ECU CELEBRATES HOMECOMING 2013
Samantha Turner 2012 East Carolina Alumni Interior Merchandising
Catalog Connection Manager
EVERY DAY IS GAME DAY!
U.B.E.
PirateWear.com
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features
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unearthing the secrets of history
Archaeologist and surgeon Dr. Ashley White ’86 digs up the past to understand the present.
16 homecoming 2013
When you’re “Shipwrecked in Pirate Nation” for Homecoming 2013, you’ll have plenty of fun ways to reconnect with ECU!
20 alumni award recipients
Meet the 2013 recipients of the Distinguished Service, Honorary Alumni, and Outstanding Alumni Award.
departments on the cover Pee Dee the Pirate waves to fans during the annual Homecoming parade.
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dear pirate nation pirate connections photo gallery advancement update career corner around campus a look back
EC Alumni, the magazine of the East Carolina Alumni Association, takes a closer look at the accomplishments of our alumni, bringing you engaging feature articles highlighting their success. EC Alumni also features news from around campus, updates from University Advancement, career advice, how alumni and friends can support ECU’s legislative initiatives, and a look back at the University’s treasured history.
DEAR PIRATE NATION
WE
The spirit of “We Believe!” has been a driving force throughout our University’s history. It could be argued that belief in ECU is the motivation behind our motto of Servire, meaning to serve. If we look at our history, there are numerous “we believe!” milestones including:
early 1900s the push to have a teacher training school in Greenville 1967 after a long battle, ECC becomes ECU, gaining university status 1975 the General Assembly approves School of Medicine 1991 “We Believe!” becomes the mantra for Pirate football during this magical season 1999 ECU wins Disney’s Spirit Award for overcoming Hurricane Floyd 2011 School of Dental Medicine opens 2014 after years of athletic conference frustration, ECU will begin play in the the
American Athletic Conference
Belief in ECU has led the University through some major progressions and advancements. At the East Carolina Alumni Association, we believe in strengthening ECU. Our brand is firmly built on the spirit of “We Believe!” in some powerful ways. We Believe in the power of the Pirate Alumni Network
Connecting alumni to each other and the University is a main purpose of alumni programming at East Carolina. From our traditional programs like tailgate and reunions to our networking events and career webcasts, our programs aim to increase the power of the Pirate Alumni Network.
The mission of the East Carolina Alumni Association is to inform, involve, and serve members of the ECU family throughout their lifelong relationship with the University.
Paul J. Clifford PRESIDENT AND CEO
Christy Angle ’95 ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR ALUMNI PROGRAMS
Monique Best ACCOUNTING TECHNICIAN
Jackie Drake ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR ALUMNI COMMUNICATIONS
Candi High ’97 ACCOUNTANT
Michael S. Kowalczyk ’09, ’10 ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR ALUMNI PROGRAMS
Shawn Moore ’91, ’98 DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI PROGRAMS
Doug Smith ’00, ’07 VICE PRESIDENT FOR ALUMNI MEMBERSHIP & MARKETING
Chelsea Ward ’13 ALUMNI CENTER COORDINATOR
Chris Williams ’01 ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR ALUMNI MEMBERSHIP
We Believe in enhancing the reputation of the University
There are many ways to enhance ECU’s reputation: recruiting great students, success on the athletic fields, and by promoting the accomplishments of our alumni. Your Alumni Associations believes in all three ways, and most notably has an impact in spreading the good news of our alumni achievements in our magazine, newsletter, radio show, social media, and our alumni awards. We Believe in impacting the student experience
A great student experience yields loyal alumni. Your Alumni Association invests heavily in our students through our scholarship program, leadership and service programs like ECU Ambassadors and the Magnolia Belles, and our student alumni association, the Forever Pirates. Many of you show that you believe in ECU through your Alumni Association membership, and for that we are truly grateful. We invite all Pirates to share their “We Believe!” story at PirateAlumni.com/WeBelieve. I look forward to seeing you on campus this fall. GO PIRATES!
ALUMNI
Vol. 6, No. 4
EC Alumni (ISSN: 2152-3886) is published quarterly by the East Carolina Alumni Association. The Alumni Association is a member of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and Council of Alumni Association Executives (CAAE) and is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that operates interdependently with East Carolina University. The views expressed in EC Alumni magazine do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of the Alumni Association or the University. Reproduction of EC Alumni in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. ©2013 East Carolina Alumni Association Read EC Alumni online at: PirateAlumni.com/ECAlumni ISSN: 2152-5668 To contact us or comment on this magazine: 252-328-4723 | 800-ECU-GRAD alumni@PirateAlumni.com
Paul J. Clifford President and CEO
Send change of address to: East Carolina Alumni Association Taylor-Slaughter Alumni Center Mail Stop 305 East Carolina University Greenville, NC 27858-4353 EC Alumni is paid for with non-state funds.
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We Believe in the power of the Pirate Alumni Network! Connect with other Pirates at one of our many upcoming networking events. Advance your career and meet fellow Pirates in your area, including graduates who are leaders in their fields. Networking events will be held at the following dates and locations: Greensboro, NC Tuesday, September 24, 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Libby Hill Seafood Restaurant Featured alumni: Justin Conrad ’96 and Mary Plybon ’71 Greenville, NC Wednesday, September 25 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Winslow’s Tavern Featured alumnus: Phil Houston ’77 Atlanta, GA Tuesday, October 8, 5:30-8:00 p.m. Atlanta Fish Market Featured alumnus: Carlester Crumpler ’93, ’04 Charlotte, NC Wednesday, October 9, 5:30-8:00 p.m. Dressler’s Restaurant Featured alumni: Robert Brinkley ’78, Jessica Cosma ’07, and Duane Grooms ’80, ’82 Raleigh, NC Wednesday, October 16, 7:30-9:00 a.m. Irregardless Café Featured alumna: Cassandra Deck-Brown ’87 Fayetteville, NC Wednesday, October 16, 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Highland Country Club Featured alumnus: Doug Byrd ’69 Away Game Tailgates
Join fellow Pirates on the road! The Alumni Association and the Pirate Club will host joint tailgates at three away games this season. Tickets are $25 per person and free for children under twelve. ECU vs. Middle Tennessee State Saturday, October 5 in Murfreesboro, TN
PirateAlumni.com/MTSU2013
ECU vs. Florida International Saturday, November 2 in Miami, FL
pirate CONNECTIONS
Networking Events
PirateAlumni.com/FIU2013
ECU vs. NC State Saturday, November 23 in Raleigh, NC
PirateAlumni.com/NCSU2013
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PIRATE CONNECTIONS Pirate Career Casts
Our revamped Pirate Career Casts program returns in October! Pirate Career Casts are interactive webcasts facilitated by industry experts, offered the first Wednesday of each month. We’ve partnered with TalentMarks to present nationally-recognized speakers providing the latest information on the most relevant topics and pressing issues in today’s competitive market: October 2: Career Management November 6: Social Media December 4: Elevator Pitch January 8: Career Entrepreneurism February 5: Career Exploration March 5: Networking April 2: Leadership May 7: Twitter June 4: Job Search
Marching Pirates Reunion
Former marching band members will reunite at the Marching Pirates Reunion the weekend of October 18 when the Pirates play Southern Miss. Plan to arrive Friday afternoon to watch current band members rehearse, check out instruments, and attend an evening social. On Saturday, alumni and current band members will rehearse together before the game. After the game, gather at The Varsity Club for fellowship and food and drink specials. For more Pirate Career Casts are FREE for members and $10 for non- information, visit PirateAlumni.com/2013MarchingPiratesReunion. members. Learn more and register online at PirateAlumni.com.
The Alumni Association is currently updating and revitalizing our volunteer program. Formerly known as Pirate Contacts, volunteers will now be known as Privateers! Privateers are volunteers who serve as initial points of contact for alumni in their region, helping to keep alumni connected and informed. We need Privateers across the Pirate Nation! Privateers can plan events, lead chapters, or just help spread the word. Your level of involvement is up to you. Training is provided through an orientation session and staff assistance is always available. If you would like to get more information or to become a Privateer for your area, or volunteer in any other capacities, please contact Director of Alumni Programs Shawn Moore ’91, ’98 at 252-328-5775 or e-mail her at Shawn.Moore@PirateAlumni.com.
New Home? Quickly update your University record online PirateAlumni.com/UpdateInfo 4 EC ALUMNI FALL 2013
BY the #s
We Need Volunteers!
151,362 Total Alumni 1,774 Life Members 5,993 Annual Members 1,788 Student Members 6,448 ‘Like’ us
Facebook.com/ECAAFanPage 17,962 Event Photos
Flickr.com/photos/PirateAlumni 8,370 Connections
PirateAlumni.com/Linkedin 3,837 Followers
Twitter.com/PirateAlumni
PIRATE CONNECTIONS Awards Ceremony and Nominations
The Alumni Awards Ceremony and Dinner, the Alumni Association’s signature event sponsored by Duplin Winery, will honor seven Pirates with the Outstanding, Distinguished Service, and Honorary Alumni Awards for 2013. See pages 20 - 23 for information on this year’s recipients. These recipients will be recognized during the ceremony and dinner on Friday, October 18 at the Greenville Convention Center. The evening will begin with a cocktail reception at 6:00 p.m. with dinner and presentation of awards beginning at 7:00 p.m. Member tickets are $50, non-member tickets are $60. RSVP by October 8. For more information contact Director of Alumni Programs Shawn Moore ‘91, ‘98 at 252-328-5775 or e-mail her at Shawn.Moore@PirateAlumni.com. If you would like to nominate someone for the 2014 awards, nominations will be accepted through November 1. For more information, visit PirateAlumni.com/AwardsProcess.
of
Board Directors
Where Can a Pirate Voyage Take You?
