TODAY — Winter 2013

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winter 2013, vol. 12 no. 3

shaping the world


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ON THE COVER 2 shaping the

world UCM students succeed by learning to a greater degree.

10 MYSTERY MAJOR LEADS TO ROBUST CAREERS Sherralyn Craven’s continued support of UCM’s actuarial science program creates unique career opportunities for UCM alumni 14 FIRST CARTER AWARD PRESENTED The first recipient of the Mike Carter Award epitomizes today’s veteran. 16 outstanding recent Alumna Recognized Lindley’s job with Disney is a dream come true. 20 GOLDEN TREASURES UCM’s James C. Kirkpatrick Library builds a collection of children’s literature classics. 18 22 26 27

CAMPUS CURRENTS CENTRAL YESTERDAY Class Notes Awards and Honors In Memoriam

WINTER 2013, VOL. 12 NO. 3

Published by the offices of University Relations and Alumni and Constituent Relations and the UCM Foundation. ©2013 by University of Central Missouri. All rights reserved. Contact the editor at today@ucmo.edu or 660-543-4640. Send your address updates to alumni@ucmo.edu or call 660-543-8000 or toll-free, 1-866-752-7257. Mike Greife ‘74 Sarah Murrill ‘97 Photographers Bryan Tebbenkamp ’03 Class Notes Tina (Tock) Bell (fs) Editor

Design

Today (USPS 019-888) is published quarterly by the University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO 64093. Printed by Lane Press, Inc., 87 Meadowland Dr., 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.

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A Letter from the President Strategic Positioning Defines the Essence of UCM If you have viewed the University of Central Missouri’s website or any of its most recently printed publications, you may have noticed subtle changes to university logos and the incorporation of an additional graphic element that did not appear in previous communication materials. This is just a small tactical part of what UCM is doing to visually represent the university’s new strategic positioning platform, described in essence as “Learning to a Greater Degree.” Charting a clear and concise course for UCM’s future, strategic positioning is the result of extensive research and campus-wide discussions that have challenged members of the campus community to ask many questions to gain a better understanding of the university’s core strengths and, most importantly, how to tell the unique UCM story to others. The strategic positioning initiative clearly demonstrates that a UCM education is the cumulative effect of the outstanding curricular and co-curricular experiences students receive that go well beyond the classroom. Our strategic positioning enables UCM to create a strong sense of destination and purpose in what we do as an institution, to align our resources to meet specific strategic objectives, and create a heightened sense of value to those benefitting from a university degree. An exceptional return on investment truly awaits UCM students because of four educational attributes identified through strategic positioning: engaged learning, futurefocused academics, a culture of service, and a worldly perspective. In this issue of “Today,” you will read about what strategic positioning means to our university and our students. At the same time, you will discover why “Learning to a Greater Degree” is important to you as alumni. Thank you for your continued support. Joining you in service, Chuck Ambrose, President University of Central Missouri WINTER 2013

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shaping the world by Mike Greife, Jeff Murphy, Shawna Bell and Angela Orr

UCM introduces a new strategic positioning platform that defines its role in the lives of its graduates. These future alumni shape the world because they have experienced Learning to a Greater Degree. When UCM President Charles Ambrose arrived on campus in 2010, part of his vision was to identify the university’s strengths and to find ways to best communicate what makes the institution distinct. He saw a need for more than a temporary marketing or advertising campaign. His vision was a near-future and future-focused initiative that would serve as the basis for all internal and external communication and would provide a foundation for key decisions that affect the university’s future. To meet this objective, Ambrose enlisted the assistance of the consulting firm Cryder-Rinebold to provide expertise and leadership in developing such an initiative for UCM while working in concert with a large cross-section of the campus community. Over a period of several months conversations were held with UCM faculty, staff, students alumni, and corporate and community leaders, as well as friends of the university. The resulting information was compiled to help build the foundation of the platform for the strategic content. The result was a strategic positioning platform that is guiding the university as it fulfills its identified responsibility to enrich the lives of its students, not only through academics, but also through a cumulative experience that starts in the classroom and includes applied learning and servant leadership opportunities. Key components of the platform have been identified, including the unique attributes of UCM that define what the university stands for, along with the key audiences for the message to be delivered. The platform also identifies the “reasons to believe” in the value of a UCM education, based upon the supporting features of the UCM culture of service, engaged learning opportunities, future focused academics and a worldly perspective. The UCM experience is summarized with “Learning to a Greater Degree,” a creative expression that embodies UCM’s distinct characteristics. It brings together in a concise statement what tools UCM graduates have been given as they prepare to shape the world in which they will live. (continued to page 4) 2

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President Ambrose on Strategic Positioning “One thing I’ve learned while serving as a university president is that institutions are driven by a clear sense of vision, and absent that, an institution like Central Missouri just has too many pieces and programs. Unless you are all pulling on the same oar, you will lose a lot of effectiveness,” said UCM President Charles Ambrose. “The strategic positioning platform that has been built for UCM is much like that used by leaders of Fortune 500 companies to be really strategic. Without it, we would be working at a disadvantage.” (continued to page 5)

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Ambrose said the process of positioning the institution is built on three clearly defined outcomes. One of them is to create a “sense of destination.” As he put it, “It identifies who we are, what we do, what we’re all about, the people and the place. So, when you say ‘University of Central Missouri’ there is a sense of purpose that is both a noun and a verb – it’s something you do. The strategic positioning platform strengthens that sense of place.” The second outcome is to provide a “sense of alignment,” which the president said has the most immediate impact on the campus because everything the university does must be consistent with the strategic positioning platform. Strategic positioning serves as a compass for decisions that support the university’s overall direction in key areas such as enrollment management, fundraising, community engagement, and the further alignment of institutional resources.

statement of value, which is being creatively articulated as ‘Learning to a Greater Degree.’ That is the value in terms of what we stand for but also what the investment in the UCM experience and its cumulative effect will have on students, their parents, our faculty, staff and alumni.” Along with the positioning statement describing unique attributes of a UCM education, the strategic positioning platform also identifies “reasons to believe” in a UCM education, based on four supporting features: a culture of service, engaged learning, future-focused academics, and a worldly perspective. “One of the great aspects of this positioning platform is that it puts the learning environment as the primary role and responsibility of the institution, which is a great affirmation of faculty who are committed every day to teaching and learning,” Ambrose said.

