Class Notes
classnotes
'42 Bette Gough Slade, BA '42, celebrated her 92nd birthday on March 27. She was honored at The Church of Lake Cherokee for her many years of service as a greeter. Slade is the widow of Frank H. Slade, BBA '42. She is past owner of Welcome Services and assisted her husband at Slade's Men and Boys Shop in Longview. Contact at SR-11 Lake Cherokee, Henderson, TX 75652 or BetSlade@aol.com.
'48 Patrick Luckett, BS '48, of Austin, is a former U.S. Marine and an Iwo Jima survivor. On this year's anniversary of Iwo Jima, Luckett marched in a parade in Fredericksburg and attended a reenactment of the fight for Mount Suribachi, the scene of the iconic flag-raising photograph. Less than two weeks after landing on the island, Luckett was wounded by a Japanese mortar and was awarded the Purple Heart. Of the 290 men in his battalion, only about 10 percent walked off the island. Luckett spent much of his life working in the oil and chemical business in Houston and later retired in Austin.
'50 C. Hudson Favell, BA '50, of Dover, N.J., has carved dozens of totem poles over the years, but none of them have been topped with chickens -- until now. Inspired by his admiration of chickens, apparently shared with former Baylor President Pat Neff, he recently carved what he calls "The Pat Neff Totem Pole" from a black locust tree blown down by a hurricane. The pole -- topped with a Rhode Island Red rooster and a White Rock hen -- is displayed in his yard.
Favell writes, "Even though I never saw Pat Neff when I was a Baylor student from 1948-50, I heard a number of times that he said that the U.S. government had made a big mistake putting a bald eagle on top of buildings; it should have been a chicken (or he might have been a turkey). Then he would explain the many ways that the chicken has contributed to our lives, whereas the eagle has only been a bird to view.
"After I left Baylor and moved to north Louisiana in 1953, I had two small children and decided to have chickens for eggs to feed the family. Two years later we moved to Old Fort, N.C. I put all 10 hens in a cage on top of the car and drove cross-country before interstates existed. That was a sight to see. In 1959 we moved to Ghana, West Africa, and again I had about 10 hens to feed my family of six. We lived in Fort Smith, Ark., for three years after that, and again I had about 10 hens."
Favell says he first was exposed to chickens when, as a boy, his father gave him 300 eggs in an incubator, raising them in his family's basement until his mother made him get rid of all of them except -- you guessed it -- 10 hens.
'58 In the past year, actor Joe Dellinger, BA '58, has appeared in Stephen Spielberg's Lincoln, in which he plays Nelson Merrick, a New York congressman who accepts patronage to vote for the 13th Amendment to the Constitution; as Richard III in his 10th season on the Virginia Shakespeare Festival's main stage; as British General Gage in the visitor center film of the Boston Tea Party and Ships Museum; as Continental General Horatio Gates in a museum film for the U.S. Army; a background appearance in Turn, a pilot for a new series on the AMC channel; and a principal role as the grandfather in the A&E Network's Killer Kids: Children Who Kill -- Series II. After 21 years in the Air Force and 12 years teaching college English, Dellinger is 12 years into his third career. He lives in Williamsburg, Va., with his wife, Lyn. Contact at joedellinger@cox.net.
'62 Dr. Wendell P. Erwin, BA '62, of Houston, was honored with the Baylor College of Medicine Lifetime Achievement Award at their Reunion Weekend in April. He received his medical doctorate there in 1966. He is married to Jenny Lind Erwin, BBA '62.
Hon. Ted Hartley, BA '62, JD '65, of Clovis, N.M., retired from his position as chief justice for the Ninth Judicial District, effective July 1. He spent 10 years there on the bench. Hartley opened his practice in Clovis in 1970.
'65 Melinda Ager, BFA '65, of Devers, Texas, held an open house showcasing her hand-crafted jewelry collection from her business, Twists & Gems, on Feb. 9. See more of her work at shop.gemtwists.com.
'66 Dr. Dave Bennett, PhD '66, has written a new book, The Healing Touch (Crossbooks, 226 pages), where he shares how married couples can grow in Christ together. The book provides the scriptural means for sustaining the relationship, as well as how to resolve possible issues couples may have. Bennett has been a psychologist for nearly a half-century. He is a Christian counselor and educator in Fresno, Calif. He and his wife, Sandi, live in Dinuba, Calif. They have three daughters and six grandchildren.
Dr. Leo F. Estrada, BA '66, of Playa del Rey, Calif., was appointed to SCAN Health Plan's board of directors. SCAN is the nation's fourth largest not-for-profit Medicare Advantage plan currently servicing seniors and the physically disabled in California and Arizona. Estrada has been a member of the UCLA faculty since 1981. His work has included a focus on ethnic and racial demographic trends, particularly in the Latino population of the southwestern United States. He is also the founding director of the North American Integration and Development Center at UCLA and a former board member on the national board of the AARP, The California Endowment, New Economics for Women, National Association of Childcare Resource and Referral Agencies, and Hispanics in Philanthropy.
Pamela Berry Pittard, BA '66, of Bedford, Texas, has authored Eagle in a Storm (Burkhart Publishing Co.). The book is the story of the greatest challenge of her life: her fight with cancer. It is a struggle of hope and faith and serves as an encouragement to anyone going through a life-changing health issue. The book is available at pam.pittard.com or amazon.com. Contact at pamandknox@yahoo.com.
'68 Melinda Bull Coker, BA '68, has had her second book published, a cookbook with recipes and beautiful photos. Coco's Healthy Cooking: A Collection of Delicious Plant-Based Recipes to Renew Your Health and Vitality is available on amazon.com. Coker and her husband, Dr. Rick Coker, BS '68, live in Tyler, Texas. Contact at melindac@tyler.net.
Joe Ward, BBA '68, of Telephone, Texas, has been reappointed to the Soil and Water Conservation Board by Gov. Rick Perry. He is involved in administering Texas soil and water conservation law, and will coordinate conservation and pollution abatement programs throughout the state. Ward is a board member of the Fannin County Multipurpose Complex, a director of the Bigbee Cemetery Association, and a member of the Telephone Volunteer Fire Department and Telephone Baptist Church. He has also served in the U.S. Army National Guard and U.S. Air Force National Guard.
'69 Richard Hudson, MA '69, vice chancellor for government and community relations at the University of Arkansas, and his wife, Joanna, have made a $100,000 gift to the University of Arkansas. In 1969 the couple moved to Fort Smith, Ark., where Richard taught political science at what was then Westark Community College. They moved to Fayetteville in 1994 when Richard took the job of director of government relations. In his current role, Hudson acts as the university's lobbyist and connection to the Arkansas legislature.
Dr. William "Barry" James, BS '69, MSD '74, of Palestine, Texas, was reappointed by Gov. Rick Perry to the Upper Neches River Municipal Water Authority Board of Directors for a term to expire in February of 2019. James is an orthodontist and co-owner of James Orthodontics Inc. He is also a member of the Texas Forestry Association and a past recipient of the American Cancer Society Trailblazer Award.
Sandy (Durham) Stephenson, BA '69, writes, "Bob (Stephenson) and I are both retired. We built a farmhouse in Groesbeck and stay there on game weekends (40 minutes to Waco). We enjoy keeping up with our AKPsi and Athenean buddies by email and Facebook. We have five grandkids -- four girls and one awesome boy, ages 12 to one month -- all within driving distance. (We're building a play house this weekend). Would so like to hear from old classmates." Contact at sjdstephenson@embarqmail.com.
'71 Dr. Gary Buckner, BA '71, was elected to the position of director of missions of the Mountain Valley Baptist Association in Alamogordo, N.M., which is comprised of 24 Southern Baptist congregations in two counties in southeastern New Mexico. Contact at gary.buckner@icloud.com.
'72 Robert Stecher, BA '72, is the administrator of Crockett County Care Center in Ozona, Texas. His new address is P.O. Box 1164, 205 11th Street #B, Ozona, TX 76943.
'73 W. Mike Baggett, JD '73, received the Dallas Bar Foundation's 2013 Fellows Award and was honored at the foundation's 22nd Annual Fellows Luncheon at the Belo Mansion Pavilion in Dallas on March 27. Baggett is chairman emeritus and a shareholder at Winstead, P.C. and is a Sustaining Life Fellow of the Dallas Bar Foundation.
'74 Dr. Gary A. Keith, BA '74, is associate professor in the Department of Government and International Affairs at the University of the Incarnate Word (San Antonio) and president of the Southwest Association of Pre-Law Advisors. His third book is being published this summer: Rotten Boroughs, Political Thickets, and Legislative Donnybrooks: Redistricting in Texas (UT Press). Contact at gkeith@uiwtx.edu.
Dr. Paul Parsons, BA '74, was one of two nominees on the 2013 ballot for the line of succession to the presidency of the Association of Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. If elected, he would serve as AEJMC vice president during 2013-14, president elect in 2014-15, and president in 2015-16. Currently, Parsons is the dean of Elon University's School of Communications and has received the national Administrator of the Year award from AEJMC and the Scripps Howard Foundation. He has also served as president of the Association of Schools of Journalism and Mass Communication.
Dr. Randolph K. Sanders, BA '74, has edited Christian Counseling Ethics: A Handbook for Psychologists, Therapists and Counselors (2nd Edition, Intervarsity Press 2013: 552 pages). A clinical psychologist in private practice in New Braunfels, Texas, Sanders has assembled a distinguished team of clinicians and academicians to address key ethical issues facing Christian mental health professionals today. Among other things, issues covered include therapist competence, multiple relationships, addressing spiritual issues in therapy, confidentiality, cross-cultural counseling, counseling with minors, teletherapy and psychological first aid after disasters. The book also considers ethical dilemmas faced by therapists who work in specific work settings such as church-based counseling centers, government and military institutions, college counseling centers and missions organizations. The handbook is intended both as a ready reference for professionals in practice and as a text for students.
'75 Dr. James C. Denneny III, BS '75, of Columbia, Mo., joined the Central Methodist University Board of Trustees in February. He is a professor of clinical otolaryngology and a practicing physician at the University of Missouri.
'76 Christian humorist and impressionist Dr. Dennis Swanberg, BA '76, of Monroe, La., was the keynote speaker during a lunch inside the Lake Charles Civic Center's main auditorium in front of hundreds of people to observe the National Day of Prayer. Along with public speaking, Swanberg is also an author and has produced broadcast shows like "Swan's Place" and "The Dennis Swanberg Show." He is president of Swanberg Christian Ministries.
'77Celinda Hallbauer, MM '77, of Belton, Texas, was recently honored by the Music Teachers National Association as an MTNA Foundation Fellow at the 2013 MTNA National Conference in Anaheim, Calif. Hallbauer is professor of music at Central Texas College, where she teaches music fundamentals, theory appreciation and piano. She also holds a bachelor of music degree from the University of Texas.
'78 Elsevier, a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services, has appointed Dr. James Nolin, BA '78, as editor-in-chief of InOrder, Elsevier's new cloud-based order set solution. He is responsible for leading content production and medical content strategy. Nolin previously served as a director of clinical excellence informatics for Ascension Health, the country's largest Catholic, non-profit 80-hospital system, based in St. Louis, Mo. Nolin is board certified in emergency medicine and has practiced 24 years in academic and community hospitals as an emergency medicine physician, including as co-founder of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Cook County Hospital in Illinois.
Kenneth Broughton, BA '78, JD '81, recently joined Reed Smith LLP as a partner in its new Houston office. He is a member of the U.S. Commercial Litigation practice group. Broughton previously worked for Haynes & Boone. He has more than 25 years of experience representing corporate clients and individuals in a broad spectrum of business and employment disputes and litigation. During his career, he has served in several management roles, including as the managing partner of the Houston office of a leading Am Law firm.
'79Paul Foster, BBA '79, of El Paso, has been reappointed to the University of Texas System Board of Regents. Foster is the current regent vice chairman through February 2019 and is also the executive chairman of Western Refining Co.
Gary Keller, BBA '79, chairman of Austin-based Keller Williams Realty Inc., has authored The One Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results (Bard Press, 240 pages). Appearing on Austin Business Journal's "Face 2 Face" program in April, Keller said, "Multitasking is a physical lie. The truth is you can't do two things at the same time, so what's the one thing that you could do?" He said that multitasking is the opposite of pursuing that one thing and is the reason for a lot of failure or underachievement. After Keller graduated from Baylor, he found his "one thing" to be his ability to sell homes. Today, Keller Williams is the largest real estate brokerage in North America with 80,000 agents. Keller's New York Times bestselling books have sold more than 1.3 million copies.
