The North Texan - UNT Alumni Magazine - Spring 2011

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A UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS P U B L I C AT I O N F O R A LU M N I A N D F R I E N DS VOL.61, NO.1 | Spring 2011

LOVE

Stories [page

24]

World of Fashion [ page 1 4] Marian Brock [ page 32] n o r t h texa n. un t .edu

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Inside

S p r i n g

2 0 1 1

FEATURES

14

World of Fashion

32

Marian Brock

Rigorous fashion design program creates leaders in couture.

By Ellen Rossetti

Travis Williams (’06)

Alumna’s acting talents shine in Oscarwinning short film God of Love.

By Ellen Rossetti

34 Founder’s Circle

UNT supporters change lives and leave lasting impacts on the campus.

DEPARTMENTS F R O M O U R P R E S I D E N T • 3 Angilee Wilkerson

24

Momentum in growth and excellence D E A R N O R T H T E X A N • 4

The Gross House … Music beginnings U N T T O D A Y • 6

Expanding research … Equity and Diversity Conference … Mean Green … Chile Field Station

Love Stories

f o r g e n e r ati o ns , U nt h a s b e e n t h e b a c k d r o p f o r l o v e . f ro m fi r st dat e s t o m a r r i a g e p ro p o s a ls , a lumni c o u p l e s fin d l a stin g l o v e a s cl a ssm at e s .

U N T M U S E • 1 9

Grammy honors … Ray Moseley … Upcoming Events … Pink Floyd ... Design Research Center E A G L E S ’ N E S T • 3 6

Advocate for diversity … Connecting With Friends … Upcoming Alumni Gatherings … Solar Punch … Photo Essay ... Chemistry centennial ...

In the News … Friends We’ll Miss

By Randena Hulstrand

L A S T W O R D • 4 8

Cover photography by Angilee Wilkerson

Tommie Phillips Harris (’37) recalls campus highlights during the Depression.

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Online

E X C L U S I V E S

n o r t ht exan .u nt.edu /on li n e

ONLINE FEATURES unt love Angilee Wilkerson

stories on video Three alumni couples tell their stories of how they met at UNT, fell in love and eventually married.

fashion Vanessa Mendoza

on film UNT fashion design faculty members talk about how they prepare students for the competitive fashion industry.

MORE ONLINE FEATURES • CAROL WEST, DIVERSITY ADVOCATE • mean green 3-d stadium tour • marian Brock q&a • Video: research on how plants adapt • Video: denton arts & jazz festival

UNT Rolls Out Mobile Site

k e e p u p wit h U N T w h il e yo u’ r e o n t h e g o. U s e yo u r sm a rt p h o n e o r ot h e r m o bil e d ev ic e s to b rows e to m . u n t. e d u to c h e c k o ut U N T ’ s n ew m o bil e sit e .

Yo u’ ll fin d a s o ci a l m e d i a d i r e cto ry, int e r acti v e m a p s , a p e o p l e s e a rc h , a n d U N T n ews a n d ev e nts .

When you see this arrow, join our North Texan community online at northtexan.unt.edu.

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Visit The North Texan online to: • Keep up with what’s happening between issues of The North Texan.

• Tell us what you think about our stories • Learn more about your fellow alumni • Write memorials about friends we’ll miss • Enjoy an array of additional stories, photos, videos and recordings Don’t forget to follow us at twitter.com/northtexan .

FROM OUR

President

Maintaining excellence Promise and possibilities mark the road to the future

T h e Nor t h Texan University R elations,

Photo Editor

Communic ations and

Angilee W ilkerson

Marketing Leadership V ice President

Photographers

Deborah Leliaert

Jana Birc hum

( ’ 9 6 M . Ed. )

Mi chael Clements B rad Holt

Marty Newman

Gary Payne

( ’ 0 2 M . J. )

(’09) (’99)

Jonathan Reynolds Assistant Vi ce President Kelley Reese

Mike Woodr uff

(’95)

W riters Dire c tors

Ernestine Bo usquet

Jimmy Friend

Nanc y Kolsti

Kenn M offitt

Adrienne Nettles

Dena Moore

Buddy Pric e

Rolando N. Rivas

Ellen Rossetti

(’00, ’08 M.J.)

Mellina S tuc ky Magazine Staff

Alyssa yanc ey

Managing Editor

Mike Woodruff

It’s an honor to lead this great university and to collaborate with those in our UNT family. Part of my decision to stay on at UNT was to ensure stability and maintain momentum.

We are at an exciting time in our history, when the road ahead is paved with promise and possibilities and the destination is even greater excellence.

And yet, it’s a challenging time to President V. Lane Rawlins talks with be involved in public higher education students on campus. because the road has many potholes that we can’t properly fix in light of dwindling state funding.

But we will not lose sight of our mission to focus on: • Educating our students and providing them with the best opportunities and experiences for learning and growth; • Protecting the quality of instruction and the integrity of UNT degrees; and • Growing our areas of excellence — the jewels in our crown.

As the nation’s 33rd largest public university, we provide many opportunities for students from all walks of life to succeed. We’ve become a leader in helping underrepresented and first-generation students earn a college education. And each year, nearly 8,000 UNT graduates turn their knowledge into action.

We also are a nationally recognized university with programs that are among the very best. We are building on this foundation to become a stronger research university, one that is equally focused on educating students and generating knowledge, ideas and innovation, because we exist to serve the public and our students.

In this tough fiscal climate, the support of our alumni and friends is more important than ever. And it makes a difference. It helps us ensure that our students now and in the future continue to have the opportunity to change their lives through higher education.

Asso c iate Vi ce President

Sincerely,

V. Lane Rawlins President president@unt.edu

Julie Elliott Payne

Online Commu nic ations

(’97)

Eric Vandergriff Editors Randena Hulstrand Jill King

( ’ 8 8 , ’ 0 7 M . J. )

Integrated Branding Joy Hou ser

( ’ 9 3 M . S. , ’ 0 0 M.A. )

Online Editor

Project Traffi c

Mi chelle Hale

Amy Kio us

(’08)

La ura Robinson Art Director Sean Zeigler

Student Contributors

(’00)

Megan Bec k (’10) Designer kit yo ung

Thomas saldana Elizabeth S mith

(’06)

Leslie Wimmer (’07)

The North Texan (ISSN 0468-6659) is published four times a year (in March, June, September and December) by the University of North Texas, 1155 Union Circle #311070, Denton, Texas 76203-5017, for distribution to alumni and friends of the university. Periodicals postage paid at Denton, Texas, and at additional mailing offices. The diverse views on matters of public interest that are presented in The North Texan do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the university.

Publications staff can be reached at northtexan@unt.edu or 940-565-2108.

It is the policy of the University of North Texas not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability (where reasonable accommodations can be made), disabled veteran status or veteran of the Vietnam era status in its educational programs, activities, admission or employment policies. In addition to complying with federal and state equal opportunity laws and regulations, the university through its diversity policy declares harassment based on individual differences (including sexual orientation) inconsistent with its mission and educational goals. Direct questions or concerns to the equal opportunity office, 940565-2737, or the dean of students, 940-565-2648. TTY access is available at 940-369-8652.

Postmaster: Please send requests for changes of address, accompanied if possible by old address labels, to the University of North Texas, University Relations, Communications and Marketing, 1155 Union Circle #311070, Denton, Texas 762035017.

“University of North Texas,” “UNT” and “Discover the power of ideas” and their associated identity marks are official trademarks of the University of North Texas; their use by others is legally restricted.

URCM 3/11 (11-153)

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DEAR

North Texan Let us know what you think about news and topics covered in The North Texan.

Letters may be edited for length and publication style.

deposit. I am asking you to do the same!

Phil Lee (’88) North Richland Hills

Dr. Gionet Read more letters and share your comments at northtexan.unt.edu.

Fouts Field

The Gross House

I noticed in the winter issue that you were collecting memories of Fouts Field. The field was named after my grandfather, Theron Judson Fouts, and my dad was Theron Judson Fouts Jr. (Tom). He died Aug. 30 (see page 45).

Dad loved North Texas and worked to improve and help achieve development of the campus and surrounding areas. As Fouts Field ends its reign as UNT’s field, with Dad’s death ends the name of Fouts in a line of great men.

After the funeral of my mother, we were driving past the new construction of the stadium and Dad stopped and pointed to it with pride.

We will remember Fouts Field with fondness, but celebrate with the students of today and tomorrow for the future of UNT.

I just read in The North Texan (“Dear North Texan,” winter 2010) about the Gross House. In 1943, my mother, Gladys Renfro (’43), and I lived in the house on the lower floor and ate all our meals there.

My mother had come back to the college to finish her degree in history and get a teacher’s certificate so she could work while my father served our country in the U.S. Marine Corps.

While my mother was in class, Sonny Blondell, who lived on Hickory Street, and I had the run of the campus.

We spent lots of time with Dr. Kingsbury at the college museum. Those were the good old days for an 11-year-old.

I believe the picture showed not only the Gross House, but also the Ad Building, the President’s House, the Science Building and the museum.

Later, from 1950 to 1953, I lived at the Methodist House on Avenue B. I am

Mary Fouts Luebcke Lone Tree, Colo.

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now a retired United Methodist pastor.

Matty Barrett Renfro (’53) Austin

Our own scene My only regret from my time at UNT is the fact that although we had a large student body and a beautiful campus, we never had a football program and facilities that were on par with many of our competitors in Texas.

I will be the first to confess my own apathetic lack of support and interest in the UNT football program over the years. But with our unbelievable new stadium on track for completion and the exciting hire of our new coach, it’s time we stepped forward with support.

Let’s fill those seats now, and create our own scene.

Let’s make our new home a tough place for visiting teams to endure. Mean Green success on the field will follow.

I just secured my own season tickets with a small

Arthur J. Gionet, retired professor of French who died Jan. 16 (see page 45), was my high school teacher and then my mentor at the university.

I achieved a B.A. in French because of his excellence as an educator, and our friendship continued through the years.

His belief in the cultural and practical benefit of handson learning and direct access to modern language proficiency resulted in a state-ofthe art language center in the new Language Building constructed in the late 1960s.

Rewarded for his efforts in promoting the study of French, Dr. Gionet was awarded the Ordre des Palmes Académiques on three occasions by France.

He enjoyed mentoring incoming professors at UNT, and he was a lifelong mentor of prospective French teachers. After his retirement, he continued to encourage

Music beginnings Rumors were floating on the wind sometime during 1947 or so that something exciting was happening in the Department of Music. I later learned it was the result of Dean Wilfred C. Bain coming to the school. He evaluated the Texas music scene and decided the quickest route to growth was to get a music organization on the road. So he hired Frank McKinley and encouraged him to develop an A Cappella Choir as quickly as possible and to take it on tour.

The rest is history, of course; but in addition to the choir, he needed a faculty ready to train and hold the students who were to be attracted to the school. I knew George Morey (“Legacy Families,” winter 2010), and there were numerous other teachers here by 1949, including Robert Ottman (’56 Ph.D.), Frank Mainous, Jean Mainous, Gene Hall (’41, ’44 M.A.), ’Fessor Graham, Maurice McAdow, Helen Hewitt, Lloyd Hibberd, Robert J. Rogers, Willard Elliot (’45).

These were the foundation stones of the College of Music we have today.

T. Jervis Underwood (’55, ’70 Ph.D.) Oak Point

educators and prospective teachers to travel to France to enrich themselves through cultural exposure.

He was a marvelous educator and representative of UNT.

Donna Beth Lee Shaw (’61) Houston Editor’s note: Read Shaw’s full obituary for Gionet at northtexan.unt.edu/obituaries.

Dr. Hardin I was very saddened to read of the passing of Dr. Robert Hardin (winter 2010).

I first encountered him while taking a summer French

course, and he highly encouraged me to apply for a teaching fellowship in French. Later, after I received my master’s in French, he was instrumental in my gaining a teaching job in a local high school.

In addition to his knowledge of 18th and 20th century French literature, I will remember Dr. Hardin as a very refined gentleman always.

Ollie Adamson (’77 M.A.) Garland

Sweet Estes Sweet Estes (“Dear North Texan,” winter 2010) brought her horses to North Texas in 1941-42. She intended to use

Frank McKinley directs the A Cappella Choir in 1955-56. “Mr. Mac,” who led the choir for more than 30 years, was among many outstanding music teachers who joined North Texas in the 1940s.

their rental to pay for her education. We admired her grit and determination, at her young age. I wanted to take lessons, so I set out walking to the stables (nobody had cars then). I encountered a barbed wire fence 8 feet high and ended up caught on top and had to be “rescued.”

Next trip, I walked around the fence, but I did go. Thanks to Sweet, I enjoyed horseback while at North Texas.

If you would like to comment on a story, share your North Texas memories or photos, submit news or obituaries, or otherwise get in touch with us, we would love to hear from you.

E-mail: northtexan@unt.edu Online: northtexan.unt.edu (follow the “Contact Us” link) Phone: 940-565-2108

Jackye Anderson Bruner Plummer (’41) Wichita Falls

Fax: 940-369-8763 Mail: The North Texan; University of North Texas; Division of University Relations, Communications and Marketing; 1155 Union Circle #311070; Denton, Texas 76203-5017

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Mean Green

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Ask an Expert

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UNT Alumni Association

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Jonathan Reynolds

Today

in this section Brilliantly Green

expanding research From improved crop protection, cancer treatments and energy sources to novel interactions between art and science, UNT researchers are changing the world.

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With the help of its collaborative research clusters, UNT is making strides toward becoming a major research university. In 2008, the university launched the first phase of the research cluster initiative with the goals of advancing research, strengthening the state’s economy and developing technology vital to addressing today’s most pressing needs. With two years’ momentum behind them, these clusters have attracted top faculty and students and continued groundbreaking research. UNT expanded its commitment to the initiative in the fall by investing in four new research teams and five areas of strategic development.

Research clusters

Advancements

UNT’s research clusters are part of a long-term plan to bolster high-impact research and address complex scientific, technological, environmental and societal problems through multidisciplinary collaboration and innovation. The original seven clusters are Bio/Nano-Photonics, Developmental Physiology and Genetics, the Initiative for Advanced Research in Technology and the Arts (iARTA), Materials Modeling, Renewable Bioproducts, Signaling Mechanisms in Plants, and Sub-Antarctic Ecosystems and Biocultural Conservation.

The four additional clusters announced in December will focus on Computational Chemical Biology, Knowledge Discovery from Digital Information, Multi-scale Surface Science and Engineering, and Renewable Energy and Conservation.

