Unconquered Magazine by Seminole Boosters, Inc.

SPRING 2019

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2018 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS By SCOTT MORIAK FSU SPORTS INFORMATION As the final whistle blew on Florida State’s 1-0 win against North Carolina on December 2, the Seminoles became just the sixth school to ever to win multiple NCAA women’s soccer titles. Florida State faced a “murderer’s row” of opponents on its way to its second NCAA National Championship in December as the Seminoles defeated the three most recent champions during the 2018 NCAA Tournament — 2017 champs Stanford, 2016 champs USC and 2015 champs Penn State. Overall, the Seminoles defeated seven teams that accounted for 31 of the 35 all-time NCAA Women’s Soccer Championships — North Carolina (21), Notre Dame (3), USC (2), Stanford (2), Florida (1), Penn State (1) and UCLA (1) — including each winner since 2006. The Seminoles have been the model of consistency under coach Mark Krikorian as 2018 marked the 12th time in 14 seasons that FSU has reached the NCAA Quarterfinals and were one of the final eight teams to play for the national championship. It is the most of any school over that span. Photos by Ryals Lee and Shane Lardinois

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W H AT ’ S I N S I D E

PUSHING FORWARD George Langford

12 36 PAVING A WAY TO WOMEN’S ATHLETIC PROMINENCE

TABLE OF CONTENTS 2018 Women’s Soccer National Champions ...Inside Front Cover Q&A with Andy Miller ............................................................6 Fan Truth vs. Coach Truth ......................................................8 Pushing Forward ................................................................. 12 T.K. Wetherell .....................................................................14 Booster Events ................................................................... 16 David Coburn Offers Solutions to Budget Challenges .......... 19 Phipps’ Plan: Improving Football Weekend Experience ......... 23 Football Staff Adds New Assistants; Signs Top-20 Class .......26 Al Dunlap ............................................................................28 FSU Boosters Answer the Call ............................................. 31 Paving a way to Women’s Athletic Prominence ....................36 Busted Flush: One of the top teams in FSU history ..............41 Kamerion Wimbley: Entrepreneurial Spirit ........................... 44 Terance Mann: Team Leader for FSU Basketball .................. 48 Kiah Gillespie: A New Home in Tallahassee ..........................50 Lonni Alameda: Love the Journey ........................................ 52 Mike Martin: Finishing a Legendary Career ...........................54 2

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On Madison in CollegeTown Upcoming Events ....................56 Welcome New Members & Special Recognition ...................59 Newest ’Noles ....................................................................63 Eternal Flame ......................................................................64 Compliance .................................................Inside Back Cover

ON THE COVER George Langford was among the most important leaders in Florida State history. In addition to founding the Seminole Boosters, George served three terms as Chairman of the Seminole Board of Directors and six terms as the FSU Foundation Chair and Co-Chaired the University’s first Capital Campaign.

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I am beyond blessed to have received a scholarship from Florida State University. Not only have I grown as a player at this institution, but also tremendously as a person. With this scholarship, I have been able to put all of my efforts into my schoolwork and softball without having to worry about tuition like many other students. I am so thankful for the entire Seminole family and the countless hours and support that they give to all sports! MEGHAN KING Softball

THANK YOU, SEMINOLE BOOSTER MEMBERS P.O. Box 1353

Tallahassee, FL 32302

(850) 644-1830

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DIRECTORS AT LARGE

SEMINOLE BOOSTERS INC.

2018-19 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

DOUG RUSSELL Chairman

BOB DAVIS Chairman Elect

BOB FREY Secretary

JOHN CROWE Treasurer

TOM JENNINGS Presidential Designee

ED BURR Chairman of the Board of Trustees

DAVID COBURN Interim Director for Intercollegiate Athletics

GARY THURSTON Immediate Past Chairman

NYLAH THOMPSON 2nd Immediate Past Chair

ALAN FLAUMENHAFT At-Large

Don Everett Eric Friall Ernie Garcia Bill Hagen Kevin Hawkins Dan Hendrix Nick Iarossi Bob Johnson Pete Law Brett Lindquist Scott Madden John McCann Richard McMullen DeVoe Moore

Diana Azor Byron Bailey W.O. Bell Jim Boyd Kevin Carpenter Eleanor Connan Marilyn Cox Clif Curry Bill Dawkins Mary Demetree Craig Dewhurst Charles Dudley Doug Dunlap Linda Dupree

Brian Murphy Parrish Owens Warner Peacock Craig Ramsey Mark Shelnutt Jim Steiner Bill Stephenson Mike Summey Philip Troyer Richard Welch Jerry Williams

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS Tom Jennings .................................................................... Presidential Designee Ed Burr .....................................................................Board of Trustees Chairman David Coburn ..................................Interim Director for Intercollegiate Athletics Nan Hillis .................................................................. Foundation Chair Designee Nada Usina.....................................................Women’s Athletics Representative Max Oligario ............................................................................. Alumni Chairman Pam Parrewe ................................................................. Athletic Board Designee Wade Wallace....................................................................Varsity Club Designee Manuel Osaba ............................................................Student Booster Designee Doug Russell .................................................................Seminole Boosters Chair Bob Davis ..............................................................Seminole Boosters Vice-Chair Gary Thurston ..................................... Seminole Boosters Immediate Past Chair Nylah Thompson.......................... Seminole Boosters 2nd Immediate Past Chair

PAST CHAIRS Kathy Atkins-Gunter W.G. Babe Starry* Bob Lee Bannerman* Tom Barron Hurley Booth Dennis Boyle* Steve Brown Spencer Burress* Bob Camp* Joe Camps Bill Carraway Jim Carter Ken Cashin Bob Caton Raymond Cottrell Dave Cowens Carl Domino Bill Dubey* Frank Fain

Mike Fields Bob Fohl* Andy Haggard Kim Hammond Bruce Harrell Mike Harrell Ed Haskell, Jr* Sherman Henderson Charlie Hill* Lou Hill* Ron Hobbs Jim Kirk* Chris Kraft George Langford* Lawton Langford W. S. Bill Lee* Douglas Mannheimer Payne Midyette, Sr* Russ Morcom

John Olson Syde P. Deeb* Bill Parker Doyle Pope* Frank Pope* Theo Proctor, Jr David Rancourt Gene Ready* Charles Rosenberg* Godfrey Smith* Lomax Smith Brian Swain Nylah Thompson Gary Thurston Gary Walsingham Herschel Williams* Tommy Williams* Albert Yates* *Deceased

FLORIDA STATE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

JIMMY GRAGANELLA At-Large

SRPING 2019

KRIS INCHCOMBE At-Large

DELORES SPEARMAN At-Large

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JOHN THRASHER At-President

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Todd Adams Maximo “Max” Alvarez Kathryn Ballard Edward E. “Ed” Burr, Chair William “Billy” Buzzett Emily Fleming “June” Duda Jorge Gonzalez Jim W. Henderson Mark Hillis Craig Mateer Stacey Pierre Bob Sasser Brent W. Sembler John Thrasher (President, Florida State University)

S TA F F

EXECUTIVE STAFF

Andy Miller ................................................................................ President & CEO Greg Hulen ....................................................................Executive Vice President Derril Beech ..................................... Vice President, Marketing & Annual Giving Eric Carr ...... Vice President of Development Coordination, Training & Oversight Mike Dasher ................................................Senior Vice President, Development Jerry Kutz ................................................Senior Vice President, Communication JP Sinclair ..........................................................................Chief Financial Officer Kari Terezakis ....................................................... Vice President of Stewardship Ben Zierden.................................................... Senior Vice President, Operations

DEVELOPMENT OFFICERS

Tom Carlson .................................... Senior Vice President, North Florida Region Chris Wilson ............................................Director of Development, Atlanta Area Javi Garcia-Tunon .......... Associate Director of Fundraising, Goldcoast of Florida Colson Hosford .......................................Director of Real Estate & Development Billy Sexton ............................................ Director of Development South Florida Kevin Smith .......................Director of Development, Greater Tampa Bay Region Hugh Tomlinson ...................................Director of Development & Gift Planning James Warren .............. Associate Director – Panhandle Area & Big Bend Region Max Zahn ............................................................ Regional Annual Fund Director

TICKET SALES & BOOSTER MEMBERSHIPS

Mark Cameron .................................. Senior Director of Ticket Sales and Service Timara Gore ........................................................Account Executive – New Sales Andrew Pope ......................................................Account Executive – New Sales Justin Schaefer ....................................................Account Executive – New Sales Fernando Segura ......................................... Account Executive – Premium Sales George Seliga ............................................................. New Ticket Sales Manager Ray Silva ..............................................................Account Executive – New Sales Brian Wagner.........................Account Executive – Premium Service & Retention Brittany Coles ......................................Account Executive – Service & Retention Mikey Drinkard .....................................Account Executive – Service & Retention Ed Servil ...............................................Account Executive – Service & Retention D’minia Stokes ......................Account Executive – Premium Service & Retention Nicole Sullivan .................................................. Team Lead – Service & Retention Analisa Trstensky .................................Account Executive – Service & Retention T. J. Alford ............................................Account Executive – Service & Retention

ACCOUNTING/HUMAN RESOURCES

Chyenne Bibik .......................................................................... Accounting Clerk Amy Hanstein .....................Director of Employee Relations & Accounts Payable Mark Majszak ................................................................................... Comptroller

ADMINISTRATIVE

Patti Barber ..................................................................................... Receptionist

ADVANCEMENT SERVICES

Patrick Harrity ............................................................Web Application Specialist Alesha McCann ............................................................................... Data Analyst

COACHES CLUBS

Sarah Wisemann .......................................... Assistant Director of Annual Giving

FSU TRADEMARK LICENSING

Katie Watt ......................................................... Director of Trademark Licensing Garrett O’Connor ...............................Assistant Director of Trademark Licensing

GIFT PROCESSING

Logan Byrd ....................................................................Gift Processing Manager Rob Neal ..................................................................... Gift Processing Specialist Alex Pope .................................................................... Gift Processing Specialist David Newman..................................... Mail Processing & Records Management

MARKETING

Alex Douglas ................................................................Director of Annual Giving Monica Perez ..................................................................Director of Graphic Arts Kristin Tubeck......................................................... Director of Events Marketing Joanna White .......................................................... Assistant Director of Events

STEWARDSHIP

Jordan Jarmakowicz ...................................... Stewardship & Events Coordinator Blake Moore .................................................. Stewardship & Events Coordinator

VARSITY CLUB

Betsy Hosey ....................................................................Director of Varsity Club

Unconquered magazine (USPS 18182) is published quarterly by Seminole

CONTACT Send correspondence to Derril Beech, at the address shown above or

Boosters, Inc., 225 University Center, Suite 5100, Tallahassee, Florida, 32306.

by email to derril.beech@fsu.edu. Telephone: (850) 644-3484.

(850) 644-3484, Fax: (850) 222-5929. POSTMASTER: send change of address to, Unconquered magazine, care of Seminole Boosters, Florida State University

MAGAZINE STAFF

Center, Suite C-5100, 5th Floor, Tallahassee, Florida, 32306. Periodicals Postage

Publishers: Andy Miller, Jerry Kutz

Paid at Tallahassee, FL, Volume 35, Issue 1.

Managing editor: Derril Beech Design, layout, production, pre-press: Learfield IMG College

All advertising revenues directly support programs of the Seminole Boosters,

Featured photographers: Ross Obley, Mike Olivella, Ryals Lee Contributing

Inc. For advertising rates, please contact the sales representatives listed below.

photographers: Seminole Boosters, FSU Sports Information, Andrew Salinero/

FSView, Sara Davis/ACC, the ACC, Maury Neipris

do not necessarily reflect those of Florida State University faculty, staff or

Columnists: Charlie Barnes, Jerry Kutz

administration.

Contributing writers: Derril Beech, Jim Crosby, Jerry Kutz, Tim Linafelt, Jeff Romance, FSU Sports Information, Bob Thomas, Kerry Dunning, Jim Crosby,

OVERVIEW

Jim Henry

Unconquered magazine celebrates Seminole athletics and the indomitable spirit

Copy editor: Bob Ferrante

of its student-athletes who overcome adversity, the passion of its coaches and

Photo purchasing information: derril.beech@fsu.edu

educators who help students reach beyond their limits and the devotion of donors who redefine the boundaries of generosity by giving scholarships that change lives and who make donations that build first-class athletic facilities. By sharing their stories of transformational experiences — on the athletic playing field, in the classroom and in life — Unconquered magazine encourages the growth of responsible world citizenship and cross-cultural understanding. Each issue carries stories on what makes student-athletes great and how they were shaped by their experience at FSU, features on Seminole community sports legends and profiles of donors who make contributions. SEMINOLE-BOOSTERS.COM

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Q & A

Q&A Boosters President

Andy Miller SEMINOLE BOOSTERS: Seminole Boosters lost some good friends recently who were institutional game changers. Can you discuss George Langfordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s contribution and impact on the University? ANDY MILLER: George Langford was the godfather of Seminole Boosters. Following a disastrous three-year stretch from 19731975 where Florida State won a total of three football games and found its athletics program deeply in debt, a community-wide search was undertaken to find a dynamic leader who could turn the fundraising program around. Alumni and friends throughout the greater Seminole Community were asked who should lead the fundraising effort. Without exception, George Langford was named. This decision of the Boosters to recruit George Langford and his decision to accept the opportunity to lead our organization was one of the most important events that has occurred in our 64-year history. It was indeed a defining moment. George served a total of three terms as Chairman of the Seminole Boosters Board of Directors, six terms as the FSU Foundation Chair and Co-Chaired the Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first Capital Campaign. He helped found Springtime Tallahassee and has served with distinction on virtually every board in Tallahassee. The George Langford Award was created in his name recognizing leadership and lifetime achievement serving the best interests of Florida State University. Named for this esteemed civic leader, this award embodies his giving spirit and dynamic personality. With his courageous spirit and selfless generosity, no one could leave a more enduring legacy. SEMINOLE BOOSTERS: It is not without irony that in this issue, with George Langford on the cover, we write about new challenges with the Florida State Athletics Budget, challenges that men like George Langford found solutions for some 40 years ago. ANDY MILLER: We do have some challenges with the athletics operating budget but we are able to look at the past for guidance and inspiration. Our interim Athletics Director, David Coburn, Seminole Booster Chairman Doug Russell and I met with the Booster Board in early February to articulate the challenges we are facing and propose solutions, some of which are already being implemented, and others that are under consideration. Once we apprised the board, Coburn shared the information with members of the media which is contained in this issue (see page 19).

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SEMINOLE BOOSTERS: How have the solutions changed from the time you were hired by George Langford in 1975 and today? ANDY MILLER: It is interesting to note that while the program has grown in size and technology, many of the same solutions that applied then apply today. We still must control costs and increase contractual revenues wherever possible. We now have many more opportunities to increase revenues with our partners and with the upcoming ACC Network. However, as David Coburn points out in his interview, as much as 85 percent of his revenue and expenses are still fixed so the most-significant means to increase revenue in the athletics budget remains through season ticket sales and Seminole Booster memberships. Combined, those two line items comprise nearly 40 percent of the athletics operating budget. And that means, you, our Seminole Booster members and season ticket holders, play a very large role in funding the budget. SEMINOLE BOOSTERS: In his Q&A, Coburn addresses a number of national trends and factors unique to our market, which hurts ticket sales and talks about what we are doing to give our fans a compelling reason to buy, including better home schedules, pricing options, more affordable lodging and an improved game day experience. What actions are the Boosters and Athletics taking to drive sales? ANDY MILLER: David shares our understanding of the market and the fan base and the need to give folks a compelling reason to buy. We are in a unique market being so geographically isolated. David is an avid FSU fan so he knows what he and his friends want from the experience and is determined to deliver it. We both love marketing automation so we have brought in Paul Phipps, who is very much into using technology to drive ticket sales. We both agree it is the right time to pull a page from an old playbook written by George Langford and re-launch a volunteer effort led in part by the current Chairman of the Seminole Boosters Board of Directors, Doug Russell, members of the Seminole Boosters Board of Directors, Chuck Urban, Owner/ General Manager of Tallahassee Dodge Chrysler Jeep, and the national network of Seminole Clubs. In this issue, we are sharing challenges and solutions with our members and arming them with an actionable way to help as

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volunteers, season ticket holders and donors. Seminole Boosters is moving forward with this energized volunteer campaign and are encouraging our members to ask their friends and neighbors to give to a cause they believe in. We hope each of our members reading this will join a team and help grow the great Seminole Nation. SEMINOLE BOOSTERS: Florida State lost another great donor this month in the passing of Al Dunlap, who made so many friends and touched so many students and student-athletes with leadership gifts across campus. ANDY MILLER: George Langford and Al & Judy Dunlap — these are names that come to mind when you think of the Seminole Booster legacy. Al Dunlap was a special member of our Seminole family. Al, along with his wife, Judy, have tremendously impacted FSU’s students and campus through their philanthropy. They established the Albert J. and Judith A. Dunlap Student Success Center and supported the construction of the Al Dunlap Practice Fields and a state-of-the-art indoor practice field, the Albert J. Dunlap Athletic Training Facility. Their generosity was also recognized with the naming of the Albert J. and Judith A. Dunlap Champions Club at Doak Campbell Stadium. Al was a member of our Board of Directors, he and Judy were 2015 George Langford Award recipients, and he was the 2017 Godfrey Smith Award Recipient. In October, the Dunlaps announced a $20 million lead gift to

our Unconquered Campaign to upgrade the football facilities. Al Dunlap will be remembered for his energetic enthusiasm, his grand gestures of generosity, and his popularity among Florida State student-athletes. Just recently Al and Judy were featured speakers for our Seminole Student Boosters’ Champions Forum. Not only did the Dunlaps take their time to share their inspirational story of overcoming adversity to achieve success in business and marriage, but I was impressed with how much time the couple spent with our students afterward. Al Dunlap will always be remembered as one of the true game-changers in FSU history. He made immeasurable impacts on our students, our student-athletes and our university and will be missed dearly. SEMINOLE BOOSTERS: Speaking of the Unconquered Campaign, would you comment on the progress made with this five-year, $100 million campaign launched on June 30, 2018? ANDY MILLER: Thanks to a few different leadership gifts, the campaign is off to a brilliant start (see specifics on page 31). I am really impressed by the loyalty of so many of our donors, who have stepped up for each of the projects and sports the athletic department prioritized within this campaign. And what is especially encouraging for everyone to realize is this generosity is coming on the heels of the just completed $1.1 Billion Raise the Torch Campaign in which Seminole Boosters raised over $350 million.

