,” he said, referring to the guidance counselors when he told them of his new plan. “I was more than halfway done, and had no base business classes in the first two and half years. I had a lot of catching up to do in a year and half.”

Catch up he did, taking two extra courses per semester (plus summers) at other schools while concurrently enrolled at OCU.

Mercer also worked three jobs through his college career before graduating, on time, with 154 credit hours in 2001. One of the reasons he chose OCU was for its scholarship offerings.

“I did not come from a family with financial means to send me to college, so it was clear early on that if I was going to college, I’d have to find a way to pay for it,” he said.

Thanks to high ACT scores and a generous Petree scholarship reserved for Canadian County residents, Mercer was able to package enough financial aid to finish college without paying more than $2,000 out of pocket.

"I’m really grateful that benefactors like Margaret Petree and Herman Meinders set a foundation of philanthropy to allow students without other means to attend college,” he said.

After graduating from OCU, he joined a startup community development venture capital firm. In 2005, he was recruited to join the technology commercialization consulting firm i2E, where he was a director of enterprise services, helping startups raise capital and grow their businesses.

In 2006, Mercer and two acquaintances planted the seed for a craft brewery the way many others begin. They brewed batches of beer in their garages, perfected their technique along the way, all while dreaming up a way to make it their living. It all started with iterations of Gran Sport Porter, DNR Belgian Strong Ale and Native Amber Red IPA.

The next twist came when Mercer joined the U.S. Air Force to pursue a lifelong dream of military flying. He wrote the COOP business plan while at flight school in Colorado.

After leaving the Air Force in 2010, he decided to return to Oklahoma, where he put his degree and background in venture capital to work with the finance team at Chesapeake Energy’s midstream gas business. COOP was growing rapidly before it hit its stride in 2012, so Mercer decided to then make it his full-time job.

“We didn’t want a ‘hobby business.’ We wanted something sustainable, and it required a higher level of attention to grow and manage the business,” he said.

Between 2013 and 2017, COOP “spooled up” its operations, moving from a seven-barrel operation in the Western Avenue entertainment district into a 30-barrel operation in an industrial area southwest of the city, and distributing their beers to neighboring states.

“We let the bow settle into the water a little bit” over the next

couple years, Mercer said.

That is, before the hard seltzer revolution arrived. Hoping to capitalize on a growing trend, COOP created a hard seltzer product line called Will & Wiley, named for two famous Oklahomans. The timing was perfect, with the COVID-19 pandemic forcing consumers to favor staying in rather than going out.

“People started ‘pantry loading’ packaged goods. It turned out to be the perfect launch pad,” Mercer noted.

In late 2020, the brewers wanted to expand the Will & Wiley flavor offerings for early 2021 and began discussing unique slush flavors like ocean water and lemon berry from another famous Oklahoma name: Sonic. Later embarking on a partnership with the iconic brand, COOP launched Sonic Hard Seltzer in May 2021. The new product line proved popular. Currently in 40 states, Mercer anticipates the Sonic Hard Seltzer will be in up to 48 states within the next nine months.

The next chapter in COOP’s history is one of the most eagerly anticipated developments in the city. The team has nearly cleared all regulatory hurdles toward converting the former 23rd Street Armory and its surroundings into a mixed-use facility. The new location near the state capitol will allow the brewery to expand once again. The 60-barrel brewhouse will occupy the former drill hall, and the perimeter is set to house offices and storage on the first floor while a restaurant, taproom, beer garden, pool club and 30-room boutique hotel will occupy the upper two floors overlooking the brewing operations and surrounding property.

“The timing couldn’t have been better. We were growing fast and needed more space but wanted to eventually move back to the heart of the city we know and love,” he said. “The 23rd Street Armory fit the bill perfectly.”

I’m really grateful that benefactors like Margaret Petree and Herman Meinders set a foundation of philanthropy to allow students without other means to attend college.”

DANIEL MERCER, COOP ALE WORKS

One dance step at a time

She has the voice of a natural teacher, with notes of kindness, patience and a genuine fondness for people. With those tendencies and a focused education from Oklahoma City University, Ira McCurry (BS American Dance Pedagogy ’17) has combined two of her favorite things and made it her career – teaching and dancing.

Originally from the Kansas City, Kansas, area, McCurry is now owner and operator of the Sunflower Dance Academy in Moore, Oklahoma. She recently decided to leave her full-time preschool teaching job to focus 100% on running the studio full-time.

McCurry shared the story about how her lifelong passion to dance began at 3 years old.

“There was a dance studio next to a Walmart where me and my mom would shop. One Saturday morning, I stopped at the window to watch a class. After that, every time we ran errands I always stopped to watch, so my mom decided to sign me up,” she said.

Later, in middle school, McCurry thought she would become a kindergarten teacher. Once high school came around and she started exploring colleges, that dream took a turn into teaching dance instead. Her mother discovered OCU and convinced her to take a closer look.

“I was hesitant at first because it was so far away from home,” McMurry said.

“When I started looking into it, I saw the Christmas show (Home for the Holidays) was coming up. We got tickets and went down to see it. I was pretty much hooked from there. This was the place I needed to be.”

Since graduating, McMurry has held various dance instructor roles, including dance director for the Oklahoma City Public Schools system.

She’s had the Sunflower Dance Academy, which she named for her home state’s official flower, since 2020. She was already teaching at the studio part time when the owner decided to retire and offered to sell it to McMurry. Once again, her mom proved to be a guiding light.

“She said, ‘You know you want to open your own studio. What’s the point of waiting when you have this opportunity right now,’” McMurry recalled.

Sunflower teaches classes to students as young as 2 years old and up through adulthood. They teach several different styles, including ballet, contemporary, hip hop, jazz and tap, and they prepare students for competitions. McMurry herself likes

to teach jazz the most for its upbeat mix, creative dance moves and endless combo possibilities.

“Kids seem to enjoy it more since the class flows pretty quickly. They love having the freedom to express themselves. It also was my favorite style growing up and while at OCU,” she said.

It was a difficult time to take over a studio, with the pandemic requiring new ways of operations. But McMurry took it in stride.

“While I was working there in March the studio went on spring break, right as everything was starting to shut down because of COVID,” she said. “We thought it would stay closed for a few weeks. We weren’t able to open back up until May.

“Things started to get better, so I wasn’t too worried about taking it over. Summer classes started in June and everyone seemed to be comfortable attending in person. We kept the dancers spaced out during classes and sanitized the facility every night. Everyone returned for fall classes, and we even had new students enroll, so I took that as a sign that parents were still comfortable bringing their kids to dance. We did have to initiate a mandatory mask-wearing rule about one month into fall classes due to the rise in numbers in our area. My biggest fear was having to shut down the studio due to COVID spreading, but we remained lucky and never had to close.”

The academy couldn’t put on major shows as normal that year, so they did some showcases in the studio instead. She said it was difficult to find a venue for the following spring recital. Once they did, they scheduled two shows instead of one so they would have enough seats to accommodate social distancing.

Her life patterns have changed slightly since taking on the studio full time. She’ll get up a little later in the morning now, walk her dog Laila and revive with a cup of coffee. Then it’s lesson planning time for classes. During competition season she’ll select music and costumes, and focus on drafting routines. Later in the day she’ll head to the studio and teach until about 9 p.m., then either watch Netflix or get a jump on planning out the rest of the week.

“I can’t have too much free time or it drives me crazy,” she said.

Despite her young age, she has an air of confidence as a business owner.

“With my dance degree, I learned how to teach others and how to structure classes,” she said. “We also took business classes and a dance studio management class, where we learned how to open and operate a dance studio. It made it easier for me to start my own business because I had already done a whole business plan before graduating. I used my school project and made a few edits to fit my dynamic.

“I wouldn’t have been comfortable starting my own studio without learning what I learned at OCU.”

Photo by Ian Weston

I wouldn’t have been comfortable starting my own studio without learning what I learned at OCU.

IRA MCCURRY, SUNFLOWER DANCE ACADEMY

by Ian Weston

It’s an incredible rush to realize a unique solution to a difficult problem.”

JACOB DEARMON

“

Driving the Data

BY DESTRY HOLZSCHUH

FOR OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY business professor Jacob Dearmon, data analytics is all about identifying problems that are difficult to solve and coming up with a data-driven solution.

Sometimes, you might not think data analytics could play a role in solving the problem. Take, for instance, the issue of homelessness.

Though the project is still in its early stages, Dearmon is working with the Legal Aid Society of Oklahoma using data analytics to contribute to the mission of reducing homelessness. He uses a script written by an executive in Tulsa enabling the retrieval of Oklahoma Supreme Court Network docket data to track eviction case counts and rates for Oklahoma County – the idea being that if the city can reduce evictions, it can reduce homelessness. He is working toward a deeper dive into the link between eviction cases, legal representation and homelessness.

“It’s an incredible rush to realize a unique solution to a difficult problem,” Dearmon said. “It’s a rare blend of creativity and rigor that makes it so satisfying.”

Homelessness is just one of the issues Dearmon is using his data analytics skills to tackle.

His most recent academic work used close to 10 years’ worth of Oklahoma County Assessor’s Office databases to generate parcellevel estimates for individual homes and tools to construct concepts such as spatial spillover and spatial infill. His article on the topic, “A Hierarchical Approach to Scalable Gaussian Process Regression,” was published in the Journal of Spatial Econometrics.

Publishing this type of research wasn’t always in Dearmon’s plans.

He earned his undergraduate degree in chemical engineering, but soon realized that wasn’t what he wanted to do for the long haul, he said. He knew he wanted to use his mathematical background and experience in some way, and he was becoming more and more interested in the sociology of how people interact. He found economics to be a comfortable blend of those two things and decided to go back to school to get his Ph.D. in economics from the University of Oklahoma. From there he shifted his research into machine learning and applying that to real-world, complex situations.

Now, in addition to teaching economics in the Meinders School of Business, Dearmon serves as the director of the school’s Ronnie K. Irani Center for Data Analytics. He’s quick to credit the center’s namesake, OCU alumnus Ronnie Irani, and the school’s namesake, Herman Meinders, for enabling the university to hit its stride in data analytics. Meanwhile, Dearmon’s work reaches outside of academia, as well. He started his own analytics consulting company, Dearmon Analytics LLC, in 2015.

“Linear regression models are the quintessential hammer in the toolbox of a data scientist,” Dearmon said. “However, we often

encounter real-world situations where we need different types of tools, like a power drill – machine-learning algorithms are those types of tools.”

So what is data analytics? Dearmon describes what he does as looking at a set of attributes and trying to relate them to specific outcomes. Data is often used to visualize relationships and trends, and then to estimate relationships. He gives the example of housing attributes and subsequent costs. Each house has its own set of attributes: square footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, how old the house is, etc., and each of those attributes contributes to the total price of the house.

The application of data and analytics that businesses are typically the most interested in is forecasting, which is generating predictions about the future based on the historical data. When forecasting data, it’s assumed that the historical process is similar to the future one, but things like pandemics, technological advances and policy change can make the future look very different from the past, Dearmon said. He applies this knowledge and insight in forecasting work for clients like the cities of Dallas, Fort Worth and Oklahoma City. In the banking sector, he has helped with stress-testing exercises at MidFirst since 2017.

