TODAY - Spring 2010 by University of Central Missouri

spr ing 2010, vol. 9 no. 4

university of central missouri

Local Fresh Yummy Dairy Farmer Finds Success with the Bottle

COVER STORY Dairy Farmer Finds Success with the Bottle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Faced with the likelihood of losing a dairy farm that had been in his wife’s family for two centuries, Leroy Shatto knew he needed to do something different, even desperate. Every time he sold his milk through an agricultural cooperative, he came closer to joining a harsh statistic: the 40 percent of dairy farmers forced in the past 10 years to find new work.

FEATURES First Student, Then Chemist, Next Inventor, Now Philanthropist . . . . . . 12 Kelsey Holds the Patent on ‘Giving’ At the Hip-Hop Top . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 ABC Dancers Not Just National Winners, They Are Family Avoiding a Dust Bowl World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 The Honors College Initiates Faculty Fellows Program Central Yesterday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Laura Yeater’s Spirit Lives On It’s About Thinking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Garrett Honored as 2010 Outstanding Recent Alumnus Published by the offices of University Relations and Alumni Relations and Development. © 2010 by University of Central Missouri. All rights reserved. Send comments and feedback to today@ucmo.edu or call 660-543-4545.

SECTIONS Campus Currents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Philanthropy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Class Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 In Memoriam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Editor Dalene Abner ’09 Designer Kathleen Robertson Photographers Bryan Tebbenkamp ’03 Drew Woolery ’10 Class Notes Tina (Tock) Bell fs ’85-’87 Today (USPS 019-888) is published quarterly by the University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO 64093. Printed by The Lane Press, Inc., 87 Meadowland Drive, South Burlington, VT 05403. Periodicals postage paid at Warrensburg, MO, and additional offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Today, Smiser Alumni Center, University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO 64093.

A Word

From the President

A Proud Farewell

Over the past five years, it has been a great pleasure to share my thoughts with you, keeping you abreast of new developments at the University of Central Missouri and providing insights into the accomplishments of our employees, alumni and friends. As my tenure at UCM concludes, and as Ronnie and I prepare to move east, I will not forget the individuals who contributed to many positive changes while we were here. I am especially grateful for the faculty, staff and students who saw needs and then worked tirelessly to make UCM a better place. With their help and support, we are engaged in the renovation of the MorrowGarrison complex and construction of a new Student Recreation and Wellness Center, which ultimately will benefit our students while currently contributing to our local economy. We successfully implemented a name change and vision that better represent the world-class institution that we aspire to become. We established a new strategic plan to chart our future direction and a new master plan to guide campus development. We also embarked on an ambitious campus-wide, energy-efficiency initiative. The progress we have made in raising the academic profile and enhancing the institution’s academic reputation is a tremendous source of pride. Not only have we enjoyed a string of fall and spring enrollment increases, we also are recruiting and retaining a more academically qualified student body. New students now list academic reputation as a top reason for choosing UCM. I am confident that this, coupled with outstanding classroom instruction and handson experiences, is contributing to record-setting retention and graduation rates and to graduates employers want to hire. The addition of numerous academic programs, new discipline-specific accreditations and new international exchange agreements will no doubt continue to enhance UCM’s ability to attract new students and contribute to its growing reputation for quality academic programs. In watching these accomplishments come to fruition, I have appreciated opportunities to interact and develop friendships with individuals who deeply care about the future of this great institution. I extend my best wishes to all of you and hope you have great success as you continue to help Central Missouri move forward.

Aaron Podolefsky, Ph.D. President, University of Central Missouri

24 University of Central Missouri · Today

“Be a student so long as you still have something to learn, and this will mean all your life.” — Henry L. Doherty NEW SCHOOL RECORDS, nATIONAL WINS The Mules and Jennies had outstanding fall and winter seasons, setting school records, winning national titles, gaining Hall of Fame inductions and receiving some elite awards. Read more at ucmo.edu/athletics. Kim Anderson became Central Missouri’s winningest men’s basketball coach after a 74-64 win over Washburn in February. His 179-60 mark broke a 1938 record held by UCM Hall of Famer Tad Reid. Robin Ersland, head wrestling coach, was inducted into the NCAA D-II Wrestling Hall of Fame. He leaves UCM after 15 years with the Mules for a new post at Minot State in North Dakota.

Kim Anderson

Sanijay Watts

Wrestler Cory Bloodgood was one of 88 student-athletes in the nation to receive the NCAA Elite 88 Award. The new award was presented at each of the NCAA’s 88 national championships to the athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average. Bloodgood is a senior finance major with a 3.92 GPA. The Mules won their first outright MIAA title since 1984, led by Sanijay Watts, named the 2010 Daktronics South Central Region Men’s Basketball and MIAA Player of the Year. Watts led the MIAA in scoring and rebounding and was the only two-year player in UCM history to record more than 1,000 points and 500 rebounds. Guard Alex Moosmann led the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio at 4.3. Fourteen track and field athletes competed at the NCAA D-II national championships. Darius Walker won the national title in the heptathlon and set a UCM record with 5,377 points. In the weight throw, Drew Frizzell threw a personal best (70-00.25), set a school record and finished third in the nation.

In bowling, senior Amanda Falk was named NTCA D-II National Player of the Year and first-team All-American, while freshman Natalie Jimenez earned D-II Rookie of the Year honors. Coach Ron Holmes earned his fourth consecutive D-II Coach of the Year title. Amanda Falk

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Recycling Mania Swarms Campus In a national competition for the most recycling on a college campus, Central Missouri collected tons of waste this spring. For example, in just one week, the university recycled around 9,500 pounds, or 4.57 tons. Sustainability at UCM is a top priority, explaining why the campus joined more than 600 colleges and universities during the 10-week RecycleMania competition. Participating in this program shows how far we’ve progressed as a green campus, says student Nick McDaniels. He and fellow student Manny Abarca are leading the recycling initiatives.

Keynoting Freedom Dinner Brig. Gen. Arnold Gordon-Bray, a 1978 alumnus and former Mules basketball player, returned to campus as keynote speaker of the 2010 Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Scholarship Dinner. He is deputy commanding general of the U.S. Army Cadet Command. In 1978, he was commissioned in the infantry as a distinguished military student through the ROTC program at UCM. He is a highly decorated military officer including the Expert Infantryman’s Badge, the Combat Action Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal and the Saint Maurice and Saint Barbara’s Medals for Infantry and Artillery excellence. He has completed two tours in Iraq.

Carnegie Hall Performance Performing at Carnegie Hall is the epitome of success for many professional musicians let alone for college students. This spring, UCM’s premier concert band, the Wind Ensemble, performed in this legendary venue. Fifty-four students raised the money to deliver what band director Scott Lubaroff described as “one of the most significant performances in our history.”

GRADUATE EMPLOYMENT RATE STRONG For the 16th consecutive year, Central Missouri’s graduate placement rate has exceeded the national average. In the most recent annual survey conducted by the Office of Career Services, the job placement rate was 91.7 percent, once again reflecting the strong market demand for UCM’s graduates.

New Appointments & Faculty Honors

ambrose named UCM’s 15th president The UCM Board of Governors announced in April that Charles Ambrose, Ed.D., president of Pfeiffer University in Misenheimer, NC, will become Central Missouri’s 15th president. Today’s summer issue in August will feature more about him. Ambrose has led Pfeiffer since 1998, when he became the state’s youngest college president at age 36. Pfeiffer is a private, liberal arts institution with a strategic vision emphasizing service and leadership. Prior to Pfeiffer, Ambrose served as vice president for advancement at CarsonNewman College in Jefferson City, TN, and as assistant to the chancellor for university advancement at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC. He also has served as executive assistant to the president for the American Association of State Colleges and Universities and chaired the National Collegiate Athletic Association, Division II, President’s Council. Charles Ambrose

Ambrose holds academic degrees from Furman University, University of Louisville and the University of Georgia. The university launched a nationwide search this spring to fill a post currently held by Aaron Podolefsky, Ph.D., whose contract with UCM ends June 30. He has been appointed president of Buffalo State College in New York.

From left: Roger Best, Dale Carder, Ann Pearce, Shari Garber Bax, David Kreiner

Several appointments and faculty honors were announced this spring. They include: •

Roger Best as dean of Harmon College of Business, succeeding Joan Mansfield, who returns to full-time teaching;

•

Dale Carder as interim chief development officer and interim executive director of the UCM Foundation, replacing Joe Kremer who accepted a position at Pomfret School in Connecticut;

•

Jim Graham as chief information officer, replacing Russell Helm who is retiring after 14 years of service; and

•

Ann Pearce as interim chief communications officer replacing Jeff Morris, named vice president for communications and marketing at Kansas State University.

Associate Professor of Political Science Shari Garber Bax, described as a “model UCM teacher who has earned tremendous respect from her students,” received the Missouri Governor’s Award for Excellence in Education. Psychology Professor David Kreiner, recognized by his students four times for exceptional teaching, was honored by his peers when they selected him for the 2010 Byler Distinguished Faculty Award.

How Little half of the World Eats and drinks: A Class Lesson on hunger Demonstrating how the world eats on a daily basis, including just four ounces of rice and one ounce of water for half the population, was both beneficial for a nonprofit organization and enlightening for undergraduates in a communciation class taught this spring by associate professor Wendy Geiger. The class teamed up with Oxfam International and the Johnson County Food Pantry to host a hunger banquet. The idea was to eat like people throughout the world. Since 15 percent eat above their daily allowance, they ate spaghetti with meat sauce, dessert, tea and water. Since 35 percent eat at their daily allowance, they ate a simple meal of rice and beans with water. Lastly, the 50 percent considered in dire hunger were served four ounces of rice and one ounce of water. The banquet attracted 60 participants who donated $478.40 and 93 food items.