Ambrose said “the third attribute beyond destination and alignment is a heightened, evident, clear, concise (continued to page 6)

How are technological and environmental changes affecting social, political and economic dimensions of urban life? As a researcher, Joseph Lewandowski, dean of The Honors College and professor of philosophy at the University of Central Missouri, ponders such issues through his published works while also looking for ways to foster understanding among students who are part of a global age. His scholarly interest in themes that connect technology, the environment and leading cities led to an invitation to the 2012 Urban Age Electric Conference at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Lewandowski Ponders Challenges of World Cities

“As an educator and administrator, I always try to encourage students to take a worldly perspective on local problems and issues,” Lewandowski says. “The Urban Age Conference has afforded me new insights and empirical data that I look forward to sharing with students in the classroom. It is crucial that UCM students understand interconnected challenges and opportunities faced by cities such as St. Louis, Kansas City, London and Mumbai.” WINTER 2013

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“We have a long tradition of ‘engaged learning’ at UCM. Most of our programs, and certainly all of our majors, have experiences where students engage in the work that they are preparing to do from the beginning of that program.”

Tyler Bolton, a safety management major, dreamed of becoming a firefighter and helping others since childhood. As a part-time, student resident firefighter for the Warrensburg Fire Department, Bolton’s dream has become a reality.

Student Firefighter Supports Community, Gains Hands-on Experience 6

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Bolton has enrolled in additional courses at UCM that focus on community service and the development of realworld experiences for future professional safety engineers. UCM, in partnership with the Johnson County Ambulance District, offers an emergency medical technician course with required, hands-on and clinical internship experiences. Both the course and internship combine rigorous knowledge, skills-based coursework and mandatory patient interactions in the emergency medical services field. Upon completion of this course, students like Bolton possess the skills and knowledge necessary to pass the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians practical exam. Successful completion of the NREMT exam awards the title emergency medical technician, basic.


Deborah Curtis on Strategic Positioning The strategic positioning platform was announced shortly after UCM’s provost and chief learning officer Deborah Curtis arrived on campus during the summer of 2012. Curtis recognizes the four attributes that contribute to “Learning to a Greater Degree” will help the university graduate students who not only are well prepared for their careers, but also are ready to become actively engaged in society. Internships, field experiences and hands-on opportunities incorporated into the traditional learning environment are examples of engaged learning, she said. Student art exhibits, student-led groups such as Innovative Public Relations and the Integrative Business Experience also provide future alumni with skills to succeed in a world outside of academia. A “future-focused” academic environment goes beyond the university’s online courses. Faculty members are always learning, giving students access to professors who understand new developments in their professional areas.

“Faculty who stay on top of their fields in the various programs inform us on a regular basis how our curriculum needs to grow,” Curtis said. “We must provide a living opportunity to engage in what will be the future and make sure our students are prepared with the right experiences.” UCM’s strategic position promises a “worldly perspective,” with an international student population of approximately 550 students from nearly 60 countries. Opportunities to live and study in other countries, study tours, faculty members who can share their international experiences, and degree programs in international studies and modern languages create these opportunities. The culture of service is consistent with initiatives such as the joint Habitat for Humanity project between UCM and the Warrensburg R-VI School District and numerous student-led community service projects. “We are actively involved in keeping our students connected to our campus, the community and the world,” Curtis said. “We believe that the experiences students gain while engaging in the community and what they learn from them are things they can take with them as they move on with their lives.”

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As part of UCM’s participation in the American Democracy Project, UCM’s 2012 Peer Registrar team focused on registering UCM students to vote prior to the 2012 election. Political science majors Kayla Meine, Annie Lewis Jones, Amanda Sasek and Mikey Tyler were joined by Kate Bocklage, an elementary education major, and Nick Hanna, a biology major on the team.

Kayla Meine, Mikey Tyler and Amanda Sasek

Peer Registrar Team Empowers Students’ Voices

The team made more than 150 presentations to classes, resulting in 632 new registrations between the third week of September and the end of October. They also assisted more than 300 students and faculty members in submitting absentee ballots. This year’s team set a record for the number of presentations made and registrations completed. For Sasek, the effort means that more than 600 voices may be heard. “Each vote can make a difference,” says Sasek. “Hopefully more people registered to vote will mean more people will have an impact.” WINTER 2013

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ENGAGED LEARNING

CULTURE OF SERVICE

FUTURE-FOCUSED ACADEMICS

WORLDLY PERSPECTIVE

ENGAGING

CUMULATIVE

PASSIONATE

CONFIDENT

ENTERPRISING

CARING

To learn more, visit ucmo.edu/greaterdegree

Tom Heapes’ journey to UCM began at a Public Relations Society of America event where public relations professor Tricia Hansen-Horn was telling the UCM story and seeking professionals willing to connect with students. After continued conversations, Heapes began work last year as an adjunct professor at UCM while continuing to work at Trozzolo Communications in Kansas City, Mo. He was hired as a full-time faculty member this fall.

Heapes Brings the Real World of Public Relations to UCM Students 8

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With more than 20 years of agency experience, Heapes brings first-hand knowledge and stories of life in the industry. Still, he is humbled by the opportunity and credits UCM faculty and staff with welcoming him and preparing him to be successful. Heapes continually looks for ways to engage students by using current events and ongoing cases. By merging real-world experience with engaging coursework, the students in Tom Heapes’ classes are learning to a greater degree.


“Alumni stay connected and give back to their alma mater because their degrees have impacted their careers and lives. We facilitate these ongoing relationships in many ways through events and networking that help alumni stay connected to each other and to UCM.”

Jason DrummonD on Strategic Positioning A great portion of the University of Central Missouri’s legacy lies in the successes and loyalty of its more than 86,000 alumni. As UCM graduates take the knowledge and skills gained with their degree into the world, they realize the value of their college experience. “Alumni stay connected and give back to their alma mater because their degrees have impacted their careers and lives,” said Jason Drummond, vice president of development. “We facilitate these ongoing relationships in many ways through events and networking that help alumni stay connected to each other and to UCM.” He noted that the strategic positioning of UCM as a university where students learn to a greater degree identifies it as a place where students have learning opportunities both inside and outside the classroom. “Students graduate from UCM with the tools they need to lead and shape their communities,” he said. “Not only does this reassure alumni that their degrees carry

value, but also that their alma mater strives to increase that value for future generations.” Another aspect for Drummond as executive director of the UCM Foundation is to enhance learning opportunities for current students through increased financial support from alumni and friends. As an example, he points to the $1.8 million the university received the first half of fiscal year 2013 because of the generosity of alumni and friends. The funds made more scholarships available for students and enhanced student-centered programming. “Our alumni have a great deal to offer,” he added. “They made UCM what it is today, and they continue to provide the financial resources and opportunities that make it possible for those who follow.” Give us your feedback at ucmo.edu/today

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Mystery Major Leads to Robust Careers UCM’s Actuarial Science Program Flourishes through Scholarship by Angela Richard

Most people have never heard of actuaries, and those who have would be hard-pressed to explain what they do. When Sarah Osborne came to the University of Central Missouri as a freshman, she knew she wanted to pursue a degree in math or science, but only after changing her major a couple of times did she hear about this thing called actuarial science. “I kind of learned about actuarial science through the department because I was taking a lot of math and science classes, but I had never heard of it before,” she explained. “Basically they said if you’re good at math, this is a really good job. I said, ‘All right, I’ll look into it.’ I looked online and started to learn more about it and thought it really sounded like a good job.”

