Tarleton State UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE
Spring/Summer 2024 | Volume 16 Number 1
President Dr. James Hurley
Director of University Communications Sven Alskog
Associate Editors elaine Hellmund | Phil riddle ’03
Photographers/Videographers
gabriella Cortez ’22 | Logan Hiemke ’21
Bailey mcguire | Joey mcreynolds
eric Priddy | Toby rhodes ’23 | Allison roberts ’22
ryanna rodriguez ’24 | Jake Withee Caroline Wolf ’21, ’22
Designer Kelly Wise ’92
DIVISION OF UNIVERSITY STRATEGY Box T-0730, Stephenville, TX 76402 | 254-459-5662
Vice President for University Strategy/Chief of Staff Dr. Credence Baker ’03, ’05
Assistant Vice President for Marketing and Communications Nate Bural ’10
Tarleton State u niversity m agazine is published by the Department of m arketing and Communications, Box T-0730, Stephenville, TX 76402
A MESSAGE
FROM PRESIDENT JAMES HURLEY
BIG DREAMS ARE MADE POSSIBLE on our campus, and the best is yet to come.
In reflecting on 125 years of history for our university — set to be celebrated starting this fall — the stories of the difference makers and innovators to pass through these gates are impressive.
Those words describe Dr. Sam Pack, a man we were blessed to recognize with an honorary doctorate of humane letters in 2023. A native of Stephenville, he established Pack Automotive Group as a leader in the industry while touching numerous lives along the way with his charitable contributions. Throughout his journey, relationships have always come first.
In April, we gathered to name our College of Business in Dr. Pack’s honor. A well-respected businessman, he is an exceptional example for our students to follow. Supporters like him are passionate about our university because of the people, the plan and the progress.
This edition of the magazine highlights some of the incredible ways that Tarleton State impacts the world.
Our athletic programs will compete for championships as full NCAA Division I members this fall after concluding the reclassification process. With construction of a state-of-the-art $110 million Event Center well underway and a best-in-class tennis facility recently added to campus, the commitment to the success of our Texans remains steadfast. We are confident that new Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Steve Uryasz will carry the momentum forward.
For our first-generation students that make up over 51% of our population, the impactful story of Elicia Leal from a low-socioeconomic background to serving as an athletic trainer in the Olympics is sure to inspire.
In the arts, Theatre at Tarleton earned a spot in regional competition for the first time for “LIZZIE: The Musical,” with Benny Brown and Rebecca Franko each receiving national honors from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. Dan Stone directed the play.
Additionally, we’ll introduce you to Chandler Roberson, Tami Kayea and Jeff Kahlden to provide a glimpse into how remarkable alumni from our institution are thriving every day. You’ll also learn why Tarleton Today is a perfect choice for success tomorrow.
Cover: Dr. Sam Pack stands next to his original color 1956 Lincoln Premiere Convertible. Tarleton State University named its College of Business in honor of Dr. Pack this April.
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As we continue with record enrollment growth, accelerated degree completion, and historical fundraising efforts, it’s clear, this purple won’t fade.
May you forever bleed purple!
Paving Purple Way TH e
Growth in Full Swing
Construction Projects Approved
The Texas A&M System Board of Regents approved a Health Professions Building, a new residence hall and an expansion of the Dick Smith Library over the winter.
With the patient-physician ratio in Stephenville 1,779 to 1, the $80 million Health Professions Building will position the university to fill critical career gaps in rural healthcare. Move-in is planned for summer 2025.
In response to growth in the student population over recent years, the regents also approved planning to begin for a new $120 million residence hall, with a 2025 goal set for the start of construction. Multiple styles of rooms are expected to be included with approximately 1,000 beds. Upon project completion, 12 on-campus housing options will be available to students. Additionally, the university is updating its campus master plan to include up to 3,000 more beds in the coming years.
An expansion of the Dick Smith Library was also approved to get underway, with the new space totaling around 10,000 square feet. The expansion will be a 24/7 space dedicated for student use, with individual study rooms, collaborative study rooms, instructional space, meeting rooms and multipurpose space all slated to be included.
Artist’s rendering of the Health Professions Building.
Col. Doug Simon
Assigned Army Reserve Duty
Nuestro Destino
Begins Journey to HSI Status
Tarleton State launched Nuestro Destino: Reaching 25 by 25 last September. Aligning with the university’s 10-year strategic plan, the campaign (Our Destination) begins Tarleton’s journey to become a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI).
The U.S. Department of Education recognizes nonprofit postsecondary schools with an undergraduate Hispanic student population of at least 25 percent (50 percent Pell Grant eligible). HSI status enables institutions to compete for federal funding that supports first-generation students, professional development for faculty and enhancements to curriculum.
Considering that 54 percent of the university’s students are first-gen, this funding would benefit all Tarleton State Texans. Almost 23 percent of the university population currently identifies as Hispanic.
Col. Doug Simon, Commandant of Tarleton State University’s Corps of Cadets and the Dean of the Leadership and Military College, has been assigned U.S. Army Reserve duty as a legal advisor to the U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska.
The two-year reserve assignment began in December 2023.
USSTRATCOM, one of 11 unified combatant commands in the Department of Defense, has forces from all five branches of the military assigned to it. Responsibilities include coordinating the necessary command and control capability to provide support for the President, the Secretary of Defense, other national leadership and combatant commanders.
“The uniqueness of USSTRATCOM’s mission is one-of-kind, where they are responsible for America’s nuclear triad, which are various platforms that can provide a decisive nuclear response by land, sea or air,” Col. Simon said. “As a judge advocate, it certainly is an interesting area of law to practice.”
As a former member of the Minnesota National Guard, Col. Simon served as the state staff judge advocate for Minnesota, advising the adjutant general and senior leaders on military law. He also served as the senior judge advocate and branch manager for the Minnesota National Guard Judge Advocate Corps.
He previously served as the operational law attorney for Operation Joint Force (Bosnia-Herzegovina) and brigade judge advocate for the 34th Combat Aviation Brigade for Operation Iraqi Freedom, earning a Bronze Star for his service in a combat zone.
He was named Commandant for Tarleton State’s Corps of Cadets in May 2022.
President Dr. James Hurley
Honored with Congressional Patriot Award, Elected to SACSCOC Board
Tarleton State University President Dr. James Hurley was honored with the Congressional Patriot Award and elected to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) Board of Trustees. Congressional Patriot Awards are a prestigious, meaningful recognition of the men and women who give selflessly of their time and talent to make their communities a better place for all.
Honorees are selected by a sitting member of Congress. Less than one-thousandth of one percent of all Americans have received the distinguished award. Congressman Pat Fallon (District 4) surprised Dr. Hurley with the honor for his unwavering dedication to education, excellence, leadership and service to others.
SACSCOC is the accrediting body for degree-granting higher education institutions in the southern United States. Accreditation signifies that Tarleton State has the programs, resources, and services to sustain its mission to transform generations by inspiring discovery, leadership, and service through educational excellence.
With impressive growth in the student population, the university has continued to build under Dr. Hurley. At the start of 2024, Tarleton State broke ground on an $80 million Health Professions Building to help meet the need for healthcare professionals, especially in rural communities. A $110 million Event Center is also under construction, with the venue set to host NCAA Division I basketball and provide room for academic convocations, symposiums, conferences and conventions.
One-year Online MBA
Program Ranked
Nationally
Tarleton State University’s oneyear online MBA program was ranked No. 19 earlier this year in “The 40 Best One-Year Online MBA Programs 2024,” an annual listing published by College Consensus.
College Consensus lauded Tarleton State’s online MBA degree as a great choice for professionals seeking to advance their business skills and accelerate their careers. It noted in particular Tarleton’s accelerated pace, flexible schedule and affordability.
The program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Its core curriculum provides a comprehensive foundation covering essential business disciplines. Students may specialize in one of nine areas, and the accelerated track offers the same content as the traditional MBA.
CCAMPIS Grant
Will Support Student-parents
A $1.1 million four-year competitive grant to bolster attendance and graduation rates for student-parents at Tarleton State was awarded through the U.S. Department of Education’s Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program.
The funding will help cover child care expenses for student-parents enrolled at any Tarleton State location. The university’s Division of Student Engagement and Success will administer the grant.
Dr. Babette Cuadrado, Director of the Department of Student Resources and Basic Needs, wrote the CCAMPIS grant application. She said the funding will encourage studentparents to persist. Applications will open this fall.
Tarleton State University President Dr. James Hurley (left) receives the Congressional Patriot Award from Congressman Pat Fallon (right) at the 2024 Gala.
Whitten Recognized
Named Conference Coach of the Year
After one of the most successful seasons ever posted by a reclassifying program, Tarleton State football head coach Todd Whitten was named United Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.
In 19 seasons as an NCAA head coach, Whitten has earned seven Coach of the Year awards, including two in the past five campaigns.
Whitten led the Texans to a second-place finish in the conference with an 8-3 overall record and a 4-2 mark in league action. Tarleton State finished four spots better than predicted by the conference coaches in the preseason poll.
The Texans have now posted seven straight seasons with a record of .500 or above.