University of Central Missouri · Today

Local, Fresh,Yummy

Dairy Farmer Finds Success with the Bottle By Matt Bird-Meyer

spring 2010

aced with the likelihood of losing a dairy farm that had been in his wife’s family for two centuries, Leroy Shatto knew he needed to do something different, even desperate. Every time he sold his milk through an agricultural cooperative, he came closer to joining a harsh statistic: the 40 percent of dairy farmers forced in the past 10 years to find new work. Although he never intended to be a dairy farmer, this University of Central Missouri alumnus knew he wasn’t ready to quit. Studying consumer preferences and learning from the best, he devised a strategy to save the farm with an answer based in the past. His solution resulted in Shatto Milk, a product gaining fame as one of Kansas City’s signature lines, akin to Roasterie coffee and Boulevard beer. (continued on page 7)

University of Central Missouri · Today

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(continued from page 5) “The industry was really bad in the ’90s,” says Shatto, company coowner, president and CEO. “We lost money each year. Today, milk prices are bad as well although they are ticking back up. That fact no longer affects us, though, but it does every other family dairy farmer out there. It is these mega dairies with more than 1,000 cows that make it more and more difficult for the small family farmer to survive.” Shatto Milk Company is doing more than survive; it is expanding. The company blended a unique marketing strategy with an appeal to customers who want fresh milk produced locally without growth hormones. Their approach relies on the packaging, an old-fashioned glass bottle with short, witty narratives about the product printed on them. “We knew we wanted to tell our story, as that is what sets us apart,” Shatto says. “We are the only milk on the shelves that comes direct from a local family farm. We are the only milk that comes from cows that our consumers can come and visit during a tour of our dairy farm.” The Shattos created an indelible brand and saved the dairy farm — a farm rich in heritage, having been in the family of Shatto’s wife, Barbara, since the 1800s. The brand identity involves printing large words like “Yummy,” “Local” and “Fresh” on the bottles larger than the Shatto name itself. On the backs of the bottles are clever write-ups: “There’s a chance this milk arrived fresh from our farm in Osborn, MO, just this morning. That means this milk is the freshest you can buy (unless you keep a cow in the backyard).” When Shatto studied agriculture for a year at UCM, he wasn’t thinking about running a dairy farm. When he went to work that summer at the Kenworth manufacturing plant in Kansas City, he was grateful when it turned into a full-time job, allowing him to marry his high school sweetheart, Barbara. Within two years of their marriage, he partnered with Barbara’s father to run the farm. They produced milk that was sold to dairy cooperatives in bulk and went to stores without the kind of brand recognition they have today. Some 80 cows and seven employees made it happen that first year in 2003. Shatto distributed milk to just about 10 stores in the metro area. He notes, “Starting out, we didn’t know if we’d sell any.” They sold all the milk they had in their first month. Barbara says their goal when they started the business was to make a decent living and to simply enjoy the process of delivering

When Leroy Shatto studied agriculture for a year at UCM, he wasn’t thinking about running a dairy farm.

(continued on page 8)

University of Central Missouri · Today

(continued from page 7)

The farm is more than a dairy. It’s a tourist destination where people can see every aspect of the operation up close. Last year, 40,000 people came through the doors.

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directly to customers. Their success led to expanding into the cheese business, but she adds that their goal of maintaining quality remains unchanged. Barbara is service chief for performance and patient care improvement and acting co-leader of radiology at the Kansas City Veterans Affairs Medical Center. She also plays an active role with the dairy farm. In fact, she and Leroy braved blizzard conditions this past winter to drive 300 pint bottles of various flavored milk to a customer’s wedding in Colorado. Seven years after its risky launch, Shatto Milk has 300 cows and 29 employees, distributing products to 68 stores in Missouri and Kansas, including Whole Foods, Price Chopper, Hy-Vee and Sun Fresh. Some 8,000 bottles leave the 400-acre farm each day. “We’re bottling everything we get from these cows,” Shatto says. The company also has expanded into cheese and cheese curds. Overall, there are eight flavors of Shatto milk, salted and unsalted butter, six types of cheese, vanilla and chocolate ice cream, seasonal eggnog and even soap. “We do not compare ourselves in any way to the plastic gallon of milk on the shelf as it is a commodity and what we are dealing with is not,” Shatto adds. “Those products are made with the idea of selling more and more products and focusing on costs, not as much on quality. We focus on taking great care of our animals, ensuring they are fed the best feeds and then using the milk that they produce to turn out the freshest, creamiest and best tasting milk possible. The price we offer our milk for has nothing to do with any other milk on the shelves. It has to do with the cost that we incur attempting to provide our customers with the best milk possible.” The Shattos did all they could to see that their son, Matt, did not grow up to be a dairy farmer. They succeeded, sort of, as Matt is now assistant city manager of Lenexa, KS. However, Matt plays a significant role in marketing and business development for the company. He also makes soap that comes with a witty warning about not drinking your milk bath. “We’re finally at a place where we can be more proactive and plan for the future,” Matt says of the company’s success. “All of our efforts in the past few years have been to react to the market. Demand is there. Now we’re thinking forward.” The farm is more than a dairy. It’s a tourist destination where people can see every aspect of the operation up close. Last year, 40,000 people came through the doors. One of the most popular events happens every June. Family Day on the Farm gives customers the chance to enjoy free food samples, hayrides and games; roam around; see the cows; and maybe milk one. Shatto is always on hand for the tours, which he likes to end by demonstrating his truck’s cow horn. The truck emits a Moo! His iPhone does the same thing.

“If I can meet those people and talk to them, I love doing that,” he says. Shatto spots a car pulling up to the milk company’s Country Store and quickly helps the customer inside. Tricia Jones is carrying a number of glass bottles of various sizes — enough to fill three milk crates. “No wonder I don’t have any bottles,” he jokes, lugging the bottles into an adjacent room to be washed and later refilled with farm-fresh milk. Inside the small store, a cooler filled with different flavors of Shatto milk — chocolate, orange crème, root beer and others, along with Shatto cheese —– hums along one wall. A book by the steps leading to a window overlooking the bottling room is filled with the signatures of visitors from all over the country. One of their most famous customers is President George W. Bush, who sent the Shattos a signed photo of himself holding up a glass of chocolate milk and the Shatto signature retro bottle. Bush also sent the couple a congratulatory letter for being named Missouri’s Small Business Person of the Year for 2008 and for being a runner-up for the national award. The Shattos delivered the chocolate milk personally to Bush when they visited Washington, D.C., to claim their award. When he’s asked what the future holds for his company, Shatto’s pessimism surfaces. “I never dreamt of all this,” he says. “I never had anything work right before, and this seems like it’s working right.”

Seven years after its risky launch, Shatto Milk has 300 cows and 29 employees, distributing products to 68 stores in Missouri and Kansas, including Whole Foods, Price Chopper, Hy-Vee and Sun Fresh. Some 8,000 bottles leave the 400-acre farm each day.

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University of Central Missouri · Today

Philanthropy

If you think of life like a big pie, you can kill yourself trying to keep it, or you can give some to the people around you, and you still have plenty left for yourself. — Jay Leno

Career Educator’s Legacy Shapes 15 Students’ Lives People want to become teachers for many reasons. It could be a desire to continue a family legacy, a need to make their own way or just a love to help children. Just wanting to become teachers was part of the reason why 15 students were selected to receive the first E.L. and Margaret B. Crayton Memorial Scholarship. Crayton, a longtime Warrensburg resident and UCM alumna gave a $400,000 estate gift to UCM to establish this scholarship. She and her husband, Elvie L. “Ted,”were career educators who credited their success to the opportunities they received at UCM. “We are grateful for this generous gift and excited about the financial assistance it will bring to our future educators,” says Michael Wright, dean of the College of Education. He notes that it is as

“The death of my father inspired my educational career,” says Mueller. “I acquired many of his old teaching materials, books and knick-knacks from his classroom that I look forward to incorporating into my own classroom.” She notes, “I truly understand the Craytons’ desire to help students pursue their dreams, as my family has created scholarships memorializing family members and helping students in the same manner.” Brittany Grimm, elementary education major and social studies minor, also thanks the Craytons for their generosity. She can now pursue her love for children and teaching with less financial stress. Grimm knows the importance of patience and perseverance when working with children; after all, she has learned first-hand from her own two-year-old daughter. “I love to see success and the sense of accomplishment on my daughter’s face,” she says. “I feel that is what being a teacher is all about.” Tara Smith is another exceptional student that Crayton’s gift helped this year. A double major in early childhood education and elementary education and a Spanish minor, she has always been somewhat of an over-achiever. Before graduating from high school, she earned several college credits and took online courses at UCM. She works to put herself through college so she doesn’t have a huge loan to pay back when she graduates. Her stress level increased when her brother was injured in a car accident two years ago. “It resulted in his needing brain surgery and taking time off from his college education,” Smith says. “This event put both my brother and me in college at the same time, which put an enormous financial strain on my parents.” Once her parents paid the medical bills, she says not much money was left, so she continues to work her way to graduation. “This scholarship has not only helped me tremendously but has been a relief to my parents.”

Among the first 15 Crayton Scholarship recipients are front row, from left, Kendalynne Hohe, Alyson Townsend, and Brittany Kowalski, and back row, from left, Kevin Hoover, Angie Chamberlin and Elizabeth Mueller.

important as it is rare to receive a gift that allows so many students financial support in a single year. The first recipients were a mixed group of students. Some graduated, some are in the student teaching process and some are just getting started. Elizabeth Mueller, an elementary education major and a speech communication/theatre minor, has a 4.0 GPA in her major and is very active in campus and community organizations. She comes from a long line of teachers, including her father who died in 2008.

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Although these students have different credentials and traits, their goal is the same — to make a change in the world through teaching. Thanks to Crayton’s generosity to give back to UCM, these students are one step closer to accomplishing that goal.

Burnses Pay Forward Student Opportunity Bryan Burns, ’72 credits a “learn by doing” internship at UCM for his highly successful career. He was a communications major when he was offered a parttime internship in the public relations and sports information office. He credits this experience for leading him to his current position as a vice president at ESPN. Wanting to give other communication students similar opportunities, he and his wife, Valerie, established the Bryan Burns ’72 and Valerie Burns Scholarship. The scholarship offers financial assistance as well as a paid staff position within the UCM athletics department. “It’s fair to say that at the time I didn’t understand how the environment in Warrensburg was giving me the opportunity to learn and explore my capabilities,” says Burns. “More than three decades later, I understand the opportunity presented to me and how much impact UCM had in shaping my life.”

Scholarship Reflects Professor’s Interest Some college professors truly change your life and make you reach for more. They mentor you and become honorary family members. Joseph Ryan is the walking definition of such a professor. Ryan had taught in the field of psychology on and off for years prior to coming to UCM in 1999. Known to put his students first, he has established the Joseph J. Ryan Scholarship Endowment for a full-time graduate student pursuing a master of science degree in psychology. His passion for students is trumped only by his determination to make Central Missouri an ideal place for psychology majors. He has received honorary degrees and numerous awards for his research, published hundreds of articles and co-authored a book with his own mentor, Jerome M. Sattler. Sattler is a celebrated scholar and author who has mentored Ryan for 40 years since Ryan’s own college days. On top of Ryan’s own endowment, he raised the money to establish a scholarship in Sattler’s honor. “I have yet to come across a professor who matches his excitement for his students and his commitment to their success,” says former student, Heather Tree. “He was able to take me, a mediocre student, and help me excel beyond my wildest dreams.”