UNT also is supporting five additional areas deemed strategic for their seminal contributions and potential to expand — STEM Research and Education, Forensic and Investigative Science and Technology, Advanced Bio-Sensor Technology, Computational Life Sciences and Complex Bio-Environmental Systems, and Logistics.

The shared expertise and resources of the cluster model have allowed established UNT researchers to advance their unique research interests. Pudur Jagadeeswaran, professor of biology and a key member of the Developmental Physiology and Genetics cluster, has made important strides in the area of prostate cancer detection. He presented research to the American Association for Cancer Research that suggested zebrafish may one day replace mice as the preferred model to study prostate cancer.

Researchers participating in iARTA also have made considerable progress. The group’s advisory board members participated in the ART-TEC speaker series that included conversations among leading interdisciplinary artists, curators and scholars. David Stout, a noted interactive video-audio performer and iARTA’s first senior hire, earned recognition at the VIDA 13.0 International Arts and Artificial Life Competition in Spain. And the cluster has formed Moebius, a journal exploring the theory and practice of new media, along with an editorial board. David Schwartz, associate professor of music theory, will serve as editor-in-chief and work with 17 international board members, including five UNT faculty members.

Michael Clements

Vladimir Shulaev and Ron Mittler, Signaling Mechanisms in Plants cluster faculty, left, are internationally renowned in the field of plant science. iARTA faculty member David Stout with guest artist Cory Metcalf, above, debut NoiseFold, an interactive media ensemble, in UNT’s Merrill Ellis Intermedia Theater.

Vladimir Shulaev and Ron Mittler are now working with the Signaling Mechanisms in Plants cluster to develop a better understanding of cellular communication in plants.

Mittler and Shulaev were among the international team of researchers featured in the February issue of Nature Genetics for unraveling the DNA sequence for strawberries. This development is expected to help plant breeders create crops that yield tastier, hardier varieties of the berry and other crops in its family.

The Renewable Bioproducts cluster made its first senior hire earlier this year. Joining the faculty in January was Stevens Brumbley, senior research fellow and project leader of the Sugarcane Metabolic Engineering Group at the University of Queensland’s Australian Institute of Bioengineering.

Brumbley’s research focuses on engineering plants, specifically sugarcane, to produce a range of industrial bioplastics and bioplastic precursors, which will provide alternatives to petrochemical-based plastics.

Premier researchers

The multidisciplinary research environment supported by the cluster initiative already has attracted premier researchers and top students to UNT. Two internationally renowned plant science researchers joined the faculty last spring, bringing decades of experience and a wealth of technical expertise to one of the university’s most prominent areas of research.

Learn more about UNT’s research and how it is changing the world at www.unt.edu/untresearch.

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Today Pass it on: Great things are happening at UNT. Learn about them here and share our successes with your family and friends.

• UNT to go. A new mobile site that keeps UNT at your fingertips has just been launched. You can stay connected with a social media directory, UNT news, event information, interactive campus maps, a people search and features to keep you up to date on all Mean Green sports. Also, alumni can update contact information, subscribe to publications and connect with other UNT grads through social media channels. Simply use your mobile device to browse to m.unt.edu and you’ll have UNT To Go. • Tiny insect, big honors. Ken Stewart, Professor Emeritus of biological sciences, was included on Outdoor Life magazine’s list of 25 people who have had a significant impact on hunting and fishing. His research on stoneflies, a critical forage insect for fish, makes him one of the world’s leading authorities on the water insect that is of special interest to trout fishermen. Texas has 30 species of stoneflies, including one that’s named for Stewart.

• Center stage. The North Texas Dancers performed on the main stage with the Black Eyed Peas in the Super Bowl XLV Halftime show. As part of the elite dance group, they wore silver LED-illuminated costumes with cubes atop their heads. February’s mega-production had a record-breaking audience of an estimated 111 million viewers worldwide.

Vernon Bryant (’00)/The Dallas Morning News

B RI L L I A N T LY GR E E N

among humans and animals.

Jeff Corwin, wildlife biologist, An expert on wildlife, ecology and conservation, Corwin has author and host of Animal appeared on the NBC Today Planet’s Corwin’s Quest, spoke Show, Good Morning America, on campus in February as part CBS Morning Show, Tonight of UNT’s Distinguished Show with Jay Leno and the Lecture Series.

Oprah Winfrey Show.

Corwin’s presentation The Distinguished Lecture featured several exotic animals, Series brings world-class including amphibians and reptiles, with audience members speakers to UNT several times throughout the year. Previous joining him onstage to interact speakers include former with the critters. He discussed President George W. Bush, his insights into culture, animal former Mexican President behaviors and interactions Wildlife on campus

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Vicente Fox, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Suze Orman.

Tree Campus USA

The Arbor Day Foundation has honored UNT as a 2010 Tree Campus USA University for its dedication to campus forestry management and environmental stewardship, for the third year in a row.

Tree Campus USA, a program of the Arbor Day Foundation, is a national program that honors colleges

and universities for promoting healthy management of their campus forests and engaging the community in environmental stewardship. UNT met the required five core standards of tree care and community engagement including a campus tree advisory committee, a treecare plan, dedicated expenditures on the plan, involvement in an Arbor Day observance, and a service-learning project engaging the student body.

Soledad O’Brien, host of the In America documentary unit on CNN, speaks in the University Union in February at UNT’s 11th Equity and Diversity Conference.

Michael Clements

As the nation’s 33rd largest public university, UNT continues to be the largest, most comprehensive university in the North Texas region and an important driver for the country’s sixth largest economy.

Equity and Diversity Conference

Soledad O’Brien, host of the In America documentary unit on CNN, and Hill Harper, who portrays coroner Sheldon Hawkes on CBS’ CSI: NY, were among the keynote speakers at UNT’s 11th Equity and Diversity Conference in February.

The Celebrating the Big I.D.E.A.: Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access conference was aimed at students, educators and professionals who are committed to equity and diversity in the workforce and in higher education.

Topics included mentoring, equal pay, black masculinity, communication skills for

student leaders, social justice and veterans’ transition to civilian student life.

O’Brien, who joined CNN in 2003, is a former host of its morning newscast American Morning and has been a correspondent for CNN: Special Investigations Unit and the anchor of a CNN special, Black in America.

Harper is the author of the motivational books Letters to a Young Sister and Letters to a Young Brother, based on his life.

Other keynote speakers included activist Tim Wise, author of Between Barack and a Hard Place: Challenging Racism, and Evelyn Hu DeHart, who has published three books on the Yaqui Indians.

Private investigator certificate

UNT is simplifying the process required to become a private investigator with the launch of the state’s first training program that will qualify participants for the Texas private investigator licensing exam. The program, launched in March, is administrated by the Professional Development Institute at UNT and is offered in Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio. Participants are trained in theory, practice and business of private investigations and will earn a certificate in professional private investigations upon completion. For more information, visit legal.pdi.org.

Spring 2011

Angela Nelson

f u l b r i g h t award Christopher Heiden, associate director of academic services in the College of Engineering, was one of twenty scholars nationwide to receive a grant to participate in the 2010 Fulbright Seminar for U.S. Administrators in International Education in Germany. The program is designed to help international education professionals and senior higher education officials from the U.S. better serve and encourage international students and prospective study-abroad students.

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Today

Programs’ first graduates

The first five graduates of UNT’s Teach North Texas program received their degrees in December, only two years after the program began. Teach North Texas is helping to increase the number of qualified mathematics and science secondary teachers by giving students the opportu-

nity to interact with experienced high school teachers and explore the teaching profession. Since it launched in 2008, UNT’s program — run collaboratively by the College of Education and the College of Arts and Sciences — has exceeded expectations for enrollment growth. About 200 students are enrolled and are pursuing degrees in math and science along with teaching certificates.

Also in December, UNT’s first aviation logistics degree was awarded to Laura Rusnok.

UNT launched the first

four-year aviation logistics program at a public Texas university. The program, with about 100 students enrolled, is one of only two in the nation focusing on the role of aviation in modern industrialized transportation and logistics systems.

Plastic research

Researchers led by Witold Brostow, director of UNT’s Laboratory for Advanced Polymers and Optimized Materials, have discovered a way to reinforce plastics at lower processing temperatures, resulting in energy

savings and improved production efficiency. Improving the strength of plastics allows manufacturers to create products traditionally made of metal from lighter-weight polymer materials and leads to improved gas mileage and easier maintenance in aircraft and automobiles.

The team’s research was published on the Society of Plastics Engineers website at 4spepro.org/index. Next, the researchers will explore other ways to produce similar results, with plans to patent the findings.

Gearing up for Mean Green football season 2011

Come take a look at the new Mean Green as new head football coach Dan McCarney hosts the annual Green and White Spring Game beginning at 1 p.m. April 16 at Denton ISD’s C.H. Collins Stadium, 1500 Long Road. The spring game, played in a full scrimmage format, is the finale of the 2011 spring practice season, which began March 23. The game provides an opportunity for fans, faculty, staff, students and Rick Yeatts

friends of the university to preview the 2011 Mean Green football team. Admission to the event is free.

“As a coaching staff, we are excited about spring football because it is our first opportunity to coach this team on the field,” McCarney says. “We are going to make spring practice fun for our fans as well, opening it up to see everything we do from the first practice through the spring game to get them excited about what they can expect from the Mean Green this fall.”

The first home game is Sept. 10, when the Mean Green will host the University of Houston.

Reserve your season tickets now. With a new innovative online tool, you can view sight lines in 3-D from every section inside the stadium to assist you in choosing your seats. Deposits for tickets to the 2011 fall football season are being accepted through the athletic ticket office. Ticketing options start at $100, with reserved sideline seating at $150 per ticket. For more information, contact the athletic ticket office at 800-UNT-2366.

To take a virtual 3-D tour of the stadium and reserve your seats, go to meangreensports.com.

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u n der g raduates prese n t researc h Adrian Cadar, senior biology major, and Udayan Vaidya, a student in the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science, were among more than 140 undergraduate students who presented 80 research projects at the Texas Undergraduate Research Day in Austin in February. The event showcased the research experiences of undergraduate students for Texas legislators and the public, highlighting how research conducted by undergraduate students positively impacts Texas. Cadar’s research of the cardiovascular system could lead to improved treatment for premature babies at risk of developing a heart defect that causes abnormal blood flow.

Vaidya’s computational model to predict outbreaks of Dengue fever could be used by public health services to forecast outbreaks as well as assess prevention strategies.

Cape Horn research field station opens

GLOBAL CONNECTION

>>

Chile year-round so they can have a direct experience in crossing language barriers and working with students from other countries, scientists and the local society,” says Christopher Anderson, assistant research professor of biology and coordinator of the Sub-Antarctic Ecosystems and Biocultural Conservation Program and research cluster.

“Our mission is not just to do research but to develop long-term working relation-

ships with local authorities and community members and to make the research socially relevant.”

The program’s unique integration of ecological sciences with the humanities builds upon UNT’s strong tradition as the world’s premier program in environmental philosophy.

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Adam Wilson

UNT, in partnership with the Universidad de Magallanes, the Chilean Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, and several U.S. and Chilean nonprofit organizations, opened the world’s first field station dedicated to environmental philosophy, science and policy at the southern tip of Chile in the village of Puerto Williams in January.

The new Cape Horn Field Station — equipped with a kitchen, library, classrooms, computer area and laboratory for processing and storing research samples and other field equipment — supports an international network for interdisciplinary environmental research opportunities for faculty, students and affiliated research scholars. The station will help to place UNT’s work at the forefront of research, education and conservation of biocultural diversity.

Visitors to the Omora Park in Chile for the inauguration of the “The goal is to have Cape Horn Field Station in January included participants in students doing research in UNT’s Travel Learn program, as well as university administrators.

Today

Political science fellow

Christopher Wall, senior political science and economics major, was named a Minority Fellow by the American Political Science Association

for 2011-12. Wall is a student in the Honors College, a Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Program scholar and president of the UNT chapter of Mortar Board National Honor Society. After graduating in May, he plans to enter graduate school to become a university professor and continue research on weak states and democratization. The Minority Fellowship Program was

established to increase the number of political science scholars and professors who are ethnic minorities, are applying to doctoral degree programs and plan to teach and conduct research.

Rotary Scholars

Two recent graduates won 2011-12 Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarships to study abroad for a year and engage in global public service. T. Lane

................................................................................

Ingram (’10 M.Ed.), who received a master’s in counseling, will travel to New Zealand to earn a certificate in counseling at the Wellington Institute of Technology.

Juan Oliveros Facio (’09), who received a bachelor’s degree in communication design, will pursue a master’s degree in cultural management from Universidad Iberoamericana-Puebla in Mexico.

Ask an Expert

How can you be money smart through tax season?

T

ax time doesn’t have to be stressful.

Paul F. Goebel, senior director of campus life and founding and managing director of UNT’s award-winning Student Money Management Center, advises that the key to low-anxiety tax returns is starting early, being organized and getting help if needed.

Goebel works to help students develop and strengthen their money management skills. In addition to reminding us that this year tax returns are due April 18 — a three-day extension to allow for April 15 being a legal holiday in the District of Columbia — he offers the following tips to help you prepare your return this tax season.

Understand • The tax code is ever-changing, so be sure to research what changes have been made and how they may affect your tax return.

• Seek out professional counsel, advice and assistance to receive the benefit of professionals’ knowledge of all possible deductions and credits.

Prepare • Don’t procrastinate. Waiting until the last moment will add an unnecessary burden of stress and frustration to the process.

• Get organized. Unnecessary delays may occur if you have to request forms, receipts and other documents you need to file your return.

Put your refund to work • Use a tax refund for a pre-determined financial goal or a priority you have already identified.

• Pay off debt or increase an emergency fund for quick access to cash reserves during challenging economic times.

• Invest the funds by depositing them into a savings account, a 401(k) or Roth IRA to make your money work harder for you.

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— Leslie Wimmer

Behavioral research

c o mputat i o n a l l i n g u i st i cs c o mpet i t i o n For the third year, the Department of Computer Science and Engineering hosted the North Amer­ican Computational Linguistics Olympiad, in which North Texas high school students used a set of rules and their analytical skills to decipher unfamiliar languages and translate them into English. The competition serves as an introduction to computational linguistics and computer science for many high school students and is just one of the ways UNT partners with area schools to encourage an interest in higher learning, particularly in science, technology, engineering and math. As a leader in computational linguistics research, UNT is uniquely equipped to introduce students to the field.