McLennan Community College
Pathway to Boost Success
As part of its Dual Admissions Transfer Pathway, Tarleton State University will simultaneously accept firsttime McLennan Community College (MCC) students who plan to complete their associate degree at MCC and then transfer to Tarleton State to earn a bachelor’s. Tarleton will hold tuition the same as when the students opt in as well as offer specialized programming, support and access to events such as athletics.
A member of MCC’s University Center in Waco for almost 25 years, Tarleton State Waco offers 30 undergraduate, graduate and certificate opportunities, with more expected for fall 2024.
Recent Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board reports show the graduation rate topping 66 percent for two-year-college students who transfer to Tarleton State with 30 or more credit hours. Only four other Texas universities score higher.
Rodeo Stars
Honored
Six Members Added to Hall of Fame
Brody Cress, Kody Lamb, Landon Williams, Jace Melvin, Jace Lane and Devan Reilly were inducted into Tarleton State University’s Rodeo Hall of Fame at the organization’s annual steak dinner at the Doty Rodeo Complex.
The inductees were all members of Tarleton State’s 2015 National Collegiate Championship team. Individually, Williams won titles as a tie-down roper and in the all-around, and Lane took home a reserve championship in saddle bronc riding and a third-place finish in steer wrestling.
Induction reflects the university’s appreciation of achievements and the inductees’ commitment to excellence in a competitive environment.
Senior Conner Prince
Qualifies for Olympics
Tarleton State University senior Conner Prince qualified to represent the United States in skeet shooting at the upcoming Paris Olympics.
A manufacturing and industrial management major, Prince began shooting on the Spartan Clay Target Team as a freshman at Centennial High School in Burleson. He started seriously competing in the Olympic discipline as a junior.
He and his teammate and coach, Vincent Hancock, qualified in March at the Olympic trials in Tucson.
Prince attended Hill College for two years before landing at Tarleton State. He said that the online programs in place at Tarleton helped meet the needs of his atypical schedule. He hopes to graduate in December.
Hall of Fame inductees from left to right: Brody Cress, Jace Lane, Devan Reilly, Landon Williams and Jace Melvin. Not pictured: Kody Lamb.
Photo courtesy of Joshua Schave
Phi Rho Zeta
Chapter Honored with Phoenix Award
Tarleton State’s Phi Rho Zeta chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity was awarded the 2023 Phoenix Award at the fraternity’s National High Alpha Summit and Neville Advisor’s College earlier this year in Indianapolis.
The Phoenix Award annually goes to a chapter that has made unusually positive strides for at least three consecutive years in membership growth, depth of programming and risk-free operations.
Lambda Chi Alpha is one of the largest men’s fraternities in North America with more than 275,000 members at nearly 200 active chapters.
TCEQ Grants
Three Researchers Received Funding
Working under the auspices of the Texas Institute for Applied Environmental Research (TIAER), three Tarleton State researchers received grants totaling nearly $375,000 from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
Jimmy Millican, Dr. Michael Machen and Dr. Leah Taylor each received funding, with Dr. Kartik Venkataraman and Dr. Victoria Chraibi involved as co-principal investigators with Dr. Machen’s Surface Water Quality Monitoring (SWQM) project.
Millican, working with more than $122,000, collects fish, bugs, water quality samples, habitat assessments and other information from Nichols Creek, located within the Sabine River watershed in Southeast Texas. The project will provide information for TCEQ to determine the classification of Nichols Creek to assign appropriate Aquatic Life Use and dissolved oxygen criteria.
Machen’s SWQM project evaluates physical, chemical and biological characteristics of aquatic systems as a basis for effective policy.
Dr. Taylor is conducting a recreational use attainability analysis on Ash Creek, Dosier Creek and Derrett Creek in the Trinity River Basin funded by more than $140,000. Elevated levels of E. coli have been found in all three creeks, and this may increase the illness risk from recreational activities in the water. The project seeks to ensure that streams have the correct use classification in order to set bacteria criteria.
Leaving a Legacy
College of Business Named in Honor of Dr. Sam Pack
By Sven Alskog
Dr. Sam Pack sitting in his original color 1956 Lincoln Premiere Convertible.
I’ve been honored in a lot of ways, but it’s the greatest honor that has ever been bestowed upon me.
In a life filled with relationships, triumphs and innovations, Dr. Sam Pack made it clear: Tarleton State University naming its College of Business after him is a distinction that stands above all.
“I’ve been honored in a lot of different ways, but it’s the greatest honor that has ever been bestowed upon me,” he said. “I will always be indebted to those who were instrumental in making this happen.”
The impact will be felt on campus and beyond for years to come.
“Having Dr. Sam Pack’s name attached to the College of Business will do a lot of things for this institution,” said Tarleton State President Dr. James Hurley. “It’s going to raise the visibility and respect level of the College of Business in the Metroplex for certain.
“Any time you have a named degree, and you walk across that stage and it’s the Dr. Sam Pack College of Business, it adds a level of prestige, even for students that don’t know Sam Pack or the Pack legacy.”
And what a legacy it is.
Growing up in Stephenville as the second youngest of six siblings in a family of entrepreneurs, he originally thought his future would be in a much different line of work, the grocery store business.
— Dr. Sam Pack
He ventured away from his hometown for the first time in 1959 when his oldest brother led him into the financial world with Universal CIT, marking a turning point in his life.
His journey in the automotive industry began in 1962 when he joined Ford Credit, where he ascended to branch manager.
During a challenging time in the industry in September 1979, Dr. Pack was working with a dealer that was experiencing financial difficulties in a Sold Out of Trust (SOT) condition.
“The next morning, I am returning phone calls from the prior day and this phone call is to a gentleman by the name of Lee Jarmon, a Ford dealer in Carrollton, Texas.”
The two then met in person, where Jarmon brought up that he wanted to sell him his business, with Dr. Pack stating that he wasn’t prepared financially for the opportunity.
Jarmon’s response, “Let me worry about that.”
Dr. Sam Pack and Tarleton State President Dr. James Hurley unveil the building marker at the naming celebration for the College of Business in April. Seated are state Rep. Shelby Slawson (District 59) and state Senator Brian Birdwell (District 22).
His passion and energy are incredible. If we go to a meeting somewhere and it is on the second or third floor, we don’t take an elevator, we go up the stairs.
— Pack Automotive group Chief Operating Officer Charlie Nixon
The meeting changed the trajectory of many lives.
After nearly two decades in financial services, Dr. Pack started his career as a dealer in 1980, acquiring Lee Jarmon Ford. Before long, he was one of the top-selling Ford dealers in the Lone Star State and the nation.
With a focus on innovation and a forwardthinking approach, he went on to earn the national 1988 TIME Dealer of the Year tribute, the industry’s most prestigious award. In 2003, he received the Ford Motor Company Salute to Dealers Award, presented by Edsel
Ford II, for his commitment to improving communities and the lives of individuals in them. He was also honored as a Texas Automobile Dealers Association Legend in 2006 and was named to Ford’s inaugural Top Volume Dealers Hall of Fame in 2016.
After 62 years in the automotive industry, he still works six days a week, typically leaving between 6 and 7 p.m.
“His passion and energy are incredible,” said Pack Automotive Group Chief Operating Officer Charlie Nixon. “If we go to a meeting somewhere and it is on the
second or third floor, we don’t take an elevator, we go up the stairs.”
It’s a mindset that has remained throughout his career.
“This didn’t happen by itself,” said General Manager of Five Star Ford of Dallas Brian Huth. “It wasn’t a rich family member that got him started. He’s a self-made man. That’s the important part. The name on the building doesn’t mean anything until you see who he is.”
A man with a big heart, he supports more
than 300 nonprofits, service organizations and community events.
When an employee at Five Star Subaru of Grapevine lost her home in a fire recently, his caring nature was on display.
“They lost their cars, their house, belongings, everything,” said Tony Hooman, the general manager of the dealership.
“I made a call to Sam, and I said, ‘Hey, we have a disaster on our hands, what do you think?’ He said, ‘Just do what is necessary to take care of this couple and their family.’ And so we helped her take care of that situation.”
In 2023, Tarleton State honored Pack with a doctorate of humane letters for his leadership and giving spirit.
“He’s so well respected throughout the industry, and especially in the Ford brand,” said General Manager of Five Star Ford of Lewisville Kelly Blackwell. “He absolutely deserves the doctorate that he has from Tarleton because he is a doctor in business.”
Along the way, Carol, his wife of 66 years, has been by his side. They have two sons, Tony and Todd. Tony and his wife, Louisa, who attended Tarleton State, have two daughters, Carly and Macy.
Carol and Sam met during junior high in Stephenville. She would initially attend high school out of state before eventually graduating from Monahans High School. Following graduation, her family returned to Erath County, leading her on the path to becoming a Pack.
Above from left to right: Carly Pack, Macy Pack, Dr. Sam Pack, Carol Pack, Tony Pack and Louisa Pack (not pictured: Todd Pack). Right: Dr. Sam Pack received his honorary doctorate from Tarleton State University during the 2023 spring commencement.
“Carol is just as responsible for our accomplishments as anyone in our family,” said Sam. “My wife is the perfect mother, and I say that in all sincerity. I couldn’t ask for a more perfect wife and partner. She is the love of my life.”
Both sons are also heavily involved in the business.