“The holy grail of business analytics is to provide recommendations and really get at what the business should do,” Dearmon said. “There are a lot of opportunities to support organizations in driving their mission in a data-driven way.”

Dearmon brings his data analytics expertise across industries and companies to his role as a teacher and faculty advisor. In the past two years, he has been the faculty advisor for two different undergraduate teams that compete in the national analytics competition BAC@MC in New York City. Both teams placed first in the competition, beating out more than 30 teams from universities across the country, including Washington University in St. Louis, Johns Hopkins University and the University of Notre Dame.

“I’ve appreciated the opportunity to work with such great clients and students,” Dearmon said. “It’s never just about the data scientist, but the collaboration between data scientists and the domain experts.”

Dearmon notes that every person brings a unique and important perspective to every problem, and says the best results are often achieved by taking what people have learned through their own experiences and using that knowledge to solve the problem.

According to Dearmon, the future of analytics looks bright at OCU.

$3 million gift from alum Herman Meinders will launch multiple STEM-based degrees

BY NICK TROUGAKOS

THE NAMESAKE OF OKLAHOMA City University’s business school pledged a $3 million gift to the university to develop and launch a series of STEM-related degree programs, among several other initiatives.

The gift from OCU alumnus Herman Meinders was announced in August during a luncheon of the Advisory Board of the Meinders School of Business. The funds will be used by the business school to launch master’s degree programs in financial analytics, health care analytics and energy analytics, as well as undergraduate minors in data analytics and financial analytics.

“Once again Herman Meinders has shown his dedication to making Oklahoma City University the state’s preeminent institution for business education,” OCU President Kenneth Evans said. “This generous gift will allow OCU to deliver cutting-edge degree programs that can better prepare graduates for the ever-evolving business landscape.”

The gift is just the latest in Meinders’ long legacy of giving to OCU. The Meinders School of Business building was opened in 2004 thanks to an $18 million gift from Meinders, long recognized as an Oklahoma business icon and renowned philanthropist.

“I always encourage OCU students, alumni and supporters to work hard, do good, and set an example for those who come after,” Meinders said. “I hope this gift can create a new generation of OCU students who can follow this example and eventually show their support for our university.”

A portion of Meinders’ gift also will be used to help develop community and corporate partnerships, including advancement of business literacy for high school students and promotion of women in leadership.

Meinders School of Business Dean Sri Beldona said the gift will have the potential to elevate the business community in the state by helping develop a larger pool of talented job candidates.

“Preparing students to tackle the challenges of our advancing business world through cutting-edge STEM degree programs can only benefit businesses and corporations here in Oklahoma,” Beldona said. “This

initiative can make a significant impact on talent development and skills-gap issues among our local business community.

“I also am excited that this gift will enable and empower faculty who are producing high-quality research.”

The university aims to launch its new business degree programs in time for the fall 2023 semester.

Meinders School of Business Dean Sri Beldona, OCU alumnus Herman Meinders, and President Evans

Dr. John M. Davis Endowed Scholarship to help sciences majors

BY ROD JONES

OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY received a $1 million gift in the summer of 2022 from an alumnus to fund scholarships for liberal arts majors.

John M. Davis, a psychologist and psychology professor at Texas State University, provided the $1 million gift to OCU to create the scholarship endowment. The scholarship will benefit students in the Petree College of Arts & Sciences majoring in psychology, biology, modern languages, chemistry, physics or religion. First-generation college students and students demonstrating financial need are prioritized for scholarship awards.

“This incredible gift will help generations of students who are intent on making positive impacts on our society,” OCU President Kenneth Evans said. “Dr. Davis, a lifelong learner himself, recognizes the importance of higher education, particularly in the arts and sciences. This gift is a testament to his love of seeking knowledge and his compassion to encourage others to do the same.”

Davis grew up on a farm in Oklahoma and attended public school in the small town of Yale. He received scholarships to OCU in 1962 as a freshman majoring in physics. As a sophomore he changed his major to biology, and as a junior, to psychology. Working full-time at the OCU School of Law library, he graduated in 1966 with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology. He remained at OCU to complete a Master of Arts in teaching in 1967 while also studying German.

“Although I always loved learning, the wonderful faculty members and students at OCU greatly expanded my universe of interests, knowledge and aspirations,” Davis said. “I still reflect with fondness and gratitude on the impact that individual faculty members and students have had on my life. Without those influences I would likely not have pursued a Ph. D. in psychology nor experienced Germany as my second home.”

After earning his master’s degree, Davis moved to Germany in the fall of 1967 and accepted a faculty position teaching psychology at Schiller International University. While still at Schiller, he enrolled for one semester at the University of Heidelberg for further study of German language and literature. In 1968 he moved to Nuremberg and enrolled at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg to continue his study of German language and literature as well as psychology and mathematics.

Returning to the U.S., Davis enrolled in the psychology doctoral program at the University of Oklahoma in the fall of 1970, graduating in 1974 with a Ph.D. in experimental psychology. Davis then accepted a tenure track position at Southwest Texas

State University (now Texas State University). Teaching a variety of courses and directing a productive research laboratory on interpersonal and inter-group relations, he advanced rapidly and achieved the rank of full professor in 1983. During his long career at Texas State, he has held several leadership positions in psychology, including secretary-general of the International Council of Psychologists, president of the Southwestern Psychological Association and president of Psi Chi, the international honor society in psychology. He was elected a fellow of the American Psychological Association and has received many other honors.

“Dr. Davis and his wife, Carol, believe that higher education should be accessible to deserving students regardless of their financial means,” said Amy Cataldi, dean of the Petree College of Arts & Sciences, professor of psychology and a first-generation college graduate. “I’m excited to award this scholarship to motivated students across this wide array of disciplines.”

John M. Davis and Amy Cataldi

Honor Roll of Donors

OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY IS STRONGER BECAUSE OF YOUR SUPPORT! Whether you give to the OCU Fund, endow scholarships or mentor a student, our strength is in community—thank you! The Honor Roll of Donors recognizes those who made cash gifts of $1,000 or more between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022. These donors’ generosity allows students to immerse themselves in the OCU experience and helps to provide the resources and tools students need to reach their full potential. Please join us in honoring our alumni and friends for their significant contributions to our great university.

Our staff has worked carefully to ensure this list of donors is as accurate as possible. If you know of an error or omission or have questions regarding this information, please call the OCU Office of University Advancement at (405) 208-7000.

KEY:  s Member in memoriam  Current OCU trustee or chairman emeritus « Current or former OCU employee

Founders

CUMULATIVE GIFTS OF $1 MILLION OR MORE

Founders are an exceptional group of donors who have earned a place of distinction through their commitment to Oklahoma City University and their remarkable generosity, which continues to advance the university’s mission. Each has made cumulative gifts of $1 million or more.

Ann Simmons Alspaugh s

Wanda L. Bass s

Martha Burger «

Annual Giving

Annual support provides a vital source of institutional momentum, allowing OCU to enhance learning opportunities, provide financial assistance to students, meet emerging needs, and take advantage of new opportunities. The university is pleased to be able to recognize those who have shown exemplary support through their gifts between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022.

Phil  and Cathy Busey

Chesapeake Energy Communities Foundation of Oklahoma

John and Carol Davis

Devon Energy

E.L. and Thelma Gaylord Foundation

Estate of Jeroldine Zachritz Clark

Estate of Jimmie Heatley Close

Estate of Marvin and Ena Dawson

Estate of Mary Clary Sargent

Estate of Thomas E. Barnett

Estate of Vivian Wimberly

Jose Freede s

Gerald Gamble  and Jane Jayroe Gamble 

Harris Foundation, Inc.

Jeanne Hoffman Smith s

Inasmuch Foundation

Ronnie and Shahnaaz Irani

Clara E. Jones s

19th Hole Crew, LLC

4-M Family Foundation

Jim « and Annetta Abbott

Rob and Autumn Abernathy

William and Leslie Ackerman

Brian Adams

Frank and Kit Addleman

David and Kathie Aelvoet

Kalani and Alexandra Ah Loy

American Fidelity Assurance Co.

American Fidelity Foundation

Robert and Nancy Anthony

LuAnn Atkins

Jon and Janie Axton

Richard « and Dana Ayers

Angela E. Bachman

Troy and Marlene Bailey

Lou C. Kerr /The Kerr Foundation, Inc.

Kerr-McGee Corporation, Inc.

Ann Lacy 

Cathy  and Kurt s Leichter

Larry and Susan Lemon

Martha J. Lemon

Wert and Lynette Lemon Wert

Tan Sri Dr Lim Wee Chai

Tom and Judy  Love

Paul  and Jonalee McLaughlin

Charles E. Mehr s

Herman and LaDonna Meinders

Marjorie J. Norick s

Ronald  and Margaret Norick

Norick Investments

Oklahoma City Community Foundation

Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church

Oklahoma Gas & Electric Co.

Foundation

Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education

Oklahoma United Methodist Foundation

F.M. Petree s

Margaret E. Petree s

Ray and Patricia Potts

Robert & Ruby Priddy Charitable Trust

Robert Glenn Rapp Foundation

Sarkeys Foundation

Bill  and Pam Shdeed

Dick Sias s

The Chickasaw Nation

The J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation, Inc.

The Meinders Foundation

The Robert A. Parman Foundation

The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation

The Sumners Foundation

Brian and Julia Bakeman

Ballard Miller Foundation

BancFirst

Terry Baransy

Ron and Debbie Barnes

Phillip and Aline Barrett

Stan Basler «

Boyd Bass

Jerry Bass «

Louise L. Bass 

Carter and Cara Baumert

Because We Care Philanthropy Inc.

Beck Design

Paula and Don Beck

Jim Beers

Behenna Law PLLC

Scott and Vicki « Behenna

Mark « and Teena Belcik

Brent Benn

Andrew  and Deborah Benton

Kevin Berry

Joe and Kathy Biscone

Bison Short Stop

Steven « and Diana Bittle

Denial Blankenship

Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Oklahoma

Lee Bocock

Ann L. Bohanon

Sharon Boismier

Jim and Joann Booher

Breckenridge Group Architects/ Planners

Klindt Breckenridge

Mark L. Britton «

Michelle Brobston

Patty Brown

Tom Brown «

Bob and Karen Browne

Stephen Bryan

Doug and Rhonda Buckles

Barbara Bunce

Martha Burger «

Bob and Chimene Burke

Philip and Heather Busey

Phil  and Cathy Busey

Bybee Foundation

Carol Byrd

Cadence Equipment, LLC

Cameron University

Steven and Dawn Camp

Rod and Peggy Campbell

John Carey s

Joe and Kristin Carson

John Cary

Joe and Judith Case

Reinaldo Castillo

Rosemary Cato

Chalk Luxury Sports Bar

Challenge Funds

Benjamin « and Eno Chang

Charles and Nikki Singer Foundation

Christina Chicoraske « and Timothy Chicoraske

City of Oklahoma City

Clements Foods Foundation

Ed and Matilda Clements

Communities Foundation of Oklahoma

Conklin Family Foundation

Thomas Conklin

Traci Cook

Barbara Cooper

Bill and Mary Ann Corum

Joe and Valerie « Couch

Cox Communications

Denney s and Susan L. Crabaugh

Brian Craven

Gina Crawford «

Von Creel «

John and Cindy Crittenden

Crossroads District, Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church

Brad and Patricia Curtis

Cytovance Biologics

Paula J. Dalley «

Jim and Mickey Daniels

Mark and Jackie Darrah

Elizabeth Davis

John and Carol Davis

Kyle Dean «

Michael Decker

Ben Jackson and M. Keywood Deese

Karen R. Delaney

Delaware Resource Group of Oklahoma, LLC

Patricia R. Demps

Kenneth and Tiffany Dennis

Devon Energy

DeWitt, Paruolo & Meek, PLLC

Dexter Johnson Educational and Benevolent Trust

Robert Doenges

Robert Dorman «

DRH Health Foundation

Duncan Regional Hospital, Inc.