Cheryl Mohr, BA '79, MSEd '88, is one of the two founders of Gardner Mohr Architects, a Silver Spring, Md., firm that specializes in sustainable residential design. One of her rebuilt homes earned a coveted gold LEED rating (for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) from the U.S. Green Building Council. In addition, the house has a home energy rating score of just 39, which means that it uses 61 percent less energy than an identical structure built to current energy codes. Mohr earned her graduate degree in architecture from the University of Texas in 1985.
Dr. Mary Elizabeth Wearden, BS '79, was selected as one of the "super doctors" in the field of neonatology in the December 2012 issue of Texas Monthly magazine. She is the medical director for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for the Baptist Health System, which includes five hospitals in San Antonio.
'80 Hon. Brad Cates, BBA '80, JD '80, of McLennan County Court at Law No. 2, has been elected to membership in the Fellows of the Texas Bar Foundation. Fellows are selected for their outstanding professional achievements and their demonstrated commitment to the improvement of the justice system. Each year, one-third of 1 percent of State Bar members are invited to become Fellows. To date, the Texas Bar Foundation has distributed more than $14 million throughout Texas to assist nonprofit organizations with a wide range of justice-related programs and services.
Dr. Sharon M. Shields, BSEd '80, MSEd '83, of Waco, was appointed to the Texas Association of School Boards Supplemental Employee Benefits board of trustees. Shields has served as La Vega ISD's superintendent since 2006. Among her many professional and civic roles, she serves on the board of the Bellmead Chamber of Commerce, Heart of Texas Community Health Center, Inc., and Madison Cooper Foundation. Shields was selected as a state finalist for TASB Superintendent of the Year and Education Service Center Region 12 Superintendent of the Year.
Dr. Jean Stuntz, JD '80, of Canyon, Texas, has been promoted to head of the history department of West Texas A&M University, effective in August. She also recently published The Alamo and Zombies to get more people interested in Texas history. Contact at jstuntz@email.com.
'81 Martha (Bell) Lawley, JD '81, of Worland, Wyo., is an author, speaker, Bible study leader and women's ministry consultant for the Wyoming Southern Baptist Convention. She began her legal career in Houston specializing in business litigation. Lawley has led women's conferences and retreats nationwide. She and her husband, Roger, have three children.
Dr. Charles Ray Thomas Jr., BBA '81, MTax '83, has been appointed as director of the full-time Executive MBA in Hospitality Administration (EMBA) at the Ecole hôteliére de Lausanne, Switzerland. With more than 30 years of experience in hospitality, Thomas brings significant skills to the role; he joins the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne from Southwest Airlines, where he rose to the position of director of financial analysis.
Mark Tipton, MBA '81, of Atlanta, Ga., is chairman and CEO of Georgia Commerce Bank, which he and a partner opened in 2003. Today, the bank has $750 million in assets and seven branches, having grown from 11 to 112 employees. Tipton is also a past chairman of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta.
'82 On Feb. 8, Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst appointed Sen. Larry Taylor, BBA '82, of Friendswood, to represent Texas on The Energy Council, a 12-state, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting sound energy policy. Taylor served on The Energy Council as a member of the Texas House of Representatives from September 2011-January 2013, when he was sworn in as state senator representing District 11. Taylor was elected to the Texas Senate after having served five terms in the Texas House of Representatives.
Dr. John Avant, BA '82, is the new lead pastor of the 8,000-member First Baptist Concord in Knoxville, Tenn. For the past five years, he has pastored First Baptist Church of West Monroe, La. Avant has written four books, served as vice president of evangelization with the North American Mission Board, and served on committees for the Baptist National Convention. He is known for his role as pastor of Coggin Avenue Baptist Church in Brownwood, Texas, when the "Brownwood Revival" broke out -- a spiritual movement that swept across the U.S. and eventually touched more than 100 college campuses. Internationally, Avant has helped to plant churches in Belarus, Mexico, Lebanon, Japan and Vietnam. He has also trained pastors in many countries, including China, Israel, Canada, the United Kingdom, Virgin Islands and Uganda. His wife is Donna (Duniven) Avant, BSEd '82.
'83 Beth Ann Blackwood, BA '83, JD '86, of Dallas, has been reappointed by Texas Gov. Rick Perry to the State Securities Board for a term that expires January 2019. This board protects investors by enforcing securities laws to ensure a free and competitive securities market. Blackwood is an attorney and partner at Thomas and Blackwood LLP.
Karen Crawford, JD '83, was announced as chief legal officer for Stearns Lending, Inc. She leads the overall legal, compliance and internal audit strategy and functions for Stearns' multi-channel mortgage origination, sales and servicing operations. Prior to joining Stearns Lending, Crawford served as chief risk officer at MetLife Bank, N.A., where she was responsible for monitoring and mitigation of credit, operational, legal and regulatory risks of the bank's operations.
Sid Grant, BBA '83, of Colleyville, Texas, has been appointed to the Texas Association of School Boards Supplemental Employee Benefits board of trustees by the president of the TASB. Grant serves as Coppell ISD's assistant superintendent for business and support services.
Kenneth E. Whitfield, BA '83, of Houston, has been named the new publisher of The Jersey Journal, Hudson County's 146-year-old daily newspaper. He started his career in the advertising department at the Dallas Morning News and then moved on to a 13-year stint with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Whitfield became the vice president of advertising at Long Island's Newsday before he moved back to Houston to work for the Houston Chronicle.
'84 E.J. Bird, BBA '84, was recently appointed as interim CFO of Sears Canada Inc. He continues to serve as a director of Sears Canada, a role he has held since 2006, and stepped down as lead director and member of the audit committee. Bird earned an MBA at Stanford and has worked extensively in the investment arena. He is also an independent director at Global Water Resources Inc. of Phoenix, Ariz., and at Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc. of Hoffman Estates, Ill. Most recently, Bird led his own company providing consulting services. He and his wife, Jill Pullen Bird, BBA '84, founded Blue Ridge Christian Academy near Tigerville, S.C., in 2003, where he served as treasurer until this past January.
Chuck Fleming, BM '84, of Pleasanton, Calif., was appointed the new superintendent of schools for Valley Christian Schools. Previously, he was director of performing arts there. Fleming is an ordained minister, working in the children's and young adult ministries, discipleship, and ministry organization. In 2000, Calvary Chapel Bible College opened an extension campus in the United Kingdom and asked him to establish the campus and serve as academic director, which he did for seven semesters.
Kathleen Johnson, JD '84, has been named director of the new enforcement division in the Environmental Protection Agency's San Francisco office. She previously served as the EPA's senior supervisor of Superfund cleanups and as an attorney.
'85 Fletcher Brown, BBA '85, JD '91, has joined the Waller law firm in Austin as a partner. He will assist hospitals, health systems, physician practices and other healthcare providers in Texas with operational and regulatory issues. Previously, Brown served as director at Austin-based David & Wright, P.C., where he focused on health law issues in the state of Texas. He also serves as chairman of the board of directors for CommunityCare, a federally qualified health clinic serving the Travis County underserved patient population.
Bill Jones, JD '85, was the speaker for the Texas A&M University Campus Muster, an Aggie tradition honoring Aggies who have fallen since the previous Muster roll was read that brings together thousands of former students. Jones has practiced law in Houston for 15 years in business litigation, including trial and appellate work in state and federal courts. He has held a variety of leadership positions on boards and in organizations, and twice in the early 2000s served as general counsel to Texas Gov. Rick Perry.
Ester Wang, BM '85, is an associate professor at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn. She is an active soloist and collaborator across the United States and has appeared on numerous concert series. Wang is part of "The Thursday Musical" group and recently performed Mozart's Fantasy in C Minor in concert at the Owatonna Arts Center in Owatonna, Minn.
Pat Long Weaver, JD '85, has joined the Burleson LLP Firm's Midland, Texas, location. She has been board certified in civil trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1995 and is experienced in representing a wide range of oil and gas clients.
'86 Jill (Presley) Bell, BSEd '86, has taken on the role of instructional dean of mathematics at Ronald Reagan High School in San Antonio. A 23-year teacher, Bell also works as an independent educational consultant, presenting workshops across the U.S. on the topics of pre-AP mathematics, AP calculus, and SAT math preparation. Her new role as dean allows her to stay in the classroom and continue teaching (which is her passion) as well as perform administrative duties using the experience and knowledge she has gained as a consultant. Contact at jillbellmath@gmail.com.
Doug Yeiser, BA '86, was announced as the new president and CEO of Foothills United Way in Lafayette, Colo., in April. He has 24 years of experience in nonprofit leadership and resource development. Previously, Yeiser was senior vice president of strategic markets for the United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County and served as the interim senior vice president of resource development for United Way Worldwide.
'88 Jane Croft, BBA '88, was recently honored among the National Employees of the Year 2013 by Careers & the disABLED magazine. She is one of 10 winners out of thousands of nominations from all business industries nationwide and was profiled in the April 2013 edition of the magazine. She received her award in Boston on April 11 and gave a speech about being a profoundly deaf employee in healthcare. She currently works as an IT quality control analyst associate of Wellpoint, Inc. Contact at 3801 N. 5th Way, Ridgefield, WA 98642 or JaneCCroft@yahoo.com.
Walt Holmes, BBA '88, JD '90, of Coppell, Texas, has been named the senior vice president for distributor operations and innovation team of Dallas-based Interstate Batteries. Holmes joined Interstate in 1995 as an associate general counsel and most recently served as the senior vice president of Interstate's independently owned territories and Interstate's PowerCare Division. Holmes is a member of the State Bar of Texas and the Texas General Counsel Forum.
Susan (Stafford) Jeffus, BA '88, was promoted to vice president, associate general counsel at MoneyGram International, Inc., headquartered in Dallas. MoneyGram, a leading global money transfer company, has a global network of more than 310,000 agent locations in 197 countries and territories.
On June 1, Dr. Carol A. Lowe, PhD '88, of Waco, became president of the Texas Community College Teachers Association, which is the largest organization of post-secondary educators in Texas and regularly provides information and testimony to committees of the Texas Legislature and state government agencies. Lowe serves in multiple McLennan Community College leadership positions and has earned several distinguished teaching awards.
Dewitt, Ark., native Teri Relyea, BA '88, recently held a book signing there for her first publication, Journey Map. The book is a process of transformation that teaches people how to experience a new life of expanded awareness and joy. Relyea is an artist who creates welded metal sculpture, paintings, drawings and home decor with a primary focus on transforming salvaged materials.
Dr. Janine (Cowley) Sherrier, BS '88, has been named the acting deputy dean of the University of Delaware's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. She is a professor in the Department of Plant and Soil Science with a secondary appointment in biological studies, teaching courses in plant development biology and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students in her research laboratory. Sherrier also directs a robust research program at the Delaware Biotechnology Institute.
'89 Scott Davis, BBA '89, has joined Interactions Corporation, a provider of natural, conversational automated customer care systems, as vice president of western U.S. sales. Davis most recently served as a regional vice president of sales at Trustwave; he has also been the sales vice president at Sipera Systems, CA Inc., and DeepNines Technologies.
Joe C. Stone, BBA '89, was appointed to the Board of Magne-Gas Corporation on April 30. Stone has been a partner at Pace Petroleum, LLC, since 2006. From 2000-06, he was a senior vice president of global mergers and acquisitions at Lehman Brothers. From 1996-2000, Stone was a vice president in investment banking at Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown.
'90 Dr. Robert Bell, BS '90, MA '91, of Cheshire, Conn., has joined Summit Medical Group in Berkeley Heights, N.J. The bariatric surgeon will lead the development of SMG's bariatric services program and be a member of its general surgery team. Bell is board certified in surgery, has expertise in bariatric surgery for morbid obesity, and is also among the few surgeons in the New York metropolitan area who perform corrective obesity surgeries. Previously, he was founder and medical director of the Yale New Haven Bariatric Surgery Program and medical director of the Yale New Haven Hospital Minimally Invasive Surgery Program.
Charles Bruner, BSEd '90, has become the new principal at Richardson High School in Richardson, Texas. Bruner had been the principal of Forest Meadow Junior High since 2002. Before that, he was principal and assistant principal in Cedar Hill ISD. He also taught biology and English, and coached in the Burleson and Whitney districts.
Kelli (Cook) Styron, BBA '90, JD '94, has been named dean of the College of Liberal & Fine Arts at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas. Styron has served as interim dean of the college for the past 18 months. Her prior administrative service roles include executive director of compliance, evaluation and institutional reporting; department head for social work, sociology and criminal justice; and Faculty Senate president. Styron has served as an associate professor of criminal justice at Tarleton since 1998.
'91 Scott Lauck, '91, is a wine distributor and owner of Synergy Fine Wines in Denver. His company started with five brands and now has more than 200, turning over more than $15 million of inventory each year.