Over the years, Tony has teamed with his father to tackle a number of different issues, working his way up to a vice president role. His oldest daughter, Carly, has recently become involved in the business as well after graduating from Baylor. She will be the third generation of the Pack family to carry on the legacy.
“It’s been an honor to work with my dad, and to now have my daughter working for us is quite an honor to be following my
dad’s footsteps to carry on his name,” said Tony.
Todd, who has special needs, became involved after his father met with general managers to identify 16 different job duties that he could take on. In the years since, Pack Automotive Group dealerships have been involved in a vocational program for Holy Angels where Todd is a resident and has his own office.
Today in North Texas, Dr. Pack owns Five Star Ford dealerships in Carrollton, North Richland Hills, Dallas and Lewisville, along with Five Star Chevrolet in Carrollton and Five Star Subaru in Grapevine. Additionally, he co-owns six luxury dealerships in Tulsa featuring Lexus, Audi, Volkswagen, Cadillac, Jaguar and Land Rover brands.
Hills Joshua Fichter, who like many of the general managers has spent more than half his life — 26 years — working with the Pack Automotive Group.
Beyond the achievements with his dealerships, Dr. Pack has also formed an impressive car collection.
“The car collection is remarkable,” said Dr. Hurley. “I was just blown away. He knew every car, he knew how he acquired the car and who he acquired the car from. He knew down to the penny of what he spent on that car,
Above: Five Star Ford of Carrollton is one of six locations for the Pack Automotive Group in North Texas. Right: Dr. Sam Pack poses in front of his car collection which today exceeds 400 units.
The people who have been with him the longest make it clear why anywhere he goes, success follows.
“He’s a fantastic leader,” said General Manager of Five Star Ford of Carrollton Trey Russell, who has been with the company since 1991. “He drives you, he motivates you and he elevates you.”
Most importantly, his employees state that he has done things in a manner to be proud of.
“Doing business the right way will always pay long-term dividends,” said General Manager of Five Star Ford of North Richland
and he knew today’s value, and that’s incredible.”
It all started in 2002 when Dr. Pack and his team of managers went on a mission to find a car he had been looking for, a 1939 Ford convertible.
A rainy Saturday afternoon took the group to visit Wayne Davis, who had about 30 cars in his own collection. They would find what they were looking for, and then some. Before leaving that day, they had bought three cars, officially starting a collection which today exceeds 400 units.
Doing business the right way will always pay long-term dividends.
—
general manager of Five Star Ford of North richland Hills Joshua
Fichter
“I tell people I am overzealous when it comes to collecting classic cars,” said Dr. Pack. “But it is my hobby.”
With a passion for his faith, family, employees, customers and his car collection, he has touched countless lives.
“It’s very fitting that Sam is being honored with
the College of Business because every day he wants to give back in the form of educating us,” said General Manager of Five Star Chevrolet of Carrollton Alan Brown.
After spending a lifetime serving and educating others, an exciting new chapter is underway with the
Dr. Sam Pack College of Business.
“Tarleton has a very special place in our hearts,” said Dr. Pack. “As great as the university is, the best days are yet ahead, and our family wants to be a part of that. We want to make a difference in the lives of the young people, especially those that bleed purple.”
By Rick Mauch
Tarleton State’s Incredible r ise to NCAA Division I
When Tarleton State University announced a move to compete athletically at the NCAA Division I level, the immediate expectation was that the Texans would experience some growing pains in their move up.
Someone forgot to tell the athletics department about those potential pains, however.
Now, after four years of waiting for championship eligibility, the Tarleton State intercollegiate athletic teams are ready to take the next step. With the four-year reclassification process set to end this summer, the teams can officially compete in the NCAA Division I postseason.
“The four-year probationary period exists because the NCAA believes that institutions need that time to grow and evolve from Division II before they will be ready to compete for Division I championships,” Senior Associate Athletic Director for Compliance Eric Heier said. “After experiencing immediate competitive success, Tarleton requested that the transition timeline be reduced on several occasions to allow its student-athletes to compete for championships before the four years elapsed.
“As those requests were ultimately not granted, Tarleton State is now very excited to finally be eligible for championships during the fall 2024 semester.”
MORE THAN SPORTS
Heier explained the move to NCAA Division I involves more than being able to compete at a higher level on the courts and fields. It’s a decision that impacts the entire university.
“As such, it requires buy-in and a willingness to grow and change, not only from the athletics department, but also from staff across campus and the student body as a whole,” Heier said. “One of the biggest challenges
Tarleton State athletic teams can officially compete for NCAA Division I postseason berths starting this fall.
“Tarleton passed each major stage of the reclassification with flying colors.” — Eric Heier
Tarleton faced, from a compliance standpoint, was changing its recruiting culture and behaviors to meet the elevated academic eligibility requirements associated with D1 athletics.
“Our coaches were tremendous in their willingness to change and adapt, which enabled Tarleton to be competitive on the field of play right away while succeeding in the classroom.”
Dr. Megan O’Quin, Senior Associate Athletic Director for Academic Services and Senior Woman Administrator, noted eligibility is vastly different at the NCAA Division II
level than it is at the Division I level, so changing mindsets can be challenging.
“Our coaches were great in asking questions to learn and understand the differences in recruiting and maintaining eligibility,” she said.
Just as the teams have on the courts and fields, the school has made the same successful adjustment academically according to O’Quin. She said the challenge was met largely by being graceful and understanding that change is hard, taking nothing for granted and departments working together.
“Having Tarleton invest in academics by adding staff and building
the amazing student-athlete academic center helped elevate the expectation of the importance of success in academics,” she said.
Texans football head coach Todd Whitten echoed those sentiments.
“I am extremely proud of the way we’ve won during this reclassification process, not just on the field, but also in the classroom. Our Academic Progress Rate (APR) numbers, which are very important to us and to the NCAA, have been exceptional each year,” he said. “I feel confident that Tarleton has completed the reclassification process as successfully as any program in the
In front of a capacity crowd in Wisdom Gym, Tarleton State men’s basketball upended WAC-leader Grand Canyon 77-74 on Feb. 23, 2024.
history of the NCAA, and I am very proud of everyone who has been able to be a part of it.”
SMOOTH TRANSITION
Heier said from the very beginning of the reclassification process, recently retired Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Lonn Reisman set a clear tone within the athletics department that compliance with the NCAA rules was a priority of paramount importance. It also helped that this was Reisman’s second time to see the university through a reclassification, having been aboard for the move from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) to NCAA Division II in 1994.
“Back when we were in the NAIA and in the TIAA (Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association), there were no scholarships at that level, so the recruiting sell was a lot more difficult,” Reisman recalled. “However, we still excelled in having quality studentathletes in our programs — and we had elite programs. We grew a lot during our NAIA days and became so dominant that the Lone Star Conference started courting us.
“I sat down with then-President Dr. Dennis McCabe and we decided the time was right for us to keep growing in all facets of the university, and we made the move to Division II. It was a journey going in there, from being non-scholarship programs to being able to offer scholarships. It was a two-year transition, and before we knew it, we had built strong athletic programs across the board and became a D2 power. So, it was the right move.”
Heier also said during each year of the current reclassification, the NCAA tasked Tarleton State with a new major project. In year one, the task was to entirely revamp internal operations so that Tarleton was compliant with the Division I rules, which are in many ways very different from the Division II rules. In year two, the NCAA conducted a multi-day site visit to review Tarleton’s compliance operations.
In the third year, Tarleton State completed a “self-study” report, which ultimately amounted to thousands of pages of documents and review and required the participation of dozens of individuals across campus and within the community. In the final year, the NCAA returned to campus, along with a group of peer reviewers (individuals in high-ranking positions at institutions that had recently undergone reclassification) and conducted yet another multiple-day site visit.
“Tarleton passed each major stage of the reclassification with flying colors,” Heier said with a smile.
EXCELLENT PARTING GIFT
Reisman called the ascent to Division I status a career highlight and fruition of something he’d dreamed about for decades. He credited administration for the support that came with successful reclassification.
“I was very fortunate to have an administration that believed in us.
From President Dr. Barry Thompson
to President Dr. Dennis McCabe to President Dr. F. Dominic Dottavio and now to President Dr. James Hurley, we’ve had tremendous support and belief that we could do this,” he said. “We’ve all shared the same vision, and I’m so fortunate that they believed in me.”
Reisman said he’s always believed that Tarleton State is a special place, and he didn’t want it to just be known in Erath County or Central Texas, but from coast-to coast-nationally.
“I’m most proud of how much we’ve elevated the Tarleton State brand. It is now recognized prominently,” he said.
“I’m very proud of the 36 years I spent at Tarleton State. I put my heart and soul into the athletic department and into the university. I appreciate everyone who helped me along the way and who I worked with. Above all, I thank the good Lord for His guidance and blessings. He helped me make right decisions, and He gave me the nerve to make tough decisions.”
Katy Schaefer led Texan softball with 10 home runs and 51 RBI this season as the team qualified for the WAC Tournament.
— Elianne Douglas-Miron
“The team continues to work tirelessly to ensure we focus on culture development so that we can continue to be successful at the D1 level.”
CONTINUED SUCCESS
Overall, the Tarleton athletic programs have pushed forward through reclassification and maintained a strong standard of competition. For example, the men’s basketball program finished 25-10 this past season and football is coming off an 8-3 campaign in 2023.