Pirate Voyages provide opportunities for alumni to cultivate their passion for learning through travel. The Alumni Association partners with Orbridge to offer you these special opportunities to travel the world with fellow Pirates at affordable rates. Visit PirateAlumni.com/PirateVoyages for specific trip information or call 866-639-0079 and ask about the East Carolina Alumni Association trips.
Angela Moss ’97, ’98, Chair Raleigh, NC Neal Crawford ’85, Vice Chair
Norfolk, VA
Glenda Palmer-Moultrie ’79, Secretary
Derwood, MD
Dean Browder ’77, Treasurer
Flavors of Northern Italy Italy May 24-June 1, 2014 This amazing program introduces you to Italy in a way few people ever experience. Make a beautiful, historic Italian wine estate outside Verona your base as you explore the region, visiting Verona’s Roman Arena and other ancient sites, and discovering Italy’s cultural connection to farm and table along the way. Touring centuries-old wineries, tasting rare hand-made cheeses, and dining in homes of chefs and producers are just some of the exclusive highlights of this journey. Discover Southeast Alaska Alaska August 9-16, 2014 The inexorable forces of nature are on full display in Alaska — mountains eroded by the crushing force of massive glaciers, icebergs crowding cold, aquamarine seas, the cycles of plants and animals compressed into the scant weeks of an arctic summer. Navigate the waterways in luxury aboard Admiralty Dream where you will encounter abundant wildlife, breathtaking peaks and fjords, and ice-blue glaciers of unfathomable proportions.
Winston-Salem, NC
Jim Newman Jr. ’68, ’74, Past Chair
Raleigh, NC
Paul J. Clifford, President and CEO
Greenville, NC William Burnette ’96 Virginia Beach, VA Adrian Cullin ’04 Charlotte, NC Jim Dill ’79 Richmond, VA Neil Dorsey ’65, ’66 Winterville, NC Ralph Finch ’67 Midlothian, VA Jeff Foster ’83 Winterville, NC Keith Frazier ’94 Raleigh, NC Dave Fussell Jr. ’90 Rose Hill, NC Mark Garner ’77 Greenville, NC Robin Good ’80 Katy, TX Duane Grooms ’80, ’82 Columbia, SC James Hammond ’66 Poughkeepsie, NY Melanie Holden ’79 Raleigh, NC John Israel ’82 Norfolk, VA Wesley Johnson ’85 Powder Springs, GA Charlie Martin Jr. ’68 Greenville, NC Marian McLawhorn ’67, ’88, ’97 Grifton, NC Michael McShane ’66 Alexandria, VA Dan Spuller ’06, ’07 Raleigh, NC Ainee Lynnette Taylor ’97 Winterville, NC Allen Thomas ’92 Winterville, NC Jason Tomasula ’00, ’03, ’10 Charlotte, NC
Emeritus Members: Sabrina Bengel New Bern, NC Virgil Clark ’50 Deceased Carl Davis ’73 Raleigh, NC Dave Englert ’75 Norfolk, VA Brenda Myrick ’92 Greenville, NC Ernest Logemann ’68 Winston-Salem, NC PIRATEALUMNI.COM 5
PHOTO GALLERY
Members of the Class of 1963 were on campus during spring commencement for their 50th Class Reunion. Reunion attendees were inducted into the Golden Alumni Society and passed the torch to members of the Class of 2013 at the Senior Candlelight Ceremony.
For eighteen years, Pirates in Tidewater Virginia have hosted the E. Marvin Slaughter ’50 and James A. Johnson ’38 Memorial Golf Tournament to fund scholarships in both academics and athletics.
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PIRATEALUMN I.COM/
The Alumni Association believes in impacting the student experience. Below are photos from our Freshmen Sendoffs series and a new tradition at ECU, the signing of a class banner.
PHOTO G ALLERY
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LEGISLATIVE MATTERS 8 EC ALUMNI FALL 2013
Wins and Setbacks in Summer Legislative Session The North Carolina General Assembly adjourned for the year on July 26 following an extremely fast-paced session. The process was totally controlled by Republicans for the first time in over a hundred years, meaning major philosophical changes in policy regarding education and healthcare. The Appropriations Act of 2013 was passed on July 25. The 2013-2015 biennium budget contains cuts to the University of North Carolina system in both years. Several types of cuts mean a total reduction of $94.6 million or 3.89%. East Carolina University’s allocated cut is about 3.68% or $10.4 million. That 3.7% figure may not sound like much, but it is on top of a 16% cut two years ago and a 9% cut two years before that. In the last five years, ECU has lost almost 30% of our permanent budget. Our leadership will continue to identify operational efficiencies, while continuing to recruit and retain high quality students and faculty that create the environment for quality education that our students deserve. Outside of the budget, there were “wins” and a few “setbacks.” Legislation allowing students legal representation at disciplinary hearings will result in additional administrative procedures and costs for universities. In addition, HB 937 was passed, allowing individuals with concealed carry permits to have a gun on campus in a locked vehicle, although the bill was opposed by all chancellors and campus police chiefs. Furthermore, public school teachers will no longer receive a pay differential for having a master’s degree. This will likely impact enrollment at ECU’s College of Education. There was also no salary increase provided for our employees, marking the fourth year in the last five in which state employees did not receive a raise. The lack of raises makes it increasingly difficult to attract and retain the best faculty and staff. “Wins” included the passage of SB480, UNC Capital Improvements Projects, which authorizes campuses to acquire financing for capital improvement projects. ECU has two approved projects this year. The demolition and reconstruction of Belk Residence Hall will provide a safe and modern living space for students. A new
Women and Children’s Clinic at the Brody School of Medicine will increase Brody’s capacity to fulfill its mission of educating and training health professionals while providing access to quality health services to the people of eastern North Carolina. Unfortunately, several policy changes threaten the ability of the Brody School of Medicine to maintain a solid financial standing in the future. Changes to Medicaid reimbursement and the repeal of a mechanism to collect debt will significantly impact the bottom line of the ECU physician practice plan. Though unable to completely reverse these policy decisions, we were successful in softening the blow through the support of our Trustees, Board of Visitors and alumni. Without their advocacy efforts, we would have not fared as well. The “wins” also included the passage of SB485, which enables universities to expand e-commerce initiatives, and revisions to the State Health Plan law that will avoid incurring $15 million in costs for the system. In addition, a legislatively imposed tuition increase for out-of-state students was limited to undergraduates only. While these do not appear to be significant wins, through the collaborative efforts of UNC General Administration staff and legislative liaisons across the UNC system, we minimized, mitigated, or eliminated several troubling and problematic pieces of legislation. The impact of alumni involvement as a part of the university’s advocacy strategy cannot be overstated. We encourage you to thank your legislators for their support of higher education and call on them to support issues that specifically impact ECU. Policymakers need to know that we are appreciative of their efforts on behalf of ECU and that we will need their continued support in the future.
Where Pirate Memories Continue...
“Don’t be surprised if during a visit to Cypress Glen you hear an occasional ‘Bonjour, Madame’ or ‘Je vais bien, merci’. Cypress Glen is very much alive with friendly and fascinating neighbors.” After studies carried Grace Ellenberg from her home state of South Carolina to North Carolina and Vermont, Grace landed in Paris where she lived for several years, fully absorbing the French culture. Then one October day in 1967, she cleaned out her apartment, said “Au revoir!” to her beloved Paris and moved to Greenville, accepting a position with the East Carolina foreign language faculty where she remained for 19 rewarding years. Grace now lives among other interesting retirees, including many other East Carolina University enthusiasts, at Cypress Glen. She often wears a shirt marked “Vive la France” and an ECU jacket, proudly showing her affection for these two places. Grace enjoys meeting new people everywhere, encourages them to visit Cypress Glen and welcomes their knock on her apartment door. Her residence is filled with wonderful history and treasures from past travels. Grace is quick to add that should she not answer your knock, she is probably off on the Cypress Glen bus to attend an ECU concert, play, or lecture, or perhaps returning from a local mystery outing or the Raleigh museum.
Grace Ellenberg Cypress Glen Resident since 2009
Official Partner
www.cypressglen.org
PIRATEALUMNI.COM 9
ADVANCEMENT UPDATE 10 EC ALUMNI FALL 2013
Family Sets Up Scholarship in Honor of Tony Misenheimer ’69 A gift for the man who has everything
Finding the perfect gift for that special someone who has everything is a daunting task, for sure. We’ve all been there at one time or another, and that’s precisely where Heather ’97 and Derek Stepp ’98 and their family found themselves earlier this year. Heather’s dad, Tony Misenheimer ’69, was planning to retire and, after many years of career highs and lows, he had finally reached a place professionally, and personally, where he could step back and enjoy the good life he had worked so hard for all those years. So, it was time to celebrate and throw a party to honor the man who meant so much to so many people. If you ask anyone about Tony Misenheimer, they will tell you what a great man he is. He is generous and kind and loves people. “I get my gift of hospitality from him, in that he always wants any and everybody he’s around to be happy, to be comfortable, and to have a good time, to meet their needs whatever it is whether it’s food or drink or somewhere to stay…he just is that person that is welcoming to everybody,” said Heather. But, as plans for a retirement party for Tony progressed, everything was coming together except…the gift. It couldn’t be just an ordinary gift, either. “We’ve bought him every shirt and tie imaginable. We buy him all the newest and latest electronics, and then he can’t figure out how to work them,” Heather said. No, this had to be a special gift for a special man…one that would leave him speechless. From humble beginnings come great things
Tony Misenheimer was born and raised in Rockwell. The only child of hard-working parents, W.T. and Burline Misenheimer, Tony was extremely close to his mother and father. His mother worked in the mills and his father worked for the railroad in order to make ends meet, and to save enough money to pay for Tony to, one day, go to college. There were no scholarships or financial aid to be had. “It was truly through the hard work of his parents that he was able to go off to college...so he always felt like they were the reason why he was able to have that success,” said Heather. After his high school graduation in 1963, Tony’s parents’ hard work finally paid off when he enrolled in East Carolina University. He studied business, but also majored in lots of fun on the way to “squeezing by” and earning his business degree. Tony went on to honor the United States by serving in Vietnam, but it was afterwards on a visit to Catawba College in Salisbury that he met, and eventually married, the love of his life. “At Catawba, if you left your dorm room you had to be signed out,” said Heather. So when Tony showed up at the dorm to pick up his girlfriend for a date, he had to sign her out with a cute and spunky girl named Jeannie Rives. Jeannie caught Tony’s eye and the rest, as they say, is history. Jeannie was the last girl Tony ever signed out of the Catawba College dorm, or any other dorm for that matter. They married in 1973, and raised three daughters, The Misenheimer family at ECU Homecoming in 1993. Heather, Caroline, and Mary Craig.