Stewart Scholarship Assists Basketball players Leland R. Stewart was a lifelong fan of UCM sports who was never without his season tickets. He also believed in having good leadership skills, making wise decisions and looking beyond one’s own interest. Family and friends of Stewart chose to memorialize him by creating a scholarship. The Leland R. Stewart Memorial Scholarship annually goes to a UCM basketball player who shows the qualities Stewart held in such high regard. The award alternates every year between a Jenny and Mule. Kelce Goebel is the first recipient of the scholarship. “Kelce is a tireless worker and finely conditioned athlete,” says Coach Dave Slifer. “She is a well-deserving recipient based on her work ethic and positive attitude to her teammates. We look forward to two more great years from her!”

Dudleys Do Right with Scholarship When Charles and Diane Dudley heard about Scholarships NOW, an initiative launched by the UCM Foundation to raise more money for scholarships to help more students, they made an extraordinary gift. They established the Charles ’80 and Diane ’81 Dudley Endowed Scholarship in Accounting. The award is for a full-time undergraduate or graduate student who is pursuing a degree in accounting and who demonstrates financial need with preference going to a resident of Lafayette County, MO. “This scholarship is a welcome gift to the students of the School of Accountancy,” says chair and professor Stephen Del Vecchio. “Many of our students have financial needs, and the Dudleys’ scholarship will allow those students to devote more time to study and prepare for a career in accounting.” Charles Dudley graduated from Central Missouri with a bachelor’s degree in safety management and is a retired intelligence officer with the U.S. Coast Guard. Diane graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and is a partner in the international auditing firm, KPMG.

University of Central Missouri · Today

spring 2010

First Student, Then Chemist, Next Inventor, Now Philanthropist Kelsey Holds the Patent on ‘Giving’ By Emily A. Michael

ome alumni never stray far from their alma mater. You see them at homecoming talking about, “When I went to UCM…” You bump into them, often unexpectedly, at airports and restaurants wearing their UCM gear, and you see their names in newspapers for funding student scholarships. Donald Kelsey goes beyond these classifications. Forty-two years ago at the UCM commencement ceremonies, Kelsey shook then president Warren Lovinger’s hand and received his diploma, his ticket to a bright future. He earned a bachelor of science degree in chemistry and mathematics and graduated summa cum laude, the highest academic honor an undergraduate can achieve, but his accomplishments were far from over. Kelsey became an inventor, among other things, and made groundbreaking discoveries that led to the development of 58 U.S. and numerous foreign patents. Now semi-retired, he stays involved with UCM consulting on a molecular modeling project with two chemistry professors. He also has established four awards with planned gifts to the UCM Foundation in honor of his parents and one of his favorite professors, Robert Zey. Kelsey’s family ties to UCM include his sister and his parents. His sister, Jean, received her bachelor’s degree in 1964, then taught elementary school for 30 years. Their mother, Lois, received her bachelor’s degree in 1959 and her master’s degree in 1970. She taught elementary school in Missouri for more than 24 years. Their father, Ross, received his master’s degree in 1959 and taught music in Missouri for more than 33 years. In his parents’ memory, Kelsey established the H. Ross Kelsey Scholarship in Music Education and the Lois B. Kelsey Scholarship in Elementary Education. After graduating from UCM, Kelsey received a graduate fellowship from the National Science Foundation and attended the California

One of Don Kelsey’s scholarships honors Robert Zey, left, one of his favorite and most respected professors.

(continued on page 14)

University of Central Missouri · Today

update his computer program to simplify its use. “Although there are other molecular modeling programs commercially available now that can be run on laptops, my program is unique because it can analyze an important class of chemical reactions to determine whether these reactions are feasible or not,” he says. He hopes the collaboration will produce an efficient, Two of Don Kelsey’s scholarships honor his parents, user-friendly program Ross and Lois, both Central Missouri graduates. that can be used to (continued from page 13) teach chemistry to Institute of Technology. There students and provide he earned his Ph.D. in physical the department licensing or organic chemistry in 1973. After royalty income for research. a postdoctoral fellowship at Yale University, Kelsey joined the research and development department of Union Carbide in 1974 and later moved to the exploratory research division at Shell Chemicals in 1987. “Back in those ancient times at Caltech, the memory of the largest mainframe computers was less than what is now in an “Molecular modeling provides iPhone,” he recalls. the opportunity to predict the Also during this time, Kelsey structure and properties of a developed and published potential new substance, before a special type of computer attempting an expensive and molecular modeling program time-consuming synthesis of that he remembers took hours the actual substance in the to run each reaction model. laboratory,” says David Harris, Interestingly enough, the biochemistry professor. He computer program Kelsey and Scott McKay, chemistry developed began conceptually in professor and department chair, a chemistry paper he wrote as an are Kelsey’s collaborators. undergraduate at UCM. “Kelsey participates in our Today, Kelsey is working with department more than any Central Missouri professors to other alumnus I know,” Harris

says. “He provided the initial idea for this project and has provided a computer program that is being used as a starting place for the project.” He also notes that Kelsey routinely suggests computational software and computer visualization tools to use in the project. Kelsey credits several UCM professors for influencing his career. “Dr. Anne Gerhardt made sophomore organic chemistry interesting and even fun.” He recalls one afternoon when his lab experiments ran over time that Gerhardt sent his lab partner over to the union for burgers; they ate dinner and watched Batman on a portable TV until their distillations finished. “Another was Professor Catherine Titus, who directed the honors program,” Kelsey

“The benefits to students and faculty of an alumnus such as Don Kelsey, who returns regularly and shares his experience and expertise, are difficult to measure.” — David Harris

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says. “She provided a challenging environment and wonderful broad exposure to areas outside of science that continued to benefit my life and career many years later.” One professor was so influential in his life that Kelsey started a scholarship in his honor. “Professor Robert Zey encouraged me to aim my sights high,” he says. “I will be forever grateful for that.” Kelsey funded the Donald R. Kelsey Undergraduate Research Award

in 2008 in honor of the professor emeritus of chemistry. In all, he has established scholarships in music education, elementary education and two in chemistry. Three of those are funded through a trust that becomes effective after his death. “If my retirement finances go well, I want to start funding all of the scholarships well before the trust takes effect,” says Kelsey, adding with a grin, “because I’m hoping the trust won’t kick in for a very long time.” A successful inventor, a generous benefactor and a talented intellectual partner, Kelsey is a product of UCM and the education he received here. This spring, he presented his research on green chemistry at the world’s largest scientific society, the American Chemical Society, “Chemistry for a Sustainable World” in San Francisco. “The benefits to students and faculty of an alumnus such as Don Kelsey, who returns regularly and shares his experience and expertise, are difficult to measure,” says Harris, “and even more impossible to replace.”

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New Scholarship Honors Fred Hunt Fred Hunt had an outstanding career at KMOS-TV and provided leadership to hundreds of student assistants as our operations manager for more than 26 years. When he died so suddenly last year, many of you asked what you could do to create a lasting memory of him. Thanks to a lead gift from 1984 graduate Dan Stark, we have started a scholarship in his honor. We need your help — and your generous support — to build the scholarship into an endowment, creating a permanent legacy for Fred. Go online to make a gift in Fred’s honor at www.ucmo.edu/giveonline.

Many of you shared your memories of what made Fred Hunt so special. Please help us create this endowed scholarship and create a permanent legacy so that UCM’s future broadcast students also come to know and appreciate this remarkable man.

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At the Hip-Hop Top ABC Dancers Not Just National Winners, They Are Family By Matt Bird-Meyer

he dancers emerge from both ends of the basketball court and take their positions on the floor. The music starts, and like a lit fuse to gunpowder, the dancers spark to life. Their coordinated moves are sensual at times, aggressive and fluid. And the crowd responds with enthusiasm. “Alright!” a woman hollers from the stands. “Y’all get it!” It’s halftime and the Jennies basketball team is pounding Missouri Western. The national award-winning ABC Dance Company does its part to pump up the crowd, leaving the floor to cheers and applause. Two former ABC members rush the dancers to hug and congratulate the squad for their work. “I absolutely loved it,” says Erinne Young, ABC vice president, 2006-08. “They’ve grown so much as a team. They worked as a team. They had high energy and they were fun to watch.” And, no question, members of the ABC Dance Company, a hip-hop dance group from the University of Central Missouri, are good. In its first year competing as a team, ABC won the 2007 Jam Fest competition at Ft. Lauderdale, FL. They went on to win the regional 2008 Platinum National Dance contest at Myrtle Beach, SC, and the 2009 Platinum Regional Competition in San Antonio. “I’m proud of them,” says Q. Olivia Shields, ABC president from 2006-08, just before leading the squad in prayer prior to its halftime performance. “I still come back and watch them even though I graduated.” The team’s 2008 and 2009 victories were made a little more special with the addition of a dancer who was partially deaf. Landon Robinson joined the team in spring 2008 but parted ways last semester. (continued on page 18)

The ABC Dance Group was founded in the mid-1970s under the Association of Black Collegians to serve as a multicultural hip-hop dance team for the UCM campus. Men and women of any race can audition for a spot on the squad.

ABC Dance president Lamarkus “Marko” Jones and vice president Ashley Kilcullen

(continued from page 17) “With Landon, it was an interesting experience,” says Lamarkus “Marko” Jones, ABC president. “He is not completely deaf so he could partially hear the music. But usually we would just have to cue him on when to come in and he could take it from there. As a dancer, he was very talented, and he definitely was beneficial to the team.” The 11-member squad embarked on another round of competitions this spring. They traveled to Missouri University of Science and Technology in March, competing against the best college hip-hop dance teams in Missouri. The second contest was held at Myrtle Beach April 16-18. It was ABC’s third consecutive year at the regional Platinum National Dance competition. Although the squad took the platinum trophy the past two years, they chose not to return over the

And, no question, members of the ABC Dance Company, are good. They have won three national first place trophies in the past three years.