UNT researchers are helping to improve treatments for behavioral and emotional disorders. Lyndal Bullock, Regents Professor of educational psychology, received a grant from the U.S. Department of Education to support graduate students aspiring to work with adolescents with emotional and behavioral difficulties. Amy Murrell, assistant professor of clinical psychology, and Adriel Boals, assistant professor of experimental psychology, were awarded a grant from the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health to study post-traumatic stress disorder and use of acceptance and commitment therapy.

Intel and Siemens semifinalists

UNT’s Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science students swept early rounds of two premier science competitions. Five students were named regional finalists for their research in computer science, chemistry and biological sciences and another 11 were named semifinalists in the Siemens Competition in Math, Science and Technology, winning more awards than students from all other participating Texas schools.

Seven students were semifinalists in the 2011 Intel Science Talent Search. TAMS had more semifinalists than any other school in Texas.

Malaysian and Indonesian UNT alumni gathered in November for a reunion in Petaling Jaya, near Kuala Lumpur.

UNT Alumni Association UNT’s alumni network reaches around the world. In November, a group of about 100 Malaysian and Indonesian alumni — some who had not seen each other in 20 years — had a reunion in Petaling Jaya, near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Not even flood problems in neighboring states that closed some roads and airports could keep some alumni from attending. In addition to sharing memories, the group auctioned off and gave UNT memorabilia as door prizes.

“The reunion was a resounding success,” says Suzana Meor Abdul Aziz (’86, ’88 M.A.). “Close to 100 alums and their families turned up. We were standing room only.”

The group is planning to return to Denton in 2012 to mark the 30-year anniversary of the enrollment of 46 Malaysian students at the university in fall 1982.

“I am excited to see an increasing number of our international alumni reconnecting with UNT from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and around the world,” says Derrick P. Morgan, executive director of the UNT Alumni Association. “UNT International has been instrumental in driving these reconnections, and we look forward to expanding our partnership with them to continue building our far-reaching global alumni network.”

For information on how the alumni association can help you plan your alumni event, call 940-565-2834 or visit www.untalumni.com.

To join the association or learn more, visit www.untalumni.com, e-mail alumni@unt.edu or call 940-565-2834.

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Dana Case (’10)

Victoria Bleakley

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Fashion

by Ellen Rossetti

Victoria Bleakley’s (’07) interest in fashion began out of necessity.

She lost her ATM card while living in Germany after high school and needed warm clothes in the November cold. Bleakley rummaged through bins of free thrift-store rejects and found outdated “mom jeans” and longsleeved shirts. She ripped them apart and stitched them into chic garb.

“I was hand-sewing with needle and thread, and I didn’t even know how to do anything,” she says. “But then, I thought this might be something I could get into.”

She chose to study fashion design at UNT, saying “UNT was everything I wanted.” Building on Bleakley’s humble sewing roots, UNT gave her the skills she needed for a high-powered career in the nation’s fashion capital.

Now, she works as a pattern maker for prominent New York-based designer Nicole Miller.

Fashion success

Graduates of UNT’s famously difficult fashion design program pursue high-powered careers.

Housed in the College of Visual Arts and Design, the fashion design program gives students a solid artistic foundation. Faculty members have years of industry experience, preparing students to make everything from couture creations to mass market designs. Graduates of the famously difficult program gain expertise to land positions with big names in the fashion world or open their own businesses.

David Dang (’01) worked with major retailers before moving on to start a new company. Finley Moll (’85) built a business known nationwide for the iconic Finley Shirt, seen in the pages of Redbook and O Magazine.

Others who studied in UNT’s fashion design program include Shirin Askari (’08), a Project Runway contestant who launched her own line; Michael Faircloth (’83), designer of the red presidential inauguration gown worn by former first lady Laura Bush; Khanh Nguyen (’08), who started her own elegant, edgy fashion label; and Nicolas Villalba (’96), who opened an atelier to make custom creations in 2002 and was appointed Stanley Korshak in-house designer in 2004.

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The program offers rigorous training, demanding classes and a senior-year runway show judged by pros. Students are granted access to UNT’s prestigious Texas Fashion Collection, studying works of great masters — Balenciaga, de la Renta, Givenchy and more.

Pieces of the puzzle

At UNT, Bleakley learned how to sew, choose fabrics, and drape and fit garments. She got hooked on the New York fashion scene during a trip with faculty members.

Straight out of college, she earned a three-week Nicole Miller internship that led to her full-time position.

“Being a pattern maker is like being a garment engineer,” she says. “We are creating the pieces of the puzzle that will fit together to create the final garment.”

Bleakley has helped create several tops that have debuted during New York Fashion Week — the semi-annual exhibition of the hottest up-and-coming fashion trends.

During one Fashion Week show, Miller herself wore a button-down shirt that Bleakley engineered.

“It was great to see my work out there on this national stage,” Bleakley says.

Knowing the solid work ethic of UNT graduates, Nicole Miller has recruited several UNT interns, Bleakley says. Those include Dana Case (’10), who after an internship earned a full-time spot as a production and pattern maker assistant working next to Bleakley.

Strong foundations

Dang (’01) says his UNT professors pushed his creativity while keeping him grounded in reality. (“Have you heard of gravity?” longtime fashion design faculty member Marian O’Rourke-Kaplan is

Finley Moll

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known to ask students when she sees some of their designs on paper.)

After college, Dang worked as a designer for Dillard’s and a technical designer at Kellwood, making clothing lines for premier brands.

He later nabbed a position as designer, then senior designer and later account manager at sweater manufacturer KBL, working with such major retailers as L.L. Bean, Kohl’s and Target.

In 2010, Dang moved to Shanghai to become vice president of design and product branding for Full Linkage Corp.

Dang is developing a business plan and marketing strategy to launch a line of brand-name golf apparel and accessories in China.

In tackling this newest challenge, he still uses advice he received from O’Rourke-Kaplan, now an associate dean in the college.

“She had a very strong technical background and showed me that as long as you have a strong foundation of knowledge and think clearly, you can

build upon it,” Dang says.

“I took that foundation with me to work, and I am applying all of that now.”

white shirts for women.

“We took a hard look at what we were doing, and the shirts were by far outselling everything,” Moll says. “At the time, no one was doing a shirt with our aesthetic and our attitude.”

The company eventually added colored shirts and original prints designed by Moll. Today, she is proud the business stayed privately owned with loyal local employees while gaining national attention. She sees women of all ages wearing the Finley Shirt — from the Los Angeles airport to the streets of New York.

“Probably an ‘aha’ moment for me was when I was in New York seven or eight years ago, and I was walking through SoHo after market, and there was my shirt in a window in a store,” she says. “I was surprised. To experience it and not be looking for it — it was just wonderful.

It made it very real to me.”

A unique aesthetic

At UNT, Moll found freedom to make fashions that stretched her creativity — including one memorable but perhaps too experimental dress made of metal. The model — still her friend today — loves to remind her that the dress “cut her to pieces,” Moll says.

“Being at North Texas in the ’80s was really fun,” she says. “There was so much happening with music and fashion and art, it was kind of a microcosm of the art community that a lot of people didn’t know about — kind of like Austin before Austin got discovered.”

Today, Moll runs Finley, a successful Dallas-based company that sells to 500 retailers, including Nordstrom. She and business partner Heather McNeill began the sportswear company in 1995 before honing in on the success of their tailored

T E X A S FA S H I O N C O L L E C T I O N

Students in UNT’s fashion design program examine haute couture

The collection began in 1938 when Stanley and Edward Marcus

creations in the Texas Fashion Collection, considered one of the most

preserved examples of top designers’ works in honor of their aunt,

important historic fashion collections in the country. The collection

Carrie Marcus Neiman, a co-founder of the Neiman Marcus store.

lives in a 4,500-square-foot climate-controlled room on campus.

The Carrie Marcus Neiman Foundation maintained the collection

In 2006, UNT opened a 500-square-foot exhibition space, Fashion

after her death in 1953, and the Dallas Fashion Group took over in the

on Main, to display gems of the collection in Dallas. The College of

1960s. The collection came to campus in 1972. Under UNT’s care, it

Visual Arts and Design plans to eventually expand the gallery, bring-

has grown to more than 15,000 historic items.

ing more items into public view.

A new support group, The Dress Circle at UNT, works to ensure the

Learn more about the collection at tfc.unt.edu.

— Ellen Rossetti

goal of caring for and preserving the collection. Providing funds for exhibitions and new acquisitions also is a goal of the group.

Watch a video about the fashion design program at northtexan.unt.edu/online.

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Books

Grammy honors Renowned pianist and music professor Joseph Banowetz was nominated for Best Instrumental Soloist Performance with Orchestra.

Watch a report on Banowetz from WFAA-TV’s Debbie Denmon (’91) at northtexan.unt.edu/culture.

JOSEPH BANOWETZ’S LATEST GRAMMY nomination came for his recording of Paul Kletzki’s Piano Concerto in D Minor, Op. 22, with the Russian Philharmonic Orchestra. The music of the Jewish composer Kletzki was lost in Nazi Germany and uncovered through UNT’s Lost Composers Project. Banowetz previously was nominated for a Grammy with Alton Chung Ming Chan (’82, ’94 Ph.D.) for Best Chamber Music Performance.

In other UNT-related Grammy news, Michael Daugherty (’76) won for Best Classical Contemporary Composition for “Deus ex Machina,” and Norah Jones and Christian rapper Lecrae (’02) also were nominated.

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Muse Books Architectural space Palaces in Saint-Cloud and Würzburg, courtesans’ homes, and gentlemen’s galleries in post-Napoleonic London are among the interiors covered in Architectural Space in Eighteenth-Century Europe: Constructing Identities and Interiors (Ashgate).

Co-edited by Denise Amy Baxter, associate professor and interim chair of the Department of Art Education and Art History, and Meredith Martin of Wellesley College, the book explores how bankers, bishops,

bluestockings and courtesans used architectural space and décor to shape and express identity.

The book’s contributors address identity as it relates to gender, class and ethnicity and cover the role that spatial environments played at defining historical and cultural moments.

Richard Wright In Richard Wright: From Black Boy to World Citizen (Ivan R. Dee), Jennifer Jensen Wallach traces the life of the author best known for his novel Native Son and notes the effect of his work on later African American writers. Wallach, assistant professor of history,

follows Wright from his origins as a sharecropper’s son in Mississippi to his life as an American expatriate in Paris involved with Marxism, existentialism and Pan-Africanism. She says her goal was “to examine Wright’s various attempts to answer the driving question of his life, ‘How can I live freely?’” The book was published in 2010, the 50th anniversary of his death.

The Young Lords The Young Lords, a national political movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s, originated as a Chicago street gang fighting

gentrification and unfair evictions in Puerto Rican neighborhoods.

Its politically radical members were part of the original Rainbow Coalition with the Black Panthers and the Young Patriots. The Young Lords: A Reader (New York University Press), edited by Darrel Enck-Wanzer, assistant professor of communication studies, provides a look inside the movement.

The collection of essays, speeches, pamphlets and photographs created by Young Lords members, primarily in New York and on the East Coast, includes the organization’s 13-point platform and rules of discipline. The book covers the group’s activism in education, health care, police injustice and gender equality.

In Foreign Fields Five years after leaving North Texas with his journalism degree, Ray Moseley (’52) found himself at Central High School in Little Rock, covering the violent desegregation for the Arkansas Gazette. He thought at the time it might be the biggest story of his career. But it was just the beginning.

In his book In Foreign Fields: A Veteran Correspondent’s Brushes with Wars, Revolution, Secret Police and Flea-Pit Hotels (Lulu), the UNT Distinguished Alumnus and Pulitzer Prize nominee recounts the adventures of nearly 50 years in journalism, many spent as an overseas correspondent for United Press International and the Chicago Tribune. Covering the world’s news from Rome, Cairo, Nairobi, Moscow, Berlin, Belgrade and London, Moseley was on the scene for the revolution in Iran, the Six-Day War, the fall of the Berlin Wall and more, dodging bullets and the KGB along the way.

Robin Knight, formerly a foreign correspondent for U.S. News & World Report and book reviewer for Time, writes that “a reader is left amazed at the versatility, stamina, resourcefulness and dogged legwork that kept Moseley chasing the news for so many years in so many awful places.”

Knight calls foreign correspondents today “an endangered species,” and Moseley refers to the book as his “testament to a vanishing age.”

“Had I come into journalism just a few years ago, and finished work a half century from now,” Moseley writes, “I would never have had experiences remotely similar to those recounted in this book.”

Read Knight’s full review at northtexan.unt.edu/online.

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Noise “Edgy, “disturbing” and “riveting” are words reviewers are using to describe Darin Bradley’s debut novel Noise, published by Spectra, a division of Random House.

Bradley (’02, ’04 M.A., ’07 Ph.D.), administrative editor of the UNT English department’s Studies in the Novel, earned his doctorate in English literature and theory and has taught courses on writing and literature at East Tennessee State University, Furman University and UNT. In Noise, after anarchists hijack the old analog airwaves to warn of the collapse of civilization, two young men use their scouting and gaming skills to write their own survival guide and lead a band of hackers and misfits into the post-Apocalyptic world. Their guide begins: “[1] i) This Book assumes many things. ii) Among them, that you are still alive. …”

Publishers Weekly calls Noise “an exceptionally polished debut” that falls “somewhere between The Lord of the Flies and The Zombie Survival Guide.”

Learn more about the book at www.salvagecountry.net.

Upcoming Events

The Wind Symphony conducted by Eugene Migliaro Corporon performs the wind version of Cindy McTee’s Double Play at 7:30 p.m. April 7 in the Murchison Performing Arts Center. The Detroit Symphony Orchestra premiered the original piece by McTee, winner of its Elaine Lebenbom Memorial Award and retiring Regents Professor. Visit music.unt.edu/calendar for concert information.

Convergent Boundaries, an exhibition of original fashion designs

by Zigwai Remy Odukomaiya, opens April 8 at Fashion on Main, 1901 Main St. in Dallas. This body of work created by Remy is a requirement for the Master of Fine Arts in the College of Visual Arts and Design. Exhibit hours are noon to 5 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays through June 10. For more information, visit tfc.unt.edu.

Dance and Theatre Music for dance

The work of Claudia Howard Queen, assistant professor of music for dance, is making news in Taiwan. After teaching for the Taipei National University of the Arts — Taiwan’s premier arts school — on her second Fulbright grant to Taiwan in August, she was invited to collaborate with artistic director Ming-Shen Ku and her professional dance company for the concert Decode 2010. Queen improvised an

evening-length live music score in performances with Ku & Dancers at the Taipei National Theatre and the Wei-Wu-Ying Center of the Arts in Kaohsiung.