Evebell Dunham

Dunlap Codding, P.C.

James and Judith Dzur

Emmanuel  and Irene Edem

Edmond Music, Inc.

Drew and Linda Edmondson

Edmonson & Associates Consulting, LLC

Nikki Edwards

Carl and Susan Edwards

El Dorado Corporation

Robert and Nancy Ellis

Matthew and Jill Epperson

John and Jennifer Espinosa

Estate of Cheryl K. Burnet

Estate of Edna Mae Hughes

Estate of Norbert E.F. Gordon

Estate of Thomas E. Barnett

Kenneth Evans «

Lance and Marissa Evans

Clay and Jamie Farha

Farzaneh Family Foundation

Scott Ferguson

Christopher and Jacqueline  Fiegel

First National Bank of Oklahoma

Melinda Fitzgerald

Paul and Deborah  Fleming

Tim and Ellen Fleming

Charles and Carla Flournoy

Timothy Foley

Chad and Jessica Ford

Stan and Lisa Fore

Frank S. and Julia M. Ladner Family Foundation, Inc.

Toni D. Frioux, DNP, APRN-CNP, FNP-C «

John and Lorraine Frost

Fuller Tubb Bickford Warmington & Panach

Gerald Gamble  and Jane Jayroe Gamble 

Anne Garbarino

Garfield County Bar Association

Helen M. Gaudin «

General Board of Higher Education & Ministry of the United Methodist Church

George W. and Louise W. Brown

Memorial Trust

Gilbert and Alena Gibson

Ann Felton Gilliland

Andrew « and Lisa Gin

Sarah J. Glick, Esq.

Steven and Carol Goetzinger

Harry Goldman and Jettie Person

Vicki Gourley

Gary and Margaret Graham

Michael Graham

Keith Grant

Linda (Hawkins) and Nathan Grantham

Gary Gray

Great Plains Coca-Cola

Lydia Y. Green

Ron Griffin

Mo and Jacque Grotjohn

Gulfport Energy

Michelle Gunter «

Luke D. Hadsall «

Catherine Haikin

Julia Carrington Hall

Irene K. Ham

Michael and Debra Hampton

Homer and Treva Hancock

Theodore and Kaylee Hans

Peter and Shantel Harlin

Timothy and Courtney Harlin

Jane Harlow

Nick  and Susan Harroz

James and Jean Hartsuck

Kim and Suzette Hatfield

Robert and Sarah Haupt

Brian and Tamera Hays

Health Care Service Corporation

Healthcare Partners Investments, LLC

Heartland

Erik Heine «

John « and Melvena Heisch

Larry « and Gay Hellman

Shirley Hendrick

Jim and Sara Hill

Tasha Hinex «

Jeanne Hoffman Smith s

Claudia Holliman

Gary  and Sue Homsey

J.R.  and Patsy Homsey

Kevin and Miranda Hoos

Elizabeth Horton-Ware « and Eric Ware

Houston Financial

Matt Houston

Kevin and Patty Howard

Eric and Kami « Huddleston

John and Janet Hudson

David Brahm and Karen Hunold

W. Thomas and Ann Hunziker

Inasmuch Foundation

Charlotte Inlow

Ronnie and Shahnaaz Irani

Mike Jensen

Dennis Jeter

Johnson Hanan Vosler Hawthorne & Snider

Brent and Gay Jones

Maria Jones «

Joseph C. Biscone II, PC

Joseph H. Phillips, O.D., Inc.

Karly Judkins «

Bill  and Stacy Junk

Just Two Publishing LLC

Steven and Carrie Katigan

Frank and Cathy Keating

Chris Keesee

Kelli J. Stump, PLLC

Chris Kelly

Mark and Gayla Kelly

Shane Kempton

Lou C. Kerr /The Kerr Foundation, Inc.

Michael and Candace Kiehn

Brenda Kingery

Kirkpatrick Foundation, Inc.

Denver and Emily Kitch

Deborah Kitchens

Brad Klepper

Steve and Suzan Knight

Michael and Summer Krywucki

Bill Lance and Sherri Lance

Greg and Erin Larson

Dan and Phyllis Larson

Marsha E. Layne

Mary and Bill Layton

Art « and Betsy LeFrancois

Cathy Leichter 

John Lenochan

David Lim

Tan Sri Dr Lim Wee Chai

Jenee  and Darren Lister

Brandon and Joanna Long

Martin J. Lopez, Jr.

Greg and Lisa « Love

Dan Burdette and Janis Love

Tom and Judy  Love

Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores

LSB Industries

Aixin James Ma «

April Marciszewski « and Charles Martin

Robert and Martha Margo

Paula Marshall 

Martin J. Lopez, M.D., P.C.

Catherine Martin

Billy « and Alana Martin

Steve Mason

Bill Massad

Katherine R. Mazaheri

McAfee & Taft, PC

Glynn and Sandy McCauley

HONOR ROLL OF DONORS

Katie McClendon

Don and Virginia « McCombs

McDaniel Family Foundation

Linda Rosser McDaniel and Ron McDaniel

Tom « and Brenda McDaniel

Leroy Ball and Patricia McGarrity

Rick McKee

Rev Larry Foster Sr. and Rozia McKinney-Foster

Debbie McKinney

McLaughlin Family Charitable Fund

David and Jean McLaughlin

Paul  and Jonalee McLaughlin

Burrel and Jo Ann McNaught

Bud and Marilyn Meade

Justin and Becky Meek

Herman and LaDonna Meinders

Robert Meinders

John and Sherri Meyers

MGM Resorts

Micheal Salem, Professional Co.

Joel and Nikki Miliband

Karen L. Miller and John W. Ballard

George Milner

Robert and Charlotte Mitchell

Jo Beth Moad «

Eugene and Jean Morrison

Mosaic Personnel Solutions, LLC

Kyle and Ashley Murphy

Dana L. Murphy

Phillip and Debbie Murphy

Richard and Christina Murray

Jeaneen Naifeh

Kelli O’Hara Naughton

Dolores Neustadt

Larry and Polly Nichols

Norick Investments

Ronald  and Margaret Norick

Northwestern Mutual Financial Network-Oklahoma City

David Nowak

Oakdale Holdings, LLC

Perry L. Williams s and Amy Oden «

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.

Oklahoma Bar Foundation, Inc.

Oklahoma City Baseball Camp, LLC

Oklahoma City Community Foundation

Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church

Oklahoma County Bar Foundation

Oklahoma Gas & Electric

Oklahoma Gas & Electric Co. Foundation

Oklahoma Independent Colleges and Universities, Inc.

Oklahoma United Methodist Foundation

One Healthy Bod

ONEOK Foundation, Inc.

Todd Oravaitz

Vince « and Patti Orza

Darren and Ann Parker

Mark Parker «

Richard  and Gayle Parry

Melissa Pasha

Paycom Software Inc.

Angela Payne

Jim and Margaret Pefferman

Jerry and Charlette Perryman

James Peterson s

Phase 2 Development

Phillips 66

Phillips Murrah, PC

Joseph Phillips

David Pitzer

Pitzer’s Lawn Management, Inc.

Janie Porter

Michael and Bertha Potts

Ray and Patricia Potts

Steven Powell

Presbyterian Health Foundation

Ed Proctor and Nancy Dumoff

Prosperity Bank

Clint Purtell 

Tom Quinn and Tommy Thompson

Mark Raftery

Rainbolt Family Foundation

David and Kim Rainbolt

George  and Mary Ellen Randall

Steve and Julie Raney

RCB Bank

Records-Johnston Family Foundation, Inc.

George J. Records

Shannon L. Rich

Douglas and Kelli Riddle

Pat  and Marianne Rooney

Casey R. Ross «

Jim Roth « and Phillip Koszarek

Donald Rowlett

RSM US LLP

RT Development, LLC

Micheal Salem

Ralph and Sandra Sallusti

Lois « and John s Salmeron

Meg Salyer

Gary and Carol Sander

Paul and Kim Sanders

Shelley Sanders

Hiram and Robbie Sasser

Eddie and Rochelle Schafer

Karen E. Schiler «

James Schmidt

Janet Schmitz

Mary S. Schneeberger

Andrew Schroeder

Konya Schuh

Nick Schwarz «

Mark Sewell

Stanford and Carol Sewell

Don and Diane Shaver

Bill  and Pam Shdeed

Dick Sias s

Travis and Nicole Siegel

Scott Simmons

Nikki Singer «

Skyline Energy Solution

Heidi Slinkard

Slumgullion, LLC

Hal and Sandy Smith

Lee Allan Smith

Shelby and Adelaide Smith

Terry A. Sparks and Richard F. Hicks

Bob « and Pam Spinks

SSM Health

Richard and Kathleen St. Denis

Susanna M. Stefanek

Irwin and D. Kelley Steinhorn

Brandon Brooks and Lynann

Sterk-Brooks «

Doug Sterk

Brent and Debi Stockwell

Rebecca G. Stough-Clinton

Nancy M. Strecker

Adam Hall and Kelli Stump

Susan & Nick Harroz III Family Foundation Inc.

Sweet Law, PLC

Victoria K. Swinney «

Barry and Becky Switzer

Richard and Glenna Tanenbaum

Melvin Tanimoto

Marvona Easley Tavlin and Michael Tavlin

James Taylor

Telligen Community Initiative

Emily Tew

TG Medical USA, Inc.

The Ayco Charitable Foundation

The Bama Companies, Inc.

The Chickasaw Nation

The Kerr Foundation, Inc.

The Kurt Weill Foundation for Music

The Meinders Foundation

The Professional Basketball Club, LLC

The Robert A. Parman Foundation

The Sumners Foundation

David and Jessica Thionnet

Chuck Thompson

Tim S. Fleming Enterprises, Inc.

