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Tech Action Summer 2009 New dean Dr. Mary Gunter and the Arkansas Tech Graduate College are here to help you achieve your goals. See pages 4-5.

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Page 1: Tech Action: Summer 2009

Tech ActionS u m m e r 2 0 0 9

New dean Dr. Mary Gunter and the Arkansas Tech Graduate College are here to help you achieve your goals. See pages 4-5.

Page 2: Tech Action: Summer 2009

Director of Alumni Relations Angela DeWitt BondsCoordinator of Young Alumni Alison ParksCoordinator of Alumni Communications and Activities Kelly Thornton BostickAlumni Office Administrative Assistant Terry Holland-Finley

Tech Action is published quarterly by the Arkansas Tech Alumni Association, 1313 N. Arkansas Ave., Russellville, AR 72801. It is sent to alumni, parents, friends and faculty/staff of Arkansas Tech University. We welcome manuscripts and photographs from our readers. Please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you would like your originals returned. Parents, if your son or daughter attended Tech and is no longer living at this address, please notify our office of his or her new address. Address updates can be submitted to the Arkansas Tech Office of Alumni Services by calling (479) 968-0242 or by sending e-mail to [email protected].

Cover & Inside Photography Steve Newby E-mail address [email protected] site www.techties.atu.edu

Editorial Committee Angela DeWitt Bonds, Jayne Jones, Julie Nebben Morgan, Susie Nicholson, Sam StrasnerAsst. Director of New Media Carrie Harris PhillipsSports Information Director Ben Greenberg

Stan Graves ‘70 12/09

Alvin Lievsay ‘72 12/09

Stephanie Strack Mathis ‘94 12/09

Sharon Dixon Steele ‘74 12/09

Peggy Lawless Walter ‘80, ‘87, ‘06 12/09

Kellye Holley Cannon ‘80 12/10

President Claude Smith ‘76 President-Elect Howard Ritchie ‘70 Past President Tom Reynolds ‘70

Shirley Dodd ‘59 12/10

Randy Joe Hamilton ‘76 12/10

Mike King ‘74 12/10

Layton Lee ‘92 12/10

Jim Murphy ‘71 12/10

Donna Cotton Parker ‘73 12/10

Chad Weisler ‘92 12/10

Philip Alexander ‘89 12/11

Doug Brown ‘06 12/11

Jimmy Cunningham ‘75 12/11

Robert Ford ‘86 12/11

Dixie Gossett ‘70 & ‘74 12/11

Tommy Johnston ‘91 12/11

Raymond Molden ‘96 12/11

Cara Hammond Witherspoon ‘78 12/11

Brian Bass, Ozark Campus Rep.

Tech Action, Volume 45, No. 3. Arkansas Tech University Alumni Association, Alumni House, Russellville, AR 72801

Alumni Association Board of Directorstech

catch up with an old friend today

www.techties.atu.edu

Tech Action

Need a job? Need an employee? We can helpIn times like these, a person looking to advance his or

her career, seek out a new opportunity or get a job of any

sort needs all the friends he or she can find.

The Arkansas Tech Alumni Association is offering a

helping hand through its Web site, www.techties.atu.edu.

We have launched a new service intended to link Tech

alumni with potential employers and learn the skills they

need to get ahead in their careers. We hope it is another

way we can be of assistance to our loyal alumni and

friends.

Tech alumni can access the service by visiting

www.techties.atu.edu and clicking on the “Career Center”

link located on the left-hand side of the main page.

Once there, users will find a variety of options. Alumni

can create and update their profiles, post their résumés

and search job postings.

Of course, this service is not just about alumni seeking

a job. It is also about alumni seeking employees.

If you own a business or serve in the human resources

department at work, we encourage you to utilize the

TechTies Career Center as a resource to find talented and

prepared Tech alumni who are ready to make a difference

for your organization.

And even if you do not fall into either of those

categories — job seeker or employee seeker — you can

still play a vital role in the TechTies Career Center by

registering as a mentor. By doing so, alumni can offer their

expertise to younger Tech alums who need career advice.

Remember that if you have any trouble finding what

you are looking for on www.techties.atu.edu, we can

be reached by phone at (479) 968-0242 or by e-mail

to [email protected] and we will be happy to walk you

through the process. And as always, Norman Career

Services is another great employment-related service that

Tech provides to its students and alumni. Learn more

about what they have to offer at www.atu.edu/career.

We invite you to utilize these services provided by your

alma mater. Hopefully, we will see you at Homecoming

on Oct. 16-17 and you can share your good news about

a career opportunity or the new employee you found

through TechTies or Norman Career Services.

Enjoy the upcoming autumn months, and we look

forward to seeing you at Homecoming 2009!