The Taipei Times’ review notes that Queen “provided percussion, piano, flute, guitar, vocals and computerized sounds (dripping water, rain, crashing waves, the buzzing of night-time insects) — and at one point in the matinee she played the piano with her left hand while strumming a guitar with her right. It was amazing to watch her. ” Queen, who has been invited to return to Taiwan, says she is using this interdisciplinary collaborative experience in her teaching at UNT and hopes to bring Ku & Dancers to campus for a residency.

The 51st annual Voertman Student Art Competition features a juried selection of new works in all media by students in design and studio arts. (Last year’s award-winning oil on canvas by Michael Blair is pictured.) The show runs April 12-30 at the UNT Art Gallery in the Art Building. An opening reception and award ceremony, with awards sponsored by Voertman’s, is at noon April 12. Check gallery.unt.edu for information.

The Multicultural Center presents Blake Mycoskie, founder and chief shoe giver of TOMS Shoes, at 4:30 p.m. April 13 at the Main Auditorium in the Auditorium Building. Tickets — free for students, $5 for faculty and staff, $10 for the general public — are available at the Union Information Center, 940-565-3805.

UNT dance faculty members and guest choreographers share their artistry with the public at the Faculty Dance Concert, 8 p.m.

April 28-30 and 2:30 p.m. May 1 at the University Theatre. Visit danceandtheatre.unt.edu for more information.

Visit calendar.unt.edu for more upcoming events.

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Muse

Jonathan Reynolds

Pink Floyd at UNT UNT’s 40-foot domed Sky Theater planetarium is taking audiences to the Dark Side of the Moon with a new program of computeranimated images set to the music of the 1973 album by Pink Floyd. The 45-minute program features surround sound and a kaleidoscope of flowing colors and shapes through complex video imagery. The program’s creator, Aaron McEuen at Utah-based Starlight Productions, says it’s “like having headphones for your eyeballs.”

Ron “Starman” DiIulio, UNT planetarium and astronomy laboratory director, hopes the program will encourage those with interests in computer animation, music, physics and other disciplines to create similar planetarium shows for UNT. He plans to screen more Starlight Productions programs this year such as Pink Floyd’s The Wall and Wish You Were Here.

Dark Side of the Moon is presented at 9 p.m. Thursdays and 9:30 p.m. Saturdays through the spring semester at the Sky Theater in the Environmental Education, Science and Technology Building. Tickets, available 30 minutes before each show, are $7 for general admission and $6 for UNT students, faculty and staff with UNT ID. Only cash and checks are accepted. To view the trailer, visit skytheater.unt.edu.

Music

Mike Woodruff

The first opera to be presented in Czech at UNT earned third place from the National Opera Association’s Opera Production Competition. Director Paula Homer accepted the award for the UNT performance of Smetana’s Prodaná nevesta (The Bartered Bride) at the association’s national

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If you’d like to know about the latest work from UNT jazz studies alumni, just head to jazz.unt.edu/alumnitracks, where the jazz studies division is featuring sample tracks from jazz alums’ recent CDs. Guitarist and alumnus Justin Cash (’07 M.M.), who suggested the project, got things started with tracks from his latest CD Beautiful World. Alumni from any era of UNT jazz are invited to send in a track from a recent project. Send tracks to John Murphy (’84, ’86 M.M.), professor and chair of jazz studies, at john.murphy@unt.edu.

Spring residency

Jonathan Reynolds

National opera honor

convention in January in San Antonio.

Two Czech specialists worked with students during preparation for the opera, coaching the principal roles on how to speak the language and helping students perfect their Czech singing skills.

The Bartered Bride was produced in collaboration with the Czech Educational Foundation of Texas Frank J. and Hermine Hurta Kostohryz Residency in Czech Music and Culture.

Previously, UNT has won awards from the National Opera Association for two productions: Argento’s Postcard from Morocco and Britten’s Albert Herring.

Sample jazz

Composer Jake Heggie, renowned for his nationally acclaimed opera Moby-Dick, returned to campus in February for a series of concerts, lectures and other events.

Serving as the artist-inresidence for UNT’s Institute for the Advancement of the Arts, he visited for the first part of his residency in the fall.

The February events included concerts featuring his works, a

panel discussion and opera workshop master class. In addition to coaching students, performing and lecturing, Heggie continued work on a commission from UNT to compose a major work for orchestra, chorus and soloist to further explore his interest in Moby-Dick.

Television and Film Denton public access Journalism students are gaining more experience in broadcast operations through a new agreement between the Mayborn School of Journalism and the city of Denton.

The school began operating the city’s public access television channel, Denton Community Television, in January.

Nann Goplerud, principal lecturer and interim chair of the Department of News, is the station manager. Students from the news and strategic communications departments will be producing a local newscast, public service announcements and other programming for the station, which operates from a renovated studio in the General Academic Building.

The channel (Charter Cable Channel 25 and Verizon FIOS Channel 39 in Denton County) also continues to provide a voice to Denton residents.

New president Sam Sauls (’77, ’80 M.A., ’93 Ph.D.), associate professor of radio, television and film, was elected the 2011-12 president of the Broadcast Education

Association, the professional organization for faculty members, industry professionals and graduate students interested in teaching and researching electronic media and multimedia enterprises.

Sauls is the association’s vice president for academic relations and has served on its board of directors since 2006.

He joined UNT in 1984 as a lecturer and as station manager of campus radio station KNTUFM. He is now the associate chair and director of graduate studies in the Department of Radio, Television and Film.

He has 15 years of experience in commercial and noncommercial radio.

Visual Arts International award

Studio arts graduate student Naomi S. Adams earned worldwide recognition for her unusual designs as the winner of the Future of Quilting Award at the 2010 International Quilt Festival in Houston. The award was part of the judged show of the Inter­­national Quilt Association.

Adams created her quilt, Diamonds, by dyeing the batting used to make four quilts, cutting

crescent-shaped pieces and gluing them to a fifth quilt. The resulting three-dimensional quilt stands out three inches from the wall.

Adams also won the Olfa Okada Young Designer Award at the American Quilters Society Show in 2008. Her work will be shown at Quilt National 2011, a juried international art quilt exhibition, May 28 through Sept.

5 at the Dairy Barn Arts Center in Athens, Ohio.

Artist in residence

Regents Professor Harlan Butt, an internationally known

metalsmith, was one of four artists chosen to participate in the 2010 Artist-in-Residence program at Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska. Butt, whose enamel and silver vessels are inspired by a love of nature and poetry, stayed in a historic cabin and documented locations in the park through photographs, sketches and a journal of poetry and impressions.

He made a presentation for visitors during the residency in August and has donated a piece of artwork to the park’s art collection inspired by his time there. There are plans to exhibit his National Park Series pieces, including several inspired by Denali, at UNT on the Square in the fall. View photos from his residency at northtexan.unt.edu/ culture.

Design Research Center

UNT’s new Design Research Center in downtown Dallas is the first of its kind in the region. Opened in January, it serves as an “urban laboratory” where graduate students and faculty use design to solve contemporary problems. The renovated 3,000-squarefoot space, which includes a conference room, student work stations and classrooms, is a former police substation at 1908 Elm St., adjacent to the UNT System Building.

Interdisciplinary teams of faculty and students at the center will work with community nonprofits, government agencies and corporations to address social, environmental, economic and public policy concerns. Researchers already are working with public television station KERA to create a “Kids and Family” portal and website; collaborating economy in the West End and other Dallas districts; and helping employees of the World Factory corporation with innovations for developing new products.

Directed by Keith Owens, associate professor of communication design, the center will support graduate students pursuing degrees in innovation studies along with faculty members from five UNT schools and colleges: business, public affairs and community service, merchandising and hospitality management, and arts and sciences, as well as visual arts and design. Researchers are expected to present preliminary results of some of their studies at a grand opening this spring.

For more information, visit art.unt.edu/designresearchcenter or contact the center at

Jonathan Reynolds

with the nonprofit Downtown Dallas Inc. on ideas for improving the quality of life and

Keith Owens directs the new Design Research Center in downtown Dallas, where graduate students and faculty collaborate with nonprofits, government agencies and businesses, using design to address social, environmental, economic and public policy concerns.

drc-ucd@unt.edu or 214-752-5556.

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LOVE STORIES

by Randena Hulstrand

C

ollege years filled with inspiration set the course for self discovery — and sometimes for falling in love. Throughout its history, UNT has provided a lively backdrop for Cupid’s arrows, igniting love interests and growing relationships from first glimpses in classrooms and first dates in the University Union to marriage proposals under McConnell Tower. Love stories intertwined with memories of UNT span the years and occur in multiple generations for some alumni families. From a romantic rendezvous at the fish pond in the early years to a hand-in-hand walk on the Spirit March today, love at UNT is timeless.

If you, too, met the love of your life at UNT, we want to hear from you. Tell us what year you met, your favorite places on campus to spend time together, and when you knew you had found true love. Share your stories and photos and read more UNT love stories online at northtexan.unt.edu/lovestories.

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legacy love affairs When she first spotted William “Bill” Foxworth King (’51) during freshman English class in 1947, Eugenia McKinney (’52) didn’t know she would repeat history.

“He had the cutest turned-up nose, just like the movie star Lon McCallister,” she says. “I knew I wanted to go out with him.”

After failed attempts to get Bill to notice her by dropping her books after class, she asked him to a Marquis and Terrill Hall dance, which led to two more dates that week. Bill was a pre-med student teaching physiology in the then newly built chemistry building. She took his class, washed lab bottles for him and helped him grade papers.

“We’ve been dating ever since,” Bill says.

They weren’t the only couple in their family who had love blossom on campus.

Forty years prior, Eugenia’s aunt, Lila Gertrude McDonough (1907) met Jesse Harrison Legett (1905), her biology teacher, while she was earning her teaching certificate, and fell in love. After teaching at a rural school in Canon, Lila returned to marry Jesse. An avid gardener who taught agriculture and biology courses for more than 40 years, he retired from the faculty in 1946. They lived where West Hall now stands with their five children, including three who attended North Texas and married fellow classmates.

Eugenia and Bill’s courtship included hanging out at Perryman’s Drug Store across campus, going to movies at the Campus Theatre, ’Fessor Graham’s Saturday Night Stage Shows, dancing to the Aces of Collegeland on the slab between Marquis and Terrill halls and riding in Bill’s 1927 Model-T. They restored the car, “Betsy,” and cherish it with reminiscent rides back to campus and at UNT Homecoming parades.

After graduation, Bill attended Northwestern Medical School in Chicago to study radiology while Eugenia worked at Terrell Laboratories in Fort Worth. They married in Denton in 1954, his third summer in medical school.

Following family tradition, two of their three children attended the university, son William David King (’81) and daughter Ann Catherine King Durick (’85), who met her husband, Dennis Durick (’85), as a student. And now, Eugenia and Bill’s grandson, Will King, a sophomore composition student, lives in Bruce Hall, just as his dad, aunt and uncle did.

“We’re four generations strong,” Eugenia says.

See Eugenia McKinney (’52) and William “Bill” Foxworth King (’51) tell the story of how they met and fell in love on their first date to a Marquis and Terrill Hall dance at northtexan.unt.edu/lovestories.

enduring love You never know what life is going to throw at you, says Max Raymond (’76). He and Priscilla Langston (’77) accidentally met in the foyer of the Administration Building in 1975.

“Priscilla was a Green Jacket and worked in the public information office in the Administration Building, and I was a tour guide showing prospective students and parents around the campus,” Max says.

The day they met, Priscilla was working at the information desk in the lobby, filling in for the regular staffer who was on vacation.

“There sat this beautiful woman with dancing green eyes and gorgeous auburn hair flowing down to her waist,” he says. “I walked into a life-changing experience.”

Both biology majors, Priscilla and Max began dating and discovered other similar interests, including a love for baseball and a desire to be Peace Corps volunteers.

But their relationship hit some rocky times.

“I was dating other guys and needed to tie up loose ends,” she says.

Max says he thought it was over between them.

“I graduated and was resigned to never seeing Priscilla again when I received a letter from her congratulating me,” he says. “We began corresponding by mail nearly a year after we first met, and we learned that we needed each other.”

After Max proposed on the LBJ library lawn in Austin before a North Texas-UT football game, they wed in December 1976 at The Little Chapel in the Woods in Denton. Shortly thereafter, they enlisted as Peace Corps volunteers in Tonga where they taught for two years.

Thirty-four years of marriage, four children and two grandchildren later, the Raymonds are both high school teachers and say more Peace Corps work might be in their future.

“We are still very much in love,” Max says.

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fate intervened Introduced by her Zeta Tau Alpha sorority sisters and his Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity brothers in 1953, juniors Beverly Ann Tidmore (’55) and Thomas Leeth (’55) began walking together from their 10 a.m. class to the Student Union Building three times a week for coffee. But their first date didn’t come until just before Christmas break.

“There came a tremendous snow fall and a snowball fight ensued between a number of sororities and fraternities in front of the old Administration Building on Hickory Street,” Tom says. “We battled it out and afterward I invited Beverly to a party at my fraternity brother’s home.”

In the spring, their relationship began to “heat up,” particularly on Thursday afternoons, when they frequented Blondy’s in Saginaw and listened to what became their song, “Once I Had a Secret Love,” he says.

In Lambda Chi Alpha tradition, Tom pledged his love for Beverly by presenting her with his fraternity pin and a dozen red Talisman roses on the steps of her dorm, Chilton Hall, while his fraternity brothers serenaded them.

“I still have that pin,” she says. “I knew he was for me and I was for him.”

Tom says by that summer, he was “totally smitten” and gave Beverly an engagement ring. They planned to marry following their 1955 graduations, but plans changed.

“We were a few minutes late one night, smooching in the parking lot in front of my dorm, and we didn’t see the lights blink to come in,” Beverly says. “And Imogene Bentley Dickey, dean of women, ‘campused’ me for the rest of the semester, just two months short of our graduation.”

With Beverly not allowed to attend his spring fraternity formal and Tom unable to persuade the dean to let her, he and Beverly eloped two days later, April Fool’s Day. Their nearly 56-year marriage — producing two daughters, four grandsons and one great-grandson — is a testament to lasting love.

“Fate intervened,” Tom says. “No joke.”