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COACHES COME AND GO WHILE OUR PASSION ENDURES

Columnist

CHARLIE BARNES

Charlie Barnes is the retired Senior Vice President and Executive Director of Seminole Boosters; he is also President of the Seminole Greek Alumni Foundation. Contact him at cbarnes161@comcast.net

SPRING 2019

If you happen to have one of those very old autographed photos Coach Bobby Bowden signed in 1976, look to see if he has written, “Hail to FSU, Hail.” Fans were so giddy about their new coach and so excited about the Seminoles’ future that hardly anyone asked about the odd-sounding “Hail to FSU” signature. The Bowden family had invested in Morgantown, West Virginia. Sons Terry and Tommy both played for the Mountaineers, coached by their dad. The film “We Are Marshall” lionizes Bowden in his role as WVU Head Coach. The only major school in the state possesses every conceivable professional school and its alumni dominate the Legislature. The Bowdens were fixed in place for the long term. The West Virginia Fight Song ends with the line, “Hail to West Virginia! Hail!” That phrase became the obvious autograph signature. Life was good in Morgantown, and Bowden was their most consistently successful coach. The Bowdens were embraced as the First Family of Mountaineer football. It’s probable that on one crisp mountain day Bobby and Ann announced that they were Mountaineers in heart and spirit and always would be. It’s what coaches say. But in 1974 the Mountaineer team went 4-7 and students hung Bowden’s image in effigy, visible to everyone in town and especially to his younger children on their way to school. The university administration refused to take the effigy down. He and his family endured the humiliating effigy and all the rest of the usual media and fan uproar that year. However, the next season, the Mountaineers turned around and posted a 9-3 record with a victory over hated rival Pitt and a bowl win over N.C. State. The effigy was gone, and so was Bowden. He smiled and announced that he had accepted the job at Florida State. He and Ann did not look back. Upon arrival in Tallahassee, the

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Bowdens said something to the effect that they had often dreamed of returning to Tallahassee where Bobby had coached Seminole receivers in the early 1960s. “I slipped once too often on the ice up there.” Coaches say things like that. Do you remember when Jimbo Fisher said Florida State was his dream job? We published a photo of him as a college player sitting on the bench during a game at Samford, wearing a Seminole hat and listening on the radio to the Florida State vs. Miami game in 1987. Terry Bowden was his head coach. But shadows can fall across the brightest of dreams. Personal problems, mistakes in hiring and recruiting, the pressures of maintaining a top-tier program year after year all can wear. Experienced coaches know when the time comes to find another dream. The point of this column is simple: Coaches can always leave, but we fans cannot. The great Bill Peterson was elevated up from the ranks of assistants in 1960 to be head coach of the Seminoles. He called it his dream job. It’s what coaches say. Peterson did remarkable work with comparatively little infrastructure or financial support. He beat Georgia, Miami and Florida, and launched the careers of a Who’s Who of college and NFL head coaches. But after 11 seasons the dream ended suddenly when Peterson announced he had accepted the position of head coach at Rice. Florida State administrators struggled through two more coaches in the next five years before they brought Bowden back. The world of college football coaching is a closed culture with a more-or-less agreed upon structure of rules and expectations. It is considered bad form for coaches to say certain things; other nuances like displays of sportsmanship are honored. A head coach will not publicly call out one of his players or assistant coaches. On the other hand, we fans have no

CHARLIE BARNES

Bill Peterson was head coach for 11 seasons and led the Seminoles to four bowl game appearances. trouble pointing out the most obvious flaws and shortcomings. One head coach had just been beaten badly in recruiting by his bitter rival. A sportswriter asked him to compare the two recruiting classes. The fans, of course, were angry and wanted to hear Fan Truth. But the coach just said, “I wouldn’t trade my recruits for his.” It was Coach Truth, and it’s what they’re expected to say. The contrast between Fan Truth and Coach Truth is not a small thing. Passionate fans know when their program is on the wrong track. Of course, we fans are not competent in the realm of professional coaching, but fans can read a scoreboard and they monitor the result of the annual

Bobby Bowden was head coach for 34 seasons and led Florida State to two National Championships — 1993 and 1999.

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CHARLIE BARNES

recruiting wars. And they know when losses on the field start to pile up. Frustration erupts when the fans want to hear some public acknowledgment of problems and trends they believe are true. They want validation of the most obvious Fan Truths, but the coaches and administrators will not speak it.

Bobby Bowden with a young fan at media day early in his career. 10

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For instance, you won’t hear a head coach in a postgame press conference say, “We lost to Arkansas because my running back is a punk who betrayed the team, and my defensive linemen don’t have enough talent to play Division I football.” Fans would love to hear it because they already believe it to be true, and they might praise the coach for speaking Fan Truth at the time. But those scenarios seldom end well. Coaches expect each other to adhere to the professional code. The reason Coaches don’t say certain things in public is they know that no job is permanent, not even the dream jobs. Probably half the current head coaches you can name have been fired sometime in their careers. And a good number of assistant coaches you can name have previously been head coaches at one time or another. Coaches know that when the dream job collapses, they will have to look to their peers for another position. Any staff has more in common with coaches on the opposite side of the field in the opponents’ shirts than they do with their own fans. It’s the nature of the business. Another reason for the reluctance to speak anything other than Coach Truth is the presence of so much money riding on every game and every decision. Our Seminole Boosters are our permanent class of supporters. You are the ones whose contributions and participation provide the program with the means to succeed. We will always be here, and we are not reluctant to speak our minds. Coaches can, and will, leave. We fans will always remain with the school and the team. Sometimes fans are left to mourn losing a great leader and program builder, and other times they’re left to clean up the mess another coach left behind. Coaches know better than fans do how little loyalty can be expected. After 34 years and a pair of National Championships, Bobby Bowden was by any and every measure a true Seminole. And yet that chapter of the story did not achieve a blissful conclusion. If your priority is winning, college coaching in the money sports is a brutal business. Make no mistake; our priority at FSU is winning so that we can raise the money to pay for the scholarships and facilities for all the other sports. Never apologize for being an excitable, passionate fan. Never be reluctant to insist, loudly, on excellence. Coaches can always leave. True fans cannot. Coaching is a much tougher business now perhaps than it has ever been. There is so much money on the table that there is little room for error; there is little forgiveness and no patience. The days of a southern football coach resting on the front porch of a late career, relaxing in the shade and quiet and revisiting tales of victories with old friends are over. All that is gone. They can always leave. You and I cannot.

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The Legacy of George Langford By CHARLIE BARNES

From Top: The Langford Family; George Langford and Head Coach Bobby Bowden; George and Marian Langford. 12

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George Langford died in the home where he spent his childhood. In later years he had the house moved from Thomasville to his property on the cliffs overlooking Lake Jackson. His heart was never far from Tallahassee. Even as he built his Municipal Code Corporation into an acclaimed international powerhouse, he kept the headquarters here. George Langford’s generous contributions to our city and to our University covered the course of a lifetime lasting 95 years. But there was one night, one meeting and one conversation, by which all the rest of his achievements and the passionate vision of his leadership can be measured. University President Stan Marshall asked Langford for a one-on-one meeting. Each man shared great respect for the other. At that historic meeting, Marshall confided that he was thinking about dropping football. The Seminole football program had been a growing and robust economic engine for Tallahassee, but by 1973 it was a major financial burden on the University. Coach Larry Jones’ first team continued the earlier success of Bill Peterson’s tenure with a trip to the Fiesta Bowl in 1971. However, the next season was a disappointment, and the 1973 season was an 0-11 disaster. “George, I’m going to announce that we’re dropping football,” Marshall said. “We’re $600,000 in debt on a $2 million operating budget. The University can’t afford this. We’re not in a conference, we’re not on television, we’re not headed for a bowl and private support is inadequate to bridge the funding gap.” George said, “Stan, dropping football would be the worst mistake you could make.” George Langford made his commitment to Stan Marshall to embrace the campaign to “save” the program and lend his considerable energy and prestige to its success. In 1971 Athletics Director Clay Stapleton disbanded Seminole Boosters, Inc., and placed the entire athletics fundraising apparatus within the Athletic Department supervision. It carried the innocuous name The National Seminole Club. The Seminole Boosters organization founded in 1951

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had been the fundraising arm of Seminole athletics for two decades. It was composed entirely of volunteer leaders from the local community and overseen by a volunteer Board of Directors. George and his leadership team felt strongly that for donors and volunteers to be properly motivated, they needed to feel ownership of the organization. Marshall agreed, and so Seminole Boosters, Inc., was recreated as a separate 501(c)3 tax exempt Direct Support Organization of Florida State University governed by a Board of Directors reporting to the University President. Always with a keen eye for talent, Langford recruited a 24-year-old named Andy Miller to run the fundraising organization in 1975. In the winter of 1976, with George Langford’s approval, President Stan Marshall hired coach Bobby Bowden. “I was hired by George and a group of mostly Tallahassee Board Members to serve as Executive Director in May of 1975,” Miller said. “Coach Bowden was hired in 1976 at $37,000 and challenged by George to resurrect the football program, promising Bobby that he would take care of the money. George mentored me and taught me about business, fund raising and life. I owe him so much for those valuable lessons and inspiring me and a legion of volunteers, donors and future leaders.” Not only did he give himself, George gave his son Lawton, who became a dynamic Chairman of the Boosters. The new Seminole Boosters fundraising structure produced striking results almost immediately. In 1981, a national survey conducted by the Omaha World Herald newspaper cited Seminole Boosters, Inc., as one of the top four most productive collegiate booster organizations in America. George was the Founding Chairman of The Golden Chiefs in 1975, and Chairman of the Board of Seminole Boosters in 1976. He was elected Booster Chairman twice more, in 1977 and 1985. No other leader has ever served more than two terms. In the nearly four and a half decades since re-founding, Seminole Boosters, Inc., has raised more than $1 billion in support of Seminole Athletics. Langford’s leadership and identification with fundraising for Seminole Athletics continued for another 45 years until his death. There was a time even before the existence of Seminole Football when George Langford showed he had the right stuff. On D-Day, June 6, 1944, a 20-year-old sergeant Langford drove his tank up onto the Normandy beach and pushed forward, eventually following Patton’s 3rd Army all the way to Berlin. “Pushing forward” became the signature of the boy from Thomasville. After Germany’s fall in May 1945, he was placed on a troop ship headed for Japan. His older brother Bill, an infantry captain in the Philippines, was killed in combat by Japanese only 10 days before their surrender in mid-August. Motivated by his own military experience and the death of his brother, in 1997 George Langford became the prime mover behind creation of FSU’s Institute on World War II

and the Human Experience. It has become one of the most comprehensive collections of personal letters, military manuscripts and documents, oral and unit histories. He was always restless. Even as a boy growing up in Thomasville he was flush with energy, pouring his physical gifts into athletics and his curiosity into academics. With his undergraduate and law degrees from Virginia in hand, he created the Municipal Code Corporation in 1951, the same founding year as Seminole Boosters, Inc. As decades passed, national business leaders were amazed that such an important corporation chose to headquarter itself in Tallahassee. George and Marian had two fine, strong sons, Lawton and Robertson. Lawton Langford took the reins as CEO of Municipal Code Corporation, and himself served a term as Chairman of Seminole Boosters in 1994. George Langford’s funeral took place on a gray and cold day. Tallahassee’s old guard was properly arrayed in dark rows in the big Anglican Cathedral north of town. The service was beautiful and the comments were endearing. One speaker told how George appeared to have fallen into a near comatose state at the end and the Anglican priest had come to the family home to deliver Last Rites. But Langford’s eyes opened for the first time in weeks. Family gathered at his bedside recognized that feisty, ornery, signature smile. “No,” George spoke softly to the Priest. “Not yet … not quite yet.” It would be another week before he was finally reunited with his beloved Marian. The formal Anglican funeral ceremony ended with a respectful, slow playing of the military air Taps, the call to rest. After pausing a beat, the trumpeter cut loose with an enthusiastic rendition of Reveille! All the mourners smiled. How very George. Years ago, George offered one interviewer this insight into his personality, “I came out of [World War II] a whole person, physically sound of mind and body and with an aggressive outlook on life,” he said.“ ... And I’ve enjoyed everything ever since.”

Andy Miller and George Langford.

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T.K. WETHERELL Former Florida State president T.K. Wetherell died on Dec. 16 after a 15-year battle with cancer. A former FSU football player from 1964-67, Wetherell earned three degrees from FSU and later became a college professor, served in the Florida House of Representatives and was the president of Tallahassee Community College (1995-2001) and FSU (from 2003-10). Wetherell was remembered by friends for his many achievements and his impact on the school.

“He may have been known to everybody as T.K., but Thomas Kent Wetherell was far, far from a simple man. He was an athlete and an academic. He was a politician and a president. I looked at him as a good ol’ boy who just happened to have a PhD.” “There really won’t be anybody like T.K. He was an original, authentic and true. A creative problem-solver, a more-than-clever legislator, a crafty dealmaker and may I add at times a rather colorful person with our language.” John Thrasher

“He reached the highest level of influence with every endeavor he undertook. T.K. played that country boy up naturally. But it was a disguise. He was always three steps ahead of the crowd. The boy was smart.” “The greatest friend-raiser FSU ever had. I can’t imagine what would have occurred with the Seminoles if T.K. hadn’t been president and hadn’t developed such a good relationship with the Tribe and fought the NCAA for all us Seminoles.” Bill Smith

“He was a tireless advocate for students and valued the importance of growth and learning beyond the classroom.” Mary Coburn

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BOOSTER LIFE

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BOOSTER EVENTS Spring 2019

A) 2018-2019 Seminole Boosters Executive Committee B) Board Member and Platinum Chief Ernie Garcia with James Blackman at a Booster Board of Directors event event held at the President’s House.

C) Chairman Doug Russell and President Andy Miller with new MICCO’s Marilyn Lawrence & Larry Sartin, and John & Betty Crowe at the MICCO Fire Ceremony held at the Langford’s lake house on Lake Iamonia.

D) Major Gift Donors Dr. Janet Wells, Dr. Billie Jones, Pat Sargeant, and Maureen Hughes at The Unconquered Campaign Co-Chairs Luncheon held at the Civic Center before the Duke Basketball game.

E) MICCO’s Jim and Parrish Owens with Warrick Dunn and Coach Willie Taggart at The Unconquered Campaign Co-Chairs Luncheon held at the Civic Center before the Duke Basketball game.

F) MICCO and Board Member Shirley and DeVoe Moore prior to throwing out the first pitch at the softball team’s opening game.

G) Major Gift Donors Shane and Beverly Powers, and daughter Emma with Derrick Brooks and Gene Deckerhoff at the Pillar of Champions event at the Dunlap Champions Club.

H) Past Chairman and Golden Chief Joe and Marion Camps with the 2018-19 men’s basketball team at the Men’s Basketball Tipoff Club: Pre-season dinner at the DunlapChampions Club.

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COBURN

OFFERING SOLUTIONS TO BUDGET CHALLENGES Interim Athletics Director David Coburn

Photo by Ryals Lee

By JERRY KUTZ Florida State Interim Athletic Director David Coburn stood before the Seminole Booster Board in early February to present a transparent look at serious “short term” financial issues in the athletics budget and to offer solutions on what Athletics, Seminole Boosters and each FSU fan can do together to balance the budget. Because so many of FSU’s costs are fixed – coaching salaries, scholarships, recruiting and team travel – Coburn said there is little opportunity to trim budgets without hurting FSU’s teams, who have become a top 10 national brand. Longtime Seminole fans, David and his wife, Mary, who was FSU Vice President of Student affairs, take pride in FSU’s national championships in soccer and softball this year and in the fact that FSU’s athletics program is nationally competitive. While he plans continued cuts in administrative expenses that won’t harm FSU’s teams, Coburn said, the solution to the short-term financial issues lies in generating revenue. Every revenue contract will be considered and new events like Top Golf and concerts will be added to better utilize athletic facilities. But the most significant way FSU can generate more revenue is with football season ticket sales, which have been lagging for years. In order to generate ticket revenue however, Coburn said FSU must: • continue to invest in a winning football program. • upgrade the home schedule with out of conference opponents “who will excite our fans.” • enhance the fan experiences in and around Doak Campbell Stadium. Appointed six months ago by President John Thrasher, the

David and Mary Coburn with Jerry and Pat Williams. former chief of staff – who is considered a budget expert – reported there was a $3.6 million deficit in last year’s budget with a similar projection in the current year. Coburn indicated the financial outlook “begins to look a little better” after the 2019-20 budget year. “The ACC revenues continue to improve steadily,” Coburn said. “The ACC Network comes online and generates money, and that will improve steadily. Some of our longterm vendor contracts continue to improve revenue-wise. And the schedule is going to improve significantly, in my view.” Coburn gave the board a detailed explanation for the deficits, which came down to overestimated ticket and ACC revenues and underestimated expenses such as recruiting, travel, coaches’ buyouts and a new federal excise taxes on salaries. While the financial report was eye opening, Seminole Booster Board members expressed appreciation for Coburn’s candor and paid close

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attention to his recommended solutions. Investing in solutions has already begun The process of investing in a winning football program has begun with the hiring of offensive coordinator Kendal Briles and wide receivers coach Ron Dugans, who played on FSU’s 1999 National Championship team. He is also expected to bring in offensive line coach Randy Clements, who served with Briles at Houston. “You are going to see a very different, very exciting offense in the fall,” he said. “I think you will see that begin to develop through the spring. We had a very good recruiting class. And we are not finished. I want to make that clear ... we are not finished.” While football struggled through a very difficult coaching transition, Coburn remains confident in the direction Taggart is headed. He is also bullish on the FSU fan base. A Seminole Booster member and season ticket holder himself, he is aware a fan base’s love is not without

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condition. Fans want a quality team and quality opponents in Doak. Coburn said he expects a joint announcement will soon be made with quality opponents to fill the “odd year” schedules. While FSU fans have shown interest in the “even year” schedules, which feature Clemson and Florida, they are less inclined to buy the “odd” year schedules with Miami viewed as the only “big” game. That should change with the addition of Notre Dame at home in 2021 and 2029 and other exciting out of conference teams in 2023, 2025 and 2027. “Willie will play anybody you want to play in this geographic area where he’s recruiting. He’s all in,” Coburn said. “Now, he wants them back here or he wants them in a good neutral site with a lot of money. He has been really good to work with about that and a lot of other things, to be honest with you.”

“The message is we cannot succeed in the budget area if our fans don’t stay with us,” Coburn said. “There’s just no path forward there for us without them.” Think about this: As a Seminole Booster member and season ticket holder you affect as much as 40 percent of FSU’s $106 million athletic budget. And to Coburn’s point, there is as much as $8 million of unrealized ticket revenue if FSU can create a reason for its fans to buy nearly 12,000 unsold seats. “We have challenges in the short term,” Coburn said. “I think we are dealing with them effectively. We have a plan. When our fans ask me what can I do to help, the answer is you can buy season tickets, you can come to the games and you can support the boosters.” In addition to marketing efforts,

Andy Miller, David Coburn, Bill and Austin Hagan. A third factor affecting season ticket demand is the fan experience, which includes affordable housing options, traffic, improved technology to keep fans connected with exclusive in-game content and possibly beer gardens. Ticketing and marketing expert Paul Phipps has been hired to address ticket sales and experiences for fans on home game weekends. Coburn knows FSU must make these investments to earn the ticket purchase and Seminole Boosters contributions.