Michael To and Kim Tran

James and Elizabeth Tolbert

Linda Tucker

Daniel and Peggy Tyree

Jeff and Valerie Underwood

United Protective Services

Marilyn Van Keppel

Van Wey Presby & Williams, PLLC

Kay Van Wey and Stephanie Sammons

Jerry  and Melinda Vannatta

John and Susan Vas

John D.  and Ginger L. Veal

Wal-Dot Foundation

Wal-Mart

Virginia K. Walker

Joseph and Cynthia Walkowski

Wanda L. Bass Foundation, Inc.

Richard Wansley and Meredith Davison

Warhawk Legal

J. C. and Frankie Watts

Jerome Westheimer

Carroll Wheeler

Kenny Wheeler

Ashlie « and Larry Wilhelm

John Michael and Kathy  Williams

John Williford

Paul Woody

Debra Worley s

Hub Worrell

John Wright

Zinda Law Group

Zack « and Brigette Zuhdi

The Gold Star Society recognizes donors who provide support for OCU through deferred or estate gifts. Such legacy gifts can touch OCU in a variety of ways. Some donors choose to have their gift applied wherever the need is greatest, while others support endowed scholarships, professorships, or chairs. Others direct their support toward a program or project that inspires them.

Victor and Karen Kay Albert

Betty Alden

Judy Altshuler

Frank Atwater

Terry Baransy

Susan Barber « and David Nagle

Tom Beadles

Terry and Pamela Bergdall

Stephen Bird

Kay Bradley

Robert Bryan

Martha Burger «

Bob and Chimene Burke

M.K. Butler

Carl Cartwright

Danny and Carol Cochran

Christine Collins

George Craig «

Allen Sheldon and Lisa Crone-Sheldon

Joe and Sherry Crosthwait

Mark and Jackie Darrah

Michael Decker

Catherine Dougherty

Patricia J. Downing

Terry Drake

Larry Eberhardt «

Phyllis Edson

Orville Edwards

Ronald and Pat Eitzen

Donald « and Suzanne Emler

Sharon G. Fore

Robert D. Fry

Nick and Sue Gales

Larry and Jeannette Haag

Attieson and Sharon Halbrook

Homer and Treva Hancock

Richard Hastings

Patricia Hatamyar «

Robert Henry « and Jan Ralls Henry

Alan and Elisha Herndon

James and Joan Hirnisey

Gary  and Sue Homsey

Megan Hornbeek Allen « and Jeremy Allen

William and Karen Howard

Ron Jacob

Dixie Jensen

Fred and Patricia Johnson

Nancy Kenderdine «

Jeffery Key

Jim and Mary Kutch

Ann Lacy 

Eric Laity «

Timothy Larason

Marilyn J. Laughbaum

Janet Leadbetter

Ruth G. Leebron

Cathy Leichter 

Dan Burdette and Janis Love

Andrea L. MacMullin

Donald and Barbara MacPherson

Daniel Majors

Samuel and Sally Marrs

John and Kathryn McInnis

Burrel and Jo Ann McNaught

Doloris A. McVay

Herman and LaDonna Meinders

Patrick K. Miles

Mary A. Millard

Maudie Miller and Mike Hicks

Glen and Yvonne Miller

Margaret L. Moedt

Paul Moore

Jim and Debbie « Musick

Sharon K. O’Roke

Mark Parker «

Brenda Penwell

Ray and Patricia Potts

Scott Preston and Sheryl Herner

Nancy Pryst

George  and Mary Ellen Randall

Karen Rice

Casey R. Ross «

Dennis Rubenstein

Michael and Kelcey Schag

Charles and Jane Schneeberger

Hugh and Shirley Scott

Timothy Scott

Cheryl Seguine

Garvin Senn

Bill  and Pam Shdeed

Shelby and Adelaide Smith

Wayne Stone

Samuel and Deborah Suddarth

Marvona Easley Tavlin and Michael Tavlin

Kelly Thompson

Kevin Tully

Clarence s and Patricia Tully

Alireza Vahabzadeh

Nancy J. Van Antwerp

Robert Van House

Jerry  and Melinda Vannatta

Virginia K. Walker

Richard Wansley and Meredith Davison

Gladys B. Whetstine

Charles Wisler

Lisa Wolfe « and Fred Mischler

Hub Worrell

Carl and Beverly Ann Young

Jim « and Annetta Abbott

William « and Dana Ayers

Denial Blankenship

Bright Society is OCU’s donor recognition society for alumni, friends, and corporate partners who contribute a minimum of $1,000 to $2,000 annually for three years to the OCU President’s Excellence Fund and optionally to scholarships. The $1,000 annual giving level is available to supporters who are 40 years and younger. Donors’ annual investment enables OCU to address the most pressing universitywide priorities. The following are Bright Society members from fiscal year 2022.

Jim and Joann Booher

Mark L. Britton «

Tom Brown «

Martha Burger «

Christina Chicoraske « and

Timothy Chicoraske

Traci Cook

Brian Cox

Gina Crawford «

Michael Decker

Robert and Nancy Ellis

Brad and Celine Ferguson

Christopher and Jacqueline Fiegel

Toni D. Frioux «

Gerald Gamble  and Jane Jayroe

Gamble 

Ann Felton Gilliland

David and April Gonzalez

Linda (Hawkins) and Nathan Grantham

Mo and Jacque Grotjohn

Koby « and Sarah Harrington

Nick  and Susan Harroz

Gary  and Sue Homsey

Eric and Kami « Huddleston

Ann Johnstone 

Maria Jones «

Cathy Leichter 

Jenee and Darren Lister

Tom and Judy  Love

April Marciszewski « and Charles Martin

Phil and Darwina « Marshall

Katie McClendon

Mackenzie McIntyre « and Blayne Childers

Herman and LaDonna Meinders

Kyle and Ashley Murphy

Ronald  and Margaret Norick

Danny Phan

Marsh and Deborah Pitman

Steven Powell

Casey R. Ross «

Donald Rowlett

Paul and Kim Sanders

George « and Ellen Sims

Brandon Brooks and Lynann

Sterk-Brooks «

Marvona Easley Tavlin and Michael Tavlin

Jack and Ann Thompson

Jerry  and Melinda Vannatta

John D. and Ginger L. Veal

Richard Wansley and Meredith Davison

Ashlie « and Larry Wilhelm

Kimberley and Erick Worrell

OCU’s Hub

BY TERRY PHELPS

A SYNONYM FOR “HUB” IS “center.” Appropriate for Hub Reed, a twotime All-American center for OCU’s basketball team from 1954-58. He and his teammates get together each year to reminisce about their years at OCU. Their experiences are interesting and amusing.

The team members have met each year for about two decades — before COVID, meeting in various locations twice a year, but now only once a year, hosted by different members of the group. The group includes Reed, Dennis Jeter, Lyndon Lee, Roger Holloway, Bennie Ratzlaff, Cecil Magana, Larry Bradshaw, Bill Juby, Ray Gilbert and Mike Kelley, along with their wives. Herman and LaDonna Meinders have also attended. Carol Hansen, wife of the late Paul Hansen, Abe Lemons’ assistant coach, has hosted two get-togethers.

They reminisce about their games, trips, campus life, careers and families (three named their kids after teammates). Jeter says with a chuckle that they now talk about their aches and pains. All are aged 88 to 90. They attend various OCU events, such as a recent boating regatta on the Oklahoma River. During one reunion, OCU honored the eight All-American basketball players (including Hub Reed), and a line of former players covered the length of the basketball court.

In high school, Reed (6 feet, 10 inches tall) considered playing baseball but was told by the coach, “I don’t think we can use you with that strike zone.” So Reed chose basketball and made all-state and allAmerican, recognized by a writer in The Daily Oklahoman as Hub because “Hubert sounded like a bookworm.”

Assistant OCU basketball coach Abe Lemons (who became head coach in 1956 and become a legend, winning 699 games in his career) recruited Reed by taking him on a trip to Corn, Oklahoma, to recruit eventual teammate Bennie Ratzlaff. Coming later to sign a letter of intent to attend OCU, Reed wasn’t deterred by a fire nearby as OCU’s field house burned down.

After the field house burned, the basketball team practiced in the Taft Junior High gym because the Goldbug Gym was half the size of a regular basketball court. They played their games in the Municipal Auditorium downtown.

For conditioning, head coach Doyle Parrack had the players take ballet lessons at OCU, which drew considerable attention, including an article in Look magazine and a headline, “Twinkle-toed Chiefs Come to town,” in a newspaper in a town where the Chiefs were to play.

An article in OCU’s Campus newspaper included a picture of one of the players in a ballet lesson and a quote from Parrack saying that to increase team hustle, “We simply let it be known that all reserves and second stringers will have to put on a halftime skit at all the ball games. The competition for starting positions will increase tremendously.”

The team lived in its own dorm (old barracks), and half of the Goldbug gym was a kitchen for them with their own cook. “We looked forward to breakfast,” Reed said, “because we knew Mrs. Ollie would fix us anything we wanted.” Players washed their own dishes and cleaned their barracks. Team members Jeter and Ratzlaff earned a few dollars changing light bulbs in the lofty tower of the Gold Star Building.

The team worked out every day, twice on Saturday. “We had to eat supper at 4:30,” Reed said, “because we had practice at six for three hours, with 30 minutes of calisthenics before and after.” Ratzlaff remembers once after an unsatisfactory practice, they had to run 100 laps.

The players had wrestling matches with each other to let off steam, and Lyndon Lee

recalls snowball fights and water fights with neighboring religion majors, throwing buckets and pans of water at each other.

For many players, traveling around the country for games was their first experience flying. They also traveled by railroad. Reed remembers one 17-day trip in which they played in Colorado, Utah, Tennessee, Louisiana and New York, getting to see great sights. In a game against Canisius College near Niagara Falls, Reed made 22 consecutive free throws, missing a 23rd after being teased by Canisius fans under the goal, hollering, “You traded legs with a jay and got beat out the butt.” Returning from the trip, the team arrived at OCU at 4 a.m. and had final exams starting at 7:40.

Lee tells of one trip to Peoria, Illinois, where the team happened to be in the same hotel as movie star Gene Autrey was staying. Teammate Roger Holloway knew Autry since they were both from Frederick, Oklahoma. Roger introduced his teammates to Autry, who then introduced them all to Annie Oakley, sharpshooter for Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show.

Reed played seven years as a professional in the National Basketball Association, and then, like some of his OCU teammates, taught and coached. Like many of his teammates, he praises their OCU coaches: “We couldn’t have had better coaches because they cared for us. They checked on us. They found if we were making our grades.” Jeter says that all his teammates attained success as educators and businessmen because OCU prepared and inspired them to serve others.

Their next reunion will be Oct. 29 in Oklahoma City, hosted by Melanie Wallace, wife of deceased team member Jerry Wallace.

Title IX propels OCU to superstardom

BY CHRIS MAXON

THE HISTORY OF OCU athletics is steeped in excellence. From championship performances to facilities to legendary coaches, OCU can arguably be mentioned as one of the most storied athletic programs in all of America.