“We have an excellent (football) coaching staff and an incredibly strong team culture. Very early in the process, we identified the players on our team who we knew could be long-term building blocks,” Whitten said. “We worked hard to retain those players and bring in new recruits who fit our program and culture. When you combine that foundation with robust institutional support, it is easy to see how the Tarleton football program enjoyed such immediate success at the Division I level.”
However, the most notable success is in the women’s tennis program. Coach Elianne Douglas-
Miron’s squad once again competed for a Western Athletic Conference championship in the spring and the team has won well over 50 matches since the move was announced.
“We did not want to waste any time during our reclassification period. In May and June of 2020, during the most intense isolation period of the (COVID-19) pandemic, I texted, emailed, and reached out to every single recruit in the transfer portal,” Douglas-Miron said. “I knew I needed D1 athletes who understood what we were trying to build. The team continues to work tirelessly to ensure we focus on culture development so that we can continue to be successful at the D1 level.”
BUILDING A FOUNDATION
Arguably the most difficult challenge for any college program these days is keeping athletes from year to year, with the name, image and likeness (NIL) rules in place and the transfer portal making
it more convenient to leave. In Tarleton’s case, the challenge was even greater during reclassification as athletes coming in knew they could not compete in the NCAA postseason until the 202425 school year.
Still, Tarleton State was able to convince student-athletes that Stephenville is the place to be for success both athletically and academically.
“The transfer portal is a tool that can be useful for both the coach and athlete when used properly. I’ve had a lot of success with transfers coming to Tarleton, and they have been an important reason why we’ve had so many positive results through the years,” Douglas-Miron said. “As a coach, I understand that athletes may opt to transfer out for various reasons. However, by cultivating an environment that prioritizes growth and well-being, I aim to create a positive experience that minimizes dissatisfaction. In that way, when an athlete decides to transfer, it’s ideally because the move genuinely aligns with their aspirations and goals.”
Whitten said he told incoming athletes — and those already at the school debating their future — that playing for a transitioning program is
In front of a large gathering of supporters, Tarleton State President Dr. James Hurley and women's tennis head coach Elianne Douglas-Miron led a ribbon cutting in March for a best-in-class tennis facility.
not for the faint of heart, but that it would be something they would be able to look back on in 25 years and be proud of what they had accomplished.
“We focused hard on recruiting competitive guys who were tough, both physically and mentally — guys who would understand that their job was to set a standard and build a strong foundation for the future,” he said.
“These are young men who will be part of the fabric of Tarleton State football for as long as this program exists. Everything we accomplish from here on out will be built upon the foundation of success we achieved during these first four years. This program is full of high-character young men, because if you were going to be a member of this team, that’s what you had to be.”
EXPERIENCE HELPS
New Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Steve Uryasz has served as a veteran administrator at the NCAA Power Five level and now brings that expertise to Tarleton. His previous stops have included Texas Tech University, Oklahoma State University, the University of Nebraska and West Virginia University.
“During my tenure in Power Five Athletics, I have had the opportunity to administer nearly every unit across four separate institutions. Being able to experience the inner workings of each unit has prepared me well to make the transition to Tarleton State University Athletics,” Uryasz said. “Tarleton State University has a solid foundation from which to build. Many of the challenges we will face as we complete the reclassification process mirror what I have experienced at the Power Five level.”
Uryasz said the fundamental difference is merely the scale. Coaches, student-athletes, alumni, students, fans and donors all want to win at the highest level.
“It will be our responsibility to provide our student-athletes and coaches with the resources necessary to achieve their athletic and academic goals,” he said.
MOVING FORWARD
Uryasz stressed the ultimate goal of the program is to put student-athletes in a position to win conference and national championships. This spring, Tarleton State became the first NCAA
Division I baseball program to win a conference tournament during reclassification.
While success has accompanied the transition to date, Uryasz said additional resources are needed to compete consistently at the highest level. Simply put, he said the majority of these resources will come from enhanced ticket sales, major gift fundraising, premium seating growth, marketing and sponsorship sales, and through annual giving to and through the Texan Club.
“The sky is the limit at Tarleton State University. Simply driving through campus you clearly see the commitment to growing the institution, and athletics is a big part of the growth,” he said. “From the recently completed renovations to nearly every athletic facility to the new $110 million Tarleton Event Center to the many enhancements to academic programming and facilities, the future is bright for Tarleton State University.”
Tarleton State baseball defeated Cal Baptist 9-1 in the WAC Tournament championship game. Photo courtesy of the Western Athletic Conference.
First-gen Tarleton State Graduate Hopes to Inspire Others
By Sven Alskog
From growing up in a migrant working family where money was tight to overcoming an aneurysm and two strokes, Elicia Leal’s journey to serving as an athletic trainer in the Olympics is a story of perseverance.
The youngest of 11 siblings, she never planned to attend college. A visit to De Leon High School by Tarleton State University’s Upward Bound program — designed to provide fundamental support to first-generation and low-socioeconomic participants in their preparation for postsecondary education — changed that course, inspiring Leal to further her studies and launching an impactful career.
“That’s the only reason I graduated from high school and the only reason I actually entered into Tarleton,” she said.
As a result, the 1989 graduate of the university has gone on to experience the highest level of competition, working with elite athletes such as Michael Phelps, Jennie Finch and Mia Hamm. Toby Stevenson, who Leal
worked with at Permian High School, won silver in the men’s pole vault at the 2004 Olympic Games.
Her path toward the Olympics started with the Tarleton State women’s basketball team during the 1985-86 season. From there, Director of Sports Medicine Dr. Steve Simpson began to make an impact on her life.
It was Simpson who pitched the idea for Leal to join his program to earn hours needed to become a certified athletic trainer. Soon after, she discovered that she had found her calling, going on to be named the Athletic Trainer of the Year in 1986-87 and 1987-88.
Her mentor always knew she was special.
“Elicia possesses strong character, solid work ethic, and a never give up attitude, as demonstrated by her life experiences,” said Dr. Simpson. “She has a passion for the athletes in her care and for Tarleton State University. The MSAT students enjoy the opportunities they have to learn from her.”
After graduation, Leal entered the field as an athletic trainer at Permian
High School. From there, stops at Sul Ross State University, Cy-Fair High School, McKinney High School and McKinney North High School followed. In 2003, she worked with the women’s water polo and men’s and women’s ski teams for the United States during the Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Her relationship with the team and head coach Guy Baker led to them requesting her back for the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.
Elicia Leal with the bronze medal that she received from the 2004 Olympics for her work with the United States women’s water polo team.
“I want them to have that fire inside of them that they want to be the next person who brings a medal back home with their teams.” — elicia Leal
The only problem? Her athletic director at the time originally said no.
“I said I’m going to go anyway whether I have to quit my job or not,” Leal said. “This is an opportunity of a lifetime, especially for a high school athletic trainer. It’s very rare for someone from the high school ranks to get picked.”
After receiving approval to go, she said that walking in the opening ceremony and chanting “USA” highlighted the dream trip. The women’s water polo team would go on to win bronze.
Following her experience at the Olympics, she returned to the states to continue her role as an athletic trainer at McKinney North High School.
Always one to help others, it was Leal on the receiving end of medical care on July 9, 2014. On that day, she suffered an aneurysm and subsequent stroke and required emergency surgery, leaving her unable to move, walk or talk. Extensive rehabilitation followed, something she said guides her own work with patients to this day.
“Whenever I went to rehab, I had top-notch occupational and physical therapists treating me. They gave me the best, and that’s what I want to give my patients as well. And then you have that empathy — I know what you feel like.
“It may be a sprained ankle and not your brain, but it’s still very
important to you in getting back on the court or getting back on the field.”
Holding a new perspective on life, she accepted an offer from the Chinese Olympic Committee to work with the men’s and women’s pistol and women’s rifle teams in 2018. Not one to turn down a challenge, she traveled across the world in pursuit of her dreams.
“My family couldn’t believe that having survived a stroke and everything that I would still pick up my life and move,” she said. “I felt really healthy. My doctor and surgeon both said I was good to go.”
Five years later, she remains in China.
Mirroring the rest of her story, there have been trials and tribulations. A ministroke earlier this year during a visit to Texas was just the latest of several obstacles overcome.
In 2020, her contract ended with the Chinese Olympic Committee after her team didn’t qualify for the Tokyo Summer Olympics.
“I packed my stuff and was coming back home,” she said.
A phone call regarding a short-term position with Shanxi Sports Center kept her in China five months longer. When that contract expired, she packed her things one more time to return to the states. At just the right moment, an opportunity then emerged with her current employer, Shanghai Elite Sports Training Center.
As a rehabilitation specialist, she works with Olympic-level athletes in sports from wushu to badminton and table tennis to karate, including the No. 1 table tennis player in the world.
She recently donated memorabilia from her experiences to Tarleton State, hoping to inspire other athletic training students to pursue their dreams.
“When they see the medals that I have brought back and donated to the institution, I want them to have that fire inside of them that they want to be the next person who brings a medal back home with their teams.”
Dr. Steve Simpson (left) and his mentee Elicia Leal (right).