Coburn said Seminole Boosters will reactivate a volunteer campaign to activate its members to help realize those ticket and Booster revenues. “They are going back to the personal approach that used to work for us back in the day when Andy (Miller, CEO and president of Seminole Boosters) and those guys were building this organization,” Coburn said. “I think that will help a great deal. It has been effective for us in the past.” Capital campaign is doing well While there are concerns about the

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operating budget over the next three years, Coburn is very encouraged by Seminole Booster capital campaign efforts for facilities and scholarships. The Boosters raised $350 million over six years as part of the University’s Raise the Torch Campaign. Immediately, the Boosters launched a $100 million Unconquered Campaign in September and in just six months booster donors have pledged $60 million towards a variety of men’s and women’s projects. Coburn notes he was also very encouraged by the response he received from the Seminole Booster Board, who expressed commitment to embracing the budget challenge. Right before Coburn took the podium to address the board, former Seminole Booster Chairman Lawton Langford spoke. The son of the recently deceased founder of Seminole Boosters, George Langford, Lawton thanked the board for their thoughts and prayers for his family and then made these impromptu remarks. “You are going to hear about some challenges and some opportunities today,” Langford said. “When my Dad first got involved with Seminole Boosters, President Stanley Marshall threatened to close not just football but all of athletics. So my Dad, along with local leaders, raised $600,000 to restore the financial health of the program. The story you are going to hear in a minute is severe but not like 40 years ago. “My comment is this is a wonderful opportunity. My dad drilled into me all my life is when you overcome a problem, together, side by side, it makes you stronger and it builds a bond that is unbreakable. We have that opportunity again now over the next couple of years and I look forward to working with each of you.” Langford’s words not only set the tone for the day, they set the tone for the Athletics Department, Seminole Boosters and FSU fans to work together through these short term challenges and make Seminole Athletics stronger.

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SEASON YEAR

PHIPPS’ PLAN: IMPROVING FOOTBALL WEEKEND EXPERIENCE By BOB FERRANTE Paul Phipps has a passion: He wants to help Florida State fans enjoy their weekend experience. Not just the game or the game day. The entire weekend. That starts the moment you arrive in Tallahassee on a Friday and ends with your departure on Sunday. “The brand, Florida State Seminoles, is one of the top 10 brands in all of college sports,” said Phipps, who recently was hired as the Chief Marketing and Technology Officer who works for FSU athletics and Seminole Boosters. “We just need to really improve the experience that people have when they come to Florida State weekend.” Phipps has a plan, too. It’s based in part on his decades of experience working for three NBA teams (Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets) but also for an MLB team (San Diego Padres), Major League Soccer and International Speedway Corporation. Phipps also has a frame of reference when it comes to Florida State fans having consulted with Seminole Boosters and as general manager of IMG Sports. It was during those years when FSU created the Block Party to extend game day to a football weekend experience. His plan for much more is also based on listening. FSU surveyed football season ticket holders and received a response from 40 percent of fans. Phipps read them, more than 120 pages of feedback. Now Phipps is taking those comments and blending it with his research and data. When he speaks, you can hear the drive in his voice. He has been hired to increase ticket sales, yes, but he wants to do it by enhancing the fan experience. “We’re starting to take action in a number of these areas,” Phipps said. “Sports today has conditioned people that if they wear it and if they watch it that they’re a fan. And that has really affected live attendance. There are things that you need to do to change the experience to keep the fan engaged.” What was at the top of your wish list? One is getting in and out of Doak Campbell Stadium. Phipps plans to meet with FSU Campus Police and City of Tallahassee officials to discuss all aspects of ingress and egress to Doak Campbell Stadium in an effort to expedite the experience. Traffic control is a collaborative effort that requires extensive planning, so meeting with the proper authorities is high on Phipps’ early priority list. An extensive traffic study has been completed. Once the authorities decide on the 2019 plan, Phipps wants to communicate it to every Seminole Booster so they know the best lots and routes to take to reduce drive time. FSU will also have a communication plan for fans who are not Boosters who come to Doak looking for cash lots. The research has been done. Now it’s a matter of implementation. He also wants to see improved communication through signage that helps fans differentiate between a tailgate parking lot and a commuter lot. And once you get to the gate at Doak, Phipps also wants to increase scanners to reduce wait time and allow gate captains to resolve any ticket problems. “It’s just little things,” Phipps said. “But I tell our staff they are like pieces of tissue paper. Each one doesn’t seem like a lot but pretty soon you have a pile. You now have affected people’s ability to park and to get into the stadium. You’re going to see more and more of this.” Phipps also sees expanded options pregame. Many fans love to tailgate with family or friends. But what if you’re part of a small group? What if you have kids and are unsure how to entertain them before games start? “We want to create more social interaction platforms around Doak

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Campbell, enhancing the experience on Langford Green in the big entertainment zone,” Phipps said. “And that Coca-Cola tailgate between Dick Howser and Doak. We want to create things for people that don’t have tailgating where they park that can do things with brands before the game.” Fans connect at Doak. But fans also want to connect with their friends from around the world on social media. Phipps calls it “status currency” and explains it as “what I’m going to do, what I’m doing or what I’ve done.” Fans want to share this information but often it has been a challenge at Doak. Florida State has made a fan-friendly investment in 5G technology for Doak Campbell Stadium. While 5G likely won’t be fully implemented in the Tallahassee market until the 2020 season, ticket holders may notice faster upload and download speeds to more devices. “We’ll see some improvement in Doak in 2019 and by 2020 we expect to have a fully-implemented 5G fan experience,” Phipps said. “Whatever our fans are doing on game day with their smart phones they will be able to do faster and better. Plus, we will be able to connect with the fans in the stadium in ways we can’t right now with content you can’t get unless you are at the game. And the technology is advancing.” Phipps also feels that a relatively untapped market is renting homes on Airbnb or VRBO. A quick search of both sites shows a variety of homes available for the spring game or fall game weekends. Twoand three-bedroom homes with two or more bathrooms and a full kitchen would allow multiple couples – or fans with large families – to have space over the long weekend and enjoy the outdoors, too. It also provides the option of a reunion for FSU grads who don’t get back to Tallahassee as often as they want but can plan a long weekend with college friends. Or to create a fall beachfront package — with limo service to a Seminole football game included — for Seminole fans with affordable and convenient flights to Panama City. “It’s the social experience,” Phipps said. “Maybe we are three couples that don’t live in the same city but we come to Tallahassee and have a weekend together. That’s where we’ve got to provide things that make sense to them and really drive their interests in being a part of the Seminole experience on game weekends.” Phipps, who has relationships with these companies, sees the potential of an Airbnb or VRBO when fans look to follow the Seminoles on the road, too. He said Airbnb had its biggest weekend ever when Jacksonville hosted Florida and Georgia last October, and it’s a possibility that FSU fans can explore when the Seminoles open the 2019 season against Boise State on Aug. 31 in Jacksonville. With the spring game coming around the corner on April 6, FSU officials are preparing plans for the weekend. A Friday night block party in CollegeTown will feature the high-energy Velcro Pygmies, a 1990s cover band. There will again be a concert inside Doak Campbell Stadium after the spring game, with performances by MC Hammer, Tone Loc and Color Me Badd. “We’re just creating a spring party,” Phipps said. “And do some fireworks, an after party in CollegeTown.” This is FSU Athletics and Seminole Booster’s vision: a weekend of fun, from Friday through Sunday, and they’ve hired just the man to make it happen.

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FOOTBALL HIRES THREE ASSISTANTS Florida State welcomed three new assistants to the coaching staff with the hiring of offensive coordinator Kendal Briles, wide receivers coach Ron Dugans and offensive line coach Randy Clements. Briles and Dugans were greeted to a warm reception on Feb. 6, National Signing Day, when they were introduced to fans at the Tallahassee Automobile Museum. The 36-year-old Briles coached a top-10 offense at Houston in 2018 and has also called plays at Baylor and Florida Atlantic. “I am incredibly humbled by this opportunity and appreciate Coach Taggart’s trust in me,” Briles said. “We both understand what this offense should be, and I have complete confidence in our ability to meet the goals he has for us.” Dugans, 41, grew up in Tallahassee, played at Florida A&M High and then FSU — where he helped the Seminoles win the 1999 national championship. After playing three years in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals, Dugans began his career as a college coach. He coached on Willie Taggart’s staff at South Florida in 2014-15 and was at Miami from 2016-18. “I’ve been a lot of places as a player and as a coach but I’ll say this: There’s no place like home,” Dugans said. “I’m just excited about the things that coach Taggart is doing. Now, I’m home. It means a lot to me.” Randy Clements has also been hired as offensive line coach.

To read an exclusive Seminoles.com Q&A with Kendal Briles, go to: seminoles.com/one-on-one-withkendal-briles/ To read an exclusive Seminoles.com Q&A with Ron Dugans, go to:

SPRING 2019

Ron Dugans

Kendal Briles

SEMINOLES ADD SIX MORE TO #TRIBE19 The following student-athletes have signed a National Letter of Intent with Florida State: NAME POS. HT. WT. HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL Ryan Fitzgerald K 6-0 185 Coolidge, Ga. Colquitt County HS Quashon Fuller DE 6-2 281 Cape Coral, Fla. Lehigh Senior HS Brendan Gant DB 6-1 193 Lakeland, Fla. Kathleen HS Ira Henry III OL 6-5 320 Florissant, Mo. Trinity Catholic HS Travis Jay DB 6-2 176 Greenville, Fla. Madison County HS Darius Washington OL 6-4 85 Pensacola, Fla. West Florida HS

DECEMBER SIGNING PERIOD SIGNEES NAME POS. Jarvis Brownlee DB Kalen DeLoach LB Akeem Dent DB Curtis Fann Jr. DE Kevon Glenn LB Maurice Goolsby WR Renardo Green DB Dontae Lucas OL Derrick McLendon II DE Jaleel McRae LB Malcolm Ray DL Maurice Smith OL Tru Thompson DT Jay Williams OL

HT. 5-11 6-0 6-1 6-1 6-1 6-4 6-0 6-3 6-3 6-2 6-2 6-2 6-0 6-6

WT. 175 206 170 252 220 190 173 323 233 236 247 287 324 290

Raymond Woodie III

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HOMETOWN Miami Gardens, Fla. Savannah, Ga. Pahokee, Fla. Stillmore, Ga Hampton, Ga. Dunnellon, Fla. Apopka, Fla. Miami, Fla. Decatur, Ga. New Smyrna Beach, Fla. Miami Gardens, Fla. Miami, Fla. Loganville, Ga. Moreno Valley, Calif.

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Tallahassee, Fla.

HIGH SCHOOL Miami Carol City Senior HS Islands HS Palm Beach Central HS Emanuel County Institute Dutchtown HS Dunnellon HS Wekiva HS IMG Academy Tucker HS IMG Academy Miami Carol City Senior HS Miami Central HS Grayson HS Nuview Bridge Early College HS/ Grossmont College Florida State University School

THIS GROUP THAT WE SIGNED REALLY FIT THE CULTURE WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;RE TRYING TO BRING. I THINK WE BROUGHT IN SOME REALLY GOOD FOOTBALL PLAYERS. BUT NOT ONLY GOOD FOOTBALL PLAYERS, GOOD YOUNG MEN. YOUNG MEN THAT ARE COMING FROM WINNING PROGRAMS. GUYS THAT UNDERSTAND HOW TO WIN. -WILLIE TAGGART, FLORIDA STATE HEAD COACH

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UNCONQUERED MAGAZINE

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UNCONQUERED MAGAZINE

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AL DUNLAP • 1937-2019 By CHARLIE BARNES A bronze plaque in the corner of the playing field at West Point commemorates General George Marshall’s plea for a hero to build an elite combat unit. “I want an officer for a secret and dangerous mission,” Marshall said. “I want … a West Point football player.” Al Dunlap actually was one of those West Point football players, and a paratrooper, Class of ‘60. “I never realized planes could land,” he joked. As a child he came up in the Hoboken, N.J., projects, poor, and hard. His mother made it clear that he was expected to rise above all obstacles. He earned acceptance to several first-class universities in the northeast including Brown, Dartmouth and West Point. He chose to attend West Point because he embraced the virtues of education and patriotism. “I wanted to become a lawyer, but they required me to take a degree in engineering. The instructors might as well have been speaking Greek,” he laughed. “Consequently, I have the degree and I am probably the worst engineer in history.” He did not go to law school, nor did he become an engineer, but Al Dunlap discovered that he had a rare talent for solving problems in business and employed the aggressiveness of a bulldozer toward those ends. Across the decades of his career he ran nine national and international corporations. His business was to rescue failing companies and to earn money for the shareholders. Of course, not everyone saw his methods as morally and economically proper. There’s no question that Al Dunlap was ruthless in pursuit of his goals. Al believed that the price of leadership was severe criticism, and criticism was as much a part of his reputation as his trademark pinstripe suit. But praise was the companion to criticism. In 1995 a survey was taken among international business leaders asking them to rate their peers. Al Dunlap was named the most admired international business CEO. “My success had everything to do with being a poor kid who was always being put down,” he said. “Making my way in the world became a matter of self-respect for me, of a kid trying to prove he was worth something.” I never saw Al bully anyone who couldn’t hit back. Perhaps it was because he knew what it was like to be that poor kid, disrespected. He called Sam’s Club greeters by their first name. He was unfailingly gracious to waiters and service people of all descriptions. I never saw him pick on the small and helpless. I’ve seen him buy or build houses for people he liked. He and Judy love animals and their farm is populated by formerly unloved creatures, cows, horses, stray cats and dogs. He wept when his German Shephard passed. Al and Judy had a marriage to admire. They were able to celebrate 50 years together in 2018. Seldom have there been

two people more perfectly suited to each other’s personalities. When FSU President Eric Barron asked me to brief him on how best to deal with Dunlap as a fundraising prospect, I offered a list of 10 ‘helpful things’ and 10 ‘difficult things’ about Al. The fact that “He is extremely intelligent” was in the No. 1 spot on both lists. “I can’t outsmart him,” I said, “And he’s always two steps ahead of me.” Once he and Judy began to make gifts to Florida State, their personal relationships grew to include a great many members of the University family. They loved the kids, the athletes, and that affection was returned in kind. Judy played golf with the women’s teams, and Al and Judy spent many hours in the company of the full roster of student-athletes. Their first gift was valued at $10 million and helped build the Dunlap Student Success Center as well as renovate the football practice fields, which have since been named the Al Dunlap Practice Fields. Their next $5 million gift made construction of the Albert J. Dunlap Athletic Training Facility possible. The facility was completed in 2013, shortly before the 2013 BCS National Championship season kicked off. They followed that gift with another $5 million gift in 2016 towards the Champions Club, a premium seating section in the south end zone, which offers Seminole fans a more comfortable game day experience and funds additional improvements to Doak Campbell Stadium. The Dunlap Champions Club now carries their names. Al and Judy Dunlap’s most recent gift, a $20 million contribution, was their most dramatic and generous gift to date and was an investment in football operations (Albert J. Judith A. Dunlap Football Center). No, I could never outsmart him or sell him something he didn’t want. As a professional fundraiser, I found that managing Al was like trying to control a rogue weather system. He could be alternately terrifying and thunderous, bright and sunny, and followed no predictable patterns. But if you love animals and if you can trade clever jabs, you can get along. He once told me that whatever it was normal people had in their brain that filtered thoughts before they were spoken was missing in him. He said something once — I don’t remember what — but I said, “Al you’ve got to be careful about saying those kinds of things.” Al bristled. “Why?” he asked. “Let me tell you something. Never be afraid to walk right up to the line, go right up to the edge. That’s the way to be successful.” I said, “Yes, I know that works for you, but that’s because you’re insane.” Al smiled and sat back. “Well, now, let’s see,” he said. “Which one of us is rich and famous, and which one is here asking for my money?” He was loved. And he will be missed.

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SPRING 2019

SEE IT

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Tallahasseeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a special place that brims with award-winning restaurants, local craft breweries, gorgeous trails and spring festivals like the Red Hills International Horse Trials, Springtime Tallahassee, Southern Shakespeare Festival, LeMoyne Chain of Parks Art Festival, and Word of South Festival. Plan your trip now.

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Freshman Beatrice Wallin hits her driver off a future tee box at Seminole Golf Course.

FSU BOOSTERS ANSWER THE CALL More than $64 million raised for Unconquered Campaign

By JERRY KUTZ

Photos by Ross Obley

he $100 million, five-year Unconquered Campaign was announced on Sept. 2 at a ceremony in the Dunlap Champions Club. The response has been impressive. As of Feb. 1, the Campaign had received over $64 million in pledges and already received cash gifts totaling more than $8.5 million. In addition, Seminole Boosters continues to receive generous gift payments from legacy donors, including DeVoe and Shirley Moore, on previous campaign projects. “The response has been incredible,” said Nylah Thompson, Unconquered Campaign Co-Chair. “Tremendous progress has been achieved in our first year thanks to the generosity of our donors. I believe we will make another step forward toward our $100 million goal in 2019.” SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2018 • Over $33 million committed in support of the investment in the football operations facility with almost $5 million given. This has been led by a $20 million lead commitment by the late Al and Judy Dunlap and a $5 million commitment from Dr. Moises Issa. Additional

leadership has been provided by Jim Owens, Nylah Thompson & HL Hartford, Parrish & Cat Owens, Gary Landrum, John & Betty Crowe, Bob & Pan Sasser, Jim Henderson, Guy & Delores Spearman and Willie & Taneshia Taggart. • $9.6 million secured for student-athlete scholarship endowments. • Each project and initiative received $1 million in commitments. • Sixteen donors made commitments of at least $1 million to the campaign. Of these 16 Micco level donors, it was the first pledge at this level for eleven donors. “I want to thank John Crowe and Nylah Thompson for their service and leadership as co-chairs of the campaign,” said Hulen. “Their support and counsel, along with the members of our Steering Committee and Executive Leadership Council, have helped us stay focused and heading in the right direction to reach our ambitious $100 million goal. Additionally, I want to acknowledge Mike Dasher and Kari Terezakis from our staff who have played key roles in helping us have a great 2018,” said Greg Hulen, Campaign Director.