When business was good, it was real good, and when it was bad…he started his own company. “I remember my dad always telling me, you are going to make mistakes, but you have to look at those mistakes and figure out how not to make them next time,” said Heather. After several years of working as an insurance auditor, Tony left the NC Department of Insurance for an opportunity to partner with three friends to start a T-shirt printing business. But, this was not any ordinary T-shirt printing business. Their company, Action America, contracted with Logo 7 to print every pro sports T-shirt in the early to mid-80s. Business…was…booming. Unfortunately though, the old saying, “What goes up, must come down” rang true, and Action America ended up filing Misenheimer family photo from Mary Craig Misenheimer Palmatary’s wedding. bankruptcy. So, out of necessity, Tony went back to insurance regulation work for the state of Nevada until of Business because that is just a logical fit.” So the night of his retirement party, Heather spoke on behalf he landed a job as a contract administrator for Shotz, Miller and Glusman in Philadelphia, PA. After signing on with them, the of her family. She read letters of gratitude from Chancellor Ballard, company announced plans that it would not seek contract renewal and the dean of the College of Business. She, then, presented her with the state of Delaware. Luckily, Tony didn’t see the closing father with documentation of the scholarship they had set up as another loss, he saw it as an opportunity to strike out with a in his honor and told him, “We really wanted to do something partner and start their own audit company, Regulatory Insurance special, and we know this is where your heart is, and it’s where our family’s heart is.” When asked how her father responded to the gift, Services, which proved to be a very wise vision. Heather said, “He was speechless!” The gift that keeps on giving… Regulatory Insurance Services became a very successful business The gift that lasts forever… that, twenty-plus years later, is still flourishing. Not only does his At the end of 2012, Tony sold his shares of stock in the company audit for the state of Delaware, but with three other companies to his partners and is now retired. He has accepted a partners he also started another company, INSRIS that audits for position to serve on the Board of the Oakwood School in Greenville, twenty or thirty other states. where his granddaughters, Olivia and Stella, attend school. He and Tony definitely believes in giving back to the community, and Jeannie have a home in the mountains and a condo in Myrtle Beach has been a tremendous supporter of East Carolina University in where they enjoy spending lots of time, so he wants to become many ways. He raised three Pirates, and hired approximately twenty more involved in the communities there. During retirement, Tony ECU grads to work for his company over the years. He contributes plans to slow down, take it easy, “hang and play golf ” and do way to the Pirate Club auction every year, as well as to other ECU more of the thing he loves the most- spending time with his wife, causes and missions. The very first donation Tony made to ECU Jeannie, and their family. A family that has grown by leaps and was an endowed scholarship to athletics in memory of his mother. bounds since the 70s to include Heather’s husband, Derek Stepp, “My dad’s mantra has always been the one that says to whom and their daughter’s Olivia and Stella, Caroline’s ‘00 husband, Sean much is given, much is expected, and I feel like that is how our Connoly ’96, and Mary Craig’s husband, Rich Palmatary. They say whole family lives out each day. If you’ve been blessed with that “family” is the gift that lasts forever, so it would seem that something, whether it’s money, talent, or some other gift, you can’t Tony Misenheimer had the perfect gift in front of him all along. just keep it to yourself. You have to give back,” said Heather. “I knew how special starting that scholarship in his mom’s name was to him and I decided we should look into doing something like that in his honor,” said Heather. So that’s what they did. “My sister, Mary Craig Palmatary ’06, was an EC Scholar so her entire undergrad degree was paid for through scholarship money, and I received a Dowdy Student Stores scholarship that paid for my books, so we personally know the difference scholarships make. I also know my dad has been wanting to do something to give back Misenheimer annually supports alumni scholarships by participating in to the academic side of ECU as well, and particularly the College the ECU Alumni Scholarship Classic golf tournament. PIRATEALUMNI.COM 11
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The secrets of history – how people of the past lived and why they died – are often lost, but they can be recovered through careful study and investigation, so we can discover the past to better understand our present. Where medicine, science, and history meet, that’s where you can find Dr. Ashley White ’86. This archaeologist, dental surgeon, and author studies bones and teeth to see how the maladies of the past can inform the cures and preventions of today. After earning a biology degree from East Carolina University, White completed his doctor of dental surgery degree and forensic training at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Since then, he has done everything from surgery to improve modern patients’ lives, to discovering the medical causes of deaths long ago. White is the archaeological project director for one of the most important archaeological sites in the early history of America. His team located and excavated the
area between Ocala and Gainesville. This expansive peat bog is low in oxygen, which slows the process of decay, meaning many of the artifacts that would have been lost have been well preserved. With so much history preserved in Florida’s swamps and bogs, construction crews that encounter human remains call White to determine that the bones are historical and not an active crime scene. When construction crews were working on road repairs following a hurricane in the area, they found artifacts that were determined to be from the Spanish mission of San Buenaventura. When White was called in to excavate that site, he found a coin that pre-dated the mission by about a hundred years. This coin would have been from the earliest Spanish explorers, namely Hernando de Soto, who explored the area between 1539 and 1542. White set out to find de Soto’s camp, which had only been described in ancient documents from the mission, in 2003. Retracing the steps of a missionary who kept a journal of his travels, they found the camp in 2005. They finished excavating in 2009, but the significance of the find did not become widely known until last year, after the artifacts had been preserved and verified, and articles had been written, reviewed, and published in academic journals. White and his team, which included his son Ethan and his wife Michele, a fellow archaeologist, have found all sorts of remnants of everyday life – and death – at the mission and the camp: glass beads,
Unearthing the Secrets of History remains of a 1539 encampment of conquistador Hernando de Soto in central Florida, and the now-extinct native Potano culture that once flourished there before the arrival of Europeans. “It is very exciting to study a people and culture that were essentially lost to history,” White says. “We want to know what their rituals were: daily life, marriage, death, how they mourned, what they ate, what they wore, what they believed, and how exposure to Europeans caused their extinction.” Over the last two decades, White has been researching ancient diseases and their symptoms for prevention of future pandemics. This bioarchaeology and paleopathology research has granted White access to some of the world’s most sensitive archaeological sites in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas. One of the most pivotal recent discoveries was in Florida, in a swampy
coins, and bits of armor and ammunition, and human remains. “We’re looking for something as tiny as a tooth fragment or an ear bone,” White said. “The evidence is revealing a horrible story of devastation and annihilation. It looks like nearly all of Florida’s aboriginal population had been impacted by epidemics like smallpox and measles introduced by the first European explorers.” Some of the most interesting artifacts include medieval iron crossbow bolts and rudimentary lead bullets. “This is an exciting discovery that demonstrates the transition from ancient weapons to modern firearms,” White said. Hernando de Soto was one of the few explorers to leave the safety of the coast and strike a course inland into unmapped territory. He trekked over 4,000 miles through the riverlands and swamps of southeastern North America, but his route and trials were lost to history – until now. Now White and other archaeologists can see where de Soto went, how he survived, how he and his soldiers fought with natives and transmitted diseases, and how they all met their ends, as well as what that means for scholars of history and medicine today. When he’s not out in the field, White still occasionally scrubs in to advise on maxillofacial surgeries. He remains on the medical staff with operating privileges at three regional medical centers in Florida. White is also the author of Physical Signs in Medicine and Surgery - An Atlas of Rare, Lost and Forgotten Physical Signs. This atlas helps doctors in remote or emergency situations
Archaeology Field School at the 1539 Hernando de Soto encampment site in Florida.
diagnose patients and determine causes of death when access to modern technology is limited. He also wrote a book about his finds at the mission and camp. At the time of his interview, White was finishing his second and final term on the governing board of the Archaeological Institute of America. As a board member, he served on several committees that track legislation affecting archaeological sites, set excavation procedures and standards, moderate ethical issues in the field, and investigate illegal trade of antiquities. Originally from Washington, White decided to attend ECU because his older brother and sister had done so, and he enjoyed staying with them in the dorms when he visited campus. White was actually accepted at Brown and Princeton, but they “just felt so far from home,” he said. So he came to ECU, and “it all felt right, that’s what I should have done to begin with.” While at Washington High School, White attended some Maya Mask Temple in Lamanai, Belize near sixteenth-century Spanish church ruins investigated in comparison to the San Buenaventura biology programs at mission in Florida. ECU, which helped
him decide his major and career. “Anytime a high school student can visit a college campus, that opens up so many options to them,” White says. “There are so many programs like that at ECU, that’s why it’s so good for eastern North Carolina.” While at ECU, White worked as a research associate at the Brody School of Medicine. He participated in many intramural sports including jiu-jitsu, and helped conduct underwater surveys of shipwrecks with the ECU Dive Club. He enjoyed going to football games, especially when ECU beat NC State in Raleigh. He fondly remembers classes with Dr. Charles Bland, who was chair of the biology department at the time. “He always had a smile, he was always welcoming; that’s how the whole department was,” White said. “He lit a spark in me to want to learn.” White says his experience at ECU truly prepared him for his career. “ECU has very strong biology and chemistry programs, and no matter which field you choose, you will have a very complete knowledge base. You get the theory but also the real-world application. I just think ECU is a great school.” White got several job offers after graduation, but he still wasn’t sure what exactly he wanted to do. He decided on a biomedical engineering research job at Duke University, where he worked while he completed his dental surgery degree at PIRATEALUMNI.COM 13
Recording artifacts found at the ruins of the San Buenaventura de Potano Mission ca. 1607 in Florida.