Unfinished
BUSINESS
Tarleton State Theater Professor returns Home
By Phil Riddle
Dan Stone has traversed the country chasing his dreams in theater, eventually leading to his most recent stop at Tarleton State University. After growing up in nearby Mineral Wells, located just over 40 miles north of Stephenville, a life full of experiences took him as far away as Oregon before returning to Texas.
Stone, an Assistant Professor in the theater department, has a strong connection to the university, including three cousins who studied at Tarleton State and a cousin’s grandfather, T.C. Cox, whose name is on the campus war memorial.
He joined the Tarleton State faculty in 2022 at least partly to piece together a story that was never fully written.
“My dad went here for a short time but dropped out” he said, “so I feel like I have
unfinished business.”
Stone’s travels started at an early age, with his family following his mother, Linda, to racetracks across the country for horse racing.
“I was born in Hale Center in the Texas Panhandle, and my family are all horse people. In fact, my mom became one of the first female professional jockeys in the 1970s.”
He went to high school in Southern California, remaining in the area to earn his bachelor’s degree in acting and dramatic literature at California State University, San Bernardino. His Master of Fine Arts is from Humboldt State University in Northern California.
Though he was on the road much of his life, his thoughts were never far from Palo Pinto County and the family he still had back home. He was
highly influenced by his grandfather, Russell Goodwin, a Western artist in Mineral Wells.
“My grandfather and one of my aunts, Linda Kay Cox, pushed me to go into art, so that’s what I did. I spent summers with him and got involved in art. I always leaned in that direction. My family was a little disappointed that I didn’t play football, but they were very supportive. I was supposed to play football my whole life, but I got tired of knee surgeries and didn’t really want to play anymore.”
Prior to venturing back to the Lone Star State, Stone taught at Oklahoma City University, one of the nation’s premier theater schools. He said the draw homeward was Tarleton State itself.
“I was excited to be a Texan again. I wanted to
“I was excited to be a Texan again.” — Dan Stone
be here. I’ve been all over the country experiencing different things. Now I feel like I’m coming home to share my experiences with these kids who are where I would have been had we stayed in Texas.”
One of Stone’s most recent projects was directing “LIZZIE: The Musical” about the infamous Lizzie Borden. The Theatre at Tarleton production garnered national attention from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival and earned a spot in the regional competition in Abilene earlier this year, a first for the university.
“Imagine our theater department going to a bowl game,” he said. “It’s a bowl game for us where we can go and show off what we can do.”
The show gains inspiration from Riot grrrl music, queer
sensibilities and ’70s/’80s female punk. He chose the somewhat controversial play to attract younger audiences to campus productions.
“There was a lot of debate about doing this show,” he said. “We’re working on the slow process of audience development. This show had a ton of 20-year-olds in the audience, and they ate it up. That’s good for us, for recruitment, doing more shows that are relevant to our majors’ careers.”
He and his wife are cofounders of Sanctuary Stage, a project based on socially engaged participatory theater.
“I’m very proud of my work there,” he said. “It’s something that is highly specialized and unique in the world of academic theater.”
Stone was the winner of the Outstanding Direction
award at the 2016 San Diego International Fringe Festival. The Kennedy Center American Theater Festival National Committee honored him with the Distinguished Achievement in Teaching Artistry award.
He said working closely with his students is the best part of the job.
“I’ve had some really good mentors in different areas of my life. I think teaching is more than getting in front of a classroom and talking at people. In the arts, mentorship — taking time with students, showing them how to be successful in a career that can be risky — is very important.”
He also cited the significance of the arts at Tarleton State, even though the program may not get the exposure enjoyed at schools nearer to population or entertainment centers.
“We have a rather exceptional group of students in the theater, music and visual arts,” he said. “My big thing is teaching these kids that there’s a bigger world out there, showing them that if you’re going to be an artist, you need to go experience things. The more experiences you have, the more you have in your toolbox as an artist and as a human being.”
Stone said the experiences from art can have a profound impact on how a person views the world.
“The way I see it, art is how we learn to be a human.”
“We have a rather exceptional group of students in the theater, music and visual arts.”
— Dan Stone
Dan Stone instructs students during a spring 2024 course.
A Family Tradition
Roberson Continues Legacy
By Elaine Hellmund
Support can propel you, financially and personally, to achieve things you might not have thought possible. Support can also transform your life. Tarleton State graduate Chandler Roberson got that support from her mom and from academic mentors. Now she’s paying it forward.
In 2021, Roberson established an endowment in honor of her mother as a surprise for her 60th birthday. The Emily Evans Roberson Scholarship benefits students majoring in manufacturing engineering technology or mechanical engineering technology.
“I was able to graduate with her help and the
support of scholarships with no student debt, which is a major blessing for me,” she said. “That financial support was something my mother wanted me to be able to pass on one day to either my children or somebody else, and I thought, ‘Why wait if I don’t have to?’ I found myself in a position to be able to contribute that scholarship now.”
The family legacy of support actually started long before that. Roberson discovered that her greatgrandmother, Opal Barham Oxford, had helped her mother financially through Tarleton State, too. Oxford graduated in the early
“That financial support was something my mother wanted me to be able to pass on one day to either my children or somebody else, and I thought, ‘Why wait if I don’t have to?’” — Chandler roberson
1920s and played on the basketball team.
“She set the stage — she was the first one to attend in our family,” Roberson said.
Roberson’s grandparents, Martha Oxford Evans and J Louis Evans, attended Tarleton in the 1940s, and J Louis was heavily involved in the community, serving as mayor, city planner and in several other roles, including PA announcer for Stephenville High School and Tarleton State. He wrote and delivered “The Spirit of Tarleton” speech at Emily Evans’ 1984 commencement.
When she registered for classes at Tarleton, Roberson contemplated pre-nursing, but an adviser quickly pointed her toward engineering technology, an idea that appealed to her interest in a hands-on, applied way of utilizing engineering abilities.
She began her transformation from shy,
back-row freshman to engaged and confident student through the support of two teachers, Daren Davis, Senior Instructor, and Dr. Billy Gray, Associate Professor. They became her mentors for the next six years while she completed bachelor of science degrees in manufacturing engineering technology and computer science.
“They were the ones who really got me into opportunities, encouraging me to take on extracurriculars like working as a lab assistant, tutoring and research projects,” said Roberson.
“I was able to get experience, grow as my own person and gain a lot of confidence, not only in myself but in my knowledge of this field. It might sound a little clichéd, but it really did change my life.”
“Chandler came to us a shy, timid student with a desire to do well in her studies,” Davis said. “She left us a strong, confident manufacturing technologist.”
Gray added, “Since graduation, Chandler has given back to the university in multiple ways, through sponsoring of capstone projects for our students and being active at the career fairs for Klein Tools.”
Now a manufacturing manager at Klein, Roberson said she enjoys being able to share her expertise and connect with students through the annual senior projects.
“She understands the skills our graduates will need to be successful,” Davis said, “and her capstone projects test those skills.”
Indeed, life gives us all kinds of tests. Chandler Roberson is acing hers.
Chandler Roberson’s great-grandmother, Opal Barham Oxford (pictured), started the family legacy of supporting others to finish college.
Blazing a Path
By Phil Riddle
Tarleton State Alumna Is the First Female Fire Chief in North Texas
As a fourth-generation firefighter, Tami Kayea was born to make a difference. It should serve as no surprise that the Tarleton State University alumna did just that last December when she was named Sunnyvale’s new fire chief, accomplishing history as the first woman to hold the title in North Texas.
“I didn’t know that was going to be the case,” she said. “I knew there were few females in the fire service, but I didn’t realize I was the first chief in the North Texas area.”
Kayea follows the legacy of her father, uncle, grandfather and greatgrandfather in what has become the family business.
Though fighting fires was in her blood, Kayea’s own journey to becoming a firefighter was an unconventional one.
Her path to the job included earning a master’s degree in management and leadership from the Tarleton State Fort Worth and Waco campuses in 2010.
“I wanted a degree program I could do online and onsite,” she said. “I still wanted that classroom experience,
and Tarleton checked all the boxes. I’ve used so much of what I learned. Organizational development, even my managing operations course, came in very handy. What I learned made me a better officer.”
Prior to Tarleton State, she graduated from Texas Woman’s University with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a minor in English with an eye on becoming a lawyer. She went to class from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. each day and worked from 3 to 11 p.m., taking as many as 25 class hours per semester and graduating in three years.
“I took the LSAT [Law School Admission Test] and did great. Then I got into SMU law school and decided, ‘Nope. Not doing that.’ I had this very naive idea that I would be a district attorney and fight for those who couldn’t fight for themselves.”
Instead, she taught high school English for two years and worked with off-duty firefighters during the summers.
“They kept telling me to quit teaching and join the fire department. I loved
the idea. I had gotten into teaching because I wanted a profession that would allow me to really impact people and that was mentally, emotionally and spiritually challenging. The fire service not only gave me that but also a physical challenge.”
The new Sunnyvale fire chief draws on more than 27 years of fire service with Dallas Fire-Rescue (DFR).
With DFR, Kayea served as emergency medical services (EMS) section chief and battalion chief before being promoted to deputy chief in 2018.
Her professional credentials include membership on DFR’s critical incident stress management team and peer support team as well as the governor’s EMS and trauma advisory council.
She has lectured extensively and written numerous articles on fire service and EMS procedures. She was also named DFR Staff Officer of the Year after being nominated by the officers who worked for her.