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NICKLAUS LEGACY GOLF COURSE The first project to be completed in the campaign will be the renovation of the golf course. Construction began in 2018 and is scheduled to conclude for an October opening. Early feedback from touring the course has been overwhelmingly positive. “I believe when the course opens it could be in the top 100 in the nation,” said coach Trey Jones. “This will be a great asset for innovation park, the university, athletic department and our golf teams.” Seminole Boosters reached its initial $4.5 million goal in February with an additional commitment from FSU Board of Trustees Chairman Ed Burr and his wife, Billie Jo. With

their pledge, the Burrs have raised their total support for the renovation to $1 million. Fundraising will still continue for the project, to learn more about the course renovation and how you can help visit: unconqueredcampaign.com. DONORS CREATING A LEGACY FOR MIKE MARTIN As part of the Unconquered Campaign For Athletics Excellence, FSU looks to honor the legacy of coach Mike Martin with a project to solidify the future of Seminole Baseball with the proposed renovation of Dick Howser Stadium. Since its opening in 1983, the facility has hosted over four million fans and countless great players and teams. As it

I believe when the course opens it could be in the top 100 in the nation. This will be a great asset for innovation park, the university, athletic department and our golf teams. Trey Jones, Men’s Golf Head Coach

COVERING THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SOFTBALL TEAM By JERRY KUTZ This fall another addition to the Unconquered Campaign was a $1.5 million project in support of the softball program with the construction of a sunscreen that will shade the stands and bullpen areas. Coming off a national championship season, and with coach Lonni Alameda’s commitment to being connected to the softball fan base, the response has been fantastic. In four short months, over $1.1 million has been pledged with over $750,000 already given! This will allow the design process to begin with construction to start after the completion of the 2019 season. Longtime softball fan Richard McMullen, who is a Micco level donor, was one of several fans who made a leadership gift of $100,000. McMullen cites Alameda as the reason for the gift. “Lonni Alameda is a wonderful leader of women,” McMullen said. “The girls all love her and my wife and I fell in love with the way she leads and teaches them. She is just a great person. She is what FSU is all about.” McMullen said the money donated will help Alameda grow the program even further. “They will shade the stands and make it more comfortable for the fans to enjoy the sport and the team,” McMullen said. Russ and Genie Morcom, for whom FSU’s Aquatics Center is named, committed $500,000 to the project because they really like the team

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and the coaches. “We really like all the opportunities we’ve had to interact with the student-athletes and coaches,” Russ said. “Lonni makes sure there are plenty of opportunities for fans to engage with her program and they are just really, really nice kids. The coaches do a lot to give the studentathletes life skills, plenty of opportunities to interact with adults.” Like the McMullens, the Morcoms are also sold on Alameda. “She has represented Florida State very well,” he said. “This summer, post National Championship, she was everywhere promoting FSU and her sport. For example, she threw out the first pitch for one of the Chicago Cubs games this summer. Not only does she do a great job of representing Florida State but she also represents women’s softball and what people think about the sport.” Morcom likes the design of the project. “I think the project will provide comfort to the fans and perhaps help increase attendance,” Morcom said. “It’s a good, cost-effective solution.” Alameda has been overwhelmed with the support from fans through the years and appreciates the donors contributions to the program. “We are grateful and honored that so many people have reached out to support this program,” Alameda said. “We have worked hard on and off the field to represent Florida State University in the best way possible and to have so many recognize this effort is humbling. The family atmosphere is a part our culture we take pride and truly feel that

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reaches its 35th anniversary, the university has developed a master plan to prepare it for future generations of service to college baseball’s greatest fans. Phase I of the renovations is anticipated to cost $6 million and will include new field lighting, construction of permanent stands down third base, renovated team weight room, a new team building and enhanced entrance and the already completed new scoreboard. Philip and Deidre Troyer were among the first to make a lead gift to the project. The cardiologist explained why he chose to contribute to the vision. “We both love live sporting events,” Dr. Troyer said. “Putting the game on the television is not good enough

for us. We love being there and especially love going to baseball games.” When Troyer says he loves baseball, he isn’t kidding. “Before I became a doctor, I truly thought about being a groundskeeper. I love grass. I love dirt. I love the chalk lines,” he said with a laugh. So he obviously loved the tour of Dick Howser Stadium with head coach Mike Martin and development officers Hugh Tomlinson and Mike Dasher. “Coach Martin was so gracious with his time and you could just tell he loves what was done there for the players years ago,” Dr. Troyer said. “While Coach Martin remained positive throughout the tour, I could see aspects that were Left to right: The Florida Capitol is visible in the distance as construction continues at Seminole Golf Course. The foreground will become a water retention pond and a water hazard along the left side of the 8th hole. // Men’s Golf Coach Trey Jones discusses course construction progress with Chris Cochran, Senior Design Associate at Nicklaus Companies. // An earth mover in the early stages of green construction at Seminole Golf Course. // A par 5 viewed from the tee at Seminole Golf Course. Photos by Ross Obley

our family has grown substantially with the community and booster support we have received.” Hulen feels the goals for the project will soon be exceeded, a quick response for a team that captured the hearts of Seminoles fans with an exhilarating run to the Women’s College World Series title in June. “Our fans of the softball team have stepped up, just like our team did

in Oklahoma City,” said Hulen. “The response to the plan to upgrade the stadium has been phenomenal. This will be an investment that benefits both our student-athletes and fans.” To learn more about the Unconquered Campaign and this investment in the future of Florida State athletics, visit unconqueredcampaign.com.

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inadequate. Another type of coach might complain but he never did. I could see the deficiencies but he never mentioned them. When we were in the weight training room, Hugh and I discussed them and I knew right there I can do something.” Troyer described Martin’s attitude. “We love what we got. Can we do better? I thought I can do better by helping him out with the weight room,” Troyer concluded. Additionally, needed infrastructure will be improved throughout the stadium to make sure all fans can safely enjoy their time cheering on the ‘Noles. The project will be funded entirely by Seminole Boosters through the generosity of its donors. Additional phases, planning and construction will be contingent upon receiving needed funding. For more information on how you can support this exciting project and honor the legacy of Coach Martin, please contact Mike Dasher, Sr. Vice President of Development at Seminole Boosters at 850-228-7697 or mike.dasher@fsu.edu.

It’s been an incredibly fun year celebrating the 50th Anniversary. Our women’s sports donors, year after year, are some of FSU’s most loyal and supportive fans and this year is no different. Vanessa Fuchs, Senior Women’s Associate Athletic Director and Senior Women Administrator

50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION As part of the 50th anniversary of women’s athletics at Florida State, Seminole Boosters and the athletic department set a goal of raising $5 million in support and honor of the accomplishments of women’s athletics. This includes commitments to women’s sports coaches’ clubs, scholarship endowments and facility campaigns. Since the kick-off celebration on Sept. 2, over $5.5 million has been given or committed. “It’s been an incredibly fun year celebrating the 50th Anniversary,” said Senior Women’s Associate Athletic Director and SWA Vanessa Fuchs, who has chaired the campaign for women’s athletics. “Our women’s sports donors, year after year, are some of FSU’s most loyal and supportive fans and this year is no different. The fact that we’ve achieved our $5 million goal with several months remaining in the current academic year is a testament to our generous donors and the unprecedented success of our women’s sports programs at FSU.” A final celebration will be hosted on Saturday, April 27, at 4 p.m. at the Civic Center. For more information on attending the event please visitseminoleboosters.com.

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Florida State University and Seminole Boosters, Inc. recognize the following donors for their selfless generosity by contributing $50,000 or more to the athletic scholarships and facilities. It is because of these gifts that Florida State University Remains UNCONQUERED.

George D. Avant, Jr. Jorge and Diana Azor Stephen & Lucia Bailey Barbara J. Bass Paul and Mary Ann Broome Jeffery C. and Dorothy R. Bryan Arthur and Maria Castle Childers Construction Company, Inc. Van Champion and Sam Childers The Crossman Family Scott and Marion Darling Leon L. Fowler, II David and Stacy Herzog Moises Issa, M.D. Hal Jackson Richard S. Kearney Jimmy Kitts Manatee Seminole Club The Price Family David E. Ramba David Richard Doug & Julia Rohan Willie and Taneshia Taggart Ware Oil and Supply - Don & Sue Everett Dr. Janet Wells Kamerion D. Wimbley Major gift donors from Nov. 1, 2018 to Feb. 15, 2019

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From left: Vanessa Fuchs, Barbara Palmer, Dr. Billie Jones, Dr. JoAnne Graf, Dr. Cecile Reynaud and Terry Maul.

50-YEAR PATH TO NATIONAL PROMINENCE Shared offices, crammed vans and tight budgets were roots to women’s athletics growth By KERRY DUNNING Legends are born from brilliance and tenaciousness, and in part from events often not recognized at the time as game changers. Act by act built a mosaic of national championships, Olympians, all-Americans in women’s intercollegiate sports at Florida State University. Terry Long can thank his father, FSU coach Mike Long, for the perspective of women’s participation in sport. Barbara Palmer came to FSU because of a phone call from her mother saying there was a job posting in the newspaper she should consider. Anne Davis played tennis because courts were built across the street from her childhood home. Cecile

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Reynaud was a graduate student, too young to get a credit card to rent a car, but still recruited volleyball players to FSU with the help of recruit’s parents and a shared telephone. On a dime, any one of them might not have heard the call leading to the birth of women in intercollegiate sports at Florida State. “I can remember my dad coaching in the ‘60s and talking about some of the ladies wanting to use the track,” recalled Long. He set records as an FSU student, and returned to FSU in 1985 to begin his years as the head women’s track coach and in 1988 was named coach of the men’s and women’s teams. His coaching produced 325 graduates, 272 all-conference, 82 all-Americans and nine Olympians. He can still be found at the track. “My dad, Dick Roberts, me ... we never lost a championship in the Metro Conference,” Long remembered. “We added women and they didn’t lose. The ACC was more challenging, but we have made a statement. Look at these teams (2019) that have been ranked Nos. 1 and 2 in the country. It is really very positive.” Long has seen a lot of changes, from shared locker rooms and equipment rooms between sports to the change from the Metro Conference to the ACC. For women’s sports, he says the introduction of weight and strengthening programs changed women’s sports. “One of the biggest things was in ’84 when the McIntosh funding added 3,000 square feet for weight training. We were able to introduce women recruits into weight training,” said Long. “And the coaches did an outstanding job across the board taking athletes to higher levels of competition.” Coaches introduced women to weight training and

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Photos by Ryals Lee

strengthening, at the same time they addressed concerns about the nature of strengthening. “They’d say, ‘I don’t want to get ‘muscly’ and build up like a guy.’ But they could see the bond between strengthening capability and higher levels of competition,” Long said. “Across the country, people think of Florida State as a leader.” Funding of women’s sports has been a source of pride at Florida State, and at the same time led to ongoing discussions regarding building the programs. Because of the creativity of Barbara Palmer and the working relationship with then athletics director John Bridgers, take any sports analogy — set the bar high, took the 3-point shot, suicide squeeze — and women’s sports have been both leaders and examples of disparity in funding. Football to the side, since it is recognized as the cog to financial success of all sports on campus, men and women have similar national championship records (men 10, women 9). But more recent success stories are women’s softball and soccer “nattys” as well as a beach volleyball national runner-up trophy in 2018. When Palmer got the prompt from her mother, she headed to the library to read about the AIAW and NCAA history regarding women’s sports. The AIAW (Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women) launched in 1971 by initiating national championships. It was a huge steppingstone for women’s sports, and at its high point the AIAW sponsored 41 national championships in 19 sports. Maybe more importantly, the 1973 basketball tournament made money. “I went to the library and studied the AIAW and the NCAA. Then they didn’t ask me one dadgum question about them,” said Palmer. “They wanted to know how I was going to raise dollars and talked about Title IX.” Her first day on the job, she opened a drawer in her desk and found cash. Eventually she found out the money was for a volleyball fundraiser. “I thought this is going to be a real challenge,” Palmer said. Palmer gives credit to Bridgers. “John let me do a lot of innovative things. And I started asking the tough questions.” She started with $163,000 in the budget, and from that put Title IX into action, hired coaches, including Cecile Reynaud and JoAnne Graf, and the coaches started putting together the teams. Palmer says much of the motivation for what she did came from an early experience watching Reynaud heading for regionals. “I was saying goodbye and watching them cram women and equipment into a 15-seat van. They put pillows next to where the doors closed so they could fit in more people. They drove to North Carolina, played, and drove back. They ate fast food,” said Palmer. “I said never I’m I going to let this happen again.” Davis, the women’s tennis coach from 1980-86, was a beneficiary of the groundwork Palmer put in place. Long before that she got her start at public tennis courts. A Metro Conference coach of the year, she compiled a 141-105 record. “At the time, I was into organized sports in the summer and I loved team sports,” she said. But she added that those

PALMER LOBBIED FOR FUNDS, LEADING CHARGE FOR WOMEN’S ATHLETICS By KERRY DUNNING John Bridgers, Florida State’s athletics director from 1973-79, gets a lot of credit for his hiring of Dick Howser, Mike Martin and Bobby Bowden. But in this 50th year of women’s intercollegiate sports at FSU, the real game changer may have been hiring Barbara Palmer as the first women’s athletics director. Bridgers came to campus amidst a major scandal, a losing football team and an athletics department deficit of epic proportions. And he exited orchestrating the turnaround. It would have been easy for Bridgers to concentrate on fixing the sports in place — yet he purposefully elected not to cut women’s athletics. Palmer took that mission to heart, taking the budget from $163,000 to over $1 million in five years with two things in mind: women’s sports needed funding and men’s sports would not be healthy with lost revenue. “The first day on the job, I opened a bottom desk drawer and there was money sitting there. It was being raised for volleyball to travel.” Then Palmer said, “I knew this was going to be a challenge. I started asking the tough questions.” The depth of the problem became much clearer to Palmer when she watched volleyball coach Cecile Reynaud stuff a passenger van with equipment and people, make the long drive to North Carolina for a competition, and then drive back the same day because

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programs didn’t extend into a year-round experience. So, she played tennis in college and headed for FSU to coach. “That time was absolutely fascinating. I was lucky enough to get a job as Florida State was at the forefront of Title IX at the time. You can see it in the success they were having,” Davis said. Two years out of playing at South Florida, she became a graduate coach and then full-time coach. One of

“Looking back, I was very lucky to land where I did,” Davis said. “I was very lucky to be an observer and to be a part of a historic time period.” Reynaud has observed, coached and voiced women’s sports at Florida State even past retirement. Playing volleyball at Missouri State, a person there knew Billie Jones (a softball and volleyball coach at FSU). Reynaud, with introduction made, came to Tallahassee as a master’s student and a coach paid $3,000.

best things that may have come out of limited funding and beginning programs was the coaching camaraderies. She’s not the only coach that talks about a two-story white building on Woodward as a defining moment. “We were really hard working and enthusiastic,” Davis said. “That’s where we were sharing information, sharing tears. We were on the phone every night, because this was before social media.” With limited recruiting budgets, Davis said the phone — talking to the player, the coach, the parents had to be decision maker in who they chose to come to FSU. Talking it over with others in the same situation led to some pretty good teams for the Seminoles.

Reynaud may know the inside of Tully Gym better than anyone at Florida State. She spent 26 years as the volleyball coach. She is on a short list of coaches with more than 600 wins, with her teams garnering six Metro championships and one ACC title. “We practiced at Montgomery, but we played at Tully, with no air conditioning,” said Reynaud. At that time eight coaches shared an office — and one phone — in 204 Tully. “We even had to practice at the same time as the men’s basketball team, so they backed up into our practice.” One keen desire of Reynaud is an upgraded Tully or a dedicated space for women’s volleyball. She began her career, ended her career, and now supports volleyball in the same building. At the same time, it holds the

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memories of long time relationships, and even an AIAW final. Any discussion today regarding funding for women’s sports has a beginning. And that was a program with no recruiting budget. She really did have to be creative on any of her limited recruiting trips. “I wasn’t old enough to have a credit card or even able to rent a car,” reflected Reynaud. That’s when a recruit’s parents, in Baltimore, got her a car. And the story Palmer tells about the 15-passenger van, Reynaud added, “We even had two blowouts in one day.” A turning point for Reynaud, and others working with the fledgling women’s programs, was interacting with Bobby Bowden at head coaches’ meetings. He may have never had to recruit to Tully, but he had to recruit to a program that had seen some of its worst seasons. Not only did she listen but she also learned to talk about money for the program. Reynaud even put together a wish list. Lucy McDaniel listened. “I talked about wanting to do a two-week trip in Europe, and Lucy gave the money for the trip,” Reynaud said. McDaniel would also leave $1 million in her estate designated for volleyball. McDaniel stated a desire to inspire other women to donate funds to women’s sports. The celebration of the 50th year of women’s intercollegiate sports has been highlighted by some of the most successful teams in FSU history. This year is also the time of beginnings revisited. The opportunity for future growth and success knows unbound limits. It began on the backs and minds and spirit of these, and many others, believing in the programs at Florida State. A February gathering of pioneers of women’s intercollegiate sports at Florida State will provide an oral history on the evolution to today’s consistently highly ranked women’s teams. The panel features former softball coach Dr. JoAnne Graf, Dr. Billie Jones, Terry Maul, Barbara Palmer and Dr. Cecile Reynaud. It can be viewed on Seminoles.com.

The softball soccer complex, which opened in April 1999, has produced three national championships in FSU Women’s Athletics, two in soccer and one in softball. they couldn’t afford to stay in a hotel. She vowed to make a change. “Why would you treat your daughters like that, with these God-given talents?” she would ask. Bridgers, in his book What’s Right with Football (1995), said, “(Palmer) was hard working, had good judgment, was a good fundraiser, and appreciated the problems of not crippling the men’s athletic program in order to promote women’s athletics.” She started at the ground level — lobbying. She talked the Florida Legislature into granting nearly $700,000 for women’s sports. It took a lot of homework to get to that point. Palmer would use Title IX to begin access to needed dollars to build the program. Title IX (of the 1972 Educational Amendment) states, “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance …” It covered athletics but did not guarantee equal distribution of funds by gender. Simply put — and it was not simple to enact — if the percentage of male to female athletes (in all programs) was 54 percent to 46 percent, then the women had the right to 46 percent of the department’s revenue. After worrying about the accounting of money in the bottom drawer of a desk (which started a department ledger), Palmer developed a formula for funding, with the help of Mary Seals at the Board of Regents office providing her a copy of the budget. “I looked at every line item in the budget for men’s sports,” she said. “I took football out of the equation and looked at player supplies. I’d average the supplies for men. I looked at the medium salary of men’s coaches and we came up with a figure.” And Palmer kept going until she was ready to take it to Herb Morgan, a Florida State alum, and then chairman of

the Florida House Appropriations and Rules Committees. She took the formula to Dempsey Barron, an influential State Senator who served as President of that body in 197576. Governor Bob Graham also supported the effort. The hard work paid off in the funding for FSU. “There were some tough days, especially when men were thinking that they would be losing dollars. We had to stretch things, scratching and clawing. I’m very proud that our Legislature saw it was important to give young women opportunity.” Her goal was to provide talented female athletes with an education and cover athletic expenses. “With her leadership, especially for the track and field budget, what she pushed ahead in the early days through the mid ‘80s was something,” said retired coach Terry Long. “She was swimming upstream in that environment and leveraging more revenue for coaches and programs.” Anne Davis was a recipient of changes when she arrived in 1979. “Because of Barbara Palmer’s efforts, Florida State was fully funded and gained the recognition,” Davis said. “Myself and other coaches could move from graduate assistants into full-time coaching jobs.” And as a side effect, leading the charge, Florida became the first state to have all schools in compliance with Title IX. Explaining some of the motivation, Palmer says, “I didn’t have the opportunity young women today have, I played city league ball (softball and basketball).” But it stopped there. Until her mother convinced her to make a career change. Palmer’s work was rewarded with the addition of softball, track and golf immediately. And long term it turned into five national championships and 226 all-Americans during her tenure. That earned her a lifetime achievement award from the national Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators (NACWAA). And a place in Florida State history.