Sarah Osbourne

Today, Osborne, a 2003 graduate, is a healthcare actuary and assistant vice president at Lockton Companies in Kansas City. She illustrates the success UCM is having graduating more students in mathematics and science, especially important given the United States’ worldwide ranking in math and science education (#48 according to the World Economic Forum). 10

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Over the past five years, UCM’s Department of Mathematics and Computer Science has seen enrollment increase 42 percent, due in part to scholarships funded by the largest National Science Foundation STEM grant in the department’s history. Equally important is the financial help that math and science students are receiving through scholarships established by gifts to the UCM Foundation. The actuarial science program is a significant part of the department’s success. For the record, actuaries analyze the financial costs of risk and uncertainty using mathematics, statistics and financial theory. They help businesses and clients develop policies to minimize the cost of risk. Actuaries work in life insurance, retirement systems, health benefit systems, financial and investment management, all important and growing industries. The U.S. Department of Labor estimates the employment of actuaries will grow at a rate of 27 percent by 2020. (continued to page 12)


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Poised to meet this emerging need, UCM is the only public institution in Missouri with an advanced actuarial science program, thanks to forward thinking by then math professor Sherralyn Craven. She taught actuarial science to individual students for decades and worked to get the major approved in 1988, when the university had not approved any new programs for seven years. When she retired in 1991, Craven continued to support the program by establishing the Harold and Sherralyn Craven Scholarship in Actuarial Science through the UCM Foundation. Craven says the scholarship helps the “truly special” students who are part of the program. She points out that while actuarial science remains a small program, it attracts exceptionally bright students and produces graduates who routinely receive multiple job offers in a critically important career field. Osborne received Craven’s scholarship along with others. She credits the financial Spencer White and Sherralyn Craven support she received as key to her ability to be successful at UCM. “I wouldn’t have been able to go Osborne said. “I was involved in student government to college if it hadn’t been for scholarships,” she said. and a sorority, which I probably couldn’t have afforded “That was a driving force for the schools I considered to do at a larger school. The Office of Campus Activities and where I went.” was great. I worked in a lot of student groups. Just the The current recipient of Craven’s scholarship echoes ability to network and get involved helped me grow as Osborne’s sentiments. Spencer White, a senior from a person.” Shawnee, Kan., came to UCM specifically for its White’s experience parallels Osborne’s yet another way. actuarial science program. He said it was wonderful to He interned at Osborne’s employer, Lockton, for the find a university with an actuarial science program so past two summers and will likely receive a permanent close to home. White liked the campus’ size and also appreciated the help he received from UCM’s State Line job offer before he graduates in May. Osborne also worked part time for Lockton several years as a UCM Grant program. student and continued with them full time when she White is splitting his college costs with his parents, graduated. and the scholarships he has received enable him With actuarial science being such a lucrative, into reduce his student loans. He also doesn’t have demand career choice, why don’t more students to work part time, which allows him to focus on choose to major in it? Most people shy away from academics and campus activities. He’s become involved mathematics, let alone an even harder subject. That with a fraternity, student government and other organizations, following almost the same path Osborne tends to be the main reason many students who start in math, science and technology change majors in the took as a student. first two years of college. If universities could graduate “UCM was a really good collegiate experience because all the students who start out as STEM majors, the there were so many ways to get involved on campus,” national shortage would be a thing of the past. 12

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Actuarial science majors face not only the challenging upper-level math and statistics coursework, but they also must pass multiple credentialing exams on their way to becoming an actuary. These exams are infamous for defeating even the brightest students; however, for Osborne, the challenge of the exams was actually appealing. “The one thing they all talked about were the exams, that these are really hard exams and all this tedious work goes into them and that they are so hard to pass. Being a straight-A student, I thought, ‘I can do that.’ I like a challenge, so I wanted to know how hard it really was and if I could do it. And it was really hard,” she noted. Osborne failed her first practice exam. It was a wakeup call. She credits program coordinator, Jean Tao, for providing the support and encouragement she needed to keep going even when things got tough. “Dr. Tao always gave people confidence and kept you going because it can be pretty deflating when you have a group of mostly ‘A’ students and you all go take a test and fail it,” Osborne said. “You’re not used to failing something. She was really good support for us.” Tao, who took over the program in 1992 after Craven retired, said that the program at UCM has adapted over the years to keep up with industry trends. “Certifications are different from when I took them,” Tao said. “Traditionally they focused only on the insurance industry, but now they’ve expanded to different subjects like finance and derivatives. So the knowledge requirement is getting much broader, and that includes a lot of economics and finance as well as some computer skills and investments.” Tao notes that faculty members in the actuarial science program, and throughout the department, work hard to ensure that their students get the tools and support they need to be successful. Faculty offices and the students’ main study lab are on the same floor of the W.C. Morris Building. Updating this lab is the department’s top fundraising priority. The room is untouched from the 1980s with heavy wooden tables, one whiteboard and poor lighting. Remodeling this room is one of the ways the department hopes to make this hard subject easier for students to approach, facilitating teamwork and access to faculty.

Yet another way the faculty ensures student engagement is by making sure the curriculum stays current and relevant. “All four programs in our department are dedicated to updating our curriculum,” Tao said. “We write a lot of proposals every year to see that our courses are aligned with the Society of Actuary’s courses. The same happens in computer science, math and math education. Besides teaching, writing curriculum proposals is the second largest job to us.” Students seem to appreciate these efforts, which are paying dividends in increased enrollment and higher graduation rates. “The teachers, especially in our program because it’s small, have a lot of availability for one-on-one,” White explained. “They’re always very helpful if you go in and talk to them. That’s one of the things that brought me here. I wasn’t sure if I was ready for a really big school, and I think that coming here you are more than just a name on a roster list. They really get to know you.” Both Osborne and White encourage high school students who may be considering a STEM major but are afraid it will be too difficult. “Don’t be intimidated by that,” said Osborne. “I think a lot of high school students hear about jobs and they don’t have the confidence to think, ‘I can do that,’ because they don’t see the clear path from where they are today to where that job is.” “I would encourage them, especially if they have been a strong math student, to not shy away from it because they think it is difficult,” said White. “I like the problemsolving aspect. Put a problem in front of me and I’m able to accomplish it. I just like that feeling you get from that. I would definitely say, don’t shy away from the hard work, at least check it out because it can be very enjoyable.”