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summer for the national round. “In preparation, we are going to be practicing like crazy and working hard to make sure that we are all precise and full of energy!” Jones says, leading up to the competitions. ABC was founded in the mid-1970s under the Association of Black Collegians to serve as a multicultural hip-hop dance team for the UCM campus. Men and women of any race can audition for a spot on the squad. They compete, they perform at special events on campus, and they reach out to the community, performing at schools, nursing homes and other venues. “It’s not only diverse in people, it’s also diverse in dance styles,” says Jahsette Lujan, a sophomore elementary and early childhood education major. “That’s what ABC is known for — being diverse.” Jones says the team performs at schools and nursing homes to build team unity and maintain a solid reputation in the

community. “We have a lot of fans throughout Warrensburg,” he says, “and we want to keep that.” Both Jones and his vice president, Ashley Kilcullen, take an active role on their own in the community and on campus. Jones is a mentor with Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Johnson County. He is also Speaker of the House for the Association of Black Collegians and community adviser for Fitzgerald Hall. Kilcullen says she usually volunteers when UCM has school-wide volunteer days. “The most recent one was on Martin Luther King Day,” she says. “I volunteered to do community service and we painted a church.” The squad performed at Whiteman Air Force Base Elementary School in April. “They (the students) are so fun to talk to,” Jones says. “They are funny and so energetic.” The squad has also performed at local nursing homes, entertaining the crowd and then helping to serve food afterwards. “It’s definitely a good thing,” he adds. The dancers also share a close relationship. When they aren’t practicing, they hang out, eat out, watch movies or just go out — always together. “It’s more like a family,” says Samone Mitchell, a freshman psychology major. Kilcullen says the group acts like brothers and sisters. “This team loves one another one minute, and we hate each other the next,” Kilcullen says. “The next minute we’re hugging. We drop arguments like that.” The dancers know a variety of styles, such as jazz and tap, but hip-hop is their primary style. “Hip-hop dance is a method of expressing yourself through movement in a way that appeals to the urban dynamic,” Jones explains. “It is usually to hip-hop, rap or R&B songs, but it is so popular now that it is being put to all genres of music. It’s extremely entertaining.” Kilcullen says jazz style is more fluid and pretty, whereas hip-hop is “hardcore.” “It’s sharper,” she says. “It’s hit, hit, hit.” ABC is serious about quality, auditioning dancers who fit well with the squad. The

group opened auditions in January, but only one person completed the process. She didn’t make the cut. “She just didn’t have the performance level that we were expecting,” Jones says. A majority of the team, including Jones, who is currently the only male member, were cheerleaders in high school. Some of the female dancers participated in dance teams as well. A few members took dance classes when they were younger. “Others just had an interest in dance and coincidentally were good at it,” Jones says. “But as a group, we all have a strong passion for dance and that is what makes us function as such a great team.” Jones and Kilcullen both attended McCluer High School near St. Louis. Jones was a cheerleader his junior and senior years. He continued his cheer career while attending Ohio State University, but quit after a few months, he says, when the experience became more like a job. Still, Jones wanted to dance. So, he joined the school’s hip-hop dance team, Stylez Dance Group. He came to UCM in January 2007, auditioned and became a member of ABC a few months later. Kilcullen traces her dancing career back to the fifth grade when she learned tap and jazz. But dancing in those days was a drag. She remembers times when she’d beg her mother not to take her to dance lessons. That all changed when Kilcullen made the McCluer Elite Dance Ensemble. She found an inspiring and motivated coach. The squad won awards, and Kilcullen found her calling. “That’s really when I developed my passion for dance,” she says. For Kilcullen, tap comes naturally. That’s not the case for Jones. For him, hip-hop comes naturally. They are both taking tap lessons together, and Jones says he’s having

fun. “I love it. It makes me happy,” Jones says of dancing. “I like performing. It’s fun and exciting. I mean, it’s a passion. I feel like I live for it.”

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University of Central Missouri · Today

Avoiding a Dust Bowl World By Mike Greife

n Li Liu’s world of academic pursuits, sustainability has become a new buzzword. Sustainability also is a growing discussion on campus as Central Missouri continues its commitment through several new initiatives, including a student-led, campus-wide recycling program as well as a facilities retrofit project considered the largest such higher education initiative in the nation. The campus commitment is important to Liu, one of three professors selected for a new Faculty Fellows Program started this past academic year by The Honors College. Last fall the associate professor of geology presented a campus lecture on global sustainability, and this spring he taught an honors colloquia to guide students in studying the environment. Liu’s dedication to preserving our resources has its roots in a very basic form – farming. As a young man, he farmed in the rural Chinese province where he grew up. “At that time, going to college after high school wasn’t possible,” he says. “Your best choices were to become a farmer or to work in a factory. I began working with farmers in my province, working on methods of soil conservation.” When he had the opportunity to continue his education in college, Liu took with him his experiences in the agricultural fields of rural China. When he went to work as a researcher for the Chinese Academy of Science, he began to publish papers on a subject that eventually became known as sustainability. His research and study on the subject have drawn international attention. According to Liu, sustainability is nothing new. It’s been an issue for generations around the world. Noting that sustainability is about living within your own ecological means, he describes three key factors to sustainability: the environment, social needs and the economy. “The environment is what we need to live,” he says. “It’s clean air, food, water and shelter. Our social needs are basic equality and justice in coexistence, while the economic factor is based on economic growth, or the ability of poor people to develop the resources for increased wealth, and, therefore, a better chance at survival.” All three are important, Liu says, but he questions whether they can be provided without destroying the environment. Can the American experience during the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl of the 1930s set an example for the rest of the world to follow? Liu uses China to illustrate how societies prioritize basic needs. Its “grow and pollute first and clean up later” model has been present for generations, says Liu. He adds that the solution for developing countries is to leap over the polluting stage and protect their environments now. “Technology is important, but the key is really to educate people on how to consume less,” he says. “You have to teach that. Each generation must learn that you have to reduce consumption and be happy about it. That will require education on many different levels Did you enjoy this story? and development of long-range plans to pass it on from generation Give us your to generation.” feedback at ucmo.edu/today

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“Technology is important, but the key is really to educate people on how to consume less. You have to teach that. Each generation must learn that you have to reduce consumption and be happy about it.” — Li Liu University of Central Missouri · Today

Central Yesterday By Emily A. Michael

Laura Yeater’s Spirit Lives On Even if you don’t believe in ghosts, it’s easy to believe that Laura Yeater haunts the residence hall named after her. After all, many of her personal furnishings and household items are still in UCM’s oldest residence hall. Yeater, its patron, was well known for her philanthropy and strong sense of caring for single women. She headed up fundraising efforts to build the hall and even became the hall’s first housemother,

held for 15 years. Coming from an allwoman’s university, Yeater was appalled at the male-dominated culture of UCM, specifically the housing situation. She saw the need for a female dormitory, a place where women could have available facilities and good living conditions at minimal cost. With the help of a wealthy mentor back East and a prominent women’s organization, Yeater made her vision a reality. She estimated the new residence hall would cost about $225,000. By promising to raise half of that goal, she enlisted the help of Helen Gould, the eldest daughter of American financier Jay Gould and the creator of a scholarship that Yeater had received to fund her education at Wellesley. Gould was then a member of the National Board of the YWCA, and through that organization, several other projects and a lot of hard work, Yeater raised her half. On May 10, 1941, Yeater saw her dream come true. After a 25-year absence from campus, she returned for the dedication

The Alumni Association is seeking Yeater Hall residents for a reunion this fall. Send them your contact information at alumni@ucmo.edu. watching over the eight residents with the care and devotion of a real mother. For generations, students have whispered she is still there, watching over her girls. Yeater came to Warrensburg to teach English in 1900 after graduating from Wellesley College in Massachusetts. One year later she became head of the Latin and Greek departments, a post she

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of the Laura J. Yeater Hall for Women. “Giving my name to the residence hall for women on the Warrensburg campus is a touching tribute and it is quite wonderful,” said Yeater all those years ago. Just as Yeater considers Gould a vital link to her education, many women feel the same way about Yeater. “When I enrolled at Central Missouri State Teachers College in 1941, I was assigned to Yeater Hall Room 315 where I lived for two years,” says Myra Seafoss Hiles, a 1945 and 1975 UCM alumna. “No one had lived in that room, and I have always been so proud to have lived in a brand-new room.” When asked if Yeater Hall is haunted, she responds by saying, “Of course the third floor of Yeater Hall is haunted — by all the eager young women who lived and learned there!”

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A College Degree for Everyone Having pursued a doctoral degree as a law enforcement official, Joe Vaughn understands the balancing act required between work and academic dreams. That’s why he’s determined that Central Missouri’s School of Graduate and Extended Studies offers students from every background, age and culture, even from countries throughout the world, the opportunity to earn a college degree. The School of Graduate and Extended Studies utilizes online courses — the most popular and rapidly growing academic option offered by UCM — to teach hundreds of students every semester. It’s just another way the school stays focused to provide college degree opportunities for everyone. Learn more about the school’s online and off-campus academic opportunities, as well as graduate degrees available in Warrensburg, by calling us or visiting our web sites.

Joe Vaughn, Ph.D., dean of the School of Graduate and Extended Studies

School of Graduate and Extended Studies Tollfree: 877-729-8266, ext. 21 extcampus@ucmo.edu www.ucmo.edu/graduate www.ucmo.edu/extcamp

Jeremy Garrett says it’s surprising how many famous people have philosophy degrees, such as Bill Clinton, Alex Trebek, Jerry “Beaver” Mathers, Rudy Giuliani, Steve Martin, Katherine Hepburn, Jay Leno and Harrison Ford.

It’s About Thinking Garrett Honored as 2010 Outstanding Recent Alumnus

ose Jeremy Garrett a topic, such as the one he researched for his dissertation on government’s right to recognize anyone’s marriage, and he’ll debate you for hours, months, possibly even years. As an associate professor of philosophy at California State University in Sacramento, it’s his job to teach such courses as ethics and contemporary moral issues. It’s also his passion, sparked when he was a student at UCM and took his first philosophy class, taught by Professor Kenneth Cust. Until that moment, Garrett was an education major pursuing his desire to become a teacher “that I had from my earliest days in elementary school.” “That class hooked me,” Garrett says. “I felt a strong and immediate connection to philosophy and could see early on that it promised a lifetime’s worth of really important questions to think about and discuss. Once I made that discovery, my focus shifted entirely from the question of what I wanted to study and teach to the question of how best to make an academic career in philosophy.” Garrett was so successful in pursuing his career goals that Cust nominated him for the UCM Alumni Association’s Outstanding Recent Alumnus Award. “Jeremy was the best student I have had the pleasure to teach during my 15 years at UCM,” says Cust. “I am so proud of him and his accomplishments, as any professor would be.” When Garrett graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in 2000, UCM didn’t offer philosophy as a major. He pursued an individualized major to satisfy his own intellectual interest. In 1999, he was named his college’s Outstanding Undergraduate Student. One year later, he also received the university’s Charno Award as the top male graduating senior. Having now earned a master’s degree from Texas A&M and a Ph.D. from Rice University, Garrett is a highly decorated intellectual. He has published nine articles, presented papers at 26 conferences and coedited two books with a third to be published this year, a significant mark of success in the intellectually competitive world of academe. “I am so grateful to be a part of the UCM community,” he says. “It will forever be a part of my identity and a source of pride, inspiration and confidence as I continue along the path I began in Warrensburg.”