John Youngblood, JD '91, of Cameron, Texas, has been reappointed by Gov. Rick Perry to the Risk Management Board for a term that expires Feb. 1, 2019. This board oversees the State Office of Risk Management, which reduces and controls risk by ensuring state agencies' ability to protect their employees, the public and the state's physical and financial assets. Youngblood is judge of the 20th Judicial District Court in Milam County. He is former director of the Texas A&M University Risk Management and Safety Office.
'92 Dr. David Barker, BA '92, is the new director of the Institute for Social Research at Sacramento State University. The institute is a resource for nonprofits, government agencies and the academic world. Its task is to perform surveys and program evaluations for a range of clients. Barker previously taught political science at the University of Pittsburgh for 14 years. He has authored two books about American politics: Rushed to Judgment: Talk Radio, Persuasion and American Behavior (2002, Columbia UP) and Representing Red and Blue: How the Culture Wars Change the Way Citizens Speak and Politicians Listen, written with Christopher Jan Carman (2012, Oxford UP).
Angela (Woodley) Kronenberg, BA '92, was named chief advocate and general counsel of Washington D.C.-based COMPTEL, the leading trade association for the competitive communications industry. She will lead COMPTEL's legal and policy group. Kronenberg previously served for three years as a wireline legal advisor for FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn, and she was a special counsel in the Spectrum and Competition Policy Division of the FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. She also practiced telecommunications and media law in the Washington, D.C., office of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP for more than a decade.
Denver-based law firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck has named Kristin Stork, BA '92, as director of community relations, helping the firm's 13 offices engage with local community organizations. Stork has previously worked in managing relationships and communications with nonprofits.
Texas State Representative Jason Villalba, BBA '92, of the 114th district, was assigned to the House Committee on Business and Industry and the Committee on Environmental Regulation for the 83rd session of the Texas Legislature. Villalba graduated from UT School of Law and practices as partner at Haynes and Boone in Dallas. He and his wife, Brooke, are the proud parents of two daughters, Sophia and Elena. Contact at jason.villalba@house.state.tx.us.
'93 Kevin Ferrier, JD '93, of Tyler, Texas, celebrated a ribbon-cutting and grand-opening ceremony at his firm's new office in early February 2013. He has practiced law for 19 years, with the last 12 years at his own practice. He specializes in wills, probate and guardianship.
Dr. Heather Hall, BA '93, of Austin, received the 2013 Outstanding Alumni Award from The University of North Texas College of Information in April. Hall, a deputy director of information technology at the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS), earned her doctorate in the Interdisciplinary Information Science PhD program in 2005. As a certified project management professional, she oversees the DADS Project Management Office and its multi-million dollar project portfolio; she also helps manage the day-to-day operations of the IT department. After working in the private sector for many years, Hall began her career with the state of Texas in 2001 and has received several industry awards.
Institutional Securities Corporation's Executive Vice President Scott A. Hayes, BA '93, has led a team in acquiring the company. He assumed the role of president and CEO. Hayes, who joined ISC in 1997, is the immediate past president of the National Tax Sheltered Accounts Association and currently serves on the board of directors of the American Society for Pension Professionals and Actuaries. ISC is an introducing broker-dealer and Registered Investment Advisor headquartered in Dallas.
Carolyn Morales, BA '93, of Tyler, Texas, has been selected as part of Leadership Texas' class of 2013. She is working on her doctorate in leadership and change from Antioch University in Ohio. Morales works as the human resources manager at Morales Tax Service. Previously, she worked for 12 years in higher education, as director of student affairs at Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania, assistant dean of students at Wells College in New York, and associate vice president for diversity at College of Charleston in South Carolina.
Julie (Neuenschwander) Nichols, BSEd '93, of Selma, Texas, was recently diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. She and husband Howard Nichols, BBA '93, have a son, Sam, who has autism. Julie writes, "Sam, age 12, has been very successful with a lot of therapy and prayer. The American Parkinson's Disease Foundation published/posted our story along with a local newsletter called Disability SA. I recently shared our story during our pastor's sermon in a large church. I'm trying to get this story out to encourage others." Read their story at disabilitysa.org/real-people.htm.
Dr. Jimmy Nowell, BMEd '93, recently earned a doctorate of education in educational leadership from the University of Houston. His dissertation research project was entitled "The Transition from Elementary School to Middle School: Implications for Student Discipline." Nowell holds master's degrees from Rice University and the University of Houston. He was a band director in the Pasadena, Cypress-Fairbanks and Pearland ISDs where his bands were consistent UIL sweepstakes winners. A lifelong educator, Nowell currently serves as principal for Alexander Middle School in Pearland ISD.
Becky Wade, BBA '93, of Dallas, has written her second Christian novel, Undeniably Yours (Bethany House, 368 pages). Wade's first novel, My Stubborn Heart, has been named as a finalist in the Inspirational category of the 2013 RITA awards by Romance Writers of America. The RITA is the romance publishing industry's highest award of distinction. Winners will be announced on July 20 at RWA's 33rd annual national conference in Atlanta.
'94 Taekuk Cho, BA '94, was promoted to GS-15 Homeland Security Investigations attach for Korea and Japan. He oversees all law enforcement criminal investigations in the Far East for the Department of Homeland Security. Contact at baylorcho@yahoo.com.
Shannon Dacus, JD '94, a Tyler, Texas, attorney, has been selected as part of Leadership Texas' class of 2013. A lawyer for 19 years, she and husband Deron Dacus, JD '94, started The Dacus Firm about a year ago. Among her many community and civic responsibilities, Dacus is immediate past chairwoman of The Women's Fund, chairwoman of the East Texas Community Foundation, a member of the Hispanic Business Alliance Advisory Board and secretary of the Tyler Economic Development Council Board of Directors.
William H. "Bill" Dietz Jr., BA '94, of Waco, has been reappointed by Texas Gov. Rick Perry to the State Affordable Housing Corporation Board of Directors for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2019. Dietz is executive vice president of Extraco Banks and a financial advisor with Raymond James Financial Services. He is a board member of the American Red Cross Heart of Texas Chapter and Baylor University Friends of Fine Arts.
J.J. Ford, BSEd '94, was the lay speaker during Holy Week services at the Cleburne Conference Center as the Cleburne Christian Business Club sponsored the 37th consecutive year of community worship. Ford and her husband, Ray, and their five children, Jesse, Ruth, Esther, Anna and Joshua, are active members of the Cleburne Bible Church. She and her husband have taught high school Sunday school, helped with the Awana children's program and served on the church's marriage ministry team. She also teaches art at Cleburne Christian Academy.
Cherie (Ryan) Marcum, BBA '94, recently was named executive vice president of finance at Dallas Market Center. In her position, Marcum is responsible for overseeing the company's financial processes, audits and budgeting system. She joined Dallas Market Center in 2007 as a controller and was promoted to vice president of finance in 2008. Marcum has previous experience from Carreker Corporation and Internet America, and she has served in various financial leadership positions at Northern Telecom, Citizens Communications and Deloitte & Touche.
Suzanne McGregor, BSN '94, has partnered with Dr. Seema Dar's gastroenterology practice in San Antonio. McGregor is certified as a family nurse practitioner and gerontological nurse practitioner. She received her master's and post-master's degrees in 2008 and 2009 from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Visit sagidoc.com for more information.
Pegasus Solutions has named Temple Weiss, BBA '94, as its chief financial officer. Most recently, Weiss served as executive vice president and chief financial officer of ACE Cash Express, Inc. in Irving, Tex. Prior to that, he was with LQ Management and La Quinta Corporation for more than 10 years, ultimately serving as vice president of development. With LQ Management, he held the role of executive vice president, development and acquisitions, and later, executive vice president and chief financial officer.
J. Daniel Woodall, BA '94, of Spring, Texas, has been named an equity partner at Gauntt Earl & Binney LLP in The Woodlands, where he is a trial attorney. In addition to his litigation practice, he also provides special counsel services to small and mid-sized businesses to help business owners achieve their professional objectives. Woodall has experience in construction disputes, large loss subrogation, insurance coverage and defense, commercial litigation, labor and employment, and real estate.
'95 Chad Boudreaux, BA '95, has been named the chief compliance officer of Huntington Ingalls Industries. He joined the company in 2011 as corporate vice president for litigation, investigations and compliance. Boudreaux will continue to fulfill these duties as well as the responsibilities of the new position.
Scott Gornto, BA '95, gave a presentation on "The Power of Connection: Exploring Ways of Really Connecting with Others in Relationships" in Dallas on April 16, sponsored by the Meadows Wickenburg [Ariz.] trauma and addiction treatment center. Gornto is in private practice in Dallas as a marriage and family therapist and a certified sex therapist. He is the founder and owner of Auxano Counseling and the creator of Auxano Approach to therapy, a developmental approach that highlights how marriage and relationships invite individuals to mature emotionally.
Jeff Jumonville, BBA '95, writes, "We are nearing the end of a two-year project in Perth, Australia, with my company, EnerNOC. We help electric grids manage peak demand emergencies on the grid in hopes of keeping prices in check and the electricity flowing. I've met four Baylor alumni in Perth and more than 60 Aggies, so I'm a bit outnumbered. Look me up if you're Down Under. I highly recommend Perth." Contact at jeff.jumonville@gmail.com.
Greg Nelson, BBA '95, has joined Masergy as senior vice president of global sales. Headquartered in Plano, Texas, Masergy provides managed, secure global network and cloud communications services to enterprises that have complex needs across multiple locations. Nelson has more than 18 years of industry and sales experience. Prior to Masergy, he held a nine-year tenure with Forrester Research where he assumed multiple executive positions, most recently leading global sales initiatives as the company's chief sales officer.
Christopher B. Trowbridge, BBA '95, JD '98, of Dallas, a partner at Bell Nunnally & Martin LLP, has been named one of the 25 "Legal Leaders on the Rise" in the state of Texas by Texas Lawyer. This distinction recognizes attorneys under the age of 40 "whose accomplishments distinguish them among their peers." The list was published as a special supplement to the March 25 edition of Texas Lawyer. Trowbridge's practice involves counseling clients with complex business disputes.
'96 J.K. Baxter, BBA '96, of Friendswood, Texas, has been named senior vice president and general manager of the machine division by HOLT CAT, the Caterpillar equipment and engine dealer for South, Central, North and North East Texas. He will be responsible for leading all sales and support operations for HOLT's construction equipment division. Baxter joined the company in 2002 as financial marketing manager and was named general manager of HOLT Crane & Equipment in 2010.
Rear Adm. Rebecca McCormick-
Boyle, MHA '96, is chief of staff, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, a role she's held since January 2012. McCormick-Boyle was promoted to rear admiral in July 2012. Commissioned in 1981, she holds degrees from SUNY at Buffalo School of Nursing, Chapman University in Okinawa, Japan, and Baylor. McCormick-Boyle has filled a number of leadership positions, including the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery's assistant deputy chief for medical operations and special projects coordinator for Navy Medicine's Optimization Initiative. She served as commanding officer at Naval Health Clinic Patuxent River from 2007-09.
Dr. Seth Murray, BA '96, was named Faculty Advisor of the Year by the National Academic Advising Association in April. He also received a similar award in February from North Carolina State University, where he is assistant professor of international studies. Contact at dsmurray@ncsu.edu.
Dr. Richard Pineda, BA '96, has been named director of the University of Texas at El Paso's Sam Donaldson Center. The center is a companion structure to UTEP's Department of Communication. Pineda, who holds a doctorate in communication from Wayne State University, was appointed associate director of the center in September 2010. He is a native El Pasoan who first returned to UTEP in 1996 as a graduate student, then again in 2004 as an assistant professor in the Department of Communication.
Kristi Steward, BBA '96, of The Woodlands, Texas, serves as the director of marketing for the master-planned communities of Woodforest and Harmony. She has worked in The Woodlands since 2004. Steward has worked with Johnson Development Corporation since 2007. She is a member of The Woodlands area chamber, and in 2011, she was given an award by the Greater Houston Builders Association for marketing director of the year.
Shelley (Smith) Thames, BA '96, and her family attended the White House Easter Egg Roll in April where her son Christopher, age 4, gave an impromptu "Sic 'em!" Thames works at the International Justice Mission and lives in Northern Virginia. Contact at sthames22@gmail.com.
'97 Wesley Theological Seminary has made Kirsten Hancock, BA '97, the 2013 recipient of the James Morris Miller Senior Fellowship for Excellence in Christian Social Ethics and Campus Social Action. She will spend the summer working as a pastoral intern at Pulaski Heights Baptist Church and with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship in Little Rock, Ark., before returning to Washington, D.C., in August. Contact at kirstenhancock@gmail.com.
The Luther College Board of Regents recently approved tenure for Dr. Allen Hightower, MM '97, professor of music and director of choral activities. He holds a bachelor's degree in music education from Sam Houston State University, a master of music in choral conducting from the Eastman School of Music, a master of music in orchestral conducting from Baylor and a doctoral degree in conducting from UCLA. In addition to conducting, Hightower has taught classes in conducting, choral methods, choral literature and score reading. He has taught and directed at Luther since 2010.