Give us your feedback at ucmo.edu/today

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Carter Award Recipient Epitomizes Today’s Student Veteran By Jeff Murphy

When he began taking courses at the University of Central Missouri two years ago, Mauricio “Alejandro” Arias had no idea that long before he finished his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, he would receive a standing ovation from thousands of people who heard him speak in the Multipurpose Building. It was something he actually experienced twice in one day as the recipient of a new award that was presented Dec. 15 at both morning and afternoon Fall 2012 Undergraduate Commencement ceremonies. “Remember, you’re not alone,” he concluded, bringing the crowd to its feet. In his speech, the first-ever recipient of the Mike Carter Award for Exceptional Service to the University, Community, and Military thanked many people who have touched his life – from UCM staff members in the Office of Military and Veteran Services who are helping him transition from soldier to student to one veteran in the audience who had saved his life during a tour of duty in Afghanistan. Sgt. Arias, a member of the 1-135th Aviation Army National Guard at Whiteman Air Force Base, was honored publicly by UCM President Charles Ambrose. Ambrose said the award was established in 2012 “with great respect for the United States military and for those who serve in uniform, both past and present. The award is named for emeritus professor, Mike Carter, who has dedicated more than 50 years serving the university as a teacher, mentor and role model, while also playing an important role in the Warrensburg and university communities’ efforts to support and assist Whiteman and its personnel.” Carter and his wife, Sueann, made a generous gift to the UCM Foundation to endow the award and provide an honorarium to Aris and future students. The purpose of the award, Ambrose said, is to support those initiatives which enhance the relationship 14

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between the university, the community and the U.S. military. In addition to Arias’ military service, he is a recent graduate of UCM’s Police Academy and serves as a police officer in LaMonte, Mo. A tremendous source of support for UCM students who have served in the military, he has voluntarily assisted with activities hosted by the Office of Military and Veteran Services since its inception in January 2011. On Veterans Day 2011, he assisted with the opening of the new Military and Veterans Success Center, located on the first level of the Elliott Union, and was part of the community-wide Veterans Day Celebration in the Multipurpose Building. Arias has also been involved in campus-wide events that include “Get the Red Out,” an annual street fair which takes place in conjunction with the first home football game each fall, and has been a participant in Homecoming activities as a member of the Student Veterans Organization. As a part of the organization, he was most recently involved in the Military Appreciation Blood Drive during Veterans Day 2012. The Mike Carter Award recipient also was featured in a previous issue of “Today” magazine, in which he discussed the importance of UCM’s efforts to help soldiers adjust to life outside of military service. This not only means helping them with everything they need to know about getting a higher education and succeeding in college, but as he puts it to “recover from war scars.” According to the nominating committee, Arias epitomizes today’s student veteran and is a “true face of SVO’s motto: Yesterday’s Warrior, Today’s Scholar, Tomorrow’s Leader.” Give us your feedback at ucmo.edu/today


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by Jeff Murphy

I

nspired by famous Disney animated films as a child growing up in Warrensburg, Tiffany Meador Lindley dreamed of working for the company, rubbing elbows one day with the animators of famous films such as “The Jungle Book.” Like a verse from a Disney soundtrack, some dreams really do come true, particularly with a lot of hard work and creative talent. Honored by the University of Central Missouri Alumni Association during 2012 winter commencement, Lindley currently works at Walt Disney Studios in Glendale, Calif., where she serves as the senior designer for Disney Publishing Worldwide’s 35-member Digital Media Team. The recipient of the Outstanding Recent Alumni Award has enjoyed a rapidly growing professional career that has also taken her to jobs in Chicago and New York since graduating from UCM in 2003 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in commercial art and graphic design. Anyone who has purchased apps for their iPhone or IPad or digital books produced by DPW may have used some of the products created with her assistance. With her creative team, Lindley has ventured into a new area of digital entertainment in which she art directs, storyboards and designs user experiences for many of DPW’s Apps and interactive e-books. Her team incorporates story with animation, games drawing and movie footage to showcase many of Disney’s treasured characters. This includes Disney Consumer Products Apps such as the Minnie Bow Maker, Brave: Storybook Deluxe, and Aristocats: Disney Classics, all available on iTunes.

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In accepting the award, Lindley noted that her initial contact with Disney actually came at age 15, when she wrote to the company seeking career advice. “I sent a portfolio and they actually responded to me, and told me what to study in college and encouraged me to continue pursuing my dream,” she said. At UCM, she learned from faculty members in the Department of Art and Design such as Neva Wood, Clint Orr and John Lynch. These individuals, she said, opened up a whole new world by helping her to realize she had strengths beyond watercolor and figure drawing – they instilled in her a desire to learn more about color, layout, and design. Their patience and support, and even critical but helpful advice still resonate today, and remind Lindley how to grow and learn in her professional career. Lindley remembers the words of the late Professor Lynch, who taught her to accept constructive criticism. “I still hear him today in my head while at work, ‘Your art is not your baby. Don’t treat it like your baby and take it personally.’” Married to Shane Lindley, senior producer on the DPW Digital Team, the Outstanding Recent Alumna has served at her current position since August 2011. She has held other positions such as an interactive designer for DPW in White Plains, N.Y., and as content producer and designer for Disney Digital Books Give us in Glendale, Calif. your feedback at ucmo.edu/today


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campuscurrents Coleman Rehearsal Hall Dedicated The Department of Music recognized the dedication of a member of its emeriti faculty with the dedication of the Russell Coleman Rehearsal Hall in the Utt Building following the UCM Alumni Band concert in January. Coleman was director of bands at UCM from 1964 until his retirement in 1996. During his tenure, the UCM bands were invited to perform at a variety of regional and national conferences.

Left to right, UCM President Chuck Ambrose; Dean Gersham Nelson of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences; and Steven Moore, chair of the Department of Music; and Russell Coleman.

Coleman also served as one of four directors of the Musashino Academia Musicae Wind Ensemble in Japan, traveling there for threemonth periods four times between 1997 and 2007. He directed the ensemble during a U.S. tour in 2006. He also has been the conductor of the Warrensburg Community Band since it was founded in 1985.