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University of Central Missouri · Today

Class Notes 1950-1959 Jonna (McKendree) Merritt ’56 and her husband, Robert ’57, have moved to a new address in Blue Springs. 1960-1969 Rod Yeager ’60, who retired from the U.S. Air Force as a full colonel in 1989, has entered the PGA and worked for 12 years as a golf professional, playing in five PGA Senior Golf tournaments. He is owner and operator of Yeager Golf Tours, LLC and has taken golfers to Hawaii, Ireland and the United Kingdom. He and his wife, Nancy, reside in Kansas City, MO. They have a daughter, Meredith Williams, who teaches German and French at Park Hill South High School. They also have two grandchildren, Lacy, 11 and David, 6. John Henderson ’61 and his wife live on a farm in Davidsonville, MD. They enjoy traveling and recently took a car trip to Alaska and Canada. They celebrated their 45th anniversary in September 2009 and have four grandchildren. Thomas Alvater ’67, ’70 retired in February after 40 years in the safety business. He worked as director of safety for Sherwin Williams, Pennsylvania Electric, the U.S. Mint and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. As a double CSP, he established management systems that reduced incident rates by more than 50 percent in three of these four organizations. He continues to have active memberships in the Society of Fire Protection Engineers, American Society of Safety Engineers and the National Safety Council. He and his wife, Mary Ann, reside in Germantown, MD.

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1970-1979 Jim Newman ’70 has retired after 33 years with State Farm Insurance. He now manages countrywide catastrophe claims offices for Pilot Catastrophe Services and is a mentoring consultant for Leadership Technologies. His wife, Mary (Campbell) ’68, is involved in many community volunteer organizations. They reside in Springfield, MO. Larry Gordon ’71 retired Jan. 1 after 34 years with the General Services Administration in Kansas City. His wife, Sally, retired in May from Johnson County Community College. His activities include Jewish War Veterans, volunteer driver for KC Community Blood Center and current president of the UCM Geography Advisory Board. He and his wife reside in Overland Park. Jack Williams ’71, ’74 and ’81 has retired from Hallmark Cards after 35 years of service. He also retired from the U.S. Army as a major in 1997. He was part of the first ROTC class at UCM. He resides in Olathe, KS. Chaz Buchheim ’72 just completed his first book, Inspired Teaching, after a successful career in public education. He and his wife, Judith (Louie) ’73, reside in Barrington, NJ. Maudean (Ruebling) Lee ’72, ’79 retired in May 2009 after 33 years as a school teacher or counselor. She enjoys following the St. Louis Cardinals with her husband, Don, crafting and being with her family. The couple resides in Troy, MO. Dennis McGowan ’73 resigned as pastor/principal of Country Christian School in Redding, CA. He continues to serve with his daughter in Kenya, Africa, with their ministry, Living Room Ministries International. Laura (Mayes) Staehle ’73 is president of the Greater Kansas City Fiber Guild. She has been

teaching knitting techniques for the Sunflower Knitters Guild the past four years. She and her husband, Ken, reside in Prairie Village, KS. Patrick Cummings ’77 retired in July 2009 after more than 32 years of teaching special education and physical education, and coaching football, basketball and track and field. He married Cynthia Davis April 17, 2010, and they reside in Blue Springs, MO. Julie Zvacek ’77, ’81 retired from teaching in 2009 after 32 years in the Holden, Harrisonville and Lee’s Summit school districts. 1980-1989 Sandra (Holt) Williams ’80 is deputy director for Green Hills Community Action Agency. She leads day-to-day operations of the agency’s human resources functions as well as ensuring the agency’s activities comply with all grants and contracts. She also owns a business, Coaching for Life, helping individuals to set and achieve goals. Roxann Kinkade ’81 is director of external communications for Ameristar Casinos, Inc. She also is a board member of the Clay County Economic Development Council, Community Health Charities of Kansas and Missouri, Inc. and the Hispanic Economic Development Cooperation. Brad Bronenkamp ’82, ’90 was appointed by Missouri Governor Jay Nixon to the state’s Homeland Security Advisory Council. He is an adjunct professor at St. Louis University and owns his own company, www.bronenkamp.com. He resides in St. Louis. Steve Zink ’82 is director of the Kansas Department of Labor Division of Industrial Safety and Health. He resides in Topeka, KS. Cheryl (McElroy) DeShon ’83 is an insurance fraud analyst

and special investigator for Farmer’s Insurance in Olathe, KS. She resides in Lee’s Summit, MO. Julie Elkins ’83 is director of academic initiatives at Campus Compact in Boston, MA. She collaborates with a network of 35 Campus Compact offices to promote engaged campuses and the scholarship of engagement. She also serves on the International Association for Research on Service-Learning and Community Engagement Board. Tim Vainer ’83 retired in April 2009 from Yum! Brands International after 27 years. He is now global managing director for PAR Tech Inc. He and his family reside in Frisco, TX. James Haworth ’84 is the executive vice president and president of retail services for Sears Holdings. He is responsible for the oversight, leadership and strategic growth of retail services for all Kmart and Sears stores. He also serves as a member of the internal holding company business unit board of directors. Jim Gann ’86 and his wife, Marilyn, announce the birth of Abigail Marie Feb. 23. She joins sister, Callie. The family resides in Boonville, MO. Keith Carter ’87 retired from the Supreme Court of the United States Police in August 2009 after 22 years of service. He and his wife, Marie (Barlow) ’74, reside in Waldorf, MD. Gregg Williams ’87, defensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints, helped lead the team to victory in Super Bowl XLIV. It was the team franchise’s first Super Bowl title. The 19-year NFL veteran has been a coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Washington Redskins, Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans and Houston Oilers. Timothy Bowe ’88 is regional marketing manager for the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board. Sonya (Granquist) Hutchinson ’88 earned the Certified Professional in Learning and Performance Credential from the American Society for Training and

1990-1999 Nathan Carriker ’90 is in his 10th year as a pilot for a major airline. He was taught to fly by his father from age eight, became a private pilot in high school, then worked as a flight instructor while attending UCM. He is a writer for the blog, Friends of Aviation. He is married and has three children. Matt Fitzsimmons ’91 and his wife, Kristin (Schenke) ’98 announce the birth of Kylie Marie Sept. 18, 2009. She joins brother, Luke Paul. Kristin received her master’s degree in nursing education in June 2009. The family resides in Kansas City, MO. Philip Brandt ’92 is vice president of employee services at Patriot Coal Corporation. Sarah Tye ’93 is the program director for 4C of Southern Indiana, Inc. in Evansville. She resides in Newburgh, IN. Jeffrey Brown ’94 has coauthored another book, The Winner’s Brain: 8 Strategies Great Minds Use to Achieve Success. He interviewed celebrities such as B.B. King, Phyllis Diller and Whoopi Goldberg, was on the set of Sesame Street and trained at the FBI Academy’s firearms

division. He also is the author of The Competitive Edge, featured in the spring 2008 issue of Today. A psychiatry instructor at Harvard Medical School and for the Boston Marathon, he is a nationally recognized sports psychologist who has been interviewed as an expert by The Wall Street Journal, ESPN, FOX News and Runner’s World. Stacey Hodges ’94 works in forensic services at Johnson County Mental Health Center. She is secretary of the Kansas Association for Marriage and Family Therapists and serves on the UCM Alumni Association Board of Directors. Tonika Johnson ’94 is a pilot for Arik Air, which flies out of Lagos, Nigeria, to New York, London and several cities in Africa. She was the first black woman to receive a bachelor of science in aviation technology at UCM. While working for US Airways, she became the first black woman jet captain. She recently published a children’s book, Nikki the Airplane Pilot. She resides in Charlotte, NC. Brian McRoberts ’94 is vice president of operations for Advantis Medical. He and his wife, Susan (Parry) ’95, reside in Greenwood, IN. Jeana (Harmon) Wilcox ’95 was recently named associate dean of undergraduate nursing programs at Graceland University beginning the 2010-2011 academic year. Tyrone Latimer ’96 works for Bank of America. He and his wife, Crystal, have a son Prince, 1. The family resides in Laveen, AZ. Jennifer Thoma ’96 is assistant vice president, compliance officer for Boone County National Bank. Brian Gilmore ’97 is manager of outsourcing and contracts management, for Celgene Corp., a pharmaceutical company in Overland Park, KS. He and his wife, Amy, have a son, Dalton, 11. The family resides in Raymore, MO. Kelli (Strate) Spies ’97 will be Marshall, MO, High School’s new activities director starting the 20102011 school year.

Baby Steps Lead to Retail Success Photo courtesy of St. Joseph News Press.

Development Certification Institute. She works for Cerner Corporation and resides in Kansas City, MO, with her husband, Mike, and daughters, McKenna and Kramer. Tammy (Zahren) Lowery ’88 has been the Social Security specialist at Assurant Employee Benefits for five years. She and her 16-year-old son reside in Kansas City. Darren Giebler ’89 and his wife, Bridget, have moved to Kansas City, MO. Chrissy (Bodenstab) Heiss ’89 received a master’s degree in elementary school administration from Concordia University, Nebraska in December. She teaches preschool and kindergarten at Immanuel Lutheran School in Higginsville, MO. She and her husband, Chuck, reside in rural Centerview, MO, with their two daughters, Cassidy and Caroline.