Hang "Hanna" Hoang, BA '97, is the 2013 recipient of the Ollie H. Burns Scholarship, presented by the Diversity Interest Group, the Burns Family and the LSU School of Library and Information Science. The purpose of the award is to provide financial assistance to qualified minority students. Hoang has worked in the reference department of the Shreveport Memorial Library for more than eight years.
Dr. Helene Suh, BA '97, a dentist, recently began practicing at the Beaumont Smile Center in Beaumont, Texas. After Baylor, Suh attended Lamar University for master's courses in business administration and sciences, then earned her DDS degree from the University of Texas School of Dentistry in Houston.
Coshocton [Ohio] Presbyterian Church recently hosted an organ concert featuring Dr. Bradley Hunter Welch, BM '97, of Dallas. Welch, director of music and arts and artist-in-residence at Highland United Methodist Church, is increasingly in demand as a recitalist, concerto soloist and collaborative artist. He holds advanced degrees from Yale University.
'98 Christina Flora Alford, BA '98, MA '99, of Frisco, Texas, is the new senior vice president and chief business development officer for National 4-H Council. As a corporate social responsibility expert and most recently the top fundraiser for Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA), Alford is responsible for increasing revenue for the 4-H movement through new partnerships, high-profile events, branded product sales, and implementing the organization's new growth strategy. She most recently served as national vice president for corporate partnerships with BGCA. She managed 24 national fundraisers, creating cause-related marketing promotions, national corporate program sponsorships, public relations and program elements comprising nearly $50 million in revenue. Prior to this, Alford was vice president of development and marketing for BGCA.
Dr. Mia Moody-Ramirez, MSEd '98, MA '01, was recently awarded tenure in Baylor's Department of Journalism, Public Relations and New Media. She will also serve as the department's director of graduate studies. Contact at 904 Oakmont, Hewitt, TX 76643 or Mia_Moody@baylor.edu.
Homer D. Trevino, MA '98, of Waco, recently finished serving six years as a State Board of Educator Certification board member. He was appointed by Gov. Rick Perry in February 2007. Trevino now serves as advisory member of the State Employee Charitable Campaign Advisory Committee for a term to expire in January 2014. He is also executive vice president and general manager of the United Way of Waco-McLennan Country.
'99 Dr. Gladys Ato, MS '99, PsyD '01, has been named provost of The National Hispanic University in San Jos, Calif. She most recently served as chief academic officer and vice president of academic affairs at Argosy University, San Francisco Bay Area, overseeing the undergraduate and graduate academic programs. Prior to joining Argosy, she held several clinical positions throughout the Bay Area in early childhood education centers, secondary schools, and at San Francisco General Hospital. Ato currently serves as the board president of the Instituto Familiar de la Raza in San Francisco and the board vice president of the Kids' Turn organization in San Francisco.
Dr. Ryan Bannon, BA '99, has been named to the Times Record News "20 under 40." A staff physician at the Women's Clinic in Wichita Falls, Texas, Bannon earned his medical degree from Texas A&M University College of Medicine. He did his training in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Oklahoma. Bannon has helped build a hospital in Ghana, is a group Bible study leader at Colonial Church, and serves on the Performance Improvement and Quality Committee as well as the Cancer Committee at United Regional hospital in Wichita Falls. He also is active in Young Life.
Dr. Norfleete Day, PhD '99, has been named 2013 Distinguished Master of Divinity Alumna by Samford University's Beeson Divinity School. She taught at Beeson in the areas of biblical studies, including Hebrew and Greek, and spiritual formation until retiring in 2009.
'00 Jeff Huett, BA '00, of Falls Church, Va., is joining the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship leadership team as associate coordinator of communications and advancement. He is currently the communications director at the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty but will start work at the CBF Resource Center in Atlanta on June 17. During his time in Waco, he wrote for the Waco Tribune-Herald and was named the outstanding journalism graduate in 2000.
Grant Walsh, BA '00, is a business litigation partner at FisherBroyles, LLP in Dallas. He was named a rising star in the April 2013 editions of Super Lawyers and Texas Monthly magazines. Contact at gwalsh@fisherbroyles.com.
Jinghao Zhou, PhD '00, of Geneva, N.Y., is an associate professor of Asian languages and cultures at Hobart and William Smith colleges. He was recently a guest essayist for The National Interest. Zhou has conducted various research projects on Chinese politics, religion, ideology, media, and women's studies. He has published more than 30 articles in English publications and more than 40 academic articles in Chinese publications. His most recent book is China's Peaceful Rise in a Global Context: A Domestic Aspect of China's Road Map to Democratization.
'01 Dava Butler, BSEd '01, is the new education coordinator at the Waco Mammoth Site.
Robert Xavier Cummings, MBA '01, married Lesli Diana Bothwell on May 11 in Tulsa, Okla. Cummings also holds a degree from the University of Texas and is employed with British Petroleum. The couple resides in Houston.
Thasunda Brown Duckett, MBA '01, was named CEO of Chase Auto Finance, part of Chase's Consumer & Community Banking division. She joined Chase from Fannie Mae in 2004 and has served as national retail sales executive for Chase's Mortgage Banking division and on the East Region sales team.
Lt. Col. Bradley C. Hilton, MSIS '01, recently was named a "Distinguished Alumni" of the Conestoga Valley School District in Lancaster County, Penn. He continues a 27-year career in the Army and the Pennsylvania National Guard, with which he has served in the Balkans and Iraq. Hilton's leadership was recognized when the U.S. Cavalry Troop he commanded in Bosnia was named the top unit of its kind in the Army in 1999. He volunteered to support the 1st Cavalry Division in Iraq, where the collaborative system he helped implement was officially recognized for saving soldiers' lives. Hilton is now stationed in Kansas, where he is working to improve knowledge sharing across Army education organizations and working on a doctorate.
After graduating from Baylor Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude, Dr. Rocco Piazza, BA '01, earned his doctorate of medicine from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston in 2005. He trained in plastic and reconstructive surgery for five years at the Grand Rapids Medical Education and Research Center in Michigan while also serving as a clinical educator with Michigan State University's College of Human Medicine. Piazza then returned to his hometown of Austin and opened his practice in 2010. An ABPS Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, he is committed to healthy eating, is an advocate for exercise and has created a comfortable practice environment focused on skin care, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery yielding comprehensive care. Contact at 7900 FM 1826 Health Plaza II, Ste. 206, Austin, TX 78737.
'02 Matt Hess, BSEd '02, taught at a Waco alternative school for three years before working at World Hunger Relief, Inc. outside Waco. After seven years of service to the farm, Hess has taken over the role of executive director and leads the organization in alleviating hunger in Waco and around the world. Contact Hess and his Baylor sweetheart, Sarah Perdue Hess, BA '01, at 356 Spring Lake Rd., Waco, TX 76705 or matt@worldhungerrelief.org.
Mark LeClair, BSEd '02, was highlighted in the March issue of D Magazine for winning the Excellence in Nursing Award for Emergency Medicine. An excerpt from the article: "LeClair began at Children's Medical Center of Dallas in 2003 as a volunteer, was hired as an EMT in 2004, and returned to school for his RN in 2009. He always thought that he wanted to work in adult trauma or adult emergency, but when he went to Children's, he knew that pediatrics was where he would make a mark. The hospital runs the busiest pediatric ER in the nation, with 170,000 cases per year, and sometimes 500 per day, including many underprivileged kids who lack adequate primary care. 'I think I make life better for children,' he says, 'and the people I serve make my days worthwhile.'" Contact LeClair and his wife, Heather Chimarys LeClair, BBA '02, at 7209 Stonetrail, Dallas, TX 75230.
After nearly a decade of working with software, Jess Martin, BBA '02, has "cast off his golden handcuffs" and decided to follow his true passion of fitness and nutrition. He incorporated Stronghorn Fitness in January and launched camps in March. "With three Austin locations open, four more being ramped up, and two more planned for Round Rock, it shouldn't be too long until Strongbear Fitness launches," he writes. Contact at
@stronghornfit or facebook.com/Stronghornfitness.
'04 Ryan Kite, BBA '04, of Santa Monica, Calif., has been announced as the director of digital strategy for TVGla, a digital marketing agency. He brings more than eight years of expertise in digital marketing, social media and creative development. Kite will be heading the strategy team to create innovative and actionable solutions to deliver against the client's business goals, challenges, and end-consumers' needs. He made the move to Los Angeles from Dallas where he worked at Rockfish Interactive. Kite has also held positions at Tribal DDB and New Media Gateway.
'05 Michael Bracken, BA '05, of Waco, received a Derringer Award from the Short Mystery Fiction Society for his short story "Getting Out of the Box," which was published in Crime Square (Vantage Point, 2012). This is his second Derringer Award.
Natalie Butler, BA '05, an associate at Hermes Sargent Bates in Dallas, is one of two American attorneys awarded the Pegasus Scholarship, which allowed her to travel to Great Britain to learn more about its legal system. As part of the six-week program, Butler visited Belfast, Northern Ireland, and Edinburgh, Scotland, to meet judges and tour their courts.
Joseph P. DeWoody, BBA '05, MBA '06, founder and president of Clear Fork Royalty, has been appointed by Gov. Rick Perry to the Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists for a term to expire on Feb. 1, 2019. The board licenses and regulates the public practice of geoscience. DeWoody also recently became a member of Young Presidents' Organization (YPO). YPO connects 20,000 chief executives leading companies generating $6 trillion and employing more than 15 million people in 120+ countries. Joseph and his wife, Kimberly (Kainer) DeWoody, BBA '05, MACC '05, live in Fort Worth. They welcomed their new son, William Joseph DeWoody, on June 7, 2012. Contact at jpd@clearforkroyalty.com.
Keith Young, BFA '05, is an Austin-based photographer and has shot for magazines such as Vice, The Photo Album: Vol. 1, Tell Mum Everything is OK, and Austin Monthly. After graduation from Baylor, Young spent five years working in an ad agency before setting out to be a full-time freelancer where he specializes in design and photography. See his work at keithdavisyoung.com.
Peter Ellis, BA '05, has renovated the historic Praetorian building in downtown Waco. The building contains 20 lofts, an art studio, and a first-floor space that has been used as restaurant space in the past. His wife, Summer (Featherstone) Ellis, BA '04, crafts jewelry in the studio, which leases space to artisans. Learn more at praetorian.info.
Nathaniel Quinn, BBA '05, married Kate Habicht on Oct. 13, 2012. He has obtained his Certified Internal Auditors license and is working at Cavco Development. They reside in Dallas.
'06 Cini Bretzlaff-
Holstein, MSW '06, has been honored as the 2013 Social Worker of the Year for the National Association of Social Workers Illinois (NASW IL) Calumet District. Bretzlaff-Holstein is assistant professor of social work at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Ill., where she has worked since 2008. Her areas of practice include child welfare, residential youth services, community development and program development. She has most recently been involved in exploring sustainable food systems and the impact of nutritional food on youth and their communities.
John Elam, BM '06, MM '09, was an accompanying pianist for Katherine Calcamuggio in a concert at Trinity Methodist Church in Carrizozo, Colo. A native of Cleburne, Texas, Elam is a master's student at the University of Michigan studying collaborative piano. There he has served as music director for Fiddler on the Roof, Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Urinetown.
Jessica (Pantano) Kline, BA '06, and William H. Kline III, BBA '02, were married on May 4 in Houston.
Julia Nelson, BA '06, is a contract assessment and planning specialist for the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, which aims to resolve conflict and crisis in global hot spots while attempting to address the root causes of violence. Her work has taken her to places like South Sudan, Nicaragua and Nigeria. Nelson has been working with the state department for three years.
Erin (Walker) Priour, BA '06, recently graduated with a master of arts in clinical psychology from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
'07 J. Ryan Fowler, JD '07, has been recognized by Law & Politics Magazine and Texas Monthly for the 2013 Texas Rising Stars list. Fowler is the lead attorney for Sloan, Bagley, Hatcher & Perry Law Firm's Houston office. He is listed among the Texas Rising Stars in the "Personal Injury Plaintiff: General" and "Personal Injury Plaintiff: Products" categories. Fowler has been interviewed on personal injury topics for major news outlets such as KUHF 88.7 FM Houston Public Radio and News 92 FM.
Homer Guevara Jr., EDD '07, was recently named chairman of the board of trustees for CPS Energy. He was appointed to serve on the board by the San Antonio City Council in March 2009. CPS Energy is the nation's largest municipally owned energy utility providing both natural gas and electric service.