Anderson Inducted into Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Mules basketball coach Kim Anderson was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in January. Anderson is the winningest coach in Mules basketball history with a 234-85 record. In his 11th season, he has led the Mules to four MIAA regular season titles, more than any other coach in school history. In addition, he has led Mules basketball to three MIAA tournament championships, five NCAA Tournaments, two regional championships and two Division II Final Four appearances. Anderson played the University of Missouri from 1973 to 1977 as part of Norm Stewart’s first Big 8 Conference Championship team in 1976. He led the league in scoring and was named the Big 8 Player of the Year in 1977. He scored 1,289 points in his career to rank amongst Missouri’s top 20 all-time scorers. He played for the NBA’s Portland TrailBlazers and for several seasons in Europe. He was an assistant coach for his college coach Norm Stewart at Missouri from 1991 to1999 before joining the Big 12 Conference as Assistant Commissioner for Basketball. Anderson is a member of the University of Missouri Athletics Hall of Fame. In 2005, he was named to the Mizzou Basketball All-Century Team. His jersey has been retired at Sedalia Smith-Cotton High School, he’s been inducted into the Missouri Basketball Hall of Fame, and he’s been named one of “50 Missourian’s You Should Know” by Ingram’s magazine. 18

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Collier Named to UCM Board of Governors Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has named John Collier, a UCM alumnus from Weston, Mo., to the UCM Board of Governors.

Lettow Named NCAA Top 10 Award Recipient Jennies track and field athlete Lindsay Lettow was named an NCAA Today’s Top 10 Award Winner at the NCAA Convention in Dallas, an honor bestowed upon the top 10 out of more than 400,000 NCAA Student-Athletes by the NCAA Honors Committee. In November, Lettow was named the NCAA Division II Female Scholar Athlete of the Year as announced by the NCAA Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association. The Urbandale, Iowa, native completed her UCM track and field career last spring as a four-time national champion and 16-time All-American. She also placed eighth in the heptathlon at last summer’s U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials. She became just the third student-athlete in MIAA history to win the Ken B. Jones Award two times as the conference’s top female student-athlete. She was a four-time United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches’ Association Field Athlete of the Year and won the Dr. Peggy Martin Award as Central Missouri’s top female senior student-athlete. She made the Dean’s List at UCM every semester and graduated with a 3.84 GPA in psychology and was awarded a prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, one of only 29 female studentathletes in the country to be awarded the scholarship from the 2011-12 winter season. She was a Conference Commissioner’s Association Regional Scholar-Athlete of the Year last year. Lettow was an active member of the Central Missouri Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, the Mules and Jennies Literacy Team, volunteered at nursing and veterans homes in Warrensburg and continues to sing the national anthem at UCM sporting events.

Collier graduated from UCM in 1986 with a bachelor’s degree in public relations. He has worked for State Farm Insurance since 1987 as a claim supervisor, claim superintendent, and currently claim team manager, a job he began in 1997. He currently is president of the West Platte R-II School Board and served for 12 years on the Platte City Board of Aldermen. He also has been active in the Mid-Continent Sports Association, which previously named him Coach of the Year.

President’s Gala Planned for Kauffman Center for Performing Arts The UCM Department of Music will take its annual President’s Gala to an exciting new venue as UCM musicians perform in Helzberg Hall at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 9. Admission to the event is free, but ticketing is required to assure adequate seating for all who plan to attend. Tickets may be obtained through UCM’s Performing Arts Series box office by calling 660-543-8888, or online at ucmpas.com. Transportation from the Warrensburg area will be provided. WINTER 2013

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By Mike Greife Childhood memories often include the stories that came from the books read to children by adults. These stories teach many of the lessons that children learn as they grow, and the books holding those stories often become treasured family heirlooms, surviving with the occasional torn page and creative crayon signature to rest on the shelves for the next generation.

F

or Naomi Williamson, professor of library services and director of the annual Children’s Literature Festival at the University of Central Missouri, these books are a cornerstone in the foundation of the study and development of children’s literature. As the coordinator of the Children’s Literature Research Collection in UCM’s James C. Kirkpatrick Library, she has come to know the favorites of children and adults alike. Williamson continues the work of the late Ophelia Gilbert, former children’s librarian, in building the university’s collection of Golden Books, the small books with the gold binding that have been a staple of children’s book collections since they were first published in 1942 and sold for 25 cents each. “These books are an important part of American literature,” Williamson said. “They introduced children to the stories that taught values, and they were affordable. They also were written and illustrated by many of the leading authors and illustrators in American children’s literature.” The UCM collection now contains more than 1,000 Golden Books, a portion of the more than 26,000 volumes contained in the Philip A. Sadler Research Collection of Literature for Children and Young Adults. Golden Books have been printed continuously by several publishers since 1942, and can be found in all shapes and sizes in 18 different subject categories. All books are numbered, indicating the

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series and date of publication. Williamson is focusing on completing a collection of the first series of books numbered through 600. Golden Books gradually became a growing part of the children’s literature collection when the university’s Central Elementary laboratory school closed in 1980. The collection from that library was combined with the university collection under the direction of Gilbert, who served as the Central Elementary librarian. It continued to grow several years later with a gift of children’s books from the estate of the late Jean Riddle, a longtime Warrensburg educator who taught for many years in the Knob Noster School District. As the collection grew, Williamson began to organize it a sub-collection of Golden Books within the Sadler collection. To date, there are 320 of the first 600 titles in the UCM collection. Many of the titles have become highly collectable, as indicated by a collector’s catalog.

“I’ve found them in a variety of places,” she said. “I keep this catalog with me and check out flea markets and antique shops when we travel. Some of them are very rare and can be worth $50 to $100, while most are worth $2 to $10.” Williamson’s prize find to date has been an original display rack for Golden Books. Made of wood, the displays were commonly found in dime stores and pharmacies throughout the country, and many were simply discarded over the years. With a few minor repairs, the display rack is used by the library in the Ophelia Gilbert Exhibit Room. “There are too many in print to collect all of the titles,” she said. “We don’t have anywhere near all of the first 600 yet, but I do have three on my desk now that I picked up yesterday, so the collection is growing.”

Give us your feedback at ucmo.edu/today

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central yesterday

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SPRING 2012


A Campus Community by Mike Greife

During his presidency of Central Missouri State Teachers College, George W. Diemer advocated creating an environment on campus where students could feel “at home” as part of a community where they learned and lived.

Clockwise from top: East Hall, later to be named Diemer Hall, soon after it admitted residents The ceremonial laying of the cornerstone for Diemer Hall drew a crowd of more than 1,000. Uniformed waitresses served in the private dining room in Yeater Hall, supervised by the late Elizabeth Engle, left. Yeater Hall as it appeared after the 1946 addition

Diemer’s commitment to providing this environment for students resulted in the completion of the North Morrow Social Hall in 1939 and ultimately laid the groundwork for the planning under President Warren Lovinger that led to the construction of the current Elliott Union.

included formal living rooms with fireplaces and family-style meals served by uniformed waitresses in a dining hall that was added at a later date. Upon her death in 1954, Yeater willed the furnishings of her home to be used in Yeater Hall. An addition in 1946 expanded occupancy to 232.