Angela DeWitt Bonds ‘95

Director of Alumni Relations

2 Tech Action

Page 3: Tech Action: Summer 2009

Homecoming 2009

3Summer 2009

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16

10:30 a.m.Homecoming Golf Classic (3-Person Scramble) Russellville Country Club 10:30 — Check-In Begins 11:00 — Lunch 11:45 — Official Welcome 12:00 — Shotgun Start

12 p.m.Ladies “Champagne Bingo” LuncheonLake Point Conference Center Dining Room

4:30 p.m.Dopson Teammates Dinner (Invitation Only)Chambers Cafeteria Private Dining Room

6:30 p.m.Hall of Distinction Reunion Dinner (Invitation Only)Chambers Cafeteria East Banquet Hall

8 p.m. to MidnightAlumni & Friends ReceptionRussellville Country Club

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17

9 a.m.O’Neal Teammates BreakfastLake Point Conference Center Dining Room

9 a.m. to 2 p.m.Young Alumni Co-Ed Softball TournamentPleasant View Park

10 a.m. Alumni Gold Registration for Class of 1959Chambers Cafeteria East Dining Hall

11 a.m.Alumni Gold Luncheon for Class of 1959Chambers Cafeteria East Dining Hall

11 a.m.Alumni vs. Alumni Volleyball Match for Former SunsTucker Coliseum (Will move to Hull Building if raining)Tech Volleyball Alums Call (479) 964-0513 to sign up

2 p.m.Homecoming ParadeDowntown Russellville

3 p.m.Alumni BandWitherspoon Band Room

3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Homecoming TailgatePlaza Outside Thone Stadium • Live Music, Photo Booth, Inflatable Games, Tailgate Meal • Reunion Groups: Football, Volleyball, Boxing, Cross Country/Track, Golden Girls, Cheerleaders, Athena Troop, All Decades (1930s-2000s), Homecoming Royalty, College of Business

5:30 p.m.Pre-Game ActivitiesThone Stadium at Buerkle Field

6 p.m.Tech vs. West Georgia (Stay for Post-Game Fireworks!)Thone Stadium at Buerkle Field

Join us Oct. 16-17 for a Centennial Homecoming at

Arkansas Tech University. Come remember the good

times and make some new memories as we celebrate

our university’s first 100 years.

Below is a schedule of events for Homecoming

weekend. More information is available on the Web at

www.techties.atu.edu. Please call (479) 968-0242 or

send e-mail to [email protected] with any questions.

We’ll see you Oct. 16-17 for Homecoming 2009!

YOUNG ALUMNI SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT

One of the most exciting new events at Homecoming this year will be the first Young Alumni Softball Tournament.

This event is open to all graduates from the last 10 years and their spouses. Each team must have a minimum of 10 players — five male and five female — and no more than 13 players.

Games will be played at Pleasant View Park in Russellville beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17. A champion will be crowned by 2 p.m., leaving plenty of time to freshen up and head to campus for more fun.

The softball tournament is limited to the first eight teams, so call (479) 968-0242 today to sign up!

Page 4: Tech Action: Summer 2009

Chart a new course

for your future today

www.atu.edu/gradcollege

Cover Story

TAKE THE NEXT STEP

If there was something that you could do that would

increase your value to your current employer, make you

more attractive to potential employers and allow you to

earn an average of $10,000 more per year, would you be

interested?

The Arkansas Tech Graduate College is available to

provide professionals of all ages with a competitive edge

during tough economic conditions by helping them get

into one of the school’s graduate programs.

“Due to the current economic environment and

the fact that it is becoming increasingly important to

have a graduate degree for long-term success, Tech

is anticipating increased enrollment in our graduate

programs from both new graduates and from people

looking to change career direction,” said Dr. Robert

C. Brown, Tech president. “It is a wise decision in

either situation because the potential income gain is

substantial.”

Established in 1976, the Arkansas Tech Graduate

College offers master’s degrees in fields as varied

as education, fisheries and wildlife biology, nursing

administration and information technology.

Many courses are offered online, including the

complete college student personnel degree and the

majority of the emergency management and homeland

security degree. That kind of flexibility is ideal for working

professionals on the go.

All of this comes at one of the most affordable price

tags in the region. Average tuition for a full-time graduate

student is less than $1,700 per semester.

Up to 100 graduate assistantships are available

offering paid tuition in addition to a monthly stipend.

For students concerned about finding a job in

their chosen field during the current recession, these

assistantships are, in effect, not only providing an

opportunity to improve one’s marketability, but also

providing valuable and relevant work experience at the

same time.

Gunter Assumes Leadership of Graduate College

The Arkansas Tech Graduate College came under new

leadership on July 1 when Dr. Mary Gunter became dean.

Gunter succeeds Dr. Eldon Clary, a 42-year veteran of

the Tech faculty. Clary became dean of the Arkansas Tech

College of Education on July 1 (see page 19).

Gunter joined the Tech faculty in 1998. She has been

the head of the Tech Center for Leadership and Learning,

a department that offers three master level programs and

an educational specialist program, since 2002.

Now, she will focus her efforts on ensuring that

Arkansas Tech is delivering high-quality, relevant programs

to all of its graduate students.

“As we consider the future, I look forward to providing

the leadership to expand the offerings of graduate

programs through our various colleges on campus,” said

Gunter. “The expansion of graduate programs will be

based on high-quality offerings that will ultimately impact

the quality of life for our graduates as well as the quality

contributions our graduates will make in a global society.”

4 Tech Action

Tech Graduate College can show you the way

Page 5: Tech Action: Summer 2009

Cover Story

5Summer 2009

MASTER OF SCIENCE• College Student Personnel• Emergency Mgmt./Homeland Security• Fisheries and Wildlife Biology• Information Technology• Nursing Administration• Psychology

MASTER OF ENGINEERING• Engineering

MASTER OF ARTS• English — Options in Teaching English as Second Language (TESL) and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)• Spanish• History• Multi-Media Journalism

MASTER OF EDUCATION• Elementary Education — Options in Elementary education, early

childhood education or special education

• Secondary Education — Options in English, Instructional Technology, Mathematics, Physical Education and Social Studies• Instructional Improvement• Educational Leadership• Teaching, Learning and Leadership• School Counseling and Leadership

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN EDUCATION• Gifted Education

MASTER OF LIBERAL ARTS• Liberal Arts — Options in Communication, Fine Arts and Social Science

EDUCATIONAL SPECIALIST • Educational Leadership

Arkansas Tech University is at the forefront of an

initiative to provide unprecedented computer network

bandwidth and reliability to college students in the

Natural State.