Who doesn’t have a story about Abe Lemons, or sweating through a winter night inside Fredrickson Fieldhouse? Who has ever watched soccer in Oklahoma and not known Brian Harvey? Or played baseball and not come across someone impacted by either Denney Crabaugh or Keith Lytle? The list goes on, and the success is inspiring, but the most important catalyst to OCU’s prominence happened nowhere near campus back in 1972.

June 23, 1972, was a landmark day in American athletics when “Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972” was enacted by Congress and signed into law by President Richard Nixon. While the language goes deeper, there are 37 words that stand out and summarize the impact of the ground-breaking legislation:

“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

Now, just over 50 years later, perhaps no other school has taken full advantage of the opportunity more than Oklahoma City University. Twelve sports feature female student-athletes, and as OCU teams have acquired a jaw-dropping 72 national championships, even more impressive are the 48 earned by either womens or co-ed teams.

“Our female student-athletes take nothing for granted – they are confident, they raise the bar, and they are great examples for future generations,” said Kelly Perry, OCU’s former associate athletic director, senior women’s administrator, and former student-athlete. “This translates to a lot of success in the classroom and in competition, and I think that culture provides ultimate rationale as to why Title IX was designed.”

The most recent championship appropriately occurred on June 1, 2022, 50 years to the month of Title IX implementation. The OCU softball team won its 11th national title to continue an amazing run to the very top of college softball. Only UCLA at the Division 1 NCAA level has more with 12. In the NAIA, Simon Fraser sits in second place on the all-time list with four.

Bobbi Bridges has been along for quite a bit of that success as a player from 1994-1998, and now as a 16-year assistant coach with the program.

“Title IX opened the door, and I’m so proud of how our program, and really all of OCU’s women’s programs, can be such an example of what any little girl can aspire to be in athletics,” Bridges said. “I can’t imagine growing up and not having a team like OCU softball, or basketball, or any other women’s sport so visible and on a national stage. Title IX was what started it all.”

Softball isn’t the only program that sits atop of the women’s sports mountaintop. The women’s basketball program is number one in NAIA national championships with nine. What’s more, it’s also the third-most successful program, regardless of level and regardless of gender, in all of college basketball. Only the Connecticut women and UCLA men have more national titles, and sitting behind the Stars are Kentucky’s men and Tennessee’s women. Pretty good company in those top five.

Women’s golf also has earned eight national championships, tied with Arizona State for second place on the all-time, all-level chart. Competitive cheer has eight, competitive dance has four, and women’s wrestling does, too. That’s just national championships — not conference, not individuals, and not national runners-up or national appearances. It’s why the ceiling at Abe Lemons Arena can hardly be seen thanks to the banners hanging from the rafters. Conference championships don’t make their way up there at OCU.

In 2007, when the women’s wrestling program was officially added to the roster of OCU varsity programs, it was the first of its kind in Oklahoma and just one of six nationwide. Heading into the 2022-23 academic year, hundreds of young women who wrestle have been given a chance not only to compete, but also to experience an OCU education.

Historical perspective tells us that Title IX was a trailblazer for women’s sports all around the country, no doubt. What we didn’t know was how one school in the middle of Oklahoma would become such a powerhouse among women’s student-athletes. As a new season of competition begins, Henry David Thoreau’s often-repeated quote seems so fitting in relation to those OCU teams and the 50-year-old transformational law: “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.”

Our female student-athletes take nothing for granted – they are confident, they raise the bar, and they are great examples for future generations.”

KELLY PERRY

OCU wins softball national championship

BY RICH TORTORELLI

OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY’S softball team claimed its 11th national championship with a 3-0 triumph over Mobile (Alabama) in the NAIA Softball World Series in June.

The Stars (54-6) took their second victory over No. 1-ranked Mobile in three days in a matchup of the top two teams in the NAIA rankings. Oklahoma City has hoisted the national championship banner in 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2007, 2016, 2017 and now, 2022.

The Stars were led by junior pitcher Shelbey Cornelson, who allowed only six hits in the championship game, and finished the season with a 37-3 record and 11 shutouts.

The win by the softball team means the university ended the 2021-22 season with a total of 72 NAIA national championships, including winning at least one national crown each year since 1993-94.

Coach Phil McSpadden has led Oklahoma City to all 11 of its national softball crowns. McSpadden concluded his 35th year as OCU coach with a 1,843-399 mark (.822 winning percentage).

Senior infielder Kennedy Jackson said of McSpadden that there are “no words to express what he’s done for our program and our team all five years I’ve been here.

“We’ve had roller-coaster rides, but I wouldn't change it for the world. He would literally go to war for any single one of us. The thing I would take away from him as my coach is he was in every single game for us, win or lose, he was right there. He’s an amazing man and probably the best coach I’ve ever played for.”

Photos by Brayden Carpenter

Oklahoma City University mourns the loss of Denney Crabaugh, head baseball coach. Crabaugh died in his home after a prolonged battle with cancer.

Crabaugh, 64, had been OCU head coach for 34 years and built the winningest college baseball program in the nation since 1991. He directed Oklahoma City to a 1,601-493-2 record, collecting victory No. 1,600 in 7-5 win over Kansas Wesleyan on May 16 at Jim Wade Stadium in the NAIA Championship Opening Round Oklahoma City Bracket. Crabaugh led OCU to 14 NAIA World Series appearances, 14 50-win seasons, four trips to the national title game and the 2005 national championship.

“Denney Crabaugh brought out the best in so many people, including me,” said Jim Abbott, who retired at the end of 2021 as Oklahoma City director of athletics. “I spent 23 years working with Denney in the OCU athletics department, and he set the example for work ethic, preparedness, sportsmanship and so many other incredible attributes.

“Denney had an unmatched competitive fire, but remained grounded in his responsibility to help build young men as more than just baseball players. I join the Crabaugh family and OCU family in mourning his loss, but I’m so grateful to have experienced his impact on my life and so many other lives firsthand. Denney’s legacy will live on through those of us who were so fortunate to have him in our lives.”

OCU President Kenneth Evans said that while Crabaugh was an icon of college baseball, his impact extended well beyond the diamond.

“With more than 1,600 wins, more than a dozen World Series trips and an NAIA national championship, Denney Crabaugh’s legacy as OCU’s greatest baseball coach is without question,” Evans said. “While we celebrate that legacy, we recognize his impact off the field of play, as well. Denney coached more than 80 NAIA scholar-athletes and more than 20 academic all-Americans during his time at OCU. His presence between the lines and in the lives of his studentathletes will be greatly missed.”

Corey Bray, OCU director of athletics, said, “This is a very sad time for Oklahoma City University, the athletics department and the OCU baseball program. Denney bled OCU blue and white; and it showed in his passion for the university, his program and, most especially, for his student-athletes. While Denney’s accomplishments on the OCU baseball field are numerous and very noteworthy, the core of Denney’s legacy will live on through the alumni of his program as they live out their lives as outstanding spouses, fathers, community

In Memory

Denney Crabaugh

Aug. 8, 1957 – July 13, 2022

members and contributors to their chosen career field.”

Crabaugh followed his father Duane into coaching baseball, saying that he was hooked into the sport by growing up around coaches and listening to the Xs and Os of the game. He said he always admired the impact coaches had on his life, and wanted to be in a position to impact young men as a coach himself.

Crabaugh coached 92 all-Americans, 150 future professionals, 71 Major League Baseball draftees, 83 NAIA scholar-athletes, 21 CoSIDA academic all-Americans and eight national player of the year award winners. Five OCU alumni coached by Crabaugh reached the major leagues, including 2006 National League batting champion Freddy Sanchez.

Crabaugh’s association with the university dated back to when he joined Charley Lodes’ coaching staff as pitching coach for the 1987 season. When he became OCU head coach for the 1989 season, he hired Keith Lytle as OCU hitting coach.

“I truly believe Denney’s greatest accomplishment is the impact he has had on the lives of our players and us as coaches,” Lytle said. “They’ve become college coaches. They’re police officers. They’re doing great and wonderful things out there in the world. His tough love method of being able to look at players – and coaches, too, for that matter – and not accept them for what they are but show them what they’re capable of being, I think is awesome.”

Crabaugh became a four-time hall of famer, gaining recognition from OCU Athletics, the Oklahoma Baseball Coaches Association, the NAIA and the American Baseball Coaches Association. He guided the 2004 Stars to a 73-7 record to set the NAIA single-season record for wins. OCU won 14 conference regular-season championships, 13 league tournament crowns, one district title, five regional crowns, three area titles and six NAIA Championship Opening Round titles. Crabaugh’s win total ranks third all-time in NAIA baseball history. OCU owns 1,535 wins since 1991 to lead the country during that time.

Crabaugh began his coaching career as a graduate assistant and pitching coach at Southeastern Oklahoma State under Mike Metheny. He had been head coach at Ada High School and an assistant at Ardmore High School in Oklahoma prior to arriving at OCU.

The Del City native is survived by his wife, Sue, and four children –Kaylee, Mindy, Cody and Amy. All four children attended OCU. Mindy reeled in all-American honors competing for OCU softball, and Cody took all-American acclaim playing baseball for his father. Amy contributed to OCU winning the softball national title in 2022.

Gary Gardner

March 6, 1937 – May 18, 2022

Dr. Gary Gardner was born in Lawton on March 6, 1937, and departed this life in Lawton on May 18, 2022, at 85 years old.

While Gary was a basketball player for Oklahoma City University, he was chosen to be the model for the “Eternal Challenge” bronze statue by Leonard D. McMurry. The statue resides in the middle of campus.

Gary met Judith Randolph at OCU in 1958. He was dating Judith and asked her to be a model with him. Over the years of their marriage, they reflected on the statue and brought their kids to see the statue, which they called “Love in Bronze.”

He grew up in Walters and attended Walters High School. At OCU, Gary was member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and was on the basketball team and golf team.

Gary married Judith on Aug. 3, 1958, at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City. He went on to attend the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry from 1959-62. After graduation from dental school, Gary began working with the Oklahoma Department of Health and served in the U.S. Army Reserves. He served as a research assistant to Dr. James Andrews, who was a great influence on Gary throughout his life.

Dr. Gardner started his dental practice in Lawton and loved his profession from 1963 to 2007. One year after retirement, Gary took over an established prosthetics dental practice limited to full dentures and partial dentures from 2008 to 2011.

Gary was a member of Centenary United Methodist Church and served as a board chairperson. He was elected president of the Oklahoma Dental Association in 1976, and was a life member of the Oklahoma Dental Association, the Internal College of Dentists, the American College of Dentists and the Pierre Fauchard Academy. He also was a board member of the Southwest Opera Guild, member of Arts for All, Community Theatre and Lawton Country Club. At age 31 he was introduced to Dr. Kenneth Cooper of Cooper Clinic in Dallas and began running half-marathons and 10Ks for the next 40 years. He had a passion for running because he wanted to beat the odds since his dad passed away from heart failure.

In 1990, Gary started sculpting clay to create life-sized bronze sculptures, eventually creating five works of art. Some of his favorites were “General Lawton” in front of McMahon Memorial Auditorium in Lawton, “Buffalo Soldier” on Gore Boulevard in Lawton, “Field Artilleryman” at Fort Sill Military Base and “Dr. Pierre Fauchard, Father of Dentistry” in front of the Oklahoma Dental Association in Oklahoma City.