Whoever said motherhood wasn’t profitable didn’t have Tracy Ingle in mind. She is co-founder and owner of jemos footwear, one of the first infant/toddler, eco-friendly shoe companies in the market. Ingle received a bachelor’s degree in public relations from UCM in 1993; however, it was her art history class that she held close to her heart as she designed and developed the 21 styles of boys’ and girls’ hand-sewn baby shoes. Her minors in marketing and sociology didn’t hurt either. After she graduated from UCM, her first job was for the St. Joseph Area Chamber of Commerce. Next came the Buchanan County Tourism Board, where she served as director of public relations and marketing. Possibly her most prestigious job, though, was as vice president of marketing for the Orpheum Theater in Memphis, TN. She worked at the historic Broadway theatre for four years before motherhood changed her plans. Ingle knows anything worth having isn’t without its share of obstacles and setbacks. She and her brother, who co-founded jemos footwear with her, worked at least a year to develop prototypes. They spent another two years answering thousands of emails while conducting research, attending trade shows and traveling internationally. Ingle showed patience and determination while searching for a manufacturer who understood her eco-friendly brand. Now three years later, jemos footwear is carried in 13 retail locations in four different states. On top of expanding sales, the company recently has been recommended by Celebrity Baby Blog and People.com for its innovative eco-friendly production and distribution methods. To learn more, visit www.jemos-footwear. — By Emily A. Michael ’10

WE WANT YOUR Have you moved? Been married? Changed jobs? Retired? Gotten a new email? Received an award? We want your news! mo.edu/alumni Go online to www.uc mo.edu uc i@ Email us at alumn ni Association, um Al M UC Write us at l Missouri, University of Centra 093 Warrensburg, MO 64 Smiser Alumni Center,

University of Central Missouri · Today

UCM Alumni Take Over Internet Station Leaving UCM, you never know where you’ll end up. It could be in another state working with strangers or in a joint venture working with other UCM alumni. For Kathleen Coleman, her destination was KC Café Radio, an Internet station that provides a musical alternative to the often-repetitive mainstream media. Many independent performing artists who seek an outlet for their talent and encounter limited resources call KC Café Radio home. “KC Café Radio represents a unique collaboration of media, technology and talent, and I am looking forward to enjoying a ‘front row seat’ at this show,” says Coleman, the new director of artist relations. As it happens, Coleman joins two other UCM alumni at KC Café Radio: Kathy Forste, ’86, music director and John Dutton, ’00, operations director. Plus there’s Mark Riddle, marketing director, a 1975 University High graduate. Forste, Dutton, Riddle and Coleman know the importance of connecting the performer to the listener. They strive to give their listeners new sounds and experiences that they can enjoy and appreciate. “We add about a dozen new performing artists to the station’s rotation monthly,” says Dutton. “Approximately 1,000 listeners tune in weekly and KC Café Radio continues to grow steadily.” Although these alumni are separated by states and thousands of miles, their common passion of finding excellent talent and bringing it to the public keeps them connected through this amazing venture. Listen to KC Café Radio at www.kccaferadio.com. — By Emily A. Michael ’10

VIKINGS, KINGS AND CASTLES June 29 - July 12, 2010 Learn more about this international alumni trip at

ucmo.edu/alumni/benefits/travel.cfm

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Tim O’Grady ’98 and his wife, Christine (Heideman) ’98, announce the birth of Emily Hope in August 2009. She joins big brother, Ryan, 9. Tim is an air traffic controller for the FAA, and Christine works with older adults as a social worker. The family resides in Raymore, MO. Phil Adlich ’99 is the compliance technician for the City of Warrensburg Waste Water Department. He holds a Missouri Department of Natural Resources Water Protection Program A license. He is also on the MWEA Lab Practice Committee. He and his wife, Angela, traveled to Peru in June 2009 with Buckner Orphanage International and assisted with the Shoes for Orphan Souls program. 2000-2009 Jesse Highley fs’00 is playing Buzz Lightyear as part of the Disney Live Rockin’ Road Show, a 75-city tour that started in August 2009. He previously was a clown for the Ringling Brothers Circus. Andrea Kincaid ’00 is a registered nurse and administrator for Moniteau County Health Center in California, MO. She and her husband, Seth, have two children, Lydia, 9 and Isabella, 4. Natalia Golias ’01 is a vice president and team leader for the fifth largest bank in America. Kayme (Fritz) Henkel ’01 was an opera coach in the Young Artist Program at the Crested Butte Music Festival in July. One pianist is chosen each year for the program. Young artists work with coaches and singers from the Academy of Vocal Arts and the Metropolitan Opera. She and her husband, James, reside in Silver Spring, MD. Amy Swift ’02 and her husband, Russ, announce the birth of Connor Dec. 11, 2009. He joins a brother, Jack, 2. Mallory Swift ’02 married Michael Boyd in September 2009. She is teaching special education for the Francis Howell School District in St. Charles, MO.

Ashley (Roggenkamp) Zweifel ’02, ’04 and her husband, Brent ’04, announce the birth of Daniel Edward Nov. 25, 2009. The family resides in Richmond, MO. Shaun Blair ’03 is area sales manager for Smart Media USA. He and his girlfriend, April Bowman, have a two-year-old son, Aiden Issac. They reside in Kansas City, MO. Erin (Dixon) Greco ’04 and her husband, Michael ’04, announce the birth of twin boys, Andrew Thomas and Reese William, May 14, 2009. The family resides in Troy, MO. Crystal Tyler ’04 married Danny McLain Oct. 3, 2009. They reside in Raytown, MO. Tamika Washington-James ’04 recently completed her master’s degree in professional counseling from Lindenwood University. She is part of the Chi Sigma Iota professional counseling honor society. She resides at Scott AFB. Daniel Hamilton ’05 works for Interthinx, a private firm that investigates mortgage loans for fraud. They work along side Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Department of Justice, HUD and other lenders. He lives in St. Peters, MO. Erin Davis’06 married Jeremy McCurdy ’07 June 27, 2009. The couple resides in St. James, MO. Janice Frederic ’06 is a case manager for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks. She is also a volunteer Big Sister and previously served on the Pathways to Permanency Panel at the Greene County Juvenile Office. Nicole Sendelbach ’06 married Sam Kloese July 11, 2009. They reside in Springfield, IL. Katie Dougan ’08 married Matt Close ’07 July 25, 2009. The couple resides in Sedalia, MO. Annina Robinson ’08 married Ross Dahlstrom ’09 May 8, 2010. She is the marketing and technology coordinator at a university, and he is a system administrator at a factory. They reside in Niceville, FL.

Awards &Honors Dave Eveland ’71 retired in December after 34 years with Hawaii’s Department of Human Services, serving most recently as administrator of Ho’opono Services for the Blind Branch. He was instrumental in getting the rehabilitation center changed from a medical to a structured discovery model, earning it certification as a training center of excellence. He was the recipient of the inaugural Dr. Floyd Matson Award from the Hawaii chapter of the National Federation of the Blind. He and his wife, Betty, reside in Kaneohe, HI. Sharon Bruns ’76 has been recognized by Cambridge Who’s Who for demonstrating dedication, leadership and excellence in medical technology. She is the lead laboratory technician at Lee’s Summit Medical Center. Rob Hudson ’76 was recently recognized as one of the top three chief executive officers in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. His company, Cohesive Automation, was named one of the Top 100 Workplaces in the area for 2009. He resides in Carrollton, TX. Larry Lewis ’76 received the Supervisor of the Year Award at the annual Dallas Police Awards banquet in November. He is a sergeant for the police department’s homicide cold case squad. He and his wife, Debi, reside in Grapevine, TX. Mark Rosewell ’77 was inducted into the U.S. Tennis Association, Heart of America District Hall of Fame Nov. 19, 2009, in Kansas City. He is in his 25th year at Northwest Missouri State University as men’s and women’s tennis coach. He is the winningest coach in Northwest tennis history sending teams to the last six NCAA national tournaments. He has been named MIAA Coach of the Year 18 times. His teams have won 16 MIAA championships and advanced to the NCAA postseason 21 times. Two of his women’s teams have advanced to the national quarterfinals. Virginia Kugel-Zank ’78, retired associate professor of

English, director of the Learning Center and supervisor of Freshman First Year Program from Missouri Valley College, has been recognized by Cambridge Who’s Who for demonstrating dedication, leadership and excellence in English in higher education. Professionally she was honored with the Marshall Teacher of the Year Award, the John McCallum Teaching in Excellence Award and the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. She was named Professional of the Year by Cambridge Publishing in 2007 and 2008 and was inducted into Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. Patty (Schmid) Reynolds ’78 received the Distinguished Principal of the Year Award from the Kansas City Suburban Elementary Principals Association for 2007-08. She retired in May 2009 from the Lee’s Summit R-7 School District after serving 31 years as a regular and special education teacher and an elementary principal. She is adjunct professor and supervisor of student teachers at Avila University in Kansas City. Her daughter, Laura, attends Truman State University. She resides in Lee’s Summit. Dave Kopp ’79 received two awards for his photography at the 2009 SEEN contest, hosted by Studio Altius in Maplewood, MO. He took first and second in sports photography with his photos, Jennies Celebrate and Double Play, and had five photos reach the finals. He owns The Studio-Dave Kopp Photography and is the UCM beat writer and photographer for WarrensburgRadio. com. He also works assignments for the Lee’s Summit Journal and Cass County Democrat-Missourian. Melanie Popejoy ’80 was named Choral Director of the Year by the North Dakota American Choral Directors Association during its recent convention in Grand Forks. She is in her 10th year as choral music instructor at Valley Middle School and is founder and artistic director of the Grand Cities Children’s Choir.

Dave Neuhart ’81 received the 2009 USTA Georgia Professional of the Year Award. The facility, Reynolds Plantation, where he is director of tennis, also won the 2009 USTA National Facility of the Year Award and the 2009 Racquet Sport Industry Private Facility of the Year Award. In addition they have won the award for Top 50 Tennis Welcome Centers and Top 50 Tennis Resorts Online Distinction the past four years. He and his wife, Lori, reside in Madison, GA. Keena Kaiser ’84 has been recognized by Cambridge Who’s Who for demonstrating dedication, leadership and excellence in nursing. She is a nurse educator and trauma program manager for Oktibbeha County Hospital in Starkville, MS. She is a member of the Prairie Council Nurse Educators and the Mississippi Hospital Association of Nurse Educators. Paul Rutherford ’84, ’93 is the recipient of the 2010 University of Missouri-Kansas City Alumni Achievement Award for the School of Education. He was honored at a ceremony and luncheon April 22. He also received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching in 2003. He and his wife, Yu-Feng (Wang) ’84, reside in Lee’s Summit, MO. Gina (Geary) Deer ’85 is a senior account executive at tw telecom, one of the top three business Ethernet service providers nationwide. She was awarded the Summit of Leaders Award for outstanding performance for the third time. She is also a child advocate in the ongoing fight of child

abuse. She and her husband, Joe, live in Houston, TX. Bryan Siebeneck ’92, agency partner for Siebeneck Agency at Yennie & Jones Insurance, has been recognized by Cambridge Who’s Who for demonstrating dedication, leadership and excellence in his career. He is also president of SFinancial. He is a member of Delta Sigma Pi, Missouri Association of Insurance Agents, Independent Insurance Agents and brokers of America, Chamber of Commerce, Rotary and Freemason Fraternal Society. Angela Adlich ’00 is a financial services representative for Joe Good State Farm Insurance. She was recognized during the Team Member Hall of Fame ceremony in Kansas City with a Pinnacle Award for her dedication and hard work in protecting lives in the Missouri market area. She was a qualifier for this award the last five years. She and her husband, Phil ’99, have four children: Dominick, 15; Jessica, 14; Tyler 13; and Allison, 7. The family resides in Warrensburg. Annie Glieber ’05 is head volleyball coach at Macalester College in St. Paul, MN. She was head coach for the past five years at Carroll University in Waukesha, WI, where she rebuilt a last place Midwest Conference team and guided them to the 2007 MWC tourney championship and the program’s first ever birth in the NCAA playoffs. She was selected as Midwest Conference Coach of the Year after the 2006 and 2007 campaigns.