The Arkansas Research and Education Optical

Network (ARE-ON) is a new high-speed fiber based

optical communications network that will greatly

enhance the research and distance learning capabilities

of Arkansas Tech faculty members and students.

“Simply put, ARE-ON will allow Tech faculty and

students to share more information, more quickly,”

said Dr. Robert C. Brown, Tech president. “It will make

Tech more connected to the rest of the world than ever

before. It will allow us to expand our offerings in Web-

based courses. It will play a significant role in the future

of higher education in our state.”

ARE-ON will be active

on the Tech campus

beginning with the

2009-10 academic year.

Those responsible for

implementing the

network promise that

it will pay big dividends.

“This is basically a huge economic development

initiative for Arkansas,” said Mike Abbiatti, ARE-ON

executive director. “The high-tech capabilities and

potentials of the new system are much more than

simply a fast Internet connection. This network will

bring Arkansas to a new level in terms of research and

technology, giving us opportunities we’ve never seen

before.”

What the ARE-ON Network means to Tech grad students

Arkansas Tech Graduate College Degree Options

Page 6: Tech Action: Summer 2009

Alumni News

Twelve earn Alumni Association ScholarshipTwelve members of the Arkansas Tech freshman class of

2009 have received an Arkansas Tech Alumni Association Scholarship through the Arkansas Tech Foundation.

This year’s recipients are: Katie Casey of Lamar, Mindy

Cooper of Russellville, Devon Dodd of Russellville, Austin Foster of Danville, Emily Grant of Alma, Ben Hare of Russellville, Britney McKown of Russellville, Amanda Payne of Vilonia, Ali Rye of Conway, Sam Shelby of Paragould, Tory Thompson of Batesville and Ashley Wohaska of Russellville.

Katie Casey

A 2009 graduate of Lamar High School, Katie Casey considered a variety of factors before choosing Tech.

“When it came down to my college selection, I had to make sure that the college would meet my basic needs and assist me in accomplishing my future goals,” said Casey. “My reasons, in the end, for choosing Arkansas Tech included educational opportunities, campus environment, annual tuition cost and campus location. It’s the perfect place for me to start my new life on my own.”

Casey’s parents are Karen and William Casey of Lamar. Karen graduated from Tech in 1984.

Mindy Cooper

A person who describes Arkansas Tech as her “second home,” Mindy Cooper comes to Arkansas Tech after earning her diploma at Russellville High School with a 4.00 grade point average.

Cooper is the daughter of Beth and Hal Cooper of Russellville. Beth earned a master’s degree from Tech in 1983, while Hal has been Tech band director since 1979.

“I have been on and around the (Tech) campus since I was in diapers,” said Cooper. “I know the campus like the back of my hand, and that is a real comfort to an incoming freshman. It truly is my home away from home.”

Devon Dodd A decorated achiever in a variety of fields, Devon Dodd

is approaching his studies at Arkansas Tech with the same kind of serious determination that made him successful at Russellville High School.

“I believe success is maintained by a consistent balance

of responsibility, hard work, discipline and perseverance,” said Dodd. “Our goals do not come to our doors overnight, but are a product of the long hours, days, weeks and even years of effort we choose to dedicate to them.”

Both of Dodd’s parents — Rona and David Dodd — earned multiple degrees at Tech. Rona received a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture in 1989 and a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing in 2004. David obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science in 1987 and a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering in 1991.

Austin Foster Austin Foster appreciates the fact that Arkansas Tech

is close to the green grass of his home in Danville. He just wishes that maybe that grass wouldn’t grow quite so fast.

“I mow around eight lawns during the summer,” said

Foster. “Being able to go to college and also keep up my responsibilities of mowing, I need to be able to come home and mow. Going to Tech will allow me to do this.”

Foster, who also cited being close to his family as a

major consideration, is the son of Kim and Rocky Foster of Danville. Kim earned a master’s degree from Tech in 2007.

Emily Grant There probably wasn’t much doubt that Emily Grant

would end up as a student at Arkansas Tech — both of her parents and her older sister earned degrees there, and two of her cousins are current Tech students. But if there ever was an ounce of doubt, it was quickly wiped away.

“The faculty and current students assisted in my decisions concerning my future plans and were only too eager to help,” said Grant, who graduated from Alma High School with a 4.3 GPA. “I was able to meet with professors in the Art Department and was amazed at the facilities that I would be able to utilize. I was able to talk with them and discuss options for careers that my parents and I had never even considered.”

Her parents are Donna and Gregg Grant of Alma.

Gregg earned a Bachelor of Science in health and physical education from Tech in 1984. He returned to his alma mater and obtained a master’s degree in 2000 and an educational specialist degree in 2002. Donna completed a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science in 2003.

Ben Hare Arkansas Tech has long been noted for producing many

of the area’s top educational professionals. Ben Hare hopes to follow in that tradition.

“I have wanted to work in education since I first started school,” said Hare. “I come from a long line of teachers and they have inspired me to follow in their footsteps.”