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The 1969-70 team reunion on Feb. 2, 2019 during Florida State’s 59-49 win over Georgia Tech; Skip Young in 1969-70.

BUSTED FLUSH

Photos by FSU Sports Information

By JIM HENRY Nearly 50 years later, it still was obvious. Players on the Florida State 1969-70 men’s basketball team that featured future Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Dave Cowens genuinely care for each other. The situation was hardly perfect five decades ago. Like most Southern colleges, FSU was slow to desegregate its student body. White and black players on the team lived disparate lives. Yet, in stark contrast to a turbulent era, there was unity among them. Players, regardless of skin color and culture, worked together to achieve a common goal on the court. And even while players graduated, married, raised families and enjoyed successful careers across the country, they remain connected from their time together at FSU. “I think the thing that made us that way was we didn’t have one leader,” said Ahmad Aliyy, formerly known as Skip Young, who was recruited to FSU from Columbus, Ohio, and has made his home in Tallahassee. “Everyone was a leader. People knew who the better players were, but we all rooted for each other. That made us unique. That doesn’t happen all the time with teams. It’s always good to get a chance to see your former teammates and see how everyone is doing. The weekend started with good energy and it ended with good energy.” The Seminoles’ 1969-70 team was featured during the Feb. 1-2 reunion weekend for men’s basketball. Nearly 100 former players attended a welcome reception Feb. 1 at the Varsity Club at Doak Campbell Stadium. Coach Leonard Hamilton and the current team showed, too. Hamilton welcomed the former players and his players, engaged and respectful, introduced themselves and answered questions from the group. When one player talked about the importance of the program’s sports medicine staff, Cowens raised his hand and quipped, “You have trainers?” in reference to the difference in eras. The number

One of the top teams in FSU history wasn’t eligible to play in the postseason. But they battled to a 23-3 record and formed lifelong friendships

of former players grew on Saturday, when players were recognized on-court during FSU’s 59-49 win over Georgia Tech at the Tucker Civic Center. A postgame Chalk Talk and Alumni Gathering at CollegeTown also were held. The reunion was especially important to the 70-year-old Cowens. He orchestrated the return of his teammates, and all but two (Ron Harris and Willie Williams) from the ’69-70 team showed. Hugh Durham, the team’s head coach, also was in attendance from his hometown of Jacksonville. There will never be a definitive answer, but what if FSU’s season 49 years ago ended differently? The Seminoles’ journey that season could have taken a very different course historically if the team had not been banned from the postseason by the NCAA for recruiting violations a year earlier. “All we wanted was a chance to play,” said Cowens, who has homes in Maine and Florida. “We were students and basketball players. We loved to play and we loved the competition. It (probation) stung us. We had set goals to be ranked in the top 10 and win a championship. We had a chance to win a championship but we weren’t given that opportunity to compete. How we responded was important to us. We played with pride and passion. We represented ourselves and FSU with dignity. What are we supposed to do about this? “Go out and kick ass, like we did.” The team finished 23-3. FSU went 12-0 at home and finished at No. 11 in Associated Press Poll. But the season could have been better. So much better, players still believe. The team was led by Cowens, a white, fiery red-headed senior center from Newport, Kentucky. Cowens was surrounded by a strong, talented cast that was unique for a time marked by the civil rights movement, antiwar protests and political unrest. The lineup featured one white player in Cowens and four black players in Ken Macklin, Williams, Harris and Young. The hometown fans nicknamed their team “The Busted Flush.” Eight of FSU’s 14 players on the roster were black. Durham’s rotation on the 196970 team outside of the starters included black players (Vernell Ellzy,

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From left: Vernell Ellzy, Ken Macklin and Dave Cowens. Ron Harris, Rowland Garrett, John Burt and Roy Glover) and white players (Randy Cable and Jan Gies). Seven states were represented on FSU’s roster. Durham wanted his players to understand and care about each other. He had whites and blacks room together in an on-campus dormitory. “What lingers in history is a spirit of that generation,” Cowens said. “Think about what was going on at that time. I landed in Tallahassee, some of my friends landed in Vietnam. They didn’t have a choice. I did. We had a great group of guys who cared for each other. We were a competitive group and we enjoyed what we were doing as a group. We were student-athletes. We lived, ate, learned and used the same locker room at Tully Gym with other students. No frills, no tutors and no athletic gear to wear around campus.” Durham, a former player at FSU, served as an assistant under Bud Kennedy for seven seasons. Prior to the 1966-67 season, Kennedy was diagnosed with stomach cancer and died. Durham was elevated to head coach at the age of 29, becoming one of the youngest head coaches in NCAA Division I basketball history. His recruiting philosophy was simple, if not unsettling to some during those years. Durham recruited the best players, regardless of color. He admitted it took “a lot of grit and character” for black players to sign with FSU at that time. “We were united in a sense of brotherhood,” said Macklin, a senior starter at point guard from East Orange, New Jersey. “It was us against the world, us as a team in the South, going through what the South and the country was going through as a whole at that time. I had never seen so many white people in one place in all my life until I went to FSU. That kind of shifted my thinking and allowed me to cope and make decisions outside of my box, which has helped me today. “My time at FSU helped me grow as a human being. I learned to be more patient and tolerant of other people and be more patient and tolerant of my own flaws.” Randy Cable, a senior reserve guard from Massillon, Ohio, also made Tallahassee his home following his FSU career. Cable said he played with whites and blacks on his neighborhood basketball courts as a youth. Not including a family vacation to Niagara Falls, Cable never traveled far from his hometown. He said he was unaware of racial issues until he signed with FSU. “I never knew it was a problem until I got here,” Cable said. “I was like, ‘What is this crap?’ I lived a sheltered life, I guess. I never saw color because those guys at home, white or black, were my buddies. When I came here, it was no different. They were my teammates. They were good guys. We really did enjoy each other, and I will

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always believe that.” It still showed during the reunion weekend. A handful of players arrived in Tallahassee a day prior to the reunion, gathering for a late lunch. Cowens and others also played golf. With Aliyy serving as the spokesperson during the welcome reception, the 1969-70 team presented an award to John Burt for his accomplishments. Burt, a reserve guard on the team, served as the president of the Black Student Union and earned a doctorate. The 1969-70 team entered the season with high expectations. But, due to no fault of its own, it was placed on probation midway through the season and banned by the NCAA from the NCAA Tournament due to recruiting violations. The Seminoles were off to a 10-2 start, with their only losses to No. 5 North Carolina and No. 19 Southern California. Since FSU wasn’t affiliated with a conference at the time, it needed to earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament or National Invitation Tournament. The calendar turned from December 1969 to January 1970. The Seminoles were in Tucson, ending a three-game road swing at Pepperdine, Southern California and Arizona to open the new year. They were still three weeks away from a defining victory over No. 2 Jacksonville at sold-out Tully Gym (FSU students were in their seats three hours before tip-off). Durham summoned his players from their rooms, gathering in a private area adjacent to the hotel lobby. Durham informed players the program — fresh off of probation that kept it out of the 1969 postseason — was placed on probation for two years by the NCAA. This meant the team was ineligible for the upcoming postseason that FSU was positioned to secure. “It’s hard to describe, even after all these years,” Cable said. “Everyone was so disappointed. But we also realized we still had games left and it was like, ‘Hey, let’s show everyone how good we are.’ I guess it really didn’t affect us mentally at the time, simply because we were young and we had so many great players. You never know what would have happened. We might have gone in (NCAA Tournament) and lost that first game. “But I seriously doubt it.” Durham’s FSU program had been placed on probation by the NCAA from October 1968 to October 1969 for permitting prospective players to work out at university facilities. Word was a disgruntled player alerted the NCAA in a letter. The new charges brought against FSU by the NCAA changed the team’s trajectory in midseason. The organization outlined “lavish entertainment” of three prospects during an expenses-paid, round-trip visit to Atlanta in May 1969, according to media reports. Durham, who accompanied

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the players to Atlanta, said he misinterpreted the rules and should have asked the NCAA for clarification. He pointed out the three players had already signed letters of intent to enroll at FSU — two were on the Seminoles’ freshman team in 1969-70 – and the third opted to play elsewhere. “It was tough. The truth is I made the decision (to self-report the violation),” said Durham, 81, who coached at his alma mater for 12 seasons and led the Seminoles to the 1972 NCAA Championship game and three NCAA Tournaments. “We were not in a league; I was reading the NCAA rulebook. … if I had to do it over again, I would have called the NCAA for (an explanation). I can understand why players were upset. None of them did anything wrong. It was a good group of guys. We really had a lot of chemistry and cohesiveness. “I really think that was the best team I coached at FSU.” Despite being placed on probation, the Seminoles ended the season in a flurry. Four days after being told it could not play in the NCAA Tournament, the Seminoles spanked Miami 104-63 at Tully Gym. FSU won 13 of its final 14 games, with the lone defeat at No. 2 Jacksonville, 85-81, on Feb. 18. Cowens had 20 points and 15 boards against the Dolphins. Williams added 19 points and 11 rebounds despite playing under 20 minutes due to foul trouble (he picked up fouls on consecutive possessions before Durham could substitute for him). FSU, in a second meeting that season against state rival Miami, beat the Hurricanes 112-96 in its season finale 10 days later. Cowens,

known for his all-out intensity and immense heart at 6-foot-8, ended his college career with a 30-point, 20-rebound effort against the Hurricanes. Cowens still doesn’t agree with the NCAA’s reasoning or rulebook. To this day, the self-governing body’s list of guidelines over collegiate athletics is forever changing as it follows what many believe is a misguided mantra of protecting student-athletes. Cowens, who was the fourth overall selection of the Boston Celtics in 1970, is hopeful what happened to FSU players decades ago isn’t repeated against other student-athletes moving forward. “Nobody ever acknowledged the fact that we didn’t do anything,” said Cowens, who was inducted into the FSU Hall of Fame in 1977 and later saw his No. 13 jersey retired. “We were guilty by association. We were held complicit even though we weren’t involved. We did what we were supposed to do. We trained hard for the season. We lived up to our end of the bargain. We wanted to compete against the best, but we were denied that opportunity. I want everyone to know this team took the high road and continued to compete at a level worthy of a championship.” Even nearly 50 years later, players from the 1969-70 team continue to take the high road. They remain connected and still encourage each other. They don’t see color or culture. “It really was a great time,” said Aliyy , 69, who also thanked Seminole Boosters, Inc., FSU athletics, and all others involved for their support. “For a lot of us, we are grandparents. People didn’t want to leave when it was over. But at our age, everyone was tired.”

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ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT FORMER FLORIDA STATE STAR KAMERION WIMBLEY HAS LEARNED HOW TO INVEST WISELY AND IS ADDING TO HIS DIVERSE RESUME By BOB FERRANTE

All-American defensive end. ACC champion. First-round draft pick. Nine-year NFL veteran. Successful entrepreneur. Kamerion Wimbley has a resume that is nothing short of impressive. But he felt two items were missing. He plans to add “Florida State graduate” and “philanthropist” to his list of achievements in 2019. Wimbley, 35, completed his final classes toward a degree in Social Work in the fall. He just needs to finish an internship this fall in Tampa or Tallahassee to earn his degree. “It’s important to go back and get my degree because it puts an emphasis on education, which I feel is a huge part of why I’ve been able to achieve a lot of what I’ve been able to accomplish throughout my career and my life,” Wimbley said. “It really is a part of the legacy I want to be able to leave behind for my kids and an example that I want to set for kids that have the desire to be collegiate athletes.” 44

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Photos by Kohjiro Kinno/ESPN Images; FSU Sports Information

“I realize how important scholarships can be in peoples’ lives. It is a life-altering thing for families to have the opportunity to have a child to go to college. Without a scholarship, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to be able to attend college because we didn’t have the capital.” — Kamerion Wimbley Wimbley would like to spend his internship working with juvenile delinquents, becoming a big brother to young men who need someone to listen and guide them. “There were a lot of people in my life that were influential as a child growing up,” Wimbley said. “I feel like there is a need out there to help give kids a blueprint. I think there are a lot of challenges out there. Kids really appreciate having someone support what they’re doing.” Wimbley also wants to give back in another way. He is establishing a $50,000 endowment, the Kamerion Wimbley Football Scholarship, which will be presented annually to an FSU football player. Growing up in Kansas but a fan of FSU football in the 1990s — he has fond memories of watching Charlie Ward, Chris Weinke, Warrick Dunn, Peter Warrick and Derrick Brooks — Wimbley knew that going to college would be a significant financial challenge for his family had he not earned a scholarship to play for coach Bobby Bowden. “I realize how important scholarships can be in peoples’ lives,” Wimbley said. “It is a life-altering thing for families to have the opportunity to have a child to go to college. Without a scholarship, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to be able to attend college because we didn’t have the capital. “I’m very appreciative of the opportunity and the people who have donated to make that possible for me. I feel like it’s only right that I give back and be able to bless someone else because of the blessing I received through the scholarship.” Wimbley’s scholarship opened many doors for him as an athlete but also as a man. He was a standout on Saturdays, accumulating 108 tackles and 12.5 sacks from 2002-05. Wimbley was named an All-American in 2005 after helping the Seminoles win the first ACC championship game and collecting 7.5 sacks. “He was very aggressive,” Bowden said. “A good player and a good kid. And he realized how much the university meant to him and his success.” Among Wimbley’s memories of his time at FSU are playing for Bowden, who made a connection with Wimbley during a recruiting visit to his hometown of Wichita, Kansas, and saw the relationship flourish in four years in Tallahassee. “He cares about the person and I think that comes through with his,” Wimbley said. “As a Christian man, I feel like the morals that he has are really to see people grow not just in the sport but also spiritually. I think he understands how to build a rapport between himself and his players. And that really made the players want to go out and give their all when playing for him on the football field on Saturdays.” Former FSU defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews saw in Wimbley a player who was blessed with athleticism and quickness, using his hands to fight off blockers. But he also saw his intelligence and drive. “An outstanding young man,” Andrews said. “It’s no secret that he used those tools to also help him become a successful businessman. I just think it’s fantastic for him to give back to the university.” While playing for Bowden and Andrews, Wimbley was able to build friendships with players and network with FSU graduates who could help him in the future. He credits former defensive linemen like Andre Wadsworth, Peter Boulware and Corey Simon as “men of faith and family men that were also entrepreneurs.” Wimbley retired from the NFL after the 2014 season but made a seamless transition to businessman and runs KW Growth Holdings, which operates a variety of businesses that he has invested in the

last decade. Among the businesses that he has helped launch are a restaurant and barbershop as well as businesses involved with clothing, personal fitness, pet relocation, dog registry and dog kennel. One of Wimbley’s earlier investments was in 2010 when he left the Cleveland Browns for the Oakland Raiders and needed to have his dog shipped to California. “I had a conversation with Vanessa Stanghellini and at that time she worked for a different pet shipping company but had mentioned that she was interested in starting her own company,” Wimbley said. “And I was able to see her business plan. I thought it was a great idea and I loved how she cared for our dog. So I made that investment and she’s really great.” Like an investor on ABC’s hit show “Shark Tank,” Wimbley researched his investment options and began to expand. He soon invested in a barber shop, knowing that during his playing days he felt confident with a good haircut in the days leading up to a football game. He also purchased homes and apartments while also investing in stocks. And he then went into the restaurant industry, launching Wings and Things in Wichita. Later, the restaurant and barber shop were tenants in a commercial building that he owned and the businesses complemented each other.

“I’m very appreciative of the opportunity and the people who have donated to make that possible for me. I feel like it’s only right that I give back and be able to bless someone else because of the blessing I received through the scholarship.” — Kamerion Wimbley “The barber shops and the restaurants were things that I paired together inside strip malls and they worked very well for a while and got a lot of traffic,” Wimbley said. “I enjoyed that model and working with the people who are employed by those companies.” Wimbley’s life is often a balancing act, juggling time with his family and his business ventures. The days are long but rewarding. “I definitely believe in delegating a lot of the work out to good managers so the NFL and also playing college football is very instrumental in teaching me how to develop a team,” Wimbley said. “I’m fortunate to have people that work with me on a daily basis. It’s definitely a lot of collaborations that allow me the ability to get a lot of things done without me personally having to be there or personally having to do a lot of work. I’m looking at things from a bird’s eye view.” And by anyone’s view, Wimbley’s story is one of success. As an athlete and businessman and soon one as a college graduate and philanthropist.

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TERANCE MANN: TEAM LEADER FOR FSU BASKETBALL By JIM CROSBY

Florida State basketball player Terance Mann was raised in a gym. As a toddler the way he learned to count was by hanging out with the players on his mom’s basketball team. “I was an assistant coach and trying to be a good mom and a good coach, so I took Terance with me on the team bus when we traveled,” Mann’s mom, Daynia La-Force, current head coach of the Rhode Island women’s team told Unconquered. “He would sit in the back with the girls and he learned how to count by learning what each number on their basketball uniforms.” FSU assistant coach Charlton Young has known Mann’s family for a long time and says having the versatile senior player, who has become a team leader for the 2019 team, in the game is like having a coach out on the floor. “His IQ is what separates him from other players,” Young said. “Having been involved in his mother’s practices, film sessions and individual sessions growing up puts him ahead of his time in understanding the game.” Mann has always been a winner, taking home championships in high

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school and AAU teams and has been a key factor in the Seminoles’ continued improvement over the course of his four seasons. Fifth-year senior Phil Cofer said: “Terance always has been a ‘glue guy.’ Telling the younger guys, and even people like me, older guys, what we should be doing.” In the Seminoles’ dramatic 2018 Elite Eight run that saw them end up just 47 seconds away from the Final Four, Mann was second on the team in scoring with a career high 12.6 points per game while averaging 29.2 minutes per game.