SALMON RIVER RAFTING TRIP July 30 - August 4, 2010 Learn about this fun summer adventure at

ucmo.edu/alumni/benefits/SalmonRiver.cfm

University of Central Missouri · Today

In Memoriam George Binger George M. Binger, Jr., a second generation alumnus with two degrees from UCM, died Feb. 18, 2010. Binger earned a bachelor of science in business administration from UCM in 1952 and a master of science degree in 1970. He was an active member of Sigma Tau Gamma. After serving in the U.S. Marines from 1951 to 1961, he worked 16 years as district manager for Continental Oil Company, followed by a 23-year career teaching cooperative occupational education at the Fulton, MO, High School. Binger is survived by his wife and 1955 UCM alumna, Barbara Maynard Binger. A gift from the couple established a scholarship in memory of George’s mother, Florence Rogers Binger, a 1927 Central Missouri State Teachers College alumna. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Florence Rogers Binger Scholarship in Art by mail to the UCM Foundation, Smiser Alumni Center, Warrensburg, MO 64093 or online at ucmo.edu/giveonline. Gerald Elson Gerald W. Elson, a 1947 economics alumnus and chair emeritus of the First Missouri National Bank of Brookfield, MO, died Dec. 7, 2009. Prior to graduating from Central Missouri, he went through civilian pilot training in 1944. After completing his degree, he served in World War II as a pilot for the U.S. Marine Corps. Following work at DX Oil in Oklahoma, he purchased the Brookfield International Harvester dealership. Later, he started the Gerry Elson Agency and Brookfield Savings and Loan, which became First Missouri National Bank. He was its president and chief executive officer until he retired in 2004. Helen Gilbert Helen Gilbert, a 1935 Central Missouri alumna and former director of recreation, died March 4, 2010. She was 96. After graduating from Clinton High School in 1931 and

spring 2010

Cottey College in Nevada, MO, in 1933, Gilbert became a student at Central Missouri. She taught several years in public schools and during World War II established and directed the U.S.O. Center in San Antonio, Texas. She returned to campus in 1947 as an associate professor and director of recreation. During her 33 years of service to UCM, she helped to open Pertle Springs. After her retirement in 1980, she established the Helen Gilbert Leadership Award. To honor her years of service, the Helen Gilbert Student Activities Center was dedicated in 2001 in the Elliott Union. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Helen Gilbert Leadership Scholarship Fund by mail to the UCM Foundation, Smiser Alumni Center, Warrensburg, MO 64093 or online at ucmo.edu/giveonline. Carl Haldiman Carl G. Haldiman, professor emeritus of teacher education, died Oct. 26, 2009, at age 96. After graduating from UCM in 1940 with a bachelor of science in education, he became a science teacher and principal in Morehouse, MO. From 1942-1944, he served as a radio instructor in the U.S. Army Air Corps. After earning advanced degrees from Washington University and the University of Missouri, he had a 40-year career as a principal and elementary, high school and college teacher. He was principal of College High from 1951 to 1962 and a professor in the College of Education, instructing testing courses, until his retirement in 1978. He also was faculty sponsor of Phi Delta Kappa. Hugh Hanna Hugh Hanna, a 1958 alumnus and one of Warrensburg’s most influential doctors, died Feb. 9, 2010, at age 81. The first general surgeon to practice in Johnson County, MO, Hanna brought about many changes at Western Missouri Medical Center, where he was chief of surgery and anesthesia for 29 years. In 2009, the Hanna Surgery Center lobby and waiting room was named in his honor. From 1967 to 1972, Hanna was the only

surgeon at Whiteman Air Force Base. He also served as surgeon at the hospitals in Windsor and Sweet Springs. Hanna recruited the first ophthalmologist and orthopedic surgeon, as well as three other general surgeons, to Warrensburg. He was an original member of the UCM Foundation Board of Directors and a longtime benefactor of UCM athletics. Frederic Homan Frederic W. Homan, professor emeritus of music, died Feb. 7, 2010, at age 77. He joined the music faculty at Central Missouri State College in 1962 to teach theory and organ. He retired in 2000. Homan was active on many committees and developed the book and music collection in James C. Kirkpatrick Library. After his retirement, he was a weekly volunteer at the library’s information desk. His long tenure teaching organ was honored in 2006 with the renaming of the McManis Organ in Hart Recital Hall as the Frederic W. Homan and William E. McCandless Pipe Organ. Gary Howland Gary Lynn Howland, a founding father of UCM’s Delta Chi fraternity chapter, died June 25, 2009. Howland graduated from UCM in 1970 with a bachelor’s degree in education, followed in 1978 with a master’s in elementary school administration and supervision. His education career spanned 37 years as a teacher and administrator. He was principal at Crest Ridge South Elementary School in Centerview, MO, from 1988 to 1993. Active throughout his life with Delta Chi, he was named Delta Chi’s Alumnus of the Year in 2009. Memorial contributions may be made to the Delta Chi Fraternity Scholarship by mail to the UCM Foundation, Smiser Alumni Center, Warrensburg, MO 64093 or online through ucmo.edu/giveonline. Chester Jacoby Chester L. Jacoby, a Training High and Central Missouri alumnus, died Feb. 10, 2010, at age 99. He graduated from a one-room

school then attended Training High School, graduating as valedictorian in 1927. He graduated with honors from Central Missouri State Teachers College in 1931. While a student, he was a member of Sigma Tau Gamma and honorary fraternities, Theta Alpha Phi, Pi Kappa Delta and Phi Sigma Pi. He was superintendent of schools at Centerview from 1933 to 1937. Jacoby was a trooper and sergeant of the Missouri State Highway Patrol Headquarters in Jefferson City for four years, during which he developed its safety division. He resigned to become a special agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation from 1941 through 1969. Maria Peck Maria Salome Peck Garcia, a former Spanish teacher at College High, died Jan. 29, 2010, at age 86. She was married to UCM professor William Peck and while they lived in Warrensburg, stayed very involved academically and socially with the campus, including the American Association of University Women and the Supper Club. They moved to McAllen, TX, after he retired to be closer to her family. He preceded her in death. Warren Pettigrew Warren “Lon” Pettigrew, assistant registrar emeritus, died Feb. 27, 2010, at age 87. Pettigrew grew up on a farm settled by his ancestors in Latham, MO, and was nicknamed for actor, Lon Chaney. After graduating from Latham High School, he attended Central Methodist College in Fayette, MO, where he played varsity basketball. He interrupted his college and enlisted in the Army in 1943. He spent 2 1/2 years in the Pacific Theater, serving in New Zealand, New Caledonia , Luzon Island, Philippines and Japan. He became a first sergeant and received a Purple Heart. Following military service, Pettigrew attended the University of Missouri, graduating with a degree in agriculture in 1948. He completed two graduate degrees from UCM, including a master’s degree in 1968, after which he became assistant

registrar. Before retiring in 1985, he served in a variety of teaching, counseling and administrative roles. Philip Sadler Philip Sadler, 80, co-founder of the UCM Children’s Literature Festival, died Dec. 25, 2009. After graduating from Sikeston High School in 1947, Sadler earned degrees from Southeast Missouri State College and Trinity University in San Antonio. He later studied two years at Florida State. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1950-1953 and taught elementary school in Sikeston and San Antonio. He became an English instructor at College High in 1963 and retired in 1997 as an associate professor of education. Sadler co-founded the Children’s Literature Festival held on campus every spring for the past 42 years. In 2005, he was honored by the UCM Board of Governors with the naming of the Philip A. Sadler Research Collection for Children and Young Adults. He assembled one of the nation’s most unique collections of children’s literature in the James C. Kirkpatrick Library; it exceeds 60,000 volumes. Survivors include his daughter, Becky Klein, who earned degrees from UCM in 1971, 1974 and 1981 and is the current president of the UCM Alumni Association Board of Directors. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Children’s Literature Festival or Sadler Research Collection by mail to the UCM Foundation, Smiser Alumni Center, Warrensburg, MO 64093 or online through ucmo.edu/giveonline. Garland Tickemyer Garland E. Tickemyer, 96, professor emeritus of philosophy, died Nov. 8, 2009. He joined Central Missouri’s faculty in 1967 after earning advanced degrees from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, University of Southern California in Los Angeles and the University of Texas in Austin. He served on the faculty for