6 Tech Action

Katie Casey

Mindy Cooper

Devon Dodd

Austin Foster

Emily Grant

Ben Hare

Page 7: Tech Action: Summer 2009

Alumni News

7Summer 2009

Jerrie and Chris Hare are his parents. Jerrie graduated from Tech in 1982.

Britney McKown Britney McKown knows that learning does not stop at

the classroom door, and that is one of the reasons she chose Arkansas Tech.

“I feel at Tech I can not only grow academically

but grow in my knowledge of other cultures,” said McKown. “A well-rounded education comes from not only academics but the relationships you form in college as a student living day-to-day on campus. I love the fact that Tech students are traditional and non-traditional, American, Chinese, Australian, Asian, African-American, etc.”

McKown is the daughter of Rhonda McKown. Rhonda

graduated from Tech in 1999 with an Associate of Science degree in medical assistantship.

Amanda Payne Amanda Payne has a list of reasons why Arkansas

Tech was the right place for her.

“Arkansas Tech University has been my number one choice of colleges since I can remember,” said Payne. “First, the environment at Arkansas Tech is very welcoming. Second, the location of Arkansas Tech could not be better. Third, the education program at Arkansas Tech is flawless. For all these reasons and more, I can’t wait to start in August.”

Payne’s parents are Kathy and Steve Payne of Vilonia. Kathy graduated from Arkansas Tech in 1986.

Ali Rye Ali Rye sees Arkansas Tech as a place where she

can stay connected to her past while carving out a little piece of the world for herself.

“You have the opportunity to broaden your horizons while never losing your roots,” said Rye of Tech. “It’s a comfort to me, being a first-year student, not to be stressed over the small things like trying to find a class on a huge campus, worrying about how to find my way around the town or finding a niche.”

Rye’s parents — Christina and Paul Rye — graduated from Arkansas Tech. Paul earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and marketing in 1982, while Christina completed a Bachelor of Science degree in health and physical education in 1986.

Sam Shelby Paragould High School graduate Sam Shelby arrives

at Arkansas Tech with two aspirations — to earn a college degree and to carry on his family’s tradition of playing football for the Wonder Boys.

“My dad, Richard Shelby, and two of my uncles, Phillip Shelby and Roy McSpadden, all played football for the Wonder Boys,” said Shelby. “My greatest goal is to receive a college degree and represent by family both in the classroom and on the football field.”

Shelby’s parents — Vicki and Richard Shelby —

graduated from Tech in 1979. Richard obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in health and physical education, while Vicki earned a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education.

Tory Thompson Tory Thompson’s activities at Batesville High School

— which were as varied as cheerleader, choir member, National Honor Society member, athletic trainer and official storm spotter for the National Weather Service — demonstrate that she is a person who enjoys variety.

“I wanted something and somewhere different,” said Thompson. “I didn’t know what I wanted, but I didn’t want to do what my parents did. I can’t tell you exactly what changed my mind. Perhaps it was a lot of small things, and perhaps Tech is just the right place for me.”

Shelly and Jeff Thompson are Thompson’s parents.

Shelly attended Tech during the 1984-85 school year, while Jeff earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and marketing in 1988.

Ashley Wohaska Ashley Wohaska knew after she met with several

faculty members that Tech was a place where she could continue the success that allowed her to graduate from Russellville High School with a 4.0625 GPA.

“Their intellectual capacity for the subject material

and their demeanors convinced me that working with them would be an enjoyable and educational experience,” said Wohaska. “Even for the short time that we visited, I could sense that their humor would often show up in their teaching methods, which also helps make a better learning environment.”

Wohaska’s parents are Nancy Russell and David Russell. Nancy earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Tech in 2007.

Britney McKown

Amanda Payne

Ali Rye

Sam Shelby

Tory Thompson

Ashley Wohaska

Page 8: Tech Action: Summer 2009

Alumni News

8 Tech Action

tech Tech Night with the Naturals

Arkansas Tech alumni and friends gathered at Arvest

Ballpark in Springdale on Saturday, June 13.

Approximately 75 Tech alumni and friends were on

hand to enjoy food, fun and a baseball game between the

Northwest Arkansas Naturals and the Arkansas Travelers.

For more information about future events, call the

Alumni Office at (479) 968-0242, send e-mail to

[email protected] or visit www.techties.atu.edu.

Rhonda Hatfield Lievsay and Alvin Lievsay

Keith Cooper, Allee Cooper, Diana Pace Cooper

Diana Pace Cooper, Shelly Bewley, Brandi Hooten Tripp, Matt Hall, Mark Tripp, Brian Bewley

Matthew Moss, Chris Moss

Dr. Jeff Ward Family

Janet Sampier, John SampierLanni Keathley

Angela DeWitt Bonds, Tisha Robbins

Page 9: Tech Action: Summer 2009

Alumni News

9Summer 2009

tech Tech Night with the Travelers

It was the same two teams, but a different venue and

a different collection of Tech alumni and friends when the

Arkansas Tech Alumni Association hosted an outing at

Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock on Aug. 8.

As was the case in June, the Arkansas Travelers and

the Northwest Arkansas Naturals provided the evening’s

entertainment. Approximately 125 Tech alumni and

friends signed up for the night out at Dickey-Stephens

Park.