Hear Beverly Ann Tidmore (’55) and Thomas Leeth (’55) tell the story of their April Fool’s Day elopement on a video at northtexan.unt.edu/lovestories.

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postwar romance Through some of Edna Jo “Bo” Allen Chapman’s (’47) most challenging times, UNT has given her hope. She worked at the Campus Chat for 35 cents an hour to help pay for her expenses at Terrill Hall and pledged Kappa Theta Pi. But the reality of World War II dictated she move home to work at the Southern Aircraft Corp. plant in Garland for a year.

“I came back to North Texas in the fall of ’45 and it was a good thing,” she says. “The fellows were returning from the war.”

By spring of 1946, one special soldier returned. Pat Chapman (’47) had enlisted in the Air Force and left the university in 1943, serving in the Pacific Theatre on Tinian Island.

“Pat, who was a very handsome young man and president of the Betas, came by the Theta house where I was living and invited me to the ‘Corner’ at Hickory and Avenue A for a Coke,” Bo says. “We began our courtship.

“So many activities were all around us. We went dancing in Dallas at Maurice’s Flight 21, and on campus we had many Beta and Theta dances, Saturday nights with ’Fessor Graham and the Aces of Collegeland, football and basketball games, and movies. And yes, some studying.”

Pat and Bo married in May 1948 at The Little Chapel in the Woods in Denton and built a life together in Dallas, until Pat’s death in 1976.

It was during a Homecoming reunion in the early ’90s that Bo reconnected with six of her Theta sisters. The group still convenes several times a year.

“These are friendships of more than 68 years and a continuation of the life I started at North Texas with Pat — a life that gave us two sons, two daughters-in-law and five grandchildren,” Bo says. “He would be very proud.”

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golf course newlyweds Nancy Acker (’50) says she first saw Luther “Bugs” Fambro (’50) in 1946 when they were business administration students studying in the library.

Weeks later, they were introduced to each other by a friend at Eagle Drug, across from campus.

“Many nights we sat in the great hall of my dorm, Terrill Hall, talking.

We have the same birthday, Feb. 4,” Nancy says. “And I loved his blonde hair and good looks.”

Bugs lettered four years in football and also ran track. He was an all-Gulf Coast Conference end in football in 1949 and went on to set school and conference track and field records. In 1998, he was named to the UNT Athletic Hall of Fame.

By their sophomore year, Nancy and Bugs began talking of marriage and decided not to wait until after graduation. In August 1948, they wed and moved into the caretaker’s garage apartment on the golf course. “‘Pop’ Noah, the track coach, was not pleased. He didn’t want one of his athletes to marry while he was participating in track,” she says, “but he soon mellowed.”

Living on the golf course, they played golf whenever they could and created many memories.

“Bugs gave me a cocker spaniel puppy, and every morning when we went to class, there was a pile of golf balls that he had retrieved at our door.”

The college sweethearts received many honors. Bugs, a member of Talons, was voted Eagles Outstanding Athlete in 1949. Nancy, who pledged Kappa Theta Pi, was chosen Homecoming Queen by the football team in 1948 and 1949.

With more than 62 years of marriage, four children, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, the Fambros say they will always be loyal to UNT, where they got their start.

“We proudly fly a bright green UNT flag to greet everyone who enters the Fambro Bear Creek Ranch south of Strawn.”

eagle proposal Pamela Pineset (’03) had a crush on Vernon Bryant (’00) since they were teenagers, growing up and attending church together in Austin. But they didn’t start dating until her freshman and his junior year at UNT. Vernon, a photojournalism major, worked at the North Texas Daily, while Pamela, a public relations major, worked at Voertman’s bookstore. Together, they were members of the National Association of Black Journalists student organization.

“I always knew he was a good guy and came from a great family,” she says. “He was dedicated to school and serious about his career, and I thought I better hang on to him.”

When Pamela was a senior, Vernon, already working for The Dallas Morning News, hatched an elaborate plan to propose to her. After asking Pamela’s parents for her hand, he organized a trivia game that included a succession of questions paired with letters he photographed, spelling out “Will you marry me?”

His final question, “What icon ties the two of us together?” led her to the Eagle statue in front of the University Union, where he kneeled, proposed and presented her with a ring.

“I was so nervous,” he says, “but in being friends before we dated, we really knew each other, and I thought, ‘What am I waiting for?’”

They married in Jamaica in July 2003 and live in Frisco with their twin 3-year-old girls, Carmen and Sanaya.

“Pamela makes me a better person because where I falter, she helps me do better,” Vernon says. “And she laughs at the same things I do.”

See how UNT played a part in Vernon Bryant’s (’00) elaborate marriage proposal to Pamela Pineset (’03) through a video at northtexan.unt.edu/lovestories.

sparks fly On the first Wednesday of the spring semester in 2006, Ryan Tuomey (’08) sat behind NaShae Menefee (’08) in their geography lab in the Environmental Education, Science and Technology Building. They had never met before but recognized one another — they were Facebook friends.

“Ryan had spotted me at a new members’ mixer for our sorority and fraternity, Alpha Delta Pi and Lambda Chi Alpha, during the fall semester,” NaShae says, adding that he learned her name from a mutual Facebook friend and sent her a friend request on the social networking website.

“After class that first day, I received a Facebook message from Ryan saying ‘hello.’

We began talking, agreed to be lab partners and exchanged phone numbers,” she says.

During their first date at Hailey’s in Denton, they clicked.

“I knew right away she was for me,” Ryan says.

NaShae says that even though they are both shy, they talked for hours.

A year later, Ryan proposed at a picnic during the Fourth of July fireworks show at UNT near Fouts Field, not far from where they first met. They married after graduation in 2008.

Ryan teaches in Mansfield at a high school career center, while NaShae teaches ninth grade world geography at North Crowley.

“It’s fun to explain that I met my husband in a geography class,” she says.

UNT has become a part of the Tuomeys’ anniversary celebrations. They continue to attend the fireworks shows and are avid Mean Green fans. Ryan says he can’t wait to bring their children to football games and tailgating one day.

“I am so happy I decided to attend UNT,” NaShae says. “If not, I may have missed finding my soul mate.”

Marian Brock

by E llen R ossetti

M

Marian Brock has come a long way from her first role as a tightrope walker in a kindergarten play.

The hard-working actress is the female lead in the Oscar-winning short film God of Love.

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On the first day of shooting, the actress walked onto a set with balloons on the ceiling and a treasure chest full of wine.

Every detail of the romantic scene seemed picture-perfect.

But she’s still trying to wrap her head around the news that the 18-minute film about a love struck, lounge-singing darts champion won an Oscar for Best Live Action Short. Brock played the female lead, Kelly, in God of Love, which already had won critical acclaim and snagged a student Oscar for best narrative film.

“Everyone was always willing to go that extra step,” Brock says of the cast and crew for the film, which was created as a graduate thesis by New York University student Luke Matheny. “I am so proud of everyone involved.”

Now, New York-based Brock — who worked seven non-acting jobs last summer — is scheduling interviews with agents and getting audition invitations, including one from a respected theatrical company.

The Academy Award winners were announced in Los Angeles Feb. 27.

“This is truly the greatest blessing I have ever had in my career,” says Brock, who earned a bachelor’s degree in theatre.

“I worked very hard, and I am very proud of that, and to have it come to fruition is

Spring 2011

just so awesome, so inspiring, and I am still completely awestruck.”

In the film, Matheny’s character, the darts playing lounge singer Ray, is secretly in love with jazz drummer Kelly and mysteriously receives a box of darts. Any person hit by a mystery dart becomes romantically attached to him for six hours.

Brock nabbed the part by posting her resume on a website for actors. Her jazz-drumming roommate taught her to play drums in the basement.

Brock’s fascination with theatre began early — with her first role as a tightrope walker in a kindergarten play. By third grade, she made her debut as a playwright when her Austin private school produced her play about two mice scared of a cat — with Brock playing the cat.

At UNT, she learned from theatre professors Marjorie Hayes, Lorenzo Garcia, Barbara Cox and Andy Harris.

They insisted she learn the technical aspects of theatre. That knowledge helped when she had to prepare her own costumes and makeup in non-paying roles to gain exposure in New York.

She has found balance doing what she loves and earning money, she says. She acts in theatrical productions and films and earns extra money as a children’s party entertainer.

She also is a member of the National Comedy Theatre, performs in the arts education organization Story Pirates, does voice-over work at Studio Center and performs in Renaissance festivals across the country as a member of the Washing Well Wenches.

“To have balance and a life where I do what I love and get paid for it is the best thing I can ever imagine,” she says. “And I think that’s true of everybody.”

Travis Williams (’06)

Marian Brock (’05) New York

Fountain, The Lion in Winter, Elf,

theatre and television. Getting all

My ultimate goal:

Singing in the Rain, Amelie and

kinds of different artists together

To make my income entirely from

The Cutting Edge

to create something greater

acting work. And to make a very

than ourselves is inspiring and,

comfortable income through

frankly, a lot of fun.

acting work. Oh, OK, and to win

What I love about acting: Degree in: Theatre

Favorite movie: Too many to count. Random favorites in no order: The

an Oscar for Best Actress. Yeah.

I love living someone else’s life.

I’m a pretty boring person. I like

Favorite UNT memories:

That’s my wildest dream come

playing Scrabble and watch-

Hanging out with friends,

true.

ing movies. So playing people

rehearsing shows, Fry Street Fair,

from every walk of life can be a

writing papers in the Willis lab at

Visit northtexan.unt.edu

fascinating challenge. I also love

4 a.m., drinking coffee outside

to read more of Brock’s

the collaborative aspect of film,

the RTVF building

answers.

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Circle

Mike Woodruff

F O U N D E R’ S

President V. Lane Rawlins speaks with members of UNT’s Founder’s Circle, an elite group of donors whose lifetime giving contributions to the university range from $250,000 to beyond $1 million.

The gift of opportunity New Founder’s Circle recognizes donors whose contributions have a profound impact

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When Ernie Kuehne (’66) came to the university on a track scholarship, he knew it was taking him away from his family’s cotton farm in the hardscrabble town of Otto, where he grew up.

But he didn’t know then just how different his world would become. Kuehne graduated with a political science degree, earned his law degree and became a success in the oil and banking industry. Now the managing partner of Kuehne and Shilling LLC law firm, he is at the top of the ladder.

But he has never forgotten the athletics program or the university that helped him take that first step. He returned the favor by donating $1 million to UNT’s athletics program to support student-athletes and athletic facilities, including the new football stadium at Mean Green Village that will open this fall.

And he’s hoping that his gift will help other UNT students blaze their own trail to success.

Recognition

“North Texas and the athletic program gave a young man an opportunity to grow and create a path for his future. The impact it had on my life and later successes is immeasurable and I am humbled and honored that I can give back to help others do the same,” says Kuehne, whose three children became well-known golfers. “I challenge every North Texas alum and fan to step up and help move this university forward.”

Kuehne’s gift landed him in the university’s newly created Founder’s Circle, which recognizes those whose generous contributions of $250,000 or more are game-changers for UNT and its students.

The Founder’s Circle consists of three recognition societies — the McConnell Society, the Matthews Society and the Kendall Society. Each is named for a former president who left a deep and lasting impact on UNT, just as the supporters have who are part of the Founder’s Circle.

Kuehne’s gift earned him a spot in the McConnell Society, the most elite of the recognition societies. And it places him in great company, with fellow supporters whose gifts have supported landmark programs, buildings and initiatives.

“Anyone who supports UNT and our students is changing lives by giving the gift of opportunity, regardless of the amount of the gift or where the money is directed,” says Lisa Baronio, vice president for advancement and director of development of the UNT Foundation.

“But we created the Founder’s Circle to recognize those whose contributions help opportunity knock much louder and much longer for our students.”

UNT Athletic Director Rick Villarreal says Kuehne’s gift will help the Mean Green continue aiming for the top.

“Gifts like these are validation of the progress we have made and the achievements that are possible,” Villarreal says.

“Ernie’s gift is making it possible for athletics to compete on a national basis and I hope others will follow his lead, whether to athletics or one of the many other outstanding areas of our university.”

President V. Lane Rawlins says the contributions of Founder’s Circle members signal to others that UNT is a place of excellence, worthy of the highest of investments.

“These gifts enable us to do what we do best: provide the best possible education to our students,” he says. “And with more gifts like these, we’ll become a university offering the best undergraduate education in Texas as well as a first-rate research university.”

Being part of the Founder’s Circle also encourages members to stay connected to the university through annual exclusive events such as the President’s Council Reception and the biennial Founder’s Circle dinner.

At these events, supporters often have the opportunity to meet UNT students and hear firsthand about the impact they are making on their lives.

“Our donors direct their gifts to areas that are meaningful to them, and our Founder’s Circle members are no exception. We work with them to provide the most impactful gift to the university, while providing a very gratifying gift experience to them personally,” Baronio says. “This gifting opportunity is very meaningful to the donors as well as to the recipients of their generosity.”

Societies

• the mcconnell society

The McConnell Society recognizes those with contributions of $1 million or more.

Horace and Euline Brock Ruth and Don A. Buchholz Kristin Farmer-Totah Alan and Shirley Goldfield Ernest Kuehne The Frank W. & Sue Mayborn Foundation James McIngvale Gayle and Ken Murphy Ken and Ann Newman Robert A. Nickell G. Brint and Amanda Ryan John and Lindy Rydman C. Dan and Le’Nore Smith Ed and Nikki Smith Mrs. Virginia Street Charn Uswachoke Paul Voertman and Richard Ardoin Dr. Leroy and Wanda S. Whitaker Margot and Bill Winspear • the matthews society

The Matthews Society recognizes those with contributions between $500,000 and $999,999.

Mr. and Mrs. Byron Baird Mrs. Nancy Dedman Ms. Nancy Hamon Dr. Francis Kostohryz Dr. Peggy Ladenberger and Mr. Charles Ladenberger Mr. and Mrs. Don Lovelace Dr. Charles Onstead Mr. and Mrs. Fred Patterson Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Pinkerton CDR and Mrs. Nicholas D. Ricco Sr. USN (Ret.) Dr. and Mrs. Robert Toulouse • the kendall society

The Kendall Society recognizes those with contributions between $250,000 and $499,999.

Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Bancroft Mercedes and Sid Bass Charlie Bond Janet and Frank Bracken Elinore and Benjamin Brown Dan Cathy Mack and Linda Christian Col. Guy Cloud Anne Fields Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Gomez Tony and Toppy Goolsby Bob and Fran Kimmel Frank A. Kubica Elaine Mathes George and Nesha Morey Dr. Charldean Newell Mr. Charles Nobles Sara Sue and Don Potts Phyllis and Bobby Ray Marc A. Smugar Dr. Frank C. Spencer John and Bonnie Strauss Foundation Dr. Fran Vick Ross W. Vick Jr. To learn more, contact Kim Wendt, director of donor relations, at 940-565-3689 or kimberly.wendt@unt.edu.

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| Upcoming Alumni Gatherings

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p / 41

| In the News

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| Friends We’ll Miss

p / 44

Gary Payne

EAGLES’

Nest

in this section | Connecting With Friends

Advocate for diversity Carol West (’71), ordained minister and counselor, earned a humanitarian award for helping to bring a community together.

Learn more about West and the work she is doing at northtexan.unt.edu/online.

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Carol west (’71) felt her calling in life was to help people, and she has been doing just that for nearly three decades as a minister, a teacher, a suicide prevention counselor and the first AIDS chaplain funded by a grant from the state of Texas. She says UNT offered her camaraderie at a time when there was less sensitivity to diversity. Now, as pastor of Celebration Community Church in Fort Worth, she heads one of the most recognized churches in the area serving the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community. She received the 2010 Kuchling Humanitarian Award for her work.

“North Texas showed me that everybody wasn’t alike,” she says. “You learned to work with people.”

EAGLES’

Nest

C O N N E C T I N G

W I T H

Keep up with the latest developments in the UNT family and tell your peers what you’ve been up to since leaving the nest. Send your news to The North Texan (see contact information on page 5). Members of the UNT Alumni Association are designated with a .

Read more, share comments and connect with friends at northtexan.unt.edu.

Sheva Roquemore Wilkins (’96) represented UNT at a College Fair in South Korea. She teaches at a Department of Defense school at Yongsan Army Base in Seoul.

1964 M.L. Daniels (Ed.D.), Austin ::

retired after teaching music at Abilene Christian University for 34 years. In Austin, he continues to write music and play golf. He has more than 100 music publications and is the composerin-residence of the Williamson County Symphony Orchestra.

Friends

nary and his Doctor of Ministry from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Susan, enjoy being near their children and grandchildren.

He is the author of two Christian books. As a student, he was president of the University Players and the Sigma Gamma Cast of Alpha Psi Omega.

Charlie D. Nichols (M.A., ’69

1966

Ed.D.), Mansfield :: worked for

retired from Oklahoma Baptist University in 2010 as a technical services librarian, after joining the OBU faculty as a librarian in 1969. She is a member of the Oklahoma Library Association and the Southern Baptist Librarians Association. Before joining OBU, she worked as a children’s librarian at the Dallas Public Library.

1965

1968

He gives much of the credit to his composition study with Samuel

Robert B. Foard (’71

Adler.

M.S.), Fort

Walter L. Ellis (’66 M.A.),

Pearland :: retired after 33

years as an Episcopal priest, serving churches in Glade­water, Longview, League City and Houston. He previously worked in the Lunar Receiving Labora­tory at the Johnson Space Center in the Apollo and Skylab programs. He earned his Master of Divinity from Virginia Theological Semi-

Diane Shank,

35 years in education as a high school teacher, coach, superintendent and professor. He retired from Texas Wesleyan University in 1995, having served as professor of education, chair of secondary education and director of international summer programs in Mexico and Costa Rica. He still actively manages private investment company Southwest Investments Ltd. and enjoys creative writing and watching his small stable of race horses run. He and his wife, Arline, have been married for 50 years.

Worth ::

taught speech and drama for 25 years and was a director at the Abilene Community Theatre and the Hill Country Arts Foundation Point Theatre.

He earned certification in English as a second language and taught English for 12 years in Saudi Arabia, also earning doctoral certification in voice and diction.

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Shawnee, Okla. ::

Mike McCurley, Dallas ::

founder and partner of family law firm McCurley Orsinger McCurley Nelson & Downing LLP, was named one of the country’s Top 100 Attorneys in Worth magazine. He also was named to the 2010 Texas Super Lawyers list and was singled out as one of the state’s best family lawyers in Texas Lawyer’s Go-To Guide.

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1970 Paul Hammons, Hooks :: received a patent on his invention, the Flush Meister, that saves 1 to 3 gallons of water every time a flapper-controlled toilet is flushed.

His interest in water-saving devices began in 1980, when a state commission was formed to look for ways to meet the future water needs of Texans.

Association 75th Anniversary Gala in October. He serves on the UNT Alumni Association board among many other boards and has supported charitable causes for 35 years. Proceeds from the gala benefited the loan programs of the association, which assists Dallas Jewish community members in financial need.

Jim Hansford

1972

(M.M.Ed., ’82 Ph.D.),

G.W. Adams, Hurst ::

Shawnee,

program manager for the forensic services unit of the Center for Human Identification at the UNT Health Science Center, spoke in Columbus, Ohio, in August at the Ride for Their Lives event. The bicycle ride across the U.S., hosted by the Surviving Parents Coalition, raised funds to advocate for laws and educational initiatives to protect children from abduction and abuse.

Aaron Bonds, Corpus Christi :: football, basketball and track and field coach at Agua Dulce ISD, received a Texas Heroes Award from the NAACP in November, recognizing his outstanding work in the community as a tutor and mentor. He also was profiled this spring in STV, the magazine of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Mike Friedman, Dallas :: senior vice president for CB Richard Ellis, was honored at the 2010 Dallas Hebrew Free Loan

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Okla. :: Burton Patterson

Professor of Music and director of bands, retired in July from Oklahoma Baptist University after 20 years of service. He has been the conductor of the Oklahoma Baptist All-State Symphonic Band, the OBU Symphonic Band and the OBU-Shawnee Community Orchestra. He stays active as a guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator in schools and churches across the Southwest.

1973 Michael Maddox, Duncan-

ville :: was appointed platinum

marketing underwriter in the Dallas Core Service Center of Amerisure Mutual Insurance Co. He joined Amerisure in 1990 and has been recognized twice as a finalist for the Marketing Underwriter of the Year in Amerisure’s Champions Through Excellence program.

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1975

1976 Larry C. Stevens, (M.S., ’83 Ph.D.), Flagstaff,

Ariz. :: is a professor of psychol-

ogy at Northern Arizona Uni­ver­sity where he has taught and conducted research for 25 years. He received a three-year National Science Foundation grant last year to study the social psychophysiology of compassion.

He is the coordinator for NAU’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates program.

Sparky Koerner (M.M.Ed.),

Texas City :: is in his 27th year at College of the Mainland, where he is chair of fine arts and director of instrumental studies.

He coordinates TMEA High School All State Jazz Ensemble auditions and is president of the Texas Jazz Educators Association. He says his time at UNT prepared him “to carry out the important message of music education and especially jazz education” over the years.

Danny Ward (’77 M.A.),

Oakton, Va. :: did the photog-

raphy and image layout for a book of consolidated poetry and

Upcoming Alumni Gatherings UNT alumni are gathering to network and celebrate – and you can join them. Here’s a sampling of events coming up:

U NT Career Fairs and Workshops: Career fairs offered by the UNT Career Center are free to alumni job seekers. The College of Education Career Fair is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 8 in the UNT Coliseum.

Offered in the Alumni Job Search Webinar Series, noon to 1 p.m. via interactive webinar, are: “Resume Basics” on April 20, “Networking to Enhance Your Job Search” on April 27, “LinkedIN and the Job Search” on May 4 and “Navigating a Career Transition” on May 11. Contact alison.delicati@unt.edu.

Alumni Awards Dinner: A long-standing university tradition, the UNT Alumni Awards Dinner is an annual event that recognizes the outstanding achievement, service and support of UNT’s alumni and friends. This year’s event begins at 7 p.m. April 15 in the Gateway Center Ballroom. For more information, contact Rob McKinney at robert.mckinney@unt.edu or 940-565-3162 or Karen Selby at karen.selby@unt.edu or 940-656-3480.

Official Ring Presentation Ceremony: Part of UNT tradition, the official class ring and presentation ceremony reminds students of their college success. The spring ceremony begins at 6:30 p.m. April 21 in the Gateway Center Ballroom.

For more information or to join the UNT Alumni Association, call 940-565-2834 or go to www.untalumni.com.

photography images. The Plane of Life collection was published by Blurb press and featured in a fall 2010 show at the Atrium Gallery in McLean, Va.

1980 Lendell M. Hawley, Austin :: accepted a position as laboratory manager with Invista S.a.r.l. in La Porte. Invista produces polymers and fibers, primarily for nylon, spandex and polyester applications.

Cynthia Roepke-Breeding, (M.Ed.), Corpus Christi :: is

leading a Camelot Tour across England and Scotland this summer, visiting sites associated with the legend of King Arthur. She has written numerous books, including Camelot’s Destiny, Fate of Camelot and Prelude to Camelot.

1982 Cynthia I. Gonzales (’90

M.M.), San Marcos :: is a ten-

ured associate professor of music theory at Texas State University, where she is coordinator of theory and aural skills. She is celebrating her 15th season with Austinbased Conspirare, the Grammynominated professional choral ensemble. In May, she married Guillermo “Bill” Guajardo Jr. and says she “had no idea marriage would be so fun.”

Linda Messick Montez, San

Antonio :: wrote a book titled Me and the Lord on the Bus (Xlibris).

In the collection of 30 vignettes, she shares “how God turned her

ordinary bus rides into extraordinary blessings” and encourages readers to look for him in their everyday living.

Stephen M. Wolfinbarger (M.M., ’89 D.M.A.), Kalama-

zoo, Mich. :: professor of music

at Western Michigan University, received WMU’s 2010-11 Distinguished Teaching Award. He has taught trombone at the university for more than 30 years. In 2009, he received an International Trombone Association Award honoring his career as a teacher and mentor.

Solar Punch When particle accelerator physicist Alan Bigelow

1984

(’91, ’93 M.S., ’00 Ph.D.) is not smashing atoms, he’s playing guitar with his eco-rock band Solar Punch to promote solar energy and ecological

Mark McDaniel (’87 M.P.A.),

Tyler :: city manager of Tyler, was

named the Texas Administrator of the Year by the Texas City Management Association. He became Tyler’s city manager in 2009, after serving as city manager designate for 10 months and deputy city manager for four years. He also has worked for the cities of Corpus Christi, Woodway, Lake Jackson and Denton.

responsibility. Bigelow, an associate research scientist at Columbia University, taught UNT’s popular “Science and Technology of Musical Sound” course as a teaching fellow.

“I learned tools of the trade from extraordinary physics professors,” he says, “and gigged in local clubs with outstanding UNT musicians.”

Solar Punch’s first studio album of environmental rock released in 2009 featured all-original songs with tailored messages about solar science and environmental activism. The title, Surya, translates as “sun” in Hindi.

And the sun isn’t only a theme but a method. The band’s equipment is powered by an off-grid solar power station assembled from portable solar panels, a charge controller, batteries and a power converter. Bigelow can charge the station in transit to gigs with a solar panel mounted atop his Subaru. At each performance, he puts his teaching skills to work, showing

Bill Robinson, Raleigh,

N.C. :: earned

a doctorate in physics from North Carolina State University in May, then joined the physics faculty there. He continues composing and giving concerts locally, especially at Duke.

Friends can contact him at billrobinsonmusic.com.

audiences how the gear works and expounding on sustainability.

In early 2009, the band traveled by solar-electric cars across India on a 40-day tour to spotlight climate solutions.

“We negotiated for electrical power at gas stations, hotels and dhabas (road-side eateries),” says Bigelow (kneeling above), who fondly remembers repairing a solar lantern “using a multi-meter, spoon and razor” and discussing solar-induced water-purification techniques through an interpreter at a town-hall meeting.

With another trip to India in February, a second album due out this year and plans for a tour of France and the Caribbean, Bigelow hopes to inspire others to join the cause.

“Music is indeed an international language,” he says.

Visit www.solarpunch.org to learn more about the music and gear.

— Elizabeth Smith

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Tammy Theis, Dallas :: is owner and creative director of Wallflower Management, a new modeling agency. She has been in the Dallas fashion community since graduation, when she was hired by The Dallas Morning News Fashion! Dallas section. She reported on the 9/11 tragedy from New York City, where she had been reporting on fashion. As a student, she was vice president of the university’s fashion club, Fashion Inc. She is a proud Mean Green supporter and has spoken at various functions at UNT.

1985 Jim Cavender, Huntsville, Ala. :: released To A Planet, the third CD of original jazz by his group, Rolling Jazz Revue. It was released on Startlingly Fresh Records, a label owned by Jim and his wife, Terri Smith Cavender (’85, ’92 M.A.). Startlingly Fresh also released A Cellarfull of Noise, an alt-country collaboration between Jim and fellow guitarist-singersongwriter Skip Heller. Alumnus

Ken Watters plays trumpet and flugelhorn as a special guest. Jim wanted his former journalism professors to know “Cellarfull” is spelled with a double ‘l’ because the cover was designed by a Canadian artist.

Jeffrey Longoria, Alpharetta,

Ga. :: joined

SecureWorks, an information security services provider, as vice president of North America channel sales and business development. He leads the channel sales team, partnering with technology firms that resell SecureWorks’ information security services to targeted industries.

dedicated to jazz flutist Herbie Mann.

the work of a Keller therapeutic riding facility.

1988

Cynthia Sisto Wenz,

Amy Pippin Mire, Wolfforth ::

tor of The Source for Women of Houston. She was captain of UNT’s varsity cheerleading team and returned to coach the 1995 squad to its first-ever national championship.

is the assistant university archivist for Texas Tech University after working 21 years as a full-time “domestic engineer.” Her husband, Charles Mire (’88 M.S.), is the founder and owner of Ultra-Nav Aviation Inc., providing software to the international business aviation market. They have three children: David, 21; Katy, 18; and Clemmie, 15.

1991 Lori Emerson Conrad,

1987

Dallas ::

Mitchell A. Kaplan, Provi-

dence, R.I. :: who studied jazz at the university from 1984 to 1987, published the book Jazz Flute: An In-Depth Study Into Contemporary Jazz Flute Performance (Mel Bay),

won a Lone Star Emmy award as co-producer of the half-hour television special Rocky Top Therapy: Horses, Healing and Hope. The program aired on CBS 11 and TXA 21 in December 2009, highlighting

Reserve your place in UNT history Leave your mark on UNT by purchasing a brick paver engraved with your name that will be placed in the exterior patio of the new UNT Alumni Pavilion, under construction at the northeast entrance of the new multipurpose football stadium. Options start at $100 for a small paver, which is 4 by 8 inches and holds two lines of text with 16 characters and spaces per line.