UNC-Chapel Hill. At the time, there were only a handful of medical examiners in the state, so UNC-Chapel Hill developed a program to train professionals who could conduct forensic investigations of death. White decided to pursue further study in forensic medicine. Archaeology is a subfield of anthropology and physical anthropology and forensic medicine involve the same
training. After completing the program, White became an expert in the recovery and conservation of human remains as well as material cultural artifacts. White says his proudest accomplishment is being a husband and father, but he adds, “discovering what is arguably one of the most important archaeological sites in US history is pretty cool.” White is also especially proud of the
advancements ECU has made in recent years. “Now with the medical school and dental school at ECU, you don’t need to go anywhere else!” White and graduates like him work to answer the questions of the past and gain knowledge to improve quality of life for people today.
“ECU has very strong biology and chemistry programs, and no matter which field you choose, you will have a very complete knowledge base. You get the theory but also the real-world application. I just think ECU is a great school.” 14 EC ALUMNI FALL 2013
PIRATEALUMNI.COM 15
The East Carolina Alumni Association is proud to offer the following opportunities for alumni, friends, and community members to reconnect with East Carolina when returning to campus this fall for Homecoming 2013. 800-ECU-GRAD 16   EC ALUMNI FALL 2013
PirateAlumni.com/Homecoming
friday, November 8 Freeboot Friday 5:00-8:00 p.m., Five Points Plaza in Uptown Greenville Come by the Alumni Association’s table to mingle with your fellow Pirates and grab a few spirit souvenirs!
Saturday, November 9 Alumni Homecoming Breakfast 9:00 a.m., Taylor-Slaughter Alumni Center Lawn (on the corner of Fifth and Biltmore Streets) Come out for a complimentary breakfast sponsored by ARAMARK and a chance to visit with fellow alumni. Stay for a front-row seat to watch the parade! Homecoming Parade 10:00 a.m., Fifth Street Join us at the Taylor-Slaughter Alumni Center to watch the ECU Homecoming 2013 Parade sail by with the theme “Shipwrecked in Pirate Nation.” Watch the ECU Marching Pirates and local high school marching bands along with student organization floats, the ECU Cheerleaders and PeeDee the Pirate, and members of the Homecoming Court will wave to the crowd as they navigate down Fifth Street right in front of the Alumni Center. Homecoming Alumni Tailgate Time TBA, ECU Soccer Stadium (behind Clark LeClair Stadium and next to the Olympic Sports Complex off Charles Blvd.). $10 for Alumni Association members; $25 for nonmembers. Free for children 12 and under Gather with fellow fans for a buffet meal provided by Abram’s Bar-B-Q and ARAMARK, dessert by Chef Kirk, sweet tea by Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, Pirate beverages, live music, door prizes, and games for children.
Homecoming Football Game: Tulsa vs. ECU Time TBA, Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium Visit ECUPirates.com or call 800-DIAL-ECU to order tickets. Visit PirateAlumni.com/Homecoming or call the Alumni Center at 800-ECU-GRAD for information about parking, transportation, hotels, and alumni football tickets.
PIRATEALUMNI.COM 17
College, School and Department Activities Brody School of Medicine
Lunch forum with the dean Nov. 8, noon, price and location TBD Contact Karen Cobb at 252-744-3231
School of Music Alumni Reunion Recital Nov. 8, 7 p.m. at Fletcher Recital Hall Free, RSVP with Mary Jane Gaddis at 252-3281268 or gaddism@ecu.edu.
Alumni Reunion Celebration Nov. 8, 6:30 p.m. at Brody Commons Graduates of classes ending in “8” or “3” are invited to a dean’s cocktail hour at 6:30 p.m., followed by BSOM Alumni Awards at 7 p.m. and dinner at 7:30 p.m. $30 per person
Breakfast on the Terrace Nov. 9, 9-10:30 a.m. at Jenkins Fine Arts Center Terrace Free for alumni of the College of Fine Art and Communication. RSVP to Mary Jane Gaddis at 252-328-1268 or gaddism@ecu.edu.
Alumni Society Breakfast Meeting Nov. 9, time and location TBD Contact Karen Cobb at 252-744-3231
College of Human Ecology
Homecoming Tailgate Nov. 9, three hours before kick-off, between softball and track fields Catered by On The Square. College of Business
Homecoming Social Nov. 9, 9:30-11:30 a.m. on the lawn between Chancellor’s Way and Fifth St. Free, no RSVP required. Contact Anne Fisher at 252-328-4396 or fishera@ecu.edu. College of Education
Breakfast on the Porch Nov. 9, 9 a.m. at the Speight Building Free coffee and donuts for alumni, faculty, staff, friends and family. RSVP by Nov. 1 to Stephanie Bunn at 252-737-4799 or bunns@ecu.edu. College of Fine Arts and Communication
School of Music Homecoming Reception Nov. 8, 5 p.m. at Fletcher Music Center Free to visit with faculty and alumni. RSVP to Mary Jane Gaddis at 252-328-1268 or gaddism@ecu.edu.
18 EC ALUMNI FALL 2013
Continental Breakfast Nov. 9, 9 a.m. at the Rivers Building Free for alumni and families. Contact Cherie Reich at 252-328-6903 or reichc@ecu.edu. College of Technology and Computer Science
Alumni Breakfast Nov. 9, 8:30-10 a.m. at College of Technology and Computer Science Atrium, first floor Free, no RSVP required. Contact Bonnie Eshelman at 252-328-9600 or eshelmanb@ecu.edu. Department of Chemistry
Homecoming Festivities Nov. 8, 5-8:30 p.m. at the Science & Technology Building, third floor Cost TBD. RSVP by Oct. 28 to Jenny Burnham at burnhamj@ecu.edu. Department of Psychology
Pre-Parade Breakfast Nov. 9, 8:30-10 a.m. at the Rawl Building Free. RSVP by Oct. 29 to Kathy Pruitt at 252328-6492 or pruittk@ecu.edu. Honors College
Open House Nov. 9, 9-10 a.m. at the Mamie Jenkins Building Free, no RSVP required. Contact Kevin Baxter, 252-328-6373 or baxterk@ecu.edu.
reunions Collegians Reunion November 7-8 “The Best Band in Tar Heel Land” will come together for their annual Homecoming reunion. Band members and their guests will participate in a weekend full of fun activities, including golf, fellowship, jam sessions, and playing for fellow alumni at the Homecoming Celebration Dinner and Dance on Saturday night at Cypress Glen Retirement Community. ECTC Reunion November 8 Reconnect with former classmates and your alma mater for a very special weekend. Enjoy all of the Homecoming events available with the highlight of the Homecoming Celebration Dinner and Dance featuring The Collegians on Saturday evening.
OTHER ACTIVITIES Dowdy Student Stores Open House and Sale Nov. 7-9 Dowdy welcomes alumni back to campus! Shop our selection of Pirate clothing and gifts at sale prices. Show us your class ring for a discount of one percent for every year you’ve been away, up to 30 percent for those celebrating a 30th reunion or later! (Discounts taken off regular price apparel & gifts. In-store only.) Find out more at www. studentstores.ecu.edu or on Facebook at “ECU Dowdy Student Stores.” Campus Recreation & Wellness Get a great workout for FREE during Homecoming weekend. Just say you are an ECU alumnus when you stop by the customer service desk and you and a guest will be admitted for free. Alumni may bring an additional two guests for $5.00 each. For more information contact Dena Olo at olod@ecu.edu or 252-328-6387.
black alumni reunion PirateAlumni.com/2013BAR
The Black Alumni Chapter of the East Carolina Alumni Association welcomes all black alumni to reconnect with fellow classmates at this very special Black Alumni Reunion during Homecoming 2013. In addition to the Homecoming activites found on page 17, black alumni are invited to the following events: Friday, November 8 6:30 p.m. Scholarship Presentation at the NPHC Step Show Wright Auditorium
Tickets can be purchased online at ECUArts.com.
Friday, November 8 6:00-8:00 p.m. Jazz Mix & Mingle Courtyard by Marriott Hospitality Suite Special entertainment by ECU Jazz Ensemble director Carroll V. Dashiell, Jr. This is a free event.
Saturday, November 9 8:00 p.m.-2:00 a.m. Black Alumni Reunion Party The Martinsborough With special invitation to Coach Ruffin McNeill ’80, dancing with music by B. Paiz, and heavy hors d’oeuvres buffet by Scarborough Fare Catering. $50 for Alumni Association members and $60 for nonmembers.