A licensed paramedic, she graduated from the Executive Fire Officer Program through the National Fire Academy and holds Master Firefighter certification.
With that kind of success and an extensive
personal history in Dallas, moving on to her current role was a tough choice.
“I had been so fortunate,” she said. “I had done more, seen more, and experienced more than most firefighters and paramedics get to in their career. It was because I was in Dallas where it was always busy.”
Though she wasn’t actively seeking a new job at the time, the Sunnyvale opening was in the back of her mind.
“There were two things I couldn’t get in Dallas,” she said. “One was that closeknit family feeling the fire service is known for. Don’t get me wrong, if anything had happened the department was there for me, but we were 2,000 people spread out over 400 square miles.
“I’d always wanted community involvement, where the firefighters come to the schools and have kids tour the fire station. In Dallas, we were just too busy. I really wanted a small department where everybody knew everybody and we did events that made the community feel tied to the fire department. I believe that is what I found here in Sunnyvale.”
Tami Kayea’s white helmet indicates her position as Sunnyvale’s fire chief.
MAKING AN
IMPACT
TARLETON STATE GRAD HELPING DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS
By Elaine Hellmund
Two-time Tarleton State graduate Jeff Kahlden spends his days helping unlikely college students find their path to an improved quality of life.
As director of grant management services for student success at Dallas College, he oversees the long-term strategic operations of the school’s access endeavors, including federally funded grant programs TRIO, Title III and Title V, which help disadvantaged students navigate the academic pipeline from secondary school to postbaccalaureate degree.
His TRIO work recently earned him the Walter O. Mason Award, the Council for Opportunity in Education’s (COE) highest honor, recognizing outstanding contributions to educational opportunity for low-income, first-generation students and students with disabilities.
“I’ve been around and working in TRIO for 20-plus years now,” he said, “so it’s nice to be recognized as a national leader as well as someone who’s had an impact on students.”
A first-gen college student himself, Kahlden can relate to the challenges of disadvantaged youth unsure about what comes next after high school.
“I enjoy trying to help students find their way, find their niche where they can become something bigger and better than whatever their background is. I was blessed to have two parents, and I can’t
remember a time when they didn’t have a job, but we were taken care of. Some of these kids I’ve worked with, you’d be surprised at how they lived and what they’ve been through.”
Kahlden grew up in rural Weimar; his dad drove a truck and his mom worked in factories. At the urging of family friends with Tarleton State ties — Janice Horak, now Executive Director of Development, and Dr. Kathy Horak Smith, Professor and Department Head in the Department of Mathematics — he entered Tarleton in 1994 on a partial football scholarship where he played on the first NCAA Division II team for the Texans.
As both an athlete and ag major, he worked on campus and explored numerous areas, from the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, intramurals and Texan Reps to Duck Camp, Tarleton Professional Educators, freshman orientation advising, Sigma Chi and the Purple Poo. A summer activities coordinator job with Upward Bound began a six-year stint with that TRIO program, during which he met his wife, Dawn.
“He has been a leader since he was very young, so I’m not surprised at the leadership roles he has had,” Dr. Smith said. He has served in regional and national positions with the COE and is currently cochair of a resource development group, a fundraising arm of the organization.
He said arriving at Tarleton State from a distant small town and not knowing anyone forced him to network, ask questions and make new friends, and he can relate to his first-gen students who might feel overwhelmed. “That’s kind of what fuels me now, being that kid who didn’t know who or what to ask. I try to share with them that, ‘Hey, I wasn’t at the top of my high school class, but I went to college and got that degree that allowed me to move up.’ And then I got my master’s.
“I enjoy exposing students to colleges and universities. I’ve had students go to Stanford and George Washington University because of our help with TRIO; I have a student now working on his master’s at Syracuse University. That’s a long way from Mineral Wells, Texas. But I’m just as proud of our students who got an associate degree and started working or maybe got a certificate, or they’re a plumber or an electrician, because you need all types.”
He especially likes talking about Tarleton and its positive impacts.
“People will say, ‘Tarleton, where’s that?’ and I’ll explain it to them. A lot of my lifelong friends have come from Tarleton, whether I was in the Poo with them or played intramurals with them, or we were in class together. Once you’re a part of Tarleton, that’s something you can always talk about.”
A Night to Remember
President's Legacy, Alumni Association Awards Bestowed at Annual Gala
By Phil Riddle
Tarleton State University celebrated another remarkable year as President Dr. James Hurley and the Tarleton Alumni Association (TAA) presented Legacy and Distinguished Alumni honors at the annual Gala, An Evening in Purple.
President’s Legacy Awards, reflecting the university’s core values of excellence, integrity and respect, recognize individuals and supporters for their leadership and indelible contributions. Honorees, selected by the President, give freely of their resources to advance Tarleton State’s mission.
Distinguished Alumni honorees are nominated by their peers, friends and family. The TAA Honors Committee and Board of Directors narrow the list for final consideration by Dr. Hurley.
2024 President’s Legacy Award Recipients
Nancy Golden Turley
Dr. Kenneth Estes
To say Dr. Kenneth Estes was active as an undergraduate at Tarleton State might be an understatement.
He competed on the men’s tennis team, served as a student assistant for the men’s and women’s teams, and was in the Reserve Officer Training Corps, all while working toward his bachelor’s degree in education in 1993. Diploma in hand, he began his career as an educator, teaching and coaching in the Grand Saline Independent School District.
Since then, Dr. Estes has served as an Alvarado ISD teacher, coach, high school principal and assistant superintendent of administrative services. He’s now superintendent of schools. Along the way, he earned a master’s degree in 1999 and a doctorate in 2009, both from Tarleton State.
He received the Tarleton State University Jim Boyd Instructional Leadership Administrator Award in 2007. Kenneth and his wife, Laura, have been members of the Texan Club since 2016 and are lifetime members of the Tarleton Alumni Association. Both received the College of Education Crystal Apple Society Award in 2022.
As the first female student body president at Tarleton State, Nancy Golden Turley was a trailblazer.
Being a member of Gamma Sigma Sigma service sorority, the Tau Beta Chi business chapter and the student senate set an example for other students to follow. She graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in accounting.
Her 45-year career has been spent working for Tarleton Distinguished Alumnus and benefactor Mike A. Myers as chief financial officer for his Dallas-based organization. She also is a trustee on the Mike A. Myers Foundation board.
Her imprint on the campus remains through a street named in her honor: Nancy Golden Drive.
She served multiple terms on the Tarleton Alumni Association board, as president in 1990-1992 and treasurer in 2009-2012. Currently, she is a member of the Tarleton State University Foundation Board of Directors. She was named Outstanding Young Alumna in 1995. In 2019, Nancy and husband Dave received the All-Purple Award.
Reggie Underwood
Reggie Underwood didn’t journey far for college, but his Tarleton State experience has taken him a long way.
Growing up on his family’s farming and ranching operation in Eastland County, he would graduate from Gorman High School on his way to joining his nearby university’s nationally recognized rodeo team. At Tarleton State, he competed in bareback and saddle bronc riding while working to earn a bachelor’s degree in animal science in 1978. He thrived as a campus leader, serving as president of the Rodeo Club for three years, taking an active role in the student senate and being elected class president of both his freshman and sophomore classes.
Professionally, he spent 40 years in the crop protection, seed treatment and fertilizer business, traversing North and South America, working directly with farmers and ranchers. He is chairman of the AgTexas Board of Texas Farm Credit Services, President of Tarleton State’s Rodeo Alumni Chapter and on the board of Tarleton State University Foundation, Inc.
2024 Tarleton Alumni Association Award Recipients
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS Rocky Hardin
DISTINGUISHED FRIEND Chancellor John Sharp
Texas A&M System Chancellor John Sharp, appointed to the position in 2011, leads one of the largest educational systems in the country with an annual budget of $7.8 billion and an enrollment of more than 153,000 students at 11 System universities.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1972 from Texas A&M University, where he was a member of the Corps staff of the Corps of Cadets, a member of the 1972 rugby team, and was elected student body president. Upon graduation, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve.
Election to the Texas House of Representatives in 1978 and to the Texas Senate in 1982 highlight more than three decades of public service. He was elected to the Texas Railroad Commission in 1986 and as state comptroller in 1990 and 1994.
In 2018, he was recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus, an honor given to Aggies who have achieved excellence in their profession and made meaningful contributions to Texas A&M and the community.
A 1981 graduate, Rocky Hardin is an engaged alumnus serving on the Tarleton State University Foundation, Inc.’s Board of Directors and on the Dr. Sam Pack College of Business Advisory Board. Always generous, he and his wife created the Rocky and Tracey Hardin Endowed Scholarship for junior and senior Dr. Sam Pack College of Business students.
Away from campus, Rocky is the chief executive officer and chief financial officer of Embree Capital Markets Group, Inc., and chief financial officer and executive vice president of Embree Construction Group, Inc. and Embree Development Group, Inc. He handles financial reporting and tax compliance for the Embree Group in addition to leading the Embree Capital Markets Group team.
His business acumen has led him to positions on Austin’s Afia Foods Board of Directors, a past post on the advisory board of BBVA Compass Bank in Georgetown and membership in the International Council of Shopping Centers. He also has been a part of various church committees.