Jana Parker, Jessica Rutlege

Greg Hatfield, Gloria Hatfield, Sharon Trusty, Fritz Kronberger

Bob Hardin, David Rollans

Jill Cox, Cory Cox

Rachel Price Bullock, Daniel Bullock

Lori Callahan,

Rob Callahan,

Taylor Callahan

Molly Fleming, Kristen Vaughan

Tom Reynolds, Mike Croom

Page 10: Tech Action: Summer 2009

Meet your

future at Tech

www.future.atu.edu

Today’s Tech

New facility named Centenary HallThe new Arkansas Tech University

academic facility under construction at the

corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and

Coliseum Drive has a name — Centenary Hall.

The action was taken by the Arkansas Tech

Board of Trustees during its regular monthly

meeting at the Ross Pendergraft Library and

Technology Center on June 18.

Dr. Robert C. Brown, Arkansas Tech

president, said that Centenary Hall is named

in honor of the fact that it will be completed

during the 100th year of Arkansas Tech

University.

Scheduled to open in January 2010, the

four-story, 60,000-square foot facility will be

the new home for the Arkansas Tech College

of Business and the Arkansas Tech Academic

Advising Center.

10 Tech Action

David Moseley, senior vice president for administration and

finance, reported that construction of Centenary Hall is back on

schedule after delays due to weather during the winter and early

spring months.

Gov. Beebe allocates $800K for TechGov. Mike Beebe made an

announcement in May that will result in

12,000 new square feet of educational

space for Arkansas Tech science students.

Gov. Beebe released $800,000 in

general improvement funds to the

Russellville campus for an expansion of

McEver Hall, which houses the Arkansas

Tech Departments of Physical Sciences

and Biological Sciences.

“On behalf of our 7,500 students,

my faculty colleagues and the Board of

Trustees, it is my privilege to express our most sincere

and profound gratitude to Gov. Beebe,” said Arkansas

Tech President Dr. Robert C. Brown. “We were sorely

disappointed that in the 2009 legislative session, Arkansas

Tech received only $200,000 in general improvement

funds. This was far less than any other four-year university,

and even less than all but two of the 22 two-year colleges.

“Gov. Beebe has corrected this great inequity to our

students,” continued Brown. “Gov. Beebe has always

been a friend to higher education, and he has helped the

students of Arkansas Tech many times

previously.”

McEver Hall was constructed in 1963. It

is named for Truman McEver, who served

on the Tech chemistry faculty from 1930-73

and was inducted into the Arkansas Tech

Hall of Distinction in 1968.

The facility was expanded in 1996 to

provide additional laboratory and office

space.

The new space in McEver Hall will

include more laboratories for use by Tech students in

fields such as chemistry, geology and biology.

“These funds will make a significant difference in

the educational experience for our students,” said

Brown. “Our state needs more graduates in the natural

and applied sciences in order to grow our economy.

This investment of general improvement funds will be

returned many times over by the graduates that we will

produce and the difference that they will make in our

communities.”

Page 11: Tech Action: Summer 2009

Today’s Tech

11Summer 2009

Harmon applies expertise for new buildingA decade ago, Major Gen. William E. Harmon (Ret.)

stepped forward to aid Arkansas Tech University in

implementing the technology necessary to make the

Ross Pendergraft Library and Technology Center one of

the top educational facilities in the region.

Now, as Arkansas Tech prepares to open another

landmark building — Centenary Hall — Harmon has

volunteered his expertise in cutting-edge technology

to guarantee that faculty and staff in the College of

Business and the Academic Advising Center will have

the best available tools at their disposal when the

60,000-square foot facility opens in January 2010.

“My job is to ask questions concerning the

installation of technology and to coordinate with

computer services to ensure that we are acquiring

technology that they can maintain and is within their

roadmap of standards for the university,” said Harmon,

a 1960 graduate of Arkansas Tech and a 1990 inductee

into the Arkansas Tech Hall of Distinction.

“My former position on the faculty in the College

of Business, as well as serving as the technology

coordinator for the Pendergraft Library when it was

built in 1998-99, helps me better understand the

requirements of all who will utilize the building as well

as recognize the need to coordinate in great detail with

those who will have to maintain it.”

Harmon, who is also currently serving alongside

his wife, Suzanne, as honorary co-chairpersons for

the Arkansas Tech Centennial Committee, was asked

by Tech President Dr. Robert C. Brown to oversee

technology implementation at Centenary Hall.

“Bill Harmon is one of the most knowledgeable and

capable people that Arkansas Tech University has ever

produced,” said Brown. “His service to our institution

is a priceless gift. Much like the work he did in the

Pendergraft Library, his efforts on the Centenary Hall

project will have a positive influence on the educational

mission of Arkansas Tech for many years to come.”

Harmon served on active duty in the U.S. Army from

1960-92. His military honors included the Distinguished

Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with

two Oak Leaf Clusters, Meritorious Service Medal with

one Oak Leaf Cluster, Joint Service Commendation

Medal, Master Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab and the

Army Staff Identification Medal. He was inducted into

the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame in June 2009.

One year after retiring from the military, Harmon

entered the private sector and was chief information

officer for Perot Systems in Dallas, Texas, from 1993-98.

Harmon’s service to Arkansas Tech has included that

of associate vice president for information technology

(1998-2000) and as the William M. Lemley Endowed

Chair of Business (2000-06).

“Arkansas Tech has wonderfully talented people

working to make the students that graduate from this

university as prepared for their future professional

challenges as is humanly possible,” said Harmon.

“Early exposure to leading technology in the classroom

is a key component to many of the challenges our

graduates will face early in their professional lives. I feel

very lucky to have been given the opportunity to once

again work with the staff and faculty at Arkansas Tech.”