PIRATEALUMNI.COM 19
2013 Outstanding Alumni Award Recipients Philip Houston ’77, a veteran of the Central Intelligence Agency, is a nationally recognized expert in counter-intelligence and deception detection. He is also the founder of two companies, a best-selling author, and a dedicated advocate for ECU. After earning his bachelor of arts degree in political science, he served in the Air Force before joining the CIA. In his twenty-five-year career there, he rose through the ranks to become a senior member of the CIA’s Office of Securtiy. He developed much of the detection deception methodology currently employed throughout the U.S. intelligence and federal law enforcement communities. He has traveled to over forty countries, serving in a counter-terrorism role preventing attacks on the US and its allies. Houston is the founder and CEO of QVerity, a behavioral analysis and screening company based in Greenville, which he founded in 2009. He also founded Business Intelligence Advisors, where he introduced his deception detection methods to the corporate world. He is the co-author of the New York Times best-seller, Spy the Lie. While he is a legend within the CIA, he’s not a typical agent; he is described by colleagues as a quiet and unassuming man who loves East Carolina University. Houston has often returned to ECU and spoken with various classes, telling students that the education they receive at ECU can carry them to the highest levels of any career path. He continues to work with the political science department on a sequence of courses that could be used for continuing education of federal employees in security services, making ECU a leader in the field. Houston and his wife Debra currently reside in Greenville. They have three children who attended ECU: Philip Houston Jr. ’05, Elizabeth Dawson ’08, ’09, and Chris Houston ’06.
J. Fielding Miller ’84 is a visionary leader in the financial industry and an exemplary supporter of ECU. He is the co-founder and CEO of CAPTRUST Advisors, the nation’s largest independent advisor to corporate and government retirement plans. Miller founded the company around sixteen years ago to serve “middle market” institutions, a relatively untapped market at the time, since only the largest corporations retained specialized retirement consulting firms. He kept the company growing throughout the economic recession which now includes 21 offices, 260 employees and over $100 billion in client assets. Miller was recently recognized as one of 2012’s “Top Ten Most Influential People” by an investment industry publication and also was awarded the lifetime achievement award, from PLANSPONSOR and PLANADVISER magazines. He created CAP Community Foundation, which encourages all CAPTRUST employees to engage in community service to give back and enrich the lives of children. He has served on the ECU Board of Trustees and the ECU Foundation Board. He also annually supports students in the Access Scholars program. For more than seven years, he has been a member of the investment committee that oversees the investment portfolios for the ECU Foundation and the East Carolina University Endowment. He is a longtime supporter of the Pirate Club and the College of Business. He has held leadership roles on the board for several other educational and community organizations, including the Ravenscroft School, the Oak Ranch, and the House of Hope. For many years, Miller has very generously shared his time, his financial resources, his professional expertise, his considerable influence and enthusiasm to make a positive difference at East Carolina University and beyond. Miller currently resides in Raleigh, NC with his wife Kim ’83, and two daughters, Cameron and Lauren. 20 EC ALUMNI FALL 2013
Jerry Tolley ’65, ’66 is the mayor of Elon after serving as championship coach and respected administrator at Elon University. He is also a nationally renowned sports author with six published books to his name including The Legend of the East Carolina Pirates. He has continued his dedicated support of ECU academics and athletics since his graduation. Tolley’s longtime devotion to ECU began in 1961 when he came to campus as a freshmen track and football athlete majoring in physical education. He set many gridiron records at ECU and was the first in his family to graduate from college. As head coach from 1977 to 1982, Tolley presided over Elon’s “golden era” of football, winning back-to-back national titles in 1980 and 1981, and finishing with an impressive 49-11-2 record. He has been inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame, among many others. He has served Elon as a professor, administrator, and in various advancement positions. He is the recipient of a number of state and national awards for both his coaching career and his service to North Carolina. In 1997, he received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the state’s highest civilian award. He also earned the Laurel Wreath Award for athletic achievement. Tolley remains active with the ECU College of Health and Human Performance and ECU Athletics, contributing to awards, scholarships, and facilities. He is a member of the college’s Advancement Council, and received the college’s Centennial Leadership medallion. He is a member of the Pirate Club, Alumni Association, and Chancellor’s Society. Tolley’s legacy has forever elevated the sport of football in North Carolina and the reputation of East Carolina University. Tolley is married to his college sweetheart, Joanie Morrison Tolley ’65, his wife of forty-seven years. They currently reside in Elon and have two children, Justin and Jerry, and four grandchildren. George Whitfield ’59 is an award-winning coach and one of the most influential figures in high school, legion, and college baseball in North Carolina. In addition to building winning programs, he has taught thousands of youth how to excel at the game of life. Originally from Kinston, Whitfield majored in physical education at ECU. He has coached at Goldsboro High School, Goldsboro American Legion Post 11, Hamlet High School, Hamlet American Legion Post 49, and Richmond Senior High School. In his storied career that spanned nearly five decades, he won eight state titles, four for high school baseball and four for legion baseball, as well as fifteen conference championships. His overall record of 954 wins to 286 losses (77%) has made him one of the winningest baseball coaches in America. For forty-one years, he has conducted the nationally recognized George Whitfield Baseball Clinic, which brings players, coaches, and officials together from all levels of baseball to discuss issues in the sport and encourage underprivileged players. He was the National High School Baseball Coach of the Year in 1969 and 1974. He has been inducted into multiple halls of fame, including the NC Sports Hall of Fame in 2005. In 1993 he was inducted into the halls of fame for both the American Baseball Coaches Association and the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. Over ninety of his players have received athletic scholarships, with three of them making it to the major leagues. In 1980, Whitfield received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the state’s highest civilian honor. Additionally, he has served as an assistant coach at ECU, the only one to serve under three different head coaches. He has also worked as an athletic director at Mount Olive College and as the first baseball coach at Pitt Community College, setting up another winning baseball program. Whitfield currently resides in Goldsboro. He has one son, Gef, and one daughter, Tyler. PIRATEALUMNI.COM 21
2013 Distinguished Service Award Recipients Bill Furr ’65 has made the most of his successful business career as the co-founder of Cumulus Fibres, Inc., part of Polyester Fibers, LLC, the nation’s largest manufacturer and distributor of high-loft nonwoven materials for the bedding, furniture, industrial, auto, filtration, craft, and seasonal markets. Now retired, Furr spends his time promoting and supporting ECU. Furr has been an active contributor ever since graduating with a bachelor of arts in business administration. He was the lead benefactor for our campus’s iconic Cupola, a double-size replica of the original dome topping the old Austin Building. His support was critical to the building of the Murphy Center where the lobby is named in his and his wife’s honor. Furr has served on many boards at ECU, including the Board of Trustees from 1989 to 1997, the Business Advisory Council for the College of Business (where he was a founding member), the steering committee for the School of Business’ Golden Anniversary campaign, and the steering committee for the Shared Visions campaign. He is a member of the Order of the Cupola and a founding member of the Chancellor’s Society. In addition to his philanthropic and volunteer support, Furr is a tireless ambassador for the University, promoting ECU at every level from student events to political endeavors, all to increase ECU’s standing and influence across the state and region. Furr Furr has made ECU better through his selfless contributions of time, talent, financial support, and enthusiasm for the University. Furr and his wife Emily currently reside in Vero Beach, FL. They have three children, Tom Furr ‘89, Elizabeth Hammond, and Laura Sanchez.
Mary Plybon ’71 is an active supporter and longtime volunteer for ECU. She is a charter member of the Women’s Roundtable at ECU, serving as chair in 2011-2012 as well as chair-elect and immediate past chair in the preceding and following years. She has worked tirelessly to strengthen the organization and the University. The Women’s Roundtable was founded in 2003 as a group of women dedicated to acknowledging the contributions of women to ECU’s legacy. The organization encourages new levels of leadership, philanthropy, and commitment by women to the University’s future. Plybon’s record of helping others began early in her life as a social work major at ECU. As a native of Pitt County, she is passionate about giving back and upholding ECU’s commitment to provide educational opportunities for all. Her friends call her softspoken but her work to benefit ECU speaks volumes. Plybon has served ECU on the Board of Visitors from 2002 to 2010 and as an ex-officio member of the ECU Foundation Board of Directors. She also served as a member of the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences Advancement Council from 1997 to 2006. Throughout her extensive travels around the east coast, she is always promoting ECU. She is a loyal member of both the Alumni Association and the Pirate Club. She and her husband Bob ’72 have endowed an EC Scholars Award and an Access Scholarship, and she annually funds a College of Nursing scholarship. The couple has hosted a number of fundraising events for the Honors College, the Brody School of Medicine, and other educational entities. In addition, she and Bob are founding board members of Triad Golfers Against Cancer, which has helped to raise over $150,000 for cancer research at the Brody School of Medicine. Mary and Bob currently reside in Greensboro. They have two children, Rosemary Plybon Kenerly and Charlie Plybon, and four grandchildren. 22 EC ALUMNI FALL 2013
2013 Honorary Alumni Award Recipient Harvey R. Lewis generously supports athletics and medicine at ECU. He is the owner of E.R. Lewis Construction Company. His support has helped provide high-quality facilities which advanced the growth of the University as well as the health of the community. Originally from Bethel, Lewis completed his general education courses at East Carolina College before serving in the US Army. Upon returning, he joined the construction business his father started, working his way up from bulldozer operator to owner. Over fifty years since its founding, E.R. Lewis Construction Company is the leading site work contractor in eastern North Carolina. Lewis’ provision of more than $1 million in site work for what would be named Lewis Field in Clark LeClair Stadium gave ECU one of the finest venues in all of college baseball. He contributed the land and site work for the Bernstein Community Health Center, which serves more than 10,000 low-income patients in Pitt and surrounding counties. He helped generate support across the state for the ECU School of Dental Medicine and the Heart Institute. Lewis donated both funds and materials for the football team’s new strength and conditioning practice facility. He offered in-kind gifts of labor and supplies to aid the construction of ECU’s Olympic Complex for track, soccer, and softball. His company contributed to practice facilities at Ironwood and Bradford Creek for the ECU golf team. He also donated land for the Grady White Boats / E.R. Lewis Family Boys and Girls Club. He is a member of the Alumni Association, the Pirate Club, the Order of the Cupola, and has served two terms on the Educational Foundation Board. He also received the Small Business Leaders Award from the Greenville-Pitt County Chamber of Commerce. He maintains close ties with the Department of Construction Management at ECU. His deep devotion to East Carolina has allowed the University and community to prosper.