OUTSTANDING YOUNG ALUMNUS
Cameron Gomez
Cameron Gomez fits the very definition of a go-getter. He graduated from Tarleton State in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and immediately set out to make his mark.
Fast forward seven years, and Cameron now owns Agents of Texas serving the Waco, Central Texas and DFW Metroplex markets. He’s in the top percent of real estate agents in the region with more than $100 million in sales volume and over 500 homes sold.
A thorough plan and an enviable work ethic led him to tremendous success. That plan and hard work earned him the Waco Realtor of the Year Award in 2021 and 2023, and he was a 2023 Waco 40 Under 40 honoree.
The former Texan track athlete realizes the value of giving back. In that spirit, he created the $25,000 Cameron Gomez Endowed Scholarship to provide a financial boost to Dr. Sam Pack College of Business students, with special consideration to those from Waco and Stephenville.
2024 Tarleton Alumni Association Award Recipients (continued)
HEARTBEAT AWARD
Bobby Fenoglio
Many supporters of Tarleton State bleed purple despite never attending the university, with Bobby Fenoglio a prime example. His ties to the university are strong, with two daughters and a son-in-law having graduated, along with his best friend, veterinarian Dr. Gary Crabtree.
Dr. Crabtree introduced Bobby to the university during a visit to the Stephenville campus in their youth. It was only when his daughters fell in love with the university during a campus visit that he became a full-fledged Tarleton State supporter.
For nearly 11 years, Bobby has dedicated his time and efforts to promoting Tarleton State. His contributions have ranged from supporting academic initiatives and serving on the Tarleton Parents Association to his current membership on the Tarleton Rodeo Alumni Association board.
His Tarleton State affinity is personal, driven by the desire to provide his daughters with a solid educational foundation. He senses a duty to contribute to the university that played a pivotal role in shaping his family’s future.
Tarleton Promise Student Fulfills Dream of College Education
James Thang Chum experienced extremely difficult times in his quest for a college education. He and his family immigrated to North Texas in 2006 after escaping violence as Burmese transplants in Malaysia.
“My parents always prioritized education,” Thang Chum said in his remarks at the annual Gala, An Evening in Purple. “They told me education was the key to success.”
As he grew older, he began to understand the sacrifices his family made to ensure opportunities for him and his younger brother. “They worked whatever jobs they could to support us. As a result, I barely saw my parents.”
With them working long hours, it fell to James to care for his younger brother. He was also the lone English speaker in the family and had to help navigate day-to-day issues. He filled out his parents’ paperwork and translated for them at doctor appointments.
Financial strains put his hopes for a college education in doubt. Though he was working two jobs, the cost appeared too great. He applied to Tarleton State anyway, and was accepted. Even with scholarships, he still didn’t see how to make it happen.
Then he came across an application for the Promise Program. “I thought, ‘Why not?’ When I heard that I was selected I started bawling and screaming, ‘I’m going to college!’”
Majoring in biomedical science, James hopes to become a physician assistant and serve his community.
“Tarleton State and the Promise Program changed my life,” he said. “I’m just finding ways to say thank you.”
Founder’s Week
By Elaine Hellmund
Each spring, as the grass turns green and the 254 oak trees across campus show off their new leaves, Tarleton State Texans pay tribute to their founder by celebrating age-old traditions.
These rituals unite young and old while honoring the beginnings of the educational institution started by rancher John Tarleton nearly 125 years ago.
Highlights of the week each year include the Silver Taps ceremony, May Fete, the Tarleton Stampede, and Oscar P’s Birthday Bash and Spring Concert.
Alumni and current students that have passed in the previous year are reverently remembered. Calls of “Hey, Oscar P” raise the spirit of John Tarleton’s faithful duck friend. Lord and Lady Tarleton gain their crowns, and school pride is on full display at the Ring Ceremony. From the competition of the Tarleton Stampede to the buzz of the Purple and White Game, there’s plenty for all to experience.
Time-honored traditions keep us together. This Purple Won’t Fade.
TARLETON TODAY
A Perfect Choice for Tomorrow’s Careers
By Elaine Hellmund
Talk to high school students participating in Tarleton State’s dual enrollment program, and you’ll hear at least three reasons why they’re giving it a go.
No. 1: It’s a great opportunity to explore career interests.
No. 2: It’s a jump-start to earning a university degree.
No. 3: It’s a time- and money-saver.
Aptly named Tarleton Today, the program enables students to earn university credit in agricultural and STEM areas while completing graduation requirements at Texas high schools. School districts choose the courses they offer.
More than 6,300 students from 76 high schools have enrolled in Tarleton Today so far, and if inaugural program Director Matt Underwood gets a vote, many more will follow. Not bad for a program launched last fall.
“Expanding opportunities for students to earn college credit while still in high school has been my passion for more than 20 years,” he said. “Giving them the tools they need to succeed at a national comprehensive public university like Tarleton State will change their lives forever.”
For Addie Ketchum, enrollment was a no-brainer. Stephenville High School was the first independent
Addie Ketchum, Stephenville ISD
Myrah Wolf, Azle ISD
Kiara Wright, Azle ISD
Hannah Holden, Stephenville ISD
school district to ink a Tarleton Today agreement, opting for an animal science class in 2023-24.
“I’m learning livestock basics and getting a close look at where a degree in animal science, or something like that, might lead,” Ketchum said. Embryology, animal nutrition and genetics top her list.
Students like Ketchum take Tarleton Today classes over a traditional school year, receiving the high school portion of the instruction from their high school teacher and the university portion from a Tarleton State professor. Credits apply directly for Tarleton undergraduates and can transfer to other four-year universities in the state.
In addition to course content, university faculty provide professional development for collaborating teachers and empower students with university-ready skills.
Senior Hannah Holden intends to use those skills when she starts Tarleton State this fall seeking a bachelor’s in agribusiness. “Finishing the animal science course at SHS and earning Tarleton credit put me one step closer to completing my university degree, saving me time and money. And I’m learning the ropes of being a college student.”
Azle High School seniors Myrah Wolf and Kiara Wright agree that Tarleton Today has helped them develop a work ethic that will serve them in college and beyond.
“I’m getting a head start on college before I even graduate high school and learning about my future career in a setting that doesn’t cost me a dime,” said Wolf. Wright added: “While enrolled in this program I’ve learned a wide variety of things about livestock, which will give me an advantage in my college courses.”
Lampasas High School ag teacher
Judy Hail has enjoyed teaching advanced animal science through the Tarleton Today program and loves that her students are able to earn high school science credit, take on a CTE animal
science program course, and receive four hours of college credit all in one challenging but well-organized package.
“My students are excited to be taking a college course that they can relate to, since so many of them are FFA members with animal projects,” she said. “It has really broadened their horizons of animal agriculture and future animal science career opportunities.”
Trinity Watkins, a junior at LHS, echoes that sentiment.
“I have learned so many things this year that have helped me really decide what I want to major in,” said Watkins. “It was tough at first, but Mrs. Hail and the amazing professors at Tarleton have made this learning process super simple. The curriculum is easy to understand, and the assignments and projects are fun and educational.”
Stephenville’s Abbey Blackburn and Josie Benham will use their new tools to train as veterinarians specializing in care for family pets and potentially small exotic or zoo animals.
“I am so excited that Tarleton’s offering a course in animal science at Stephenville High,” Benham said.
“It’s a great opportunity to check out the university and explore degree options.”
For Stephenville agriscience teacher and FFA adviser Adam Vance, Tarleton Today is the momentum high school students need to begin a higher education. Principal Stephanie Traweek calls the university’s ag program the best in Texas and the animal science offering a perfect fit for high school students living in a highly agricultural community.
The two should know. They’re both Tarleton State graduates.
Trinity Watkins, Lampasas ISD
Josie Benham, Stephenville ISD
Abbey Blackburn, Stephenville ISD
COMING
There were a few reasons Steve Uryasz wanted the job as Tarleton State University’s new Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics. Three, to be precise.
The university itself, Tarleton State President Dr. James Hurley and the geographical proximity to family.
“Number one is the institution and where it’s going,” said Uryasz. “I’ve always said the way to tell if an institution is growing is to look for
construction cranes. I noticed the cranes on campus the first time we came to Stephenville.
“The growth here in athletics, moving from NAIA to Division II to Division I, it’s amazing. If you look at a lot of institutions of similar size, you’re not going to see this growth. It’s a strong brand.”
It didn’t hurt that Tarleton State sports had been successfully spearheaded for 36 years by previous
Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Lonn Reisman.
“The foundation that Lonn built is strong,” said Uryasz. “It’s from that foundation we will continue to build Tarleton State athletics. All you have to do is walk through the campus here and you can see his imprint. You can’t stay somewhere that long and not have a huge impact on that place. Part of the reason I looked at the job was, in no small part, because of what Lonn did here.”
HOME
He was also drawn to the vision of Dr. Hurley to use athletics as a springboard to boost the university’s profile.
“I had the opportunity to spend a little time with him, and he’s pretty amazing,” Uryasz said. “Dr. Hurley’s energy and enthusiasm for Tarleton State are contagious. We want that to bleed over into athletics.”