Memorial gifts can be made to support the OCU Fund for ongoing university needs and student scholarships. Checks can be made payable to Oklahoma City University, PO BOX 2780, Oklahoma City, OK 73101 or memorial gifts are accepted online at okcu.edu/give

Phillip Haskel Warford

Nov. 8, 1945 – Aug. 15, 2022

Phillip Haskel Warford was born on Nov. 8, 1945, on a farm south of Wilburton, Oklahoma, and passed away on Aug. 15, 2022.

Phil was a longtime public address announcer for Oklahoma City University athletics, announcing at various events for 45 years. Coaches, fans and student-athletes became accustomed to the basso profundo voice of Phil echoing through the stands at Abe Lemons Arena, Frederickson Fieldhouse and Ann Lacy Stadium.

In addition, Warford became the regular announcer at the All-College Basketball Tournament in which OCU often competed. Warford regularly offered the PA at Moore High School Athletics events and high school state track & field meets for nearly 50 years.

Phil graduated from Wilburton High School in 1963 where he played football, basketball and baseball. He went to Eastern State College in his hometown for his first

two years of college and then transferred to Northeastern in 1965, graduating in 1966 with a bachelor’s degree in political science. There, he met the love of his life, Linda Buchanan. They celebrated their 56th anniversary earlier this year.

The two taught at schools around the state, including Allewe, Hominy and Moore. Phil’s sports announcing began while he was teaching at Central Junior High. The athletic director asked if he would announce the lineups of the boys’ basketball team. Those lineups were the beginning of a 48-year career as a public address announcer. He gained recognition statewide and beyond.

Phil also loved teaching and was very proud of his profession. He taught for 31 years in Moore Public Schools, touching the lives of hundreds of students over a couple of generations.

Richard Sias

Oct. 13, 1927 – July 28, 2022

Oilman, philanthropist, vintner and music

lover Richard L. “Dick” Sias, age 94, died July 28, 2022. He was predeceased by his wife of 54 years, Jeannette Joullian Sias.

Through his generous contributions of time, money and leadership, he helped to sustain and improve the status of the fine arts and education in Oklahoma and Kansas, including Oklahoma City University. His myriad interests included the Oklahoma City Philharmonic Orchestra, the University of Kansas, OCU, opera, art, dance, cuisine, enology and many other programs and causes.

A native of Fredonia, Kansas, Sias served two years in the U.S. Army and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Romance languages at the University of Kansas, a master’s degree in Spanish literature from the National University of Mexico, and a J.D. at the

University of Kansas School of Law in 1954. Upon graduation from law school, he joined Continental Oil Company. He later served as vice president of exploration at An-Son Corporation before becoming vice-chairman and chairman emeritus of Mustang Fuel Corporation in Oklahoma City.

Upon retirement in 1991, he operated Bint Development LLC and Joullian Vineyards of Carmel Valley, California. His family foundation, Ad Astra, has benefited numerous organizations. He was president of the Oklahoma City Association of Petroleum Landmen and a director of the American Association of Petroleum Landmen. He served on the board of directors of First Interstate Bank, Oklahoma City. He also served as a trustee of the American Symphony Orchestra League; National Symphony Orchestra, Washington, D.C.; Oklahoma City Community Foundation; Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs; Casady School; Oklahoma Symphony

After retiring from teaching, Phil furthered his career by joining The Oklahoman newspaper as the building manager. He left that work in 2008 due to heart disease. After recovering from his heart issues, he spent his time playing golf and returned to his love of announcing sports. He announced his last Moore High School football and basketball games in the fall of 2021, and retired from his work with OCU in December 2021.

Orchestra; Oklahoma City Philharmonic Foundation; Civic Center Cultural Trust; Oklahoma City Museum of Art; and others.

Sias was a member of the Nichols Hills United Methodist Church, Fortune Club, Petroleum Club, Beacon Club, Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club, Chaine des Rotisseurs and L’Ordre Mondial.

His honors include induction in the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma City University Commerce & Industry Hall of Honor and Servant Leader Award, the Business in the Arts Award from the Oklahoma State Arts Council, Friday Newspaper's OKC Cityan of the Year, and the E.C. Joullian Distinguished Citizen Award of the Last Frontier Council of the Boy Scouts. Both Dick and Jeannette were honored as “Living Treasures” by the Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, the Oklahoma Jewish Federation and the Oklahoma Higher Education Heritage Society.

Keith Dwain Magill

July 31, 1982 – July 1, 2022

Keith Magill not only earned two degrees from Oklahoma City University (BA Political Science ’04, JD ’08), but he also taught political science as an adjunct professor as a way of giving back to his alma mater.

Friends recalled that he never missed an opportunity to celebrate others, and they remembered him as loyal, dependable, and compassionate, caring deeply about

Our Condolences

1940s

Robert N. Thompson ’47

Christine M. Stathis ’49

1950s

Tom Deplois ’50

John D. McRee ’50

Emerson C. Gillett ’51

Forrest D. James ’51

Robert W. Schmidt ’52

Jo Kimmel ’53

Lavonne M. Buis ’55

James Shadid ’55

V. C. C. Davidson ’55

Jack E. Fairbairn ’56

Thomas J. Minter ’56

Ruth D. Stover ’57

Jayne B. Wardwell ’58

Robert L. Burns ’58

Gary Gardner ’59

1960s

Albert R. Linholm ’60

Larry A. Pendleton ’60

Minnie M. Flowers ’61

Edward N. Spence ’61

Thomas R. Williams ’61

James L. Gullett ’61

Inez E. Heusel ’62

Virgil G. Vaughn ’62

Neena Haddad ’62

Jerry D. Mullins ’62

Charles E. Jacob ’63

Robert M. Neuffer ’64

Stuart W. Santee ’64

Jerry D. Sanders ’65

his nieces and nephew, as well as many honorary nieces and nephews. He laughed loudly and enjoyed life fully.

He played percussion for Edmond Santa Fe High School band and graduated in 2000. Following OCU, he joined the law firm that his father, Jerry Magill (BS ’94, JD ’98), started in 1999 and nurtured its growth, taking over and building up the team.

Enoch Kelly Haney ’65

Jeannette W. Pritchard ’65

Lee E. Fleming ’66

David S. Eldridge ’67

Robert R. Blackwell ’67

Paul L. Nickens ’67

H. Thomas Moran ’68

Myrtle L. Edmond ’68

Rozanne M. Reynolds ’68

Edmund C. Root ’68

John D. Grice ’69

Kenneth W. Thomson ’69

1970s

Wayne C. Rasch ’70

John C. Hill ’70

Jack F. Livesay ’70

Henry Trattner ’70

Thomas G. Warriner ’71

Sara H. Caskey ’71

Walter J. Barnes ’72

James R. Cobb ’72

Robert McHeffey ’72

Rhonda C. Freeman ’72

James M. Godwin ’73

Darrell C. Brown ’73

John W. Higgins ’73

Thomas Donnelly ’74

Arthur E. McIntyre ’74

Jeanne Hoffman Smith ’74

James W. Berry ’75

Hollis G. Harper ’75

James R. Nutt ’75

Jo A. Bennett ’75

Dennis P. Kruse ’75

Henry R. McMillan ’75

He was an advocate, volunteer, and board member for the Oklahoma March of Dimes for more than a decade, served on the Metro Tech board, and was involved with many networking groups. He was a longtime Oklahoma City Thunder fan and nurtured many family relationships and friendships over basketball.

Robert L. Evans ’75

Gregory P. Sense ’75

Ronald Ivey ’76

Jimmy D. Stewart ’77

Barbara C. York ’77

Kenneth L. Rinehart ’77

Robert Ayala ’77

Garold L. Spencer ’77

Teresa A. Rendon ’78

Beverly A. Morawski ’79

Edwin W. Robey ’79

Billy R. Vetter ’79

1980s

Jean A. Whiteman ’80

Frank K. Berfield ’80

Raymond E. McCartney ’81

George E. Crotts ’81

Clayburn C. Curtis ’81

Barbara Sayre ’82

James T. Dupre ’82

Gary H. Gerlitz ’83

Dang M. Nguyen ’84

Raymond Nauni ’84

Sandra Robbins ’85

William J. Rinehart ’85

Helen D. Murphey ’86

Michael G. Cluck ’86

Christopher M. Smith '88

James D. Bulger ’88

David A. Petrey ’88

Grady L. Rainbow ’88

Bea E. Blackshire ’89

Claude E. Woodson ’89

Thomas A. Massey ’89

Rocco A. Martin ’89

Larry R. Goins ’89

Julia A. Shepherd ’89

1990s

Christy L. Esterline ’90

David B. Hickens ’90

Mary C. Coulson ’91

Linda L. Hill ’91

Steven W. Kelly ’91

Donald D. Peterson ’91

Ronald D. Metzner ’91

Pauline B. Harjo ’92

Darlene Medrick ’92

Gregory A. Wade ’93

Frank McKevitt ’94

Maethell Smith ’95

Marvin L. Mitchell ’97

Troy N. Rainbolt ’97

Jacqueline A. Dawson ’99

2000s

Harold H. Goodman ’00

Judith K. Sell ’00

Reubin H. Turner ’02

Nelda G. Hobbs ’03

Keith Magill ’04

Lyndel T. Harris ’07

2010s

Bridget N. Poputa-Clean ’11

Lore E. Silkey ’12

Douglas M. Garretson ’13

David M. Hammer ’14

1940s

The late OCU voice professor Florence Birdwell (BA ’45, MA Teaching ’69, HD Musical Arts ’16) was honored as the recipient of the Painted Sky Opera’s Le Stelle Award during a gala in October.

Silver City, New Mexico, helped James William “Bill” Harrison (JD ’49) celebrate his 100th birthday by proclaiming June 22 as Bill Harrison Day. Harrison served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and as Silver City’s town manager, a Grant County commissioner and Southwest New Mexico Council of Governments director.

1950s

The Oklahoman ran a feature story recalling the late Thurman Magbee ’s (BS Business Administration ’50, MBA Industrial Management ’66, a former business professor and trustee) work to restore Oklahoma City’s Union Station building. Orthopedics This Week did a feature tribute story on the late Charles A. Rockwood (BA Biology ’51, HD Science ’97), founder of the American Shoulder and Elbow Society.

1960s

The Rev. Ernest William Cockrell (BA English ’60) released a novel titled “Samson’s Shadow.”

Barbara McAlister (BM ’64) was chosen as the Soroptimist International of Muskogee 2022 Woman of Distinction.

Susie Maxwell Berning (BSB Business ’64) was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Gary Rhodes (JD ’69) has announced his retirement after practicing law for 43 years.

Justice Yvonne Kauger (JD ’69, HD Laws ’92) was the Global Vision Humanitarian Award honoree in this year’s Global Vision Awards presented by Sister Cities International Oklahoma City.