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But more important than the pointsper-game aspect of Mann’s contribution to FSU’s success is his leadership, which has been vital to the growth of the team and the program. Junior guard Trent Forest said: “Terance brings a lot of leadership based on a lot of experience to the team. He understands the game of basketball and that makes him a key player. He is studying the game all the time and he understands how the game works. Great leader. Good guy to be around.” A familiar sight in a Seminole

Photos by Ross Obley

Far left, top: Terance Mann faces down Adam Pickett of Winthrop on New Years Day. Mann led the Noles with 22 points in the victory. Far left, bottom: Florida State needed every bit if Mann’s nine points and eight rebounds in a 73-72 win over Purdue in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Immediate left: Mann was 3-of-5 from the field for 7 points as Florida State beat rival Miami in 68-62. Bottom right: Mann drives to the basket against Southeast Missouri.

basketball game, when a shot is missed by a teammate, is to see Mann in perfect position under the basket to go up to grab the ball and dunk it, to the surprise of everyone in the house. Turning a negative into a positive for his team is what Mann does well. “That’s definitely timing,” Mann said. “It is a skill I’ve had since high school. My coaches drilled it into our heads that it is how you get easy points.” Forest said: “He just has that instinct to be wherever the ball is. Only a few people have that in basketball.” So how does a budding young basketball star from Lowell, Massachusetts, end up coming all the way down to Florida State? His mom said: “The main thing that solidified his going to Florida State was Leonard Hamilton. We just love the way he embraces his role, not only as a coach but as a mentor to these young men. “For me it wasn’t about the distance, or the conference, or the level, it was about who my son would be surrounded by on a daily basis. Who would treat him as more than just a basketball player and Leonard Hamilton was the perfect person for that.” Mann said: “It’s hard to put into words what Coach Hamilton has meant to me as a man in life and basketball. He lets you learn the game by yourself. He will feed you little bits of stuff that will help you elevate your game.” Mann appreciates the philosophy of the FSU coach, who stresses the importance of staying in the moment, not thinking about the next day or next game but giving your best where you

are. He says that has helped him not to get too low and also not to get too high. Community service has played an important role in Mann’s growth. He especially enjoys talking to high school students. “I remember when I was in high school they got guys who were college athletes to come in and talk to us.” So he feels that is an important responsibility to fulfill. “They don’t care how many points you have scored or who you are on the team, they look up to you because one day they want to be who you are,” Mann said. Most of what Mann has done has its roots in his family background. He chose the uniform No. 14 because that is the number that his Mom wore in her playing days at Georgetown. Most people think his name is based on the character played by James Earl Jones in the movie “Field of Dreams.” Wrong. He is named after his grandmother, Terancia. That’s why he has only one “r” in his name. His middle name “Stanley” is the same name as his great grandfather. Preparing for his final season, Terance Stanley Mann worked hard to shore up different areas of his game like his threepoint shooting, free-throw accuracy and determination to be a more aggressive leader. The hard work paid off. By midseason he had already reached the 1,000-point plateu. His gravity-defying baskets delighted Seminole fans and left opponents scratching their heads. The excitement level rises as Mann races toward the basket with the ball and there are one or two players set to block his shot. Then as they go up, Mann has a way of hanging there a second or two longer, twisting and finding a way to reach up and bang the ball off the backboard and into the basket. Those plays are big crowd pleasers. One thing that Mann takes pride in is that during his four years in garnet and gold he never lost to the Gators. He is 4-0 vs. Florida, helping FSU stretch its win streak over Florida to five straight games. Young says that Mann’s contribution to Florida State’s success goes beyond his achievements on the court. “The program has not been able to give enough credit to Terance for what he has done for Florida State,” Young said.

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When he was a senior in high school, he helped recruit Malik Beasley and Dwayne Bacon by convincing them how successful they would be if they came to FSU. “Terance was a revolutionary and may never get all the credit he deserves,” Young said. Always humble and appreciative, Mann says the scholarship provided by the Seminole Boosters is significant. “Just being able to come here and get this free education means everything for me,” Mann said. “Just having that for free and my parents not having to pay for it is amazing and will help me down the road.” Mann’s mom, being a coach as well as a mother, has a deep appreciation for the scholarship and work of the Boosters. “Obviously the scholarship gives the student-athlete an opportunity to not have to worry about getting a loan they would have to pay back. It puts them in a position where they appreciate the opportunity and the success they are having and when they leave it comes back and may be a voice for another student-athlete maybe 10 or 12 years later. I think it comes full-circle to represent Florida State not just for four years, but for a lifetime. You will always be a Seminole.” Likewise, Florida State alumni and fans will always say they are proud that No. 14, Terance Stanley Mann, is a Seminole.

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A NEW HOME IN TALLAHASSEE

Kiah Gillespie, a transfer from Maryland, has been a bright spot as the Seminoles make another run to the NCAA Tournament By BOB FERRANTE

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Photos by Ross Obley, Perrone Ford

iah Gillespie felt the energy through the phone. A connection with Sue Semrau was made in minutes. “I gave coach Sue a call and she answered the phone and said, ‘Hi, Kiah. What’s up? We would really love for you to come take a visit,’” Gillespie said. “And I was like, ‘I really need to meet her in person.’ I came here and I just loved everything about this program. I loved coach Sue, coach (Brooke) Wyckoff. The tradition, the banners. I just know that they want to win here and that’s something that I value.” After two seasons at Maryland in which she averaged 5.1 points as a freshman and 4.1 points as a sophomore, Gillespie was looking for a fresh start. She knew she had found her next home in Tallahassee. Gillespie grew up playing basketball in the driveway with her parents, who were often her youth and high school coaches or assistant coaches, and an older brother who hated to lose one-on-one games. But the 2017-18 season would be perhaps her toughest challenge: Gillespie would get to practice but wouldn’t be able to play for Florida State due to the NCAA’s transfer rules. Kiah Gillespie is one of the top players in the ACC, ranking in the top five in Gillespie was a 2015 McDonald’s All-American as the top high school scoring and rebounding. player in Connecticut. But 2018-19 was a major adjustment as she said she often felt helpless during a season in which she would not be able to play in a game. She instead learned on the practice court and was groomed to be a leader in 2018-19. “I’m always reminded on the court — last year you weren’t doing anything,” Gillespie said. “And you need to always remember that when you think, ‘Ugh, this is too much for me.’ Leadership is something that I really value and that I appreciate coach Sue entrusting that in me especially being a first-year player for her. But it’s a role that I take on really seriously. “I’m just blessed to be in this position. It’s helped me become a better person and a better player in so many different ways. I just see things so much differently now. Having to sit out I wouldn’t be the player that I am right now.” And the player that Gillespie is now? One of the ACC’s best. The 6-foot-2 forward is averaging 17 points and nine rebounds per game for the Seminoles, who are again one of the ACC’s top teams despite losing three key players due to injury. Point guard Izabela Nicoletti (knee) and forward Iho Lopez (back) were lost before the season began, and guard Amaya Brown (knee) suffered a season-ending injury in a road win over Virginia Tech on Jan. 27. The Seminoles have been short-handed but also shown their fight, rallying around veterans like Nicki Ekhomu, Nausia Woolfolk and Gillespie. They are looking to return to the NCAA Tournament for the seventh straight season and the 14th time in 15 seasons, continuing an impressive run for the program that Semrau has built. “The best part about coach Sue is she can pull greatness out of each one and every one of us in different ways,” Gillespie said. “… The biggest part of why we’re having such a successful season thus far and why I’m doing well is because she believes in me and she trusts me and she just talks me through whatever she needs me to do.” Semrau has found in Gillespie a player who is fearless — willing to drive to the rim, shoot 3-pointers, fight for rebounds, play defense and lead. “She’s unwavering,” Semrau said. “She’s meant so much to this team. She didn’t get this kind of minutes at Maryland. And so this is a new role for her. She has played it with confidence, with character and with charisma. It has really been fun to watch her.” Gillespie has quickly become a fan favorite, too. They see her make shots, yes, but also help to guide the young team. “The people here are so nice,” Gillespie said. “I feel like they are so happy that I’m here. I feel so welcomed. I feel like I made the right decision.” Gillespie has found a home. A basketball junkie for years, Gillespie frequently watches games across the country. It’s how she first learned about FSU and Semrau, through games on ESPN. Now she’s playing for the Seminoles and hopes to play in the WNBA. But she also has plans to one day be a coach in part because of Semrau. “I definitely want to be a college coach,” Gillespie said. “I see what coach Sue is doing with us, young women and empowering us. That’s something that I really want to do — help young women play basketball.”

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LOVE THE JOURNEY

FSU softball embraces a new challenge as the defending national champs

By BOB FERRANTE

onni Alameda hasn’t stopped smiling. Eight months after the Florida State softball team made a run through the postseason and won a national title, Alameda again has a veteran program and is optimistic about the outlook for the 2019 season. The Seminoles have gained a level of respect and experience that will surely help them in the months ahead. But she knows that it’s a new beginning, a fresh start with a blank canvas. “Very first team meeting we got together, we got our little artistic skills out and we had a piece of paper and we drew a mountain,” Alameda said. “Here we were last year and here we all are at the bottom again with everybody else. We just addressed it. It’s real. “I’ve never won a national championship so I don’t know what it’s going to be like this year. I’m not going to know. We’re all going through it together. Let’s have some fun and literally do what we love to do and that’s play a game of catch and have some fun out on the field.” Alameda discussed a wide range of topics about the season, the challenges of repeating and how the program has been built in this wide-ranging Q&A. HOW DO YOU WANT PLAYERS TO REFLECT ON LAST SEASON AS THEY MOVE FORWARD IN 2019? ALAMEDA: I think it’s a part of us. I don’t really necessarily think we’re going to tuck it away. It’s definitely something that has been achieved and been a lot of fun. It will be a part of our journey this year. Obviously a lot of people are going to be talking about it. It just goes back to the simplicity of playing softball. There was a huge growth part of us last year. Seventy games, you have a lot of ups and downs. We’ve embraced that a lot too with our freshmen – ‘Hey, there’s going to be highs and lows. Enjoy the ride.’ It’s just like a mountain range. We’re going to have these peaks and valleys and we just want the valleys to be really big. But love the journey so that’s been more of our mindset this year.

Photo by Maury Neipris

DO YOU FEEL LIKE THE SEMINOLES WILL HAVE A TARGET ON THEIR BACKS EACH GAME? ALAMEDA: A fun challenge. Who doesn’t want that, right? I think it’s really exciting. You come here, you want to be the best, you want to play the best, you want to watch yourself grow. So now we’re going to get everyone’s best. And what a great opportunity to really grow. WAS THERE A LESSON LEARNED FROM 2018? ALAMEDA: I think we always talked about the 2017 team and how we were on a mission the whole time and we didn’t laugh and giggle and have a lot of fun during the process of it. Three months of getting after it and then to lose in the Super Regionals. But then a year later all those lessons that were taught to us is to really enjoy the moment and enjoy the process. And so I think as a coaching staff and as a program we’ve developed that mentality. HOW HAVE YOU SEEN LEADERS EMERGE ON THIS TEAM? ALAMEDA: Our seniors have been great. They just have a lot of confidence. The cool thing with all of them is they failed at a high level too. We always talk about Meghan King. In 2016, she

struggled pitching and here she is in 2018 and just having so much fun. So now she can sit in front of our freshman and say, ‘Look, you’re going to go through some lows and some highs and I’ve been there too.’ I think that’s just awesome to have down in the locker room. They’re going to have this sisterhood that’s going to be cool to go through everything that we go through. I’m looking forward to that part of the journey. WOMEN’S SOCCER AND SOFTBALL SHARE A COMPLEX. HOW UNIQUE AND COOL IS IT THAT THE TWO PROGRAMS HAVE ALSO CAPTURED THE LAST TWO NATIONAL TITLES? ALAMEDA: I think if anyone knows coach (Mark) Krikorian’s staff and our program, both very successful, both do it a completely different way. Mark has been outstanding in coming down and sharing with us his journey in 2014 (when FSU won its first national title), how he built that and how he got that going. Our players get along with the soccer players a ton. It’s a huge family here. It’s so great to be able to hear someone that plays a different sport and how they go about it. And they share so much with us. We are proud of this building. It’s been a lot of fun to watch it grow on both sides. HOW HAVE YOU SEEN THIS PROGRAM GROW AND IMPROVE IN YOUR 11 YEARS AT FSU? ALAMEDA: Coach JoAnne Graf obviously built the foundation. She was known not only to Florida State and the Southeast but also coast to coast. The vision to come into the program and keep that mindset of growing the game of softball was really important to us as a coaching staff. We’ve seen that growth. And you try to hit these benchmarks along the way. When we saw the SEC explode and the support of softball, and here they are selling tickets. And we want to be that. We want to win. And you just put your nose to it … it makes you proud but you also have to put in the work for it. I just think another conference now has won a championship. You can go to another conference and I think that’s the driving force for every coaching staff is to make sure you are growing the bigger picture of the game. HOW HAVE THE SOFTBALL FANS AND YOUR COACH’S CLUB EMBRACED YOU AND THE PLAYERS? ALAMEDA: You want to create an environment. And part of that is reaching out to the Boosters and the Dugout Club members. It’s grown, yes, financially. Which has been awesome. And it shows how much they love the sport. Now we have a home away from home for our kids and our program. They just love the kids. They love the connection with them. WHAT IMPROVEMENTS WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE WITH THE FIELD? ALAMEDA: We’re in the process right now of getting financial support to cover the seats. So rain, sleet or snow, or lots of sunshine, we’re out here and we’re going to be able to support it. But it’s also by doing that we’re creating a noise environment. Covering our bullpen and creating an open-air suite area here, which has kind of been the norm for baseball and softball fields. And then adding a scoreboard to our field, kind of like what baseball has. Those are the three things that we’re really working on right now.

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To watch a video of Mike Martin’s message to his alma mater, go to: https://seminoles.com/onelastrun-starts-today/

MIKE MARTIN

Finishing a Legendary Career

“

By JIM CROSBY

Fourty is not a bad number. Two thousand sounds real good, too.” Those were the words Mike Martin heard in his meeting with former Florida State athletic director Stan Wilcox in 2017. Martin’s intention had been to inform the AD that he wanted to retire after the 2018 season. Instead Wilcox used those numbers to influence Martin to stay one more year. In retrospect Martin says, “I was excited that the man running our athletic department wanted me to stay an extra year.” That decision pleased a lot of folks, including the head man at Florida State. President Thrasher said: “Coach Martin is a great ambassador for both Florida State University and the game of baseball, and I am pleased he will return as our coach next season.” Often known by the nickname “11” for his uniform number, Martin is in his Garnet and Gold uniform at Dick Howser Stadium, still coaching baseball. The record-setting coach began the 2019 season, his 40th as FSU’s head coach, just 13 wins away from the incredible total of 2,000 wins that no one in the history

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of NCAA baseball has achieved. Martin, who turned 75 on Feb. 12, eclipsed the record for most wins ever by a college baseball coach in 2018. And typical of the innumerable thrilling finishes achieved in his career, the recordclinching game took 13 innings to win in an unfriendly ballpark at Clemson. The Seminoles came away with a 4-3 win and Martin now had the record. Clemson has always been a difficult place to win a ballgame, especially one of that magnitude. “That was pretty neat to say the least,” said Mike Martin Jr., an FSU assistant coach for 22 years. “A special night. To do it at Clemson because we have some demons up there.” 11’s biggest supporter was in the stands. Carol Martin said: “We had quite a few Seminoles there. We were the only ones celebrating. Clemson wasn’t real happy about that.” So, 11 eclipsed the late Augie Garrido’s record with 1,976 wins and proceeded to win 11 more games after that to finish with 1, 987 victories.

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Entering his final season 11 admitted that he has “A very young club.” But he added, “We don’t say in our program that we are a year away. We don’t use that analogy. Our job as coaches is to prepare our team to get to Omaha and if we had 25 freshman we are still going to do that.” His 2019 team only has three seniors and one graduate student. The youthful look is apparent with 15 freshmen, eight sophomores and nine juniors. In an era in which coaches come and go at a fast rate, what qualities have enabled this ultra-competitive, committed coach to be so successful and to stay in the same job for 40 years? Director of Baseball Operations Chip Baker has worked with 11 for 35 seasons. He sums up his success story in a word — consistency. “He has been consistent across the board in that he has always been a teacher,” Baker said. “I had a professional scout say to me that when they draft a player who played at Florida State the kid knows how to play the game.” Catcher Jeremy Salazar, who was drafted by the Phillies in 1998 said: “I think every player who played for him, when they got into pro ball, would be doing things that we already knew, and coaches would say ‘Where did you guys learn this?’ We would tell them we had been doing these things for four years at Florida State under Coach Martin.” While he has been consistent in his teaching some other things have changed. He has always been an aggressive, win-driven coach. “Yeah, it doesn’t matter if it’s shooting pool or playing golf he is going to go all out to beat you,” Martin Jr. said. But 11 admits that while his mindset remains the same his approach has changed somewhat over the years. When he looks back at the early years he says he sees “more of an aggressive semi-wild man in those early days of my career. I was a coach that was definitely a ‘my way or the highway’ type of guy. I was also a guy that never passed up an argument with an umpire.” That has changed. No longer will he throw the first base bag into right field to express his displeasure with an umpire’s call, like he once did in Gainesville. He said: “It’s not that I am passive today it’s just that I don’t look at the things today as I did 40 years ago.” His wife, Carol, confirmed that: “He put too much pressure on himself and would just have a fit over certain things. Then, he started thinking more before he spoke and got his temper under control and of course he then improved. Over the years he has grown as a man and as a Christian.” While the wins are important, Mike Martin said the best thing about being head coach at Florida State is “watching young men come in as boys and leave as men.” That holds true for coaches as well. Martin Jr. said that 11 is a “molder of men.” And Baker added: “My dad taught me to be a man. Mike Martin taught me how to be a gentleman.” Jonathan Johnson, who won 34 games for FSU and was a firstround draft pick of the Texas Rangers in 1995, said: “The biggest impression that I got from 11 was just the pride he had in that Florida State uniform — garnet and gold — just pouring that into you as a player. Getting you not to play for yourself but to play for the school.”