Returning to the Lone Star State was also a plus for Uryasz, who spent 18 years at Texas Tech University,
culminating his tenure there as senior associate athletics director for development and external operations.
Most importantly, Steve and his wife, Margie, will now be short drives from their children and grandchildren in Austin, Lubbock, Dallas and Fort Worth.
“Being close to family is important to us,” he said. “Coming back to Texas is part of why we wanted to be here. We have 12 new Tarleton State fans.”
Veteran Power Five Administrator Takes Over Texan Athletics
By Phil Riddle
“Being close to family is important to us. Coming back to Texas is part of why we wanted to be here. We have 12 new Tarleton State fans.”
— Steve uryasz
From left to right: Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Steve Uryasz, Margie Uryasz, First Lady Kindall Hurley and Tarleton State President Dr. James Hurley.
There were also myriad reasons Tarleton State wanted Uryasz for the job.
A veteran administrator at the NCAA Power Five level, he brings nearly four decades of experience across stops at West Virginia University, Texas Tech University, Oklahoma State University and the University of Nebraska.
“I am excited about the innovative leadership, breadth of experience, and commitment to athletic and academic success that Steve Uryasz brings to our athletic department,” said Dr. Hurley. “Steve understands the rapidly changing landscape of NCAA Division I athletics and embraces the opportunities that are before us here at Tarleton State. He’s the perfect fit for our university, athletic department and our community.”
Uryasz grew up in Omaha, earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Nebraska and began his career in the Cornhuskers’ athletic department.
“It wasn’t really something I was looking for,” he said. “I got my very first start in college athletics there on the academic side.”
The assistant director of academic programs at Nebraska from 1985 to 1992, Uryasz was responsible for academic advising, satisfactory progress, eligibility, graduation and the student-athlete mentoring program with the football team.
His unit was voted the nation’s most outstanding academic support program by College Athletic Management for its work with Cornhusker football.
From there, he went to Oklahoma State with oversight of the academic support programs, then to Texas Tech initially in academics before taking over athletic fundraising. His most recent stop at West Virginia over the past nearly eight years was capped off with
“I want to see us competing for championships. We’ve got teams that, even during the transition, have competed at a high level. We want to win.”
— Steve uryasz
the role of executive deputy athletics director and chief operating officer.
“Now we’re back home,” he said.
With a resume of excellence, he has a vision of what Tarleton State athletics can become as the programs complete the four-year transition to NCAA Division I athletics.
“I want to see us competing for championships,” he said. “We’ve got teams that, even during the transition, have competed at a high level. We want to win. We want to win the right way. We want to win ethically. We want to graduate kids and have great citizens when they leave our campus.”
Successful at every stop in his professional journey, Uryasz said Tarleton State allows him to achieve a lifelong goal.
“I always knew I wanted to be a Division I athletic director,” he said.
“This is a great place to do it.”
to our Tarleton Alumni Association Scholarship Endowment!
CLASS NOTES
BY DECADE
each of us can play an important role in the continued success of Tarleton State university. remember, big accomplishments begin with small acts. The Tarleton Alumni Association encourages all former students and friends of the university to join in this tradition of promoting excellence.
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MONICA BRYCE PADILLA, ’93 BS COMMUNICATIONS, has been named the elementary science curriculum coordinator in the Eagle Mountain-Saginaw Independent School District. Prior to being named coordinator, she served as a classroom teacher for 16 years at the middle and elementary school levels.
BLAYNE REED, ’96 BS AGRICULTURAL SERVICES AND DEVELOPMENT, was recognized as the Sorghum Agent of the Year by Texas Sorghum Producers. Reed is the Hale and Swisher County AgriLife Extension agent for integrated pest management. In this role, he monitors local crop pest situations and shares information regarding the latest IPM research data, to which he also contributes. He manages Plains Pest Management, a volunteer group of AgriLife cooperating producers.
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MICHELE CARTER, ’00 MBA, was named chancellor of Central Texas College. Carter is the first woman and first African American chancellor of the school, where she began her career more than 30 years ago as a receptionist. Most recently, she served for eight years as deputy chancellor for finance and administration and chief
financial officer. She led CTC’s response to the pandemic and was responsible for the successful restructuring of the school’s college development and foundation department, resulting in increased opportunities for students to attend college. She is the sixth chancellor in the history of the institution.
ANGELA SMITH
PINKERTON, ’03 MS AGRICULTURE, was named Teacher of the Year at Godley Middle School. She has taught eighth grade science for four years, using hands-on creative projects and games to engage her students. With a 2023 Classroom Teacher Grant, she bought a solar telescope and enough specialized glasses for the entire school to safely watch the April 8 eclipse. She was supervisor for Nature’s Paintbrush Landscape in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex for 12 years.
JANA CLARK, ’08 BS COMMUNICATIONS, has been named principal of Boyd Elementary School. A 16-year veteran of education, Clark has served as an assistant principal with focuses on development and implementation of instructional programs in addition to safety and security operations at Harwood Junior High School in Hurst-EulessBedford ISD. She was named HEB ISD’s Assistant Principal of the Year in 2021 and 2023 and a 2022 Texas Association of Secondary School Principals Assistant Principal of the Year.
LAUREN TULLOS, ’08
BS INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES AND ’15 MED EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION AND SCHOOL COUNSELING, has been named principal of the new Argyle ISD elementary school opening in August. She has been an assistant principal at Argyle West Elementary the last two years and has 15 years of experience in education, including 11 years in Dallas ISD as an elementary school counselor and behavioral interventionist.
MARK V. DURFEE, ’09 MED, graduated last August with a doctorate in history cum laude from Liberty University.
JASON HESTER, ’12 BAAS CRIMINAL JUSTICE/ LAW ENFORCEMENT
500 companies on initiatives focusing on hiring, retaining and promoting Hispanic talent.
JUDI CONGER, ’12 BAAS, has been named human resources director for the city of Decatur, Texas. She was previously human resources officer for First State Bank/First National Bank in Bridgeport for nine years and served six years in human resources at the city of Bridgeport. Her prior experience includes several years in the accounting field, including nine years with Innovative Developers, Inc. in Fort Worth. Conger has also enjoyed several years of being a successful actress and vocalist in the North Texas area, donating a great deal of time to community theaters and civic and nonprofit activities while serving as a volunteer in her church.
ADMINISTRATION AND ’14 MCJ, has been named chief of the infrastructure operations division of the Texas Department of Public Safety. He will oversee personnel and operations in vehicle and technical services, procurement and contract services, facilities and major construction operations, DPS operational support services, human resources, and victim and employee support services. He began his career with DPS in 1998 as a Texas Highway Patrol trooper and has held positions as a sergeant and lieutenant. He was promoted to captain and major at the DPS Training Academy in Austin before going back to the highway patrol to supervise the Tactical Marine Unit and dive team, as well as personnel accountability and equipment programs for the division. He was promoted to assistant chief of the regulatory services division in 2019, overseeing the numerous licensing programs the agency regulates.
DIANA MALTEZ, ’12
BBA AND ’15 MBA, has been appointed director of development for the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. Her career includes leadership roles at nationally recognized nonprofit and Hispanic organizations such as Prospanica, the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility and LATINA Style Magazine. She has worked closely with Fortune
ANIBAL GARCIA, ’18
BAAS INDUSTRIAL AND MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT, has been promoted to public works director for the city of San Benito, Texas. A U.S. Navy veteran, Garcia was hired as San Benito’s capital improvement project coordinator in July 2022 and later was promoted to assistant public works director.
JEREMY SHERROD, ’19
BAAS CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION, has been promoted to regional director for the North Texas region of the Texas Department of Public Safety. Maj. Sherrod oversees all Texas DPS personnel within the 42 counties that compose that area. He began his career with the Texas Highway Patrol in 2007 and was stationed in Austin, Abilene and Midland. In 2017, he was promoted to captain, managing the Highway Safety Operations Center at THP headquarters. He was promoted to major in the North Texas region in 2020.
She joins Axiota following roles at the Livestock Nutrition Center and Seaboard Foods. She utilizes her nutrition background to support cow-calf and stocker customers.
PAIGE BIELAMOWICZ, ’23 MS DAIRY SCIENCE, has been named Texas A&M Caldwell County AgriLife Extension agent for 4-H and youth development. She spent the past six years as a research assistant at Tarleton State and Texas Tech. During graduate school, she coached the college dairy challenge team and guest lectured for dairy courses. She will be headquartered in Uvalde.
MAKAYLA GETZ, ’23 MS AGRICULTURAL AND CONSUMER RESOURCES, has been named the University of Wyoming Extension resources educator for Park County, Wyo. At Tarleton State, Getz worked as a graduate assistant and gained experience with teaching and organizing events. She used social media to promote events and sales, and she helped run the Purple Tractor store, a Tarleton farm-to-table teaching laboratory. She also worked with several online companies, including the digital marketer Lexipol, where she managed employees and collaborated with outside partners to find grant funding.
JUNE JACOBSON, ’21 MS RUMINANT NUTRITION, has been named technical sales representative for Axiota Animal Health, responsible for nonconfined cattle business in West Texas and New Mexico.
Silver Taps Ceremony
The Silver Taps ceremony honors Tarleton State faculty, staff, students, alumni and supportive friends who passed away during the previous year.
You
rest.