Arkansas Tech campuses now tobacco freeArkansas Tech no longer permits the use of tobacco

on its campuses in Russellville and Ozark as of Aug. 1,

2009, following action by its Board of Trustees in May.

The board voted unanimously to adopt a tobacco-

free policy for Arkansas Tech.

The new policy went into effect one year earlier

than a state-mandated ban on smoking on Arkansas’

publicly-supported university and college campuses.

The 87th Arkansas General Assembly passed and

Gov. Mike Beebe signed Act 734 of 2009 in April. The

law, known as the Clean Air on Campus Act of 2009,

will make it illegal to smoke on all property owned

or operated by one of the state’s higher education

institutions as of Aug. 1, 2010.

Tech’s policy not only went into effect one year

earlier than the state law, it also goes further, prohibiting

the use of any smoking, dipping or chewing tobacco.

Learn More, Earn More

Could you or someone

you know benefit from

an Arkansas Tech-Ozark

Campus education?

Visit www.atu.edu/ozark

Page 12: Tech Action: Summer 2009

Today’s Tech

Krueger to retire after 50 years at TechDavid Krueger, who has been a faculty member at

Arkansas Tech for half of the university’s 100-year history,

has submitted a letter to the university indicating that he

will retire at the end of the 2009-10 academic year.

“Fifty years is a long time, and I have been very

fortunate to have enjoyed good health for so many years,”

wrote Krueger in his letter of retirement. “I want to retire

with the feeling that my effectiveness in the classroom is

still basically undiminished.”

Krueger has been voted professor of the year by Tech

students three times, including the 2008-09 academic year.

Along with Dr. Richard Cohoon, dean of the College of

Natural and Health Sciences, Krueger is one of the two

longest-serving faculty members in the 100-year history of

the university. They both came to Tech in 1960.

“One of my deepest regrets in retiring involves losing

contact with the students at our fine university,” wrote

Krueger in his letter of retirement. “No instructor could

ask to work with a better group of scholars. I also regret

leaving a department that is staffed by so many very well

qualified professors who work so well with each other.”

Visit www.arkansastechnews.com and search for

“David Krueger” to read more.

12 Tech Action

Veteran Tech staff members say goodbyeArkansas Tech lost 120 years of combined experience on its professional staff

when Peggy Hall of the Registrar’s Office and Wilma Labahn and Joyce McCain of

the Ross Pendergraft Library and Technology Center retired June 30.

All three ladies came to work at Tech in 1969. Together, they watched the

university enrollment grow from 2,532 students when they were first hired to its

current number of 7,498 students.

Hall (photographed, top left) served in the Student Accounts Office from

1969-81 and in the Registrar’s Office from 1981-2009. Rep. Nathan George

of Dardanelle presented her with a citation from the Arkansas House of

Representatives at her retirement reception on June 16.

McCain and Labahn (photographed, bottom left) are both graduates of

Arkansas Tech. They gave three decades of service in the Tomlinson Library and

saw the Pendergraft Library through its first 10 years.

The library staff hosted a retirement party for Labahn and McCain on June 25.

ABOVE: Mr. Krueger circa 2008.

TOP RIGHT: Mr. Krueger the

teacher, circa 1967.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Mr. Krueger

the tennis coach, circa 1966.

Page 13: Tech Action: Summer 2009

Today’s Tech

13Summer 2009

Bean, Norton, Woods take top faculty honorsArkansas Tech President Dr. Robert C. Brown presented

Dr. Linda Bean, Dr. Hanna Norton and Dr. Jeffrey Woods

with 2009 Faculty Awards of Excellence during spring

commencement ceremonies in May.

Bean received a Faculty Award of Excellence in the

service category.

An associate professor of business, Bean has been

a member of the Tech faculty since 2000. She serves as

advisor to the Arkansas Tech Students in Free Enterprise

organization, which won its second consecutive SIFE

regional title this spring and was named the 2008-09

Arkansas Tech student organization of the year.

Bean earned a Bachelor of Science degree from

Arkansas Tech in 1973. She received her master’s degree

from the University of Central Arkansas in 1986 and her

Ed.D. from Oklahoma State University in 1996.

Norton was presented with a Faculty Award of

Excellence in the teaching category.

A member of the Tech faculty since 2001, Norton is an

associate professor of journalism. She served as president

of the Tech Faculty Senate during the 2008-09 academic

year and is the advisor to the Public Relations Student

Society of America (PRSSA) chapter at Arkansas Tech.

Norton is an alumna of the University of Georgia. She

earned a bachelor’s degree (1994), a master’s degree

(1998) and a Ph.D. (2001) from the campus in Athens.

Woods earned a Faculty Award of Excellence in the

scholarship category.

Woods is an associate professor of history at Arkansas

Tech. He has been on the Tech faculty since 2000.

The founder and director of the Arkansas Digital

History Institute, Woods has authored two books:

“Richard Russell, Southern Nationalism, and American

Foreign Policy,” which was published in 2007, and “Black

Struggle, Red Scare: Segregation and Anticommunism in

the South, 1948-1968,” which was published in 2004.

Woods holds a bachelor’s degree from the University

of Kansas (1992), a master’s degree from the University of

Arkansas (1994) and a Ph.D. from Ohio University (2000).

Which faculty members shaped You?

Send your thoughts to

[email protected] as

part of our centennial

celebration.

Linda Bean

Hanna Norton

Jeff Woods

Page 14: Tech Action: Summer 2009

Tech Centennial

14 Tech Action

WILL YOU SHARE YOUR TECH MEMORABILIA?