Dr. Tina Mathew, BS '07, of Wichita Falls, Texas, was named to the Times Record News "20 under 40." She is a dentist at Community Healthcare Center, a nonprofit safety net organization that offers medical and dental needs to the area's disadvantaged families and children. Mathew heads up a state-of-the-art mobile unit that travels to schools in the city and area, working directly with students in need of dental care.
Adam McKee, BBA '07, of Waco, was named president of Lakeland West Capital, an alternative investment firm, in 2012. Contact at adam.mckee@lwestcap.com.
The Greater Amarillo Affiliate of Susan G. Komen has announced that Jessica Tudyk, BSEd '07, MSEd '09, has joined the organization as mission coordinator of grants and education. Tudyk, of Canyon, Texas, is a certified health education specialist and will oversee the affiliate's education programs, community outreach, advocacy and grant administration.
'08 Jonathan Adams, BA '08, of League City, Texas, graduated from Ross University Medical School in June 2012. He is currently serving as a resident physician in Syracuse, N.Y. In July he will transfer to the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee to begin three years of residency in anesthesia.
Mallory (Driggers) Berchelmann, BA '08, was promoted to associate director of the New Mexico State University Alumni Relations Office on April 8. She began her career in higher education in 2009 after reflecting on what she learned while being an involved student at Baylor. She completed a master's degree in leadership and administration at the University of Texas at El Paso while she worked as a recruiter in the admissions office. Previously, she was a senior alumni relations officer at NMSU. "Sic 'em, Bears!" she writes. Contact at mcdriggers@gmail.com.
The off-Broadway comedy How to Be a New Yorker is currently playing at Sofia's Downstairs Theater in Times Square. The show's writers and stars, native New Yorker Margaret Copeland, BA '08, and Kevin James Doyle, are also licensed NYC tour guides. They're sharing their combined wealth of experience with the masses in the Saturday Night Live-style show featuring the duo playing more than 60 characters. Copeland talks about her experiences at Baylor and why she went to college here in the show. She studied creative writing at Baylor and continued her training at the Yale Film Institute, The Atlantic, The Upright Citizens Brigade, Gotham Writers, and Hudson Valley Shakespeare. In addition to writing and performing Off-Broadway, Copeland has had recurring roles on ABC's improvised primetime series "What Would You Do?" Learn more at How2BaNewYorker.com or margaretrossicopeland.com.
Melissa Gruver, MSEd '08, has been hired as assistant dean of students for leadership and civic engagement at Purdue University. She will be responsible for the leadership development programs and Boiler Volunteer Network. Gruver has worked in the Academy for Leader Development and Civic Engagement and the Waco Episcopal Student Center at Baylor University and had been serving as the community engagement coordinator at TCU.
John Mendez, BA '08, is the retail branch manager of First Financial Bank at the United Supermarkets branch in Abilene, Texas. He has been promoted to assistant cashier at the bank, where he has worked for four years. Mendez participated in the First Financial Bank Management Certification Program in conjunction with Cisco College.
Noah Mortel, BBA '08, of Houston, has launched a dating website, collegeboo.com, exclusive to college students with a .edu email address. He is also creator of bazaarstuff.com, which he describes as a "college Craigslist;" it is also exclusive to college students with a .edu email address.
Jonathon McClellan, BA '08, has been appointed to U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz's staff as the state outreach director in Washington, D.C. He served as the political director for Cruz's successful primary, primary runoff and general election campaigns.
The husband and wife duo of Grigor Khachatryan and Dina Neglia, BM '08, presented a joint concert of piano and violin sonatas by Beethoven in Moberly, Mo. The concert included Beethoven's Sonata in A Minor, Op. 23, Sonata in A Major, Op. 12 #2, and Sonata in C Minor, Op. 30. Neglia is in her third year of doctoral studies at Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music, where she is an associate instructor in music theory.
Dr. Dwayne Nicely, PhD '08, assistant professor of mathematics at Ohio University - Chillicothe, won the Baker Fund Award, a competitive research grant from Ohio University, and is utilizing it for a study focused on student success in college. The study, "A word on word problems: How improving reading comprehension can improve performance on mathematical word problems," is designed to make mathematical reasoning less stressful and, consequently, more reasonable, for students. The research was conducted from September 2012 to April 2013.
Dr. Heather Nicole Pinckard, BS '08, recently graduated with a doctorate of medicine from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). She will continue her education with a residency position in the UAMS Department of Neurosurgery.
Star Tiko-Okoye, BA '08, writes, "Upon graduating as a University Scholar, I set out toward Asia. Thanks to the ongoing Baylor program, I spent two amazing years teaching and living in Bangkok, Thailand. From there, I headed to Philadelphia, where I am currently working on my MD/MPH. Still, no matter how far away I may find myself from that beautiful Texas sky, I still bleed green and gold, and the carillon bells of Pat Neff will always lead me home. Sic 'em!" Contact at star.tiko@gmail.com.
Caitlin Ryan, BBA '08, and Justin Bascue, BA '08, were married Dec. 30, 2012, in Dallas. Bascue, a member of Pi Kappa Alpha and the Honors College, and Ryan, a member of Zeta Tau Alpha, met at Baylor during their senior year. Justin is a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army and is currently deployed to Afghanistan. Caitlin is a marketing account manger in Dallas.
On Dec. 1, 2012, former Baylor baseball co-captain Tim Jackson, BA '08, MEd '09, married Patty Wine, BSEd '08, MSEd '08. Their wedding party was full of Baylor Bears, including Sara (Blackburn) Sgaglione, '08, Danielle Chelette, BBA '08, Suzette (LeBeck) Read, BA '08, Mary Catherine (Fontenot) Harmon, BSEd '08, Nick Cassavechia, BBA '10, Jake Weghorst, BSEd '07, and Matt Czimskey, BSEd '07, JD '12. The Jacksons reside in Round Rock, Texas. Contact at patty.jackson11@gmail.com.
'09 Morgan Canclini, BBA '09, has been promoted to senior publicist at the Worthy Publishing Group in Nashville. She oversees Worthy's traditional publicity efforts as well as social media campaigns for the company's roster of talent, which includes ASCAP's Songwriters of the Century, numerous New York Times best-selling authors, former NFL MVPs, and Grammy award-winning recording artists.
Pieter DuPlooy, BMEd '09, is currently serving as the assistant director of bands at A&M Consolidated High School in College Station, Texas. "Even though I am living in Aggieville, I still represent my alma mater every day! (My degree is on the wall, and my Bruiser and Kim Mulkey bobble heads are on my desk.) This year, I am proud to say I am sending two of my outstanding band students and one orchestra student to Baylor in the fall. Sic 'em, Bears!" he writes.
Ayla J. Farris, BA '09, will graduate from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston with a medical degree in June 2013. She will then begin her OB/GYN residency at Baylor Medical Center in Dallas.
Billy Collins, BA '09, MA '11, and Kelly Hildebrand, BA '09, MA '10, were married on July 1, 2011, outside of Chicago. In late 2012, the couple moved from Waco to Chicago. Billy currently works in market research for the Chicago Tribune, and Kelly supports the online educational offerings of universities across the country. Contact at bwcollins@tribune.com.
Carrie Schoenert, MDiv '09, and Joshua Houston were married Nov. 10, 2012, in Austin, where they reside. Carrie works with the youth at Triumphant Love Lutheran Church. Josh is the general counsel for Texas Impact. He is the son of Faith Longshore Houston, BA '75, and the grandson of Robert, BA '49, and Anita (Moore) Longshore, BA '47.
Tim Springer, BBA '09, along with two teammates at the SMU Dedman School of Law, won the 21st Duberstein National Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition in New York City. The team won first place and the Best Brief Award, topping 60 teams from more than 40 law schools around the country. At the regional competition leading up to nationals, the team was runner-up in the final round, and Springer was awarded Best Advocate for the competition. The victories marked Springer's second national moot court championship and third brief award during law school.
Rose Vera, MBA '09, is administrator of Silverado Senior Living, a newly opened 90-bed memory care community in Austin. Vera is a former nurse, medical consultant and senior living operator.
'10 Jessica Beard, BA '10, and Nate Kelm, BS '11, were married at Scarritt-Bennett Chapel in Nashville on May 26, 2012. Jessica is the human resources administrator at Capitol Christian Music Group in Brentwood, Tenn., while Nate is attending Vanderbilt University pursuing his doctorate in biomedical engineering.
Lyles Kirk, BSCS '10, MSCS '12, completed his master's degree and is currently a software engineer at National Instruments in Austin.
Nicole Liudahl, BA '10, graduated with a master's in counseling from Southern Methodist University in 2012. She accepted a position in private practice in Dallas as a mental health counselor for children. Liudahl has also founded and owns a fashion boutique for young women in Sioux City, Iowa, called Millie's Loft.
Faith Wardlaw, BA '10, recently competed on the Game Show Network's American Bible Challenge hosted by comedian Jeff Foxworthy. Warlaw became a novice with the Dominican Sisters of Mary in Ann Arbor, Mich., taking the name Sister Peter Joseph. She and two of her fellow sisters beat out several teams in the Bible trivia show. Watch clips of Wardlaw and her fellow nuns on YouTube's GSNVideos page, keywords: Sisters of Mary, American Bible Challenge.
'11 The National Republican Congressional Committee announced Daniel Abernathy, '11, as the web developer for the party's new digital campaign team in preparation for the 2014 midterm elections. Abernathy worked as a front-end developer for Harris Media, LLC, before coming to the NRCC. He is married to Emily Phillips Abernathy, BBA '11, MTax '11.
Rachel Badders, BA '11, and Luke Whyte, BA '10, were married on Oct. 13, 2012, in Nacogdoches, Texas. They say they loved Waco and Baylor so much that they couldn't leave! Luke is a realtor at Campus Realtors, and Rachel owns her own business, Rachel Whyte Photography.
Ryan Shook, BBA '11, of Los Angeles, and his brother, Josh, co-authored a New York Times bestselling book, Firsthand: Ditching Secondhand Religion for a Faith of Your Own (WaterBrook Press, 208 pages). Their parents, Rev. Kerry, BSEd '86, and Christine Shook, BSEd '86, are founders of Woodlands Church in The Woodlands, Texas. The brothers are using this book to help their peers move from beliefs and values that have been handed down from others to a more personal, grown up, sustainable faith. Ryan is a filmmaker and blogger whose videos are used at churches and schools nationwide.
Sara Thompson, BBA '11, was honored as Rookie of the Year at 3M's National Sales Meeting at St. Paul, Minn., on March 27. A professional selling major at Baylor, Thompson is a territory manager in the infection prevention division at 3M, where she has worked since 2011.
'12 Jesse Jezbera, BBA '12, has been hired at White Samaniego Campbell, certified public accountants. He will be working in assurance services and auditing team members.
Rance Norton, BA '12, of Morgan, Texas, recently performed at the Northern Nashville Country Music Festival in Halkrik, Scotland. Norton's traditional Texas honky-tonk style was a crowd favorite. After his performance, he taped an interview segment for the BBC Television Network as well as radio interviews from throughout Scotland. "It's just really neat that traditional country music has taken me to Europe," Norton said in an interview. "The crowds were very receptive to our music, and we look forward to a return visit." Norton travels around the state of Texas playing festivals and dancehalls with his band, the Cadillac Cowboys. He just released his second album, "Here We Go Again." Learn more at rancenortonmusic.com.
Ashton Ramminger, BS '12, and Ryan Allison, BBA '11, of Round Rock, Texas, were married in their hometown of Gatesville, Texas, on Jan. 12. "The groomsmen and preacher wore Superman socks, the couple left the church to a piano version of 'Old Fight,' the reception had a Baylor-themed candy bar, and the groom's cake was a picture of Sailor Bear! We kept the wedding Baylor Proud!" writes Ashton.
Nailah W. Williams, BA '12, led a group of five Penn State law students to assist victims of Hurricane Sandy over spring break. Williams and others completed a week of volunteer work with Legal Services of New Jersey, where they conducted legal research and community outreach, among other duties. Williams, who would like to be a public interest lawyer, said their legal research tended to focus heavily on insurance law and property issues. "The number of people who need help with insurance claims is just huge. Right now, many homeowners are getting checks from insurers to fix their homes but finding that their mortgage companies are not releasing the funds."
'13 Calvary Baptist Church in Waco named Mary Alice Birdwhistell, MDiv '13, as its new associate pastor. She was the church's children's minister and began her new role on April 1. The Truett Seminary graduate earned a bachelor's degree in English from Georgetown College in Georgetown, Ky., in 2009.
Emily Edmondson, BA '13, of Spring, Texas, has created a new blog, "The Papal Translation Project." She has published some of Pope Francis' works, including some of his homilies as Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Monsignor Jorge Mario Bergoglio, S.J. Edmondson has helped direct the RCIA class at St. Peter's Catholic Student Center at Baylor. Learn more at papaltranslationproject.blogspot.com.