For more information, contact the UNT Alumni Association at 940-565-2834 or visit www.untalumni.com.

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Houston :: is executive direc-

1995 Matt Eiserloh, Euless :: was named chief marketing officer for Parker College of Chiropractic in northwest Dallas. Among the organizations he supports are the Fort Worth chapter of Habitat for Humanity, the Hurst-EulessBedford ISD Bedford Heights Parent-Teacher Association, Martin United Methodist Church and the Dallas chapter of the American Marketing Association.

Betsy Troup, Dallas :: joined a new real estate company, Nathan Grace Realtors. Friends can contact her at btroup@ nathan-grace.com.

1996 Chad Andrus, Aurora, Colo. :: accepted a position as sports talk show host on KXDP 87.7 The Ticket in Denver, hosting from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday. He called play-by-play for Turner Sports at the NBA Summer League games in Las Vegas in 2010.

PHOTO

Essay

Mike Woddruff

1 1 Several Emerald Eagle Scholars and President V. Lane Rawlins attended this year’s Emerald Ball, which attracted more than 300 guests and raised more than $90,000 for the Emerald Eagle Scholars program. The program helps academically talented students with high financial need attend college.

Mike Woodruff

2

2 Provost Warren Burggren speaks with Johnnie (’71) and Delva King (’72), who is a member of the UNT Foundation Board. The scholars program joined forces with the Children’s Defense Fund – Texas Beat the Odds scholarship program to promote higher education opportunities for deserving young people.

3 UNT’s Jazz Repertory Ensemble kept ball-goers dancing.

Mike Woodruff

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Paul McDonnold (M.S.), Dal-

las :: published The Economics of

Ego Surplus: A Novel of Economic Terrorism (Starving Analyst Press), described as “part action novel, part literary novel, part guidebook to economics.” He is a freelance nonfiction writer who has taught economics courses at UNT, the University of Delaware and North Lake College in Irving.

1998 Jason Cooper,

Denver, Colo. ::

leads a new Denver office of Stratford Land, a land investment management company, as director of investments for the Rocky

Down the Corridor

Mountain region. He previously was president of Dallas-based Stratford Realty Capital and served as vice president with First Horizon and SouthTrust banks.

LLC as the controller. The computer services company caters to small- and medium-sized businesses in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Justice at Oxford University in July, where he was a discussant and presented a paper. He is on the sociology faculty at McNeese State University.

1999

2002

(M.S., ’03

Ashley Akers, Fort Worth ::

Ph.D.), Fort

showed her art work for the first time at the Bayou City Art Festival Downtown in Houston in October. She was selected from more than 1,000 applicants. Her current jewelry collection, the Pebble Series, was inspired by her work at a garden center.

Damali Johnson Crain (’02), Houston :: was married to Sam Crain IV in 2004 and they now

David Dollar

Worth ::

received the Chancellor’s Award for Exemplary Teaching for the Tarrant County College South­east Campus, the highest teaching honor given to TCC faculty. He has served as a chemistry associate professor at TCC for 11 years and has 25 years of experience in education.

2000

have two children, Avery, 3, and Sam V, 1. Damali says the couple was in a photo in the North Texas Daily about a month into their relationship. “Thinking about our time in Denton brings back so many memories,” she says.

2003

Stan Weeber (Ph.D.), Lake Jennifer Kriston Gilligan, Frisco :: joined IntegraSys IT

Charles, La. :: attended the

Oxford Roundtable on Social

Toyah Nikole Hickman Bowman, Alvarado :: and

Chemistry Centennial In 1910, Wallace Newton Masters established UNT’s chemistry department, a program he developed and served as director for 30 years. A century later, his granddaughter, Catherine Dawson, was among those on campus to greet nearly 200 alumni and friends of the department for the Chemistry Centennial Celebration in October.

Activities throughout the day included a student poster session, a continuous history presentation and a seminar by Frank Carey (’70, ’72 M.S.) of Wharton College, all sponsored by professional chemistry fraternity Alpha Chi Sigma. At a celebration at Fremaux’s Metropolitan, 100 birthday candles were extinguished by chairs of the department through the years: Leroy Theriot, James Marshall, Ruthanne Thomas, Michael Richmond and William Acree. In addition to Dawson’s greeting, attendees enjoyed a history presentation

by Marshall, followed by personal reminiscences from alumni. Leroy Whitaker (’50, ’52 M.S.) ended the evening with a challenge to create a special Chemistry Centennial Fellowship, an endowed fellowship for chemistry students.

Among the attendees were Elaine Truitt (’42), widow of Professor Emeritus Price Truitt (’41, ’42 M.S.), and alumni Bill (’68) and Dee Carrico, son and daughter-in-law of the late “Kit” Carrico (’27), who served as chemistry chair for 26 years following Masters.

Also present was UNT’s first recipient of a doctoral degree in chemistry, Linda Creagh (’62, ’64 M.S., ’67 Ph.D.), the Truitts’ daughter.

Chemistry faculty member Diana Mason, left, presents a brick from Masters Hall to Catherine Dawson, granddaughter of W.N. Masters.

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To share your memories and read more about the department’s history and the celebration, including how to order a DVD of the event, visit northtexan.unt.edu.

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Brandon Bowman celebrated the birth of their twin boys, Liam Edward Bowman and Landry Rivers Bowman, in August. The twins joined their proud 5-year-old sister Kendal. Toyah’s sister Misti Skye Hickman and parents, Rick Hickman and Mary Loera Hickman (’78), are proud aunt and grandparents.

Emily Callahan (M.J.),

2005 Van Nguyen and Ngoc Nguyen (’09), Denton :: opened NV

Jordan Smith, Denton :: mar-

chief marketing officer for ALSAC, the fundraising organization of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. She previously served as senior vice president of global marketing and networks at Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

ried Justin Harmon in July. Jordan is a research compliance analyst in the Office of Research Integrity and Compliance at UNT. Justin is the marketing project coordinator at Northstar Bank of Texas.

Dallas :: was

selected for inclusion on the Texas Commission on the Arts Touring Roster with his band Inner City All-Stars. He is the bandleader and founding member of the group, which also was signed to National Performing Arts booking agency Betsy Dubois.

Debra Voth Sicking, Muenster :: was named 2010 Teacher of the Year for Muenster Elementary School. She is a fifth-grade reading and language arts teacher and the district web master. She also works in technology support.

She and her husband, Jason, have four children. She says she is proud to follow the example set by the instrumental educators she had throughout her college career.

➺

Cupcakes, a gourmet cupcake shop, in Corinth in October. The sisters have been exhibitors in the Dallas Bridal Show, were featured on Good Morning Texas and have sponsored several charity runs.

Memphis, Tenn. :: was named

Calvin Sexton,

...... I N T H E //

2007 Kellie Greenleaf, Dallas :: teaches first grade in the Garland ISD. She was chosen as lead teacher for the first grade at Carver Elementary School.

2008 Khanh Nguyen, Dallas :: fashion designer and founder of label Nhã Khanh, had work featured in Against the Grain’s Fashion for a Passion in 2009 and 2010, raising money for orphanages and community outreach. She received the 2010 Brilliantly You fashion award from Women That Soar.

2010 Grant Watters, Amarillo :: is the youth fitness director of the Amarillo Town Club, part of a health club chain there. He was married in October.

News

The CBS Evening News profiled artist John

Bramblitt

(’07), who began painting after he lost his sight, in its American Spirit series March 1. “The future is so open, and there’s so many things I want to do,” he tells correspondent Don Teague. “It’s brilliant, it’s just the most brilliant colors and I can’t wait to see it take form, to see it take shape.”

➺

Music educator Carla

Moreno (’97, ’01 M.M.Ed.),

with her “unshakable passion for world music,” was featured in The Huffington Post Feb. 14. She won a one-week trip to Jordan last fall through Queen Rania’s Twisit Jordan contest, a Twitter video contest to promote cross-cultural exchange.

➺

The work of longtime jazz educator Robert

Morgan

(’63, ’65 M.M.) in shaping musicians was recognized in The New York Times and in a Houston Chronicle editorial in January. Morgan, the retired director of the jazz program at Houston’s High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, was in New York attending concerts by many of his former students in an event organized by pianist Jason Moran to celebrate Houston musicians.

The Times notes of the “sophisticated and totally joyous concerts” that “because the common denominator was not just a city or a school but also one specific teacher, you sensed respect. … This wasn’t just another gig.”

UNT alums Billy

Harper (’65) and Tex Allen also

performed.

➺

A T-shirt company co-owned by business

graduate Drew Bowers (’99), right, was featured on msn.com after being named America’s Best Home-Based Business in the “Wackiest” category of StartupNation’s 2010 competition. The company, My God Designs, produces T-shirts combining unique messages and artwork featuring a fun-loving God.

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F R I E N D S

W E ’ L L

UNT’s alumni, faculty, staff and students are the university’s greatest legacy. When members of the Eagle family pass, they are remembered and their spirit lives on. Send information about deaths to The North Texan (see contact information on page 5).

ead more, write memorials and connect R with friends at northtexan.unt.edu.

M I S S dedication of the J.L. Kingsbury/ Troy M. Thomason Library on campus in 1998. She is survived by her children, Jean Gallinger (’63), Richard Hart (’69) and

Margaret Helm (’70).

1940s Ross T. Collins (’48, ’51 M.S.), Kerrville :: He helped

1930s

Marianne Kingsbury Hart (’37), Harker Heights ::

Ina Mae Renfro Jacobs (’33), McKinney :: She worked in the University Book Room and earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She was a member of the Mary Ardens and the Elementary Council. Her daughter says she often spoke of her fond memories of attending dances and enjoying the Stage Band. Ina taught in Texas and New Mexico, retiring in 1977.

She taught for 25 years and was named teacher of the Year in Pecos in 1964. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma and the Association of Retired Teachers. Her father, Joseph L. Kingsbury, history professor from 1925 to 1948, started the Historical Collection on campus and her mother, Mabel Kingsbury, became curator after his death. Marianne spoke at the

lead the golf team to Lone Star Conference championships in 1946 and 1947 and also earned letters in tennis and basketball.

He was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame in 1983. A former head golf pro, he was named PGA Golf Professional of the Year in 1971 and was inducted into the Texas and Arkansas golf halls of fame and the PGA of America Hall of Fame. He also was in two military halls of fame for his work as a Navy pilot in World War II.

University Community

degree from the University of Texas

David Fleming Dawson (’47,

Hershel M. Anderson (’55),

Sam Houston Bell (’49, ’58 M.Ed.), Tyler :: A U.S. Marine Corps veteran of World War II, he attended North Texas on an athletic scholarship. During his senior year, he was elected captain of the basketball team and was the high scorer. He taught and coached at high schools in Bellville, Overton, Big Spring and Tyler and was appointed assistant principal at Tyler’s Robert E. Lee High School in 1969. From 1973 to 1990, he was principal of Hubbard Middle School.

Ned W. Smith (’49), Tyler

:: He attended North Texas on the G.I. Bill after fighting with Patton’s Third Army in the Battle of the Bulge. He was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star with valor as well as other medals. As a student, he was a lab assistant for J.K.G. Silvey and as a taxidermist prepared study

than 40 papers on analysis, contin-

and a doctorate from the University

’48 M.S.), Den-

ued fractions and infinite series in

of Illinois. The author of multiple

ton, mathemat-

various mathematical journals in

Rockport, Pro-

articles and books, he co-wrote

ics professor,

the United States and abroad. He

fessor Emeritus

Introduction to Taxation, one of the

1959-1985,

spoke at mathematics meetings all

of accounting,

most widely used textbooks in the

died Feb. 7. He

over the country.

1961-1988, died

field for 25 years. He and his wife,

earned a doctorate from the Univer-

Dec. 26. After

Elaine Austin Anderson (’54), spent

sity of Texas and taught mathemat-

serving two tours in the U.S. Armed

many of their retirement years in

ics there, at George Washington

professor

Forces, he earned a bachelor’s

Ruidoso, N.M. They worked with

University and at the University of

of psychol-

degree from North Texas and was

the Tarahumara Indians in Mexico,

Missouri at Columbia before joining

ogy since 1976,

named the outstanding accounting

building a school and establishing

North Texas. He served in the U.S.

died Dec. 12.

graduate. He worked for two years

an orchard.

Navy from 1951 to 1953. He was a

on the audit staff at Arthur Ander-

member of the American Mathemat-

sen in Dallas. He earned a master’s

ical Society and published more

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Joseph Doster, Southlake,

He was director of the health psychology program

skins for the biology department.

After graduation, he worked as chief tester in the oil lab at La Gloria Oil and Gas Refinery, retiring in 1982. He was married to Betty Ellen Daniels (’45) for 66 years.

1950s Theron J. ‘Tom’ Fouts Jr. (’50, ’52 M.S.), Denton :: He was the son of Fouts Field namesake and former athletic director and coach Theron J. Fouts. A realtor for 46 years, he worked in Dallas in the early 1960s before starting his own real estate business in Denton, which today includes commercial and industrial real estate, property management and oil and gas divisions. He and his wife, the late Shirley Irene Prather Fouts, met as students.

He was a veteran of World War II and a 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge in Sherman.

Nev. :: He served in the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1953 based in France with the USO. He served as director of music in Galveston, Pampa and Dallas public schools before entering the insurance business. After his 1992 retirement, he served 10 years as coordinator of music appreciation with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Nevada.

rupted in 1961 when, following the sudden death of his father, he returned to Denton to manage the family business, the Super Dog Drive In, until his younger siblings finished school. He went on to pursue his profession in Dallas and Washington, D.C. He was retired from the Hirshhorn Museum, a unit of the Smithsonian Institution.

Bob Allen Littlejohn (’51), Dallas :: He served in the U.S.

time at Coleman High School, where she received awards including Grandparent of the Year. She was a member of the Kappa Delta sorority and actively involved with the local chapter of the Kappa Delta Alumnae Association.

She also volunteered at Midland Memorial Hospital and was a member of the 20th Century Study Club, Midland Society of University Women, Petroleum Industry Wives Association of Midland and Midland Association of Retired School Personnel.