MARTIN’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS \\ Active NCAA Division I baseball coaches for winning percentage (.736) and wins (1,987) going into 2019 season \\ Led FSU to 40 wins in 39 consecutive seasons \\ Guided FSU to an NCAA regional for 39 straight seasons, the longest active streak in the country \\ Led the Seminoles to 16 trips to the College World Series \\ Has coached 91 All-Americans, while 134 players have garnered All-ACC recognition \\ Produced 18 first-round draft picks, four Golden Spikes Award winners (Buster Posey, J.D. Drew, Mike Loynd, Mike Fuentes) and two recipients of the Dick Howser Trophy (Posey and Drew)

With Martin it has never been about himself even with all the records he has shattered. “He has never wanted it to be about him,” Baker said. “Even last fall (before the record setting season) he told the players this. ‘Guys, this is not about me. You are going to hear a lot about me (this year) but it is about Florida State baseball.’” It would be impossible in one article to revisit all of 11’s accomplishments since we are talking about 40 years of excellence. However, one that stands out is his 1,000th win. His team was sitting on 999 wins and had just lost three to a Miami team that refused to be the one that gave up number 1,000. At Dick Howser Stadium, Jacksonville was next in line and this one wouldn’t be easy either. Basically, FSU stole the win. In the bottom of the 8th with runners on first and third, Brian Cox walked off first and got caught in a rundown while Jose Zabala, carrying Martin’s 1,000th win with him raced home from third base with the winning run and shocking the Dolphins. Tallahassee Democrat sportswriter John Nogowski would write after the game: “You would think God had better things to do on a muggy Wednesday night. But there was something awfully suspicious about Florida State’s 4-3 win of Jacksonville University for FSU, coach Mike Martin’s 1,000th career win.” Chip Baker said that it was a play they didn’t even have a signal for and they never used it against right-handed pitchers. This time they did. Just another case of 11’s improvising to get a win. Over the years Martin has gained the respect of those who not only played for him, but those who competed against him and some who did neither. Baker recalled such a case: “Four or five years ago I was in Houston on the field with Eduardo Perez in the pregame. Alex Rodriguez, who knew me from when he came to Martin’s baseball camp as a 16-year-old, came over to us The first thing A-Rod said to me was: ‘Hey, Coach, how is 11 doing?’” So, as 11 goes through his final season story after story will follow him. Everybody has their favorite Mike Martin story. With retirement the next step how do the Martins feel about it? Carol Martin said: “To be truthful I’m looking forward to it and I’m dreading it. Baseball has been our whole lives and now he will be going from 100 mph to five mph. That will be difficult.” And what are Mike Martin’s thoughts about retirement? Well, he doesn’t have time to think about it. He’s too busy coaching baseball and impacting the lives of young men.

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SPRING 2019

Events On Madison are presented to you by:

HOST YOUR NEXT EVENT ON MADISON The party never stops on Madison UPCOMING EVENTS March 9 Tallahassee Wine Mixer April 5 Friday Night Block Party April 13 Coosh’s Inaugural Crawfish Bawl on Madison April 28 2nd Annual Tallahassee Coffee Festival May 18 Miracles on Madison If you have not considered hosting an event on Madison, let us show you why you should! Contact the Director of Events & Marketing, Brittany Yazdanpanah, to book your event on Madison today!” Brittany@FSUCollegeTown.net

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COLLEGETOWN

A TALLAHASSEE SIGNATURE EVENT MOVES TO THE DISTRICT On Sunday, February 3rd, 2019, the 45th Annual Tallahassee Marathon hosted its finish line on Madison. More than 1,000 runners completed the race and merchants opened early to accommodate the runners and their supporters. Due to the huge success of the raceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new finish-line location, this looks to be a permanent addition for years to come.

MIRACLES ON MADISON Madison is the new venue for an annual fundraising event benefiting a local pediatric center. In 2018 we hosted the first Miracles on Madison and look forward to hosting again in 2019. The event consists of food & drink samplings, live music, casino games and presentations from the kids themselves Photo by: Brittany Bevis

THE GATHERING Situated between downtown and just steps from Doak Campbell Stadium, The Gathering combines a sophisticated industrial setting with true southern hospitality. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a full-service venue equipped with tables, chairs, linens, integrated audio-visual, Wi-Fi and more.

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SPRING 2019

NEW MEMBERS

Spring 2019 PLATINUM CHIEF John R. Beach Thomas F. Panza Mike & Sarah Bascom Jordan Bellflower GOLDEN CHIEF Daniel Mims Carolyn and Rich Henry Edward and Mary Kutter Michael W. Kosloske Larry D. McEntire Nancy Apple Michael D. Rendina Sue and Don Everett Charles E. Bailes, III SILVER CHIEF Jessica Posey Terry Timmerman Ralph and Angela McBride Karen N. Bradley Peter & Susan Dunbar Hugh Giebeig Mr. Lorin G. Hobart Mary Ann Stiles & Barry Smith David E. Ramba Dede A. Bruton Matthew A. Taylor Bill and Ann Shirah Joseph and Joseph Maus Donald T. Robertson James E. Bryce Bryan H. Davidson Brenda Bozarth Pamela Perrewe and Gerald Ferris Bryant Skipper, Jr. Kyle W. Rowell TOMAHAWK Kevin T. Cronin, D.V.M. Debra Pereboom Brian Obert Rob Piccione Mr. James J. Lowry Pj Atkinson Kristine A Joplin Mr. Brian A. Wingate Stacie and Daniel Marlin Andrew S. Hettinger John S. Fagan Lynne DeWolf Timothy & Karen Farrell Cindy L. Koenig Cliff Lamb, Sr. Arthur A. Koehler Mrs. Michelle D. Kaigler Lance Pierce Samantha Panak Floyd Johnson Jr. Dr. Dana Portnoy Kim St. John Mark & Marianne Barnebey William H. Williamson Thomas Pelham Mark Kurkin Chris Dering Garry D. Adel & Terry L. Cole Robert Kemp Timothy M. Sheridan Christopher Jarrell John R. Spruill Tom Block Joseph Smith Robert A. Porter Eric B. Carter, Sr. Andrew L. Simpson

Todd B. Greenslait Christina Cline Michael R. Santana Robert Riggs Dena C. Klaban Darrell Funderburk, III Nick Crossman Len Aubry Stacy Gatlin Kirk Granfors Martha Riley Judy & Ben Greve Seth Baer Brian G. Melton Dr. Robert S. Murrell Doug Vickers John Finley David A. Rosenfeld Keith Clay Miles Knight Josh Martin Hank and Maya Fasthoff Steve Corriveau Bradley Propst Jeff Summerlin Vickie D. Hannah Angela and Sean Higbea Ms. Laura A. Webster Dwayne R. Williams Linda Spaulding White Darren Lesage Lyn and Thomas Wofford Don & Margie Eddings Frank S. Hoover Wyman R. Wade, Jr. Ursula and Elisha Parris David Knight Peter W. Muehleck WARRIOR Penelope & Gregory Eads Brian Yablunosky William A. Archibald Jonathan M. Thomas Ms. Ruth E. Bickel Robert Heller Mike Collins Richard Brandon Samuel & Ann Surgeon Thomas Henderson Matt Stanich Melissa M. Tankovich Dr. Timothy D. Skinner Jennifer Martin Michael K. Wahl Dr. Andre M. Baron Sara Goff B. Sandy Smith Joseph C. Beckham Tim H. Elder Anthony Hairston Christian Butterfield Curtis Smith Tim M. DeCanio Taylor R. Kelley Derril and Taylor Beech Jeffrey Fiocchi Mrs. Amy B. Quattlebaum Richard J. Sheridan Todd Green Brian Webb Michael Ciaccio Larry Sartin and Marilyn Lawrence Sarah Babicek Christy A. Sherlock Jeffrey Bobolts Mr. Peter Parapon

Terry Price Dillon Edwards Denvel and Susie Milam Donna Stevenson Naomi Belville Ralph A. DeVitto Paul and Kristy Wilson Scott Modell Charlotte Matthews Adam P. Rhum Rob Wilson Kyle Hartmann Henry Rodriguez Larry & Joanne Harrell Mr. Glenroy W. Genus William T & Barbara N. Beggs Michael Blumen David H. Elibol Patty Swain Dr. Michael Wilhoit Kaleigh E. Lancaster Patrick McCarthy Sheila J. Reeger Hassan Patterson Ryan Charles Bethannie Smith Patrick Thach Robert E. Judd III William W. Jackson Tim Seagreaves Mary Carol Kaney Randy & Marnie Meek Burt P Hodge Jamie Sweet Colonel (R) Bryan Rogers John M. Reinking Robert W. Kreps Nancy & Harold Augustine David and Melanie Desmond Heather and Michael King Robert D. Cowen Kelli L. White CPT James Forsyth Daly-Lerch Robert W. Ewen CJ Scelfo Chris Hart Brian Skipper Shirley Beauford Glen Creel, Jr. Samuel & Nancy Bennett Nicole R. McDougal Chris DeMaio James E. Crews Brian A. Ross Bryan R. Young David M. Zebrowitz Miss Valerie A. Bixby Gregory J. Cole Jeremiah Barker Adam and Heather Grafton Leotis Keepler Lester E. Lucas, Jr. Dick Peters Mr. Michael S. Ogburn Devin Wolfe Shane Wooten Mary Cotten Lynette M. Rumore Sonya A. Walters Jacob Waldhour Chapman Produce Carl Johnson Christy Edwards Kevin Peranton Joshua Gibbs RENEGADE Stephen B. Hulen Edward Vaughan Michael Farrier Mr. & Mrs. Matt Brown Josh Creamer James Stanley John & Ginny Dailey Dr. Janet G. Lenz James Hardin Steven and Deborah Spade Eunice E. Priester Raymond P. Jasen

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James Colvin Paul & Peggy Beleckas Jeremy Edwards Evan R. Goldberg Frank J. Maggio, Jr. Stephen J. Wolek John Catledge Jeff Hewlett Mr. Kelvin Woodson Lee R. Riggs Ellen Wade Richard Tombrink, Jr. Jeffrey Gowens Ms. Allison E. McMillon Robert Wieker Mr. Anthony J. Depalma Brooke Kinsey Cliff Kimble Dean & Sara Sellers Clinton Dunston Kent & Shannon Lipham Mr. Joseph Schrafel George G. Folsom William Roberts Daniel Paone Shannon Bustamante Joshua M. Lenzini Miss Ashlei D. Yates Simeon C. Sparkman, Jr. Christopher Lavie David A. Bramblett Steve A. Sauer Mr. Jeremiah Plageman John and Deborah McConaghy, Jr. Harlan M. Faircloth Kevin Scott Webster Kimberly A. Linn Tee Carter Rafael Atkins Hunter & Susan Smith T. Edward Elmore, III Ann R. Brooks Bobby & Kelly Moody Dr. & Mrs. Douglas W. Loveless Charles & Mary Anna Mohr Connie Klinger Michael and April Howard Clifford Greer Karen Childers Robert Winchester J. T. Trado Mark A. Doerr Amy Stanton Darrel and Sharon Stephens Robert E. Cannon Douglas Golden Mark Britcher Keith Cottrell Jeremy M. Powers Mr. & Mrs. John M. Green, Jr. Carol M. Swing Kyle Finchum A. R. Dickey J. Adrian Jackson Kevin Derella John David Vandersteen Vince Celentano Vince and Sharon Hulsey Ms. Lauren A. Heiser Randall Bennett Glenn J. Greenspan Mr. Guy M. Sanderson Karen M Ray John and Gina Lee Pamela T. Brannon Jeffrey B. Field David C. Robinson Kristin Garcia Tubeck Michael & Savina Quackenbush James L. Milton, Jr. Scott J. Lazarus C. Laurence Keesey James K. Griffis Jonathan S. Appelbaum, M.D. John Petri, III Delaine Robertson Randy Nader Kyle Jones Matthew Nichols

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Tom & Cathleen Herndon Joe A. Wild Anthony L. Palmer Bill Cartus Rick Hutchinson William A. Brown Kristy Daniels Andrew D. Kester Mart P. Hill Andrew Minear Michael Fregger Jeff Roberts Kieran Larkin Robert J. Reynolds, II Jamie Lewis Evan M. Schans Tim Tramel Jeremy Cranford Nicholas M. DeAngelis Sean Campbell Delores K. Rowley John Keith White Kathleen Kuebler Henry and Debra Carretta James C. Stovall Robert H. Mills Gregory B. Reeves Jep & Lisa Dove Lisa Tate Ramos and Brian Ramos Charles P. Ray Mr. Tyler Torres Bob E. Langevin Mr. Jeffrey A. Gevertz Mark & Carol Gumula Ryan P. Soule Daren Pinkerton Michael Krupa Brandon Parkos David Frisk Marian and Roxy Marrese Charlene K. Davids Tim Howard Joe Visconti Elisa H. Casey Jerry W. Goss Benjamin McKay Gary and Mary Hamilton Mr. & Mrs. Richard A. Hern Bryan simmons Randal & Mary Ellen Stefanick Patrice Adler Dr. Frances C. Cannon Krista Kutash Susan and David Fraze Scott and Carla Baker Michael Ozburn Dennis L. Fischer Patrick and Peggy Lafferty Ronald Bruckert Tyler Krichbaum Tracy & Terri Jackson Donald T. Post Francis Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connor, Jr. Ashley Jones Chris Berkeley Dr. Edward B. Tunstall Mrs. Virginia G. Gesler Lorenzo Howard Brad Pugh Timothy G. Banks Henry B. Edwards, III Britney Reynolds Gail Baker Glenn Hilado Ashley Crandall Robert M. Larrinaga Daniel Guerrieri Philip A. Schmidt Brad Rodgers Chris Chewning Justin G. Smith Jo (Jodi) Annalee Irving Bradford Cottrill Almasi K. Musoke Cindy L. Busher Russ and Alicon Colborn Eric D. Hinebaugh Aaron Parrish Jay Hebbar

SPRING 2019

Robert B. Sendler Dean Gatzlaff Chris & Paige Pearson Omar le Pupo Dr. Theresa CarducciWhitehurst BRAVE Katie Patchett Vicki L. Curry Mrs. Nicole L. Merkel Michael Johnson Herb Cooper Ginny Poarch Rangel Molina David M. Setzler Dr. & Mrs. Albert C. Yoder, III Michele C. Keltner Bruce & Eileen Geer Simmie Raiford John Leonard Jon Yeatman Don Harrington Michael Nowakowski Robert S. Kan Jr. Jose L. Hernandez, III Woody West David & Cathy Levenson Brandon Trumbull Ms. Alexis E. Acebo Robert LaPlante Jay Moore Douglas B. Freer Kelby Hobbs Roberto Hunt Meredith A. Csobadi Caleb Hinion Candice Anderson Roger Andrews Gilbert K. Grass Daryl Roy Sean P. Furlong Ms. Cindy Johnson James and Lynnette Worrell Dolores Easterling Siba M. Housey-Noble Mr. John L. Leino Quinessa C. Hackett Marie Phillips Rachel Arndt Ms. Selina R. Ancheta Robert L. Kilbride, Esq. Steve Myers Bill Bek Victor Carranza Ms. Ashley M. Wohlschlaeger Gerald Welch Sheryl Wilhoit Ryan L. Robinson Mr. Dustin J. Stevens Amie Bishop Laura Graham Ron & Janie Moore Ms. Carolyn A. Martin Robert L. Devoe, Jr. Jack Wilson Paige Evans Mr. Steven E. Alderson John & Lynn Giorgianni Britny Tremble Coy Robison Ms. Jessica A. Conner David A. Covington Robert Ramer Kenyorta D. Brown Jarrod Lawson Joe & Gretta Jones Zachary Silas Mrs. Maureen A. Nelson Wendy Bordeaux Jeremy Ruffin Col. Timothy T. Timmons Jeremy B. Teblum Stacy Steckler Sheree Robinette Stephen and Patricia Peters Cynthia Jones Jack McMullen Don M. Dean Frank T. Bethany Kyle C. Whitman Justin Wiley J. Robert Kirk Thomas S. Duke Matthew C. Taylor Raynomd K. Bousman

Michelle R. Fager Ed Reisinger Belva N. Free Perry & Marilyn Crowell Michele A. Bone James E. Ball Tom and Sandra Childress David B. Scott Todd McLaughlin Sharon & Ellen Rosenthal John H. Trott Dr. M. Dianne Murphy Mike Nolte Rikki Bolick Glen E. Walker, III Daniel N. Gorby William Chad McAllister Lamont J. Robinson Casey & Valerie Contini Sean Nolan Mr. Eddie Rountree Jeffrey A. Diaz Samuel and Jennifer Sharpless Ray & Liz Putnam Jeffrey & Deborah Kern Dan & Anne Girata Margaret Kennedy-Durand Todd Mastry Kenneth J. Maier William C. Smith Bruce & Julie Blackwell Stephanie Vojvoda Teri Groome Don & Elizabeth Bottin Dan & Donna Tvenstsrup Sandra Cook Matt McKnight John P. O’Dea Michael R. Manley Daniel & Tina Archer Jack D. Davis Larry E. Coggins, Jr. Randy Slaughter Laura E. Ladd Bill & Cindy Whitney Carol Clothier Roberta R. Clark Diane L. David Temple Robinson Tony D. Howard Duffy Hofer Pat S. Roberts Dan P. Collins Lonnie Drew Peagle Beverly Deen Paul R. Adams, Jr. Ralph Davies Dr. Dale P McMorrow Todd K. Belcher Jason C. Tsardoulias Rita R. Pinyon Ava Sue Hickerson Matthew Vojvoda Andrew Hoppen Howard Stoner Walter & Holly Moore Melvin Tate Maxine H. Byrnes Brian Green Clint Hugghins Joshua Davis Carlin A. McCrory James L. Hufstetler Louis Fegan Jay Carter Robert F. Swan, Jr. William J. Mayville, Jr. Lynn & Mel Chang Cliff & Linda Hewett Brian & Kimberly Lundgren Danielle Black Jane S. Clarkson Janet and Lyle Munce Carla G. Hughes Priscilla R. Callahan-Lyon, MD Dawn R. Piel Bill and Linda Rosche Raymond D. Didier Kenneth Bryant, III Jeffrey S. Duly Amanda Masters David K. Foy Julian P. Hurst Charles Alley Victoria Hortin George L. Johnson, Jr.