Key to Diemer’s plan to build a sense of community on the campus was the construction of residence halls for men and women. Students commonly were housed in local boarding houses and private homes, but as enrollment continued to grow throughout the 1930s, the need for housing for students also grew. Diemer’s dream was realized with the construction of Yeater Hall for women in 1941 and East Hall for men in 1949.

Following World War II, enrollment of young men taking advantage of the GI Bill at CMSTC increased the need for campus housing for men. Planning began in 1947, and in January 1948 suggestions were accepted for the name of the new hall, with East Hall selected.

The college president announced the women’s residence hall project, long a dream of former faculty member Laura Yeater and former Normal School No. 2 President E.B. Craighead, to the faculty during the summer of 1940. With no state funding available for such a project, the local community founded the College Dormitory and Development Association to provide the financial backing for the project through a bond issue. Yeater was delighted when notified the building was to be named in her honor. Retired in Fayetteville, Ark., she returned to campus for the dedication in May 1941. The new residence hall provided a college home for 150 women in a home-like setting that

The formal ceremony for the laying of the cornerstone drew a large crowd, and the dedication of the new building, located on Maguire Street across from the campus, on May 22, 1949, drew more than 1,000. James C. Kirkpatrick, president of the college’s Board of Regents, presented the ceremonial key to Missouri Gov. Phil Donnelly, who cut the ceremonial ribbon. Later renamed Diemer Hall in honor of the former college president, the hall provided housing for 168 men in 59 rooms. Described as masculine in décor, the hall did not include a formal dining hall. Male students dined in local homes that served two meals a day to a large group of men on a subscription basis, restaurants in the nearby “Buentetown” business Give us district, or the college your feedback at ucmo.edu/today cafeteria. WINTER 2013

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alumnievents UCM Day at the “K” Tuesday, May 28

Kansas City Royals vs. St. Louis Cardinals Kauffman Stadium 1 Royal Way Kansas City, Mo. 64129 Tailgate 5 p.m. Game 7:10 p.m. Several seating options are available for game tickets. Price includes tailgate meal and game. You will receive game tickets at the tailgate. Hy-Vee Outfield, $32

| Field Box, $57

Orange County, California Tuesday, March 26 5-7 p.m. Reception hosted by UCM alumni Linnette ’74 and Randy Garber ’75 Laguna Niguel, Palmilla Community Free RSVP by March 19 by calling 660-543-8000 or going online to ucmo.edu/orangecounty.

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|

Dugout Plaza, $62

Scottsdale, Arizona Friday, April 12 5-7 p.m.

Honolulu, HAWAII Wednesday, April 17 6 p.m.

Reception with hors d’oeuvres hosted by UCM alumna Shirley ’67 and Steve Kleppe Free

Oahu Country Club 150 Country Club Road, Honolulu, Hawaii 96817

RSVP by April 5 by calling 660-543-8000 or going online to ucmo.edu/scottsdale.

Reception with heavy hors d’oeuvres hosted by alumnus Kea Chung ’57 Free RSVP by April 8 by calling 660-543-8000 or going online to ucmo.edu/hawaii.


RSVP by May 17 by calling 660-543-8000 or by going online to ucmo.edu/royals Happy Hour Thursday, April 25 5-7 p.m. Hickok’s Bar & Grill Historic River District 528 Walnut Street Kansas City, Mo. 64106 Free RSVP by April 24 by calling 660-543-8000 or by going online to ucmo.edu/happyhour.

MIAA Night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark Saturday, June 22 KC T-Bones vs. Laredo Lemurs 1800 Village W. Parkway Kansas City, Kan. 66111 Pregame BBQ, 5:30 p.m. Game, 7:05 p.m. Cost is $15 per person, including meal and game ticket, which you will receive at the tailgate. RSVP by June 8 by calling 660-543-8000 or by going to ucmo.edu/tbones.

If you are interested in hosting or planning an event, contact us at alumni@ucmo.edu or call 660-543-8000. Watch our calendar for additional events at these cities: Colorado Springs, Colo. Denver, Colo. Branson, Mo. Marshall, Mo. St. Louis, Mo. Springfield, Mo. Oklahoma City, Okla. Dallas, Texas Houston, Texas

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classnotes 1940-1949

1990-1999

Lila (Hartley) Farmer ’46 has published her first novel, The Porch Swing. She resides in Sun City West, Ariz.

Sandra Alvarez ’94 is assistant professor of sociology at American International College in Springfield, Mass.

1960-1969 Janet (Harris) Payne ’67 retired after 21 years as a social worker for the State of Oregon. She has three children and seven grandchildren and resides in Vancouver, Wash. 1970-1979

Mei (Wang) Reeder ’94 is associate director at the Confucius Institute and a language instructor at the University of WisconsinPlatteville. She and her husband, Thomas ’95 and two sons, Enosh and Eagan, reside in Platteville, Wis. Gwyn Lofberg ’96 is the director of nutrition and culinary services at Eventide at Hi-Acres in Jamestown, N.D.

Bernard Cooper ’76 owns Show Me Driving School for commercial drivers. He resides in O’Fallon, Mo.

Michael Satter ’98 married Allyson Palmer on July 20, 2012. He is a sergeant with the Kansas City, Mo. Police Department. They reside in Kansas City, Mo.

1980-1989

2000-2012

Marvin Murphee ’80 recently appeared as Usher in the Springfield Regional Opera production of Trial by Jury; as Father in Hansel and Gretel; and Guglielmo in Mozart. He also appeared as a featured soloist with the Chamber Orchestra of the Ozarks. He is the founder and director of The Mosaic Vocal Ensemble, a professional quartet of classical singers. In addition, he is an adjunct professor of voice at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin. He resides in Springfield, Mo.

Angela Adlich ’00 earned the Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow (LUTCF) professional designation. She is a registered representative for Joe Good State Farm Insurance in Warrensburg, Mo. She and her husband, Phil ’99, reside in Warrensburg, Mo., with their four children.

Eileen Moore ’83 was a volunteer training host and also a games maker for the wrestling functional area at the wrestling training venue for the 2012 London Olympics. She resides in London, England. Jim Gann ’86 completed his Doctor of Education degree from the University of Missouri. He continues as an extension associate state specialist and directs the University Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship within the College of Engineering. He and his wife, Marilyn, reside in Boonville, Mo. Pat Scanlon ’89 is a philanthropist. He and his wife, Debbie (Briece) ’90 reside in Missouri City, Texas. 26

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Chad Parmenter ’00 is a visiting assistant professor of English at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. He recently conducted a guest writing workshop at Adams State University in Alamosa, N.M. His poems have appeared in Best American Poetry, Kenyon Review and Harvard Review. His chapbook, Bat & Man: A Sonnet Comic Book, is published by Finishing Line Press. It reflects his experiences when he worked at a homeless shelter. Noelle Case ’04 is the trust administrator for Commerce Bank, central Missouri region. She resides in Columbia, Mo. Rebecca Stith ’04, ’06 married Seth Collins ’01 on Oct. 6, 2012. The couple resides in Lenexa, Kan. Tim Sanders ’05 is assistant banking center manager of the downtown and Stephen’s Park locations for Landmark Bank.