Births
Jennifer (Rice) Ashford, BBA 02, and husband John, of Naples, Fla., welcomed their first child, Mary Ann Ashford, on Aug. 29, 2012. "We hope she follows in her Mommy's footsteps and becomes a Baylor Bear!" they write.
Alicia (Perry) Beaver, BA '06, and husband Ryan, of Fort Worth, welcomed Lillian Jane Beaver on Jan. 25. "She was 6 lbs., 1 oz., and 19 in. She is the light of our lives!" writes Alicia.
Ryan Scott and Lindsey (Oechsle) Buchanan, BA '05, of Delray Beach, Fla., welcomed their little cub, Ryder Sterling Buchanan, on Dec. 6, 2012. Ryder is the nephew of Michael, BA '03, and Katie (Buchanan) Spitaletto, BA '02, MA '04.
Aaron, BA '07, and Elizabeth Dunlap Cantrell, BFA '08, of Waco, greeted their firstborn, Emma Katherine Cantrell, on Jan. 10. She was 7 lb., 11 oz., and 21.75 in. "We are so excited to welcome our little Baylor Bear!" writes Elizabeth.
Aaron, BS '06, and Jae Lindsay (Dedmon) Chaloner, BS '05, welcomed Elliot Marie Chaloner on Nov. 9, 2012. She was 7 lbs., 11 oz., and 20 in. "Elle cheers on the Baylor Bears from her home in Edmond, Okla.," they write. Contact at jdedmon@ouhsc.edu.
Brian, BA '06, and Liz (Scott) Cleveland, BA '06, of St. Petersburg, Fla., welcomed their first child on Oct. 13, 2012. Brian and I are proud to announce the birth of our little bear, Heidi Nicole Cleveland, Class of 2035! "We are so blessed!" writes Liz.
Josh and Robin (Northern) Cohagen, BA '05, MSW '06, welcomed their first child, Noelle Evangeline Cohagen, on Feb. 8. She was 8 lbs., 3 oz., and 20 in. Grandparents are Larry and Vicki (Moore) Northern, BA '75, MSW '03, of Waco, and John and Sharon Cohagen of Overton, Texas. Noelle is the niece of Kyle, BS '04, and Bree (Northern) Leonard, BSEd '03; Patrick, MDiv '04, and Jeni Adair, MSEd '05; and John and Stacy Cohagen.
Chance, BA '06, and Paige (Patton) Connell, BA '06, of Lorena, Texas, welcomed their daughter, Cara Beth Connell, on Aug. 30, 2012. Although Cara's arrival prevented Chance and Paige from attending the football season opener, they have ensured that Cara is Baylor Proud at every opportunity!
Veronica (Salazar) Cortinas, BS '06, and husband Jesse welcomed triplets Dominic, Noelle and Noah Cortinas on Nov. 23, 2012. Contact at 6923 Caribou Creek, San Antonio, TX 78244 or vscortinas@gmail.com.
Trace and Michelle (Bruckner) Courtney, BSEd '98, of Hubbard, Texas, welcomed their first child, Gabriel Alton Courtney, on Oct. 18, 2012.
Dr. Brian Falls, BS '05, and wife Lindsey welcomed their first child, Salem Clive Falls, on Jan. 21, 2012, in Cambridge, Mass. The family lives in the Boston area but hopes to make it back to Texas soon so Salem can grow up in Bear Country! Contact at lindsandbri@gmail.com.
Chalon, BA '04, and Kelly (Adrian) Feddern, BA '04, of Dallas, welcomed their first child, Blakely Elizabeth Feddern, on Jan. 12. She was 6 lbs., 14 oz., and 21 in. Blakely comes from a long line of Baylor Bears and is excited to wear her green and gold! writes Kelly.
Michael, BBA '06, and Sarah (Brown) Feigleson, BA '06, of Katy, Texas, welcomed their daughter, Sloane Collins Feigleson, on Feb. 23. Her brothers, Dean and Luke, are looking forward to teaching her all the words to 'That Good Old Baylor Line.' And, with her Baylor-inspired name, Sloane is destined to be an enthusiastic Baylor Bear one day! writes Sarah.
Chris, BA '06, and Laura (Denman) Fermanian, BA '06, of San Diego, welcomed their first child, Elizabeth Grace Fermanian, on Dec. 18, 2012. "Libby is so excited to go to her first Baylor game since she was not able to attend the Holiday Bowl this year. We cannot wait for our future Bear to experience BU! Sic 'em!" writes Laura.
Carolyn (Fancett) Guanella, BBA '99, and husband David, of Friendswood, Texas, welcomed their second child, Matthew David Guanella, on July 28, 2012. He joins his sister, Ashley Elizabeth.Moises, BA '07, and Cheyenne Feeney Hernandez, BA '06, MA '09, of Arlington, Texas, welcomed their first child, Everett Lane Hernandez, on Dec. 20, 2012. He was 8 lbs., 1 oz., and 20.5 in.
Trent, BBA '98, and Julie (Yancey) Hughes, BSEd '98, of Dallas, welcomed their second daughter, Khloe Caprice Hughes, on Feb. 1. Contact at Trent_Hughes@msn.com.
Matt Killian, BBA '97, and wife Leslie welcomed their first child, Case Richard Killian, on Oct. 5, 2012. He was 8 lbs., 3 oz., and 21 in. The family resides in Cypress, Texas, where Matt is the area director of Cypress Area Young Life. Mom and Dad can't wait to take their baby bear to his first Homecoming. Contact at
killianstuff@gmail.com.
Neal King, BBA '05, and wife Michaela, of Magnolia, Texas, welcomed their first child, Tyler Isaac King, on July 13, 2012. "Our little bear was 6 lbs., 3 oz., and 19 in. He is such a blessing!" writes Neal.
Dr. Laura Elizabeth (Sollock) Kresta, BS '07, and husband James welcomed their first bundle of joy, Emma James Kresta, on Feb. 27 at Truman Medical Center-Lakewood in Kansas City, Mo., where Laura works as a first-year family medicine resident physician. "Welcome to the Baylor family, baby girl!" writes Laura.
Dr. Curtis Kunkel, MS '05, PhD '07, and wife Barbara (Gray) Kunkel (att. grad school '03-'04), welcomed Raven Olivia Kunkel on March 23. She was 7 lbs., 2 oz., and 20.75 in. The Kunkels both teach math at the University of Tennessee at Martin. Grandparents are Otha Dee Gray, BA '66, and Jeanne Beth Gray, an Alumna by Choice. Dee Anne Gray Rivas, BA '02, is Raven's aunt.
Chad, BS '04, and Rachel (Stancik) Lagaly, BA '04, of Houston, welcomed their daughter, Hannah Lee Lagaly, on Dec. 19, 2012. She was 8 lbs., 1.5 oz., and 18 in. She joined big brother Hunter, age 3.
Ryan, BA '07, and Lindsey (Coffman) MacLeod, BSEd '08, of Houston, welcomed their first child, Layne Elizabeth MacLeod, on July 27, 2012. "We can't wait to introduce Layne to everything Baylor!" write the MacLeods. Contact at ryanandlindsey.macleod@gmail.com.
Rachel (Proctor) Roberts, BSEd '07, MSW '09, and husband Justin, of Fort Worth, welcomed their first child, Alexa Marie Roberts, on Feb. 8.
Travis, BA '04, and Jillian (Weaver) Russell, BS '05, EdS '09, of West Fargo, N.D., welcomed Theo Jonathan Russell on Oct. 19, 2012. "Theo is already practicing his sic 'em!" writes Jillian.
Dr. Scott Ryan, BBA '09, and wife Emily Benton Ryan, BA '09, of Little Rock, Ark., welcomed their second child, Jack Benton Ryan, on Dec. 3, 2012. He was 7 lbs., 6 oz., and 20 in. "Big brother Nathan is already teaching him how to sic 'em!" writes Emily.
Cintia Tortorella Sanyeh, MSEd '04, of Santa Monica, Calif., welcomed Nolan Sanyeh on Jan. 9. He was 7 lbs., 12 oz., and 20 in. "We are already planning for Nolan to play baseball for the Bears! Sic 'em, Bears!" she writes.
Justin, BBA '08, and Hayley (Perkins) Schwartz, BA '07, of San Antonio, welcomed their first child, James Lester Schwartz, on April 25. He was 7 lbs., 15 oz., and 21 in. "He is already practicing his 'sic 'em, Bears!" writes Hayley.
Jack Smith, BBA '03, of Oakwood, Texas, sent in the above photo of his children: Ruby (4), Jack (2) and Caleb (8 months). "Bear hugs just aren't bear hugs without a shout of 'AWWW, SIC 'EM BEARS!" he writes.
Beth (Moore) Songer, BSFCS '06, and husband Matt, of Terrell, Texas, were blessed with a handsome baby boy on Feb. 9. Benjamin Ryker Songer was 7 lbs., 4 oz., and 19 in. "Big sisters Cate and Madi are already trying to teach him how to 'sic 'em!" writes Beth.
Jessica, JD '10, and Cody Stafford, JD '10, welcomed their first child, Harlan Wayne Stafford, on Feb. 28. He was 7 lbs., 12 oz., and 19 in. The family lives in Katy, Texas.
Catherine Clarke, BA '03, and Andrew Stamper, BBA '99, of San Antonio, married in 2011 and welcomed their son, Clarke Edward Stamper, on April 1. "Clarke is looking forward to his first Baylor Homecoming weekend later this year!" writes Catherine.
Anne (Lockwood) Thomas, BA '02, and husband Justin, of Fort Smith, Ark., welcomed Reid Pendleton Thomas on Jan. 11. He was 7 lbs., 14 oz., and 21 in.
Former Baylor hurdler Kevin Walker, BSEd '92, of Kyle, Texas, shared the above photo of his three boys: Ethan (6), Dylan (5) and Austin (2 months).
Deanna (Harmon) Willman, BSEd '08, MSEd '09, and husband Nicholas, of Diboll, Texas, welcomed their daughter, Emily Katherine Willmann.
In Memoriam
'30 Mary "MeMe" Skannal Pons, BS '30, of Whitehouse, Texas, died April 25 at age 103. She married Carl Michael Louis Pons in 1932 and was an avid piano player and gardener, as well as a lifetime member of the Harley Owner Group. She was self-employed with Carl Pons Electric Company, Carl Pons Electric Motor and Manufacturing Co. Inc. and M.S. Pons and Associates, Inc. Pons was past president of Shreveport Zonta Club and a member of Zonta International.
'32 Mary Couch Ogilvie, BA '32, died Jan. 24 at age 101 in Dallas. She was an Alpha Omega at Baylor and taught English for several years in West Texas before moving to Dallas, where she worked at Johnston Printing and Advertising. She belonged to Gaston Oaks Baptist Church for more than 70 years. A longtime Baylor supporter, she inspired many family members to attend Baylor, where she started the Troy M. Ogilvie Memorial Scholarship for education students.
'35 Austin Leo Peay, BA '35, MA '41, of Wilmington, N.C., died March 28 at age 100. He attended Baylor on a football scholarship and met his wife, Frances, BA '33, while there. The couple lived in central and south Texas for the next 43 years, where he was a teacher, coach, principal and superintendent in the public schools until 1978. In 1993, he and his wife moved to Wilmington. He was a member of Baylor's Endowed Scholarship Society.
'36 Lenore Pulliam Horner, BBA '36, of Uvalde, Texas, died Feb. 25 at age 98. She worked for Kimball's Warehouse Grocery in Uvalde for 25 years. Horner was also associated with Uvalde Public Schools for 25 years as a bookkeeper in the central office and as a sixth grade and high school vocational office education teacher.
'37 Millicent (Caldwell) Jones, BA '37, formerly of Waco, passed away in Arlington on March 19. She was 97. She was married to the late Edward Lee Jones, AB '37, LLB '39, for 60 years until he passed away in 2001. Jones was a lifelong member of First Presbyterian Church of Waco. She was president of the choir and served in various capacities in church programs. Her charitable activities included committee service with the March of Dimes, the Waco Symphony and the Cotton Palace Pageant, and board service with Evangelia Settlement and Oakwood Cemetery. She was a longtime member of the Junior League, Colonial Dames and the Literary Club.
David Hoppenstein, AB '37, JD '39, of Waco, died May 30 at age 97. He attended Harvard Law after Baylor and served in the Navy during World War II. A longtime supporter of Baylor, Hoppenstein was a real estate broker and active in the real estate business until age 93. He was a member of Congregation Agudath Jacob and supporter of the Jewish Federation of Waco and numerous other charitable organizations. Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Lorraine Hoppenstein, and their children, Marsha Lev and Norman Hoppenstein, BS '76, JD '79.