Gwendolyn G. Alexander Michael J. Nohe Stephen Juaire Salvador Gonzalez Robin Bellan Janet and Ted Hull-Ryde Cornelia W. Roddenbery Debra Santos Honorable Mollie C. Cardamone Brian L. Kendall Lee Huszagh Donald & Kathleen Keyser Jeff Lynch Nancy B. Drury Brian Darnell Rae A. Panzram Jack D. Adkins Robin & Terry DeArmas Andrew Koehl Michael Brantley Kim and Diane Garland Andrew M. Hollington Jeff Harris Jack P. James, III James and Victoria O’Hara Mrs. Delores S. Turman Eleanor Baumgarten Zachary S. Bush Bill Burleson William Vess Justin Cole Don Wolfersteig Thomas L. Clarke, Jr. J. Keith Shull, Jr. Cindy Nobles Dr. W. Aubrey Gardner Louanne H. Coll Hurley W. “Ley” Rudd Jr. Andrew E. Skelton Luci and Jim Polly Heyward Colie Nichols, Jr. Al & Anne Pate Dr. Rado Pribic Christopher Guthrie George G. Snider, Jr. Charles B. Funk Justin R. Allenand Kristine M. Allen Allen Stokes Daniel Cantrell Russell Goolsby Carol and Thomas Knill-Maniscalco Clark Wood Butch & Bob Post Barnie Walker, Jr. Bruce Butts Quessie Foster Armand Vari Marc Cairns Michael K. Brooks Diane Courchene Mitchell Robert & Nancy Henning Christopher & Jennifer Maier Mr. Robert C. Graham Greg Hartenhoff Travis Thornton Rory & Donna Simons C. Michael & Lisa Perdue Laurie J. Roughton Sam Agee David Campbell Thomas and Kathrine Wilson Carmen and Terry Kasza Edsel Roberts Tamma & Ryan Wright Sue E. Thomas Greg and Erin Broege Adam P. Miller Gregory G. White Robert Parker Catherine Burnett Karl Leech Michael Pierson Mrs. Linda O. Summerville Jeff C. Crew, Jr. Robert & Stacy Clark Charlotte Kerslake Robert W. Miller, III William C. Cox IRON ARROW Kathy Brannon Carl A. Stover Patrick G. Strickland William F. Sandusky Bill Runkle

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Ms. Alexis B. Aupperlee Kimberly Jacobs Linda Ashbrook Robert A. Ulikowski Jim & Emily West Marcia V. Davis Raymond Silva Larry Bashant Donald M. Altemus Eric Wagner Wesley & Mary Blalock Rick Brown Mary H. Pearce Max H. Watson Maria Shirey Joseph M. Ametrano Jon Van Arnam David & Dayle Little Mr. Britt L. Thomas Dale and Marilyn Lick Robert Giles Lee & Lynne Roll John L. Delcamp, Jr. Kent L. Schroeder Kenneth Carey Martin B. Cox Mr. Tyrone A. Scorsone Patrick T. Shannonand Shari Johnson Josette Aalvatez John Bethune Samantha Finch Charles Stubbs Hallie Ziegler John Holder Diane L. Jetton Joseph L. Squarini, Sr. Karen M Burgess Lahman and Kristen M. Lahman J. David Green Eduardo and Mary Cardenas Mrs. Karen Powers Bud Branson Andrew & Sue Austin Stu & Elaine Marvin Kathleen A. Geraghty Ronald Whitaker Janine Thomas JaDon McNeil Richard I. Rothman Robert M. Peck Michael & Cynthia Overstreet Allen Stokes George & Nancy Boring, Jr. David Alexander Richard Finch Michael and Brenda Lytle Jason Aubuchon Flewellyn P. Wilson Rich & Jolene Lunsford Luis Cruz Steve & Brenda Hall James K. Tabb, Jr. Robert C. Watson Rolston & Linda Coles Jesse T. Warren Jodi Siravo Edwin R. Marshall, Jr. Dr. Walter A. Grage, D.D.S. Bruce and Sandy Host Lee Ann Jacobs Daniel and Molly Levy James B. Tollerton Eddie Higginbotham, IV Lois C. Fiorelli Sandra & Don Kent Eugene Chaney Dennis G. King Johnny J. Foston, Jr. Blake P. DeRoss Mr. William F. Neeley William H. Watson Jr. David J. Schlitt David Yinging Shirley S. Herrell Charles M. Marschall Douglas & Page Shrewsbury Marvin Clarke Eric J. Price Diana L. Connell John R. Rogers Dr. Gary A. Lukacs George P. Davis Charles A. Marks, III John Schrader Kc Slay

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Glenn & Vikki Gomez Paul F. Hill Dr. & Mrs. John T. Melvin Neal & Peggy Fuhler C. Dean Kushmer Joseph P. Farls, II. Jeannie Cerra Cheryl G. Whiteman Michael A. Connatser Eva M. Frink B. Dan Berger David P. Yon Charley E. Boykin Pete Hirst Joseph G. Bywater Russell & Christine Bergstrom Jeanene M. Janes Kenneth & June Stivers Katherine Earnshaw Richard A. Podurgiel Errol L. Greene Clarence L. Romig Clayton & Nancy Mynard Mrs. Kathleen M. Urban Rick Lasnier Michael E. Shurtleff Michelle L. Boughan Charlene and Richard Cogger William England Patricia B. Jansen Terry Wiggins Margaret E. Sheffield Rob Padgett Peter Miller Charles H. Bremer Deborah Street Kathleen J. LaSalle Marty Roberts Myles and Cynthia Mosely Raymond L. MacGrogan Randy T. McMullen Wayne A. Martin George Burkhart Jennell Little Aubrey & Charlotte Morris Spencer Wolfe Mr. Michael K. Hennessy Patricia Johnson Corbett G. Howell Kurt A. Kinzler Cecile Reynaud Matthew Cullen Mr. Joshua L. Vandagriff Nicholas and Jessica Cashwell Alice A. Burkholder Bill & Joan Ewers Brad Voegeli Kellie Blackwell Herbert M. Rapp William E. Gregory Michael L. Harvey Mr. Andrew G. Childs James Herrick Wesley E. Toy Mike & Jane Bocchino Christopher Lee Robert J. Albrecht Larry & Sam Shirley Bryan J. Sessions Rebecca R. Allison Deborah D. Wood Judson K. Goodman Michael Lopez Javi and Abbie Garcia-Tunon Rosemary S. Bunn Douglas M. Deel John M. Edge Mr. Chad T. Giddens Michael Chritton Jacqueline L. Fauls Sally A. Graeff Lisa Minshew Gerald R. Doyle Thomas P. McFadyen, Jr. Carrie T. Bosco Brett D. Cimbora Margaret N. Oglesby William R. Mayer Warren Gerstein Gary W. Hutson George K. McIntyre Thomas Feeney, Sr. Susan R. Fretz Frank Roycraft Sandy Ballas Charlotte Prince

SPRING 2019

Robert Cody Epperson Bill & Corine Bockenek Shawn J. Meade Mark & Eve Kacos Mr. Brandon B. Barbaree Sandra and Lamar Johnston Mr. Ronald A. Bell Tony A. Turner, Esq. Charles Hall Jason Mallette Walt Wilson Joe & Carol Allen Patricia Dykstra Steve Vanderhoof Richard Egitto Mr. Jack C. Keyser Dennis G. Revell Reneeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; O. Lewis Kenneth & Paula Snyder Leslie L. Whitmore Aimee N. Powell Kevin Potts Jason Pfeil Elizabeth Reardon James W. Nuebel John & Katie Neuman Connie I. McKinnon Myron Sanders Amy and Steve Dover Kevin A. Forsthoefel Monica L. Montez Robin G. Pitura Lindsey Shank Thomas E. Wheeler Jr Henry E. Bruno Paul Rehme Paula K. High John Seagle Carol Lynne Zeiner David England Ms. Tarteashia M. Williams George L. Heflin Robert Harrison Johnson Mr. Kevin J. Palgutt Donnie & Peggy Myers Tom Glennon Janet L Clark Sheila Riley Susan Kicklighter

SPRING 2019

Ronald J. Steedman, II Mr. William A. Gilbert Matthew Daecher Philip & Marianne Napoletan Christina M. Valdez Michael P. Libbe Laura and Ben Powell Samuel E. Goff Thomas Kirk, Jr. Rick Watson Roman Carr Gregory Crouse Ann W. Rumph Donald L. Baldwin Randall R. Jones Ashley Jones John M. Murphy Scott R. Stewart Charles L. Repass Barbara and David Harding Kat Thompson Paul Etheridge Thomas Taylor Floyd Sewell David & Maxine Laird Mr. James D. Johnson Kortnee M. Mauck Barry & Janice Anderson Daniel W. Rucker Pauline T. Blocher Robert Petrillo Andrew M. DeDona, Jr. Aimee Shea Thomas & Christel Vinson Milton Parris, Jr. Luke Urban Joe S. Brannen Alan Lieberman Lea Manifold Mary Lou Smith C. H. Long Edwin F. Hornbrook Ty Obitz Matthew Gibson Brian L. Hicks Sean L. McGrath Brian and Jamie Ritchie Mr. Keith Haynes Charlotte Bocchino

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Tom & Sandra Trotta Catherine Rollo Gregory N. Kahrs Wayne Deason James D. Clement Gene J. Markham Tom K. Woodliff Ann Anderson Rodney R. Ochs Ms. Jennifer M. Miller Duncan D. Dubroff James I. Ridley Charles W. Johnson Mitchell and Elsa Giles Mr. Scott B. Gerber Elizabeth C. Percy Edward T. Johnson, Jr. Jim Hardin, Jr. John T. Griffin, Jr., D.D.S. Amy S. Neely Carlton & Reba Gates Ann Dart H David Mitchell Jack Mueller J. Charles Ingram Chad Taylor Nazha Abuelouf Marlon Pasquier Steve Gilliam Stephen and Gigi Thomas Carolyn Yon Pam W. MacDill Michael Hanggi Bruce R. Beville Kevin R. Clarke Jake Urban Kathy Hitchcock Adam L. Adair Karen and Richard Rodriguez Robert and Connie Simon William W. Jacobs Gary & Paula Hudson Jay Pancholy James D. Watford Joseph T. Straub Will Mueller Christie Hicks Richard & Martha McElveen Sean Liggett

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Robert D. Davy Roger & Carolyn Mason Joanne L. Martelli Michael A. Conway Bryan Crane Justin Turmel Andrea B. Cox Daniel Mcgehee Stacie E. Blizzard Dr. Stan Byrd Ty and Daniel Bartlett Julie C. Stubblefield William Kappes Alexandra M. Doan Rylan Wood Gregg W. Gutowski, M.D. Stephen Pitts Jr Rosanne K. Bush Lee Family Mrs. Teresa Plage Linda G. Rooks Charles S Vones Jr. Robert F. Dennard Scottie Howell Anne K. Burmont Marian P. Miller Dave Walsh Michael and Paige Casey Russell Perciavalle Brendan McCarthy David A. Dial Richard E. White, Jr. Shelley Day Marshall Craig L. Hodges Rob Webster Virginia and Chip Glass Mary G. Hice Gloria J. Orr Jean A Miller Ronald P. Nelson, Jr. Leonard A. Koeth Mardonio Rivera George Lott Joe Cooper Christopher B. Daughtry Joseph & Judy Law John & Martha Carmody Ben Patterson Dr. Judith L. Solano

Wayne and Wanda Frier Cathy M. Wogamon Cody Parsons Patrick L. Alderman Emily Mueller Robert L. Palmer Joe Pegg Bert L. Benoit John D. Alderman Johnny Goodwin Douglas A. Case Jared M. Chapman James Hart Donna & David Watson Judge Cory J. Ciklin Lea Ann Burkart Michael C. Price Hugh Coachman Jr. SPIRIT Kareem L. Todman Paige A. Harmon Marsha Morrison Robert L. Tuch Scott G. Enos Bonnie Butler Arden K. Young Joel L. Douthett Lindsay Kushner Tyrone Jackson Mrs. Paula G. Scandone Mr. Christopher M. Dart Dr. Carmelo L. Battaglia Walter Lewis Ms. Sudonna F. Harris Caroline Fenton Faye McKay-Clegg Dennis C. & Linda Mann Patty B. Williams Joseph H. Hale Carolyn Harwood Kathryn C. King Robert E. Brislawn

NEWEST ’NOLES

We proudly welcome the newest members of our Seminole Booster Family

If you know a Seminole Booster member who has welcomed a New ‘Nole into the world, please send their name and photo so we can welcome them to their Seminole family. Send to Kari Terezakis (kterezakis@fsu.edu).

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A) Katie and Bruce DeRoo, twin daughters, Kinsley Sweet DeRoo and Blakely Sweet DeRoo, born Oct. 15, 2018, sitting with older brother Jackson Sweet. B) Johnny and Jessica Goodwin, a son, Johnny Brandon Goodwin (Johnny B. Good), born July 15, 2018. C) Brian and Erica DeBooth, a son, Jackson James DeBooth, born June 16, 2018. D) Michael and Allison Mueller, a son, Reiss Michael Mueller, born Nov. 15, 2018. E) Lindsey Alterman and Nathan Hammond II, a son, Jameson Hammond, born Feb. 24, 2018. F) Kevin and Christie Coleman, twin son and daughter, Finnegan (Finn) Thomas Coleman and Addison (Addie) Mae Coleman, born Aug. 24, 2018. G) James and Kristen Griffis, a son, James Kyle Griffis, Jr., born Oct. 2, 2018, and grandson of the late Kevin Griffis — Varsity Football Letterman 1983. H) Delaney Rae Weber, born Dec. 3, 2018, the daughter of proud parents Mark Weber, FSU two-time All American Swimmer, and Courtney Costello, former graduate assistant for the women’s soccer team.

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SPRING 2019

ETERNAL FLAME

REMEMBERING OUR

FELLOW SEMINOLES

Alumni and friends have contributed so much in so many ways to demonstrate their love for Florida State Athletics. Their contributions and dedication have helped create an elite athletic program that shines among the brightest in the nation. We are thankful for their generosity, dedication and Seminole spirit.

Lewis B. Adams, Jr. Orlando, FL

Mary L. Champion Arden, NC

Matthew J. Altomaro Lamont, FL

Elane Clark Thomasville, GA

Dick Bailar Monticello, FL

Michael W. Doherty Tallahassee, FL

Friedel Bailar Monticello, FL

Albert J. Dunlap Ocala, FL (see pg. 28)

Peggy R. Bazzell Tallahassee, FL 1962 (see pg. 65)

Ann B. Hartsﬁeld Tallahassee, FL 1953

Sue C. Boynton Tallahassee, FL 1943 F-Club, Soccer

Cheryl John Tallahassee, FL

Kathleen R. Carter Tallahassee, FL 1991 Christopher L. Casault Tallahassee, FL 1991 64

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George R. Langford Tallahassee, FL 1950 Helen B. Lipscomb Saint Petersburg, FL 1981 Ombra S. Sandifer Tallahassee, FL SEMINOLE-BOOSTERS.COM

Patricia A. Shaar Neptune Beach, FL 1951 Softball, Soccer, F-Club, Women’s Basketball Dencel Smith Havana, FL 1988 Richard K. Snyder, Sr. Monticello, FL Earl Ray Solomon Tallahassee, FL 1958 Mary Tanner Summertown, TN Dr. Joe West Everglades City, FL 1988 President T. K. Wetherell Lamont, FL 1974 (see pg. 14) Football

Joe West 1944-2019

Greetings, Seminole Fans! Below are a few Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) related to NCAA compliance. Are you able to provide the correct answer (Yes, No, or Maybe So) to our FAQs? Answers and explanations can be found at the bottom of the page. Good luck! May a booster pay for a student-athlete’s meal at a restaurant? YES NO MAYBE SO

May a booster donate to his or her former high school if FSU is recruiting a prospect from that high school? YES NO MAYBE SO

May a booster employ a student-athlete? YES NO MAYBE SO

YES. Once an individual is identified as a booster, he or she will remain a booster forever. A booster is any person or entity known to have ever held season tickets for any sport, made financial contributions to FSU Athletics, provided permissible benefits (e.g., summer jobs) to student-athletes, or promoted FSU Athletics in any way. No. Student-athletes and/or their family/friends are not permitted to sell tickets, apparel, gear or awards received as a student-athlete. Selling these items will impact a student-athlete’s NCAA eligibility. No. A booster may not pay for a student-athlete’s meal at a restaurant, as this would constitute an extra benefit and impact the student-athlete’s NCAA eligibility. Maybe So. A booster may donate to his or her former high school provided he or she acts independently of the institution, donates through the channels established by the high school, and the funds are not earmarked for a specific prospective student-athlete. Yes. A booster may employ a current student-athlete, provided the student-athlete is paid for work actually performed at the going rate and is not provided any benefit (e.g., use of company vehicle) not available to all company employees. In addition, the student-athlete’s name image or likeness may not be used to promote the commercial business or product. Student-athletes and any prospective employers must complete paperwork from the FSU compliance office prior to a student-athlete being hired.

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May a booster purchase a FSU game ticket or FSU gear from a current student-athlete? YES NO MAYBE SO

If an individual no longer holds season tickets for any sport at FSU and has not donated any money recently, is he or she still considered a booster? YES NO MAYBE SO

Mary “ P eggy” Row Baz z ell, a longtime Seminole Booster employee, passed away on J anuary 31, 2019, after a brief illness in Tallahassee, where she spent most of her life. P eggy was born in D aytona Beach, Fla., to parents J acob H oward Row and Mary C ashion Row on August 28, 1940. She was a graduate of the Bishop Moore H igh School C lass of 1958 in Orlando, Fla. She eventually moved to Tallahassee and was a proud member of D elta Z eta Sorority at Florida State University. It was then that she met Ray Baz z ell, who she married in 1962 after graduating from FSU with her Bachelor of Arts degree in Education. Peggy began a fulﬁlling career as a High School science teacher before taking time off to give birth and raise their son, J oe. Later in life, she dedicated over 20 years of her life at Seminole Boosters as an administrator of donor records and fundraising for FSU’ s various athletic programs. She was known best for her outgoing demeanor and near encyclopedic knowledge of FSU sports and player statistics. “ P eggy was a roll up the sleeves, take charge kind of person,” Seminole Booster P resident and C EO Andy Miller said at her funeral attended by loving family, friends and former co- workers. “ She absolutely loved her University, she loved being a part of the Booster P rogram, and she loved our donors. “ Back then, there was no Internet and our program was on the rise. We were a maj or outlet for information. Much more than keeping our records, P eggy was a maj or asset in D onor Relations. We also raised most of our dollars through volunteer drives. K eeping volunteers motivated and focused was a very big key. So P eggy was very much more than a records keeper, she was a great ambassador for the University and Seminole Boosters and very much a key to our success. “ She was a difference maker.”

Mary “P eggy” R ow Bazzell 1940-2019

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J oseph J . West, P h.D . began his career in the Navy where he served 22 years, rising from Seaman Recruit to Lieutenant C ommander. After receiving his P h.D . from V irginia Tech, J oe j oined Florida State University as a faculty member and later as C hairman of the D epartment of H ospitality Administration. While at FSU, D r. West helped to found and develop the University C enter C lub in partnership with C lub C orporation of America and the Seminole Boosters. After FSU, D r. West served 10 years as D ean, School of H ospitality and Tourism Management, and as V ice P rovost, Biscayne Bay C ampus of Florida International University. Even after leaving FSU, J oe stayed connected with Seminole Boosters by bringing Brooklyn Water Bagels to C ollegeTown. A true Seminole, J oe will be greatly missed.