Justin Kremer ’06 married Shannon Collins on Sept. 29, 2012. They reside in Lenexa, Kan. Matt Merrigan ’06 is director of membership and meetings for the Arkansas Pharmacists Association in Little Rock, Ark. Tina (Peak) Balser ’07 graduated from the University of Missouri in December with a master’s degree in student affairs leadership. She and her husband, Nick ’07, reside in Columbia, Mo. Jesska Daugherty ’08 joined Teach for America’s 2012 teaching corps. She teaches sixth grade English and social studies in South Carolina. She resides in Clio, S.C. Christopher Fowler ’10 graduated from the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Law Enforcement Academy in Jefferson City, Mo., on Sept. 21, 2012. He is assigned to Zone 11 and began the field training process Oct. 9. He resides at Whiteman Air Force Base in Knob Noster, Mo. Scott Melton ’10 is a safety and training specialist with the Independence, Mo., power and light department. He and his wife, Jeni, reside in Marshall, Mo. Trent Baxter ’11 graduated from the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Law Enforcement Academy in Jefferson City, Mo., on Sept. 21, 2012. He is assigned to Zone 8 and began the field training process Oct. 9. Ashley Aden ’12 married Nicholas Schultz ’12 on June 30, 2012. They reside in West Plains, Mo. Justin Andrews ’12 is multimedia journalist for KTVO-TV3 in Kirksville, Mo.


awards&honors 1960-1969

1970-1979

Wayne Reinert ’69 received the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award from Lions International for exemplary service to his club and community. He is senior vice president of the First National Bank in Nevada, Mo.

J. B. Hogan ’71 had his first book of fiction, The Apostate, recently released by Pen-L Publishing. His mini-documentary, Hiding in Plain Sight, won first place in the over 50 First-Time Filmmaker category at the Fayetteville Public Library, Fayetteville Stories contest, in September 2012.

David Irwin ’76 received the Honors of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Award. He retired from the LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, La. in July 2011. He is now working with special needs children in Monroe, La.

inmemoriam 1930-1939

Roger L. Fulton ’67 Marilyn Schreiner ’69

Russell O. Wood ’87 Jill D. Moravec ’89

1970-1979

1990-1999 Michael K. Standley ’94 Stacy L. Anderson ’99

Sam J. Vaughn ’51 Howard M. Schroeder ’51, ’56 Mary M. Johnson-Siepmann ’52 Leta M. Vreeland ’53 Thelma J. Holsey ’55 Delores R. Cannon ’56 Anthony Garth Vernon ’57 Robert L. Dillon ’59

Lela D. Nash ’70 Shirley A. Brooker ’71 James David Frazier ’71 Velma M. Helm ’71 Jimmy R. Klaman ’71 Jerry L. Voss ’71, ’77 Richard D. Bruce ’72 Darale W. Kingry ’72 James R. Wheeler ’72 Bruce L. Coffey ’74 Richard L. Hollembeak ’74 Leta L. Wheeler ’74, ’75 Minnie E. Fryatt ’75 William R. Jewett ’75 James D. Fisher ’76 Paula Kathryn Best ’78, ’91 Diana V. Morrison ’78 James L. Scammahorn ’79 Patricia Ward ’79

1960-1969

1980-1989

Robert H. Mabry ’60 Robert M. McDonald ’61, ’75 Barbara A. Smith ’62, ’63 Genevieve B. Brizendine ’63 Kathleen D. Anderson ’65 Norma J. Trantham ’65, ’79 Shirley A. Dake ’66

Carolyn Ellen Atkins ’80 Tim A. Bryant ’80 Eva D. Jensen ’81 Karen Rae Gibler ’83 Carol L. Lyons ’83 William R. Grace III ’84 Gary L. Adams ’87

Lawrence Leslie Waters ’35 Lucille B. Center ’39 1940-1949 Mary Edna McCarthy ’42 Elinor Hecht ’44 Esther G. McCall ’46 Mary F. Albers ’47 James M. McCracken ’47 Frances T. Chedester ’49 James M. Blair ’49 1950-1959

2000-2009 Esther Nadine Schall ’01 Michael A. Kremer ’03 Noel K. Blevens ’04, ’09 2010-2019 Austin S. Thurman ’11 Derek K. Willis ’13 College High Alumni Erkalene Sartin Former Students Clarence Leon Raub Warren Dale Rosson Robert L. Sholl Friends Jerome S. Antel Jr. James M. Burk Samuel L. Casleton John A. Cottrill Mark A. Craig

James W. Danser Patricia Dittmer Rosemary C. Dohring Floyd E. Dunn Kevin P. Edmondson David E. Finley Anne Hudson Patricia L. Johnson Phoebe J. Johnson Clarence Guthrie Jessamine S. Kallenbach Robert B. Keith Carmen W. McIntire James F. Meyer Gary J. Moore Ron H. Nielsen Dale E. Parker Harry E. Pennington Joe Pierce Fred Ream Robert W. Ruth Roberta R. Schnell Don Shackelford Richard C. Smith ames W. Spradling Margaret J. Stanford Adolph C. Truschka Linda Wilson Jack D. Woods Paul A. Wobus II

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inmemoriam He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Doris, and his two children, Gary Bradley and Janet Tubbesing; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. C.A. “Cass” Cassing

Cass Cassing, 86, a member of the UCM Athletic Hall of Fame, died Feb. 1, 2013. Duane P. Bachmann

Duane P. Bachmann, 69, professor emeritus of marketing, died Jan. 13, 2013. A native of Pulaski, Iowa, he earned a bachelor’s degree from Truman State University, a master’s degree from UCM and his Ph.D. from Kansas State University. He taught in the Independence, Mo., School District before joining the faculty of the Harmon College of Business and Professional Studies in 1971. Bachmann was a member of the Kansas City Men’s Chorus and an avid golfer. He is survived by his wife, Mary; a son, Michael; his mother, and a brother. Newton R. Bradley