1970s

The Johnson & Biscone firm, which includes Joseph Biscone II (JD ’74) and James Biscone (BA Political Science/Philosophy ’13, JD ’15), was named best boutique law firm in Oklahoma by Global Law Experts.

Tim Colbert (JD ’76) was inducted into the Chickasaw Hall of Fame in 2020 and was honored during this year’s in-person ceremony.

The Astounding Analog Companion science fiction blog posted a Q&A story with writer Bud Sparhawk (MBA ’77).

1980s

Keith Grant (BS Business ’80), assistant general manager for the Dallas Mavericks, retired from the team after 42 seasons. Grant was the last remaining employee from the team’s inaugural season. Norman D. Thygesen (JD ’80), associate district judge in Muskogee, retired after a 42-year law career.

Beadwork artist Yonavea Hawkins (BA ’81) was featured in the Dallas Museum of Art’s Late Night event celebrating the new exhibit, “Spirit Lodge: Mississippian Art from Spiro.”

E.J. Burke (MBA ’82), a senior executive and director at KeyBank Real Estate Capital and Corporate Banking Services, was nominated to become vice chair of the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Steven J. Goetzinger (JD ’83) was elected to serve a fourth one-year term as mayor of Nichols Hills. Aimee Majoue (JD ’18), an attorney for Crowe & Dunlevy, and Carolyn Thompson (JD ’84), a consultant, were profiled in the Journal Record’s Leadership in Law 2022 series.

Trustee Lou Kerr (BS ’86, HD Humanities and Letters ’91) received the Mark Ruffin Lifetime Achievement Award during the Santa Fe Family Life Center’s service awards gala in September.

CLASS NOTES

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Helen C. Zajic (JD ’86) was promoted to partner at the Egan Law firm in Santa Barbara County, California.

Cary Pirrong (BS History ’87, JD ’90) joined the Oklahoma City Public Schools Board of Education. Former OCU softball player Lisa Navas (Health/ Phys Ed ’87) was promoted to assistant coach of the University of South Florida softball team.

Julie McCreight (BA Speech Theatre ’88), a teacher for Flinthills USD 492 in Rosalia, Kansas, was named to the Kansas Teachers’ Hall of Fame.

Social ethics professor the Rev. Dr. Mark Davies (BA Philosophy/Religion ’88) gave a guest presentation via Zoom as part of the Methodist International Student Exchange Network, hosted by the Methodist University in São Paulo, Brazil. The presentation was on the urgency of sustainability for the planet.

Gary D. McKiddy (MBA ’88) was promoted to CFO of Mid America Mortgage, Inc.

Doug Strock (MBA ’89), vice president of Global Language Translations and Consulting, Inc., was part of NYU’s MS in Translation & Interpreting guest speaker series.

1990s

Jill Campbell (MBA ’90), president and COO of Cox Enterprises, announced her retirement after 40 years with the company.

Angela Morrison (JD ’90), an environmental and natural resources attorney who represents clients in the energy, manufacturing, developer, trade association and government sectors, joined Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP as a senior attorney in Miami, Florida.

Kristin Chenoweth (BM Musical Theatre ’91, MM ’93, HDHL ’13) held a virtual event to celebrate the release of her first children’s book, “What Will I Do with My Love Today?” Chenoweth was also appointed to the advisory board for the Institute of Financial Wellness and was a guest on the

KTLA morning news show in Los Angeles, where she discussed her involvement with OCU’s MFA in Screen Acting program.

Laura L. McCullough (MBA ’91) was selected as president/CEO of Maysville Community and Technical College in Kentucky.

Brandon Hobson (BA English ’92) received a prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship for fiction writing. The award honors artists and scholars across multiple disciplines “on the basis of prior achievement and exceptional promise.”

The Arkansas Democrat Gazette ran an in-depth profile story on Jim Evans (MPA ’92), regional director of donor relations for Lifewater International in Bentonville.

Kosit Suksingha (MBA ’93) was appointed to the board of directors for Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd, an investment holding company based in Malaysia specializing in beverages.

Compassion International, a Christian charity that helps children in poverty, named Joe Wilkins (MBA ’93) as CFO.

Steven McConnell (JD ’93) was named senior vice president, general counsel for Tinker Federal Credit Union.

Andrew Junkin (BSB Finance ’94) was named CIO of the Virginia Retirement System.

Trustee the Rev. Dr. Robert E. Long (HD Divinity ’94) received a Good Samaritan Award from the Neighborhood Services Organization.

Baylor University Press published Froswa’ BookerDrew’s (MLA ’94) book, “Empowering Charity: A New Narrative of Philanthropy.” In addition, Booker-Drew was elected to the ACLU of Texas board of directors.

Tony Sommer Jr. (MBA ’94) was appointed as general manager, Americas, for CooperVision Specialty EyeCare.

Nona Lee (JD ’95), executive vice president and chief legal officer for the Arizona Diamondbacks baseball team, was a guest on the Bouncing Back podcast.

Dontee Kiehn (BPA Dance ’96) was the associate director of the Broadway musical “MJ,” based on the life and creative legacy of Michael Jackson. The show received 10 Tony Award nominations.

Nicole Nelson (BS Psychology/BA Spanish ’97) was named head women's soccer coach for Southern Methodist University.

Dr. David Fray (MBA Health Care Administration ’97), professor at UTHealth School of Dentistry, led a webinar titled “Collaborative Healthcare for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities.”

Jason A. Robertson (JD ’97) was appointed as a

United States magistrate judge for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

Bryan Dahlvang’s (BFA Studio Art ’97) art was on exhibit at the Graceful Arts Gallery in Alva. Attorney and sports agent Jeff Berry (JD ’98) was named a member of the board of directors of the V Foundation, a cancer research charity.

ExpressJet Airlines LLC hired Bobby Looney (BS prior learning & university studies ’98) as its new director of safety.

All About Jazz posted a feature story on Idit Shner (BM Instrumental Performance ’98).

Jennifer Grigsby (MBA Finance ’99) was appointed to the board of directors for Certarus Ltd., a natural gas distribution company.

David R. Fox (MBA ’99) was named chief executive officer of the Medical Center of South Arkansas.

ChoralNet posted an article by Robyn Hilger (BM Instrumental Education ’99), executive director of the American Choral Directors Association, about how she developed her love of music.

Andrea Vaughan (BA Public Relations ’99) led the Rogers State softball team to its first NCAA Division II national championship as head coach.

2000s

Joshua Whitehead (BFA Graphic Design ’00) joined the Communication Design Pathways Department at FIT, a part of the State University of New York specializing in design, fashion, art, communications and business.

Kevin Sellers (MBA ’00, JD ’05) founded Selerity Medical Staffing, a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business and Indian Small Business Economic Enterprise that specializes in providing clinical staffing to nationwide healthcare facilities.

Painter Tara Jennings (MLA ’00) opened the Tara Jennings Fine Art shop in Woodinville, Washington.

Tray Payne (JD ’00) was elected mayor of Lubbock, Texas.

Travel Oklahoma has a featured web page for Sarah Coburn (MM Vocal Performance ’01).

Twana W. Allen (JD ’01) is leading the family law section for West & Associates as a partner in the firm’s Dallas office.

Timothy Winkeler (MBA Finance ’01) was promoted to president and chief operating officer of VIP Tires & Service.

Robert Medley (MLA ’01) was named editor of the Times Record newspaper in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Kyle Dillingham (BM Instrumental Performance ’02)

and Peter Markes (BM Instrumental Education ’01) were profiled in a 405 magazine story.

Keili Hicks McEwen (BA Advertising/Mass Comm ’02, MA Nonprofit Leadership ’12) joined the Hunger Free Oklahoma organization as director of strategic advancement.

Stephania Grober (MBA ’03) was selected as president of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma. Trial lawyer and landman Jonathan Grammer (JD ’03) was included in D Magazine’s Dallas 500, a special edition that profiles the Dallas region’s most influential business leaders.

Kesha Watson (BS Professional Law Enforcement ’04) was honored during Millwood High School’s “Famous Falcons” 50th anniversary celebration.

The Oklahoman did a feature story on the latest album by the Damn Quails band, featuring former OCU classmates Bryon White (BS Entertainment Business ’06) and Michael Trepagnier (BA Liberal Studies ’04). Law.com ran a feature story headlined “Anthony Barbuto (JD ’04) is Humanizing the Legal Profession One TikTok Dance at a Time.”

Scott Ellis (BS Biology ’04) was named chief nursing officer for Northwest Health’s La Porte and Starke hospitals in Indiana.

Tana Fitzpatrick (BA Political Science/Spanish ’04, JD ’08) was named as the University of Oklahoma’s first associate vice president of tribal relations.

Mental health care provider Cerebral Inc. hired Jacqueline Kniska (JD ’05) as head of compliance. The Cherokee County Women with Purpose Committee spotlighted Julie Boren-Huesser (JD ’05), a lawyer based in Texas, in its Women Who Made History series. Kelly Forbes (BA Spanish ’06), Heritage Academy director, is starting a dual-language immersion school for Epic Charter Schools and was featured in a story in The Oklahoman.

Adam Falco (JD ’06) was promoted to city attorney for College Station, Texas.

Lance McDaniel (MLA ’07) was selected for the Heritage Hall Alumni Association’s 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award.

The Choctaw Nation did a profile story on Rachel Hope Risner (BS Nursing ’07, DNP ’13, DP Nursing ’16), associate dean of academic affairs for Frontier Nursing University in Kentucky.

State Rep. Anthony Moore (JD ’07) received the 2021 Distinguished Service Award from the Oklahoma State Regents of Higher Education.

Collin Walke (JD ’08), a state representative and co-founder of Awake OKC, was a guest on the Mental Health Download podcast. Awake OKC is a nonprofit

centered on bringing mindfulness and meditation to the community.

Heather Anderson (BA History ’08) wrote a selection titled “Benjamin Franklin’s Mastery of Media” as part of the PBS collection, “Ken Burns in the Classroom.”

Jeremiah Downes (MM Musical Theater ’09) is a new faculty member in the Chadron State College (Nebraska) theater department.

Anthony Michael (BSB Business Administration ’09) got his first win on the Sunshine Tour in the Vodacom Origins of Golf in South Africa.

2010s

Armand McCoy (BA Broadcasting ’10) became a strategic communications instructor and the executive director/faculty advisor for Lindsey + Asp, the OU Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication’s student-managed advertising and public relations agency.

Chaz Wolcott (BPA Dance ’10) was the choreographer for the 3-D Theatricals production of “Newsies” in Anaheim, California.

Kourtni Beebe (BFA Acting ’10) was part of the Mother’s Day Improv Comedy show troupe performing in Times Square.

Justin Briggs (MBA Finance ’10) joined the Prime Movers Lab as a venture partner to identify new startups and support its portfolio of life sciences technology companies.

Former OCU graduate assistant Bailey Coleman (ME Behavioral Studies ’10) is in her first year of coaching the Santa Fe Saints volleyball team in Gainesville, Florida.

Lawrence Pecan (JD ’11) was appointed deputy general counsel for Two Roads Development, a South Florida-based development firm.