'38 Laura (Cann) Dillard, BA '38, of Fort Worth, passed away Feb. 11 at age 95. She became a legal secretary in Dallas after graduation, and then when she and her husband, Allan Dillard, JD '39, moved to Fort Worth, she began working for Stewart Title Company and other title companies for more than four decades.
'39 Marjorie (Elam) Bailey, BA '39, of Milano, Texas, died April 4 at age 93. She married Dr. Joe Weldon Bailey Sr. in 1940, and they had four children. Bailey was a teacher for more than 20 years. She served on Mission Service Corps at the Southern Baptist Convention and was Baylor's Central Texas Distinguished Woman of the Year in 1996. She was named an Honorary Alumna of Truett Seminary and served with her husband at churches in Louisiana and Texas. Memorials may be made to the Truett Honorary Alumni Scholarship or to the Baylor Liberty Excellence Fund.
'41 Dorothy Lynn (Berry) Hamilton, BA '41, died Feb. 21 at age 91 in Austin. She worked at the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service in Gilmer before joining the WAVES (U.S. Navy Reserve) in 1943, eventually achieving the rank of lieutenant, junior grade. She married C.H. Hamilton Jr., BBA '41, in 1944. The couple moved to Harlingen, Texas, where they raised four children. A teacher, Hamilton also served as a Girl Scout leader and as president of the Harlingen Junior League. Memorials may be made to the C.H. and Lynn Hamilton Endowed Scholarship Fund at Baylor.
'42 Raymond E. Hankamer Sr., BBA '42, of Houston, died April 6 at age 91. Hankamer served during World War II, riveting destroyers in Orange, Texas, then studying radar technology at Harvard with the intent of teaching the military. Later, he managed a workforce of German POWs at a lumber mill in East Texas. Hankamer was a founding member and deacon of River Oaks Baptist Church. He was chairman of the board at Rosewood Hospital and served on the boards of Southwestern Savings, Houston Coca-Cola Bottling, and Vail Medical Center, among others. He and Camille, his wife of 71 years, contributed to many, including Baylor University, the Michael DeBakey Museum and Baylor College of Medicine. Hankamer was an independent oil operator, hotel owner and developer. He was involved in the Republican Party, serving as one of the 100 national Bush Pioneers in support of George H.W. Bush. Memorials may be made to the Hankamer School of Business.
'44 Betty (Cross) Morris, BA '44, of Lubbock, died May 3 at age 90. She married Dr. James Morris, BA '42, MD '46, in 1944. The Morrises were generous supporters of Baylor. She was a member of First United Methodist Church and Baylor Women's Council of Lubbock. Morris served on the boards and as president of several organizations, including the Junior League of Lubbock and the Lubbock Women's Club, the Lubbock Medical Auxiliary. She was a Republican precinct chairman and part owner of Serendipity Travel. Survivors include her son, James Denzil Morris, BBA '70.
'45 Ethel Pruett Venable, BS '45, of Temple, Texas, died April 4 at age 88. She worked as a flight attendant for American Airlines before becoming a fulltime homemaker. Venable earned a master's degree in art history from the University of Houston. In 1947, she married Dr. John Richard Venable, BA '48, who preceded her in death. The two were generous Baylor supporters.
'47 Stephen H. Crump Jr., BBA '47, of Waco, died April 3 at age 88. A member of Baylor Chamber and the football team, he became a longtime Baylor supporter. He worked as a financial aid director for Texas State Technical College and McLennan Community College. Crump was a member of First Baptist Church of Waco and preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Virginia Crump, BA '46, who had worked as dean of student life at Baylor. Memorials may be made to the Virginia Crump Memorial Scholarship.
Olan Runnels, BBA '47, of Brenham, Texas, died March 25 at age 89. Runnels served in combat with the Anti-tank Company, 291st Infantry Regiment, 75th Infantry Division during World War II. He earned his MBA from the University of Houston Bauer College of Business and worked with Shell Oil Company until he retired. After his retirement, he continued traveling all over the world with his wife of 65 years, Dorothy Waldrop Runnels, '49.
'48 Edward J. Knipper, BA '48, MSEd '51, of Waco, died May 21 at age 90. After serving as a pilot during World War II, he returned to Baylor, where he completed two degrees and taught German. In 1949, he married his wife of 64 years, Mary Blanche Hooker, BS '48, and they served as directors of Kokernot Hall. They have two sons, Jeff, BA '74, and Joe. Knipper was a teacher and coach in Waco for 41 years. He was the recipient of the first Waco ISD Outstanding Teacher Award. Ed and Mary were a regular presence at the Ferrell Center and Baylor Ballpark. For more than 50 years he was a member of First Baptist Church's Abner McCall Sunday School Class. Memorials may be made to the Baylor Bear Foundation Scholarship Fund and the First Baptist Church Foundation.
'49 Dan Richard Dudley, BA '49, LLB '51, of Waco, died March 9 at age 86. He was president of the Waco High class of 1944 and enlisted in the Navy before returning to Baylor. He married Doris Marlow, BA '52, MSEd '70, in 1951, and they had two daughters, Dana and Amy, BSEd '83. Dudley was employed by the Social Security Administration and later worked for the Veterans Affairs Regional Office. He retired in 1990. Dudley sang in the choir at First United Methodist Church for 58 years. Memorials may be made to another choir of which Dudley was a member, Baylor University's senior choir, the Baylor Singing Seniors.
Dr. Edward W. Nelson, BA '49, of San Angelo, Texas, passed away March 28 at age 90. He is survived by his wife, Gladys (Samp) Nelson, BA '49. Nelson served in World War II as a Marine at Iwo Jima, and later in Chile as a missionary.
'50 Jacqueline "Ann" Wood Hutchen, BA '50, of Houston, died April 14 at age 82. She was a teacher, spending 19 years as a second-grade teacher at Second Baptist. Hutchen was married to her husband, John, for 62 years. They had two children. Hutchen was a member of the Baylor Women's Association of Houston and Armstrong Browning Guardian Angels. Memorials may be made to Baylor University.
S. Frank Jones, LLB '50, of Tulsa, Okla., died March 31 at age 91. A Texas A&M graduate, he was awarded the Bronze Star and participated in the liberation of German concentration camps before attending Baylor Law School. He worked more than 30 years as house counsel in the petroleum industry, retiring as general counsel for Occidental Petroleum Co. Memorials may be made to the S. Franklin and Helen Jones Endowed Mission Fund at Baylor's Louise Herrington School of Nursing.
John W. Lewis, JD '50, of San Antonio, died May 12 at age 87. A World War II veteran, he worked for various insurance companies, the longest being USAA in San Antonio, where he retired as senior executive claims attorney in 1986.
Thomas Alton Pearson, BA '50, MA '55, died May 10 at age 86. He married Marie Cagle, BA '50, MA '51, in 1952. His career in health care administration spanned nearly 40 years, including serving as administrator and president of Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center, until he retired in 1992. Pearson was active in many professional organizations, including serving as chairman of the board of trustees of the Texas Hospital Association, president of Baptist Hospital Association, president of the Baylor Alumni Association, and director of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas.
'51 Dr. Joseph F. Green Jr., MA '51, of Nashville, died April 11 at age 88. He was ordained in 1943 and served in the Army during World War II. Green obtained degrees from Texas Wesleyan, Baylor and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He pastored Baptist churches in Texas and Colorado before becoming a religious book editor at the Baptist Sunday School Board (LifeWay). Joe married Mary Jane Stowell in 1949. In North Dakota, he was an editor for the Grand Forks Herald. He concluded his ministry as a Presbyterian pastor in Grandin and Hunter, N.D.
Dr. Bryce Z. Reid, BS '51, MS '51, of Brownwood, Texas, died May 15 at age 85. He was a member of Baylor Chamber and the football team, where he played in the first game at Baylor Stadium. He was a high school and college coach before becoming a dentist for 35 years, beginning in 1962. Survivors include his wife, Edna White Reid, BA '51, and their four children: Timothy Ed Reid, BSEd '76, Douglas Reid, BSEd '82, Jennifer Allison, BSEd '78, MSEd '80, and Sara Ford, BA '83.
Henry M. SoRelle, BBA '51, of Richardson, Texas, died Dec. 29, 2012, at age 83. At Baylor, he was a four-year track letterman and president of the Junior Class and Baylor Chamber. SoRelle had a career in real estate and oil and gas exploration. He was also ordained into the ministry and was a deacon at Heights Baptist Church. SoRelle went on several overseas mission trips and began the From Pain to Joy Prison Ministry in 1996. Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Frances Makowski SoRelle, '53.
'52 Thomas W. Cowart Jr., BA '52, of Brentwood, Tenn., died Nov. 6, 2012, at age 83. A cowboy, Marine, and Air Force pilot, Cowart's profession was oil and gas. He spent 44 years as a member and song leader at Kensington Woods Church of Christ in Hattiesburg, Miss., and 12 years at the Otter Creek Church of Christ. Cowart was founder and chairman of the Southern Christian Student Center at the University of Southern Mississippi. Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Glenda Miller Cowart, BA '52.
Dr. William Henry Kolter Jr., BA '52, BS '52, MD '55, of Waco, passed away March 11 at age 85. In 1960, Kolter began a practice in surgery he would continue for 38 years. He served as chief of surgery at Memorial Southwest Hospital and was instrumental in establishing the Harris County Emergency Medical Services. He retired from Kelsey-Seybold Clinic. Kolter met Mary Neil McClellen, BA '52, BS '57, at Baylor, and they married in 1953. They reared two children, Kenneth Kolter and Elaine (Kolter) Fagner, BSEd '92, MA '98. An Eagle Scout, Kolter served as scout master and played a string bass in the Williamson County Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Medics, and Baylor Senior Choir. He was a pilot, a Baptist deacon, an elder in the Christian Church (DOC), and a Master Mason.
Nancy (Coleman) Read, BA '52, of Tyler, Texas, died Jan. 21 at age 81. She married Dr. William T. Read, BS '52, in 1952. They were married 60 years and had two children. Read was a teacher, homemaker, jewelry designer and antique dealer, and a member of Pollard Memorial United Methodist Church and Junior League of Tyler.
J. Harrell Tipton, BBA '52, MS '56, of New Braunfels, Texas, died Feb. 28 at age 81. He worked for more than 38 years at Straus Frank of San Antonio. He was a longtime member of San Antonio First Baptist Church.
Dr. J. Clifton Williams, BA '52, retired Baylor faculty member and administrator, died Dec. 17, 2012. He earned his BA in psychology cum laude from Baylor in 1952, a master's of personnel services from the University of Colorado in 1954, and his PhD in industrial/organizational psychology from Purdue in 1958. He joined the Baylor faculty in 1954 as an instructor in the psychology department. He eventually served as professor and department chair and in several administrative positions, including dean of the Graduate School, administrative vice president, vice president for human resources and planning, and acting vice president for finance and administration. He also served as advisor to Baylor Presidents Herbert Reynolds and Robert Sloan. Williams retired from Baylor in 1996, but continued for several years as a consultant and author. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jan Newland Williams, BA '51. Among his survivors are his son, Eric Williams, BBA '87, MBA '90.
'53 William Arthur Brubaker, BBA '53, of Houston, died April 4 at age 81. While at Baylor, Brubaker was a member of Chamber and met his wife of nearly 60 years, Shirley Oliver, BBA '52. Brubaker was a charter member of The Presidents Club and remained a passionate Baylor Bear his entire life. He served in England as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force and became a CPA. He retired in 1995 as associate director of the American Urological Association's Office of Continuing Medical Education.
Catherine Ann (Osborne) Davenport, BA '53, of Waco, died Feb. 13 at age 81. She married the recently deceased Burl Davenport, BBA '56, in 1954. The couple had five children: Karen, BBA '77, Lynn, Tracy, BSEd '82, Terri, BBA '85, and Mays. Catherine was a state and national life member of PTA. She served on the boards of Camp Fire, Evangelia, Waco City Council, PTA and Young Life. The Davenports helped begin Lake Shore Baptist Church, where Catherine held more than a dozen volunteer and leadership roles.
Bob J. Perry, BS '53, MSEd '62, of Houston, passed away April 13 at age 80. The philanthropist and owner and founder of Houston-based Perry Homes was a major political campaign contributor. Perry taught high school history and coached before changing careers and going to work in construction and homebuilding. He formed Perry Homes in 1968. He served on Baylor's Bush Library Steering Committee and supported student scholarships. Survivors include his wife, Doylene, and their four grown children: Will Perry, Jennie Lea Perry, '89, Jack Winston Perry, BBA '90, and Kathy Kay Perry, BBA '92. His father was the late Dr. W.C. Perry, EDD '56, who served as Baylor's vice president of student affairs.