Nominate SOMEONE FOR AN Alumni Award Honoring the achievements and service of members of the Pirate Nation is extremely important to the East Carolina Alumni Association. The most public way in which we honor our alumni is at our Alumni Awards Ceremony in the fall. The success of this program and the caliber of our award winners hinges on the letters and nominations that alumni like you send recommending fellow Pirates for our awards. The Alumni Association’s Distinguished Service Award is one of the most prestigious offered by the University. It recognizes uncommon and outstanding service to the Alumni Association and/or the University as a whole. Recipients should have adhered to standards of moral and ethical conduct
that would cause the University to be proud to present the recipients as role models for students and other alumni. The definition of service will be left to the discretion of the Awards Committee of the Alumni Association. Honorary Alumni status is an honor extended to individuals who did not attend ECU but have adopted the University as their own through uncommon and outstanding service, substantial and continuing commitment, and loyalty. In recognition of the expressions of good will, the Alumni Association annually inducts those who are particularly deserving to be recognized as honorary members of the Alumni Association. The Alumni Association’s Outstanding
Alumni Award is one of the most prestigious offered by the University. It recognizes alumni with a minimum of five years of work history and outstanding and uncommon achievement in one’s profession, in civic affairs, and/or politics. Recipients should have adhered to standards of moral and ethical conduct that would cause the University to be proud to present the honorees as role models for students and other alumni. It is expected that recipients are recognized by their professional peers as being truly outstanding within their professions. Visit PirateAlumni.com/AwardsProcess for complete eligibility information and nomination forms. Deadline for submissions is November 1 of each year. PIRATEALUMNI.COM 23
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Lynnette Taylor Dave Jordan News at Six Weeknights
24 EC ALUMNI FALL 2013
“That new guy in accounting seems to know his stuff but WHY would he EVER agree to work here? This place is a train wreck!” Have you found yourself engaged in an infectiously negative “water cooler” chat like this one? If so, it could be time to start looking for a new career opportunity. Prolonged negativity can lead to stress and even depression, which can also contribute to threats on your physical health. Noticing negativity in your reaction to the job you have or the organization you work for can be obvious reasons to consider your options for change. While sometimes this scenario may call for a change in employment, many times those who find themselves in these situations may actually find fulfillment in improving the circumstances of their current work environment. After all, the quest for new employment is often an arduous process that requires a great deal of self-reflection, networking, patience and perseverance. The core principles of an approach known as “appreciative inquiry” (AI) can help those in a negative employment environment to work towards re-framing this into a positive environment. Sometimes this allows the employee to re-discover fulfillment without the need for a transition. These principles offer a positive solutionfocused approach to problem solving by reminding us that we create/shape our own reality through the words we share and the
questions we ask, both internally and with others, as well as by the image we paint of the future and its possibilities. Consider whether venting to colleagues about your workplace frustration usually makes you feel better or worse. Many who regularly engage in this say they find themselves even more “fired up” by the end of these discussions rather than relaxed and ready to move on from the issue and back to productive work that might have helped them feel more accomplished by the day’s end. Additionally, they often contribute to the creation or heightening of others’ negative outlooks. When tempted to travel back down the path of spreading negativity, consider the power of inquiry instead. One good question to ask yourself, colleagues and supervisors might include, “What can I do to make this better?” AI principles affirm that asking positive questions begins to create positive change. Of course there are certainly work environments where, despite your best efforts, the negativity may be irreparable. When finding yourself in this situation or one of the many other reasons to consider moving on professionally, it is time to reflect on what might be a more satisfying career option and begin working vehemently to make the transition happen.
CAREER CORNER
Changing Jobs...When is it a Good Thing to Consider?
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AROUND CAMPUS
ARTS & SCIENCES Physics Chair Appointed Interim Dean
Dr. John Sutherland, professor and chair of the Department of Physics, assumed his new role as interim dean on July 1. Sutherland came to ECU in 2001 and has spent the previous twelve years as the chair of physics. Prior to his tenure at ECU, Sutherland taught and performed research for the Georgia Institute of Technology, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, University of California Berkeley, University of Southern California, University of California Irvine, and the Brookhaven National Laboratory. His tenure at Walter Reed was during a tour of active duty as a captain in the US Army Medical Service Corps. Sutherland’s diverse research interests include the biological effects of ionizing Dr. John Sutherland and ultraviolet radiation, spectroscopy of biological molecules, biomedical applications of synchrotron radiation and free electron lasers, quantitative analytical electrophoresis and electronic imaging of gels and blots, and quantification of DNA damage by single-molecule laser-induced fluorescence. His numerous honors and awards include a research career development award from the National Cancer Institute; a Research and Development IR 100 award for inventing IMAGESystem, the first CCD electronic imaging system for recording fluorescence from electrophoretic gels; a Research and Development 100 award for inventing the Fluorescence Omnilyzer, a single-photon counting system that records simultaneously the wavelength, time-of-arrival and polarization of each detected photon; and the Helms Research Award from the ECU Chapter of the Society of Sigma Xi. Sutherland has received a number of fellowships, including a National Defense Education Act pre-doctoral Fellowship, an Oak Ridge Graduate Research Fellowship, a National Institutes of Health post doctoral Fellowship and a Career Development Award from the National Cancer Institute. Within the professional realm, Sutherland is a member of the American Society for Photobiology, the Biophysical Society and the Radiation Research Society. In addition, he is a fellow of the American Physical Society and a member of their Biological Physics Subgroup. Sutherland completed post doctorate training at the University of California, Berkeley. He received his PhD, MS and BS degrees in physics from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, GA.
ALLIED HEALTH Alumni Join Faculty
Dr. Leigh Atherton
26 EC ALUMNI FALL 2013
William “Leigh” Atherton ’11, PhD, LCAS, LPC, CCS, clinical assistant professor, has joined the faculty of East Carolina University in the Department of Addictions and Rehabilitation Studies. Atherton received a PhD in rehabilitation counseling and administration from East Carolina University. Prior to joining ECU, he served as clinical director of a critical access behavioral health agency in Greenville. Atherton’s research interests include the integration of vocational counseling into addictions treatment, training and integration of evidenced-based practices, and clinical
AROUND CAMPUS supervision. In his down time, he seeks relaxation through nature walks with his wife Tracie and their two dogs, SCUBA diving, and amateur underwater photography. The Department of Physician Assistant Studies welcomes Martin (Marty) Mayer ’11, MS, PA-C, clinical assistant professor. Mayer graduated with highest distinction from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. He subsequently completed his graduate training at East Carolina University, where he also graduated at the top of his class with a master’s in physician assistant studies. Prior to returning to ECU, Mayer practiced in both neurology and Marty Mayer general internal medicine. He is thrilled to be returning to his alma mater in a professorial role, and he will also continue to practice clinically. His areas of interest include evidence-based medicine, all aspects of general internal medicine and its subspecialties, preventative medicine, healthy lifestyles, and patient education.
students and residents to live and gain experience practicing dentistry.” Wick Baker, president of Albemarle Health, spoke of the need for dental care in the region. He said the Albemarle Hospital, which is located across the street from the center and provided the site for the center, treats an average of three patients a day who come to the emergency room in need of dental care. Elizabeth City, a town of nearly 19,000 on the Pasquotank River in northeastern North Carolina, was one of the first sites named for what will eventually be eight to ten community service learning centers state-wide. Other announced sites for centers include Lillington in Harnett County south of Raleigh, Davidson County in the Triad, Sylva and Spruce Pine in the western part of the state, and Robeson County in the central southern area. To schedule an appointment at the Community Service Learning Center-Elizabeth City, call 252-331-7225. To learn how you can support the ECU School of Dental Medicine, contact Director of Development Kristen Ward at wardk@ecu.edu or 252-744-2239.
Scholarships Awarded
The ECU College of Allied Health Sciences is pleased to recognize forty students who will receive scholarships totaling $190,839.00 for the 2013-14 academic year. Each year, thousands of dollars in academic scholarships are awarded to deserving CAHS students. This year, however, was a record year with the largest number of available scholarships, the largest number of applicants, and the largest dollar amount awarded. We wish to congratulate all of our award recipients as well as all of our applicants and wish them all the best in their studies this fall! A list of students and scholarships can be found at www.ecu.edu/cs-dhs/ah/scholarships2013.cfm.
DENTAL MEDICINE Community Service Learning Center Opens in Elizabeth City
The ECU School of Dental Medicine has opened its second community service learning center (CSLC) in an underserved area of North Carolina. Officials cut the ribbon on the $3 million, 7,700-square-foot CSLC in Elizabeth City on June 10. The center provides oral health care to residents of Pasquotank and surrounding counties. The first CSLC opened in Ahoskie in June 2012. The new facility has sixteen dental chairs and employs dental faculty and general dentistry residents as well as a business manager, dental assistants, and dental hygienists. Beginning in 2014, fourth-year dental students will gain experience treating patients, managing business operations, and developing outreach programs during nine-week rotations at the center. “We are very excited about joining you in Elizabeth City,” said Dr. Greg Chadwick, dean of the ECU School of Dental Medicine, in remarks to elected officials, health care providers, ECU alumni, dental students, and local residents. “We look forward to being your neighbor. We think this will be a wonderful location for
First year dental students, left to right, Dan Duffy, Gustavo Gasca, Gavin Mundy, and Keaton Mash examined operatories during an open house for the School of Dental Medicine’s community service learning center in Elizabeth City.