Bianca J. Bryant (BS Economics ’11), director of career development for the School of Law and former OCU softball player, was named to the Journal Record’s 19th class of Achievers Under 40.

Oklahoma Magazine ran a sidebar story about women’s wrestling coach Nicole Tyson (BA Photography ’11) and her experience getting into the sport.

1 The Putnam City High School Orchestra under the direction of Colin Waddell (BM Instrumental Education ’11) was selected as the overall Outstanding Orchestra at the World Strides OnStage competition in San Antonio, Texas.

Robert Postotnik (BS Entertainment Business ’11) is now vice president-key art design for Paramount’s MTV in New York City. He previously was creative director

for the AKA advertising agency in New York. The American Bar Association Journal published an article by Adam Banner (JD ’11), founder and lead attorney of the Oklahoma Legal Group, titled “‘Suits’ and the difference between federal and state court.”

Tulsa People ran a feature story about Sasha Hutchings (BPA Dance ’11) and her role in “Oklahoma!”

Soprano Bonnie Frauenthal (BM Vocal Performance ’12) returned to Oklahoma to perform in Painted Sky Opera’s production of “Pagliacci.”

Kristie Davis (BS Kinesiology & Exercise Studies ’12) was inducted to the New York Athletic Club Hall of Fame.

Belinda Allyn (BM Music Theater ’12) was cast as Sister Mary Robert in the Paper Mill Playhouse (New Jersey) production of “Sister Act.”

Fonda Manwell (MS Energy Legal Studies ’13) was hired as director of business development and energy services for Reagan Smith, a state, federal and tribal project management consulting company.

The Oklahoman ran a feature story about Ashlee Vaughan (BS Nursing ’13) returning to college as a graduate nursing student and wrestler.

Former wrestler Joey Miller (BS Kinesiology & Exercise Studies ’13), a two-time womens’ national champion, was selected for the second class of the Woodward High School Hall of Fame.

Christin Byrdsong (BM Musical Theater ‘13) and Isaiah Bailey (BM Vocal Performance ’14) returned to Oklahoma City to perform in the touring production of Disney’s “The Lion King.” Politico hired Madi Alexander (BA Mass Comm/Public Relations/Political Science ’14) as senior graphics editor.

Eryn LeCroy (BM Vocal Performance ’14) was a guest on Conversations with Changemakers, a Broadway Podcast Network show.

Mary Beth Nelson (BM ’14) is a recipient of a 2022 FENDI Vanguard Award, a partnership between Juilliard and the Roman Maison to celebrate those who display the potential to be future innovators in their chosen discipline and across the performing arts.

Jeff Sherwood (BFA Design and Production ’14) joined the Michigan Tech Visual and Performing Arts faculty as assistant professor of sound.

Darius Wright (BM Music Theater ’14) was cast in “MJ” as a swing and was an understudy for the title role.

Maggie Spicer Brown (MA Nonprofit Leadership ’14) was named education director for Theatre Salina’s Center for Theatre Arts in Kansas.

Emily Laughridge (BA Theatre Performance ’15) made her debut at Disneyland Paris as a singer for the “The Disney Junior Dream Factory” show. Paris is her third Disney park after working at Walt Disney World and Tokyo Disney Resort.

Oklahoma’s Nursing Times did a “Careers in Nursing” story on Kelly Johnson (BS Nursing ’15), an independent advanced practice registered nurse serving Payne and Logan counties.

Dr. Patrick McGough (DNP Nursing ’15), executive director of the Oklahoma City-County Health Department, was interviewed for a story on CBS Sunday Morning about the state of public health work in the U.S.

Angela Cozby (MBA ’15) was named executive director of the Arts Council of Oklahoma City.

Jane Clark (ME Early Childhood Education ’15) was hired as enrollment and student development manager for Abilene Christian University.

Jesse Chavez (MS Exercise and Sport Science ’15) was promoted to head athletic trainer of Lindsey Wilson College athletics in Kentucky.

Madeline Bach (DNP Family Nurse Practitioner ’16) joined SSM Health Neurosciences as a nurse practitioner.

Aaron Chaloner (JD ’16) joined the Bradley Arant Boult Cummings firm’s Nashville office as a senior attorney in the Intellectual Property Practice Group.

Former OCU softball player Jeananne Ruck (BS Behavioral Studies ’16) was named coach of the Paso Robles High School (California) softball team. The Kitchener Panthers of the Intercounty Baseball League in Canada signed right-handed pitcher Skylar Janisse (BA Liberal Studies ’16).

Juliana Elliot (BS Dance Management ’16) joined the cast of CJ Newsom’s Classic Country and Comedy in Branson, Missouri.

Former OCU golfer Matthew Cheung (BBA Finance ’17) earned his first career Korn Ferry Tour start.

Phillip Oliver (BS Entertainment Business ’17), event services manager for the Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs, was named to the International Association of Venue Managers Foundation’s 30|UNDER|30 Class of 2022.

CLASS NOTES

Jordan Jacobs (BFA Acting ’17) starred as Charlie in Lyric Theatre’s production of “Kinky Boots.”

Country music singer/songwriter Emily Myers (BM Music/business emphasis ’17) released the official music video for her single “Unwrite Every Song.” Myers also released her newest single, "Ain't Gonna Be Mine."

Stephanie Feeback (BM Music Theater ’17) was in the touring production of “Waitress.”

Dr. Ajeminayanate Berepele (BS Nursing ’17, DNP ’21) completed the one-year primary care nurse practitioner residency at the Oklahoma City VA Medical Center. The residency provides intensive, veteran-focused experiences to newly graduated nurse practitioners.

Heritage Trust, a subsidiary of Argent Financial Group, hired Brooke Henderson (JD ’17) as vice president, relationship manager.

Taylor Rey (BM Music Theater ’17) made her offBroadway debut in a lead role in “After Happily Ever After” at the Players Theatre.

The Ada News did a feature story about Stephanie Mowdy (DNP Nursing ’17), wound care specialist at The Clinic.

Jamison Keefover (BA Mass Comm/Broadcasting ’18) joined FOX 25 as a reporter.

Oklahoma State University posted a feature story about Brandon Jackson (BM ’18), musician and public address announcer for athletic events.

Celia Tedde (BM Music Theater ’19) was cast in the world premiere of “Here There Be Dragons - A New Musical Quest,” inspired by the classic tabletop fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, at the Players Theatre in New York.

Tessa McQueen (BM Vocal Performance ’19) earned third place and the Myrle F. Hoffman Memorial Award in the Denver Lyric Opera Guild’s annual competition.

Samantha Bronow (BBA Economics ’19, summa cum laude, cum honore) wrote an essay titled “The Honors Connection: Openness and Empathy” that was published in the spring/summer 2022 issue of JNCHC: The Journal of the National Collegiate Honors Council. Bronow is a senior financial analyst with MidFirst Bank in Oklahoma City.

Madison Carey (BFA Acting ’19) and Reily Preston (BFA Acting ’19) joined the Oklahoma Children's Theatre as education associates. They perform, teach and operate programs for the theater company.

“The Prices We Pay” by Rayshell Clapper (MFA Creative Writing ’19) was the Finishing Line Press Book of the Day.

Oklahoma’s Nursing Times ran a profile story about Aimee Jones (BS Nursing ’19), a pediatric nurse at the Bethany Children’s Health Center.

2020s

Blake Sauceda (BFA Acting ’20) performed in "An Officer and a Showcase" at Feinstein's/54 Below in New York City.

The Ada News ran a story about Kyndel Dillard (M Physician Assistant Studies ’20), physician assistant for The Clinic in Konawa, and her path into health care.

Flowrestling listed Iowa native and former OCU wrestler Rachel Watters (BBA Marketing ’20) in its “Key Moments In Iowa Women's Wrestling History” as the first from the state to win a WCWA title.

Keely McGough (DNP ’20) joined Variety Care as a nurse practitioner.

Kelly Vincent (MFA Creative Writing ’20) released her latest young adult novel, “Always the New Girl.” The University of North Carolina at Pembroke posted an article by Dr. Tonya Locklear (MFA Creative Writing ’21) about her professional writing projects.

Jessica Vanek (BM Music Theater ’21) was an understudy in Southern Plains Productions’ rock musical “Lizzie.”

Shannon Clark (M Physician Assistant Studies ’21) is one of the leaders of a new U.S. Dermatology Partners office in Enid.

Jaden Shores (BS Human Performance ’21) was named head softball coach for Roff High School.

John Esche (MBA ’22) was co-chair of a fundraiser called Flight for Futures in September. Hosted by the Junior Committee, Flight for Futures raises funds and awareness for Boys & Girls Clubs of Oklahoma County programs.

Andrew Lazos (M Physician Assistant ’22) was hired as a physician assistant at Olympic Medical Center Physicians in Washington.

2 Wimberly School of Religion alums Kloe Young (Religious Education ’22) and Allie McMurry (Religion Philosophy ’22) recently co-published articles on the Society of Biblical Literature’s BibleOdyssey.org website with their professor, Dr. Lisa Wolfe. The pieces highlight two lesser-known biblical women: “Rizpah” (2 Sam 21:1-14), by Young and Wolfe, and the “Woman at Endor (Witch of Endor)” (1 Sam 28:3-35), by McMurry and Wolfe. These contributions were invited as part of the website’s Undergraduate-Faculty Writing Initiative, which gives undergraduates the opportunity to publish peer-reviewed, paid work in collaboration with a professor.

Kloe Young

Allie McMurry

Lisa Wolfe

Creativity one link at a time

Members of the Oklahoma City University women's wrestling team brought their own creative flair to their media day photo shoot. Team members posed with heavy metal chains, sledgehammers and other implements in order to bring some drama, creativity and visual interest to the shoot. Media day photos allow OCU athletes to showcase their personality while also creating visual collateral that is used on promotional materials for the university and Athletics department.

“Creative OCU” highlights one branch of the university’s mission — to create — by showcasing creative student work, providing a glimpse into the unique studies and projects undertaken at Oklahoma City University.

Photos by Ian Weston and Nadia Alejandres

ALUMNI-OWNED BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Throughout the pandemic, OCU considered ways to meaningfully thank our alumni and friends for their loyalty demonstrated during unprecedented times. In good as well as bad times, one of the most impactful ways of showing gratitude is by supporting our own graduates and their businesses. The OCU Alumni-Owned Business Directory began from this notion with specific goals, including providing alumni an opportunity to connect with and support fellow graduates and their businesses around the globe; encouraging OCU staff and faculty to support our alumniowned businesses before hiring any vendor or service provider unaffiliated with the university; and promoting the ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit of Oklahoma City University alumni.

While we are not able to assume responsibility for any of the products or services rendered from our alumni-owned businesses, we encourage you to check out the directory for a variety of needs such as when you are looking for a new restaurant to try out, a dance studio for your child or legal services for an upcoming estate plan. If you own a business, please register your organization in the directory. Go to okcu.edu/alumnibusiness today to help us grow the network and support of OCU alumni-owned businesses.