Army from 1952 to 1954. He was a CPA and began a career at First National Bank, served in various executive positions with Centex, and was CEO of Metro Bank in Dallas. After a lengthy career in insurance, oil investments and banking, he worked at Wells Fargo Bank until his death.

Arthur Lee Buchanan (’57), Washington, D.C. :: After

Robert Miles Payne Jr. (’50, ’55 M.M.Ed.), Las Vegas,

graduation, he began a career in interior design in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. His career was inter-

for 25 years. He received a doctor-

Arthur Joseph Gionet, Denton,

Rosemary Voltin Cox (’57), Midland :: She volunteered full

1960s Wallace Dayne Cook (’60), Stephenville :: He served in the U.S. Army and was a longtime insurance agent before retiring in 2005. He and his wife owned Cook Insurance in De Leon and he served a term on the board of the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas.

JoAnn Sanneman Ashby (’61), Longmont, Colo. :: She served in the Woman’s Army Corps before earning her degree in education and was an elementary teacher in Texas, Minnesota and San Diego, Calif. She earned a master’s in special education and became an expert in the field, lecturing with Delta Kappa Gamma and providing the initial curricula to support autistic children in the San Diego County education system. She was a founder of the Explorers, a women education support group. She also was a principal before retiring.

consul. In 1987, he was named one

developed the doctoral program for

ate from Emory University and

Professor Emer-

of the university’s first Regents Pro-

school superintendents. An expert

taught at the University of Missouri

itus of French,

fessors, selected for distinguished

on administration, he created and

and the University of Georgia before

1961-1995, died

teaching and research. He was

revised policies for many Texas

joining North Texas. He provided

Jan. 16. After

knighted by the French government

school districts from 1969 into the

the leadership that resulted in the

serving in the

for his promotion of French, the

1980s. He began his career at age

initial national accreditations for

U.S. Air Force from 1948 to 1952, he

highest honor bestowed upon a

19 in a two-teacher school in Carter

the clinical and health psychology

completed his bachelor’s degree at

non-French citizen.

and was superintendent in Millsap,

programs and was involved in find-

St. Thomas University and earned

ing financial support for students

master’s and doctoral degrees from

completing graduate studies. He

the University of Texas. He served

Denton, Profes-

He earned a bachelor’s degree from

researched cognitive and interper-

as advisor for UNT’s cooperative

sor Emeritus

Daniel Baker University, a master’s

sonal processes in health, illness

education exchange program with

of education,

from Texas Christian University and

and recovering roles.

France and was a translator and

1968-1981,

a doctorate from Baylor University.

interpreter, working with the French

died Feb 22. He

Glen Rose, Clarksville, Belton, Port

E.V. ‘Vaughn’ Huffstutler,

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Link Marks (’62), Lovington, N.M. :: After graduation, he moved to New Mexico to start an oilfield engine servicing company with his father. He expanded to operating oil and gas wells and drilling rigs. He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity.

Link earned his pilot’s license in 1968 and logged 7,500 hours in single and multi-engine aircraft.

He also was a lifelong sportsman and collector.

Judith Bishop Ward Taubinger (’63), Roseville, Calif. :: She earned her degree in education and was a member of the Chi Omega sorority. She was a military wife for more than 23 years, who traveled and enjoyed spending time with her family.

She was an active member of the Roseville and Folsom quilting guilds. Survivors include her husband of 50 years, Col. Richard

graduating, he earned an M.A. and M.B.A. from Michigan State University. He served 21 years in the Supply Corps of the U.S. Navy, retiring as a commander, and finished his working days as a computer information systems instructor at Tarleton State University. Survivors include his wife, Sarah B. Hargrave (’65).

Jack Vedder Jones (’64, ’66 M.B.A.), Fort Worth :: He spent most of his life in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and was a Burger King franchisee for 36 years. He was president of the Young Presidents Organization and the Texas Restaurant Association of Fort Worth.

William Beryl West (’65 M.Ed., ’69 Ed.D.), Murfreesboro, Tenn. :: He was a Professor Emeritus at MiddleTennessee State University and had stayed active with the psychology department there. A preacher for 60 years, he served as pastor of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in Murfreesboro from 2001 to 2010. He was a cancer survivor since 1996 and had published works pertaining to that, as well as textbooks and articles dealing with education and psychology. He traveled extensively across the United States and China.

Allison Clinton ‘Clint’ Edmundson Jr. (’67), Rockport ::

1970s Smith Blair III (’70), Honolulu, Hawaii :: He lived part of the year in Honolulu and at the time of his death was at his wife’s home in Pattaya, Thailand. He spent his post-college career in the U.S. Army, Navy and Merchant Marine. He also earned an M.B.A. from the University of Hawaii.

Bruce Earl Haliburton (’76), Washington, D.C. :: After graduation, he worked for U.S. Rep. Bob Poage, Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill and Congressman Thomas Foley in Washington.

He earned a Master of Divinity at Virginia Union University and completed his doctorate in the School of Divinity at Howard University. He had served as a church youth minister, a substance abuse counselor and a teacher at Washington Baptist Seminary. In 2009, he established LifeLine Ministries.

Survivors include his brother, William Haliburton (’05).

master’s degree in physics and was an officer in the student section of the American Institute of Physics.

He earned his doctorate from Auburn.

He earned his B.B.A. in insurance and was a member of Delta Sigma Pi business fraternity. Following a career in insurance in the DallasFort Worth area, he retired to the South Texas coast. Survivors include his wife, Ernestine ‘Ernie’ Trietsch Edmundson (’69).

Cleveland in World War II. He

died Dec. 31. He earned a bache-

also taught at the University of

lor’s degree from Oklahoma State

composer of

professor of

California-Davis, the University of

University and his master’s and

“Fight, North

microbiology,

Minnesota, the California Institute

doctorate from the University of

Texas,” died

1973-1986,

of Technology and the Univer-

Illinois. He wrote books on office

Dec. 1 at 101.

died Jan. 19.

sity of Texas Medical School and

and administrative management,

He wrote the

He was chair of the Department of

worked at the National Institutes

business systems and strategic

fight song in 1939 as an entry in a

Biological Sciences from 1973 to

of Health and the Wistar Institute

compensation management and

contest for a new marching song.

1982. He earned an undergradu-

in Philadelphia.

published numerous articles in

As a student, he was a member of

his field. He was named a Regents

the basketball team, played football

C. Taubinger (’62).

Sam William Morphew (’65 M.S.), Helotes :: He earned his

Bevard Eugene Hargrave (’64), Richardson :: After

Karl Richard ‘Dick’ Johansson, Denton,

ate degree in microbiology, a master’s in veterinary science and

Frank M. Rachel, Denton,

Francis Stroup (’29), DeKalb, Ill.,

Professor in 1989. He worked in

and was a swimmer and diver. He

a doctorate in microbiology from

Professor

managerial positions for South-

was inducted into the UNT Athletics

the University of Wisconsin. He

Emeritus of

western Bell before joining the

Hall of Fame in 1987. He served in

served as an officer in the U.S.

management,

university.

the U.S. Army Air Corps and earned

Navy Reserve aboard the U.S.S.

1962-2005,

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his master’s and doctorate from the

Mary Ann Tate Grundborg (’77 M.S.), Arlington, Va. :: She was librarian at the Academy of the Holy Cross in Kensington, Md. She was a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority and was the regent of Thomas Nelson Daughters of the American Revolution.

U.S. Army Reserve while earning his bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia. He was a CPA, specializing in tax accounting from 1982 until his 2007 retirement. He enjoyed sports and summer vacations on the beach with his family.

Daniel K. Marmion (’78, ’85 M.S.), Granger, Ind. :: He was

Mark Wendell Hutchison (’83), Kennesaw, Ga. :: He

associate director for the information systems and access division at the University of Notre Dame for the past 10 years. He previously worked at Western Michigan University, Oklahoma State University, AMIGOS, Southern Methodist University and UNT. He was editor of Information Technology and Libraries for five years and a frequent speaker at regional, national and international library conferences.

was the creative force behind Light Image and the Highlands Photographic Workshop. He enjoyed outdoor photography and received many photography accolades, including Fuji and Kodak specialty awards. He also enjoyed teaching and at his death was enrolled in Reformed Theological Seminary pursuing a master’s in religion.

1980s Rowell ‘Rowdy’ Cheatham Stanton Jr. (’81 M.S.), Carrollton :: He served in the

University of Southern California.

Marc Anthony Madore (’86, ’88 M.P.A.), Waco :: He was an emergency management system analyst for Argonne National Lab.

A.M. ‘Monk’ Willis, Longview,

Thomas Robert Austin (’89, ’91 M.S.), Seattle, Wash. :: He held a variety of jobs until deciding to become a librarian and specialize in law. He began his library career at the Dallas firm of Hughes & Luce as a graduate student and was hired as an assistant law librarian. In 1995, he became library manager for the firm’s Texas offices and stayed on through its absorption by K&L Gates until his death. His family says he was a world-class amateur chef and sports fan who relished rock and roll, Italian loafers and the Denton Record-Chronicle police blotter.

1990s Jennifer Lee Mullin Wright (’99, ’03 M.B.A.), Lake Jackson :: She taught business and computer classes at Grand Prairie High School, then at Mary Grimes School in Farmers Branch before moving to Lake Jackson.

She taught economics at Angleton High School for three years. An

business in Longview before joining

At Northern Illinois University, he

former regent

the staff of U.S. Rep. Ray Roberts

wrote the words to the fight song

for whom

in 1972. In 1976, he was appointed

and was the first swimming and div-

Willis Library

staff director of the U.S. House of

ing coach. His teams won 13 NCAA

was named,

Representatives Veterans’ Affairs

championships. After retiring as a

died Jan. 14.

Committee, retiring in 1983. Memo-

professor of physical education, he

He served on the Board of Regents

rials may be made to the A.M. Willis

continued to enjoy composing and

from 1965 to 1983, including 10

Jr. Scholarship at UNT.

playing music. His mother, Mina

years as chair. Willis was a graduate

Gist Stroup, and brother, Malcolm

of Washington and Lee University

Memorials

Stroup, also were alumni.

and the Harvard Business School.

Send memorials to honor UNT alumni and friends, made payable to the UNT Foundation, to the University of North Texas,

He was a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy and had served as an advisor to President Lyndon B.

avid runner, she completed seven full marathons and also enjoyed reading, traveling, beachcombing and crafts.

2000s Wesley Dale Slinkard (’00), Cleburne :: He attended Grandview schools and was a member of the National Honor Society, graduating in 1993. He was employed in his family’s Cleburne saddle shop until he graduated from UNT, earning a B.B.A. in decision sciences.

Cheryl Marie Strittmatter (’05), Fort Worth :: She graduated from Amon Carter’s Riverside High School in 1999 and earned her B.F.A. from UNT. She worked at Belk Department Store in Weatherford as a shoe specialist. Memorials may be made to the UNT Alumni Association.

Division of Advancement, 1155 Union Circle #311250, Denton, Texas 76203-5017. Indicate on your check the name of the memorial fund or area you wish to support. Make secure gifts online at www.development.unt. edu/givenow.

For more information, e-mail giving@unt.edu or call 940-565-2900.

Johnson. He operated an insurance

Spring 2011

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No r t h Texa n

47

Word

THE LA S T

just the best

by Tommie Phillips Harris (’37) ATTENDING NORTH TEXAS in the early 1930s was one of the highlights of my life. Growing up in Blue Grove near Wichita Falls, I was always interested in history, and I knew from an early age I wanted to be a teacher. I began my studies in the fall of 1933 at North Texas, because it was one of the highest recommended colleges in the state.

I am the oldest of four children from a family of stock farmers and ranchers. In 1933, the Great Depression was going on and money was very tight. I lived at the Beville House, a girls’ rooming house on Oak Street. There were two rooms downstairs and four rooms upstairs, with two girls in each room. To save money, the girls brought food from home. I remember bringing cooked ham, canned fruit and different vegetables raised on our farm. We all cooked our meals together, and the girls were like family.

One of my favorite places on campus was the library. I spent many hours there reading about history and geography. I loved learning about other parts of the world. I worked very hard to make good grades, and it paid off as I was asked to be a member of the Historical Society. My favorite teacher was Dr. L.W. Newton, head of the history department. He inspired me even more to be a teacher.

My father would come and pick me up in the summer time and take me home, but during the holidays I often rode home with a boy who lived near our farm. I rode in the rumble seat in the

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back of his car. It was so much fun to make the trip back home this way.

But because there always seemed to be so many interesting things to do around campus, I hardly ever wanted to go home. Many times I would walk to downtown Denton to see the movies, sometimes even in the snow. I always took advantage of my activity card that came with the school tuition. It gave me access to all of the fine arts programs.

One of my favorite memories was seeing Fred Astaire in a movie that was shown in the auditorium. I can still see him up there on that stage dancing away.

He was so graceful and light on his feet. I have always loved music. My mother played the piano and my father played the French harp. When my family could afford it, I took piano lessons.

In 1935, my family did not have enough money to send me back to school.

I stayed home for a year and helped my dad on the farm. This was a very hard time for everyone. The bank went broke in Henrietta, the closest larger town. We

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Spring 2011

all survived this difficult time and became stronger people because of it. We learned to appreciate the little things in life.

When I was able to return to school in 1936 and complete my studies, I was so happy to see the campus with all the pretty trees again. I am now 96 years old and I still wear my senior ring on my right hand. The date has been worn smooth because I have worn it all these years. I think North Texas has always had many advantages to offer its students. It is just the best.

Tommie Phillips Harris (’37) earned a bachelor’s degree in history and taught in rural schools in Burkburnett and Pecos until she retired in 1980. She stressed the value of education to her two daughters, who both became teachers. She also has one granddaughter and one great-grandson. She has lived in Kermit since 1946, moving there with her husband to raise a family and work in the oil fields. She says keeping active and being interested in the world around you is the secret to staying young at heart.

Michael Clements

The North Texan UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS Division of University Relations, Communications and Marketing 1155 Union Circle #311070 ● Denton, Texas 76203-5017

P A R T I NG S H O T The Mean Green men’s basketball team advanced to its second straight Sun Belt Conference Tournament Championship final in March after taking down Western Kentucky 81-62 in the semifinal. The University of Arkansas at Little Rock won the final 64-63 with a last-second three-pointer in a game that featured 17 lead changes, ending UNT’s hopes for a second straight NCAA berth. The Mean Green finished the year 22-11, its fifth consecutive 20-win season. Pictured is UNT senior Josh White, who was named to the All-Tournament Team along with Tristan Thompson and George Odufuwa.