EDUCATION NC SECU Supports Partnership East Program with $2.28 Million Gift
The State Employees’ Credit Union Foundation awarded the college’s Partnership East program $2.28 million to continue educating aspiring teachers in rural areas. The funds will provide scholarships for Partnership East students in their senior year who are completing full-time internships in the classroom. The SECU Partnership East program allows students to complete the first two years of an education degree at one of twenty participating community colleges in eastern and central North Carolina before transferring to ECU. The aim of this program is to provide students with access to high-quality degree programs close to home, so that they might remain in those communities to teach after graduation. Learn more at www.ecu.edu/cs-educ/partner_east.
PIRATEALUMNI.COM 27
AROUND CAMPUS College of Education Homecoming
ECU’s 2013 Homecoming weekend is scheduled for Saturday, November 9, 2013. The College of Education will host Breakfast on the Porch at 9:00 a.m. on the front porch of Speight Building for guests to watch the Homecoming Parade. Alumni, students, faculty, friends, and family are welcome to join us for complimentary coffee and donuts. Contact Jessica Nottingham at 252-737-1257 or nottinghamj@ecu.edu for more information. Education Housing Community
Starting this fall, the College of Education Housing Community (EHC) will give first-year education students a unique residential learning experience by connecting education faculty, staff, and classroom learning with dorm life in Umstead Residence Hall. Learn more at www.ecu.edu/cs-educ/ehc. Master’s Program Receives National Award
The College of Education’s masters of school administration (MSA) program has earned national recognition by the Educational Leadership Constituent Council (ELCC), which is under the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). This is the only MSA program recognized by the ELCC in North Carolina. Department Merger and Name Changes
The Department of Business, Instructional and Technology Education and the Department of Library Science have merged to be the Department of Information and Library Science. Dr. Vivian Mott is the interim chair of this new department in the College of Education.
FINE ARTS &
COMMUNICATION Upcoming Events and Programs for 2013-2014
The School of Art and Design leads the lineup of events with an opening reception on September 6. The exhibition is entitled as*sem*blage, and features art by seven faculty, alumni, emeriti, and guest artists who incorporate found objects into their work. Assemblage in Certified lunatic and master modern art of the impossible Tomás takes flight in Wright originated in the Kubinek Auditorium, launching the Cubist collage Family Fare series on Oct. 11. experiments of Georges Braque and Pablo Picasso. Family Fare launches its popular season on October 11 with Tomás Kubinek, certified lunatic and master of the impossible. 28 EC ALUMNI FALL 2013
The ever-popular ECU Storybook Theatre will perform “A Christmas Carol” and “Schoolhouse Rock Live!” as a part of the series. The School of Communication will host a High School Media Workshop on October 22. The annual event attracts students from across the state with a powerhouse media professional as the keynote speaker. High school guests participate in workshops with communication faculty and tour ECU’s facilities, including the state-of-the-art communication center and multimedia newsroom. In the School of Music, the Four Seasons Chamber Music Festival launches its season on September 12 and 13 with returning guests and faculty artists performing piano quartets by Turina, Brahms, and Dvorák. On September 28 and 29, Opera Theatre presents “Tales of Love and Loss from the British Isles,” a collection of opera scenes by Elgar, Britten and Vaughan Williams, as well as “Riders to the Sea,” an opera in one act set to music by Williams. On October 25, the Chamber Singers present a program they’ll replicate internationally while on tour in Spain. The School of Theatre and Dance lights the ECU/ Loessin Playhouse stage with Dracula, a new adaptation of Bram Stoker’s classic novel. Londoners try to piece together the clues of Dracula’s appearances in a valiant attempt to save themselves from a hideous fate. A wickedly theatrical picture of our favorite vampire, the production runs September 26 through October 1. The S. Rudolph Alexander Performing Arts Series launches with Doc Severinsen and His Big Band on October 17. The series includes violinist Joshua Bell in recital, the Capitol Steps, Walnut Street Theatre’s Driving Miss Daisy, the Official Blues Brothers Revue, and Van Cliburn finalist Di Wu performing with the ECU Symphony Orchestra.
HEALTH &
HUMAN PERFORMANCE ECU a Top Producer of Recreational Therapists
ECU’s recreational therapy program has been ranked the largest producer of certified therapeutic recreation specialists in the University of North Carolina system. Recreational therapists provide treatment services to individuals with illnesses and disabilities in rehabilitation, mental health, long-term care and other facilities. According to the NC Board of Recreational Therapy Licensure, ECU contributed forty-one percent of the newly licensed recreational therapists in 2012. “This accomplishment reflects both the ability of our faculty to educate quality licensed recreational therapists and the need for those specialists in the state of North Carolina,” said Dr. Glen Gilbert, dean of the College of Health and Human Performance. ECU graduates have been successful in finding employment and prospects look good for the future. The U.S. Department of Labor projects that employment of recreational therapists will increase by seventeen percent from 2010 to 2020 based on the
AROUND CAMPUS therapy needs of an aging population. Whitney Sauter earned a master’s degree from ECU in recreational therapy in 2011. She accepted a position in the spinal cord injury rehabilitation program at Vidant Medical Center. Program manager Jim Barrett, who has recreational therapy student Whitney worked with ECU ECU Sauter got a job in the spinal cord injury recreational therapy rehabilitation program at Vidant Medican students for thirty- Center. five years, says they are well-prepared to work in the field. Sauter was attracted to the recreational therapy program at ECU because of its concentration on evidence-based practice and research. “The curriculum provided me with the education and hands-on experience necessary to provide quality, goal-driven recreational therapy treatment services,” she said. The recreational therapy curriculum at ECU is “one of only a handful of programs that has earned accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs through the Committee on Accreditation of Recreational Therapy Education,” said Dr. Susan McGhee, professor of recreation and leisure studies. Eight faculty members in the program “are all nationally credentialed and state licensed,” according to Dr. Deb Jordan, chair of the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies. “These are clear demonstrations of faculty talents and program quality,” she said.
HONORS COLLEGE Honors College Alumni Society Launched
The Honors College is excited to announce the launch of the Honors College Alumni Society in fall 2013. This is an incredible opportunity for alumni and current students to connect and remain involved in the Honors community. As we prepare to launch the society, we are searching for volunteer leaders to serve in several positions on the Board of Directors, including the offices of president, vice president, alumni representative, and current student representative. If you are interested in becoming part of this exciting new program, please
visit the Honors College website to complete an interest form. The form is accessible through www.ecu.edu/honors/friends_alumni.cfm and will remain available until September 30, 2013. Once launched, The Honors College Alumni Society will deliver programs and initiatives to support our alumni and current students. One such program is already a tradition in the Honors College and that is our annual Homecoming event. Honors alumni and guests are invited to the front porch of the Mamie Jenkins Building on Saturday, November 9 between 9:00 and 10:00 a.m. for refreshments and merriment. This event is timed to occur just prior to the Homecoming parade so you can enjoy some treats and conversation before heading down to Fifth Street. We hope to see you then!
HUMAN ECOLOGY Positive Parenting Program a Success for ECU
The College of Human Ecology in partnership with the Pitt County Health Department and the university’s Department of Human Resources held a five-week Positive Parenting Program (Triple P) for faculty and staff. A nationallyrecognized evidenced-based program, Triple P was designed to treat and prevent common behavioral issues that parents may encounter when raising children and Dr. Kerry Littlewood taught tips for more teenagers. The free effective parenting to ECU faculty and staff during the Positive Parenting Program. program, provided by Dr. Sharon Ballard, Dr. Eboni Baugh, Dr. Kerry Littlewood, and Dr. Lisa Tyndall, focused on empowering parents to become more confident and efficient in their childrearing techniques. One of Triple P’s hallmarks is the flexibility within the delivery model that allows each provider to facilitate the program in a way that best meets their parents’ needs. One of several implementation sites in Pitt County, ECU’s sessions included provider-led activities, small-group discussions, and individualized take-home tip sheets. The providers have also planned ongoing follow-up and additional information delivery via Blackboard. Dr. Matt Dwyer, director of ECU’s Center for Counseling and Student Development, was thrilled to be a Triple P participant and hopes that the program continues. “Triple P allowed me to set my own goals and work on them with the support of the instructors and my ‘classmates.’ Overall, I walked away very pleased, happy that I took the time out to engage in the program. I believe that I am a better parent as a result of my involvement in Triple P,” said Dwyer. Professor Receives National Award
Dr. Cynthia Deale, associate professor in the School of Hospitality Leadership, was recently presented the 2013 Lamp of Knowledge Award for Outstanding Educator from the American Hotel & PIRATEALUMNI.COM 29
AROUND CAMPUS Lodging Educational Institute. A past president of the Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education and a long-time supporter of the educational institute’s certified hospitality educator program, Deale is one of the first professors to incorporate guest service gold and the certified guest service professional into her introduction to hospitality curriculum. Additionally, she was a significant contributor to the development of the STAR Certification in Hotel Industry Analytics that was introduced to college and university hospitality programs this year.