'54 Geraldine "Jerry" Guderian Brinck, BA '54, of Fort Worth, died March 22 at age 81. At Baylor, she was nominated for Baylor Beauty and Homecoming Queen multiple times. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, Baylor Alumni Association and the Texas Retired Teachers Association. In 1997 she retired from James F. Delaney Primary School in Kennedale, Texas, after teaching for 30 years. Survivors include her husband of 59 years, John Brinck.
'55 Audrey "Nan" (Young) Brown, BA '55, of Waco, died April 28 at age 78. She married Rodney L. Brown Sr. in 1953. She taught at Waco's Hillcrest and Kendrick elementary schools before raising three children and devoting time to the community and Seventh & James Baptist Church, where she taught children and college students, served in numerous ministries, and was one of the church's first female deacons. She served many years on the board of directors of Waco Family Counseling and Children's Services.
George "Harold" Davis Sr., BM '55, died Sept. 25, 2012, at age 79. He spent his time in the music and education ministry in cities across Texas. From 1968-72, Davis was a member of the Texas House of Representatives serving Burnet and Travis counties. He had a heart for evangelism, both at home and around the world. In 1975, he led a group to begin World Hope Foundation, which was instrumental in organizing evangelistic efforts in Japan, Korea and other parts of the world.
Frances (Coppin) Thomas, BSN '55, of Waco, died Feb. 19 at age 78. She began her nursing career at Hillcrest Baptist Hospital and was later named head nurse of the newborn nursery. She also served as a nursing instructor at McLennan Community College, and she finished her career as a school nurse in Waco ISD for more than 30 years. Thomas was a member of Calvary Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, H. Douglas Thomas, MSEd '59, who was Baylor's director of admissions from 1974-93. Survivors include their children, Laura Thomas, BSN '84, and Charles Thomas, BS '88, MS '97. Memorials may be made to the F.D. and Dovie Coppin Scholarship Fund at Baylor.
'56 John Burl Davenport Jr., BBA '56, of Waco, passed away May 10 at age 84. His wife, Catherine Davenport, BA '53, had previously passed in February. He worked at the First National Bank of Waco, then as an independent stockbroker. Later, he owned and operated two retail stores, Sports Mart and The Outfitter. He retired after working several years at Advertising Resources. His volunteer service to the community included board tenures for the Waco Lions Club, Camp Fire Girls, YMCA, and Hillcrest Baptist Hospital.
Charles P. Roden, BA '56, died March 24 in Ogden, Utah. He was 79. In 1957, he moved to Fort Worth where he earned a degree from Southwestern Theological Seminary in 1960. Roden retired in 1987 from the Southern Baptist Radio and Television Commission after serving in various capacities of programming and marketing and as interim president. He then worked for 10 years in sales and marketing at Cargill Associates. Roden was a Baptist deacon, charter member of Baylor's Old Main Society, and active in Fort Worth community service organizations.
'59 Nancy Hutson Baxter, BA '59, of Richardson, Texas, died Jan. 22 at age 74. A valedictorian of Haynesville High School, she married Hugh Morrow Baxter, BBA '57, and worked as a cashier at Rauscher Pierce in Dallas until her children, Clara "Betsy" Baxter, BBA '89, and Rade Morrow Baxter II, BBA '93, were born. She was a member of Chi Omega, Daughters of the American Revolution, and First Baptist Church of Richardson.
Dr. Terry L. Duncan, BS '59, DDS '64, of Andover, Kan., died May 13 at age 76. At Baylor, he met his wife of 52 years, Pat Bennett Duncan, BBA '59. For 37 years Duncan enjoyed a successful career in the orthodontic practice of Rogers, Duncan and Dillehay. He was active in several organizations, including serving as president of the Kansas Golf Association and Wichita District Dental Society. He was a member of Baylor's Old Main Society.
'60 Donald Glenn Couser, BA '60, passed away April 18 in San Antonio. He was 75. Couser sang in a musical quartet in college and performed playing his ukulele and "duck voice" to college crowds. He also served as the general manager of the campus radio station. Couser worked as a minister of music before pursuing his career in radio and broadcasting. He was a radio personality for KONO in the 1960s and '70s and also worked at KUKA, WOAI and KDOK. Don was the voice of his sidekick, George the Duck, who was named after his Baylor adviser, the late George Stokes. Couser was the first host of "Swingtime," a show on ABC TV affiliate KONO (now KSAT) from 1964-66, and he was a college instructor at San Antonio College from 1968-80. He retired from radio in 2007 and was inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame in 2010.
Jimmy Parker Kizer, BBA '60, of Waco, passed away on Feb. 12 at age 76. A graduate of Waco High, he served as president of Kizer Claims Services until his retirement. Kizer was a member of Central Christian Church, Hedonia, as well as a longtime member of Ridgewood Country Club.
'61 Dr. Delta Ree Hafford, BSHE '61, of De Leon, Texas, died April 21 at age 93. She was married to Derroll Hafford for 62 years. She earned two degrees from Texas Woman's University. The Haffords served a 17-year tenure at Methodist Children's Home; Delta was the manager and coordinator of public school services for approximately 500 children living at the Methodist Home. She was the director of social services for the Economic Opportunities Advancement Association, the executive director of the Headstart Program, and then was professor of early childhood development at Baylor from 1975-92.
James Lee Johnstone, BS '61, of Santa Fe, N.M., passed away Jan. 3 at age 75. He married Barbara Carey Johnstone, BA '61, in 1960 and participated in the Gemini and Apollo missions at the Johnson Space Center. In the 1970s, he worked for IBM helping to deliver computer technology overseas for oil exploration. After retiring from IBM, he was a financial advisor for Smith Barney and was in the film industry, most notably holding a speaking part in the movie Wild Hogs. A memorial fund has been set up for Johnstone through the Shelby County Historical Commission, P.O. Box 623, Center, TX, 75935. Contact Barbara at 416 Kachina Ct., Santa Fe, NM 87501 or barbaracareyjohnstone@yahoo.com.
'63 Arlen D. "Spider" Bynum, JD '63, of Dallas, died March 27 at age 77. Bynum was with several Dallas law firms -- Strasburger & Price; Atwell Malouf Musslewhite & Bynum; and Bradshaw & Bynum -- before finishing his career as a solo practitioner. He retired in 2011. A former boxer, he was chief of officials for the Golden Gloves Dallas region for about 30 years. He judged more than 30 professional bouts, including fights involving Larry Holmes, Salvador Sanchez and Julio Chavez. He refereed at least 11 professional bouts and supervised the bout between Mike Tyson and Pinklon Thomas in 1987. Bynum was a dedicated Baylor supporter.
'66 Benegene Gann Kring, BA '66, died Oct. 27, 2012, at age 68. In 1974, at the age of 30, she became a registered geophysicist, one of very few women in the field. A retired geologist and geophysicist with ExxonMobil and with her territory and expertise covering the world, she spent most of her career in Houston, with stints in England, Canada, Louisiana and Colorado. She was a member of the Old Main Society and Baylor Women's Association of Houston. Among her survivors are two siblings, Tom H. Gann, BBA '68, MBA '72, and Natalie Gann Crowson, BA '74.
'67 >Dr. Beatrice Huston, EDD '67, of Temple, Texas, died April 9 at age 86. She taught six years in public school, then taught business and education courses at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor for 30 years and served as chairperson of the business department and dean of the School of Business. There, she revised the entire curriculum and instituted the first bachelor of business administration degree program. Her honors included Distinguished Professor Teacher of the Year. She was a longtime Baylor supporter.
'72 Terry C. Jackson, BA '72, MA '75, MDiv '98, of Lorena, Texas, died March 9 at age 65. He was a chaplain and pastor over the past 15 years. Jackson was a member of First Baptist Church of Waco. At Baylor, he was a member of Chamber and the football team. Memorials may be made to the George W. Truett Seminary Endowed Scholarship Fund or the Baylor University Football Stadium Project.
'74 Mary J. Collins, BBA '74, of Athens, Texas, died of a heart attack on March 2.
'75 Dr. Frank J. Karaffa, EDD '75, of Waco, died May 7 at age 90. He served as an aircraft engine instructor throughout World War II, earned two degrees from the University of Texas and played minor league baseball before becoming a coach and teacher. Karaffa taught in Baylor's physical education department from 1959-86. He was an elder of Lakewood Christian Church and a Mason for over 60 years. He married Gene Giffin in l954; she preceded him in death in 1980. In 1982, he married Baylor professor emeritus Dr. Ann Williamson Karaffa, BA '55.
'80 Charles Philip Miller, BBA '80, of Rowlett, Texas, passed away Nov. 21, 2012. He was 54. Miller worked in law enforcement for 30 years and was a special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms. Among his survivors are his wife, Angela Dee Miller, BBA '79, and two sons, Christopher and Matthew Miller, BBA '07.
'81 S. Mark Powell, BA '81, of Austin, died May 16 at age 53. He was involved in several investment firms, including Capitol Securities, Morgan Keegan, Hester Capital Management, and most recently, Atlantic Trust. He was a generous supporter of Baylor. Powell served numerous charitable and civic organizations, including Dell Children's Medical Center (trustee), The First Tee of Greater Austin (board member), and Young Life (local advisory board member). Powell was recently elected to serve on the national board of the Young Life Foundation in Colorado. Among his survivors are his wife, Becky, and their three children (Baylor sophomore Madison, Boone, and John Luke) as well as his parents, Peggy, BA '59, and Boone Powell Jr., BBA '59, and sisters Crystal Colombo, BSHE '85, and Cari Kelemen, BFA '86.
'12 Suzanna Ashmore Nelson, BA '12, of Fallbrook, Calif., died March 28. She was 22. At Baylor, Nelson majored in journalism, minored in business, and lettered on the Lady Bear equestrian team. She won a world championship in the American Paint Horse Association and pursued a career in marketing upon graduation.
Thomas M. Chism, of Fort Worth, died Feb. 9 at age 84. He was married to his wife, Frances, for 62 years. For more than 35 years, the couple lived in El Paso, where Tom worked as a Baptist Student Union director, a teacher, and in numerous administrative positions at the University of Texas at El Paso. After retiring, Chism continued working in the development offices of Southwestern Seminary, Baylor University, Truett Seminary, and the B.H. Carroll Institute. He was a dedicated Baylor supporter.
Patricia Reiley Clifton, of Waco, died March 15 at age 91. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and married W. Lacy Clifton in 1942. A longtime Baylor supporter and member of the Armstrong Browning Guardian Angels, she was involved in Central Presbyterian Church, United Way, the American Red Cross, Maternal Health, Lighthouse for the Blind, the Junior League of Waco and Oakwood Cemetery.
Dr. Chester Ray Hastings, of Waco, died Feb. 18 at age 84. He became the first dean of students at Del Mar College in the 1960s and the first dean at McLennan Community College in 1966. He then served in several vice-president positions at MCC, retiring as senior vice-president in 1988 before becoming a professor of educational administration at Baylor until 2001. At Baylor he helped develop a doctorate in higher education administration and also served as director of a student services graduate instructional program.
Daniel Jones, a Baylor senior from North Richland Hills, Texas, died March 23 after running in Bearathon. The marketing and management double major was a member of Kappa Omega Tau fraternity, a former member of the Student Foundation, and a mentor in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. Jones had intended to work in nonprofit organizations and had applied to Baylor's Truett Seminary.
Bonnie Martin, of Barrington Hills, Ill., passed away on March 12 at age 71. An Abilene [Texas] High School graduate, she married George M. Martin, BBA '62, in 1970. Bonnie worked as a flight attendant at Eastern Airlines for 25 years. She helped recruit high school students in the Chicago area for Baylor, from which her husband and daughter, Mary (Martin) Magers, BA '99, graduated. The Martins made endowments for students in the Hankamer School of Business.
Lucile Garrett Plane, of Gatesville, Texas, died May 11 at age 98. She attended Lamar, UCLA and Arizona State and became senior warden of the Mountain View Unit in Gatesville. The Lucile G. Plane Jail was named in her honor in 1995. A generous Baylor supporter, Plane was a member of Baylor's Presidents Club and a Legacy Legend. Memorials may be made to Baylor's Sonja Hogg Scholarship Fund.
Frances Combest Rountree, of Waco, died March 16 at age 96. Born in Beaumont, Rountree was married to Millard Gordon Rountree Sr. for 63 years before his passing in 2002. She was a member of the Baylor Development Council, Endowed Scholarship Society, and Strecker Museum Associates. Among her survivors are her children: Gordon Rountree Jr., Collette Rountree Karr, BSHE '72, and Nannette Rountree Wheelis.
Kevin Signo, a Baylor freshman from Frisco, Texas, passed away March 3 after sustaining an injury. He was 18. A pre-biology major, Signo was a resident of Martin Hall and was very involved in the university's Filipino Student Association.