Call (479) 968-0332 or visit www.atu.edu/centennialto learn how you can share your Tech-related items and memories

during the Arkansas Tech Centennial Celebration

Tech Museum wins exhibit of the year

The Arkansas Tech Museum has received the 2008

Museum Exhibit of the Year award from the Arkansas

Museums Association.

The award-winning exhibit was “Sense of Place:

Reconstructing Community Through Oral History and

Archeology,” which was on display in 2008.

The Arkansas Tech Museum is open inside the

Techionery Tuesday-Thursday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. The

museum is currently celebrating Arkansas Tech’s

100-year anniversary with exhibits telling the story of

Tech’s first century. Call (479) 964-0826 or visit

www.atu.edu/museum for more information.

Page 15: Tech Action: Summer 2009

Tech Centennial

15Summer 2009

tech Tech Timeline: 1950-1965Throughout the duration of the Arkansas Tech University centennial celebration, Tech Action will take a look back at some

of the events that have shaped the institution during its first 100 years. In this issue, we look at 1950 through 1965.

May 1950The first four-year college graduating class of the post-World War II era receives its degrees.

Spring 1950Arkansas Tech earns the AIC baseball title. The Wonder Boys would add six more AIC baseball championships (1964, 1976, 1981, 1985, 1988, 1992).

November 1950Critz Residence Hall is dedicated in honor of former President Hugh Critz.

March 1951The four-year college program at Arkansas Polytechnic College is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.

September 1952The Army Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) makes its debut on the Tech campus.

March 1954Tech’s men’s basketball program advances to the semifinals of the NAIA National Tournament for the first time in school history. The Wonder Boys would make it back-to-back NAIA Final Four berths in 1955.

Fall 1954Arkansas Tech (8-1 overall, 6-1 conference) wins the AIC football title.

1955Bryan Hall (named for Professor Lela J. Bryan, teacher of home economics) and Tucker Hall (named for Coach John Tucker) are constructed.

Fall 1957The first African-American students to attend Tech enroll. Also, student enrollment tops 1,000 for the first time.

Winter 1958Arkansas Tech (20-5, 10-0 conference) wins the AIC men’s basketball title.

Fall 1958Tech (7-3 overall, 6-1 conference) is AIC football champ.

May 1959The W.O. Young Student Center is dedicated on Agri Day. It was named in honor of William O. Young, who served the university as an administrator from 1917-42.

Fall 1959DuLaney Residence Hall (named for Thomas DuLaney, teacher of history) is dedicated during Homecoming.

Winter 1960Arkansas Tech wins the first of three consecutive AIC men’s basketball titles. The Wonder Boys were 60-16 overall and 44-10 in the AIC during their championship seasons from 1959-60 through 1961-62.

October 1960Massie Residence Hall (named in honor of Professor Lillian Massie, teacher of English) is dedicated.

Fall 1960Arkansas Tech (10-1 overall, 8-0 conference) wins the AIC football title, celebrates its first-ever 10-win football season and is invited to the Great Southwest Bowl.

Fall 1961Tech adds another AIC football crown with an overall mark of 8-0-1 and a league record of 6-0-1.

1962McEver Hall (named for Professor Truman McEver, teacher of science), Roush Residence Hall (named for Librarian Myrtle Roush) and Brown Residence Hall (named for Coach Edgar O. Brown) are constructed.

1963George T. Hudgens becomes the first African-American graduate of Arkansas Tech.

1964Arkansas Tech University founds its Hall of Distinction as a way of honoring distinguished alumni and those who have given outstanding service to the university.

Fall 1964Arkansas Tech (9-1 overall, 7-0 conference) captures the AIC football championship.

Fall 1965Arkansas Tech tops 2,000 students for the first time.

1965Turner Residence Hall (named for Board of Trustees member James S. Turner) and Chambers Cafeteria (named for Board of Trustees members John Ed Chambers, John Ed Chambers II and John Ed Chambers III) are constructed. A new infirmary, which today serves as the home of the Tech Public Safety office, is also constructed.

Truman McEver

Chemistry Professor, 1930-73

Gene Witherspoon

Band Director, 1950-79

Sam Hindsman

Head Basketball Coach, 1947-66

Head Football Coach, 1954-58

Marvin “Shorty” Salmon

Head Football Coach, 1959-66

Page 16: Tech Action: Summer 2009

Development Corner

How a planned gift to Tech can benefit youThe start of a new academic year is always exciting.

Although the Tech campus is active throughout the

summer with classes, camps, fall registration and

orientation activities, there is a renewed energy when

students move into the residence halls in August and the

semester gets underway.

The primary focus on the Arkansas Tech campus

today is the same as it has been throughout Tech’s 100

years…our students. Our student-centered vision shapes

everything we do.

As a Tech alumnus or friend, you are an integral piece

of the puzzle in the university’s continued success. Make

a commitment right now to be involved with Arkansas

Tech: to be present and to make a present.

Gifts through the Tech Loyalty Fund, our annual giving

program, enhance the students’ experience by providing

essential funding for departmental support, student

projects, and scholarship assistance.

These outright gifts may be made in various ways:

check (made payable to the Arkansas Tech Foundation),

credit card, appreciated securities, bank draft, and online

giving at www.atu.edu/givetotech.

An additional way you can make a significant impact

for Tech students is through your estate plan. Through a

well-planned estate, you can achieve your charitable and

financial goals.