Exhibit on Women’s Role in Military History An exhibit titled “Lady Liberty: Women’ Role in Military History” will open in September in the Manuscripts and Rare Books Department. Throughout history, women have shown their patriotism to America through service and contributions to the United States armed forces. They have actively served within the branches of the military such as the Navy and the Army and volunteered their time and talents to help during both peacetime and during times of war. This exhibit honors their service and contributions to the military and to history. The exhibit will be on display through December 2013.
JOYNER LIBRARY
MEDICINE
Fall Exhibits
Venom Expert Joins Brody Faculty
Nature Photography Exhibit The Linda Andrea Fox photography exhibit “The Return” will be on display in Joyner Library through September 30. According to the artist, “‘The Return’ attempts to recreate visions of the natural world that are more harmonious and less compartmentalized, more wholesome, less segmented, and avoid the segregation of diseased versus healthy, polluted versus unpolluted, or dead versus living.” The exhibit may be viewed in the second floor exhibit gallery during library operating hours. Graduate Student Art and Design Exhibition The Graduate Student Art and Design Exhibition held every fall semester recognizes the talent of ECU’s graduate art students and provides an inspirational learning environment for students, faculty, and library visitors. The 2013 show will run from October 1 to December 1 in the exhibit gallery on the second floor, available during the library’s regular hours, with a free opening reception on October 3 at 4:30 p.m. Exhibit on Fiftieth Anniversary of Desegregation at ECU Archives and Records unveiled the second part of an exhibit commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the desegregation of East Carolina. The exhibit consists of a series of posters mounted on the second floor of Joyner Library. Entitled Tearing Down the Wall: Desegregation at ECU, the exhibit chronicles major events in the desegregation of athletics, academics, and other areas from the school’s inception in 1907 through 1980. The exhibit will run through the fall semester.
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Dr. Sean Bush, an internationally-known venom treatment expert featured on the television show “Venom ER,” has joined the faculty of the Brody School of Medicine at ECU as a physician and professor of emergency medicine. He started work July 1 and comes to ECU from Loma Linda University in California, where he was a professor and director of the envenomation medicine fellowship. He sees patients in the emergency Dr. Sean Bush department at Vidant Medical Center. “I came to ECU in search of copperheads and greener pastures,” Bush said. “Greenville has all the elements my family and I were looking for in a community. The Brody School of Medicine feels like a place where I can thrive as a professor of emergency medicine. I have already seen snakebite patients here, and if anyone is bitten in eastern North Carolina, I hope to contribute to their care.” Bush has had a lifelong interest in venomous creatures. He has written more than fifty publications and lectured on the treatment of bites and stings. He has been featured on Animal Planet, the Discovery Channel, National Geographic Television and PBS. He was also an expert advisor on snakebite medicine to the White House Medical Unit from 2001-2009. “We are excited and proud to have recruited Dr. Sean Bush to join us,” said Dr. Theodore Delbridge, chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine. “He is of the highest caliber and brings with him a track record of significant academic and clinical accomplishments that will contribute to our programs in outstanding ways.”
AROUND CAMPUS At ECU, Bush plans to study copperhead snakes and their venom as well as other poisonous stinging and biting creatures, from fire ants to wasps to black widow spiders. In 2009, North Carolina led the nation in copperhead bites with 228. Their bites are typically not fatal for humans, but do require immediate medical attention. However, Bush said, snakes aren’t out to get people; they often help deter or eat other pests. He says the best way to handle poisonous wildlife is to leave it alone. But for anyone bitten in eastern North Carolina, Bush is here to help at the Brody School of Medicine.
NURSING Nurse Practitioner Curriculum Receives Grant
The College of Nursing will receive $1.09 million in federal grant funds over the next three years to enhance collaboration across medical professions and expand the use of a virtual clinic in the nurse practitioner curriculum. Medical, dental, and social work students will join nurse practitioner students in clinical learning experiences that promote interprofessional collaboration – a team approach similar to what students will experience in the workplace after they graduate. “This project will help us to continue to develop innovative teaching strategies through the use of technology and interprofessional education to prepare students to meet the health care needs of a diverse, rural and underserved patient population,” said Dr. Sylvia Brown, dean of the College of Nursing. “By enhancing interprofessional education competencies throughout the curriculum, health care professionals can better understand the roles and strengths that each professional brings, break down artificially drawn silos, and enhance patient-centered care in an evolving health care delivery system,” said program director Dr. Bobby Lowery. Studies have shown that effective communication among various health care providers help reduce preventable medical errors. The grant focuses on patients with multiple chronic conditions, such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, HIV, depression, dementia, substance abuse, and more. The project will expand on an existing web-based virtual community clinic, which the college has operated for seven years. The virtual community clinic lets students see all types of conditions in an electronic application, but doesn’t replace traditional clinical experiences. The virtual clinic gives students the opportunity to diagnose and treat a variety of illnesses and pathologies that they may not see otherwise, officials said. The new grant will help create case-based, health care scenarios involving patients with multiple chronic conditions for nurse practitioner and other health sciences students to work together to solve. In 2011, seventy-eight percent of the nurse practitioners who graduated from ECU practiced in underserved areas. All students complete clinical experiences in underserved areas that serve disadvantaged individuals, Lowery said.
TECHNOLOGY
& COMPUTER SCIENCE Graduate Student Project Saves Company Money
A class project completed by Brittany Ryan, a graduate student in the College of Technology and Computer Science, will save a North Carolina-based company more than $1 million over the next decade. At ECU, completion of an industrial or business process project is a requirement of the course. The project must show certified savings or revenue increase. “The idea of students applying things from class and using them in real-world settings is the goal,” Dr. David White, dean of the College of Technology and Computer Science, said. Ryan worked with the Cumberland County Landfill manager to improve the landfill’s efficiency with mandatory testing. She found that growing a wetland within the sediment basin would remove excess chemicals in the drainage. With Typha plants (commonly known as cattails) and grass collected from a nearby wetland environment, she reduced the amount of chemical oxygen demand – the amount of organic compounds in the water to determine organic pollutants – phosphates and some nitrates from the basins. As a trial run for the project, Ryan said they created a wetland environment within one sediment basin to test her research. Her goal is to have a small wetland planted within all four of the sediment basins by the end of this summer. With the installed wetlands acting as a second filter for the run-off, testing would not have to be performed after every heavy rain, just once a month in accordance with the EPA. The landfill should save approximately $109,000 dollars annually – because of the decreased amounts of testing required – with the changes that Ryan implemented. Ryan completed her project while earning the Lean Six-Sigma Black Belt certification. Lean Six-Sigma is program that teaches students to streamline industrial and business processes. Progress is measured with different colored belts, much like martial arts. This fall will begin the third year of the Lean Six-Sigma certificate program at ECU. Currently, twelve students are enrolled in the certificate program. ECU is one of three universities offering this program in the state.
Brittany Ryan in front of her wetlands project, which helped increase a local landfill’s cleaning efficiency to save money on federal testing.
PIRATEALUMNI.COM 31
A LOOK BACK
Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium Celebrates Fifty Years The ECU Department of Athletics announced in April 2013 the official launch of its campaign celebrating fifty years of Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. The 2013 season will mark the fiftieth anniversary of the facility, which opened its gates for the first time on Sept. 21, 1963 to 17,000 fans. The original plan for ECU’s current football facility was announced on October 7, 1961, by Dr. Leo Jenkins, chancellor of the college, at a meeting of the Society of Buccaneers. Within a year, $283,387 had been raised, although the goal had been only $200,000. With the funds in hand, Ficklen Stadium was built. The James Skinner Ficklen Memorial Stadium was dedicated on September 21, 1963, as East Carolina defeated Wake Forest, 20-10. The original stadium consisted of the permanent stands on the south side, a small press box, and the old lighting system which was removed after the 1974 season. Total cost was $300,000. The north side permanent seating was constructed in 1968, increasing the stadium seating capacity to 20,000. The late James Skinner Ficklen, a Greenville resident, distinguished himself as one of America’s leading tobacconists. At the time of his death in 1955, Ficklen was President and Chairman of the Board of the E.B. Ficklen Tobacco Company of
Greenville. He was a close friend of the college and established a financial aid foundation, the Ficklen Foundation, to aid students of the college. In April 1994, Ron and Mary Ellen Dowdy, of Orlando, Fla., announced a $1 million gift to the ECU Educational Foundation. The gift would go toward the ongoing expansion of ECU’s football stadium, which was renamed DowdyFicklen Stadium. Over seven million fans have seen the Pirates in action at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium since 1963, and in the last five years, ECU has averaged over 46,000 per game. Since the completion of a 7,000-seat expansion project in 2010 that pushed the capacity to 50,000, the Pirates immediately set back-to-back school records in total attendance and season average attendance, breaking 2010 marks (297,987/49,665) with 300,069 and 50,012 figures in 2011. Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium has provided fifty years of great moments and memories for generations of Pirate fans. The anniversary will be celebrated throughout the fall season with different events at each home game. Visit www.ecupirates.com for more details.
Mrs. James S. Ficklen breaking ground for Ficklen Stadium while President Leo Jenkins, Vice President F.D. Duncan, and James S. Ficklen Jr. watch. The shovel is the same one governor Thomas Jarvis used to break ground for the first building on campus in 1908.
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The Women’s Roundtable THE I NCRED I B LE ECU WOMEN SER I ES
Presents
Women Empowered: Service and Leadership Thursday, October 10, 2013
9:00 a.m – 2:30 p.m.
Greenville Convention Center
WWW.ECU.EDU/ WOMENSROUNDTA B LE
Featured Speakers Katherine K. Berman and Sophie K. LaMontagne Georgetown Cupcake co-founders Bonnie St. John First African-American to win Olympic or Paralympic medals in ski racing