13 years and retired as a full professor. He also was known for his vocal abilities and sang tenor solos in more than 50 performances of Handel’s “Messiah.” Tickemyer’s wife, Hazel Vernita Roberson, a 1968 UCM alumna, survives. Their son, David, is also a UCM graduate with a 1975 master’s degree in safety management. Tamara Vincent Tamara Vincent, a UCM Jennies basketball player from the 2005-2007 seasons, was killed in a single-car accident March 7, 2010. Vincent was in Kansas City, MO, supporting the Jennies as they advanced to the championship game of the MIAA Tournament. “Great big smile, a heart of gold, got along with everybody,” says coach Dave Slifer. “She stayed around after each game and gave a big hug and said good job.” Chris Walters A power plant explosion Feb. 7 in Middletown, CT, killed five people, including a UCM alumnus. Chris Walters, 48, was working as a contract safety manager on the job that he had taken on a temporary basis. Walters graduated from UCM in 1986 with a master’s degree in safety and fire protection. He was featured in a cover story in the summer 2006 issue of Today for the work he did at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. He was the safety manager during the stadium’s construction and was credited for establishing one of the best safety programs in the industry. Walters and his wife, Fran, were living in Florissant, MO, when he decided to go to work in Connecticut because there were no jobs available locally, his wife reported. He had just told his wife that he thought he would be laid off in a month but continued to work because the family needed the money. They were married for 18 years. Walters was an active member of the American Society of Safety Engineers

since 1981. In the 20-plus years he worked as a safety professional, he was dedicated to protecting people, property and the environment. Two UCM alumni, Chris Janson and Mark Steinbrecher, emailed Today to tell us a memorial has been established to help Walter’s wife and family. Contributions can be made to the Chris Walters Family Fund, 8112 Maryland Ave. Suite 101, in Clayton, MO 63105. Earl Webb, Sr. Earl Andrew Webb, Sr., nicknamed “Mr. Sig Tau” for his lifelong leadership and devotion to the organization, died Dec. 31, 2009, at age 93. He enrolled at Central Missouri State Teachers College in 1937, taking a partial load while working his way through school for Vernaz Drug Store and as a supervisor for WPR projects. He and his late wife, Willa Mae “Billie” Gerhart, a 1944 speech and drama graduate, met as UCM students and married in 1941. While attending UCM, Webb was active in many student organizations and served as senior class president. He joined Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity and became its campus chapter president. His more than 70 years’ involvement with the organization earned him the nickname “Mr. Sig Tau” among fraternity brothers nationwide, while also giving him the opportunity to serve as its national president and president of its foundation. Following his graduation from UCM in 1941, Webb served a short stint in the Army Air Corps, discharged when spots were found on his lungs. He next taught high school in Hale, MO, and became school superintendent in Faucett, MO. This was followed by 40 years with Lifetouch, Inc., National School Studios, Inc., where he served as a territory manager. He founded Earl Webb, Inc. Photographic Studios, Processors and Finishers, and worked there for 21 years. Throughout their lives, the Webbs demonstrated a strong interest in UCM, attending the War Years reunions and leading the campaign to build the UCM Alumni Chapel. They were honored in 2003 as recipients of the UCM

Distinguished Service Award. Survivors include their son, Mike, a 1967 alumnus and emeriti member of the UCM Foundation Board of Directors. Irene M. Whiteman Irene M. (Hutton) Whiteman, named with her husband, Warrensburg dentist and UCM alumnus James R. Whiteman to the UCM Sports Hall of Fame, died Dec. 16, 2009, at age 88. Irene attended Central Missouri for two years. They married in 1945 and set up a dental practice in Warrensburg. She served as dental assistant for her husband’s office for 42 years until he retired in 1987. He preceded her in death in 2007. In the 1970s when women’s athletics was in its early stages of development, the Whitemans initiated the creation of the Jennies Sports Club. That group, and some other support groups that had been created, evolved into the UCM Mule Train. Survivors include their son, James II, a 1976 alumnus and member of the UCM Foundation Board of Directors. In his parents’ honor, he established the James and Irene Whiteman Scholarship for a student pursuing a degree in chemistry and/or biology who intends to attend a dental program or dental school. Memorials are suggested to that scholarship by mail through the UCM Foundation, Smiser Alumni Center, Warrensburg, MO 64093 or online at ucmo.edu/giveonline. Ruth Young Ruth Cecelia Young, a 1958 UCM alumna, died Feb. 20, 2010, at age 94. She was married 71 years to Harold Young, who survives, a 1938 Central Missouri alumnus who served as UCM vice president of finance and administration from 1954 to 1981. Young was active in the Warrensburg community throughout her life. She served as president of the Western Missouri Medical Center Auxiliary and was a member of the American League of Women Voters, UCM Faculty Wives, Warrensburg Study Club and Art-Booksand-Crafts Club.

University of Central Missouri · Today

From Today Readers

In Memoriam (continued) 1930-1939 Gladys Burns ’31 Elsie N. Steiner ’33 Walter M. Heidbreder ’37 Sunshine B. Gerlt ’38, ’40 Mary E. Hamann ’39 Leonard R. Hampton ’39 1940-1949 Clifford D. Cornelius ’40 Carolyn Chaney Atkins ’41 Evelyn E. Wager ’44 Leta E. Buchanan ’45 Roseanne B. Miller ’48 Evelyn M. Stock ’48 1950-1959 William F. Volkmer ’50 Elmer F. Cordray ’52 Barbara A. Howard ’52 Lorenz F. Wahlers ’52 Janet R. Callen ’53 Frederick A. Hoffman ’53 Catherine F. Wozniak ’53 Robert Eberting, Jr. ’54 Hugh G. Hueftle ’55 Shirley J. Wadleigh ’55 Ella M. McCollom ’56 Jack L. Tindle ’56 W. Marian Gibson ’57, ’74 David P. Heidbrier ’57 John R. McFarland ’57 William H. Clark ’58 Yvonne P. Nuzzo ’58 Sondra S. Paris ’59 James C. Ruppert ’59 1960-1969 F. Genevieve Stalling ’60, ’69 Donald J. LaRue ’61 Gary A. Wickliffe ’61 Adelbert Pete Nichols ’63 Virginia B. Rowan ’63 Kathryn S. Mansell ’64 Ruth E. Mercer ’64 William M. Wormsley ’64 Evan F. Cheever ’65 Karen K. Ford ’66 Michael F. Semans ’66 Mildred A. Hoskins ’67 William R. Hobbs ’68 Thomas Jackson ’68 Clarence R. Trosper ’69

spring 2010

1970-1979 Thomas P. Boland ’70 Vern O. Bradow ’70 William H. Glavin ’71 Thomas L. Edwards ’72 Harold W. Flint ’72 Karen A. Hamilton ’72 Dorothy Allene Lee ’72 Thomas O. Scholle ’73 Edward D. Vogt ’73 Eddie L. Fountain, Jr. ’74 Donald J. Gillispie ’74 David A. Scouler ’74 Sondra K. Hicks ’75 Sharon F. Murphy ’76 John P. Michael ’77 Michael J. Daley ’78 William L. O’Neal ’78 Kenneth P. Baker ’79 Harold A. Eddens, Jr. ’79 David F. Simons ’79 Robert G. Stout ’79 Gregg E. Wear ’79 1980-1989 Merle S. Gardner II ’80 Margaret C. Jones ’80 Marvin Silver ’81 Carole J. Holden ’83 David C. Brassfield ’84 Carolyn L. Ellis ’84, ’92 Lillie S. Holland ’84 Dave C. Booth ’85 Paul Eugene Lane ’85 Doris N. O’Dell ’85 Cynthia A. Clayton ’89 1990-1999 Maria T. Padilla ’92 Michael Haseltine ’94 Christopher M. Bell ’96 Cynthia S. Ramaker ’96, ’98 2000-2009 Jane I. McKown ’01 Jenee C. Mason ’03 Doris E. Shields ’05 Jacob Andrew Meier ’08 Dean Goering ’09 College High Alumni Edith Cox ’47 Dale Lamb ’49 Jerry Harding ’50 Lee Lamb ’68

Current Students Zachary D. Reznak Lisa S. White Former Students Jerry L. Blount Lavonne Cearley Thomas T. Cheatham Rachel E. Higgins Mindy Sue Meek Friends Mark B. Abney Bernie W. Bien Scott W. Bruemmer Donald Earl Case Carl L. Christensen Treffie R. Cole Richard M. Collins Ruby A. Cook Bill J. Coulter Wilma L. Craig Keith W. Daugherty James E. Deller Matt Fetters Virginia L. Galetti Virginia Griswold Lynn Howard Ellen Lobaugh Michael D. Marshall Charles Maupin George L. Middlemas, Sr. John Pelot Michael Roberts Doris M. Stone Harold Stone Charles E. Timberlake Harold J. Vogelsmeier Bob M. Weidler Loduska A. Wilson Virginia L. Wright Doris E. Yager Mark A. Young

From the Editor We appreciate your feedback and welcome your input. Go online to comment on a feature article or contact Editor Dalene Abner by emailing today@ucmo.edu or by writing Today Editor, University of Central Missouri, HUM 403, Warrensburg, MO 64093. It Takes a Pilot to Fly

Nathan Carriker ’90 emailed Today concerned that in our story about the Boeing 737NG simulator that aviation department chair William Rankin was quoted as saying flight management systems can fly airplanes. It was our editorial mistake not Rankin’s. Carriker pointed out, “Now in my third decade of service as an airline pilot, I hold FAA type ratings on the Boeing 737 and 757/767 aircraft, and 10 years’ experience flying the MD-80, all of which are equipped with, but which I have yet to see flown by, a flight management system. It is merely a tool, a central clearinghouse through which pilots normally program the aircraft’s navigation system, performance computers and transmit and receive information pertinent to their flight from its dispatcher via datalink. Unlike the pilots, it could be destroyed without endangering the flight.” Nathan, thank you for being so astute and our sincerest apologies. Lots of Riggle’s Memories

“I certainly do remember Riggle’s. Mr. and Mrs. Riggle were very friendly people. Once they learned your name they always smiled and said hello. I lived on Maguire Street at Mrs. Workman’s. Every morning I would walk down to Riggle’s and have breakfast for 20 cents. Coffee was 5 cents and a sweet roll was 15 cents. “At that time we were CMSC and had three quarters rather than two semesters. Tuition was $25 per quarter and $2.50 for all our textbook rental. If we returned

the books in good condition, we got $2 back, or we could buy the books for a nominal sum. I was working on student employment then, and the hourly rate was 35 cents. We later got a raise to 50 cents per hour.” — John Hayter ’52 Worked at Riggle’s

“The picture of Riggle’s Restaurant brought back vivid memories for me. I was a freshman in the fall of 1949 and part of my basketball scholarship was to sweep the floor of the restaurant one week each month. Glenn Kapmeyer, Jim Hovarder and Clarence Cassing (also on basketball scholarship) did the same one week each. “As a freshman, I had to clean all the windows each Thursday afternoon. I always cleaned the windows with a paste type of cleaner that left the windows smeared. After it dried, I cleaned the residue off with a clean towel. One afternoon, I cleaned the residue off the main part of the restaurant but forget to clean off the dining room windows. “Forrest Riggle, the owner, being a great tough love type of educator taught me to never forget to complete a job. When I came in to eat my evening meal, the waitress brought me an empty plate and turned it upside down on the table in front of me and walked away without saying a word. Riggle was looking through the kitchen door window to see my reaction. Oh! Oh! What did I forget to do? I was hungry so it didn’t take long for me to remember. After I cleaned the residue off the dining room, I came back to my booth. The waitress was waiting to take my order with a big smile on her face. Today, 61 years later, I can see the face of the waitress but I cannot recall her name. In fact, I have a hard time remembering my own name now!” — Jim Gladbach ’54

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Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait until youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in the doghouse. Make plans now to attend Homecoming October 18-23. Hotels fill fast so make your reservations now. For more information about Homecoming go to www.ucmo.edu/homecoming