Newton R. Bradley, Lexington, a former member of the UCM Foundation Board of Directors, died Sunday, April 8, 2012. Bradley received a B.S. in Business Administration and law degree from the University of Missouri. He practiced law for more than 50 years in Lexington, Mo., as a partner with Ike Skelton, Sr., Ike Skelton, Jr., W.R. Schelp, Kelly Halford Rose, and Gary Bradley. He served as a director of Charter Bank, the University of Missouri Board of Governors, the Lafayette County R-V Board of Education, the Lafayette County Regional Hospital Board and the Machpelah Cemetery Board. He was a former member of the Chamber of Commerce Board, Lexington Rotary Club, and an active member and elder of First Christian Church in Lexington. Bradley was a member of Shirkey Golf Club and an active member of Lexington Masonic Lodge, Ararat Shrine of Kansas City, and Lafayette County Shrine Club. 28

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He was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army and the Merchant Marines. He received his bachelor’s degree from UCM, where he was a multiple-sport letterman, in 1951. He taught and coached at Raytown High School from 1951-1954 before entering the sporting goods business until he retired in 2011. Cassing was inducted into the UCM Athletics Hall of Fame in 2002, and served as president of the UCM Alumni Association Board of Directors. He served as president of the Raytown Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, receiving its Man of the Year Award in 1990. He also was a member of the Raytown Jaycees, Raytown Sertoma Club and the Raytown Rotary Club. He played baseball in the U.S. Army with Tommy Lasorda and played professional baseball with the Johnson City Redbirds, a minor league team of the St. Louis Cardinals. In 1976 he became a member of the Royal Lancers and became a General Lancer in 1980. He served for six years on the board of Park Lane Medical Center in Raytown and Research Mental Health. He is survived by his wife, Colleen; a daughter, Cheryl Benedict and her husband, Paul; a son, Clint A. Cassing; a sister-in-law and nieces and nephews. Sandra F. Culp

Sandra F. Culp, wife of John Culp, a member of the UCM Alumni Association Board of Directors and development and retention coordinator for UCM athletics, died Jan. 30, 2013. She was born in Odessa and married John Culp in 1969. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from

UCM and taught in Odessa, Pleasant Hill, Harrisonville and Knob Noster prior to her retirement in 2001. She then supervised student teachers at UCM. In addition to her husband, she is survived by a son, John David Culp and his wife, Stephanie; three grandchildren, her mother and two sisters. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Laura Leigh Culp Botgat, and her father.

Alice M. Gower

Alice Marie (Beck) Gower, 90, died Nov. 22, 2012. She graduate Central Missouri State Teachers College and began her teaching career at Windsor High School. Following her marriage to Henry “Duncan” Gower she taught grade school in Germany during her husband’s military career. Upon their return to Missouri, she taught English and fifth grade at Pleasant Hill. Gower was a librarian at CMSC Residence Center in Independence. She also taught psychology and children’s literature, eventually moving to the main campus in Warrensburg, where she served as Dean of Women. She retired from UCM as director emeritus of Special Student Services. Survivors include her children, Henry Gower, Nancy Cochran, and Phillip Gower and wife, Melissa; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren She was preceded in death by her husband, a sister and two brothers. Memorial contributions are suggested to Nontraditional Student Fund or the Alice M. Gower Re-entry Student Award Endowment through the UCM Foundation.


School District, Kansas City, Mo. She also taught school at Knob Noster, Mo., and Charleston, S.C.

Roy E. McAuley

Roy Edwin McAuley, 91, died Oct. 29, 2012. He was born May 31, 1921, in Wichita, Kan. He married Ruth Arlene Nicholson in Wichita, Kan. She preceded him in death in 2010. McAuley received a bachelor’s degree from McPherson College, a Master of Divinity degree from Bethany Theological Seminary in Chicago, Ill.; a master’s degree from the University of Nebraska and Ed.D. degree from University of Denver. He served pastorates in Omaha, Neb., and Akron, Ohio,and was a supply pastor for churches in Missouri and Pennsylvania. McAuley served as the academic dean, then president of Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania, later becoming the vice president for academic affairs of UCM. Following his retirement in 1988, he served as the pastor of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Warrensburg. Survivors include his children, Arthur McAuley, Mark McAuley, Anne McAuley and Ruth Alicia Jones; four grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren; and a sister. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Joe, Arthur and Max McAuley. Agnes D. Overby

Agnes (Downer) Overby, 86, died Nov. 17, 2012. She was born May 29, 1926, in Richland, Ga. She graduated from Richland High School and received a bachelor’s degree from Mercer University, Macon, Ga., and master’s and specialist’s degrees from University of Central Missouri. Agnes married Milton Overby in 1945. She was elementary school teacher for Center

She is survived by her husband, Milton of the home; a brother, two grandchildren and three great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Angelyn Overby-Kirk; her son, Malcolm Overby; and a brother. Memorial contributions may be made to the Angelyn Overby-Kirk Special Education Scholarship through the UCM Foundation.

Missouri State Teachers Association, American Institute of Biological Science, American Zoologists, and Association of Missouri State Employees. In addition to his wife, he is survived by three children, Keith W. Savery and his wife, Deborah, and Tricia Tenholder and Mary Jane Savery of Warrensburg; seven grandchildren and three greatgrandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Steven Savery, and his brother, Phil Savery. Memorial contributions are suggested to the scholarship fund of the UCM Department of Biology through the UCM Foundation.

Harry P. Savery

Harry P. Savery, 92, of Warrensburg, died Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012. He was born Jan. 4, 1920, in Coffeyville, Kan., reared in Van Buren, Ark. He attended Hendrix College in Conway, Ark.; Colorado A & M University; University of Wyoming in Laramie; and graduated from Texas A & M in College Station with a Ph.D. degree. Savery joined the medical corps in the U.S. Navy in 1942, serving in the Aleutian Islands, and was discharged in 1946. He was united in marriage to Maryanna Keller in April of 1950 in Fort Collins, Colo. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church, having served as a ruling elder in both Clinton and Warrensburg.

Everett K. Woods

Everett Kenneth Woods, 86, of Warrensburg, died Monday, Dec. 10, 2012. He was born March 4, 1926, in Oklahoma. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He worked as a geologist in Israel for several years. More recently, he was professor emeritus of fire science at the University of Central Missouri. Survivors include his wife, Nutha; and his half-brother, Roger Woods.

Following graduation from Texas A & M, Savery joined his brother, Phil, at Savery Cattle Ranch near Clinton, Mo. In 1960 he joined the Department of Biology at Central Missouri State University. He served as department chair from 1971 to 1982, retiring in 1987. He was a past member of Missouri Angus Association, Henry County Fair Board, Warrensburg Saddle and Bridle Club, Community Teachers Association, WINTER 2013

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Keep up with the latest alumni news and events at ucmo.edu/alumni

Don’t miss out on Great Moments!

The always popular parade, reunions, classmates and Mules football.

UCM Homecoming will be Oct. 25 and 26. Hotel space in Warrensburg is limited and fills up quickly, so don’t waste time. Reserve your room now!


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