Many people believe that only the wealthy need to

consider estate planning, but that is not the case. A

person’s assets include more than money, stocks, and

bonds. Equity in your home, life insurance, deferred

employee benefits, and tangible possessions need to be

considered as well.

An old adage says that nothing in life is certain except

death and taxes. Taxes are a reality both in life and at

death. During life, the tax is a gift tax; at death, it is estate

tax.

Estate planning is the process of choosing the most

appropriate methods to efficiently transfer your assets to

others at the least cost to them and your estate. There are

techniques you can use to reduce the size of your estate

and reduce those taxes.

Charitable gifts made during your lifetime provide one

of the surest ways to reduce taxes. When the gift is made

today, income tax savings may result because you get a

charitable deduction when you itemize on your income

tax return. In addition, the gift reduces your future taxable

estate, so your estate pays less estate taxes.

Gifts made at a later date may also result in possible

income tax savings depending on the type of deferred

gift and future estate tax savings. Gift planning is about

finding ways to make charitable gifts from your estate

while enjoying financial benefits for yourself. Effective

methods for making a planned gift take many forms,

such as a bequest through your will, a revocable trust, a

unitrust, an annuity trust or a lead trust.

If you are retired, ages 60 to 75, a unitrust provides a

hedge against inflation. If you are more concerned about a

declining market, however, an annuity trust may be a better

choice for you.

For married couples, a unitrust or annuity trust that

makes payments throughout both your lifetimes may

make more sense. At all ages, a charitable bequest in your

will or revocable living trust ensures a valuable estate tax

deduction. Your attorney and/or tax advisor can help you

determine the most beneficial form of gift for you.

Contact Dana Moseley, director of gift planning, at

(479) 964-0532 or [email protected] to discuss ways to

achieve your charitable goals through a planned gift.

16 Tech Action

Jayne Jones

Vice President for Development

Dana Moseley

Director of Gift Planning

Have you seen the new and improved TechTies? Check it out today.

www.techties.atu.edu

Jayne Jones

Vice President for Development

Page 17: Tech Action: Summer 2009

Development Corner

New scholarship honors two Tech legends

17Summer 2009

Two longtime members

of the Arkansas Tech faculty

have been memorialized and

remembered through the

Denton-Wainright Endowed

Scholarship Fund.

The scholarship was

created through the

generosity of Cheryl L. Denton

of Hot Springs in memory

of Dr. John Wainright, who

served as professor, dean of

the Arkansas Tech College

of Education and director

of graduate studies at Tech

during a 29-year career from

1952-81, and his wife Joan

Wainright, who taught music at

Tech from 1955-82.

Like many other Tech students of that era, Denton’s

life was affected in a positive and meaningful way by

the Wainrights.

“I started taking piano lessons from Mrs. Wainright

at the age of 10 and continued all the way through

college,” said Denton. “I gained my self-esteem from

her as much as anyone else in life. Dr. John was my

choral director, and when he was dean of education,

placed me in my student teaching assignment. As

a result of the Wainrights’ mentorship, I followed a

career in education in public schools and at Westark

Community College, which is now the University of

Arkansas at Fort Smith.

“They were both a huge

part of my life and greatly

influenced me as well as

others,” continued Denton.

“Teachers rarely receive the

recognition for the positive

effects of their role in

students’ lives. I hope this

scholarship will serve as an

appropriate tribute to the

Wainrights.”

The scholarship, under

the direction of the Arkansas

Tech Foundation and its

student aid committee, will

be awarded on an annual

basis to a student with

demonstrated financial need

who is a junior or senior at

Arkansas Tech and enrolled in a full-time course load.

First preference will be given to a student who

is majoring in music education with an emphasis in

keyboard instrumental music. After that, in descending

order, preference will be given to students who are

majoring in music education with an emphasis in

keyboard vocal music, in music education with an

emphasis in vocal music education, in English education

and in general education. Richard Derrick Collier of

Jessieville was the first recipient of the scholarship.

For more information about private scholarships

through the Arkansas Tech University Foundation, call

(479) 968-0400 or visit www.atu.edu/givetotech.

Janet Beck Scholarship memorializes ‘99 gradChase Fresneda and Kaitlin Short, both of whom are 2009 graduates

of Sacred Heart High School in Morrilton, are this year’s recipients of the

Janet Beck Memorial Scholarship at Arkansas Tech University.

Fresneda (left) is from Morrilton, while Short (right) is a native of

Belleville. Also photographed is Merideth Beck, mother of the late Janet

Beck. The scholarship was established by the parents and friends of Janet

Beck, who passed away shortly after graduating from Arkansas Tech with a

management and marketing degree in 1999.

To learn more about contributing toward or applying for a private

scholarship through the Arkansas Tech Foundation, call (479) 968-0400.

ABOVE: Cheryl Denton

LEFT: Dr. John Wainright and

Joan Wainright

Page 18: Tech Action: Summer 2009

Alumni News

18 Tech Action

Nominate a deserving person for H of DTo be considered for the 2010 Hall of Distinction,

nominations must be made in writing and delivered or

mailed to the Arkansas Tech Alumni Office by Oct. 1,

2009.

The Hall of Distinction recognizes genuine

accomplishment by persons closely assocated with

the university, cultivates individuals for the purpose of

enhanced service and fund raising and enhances the

reputation of the university.

To date, 163 people have been inducted into the

Arkansas Tech Hall of Distinction.

Individuals may be nominated in any of five

categories: Distinguished Alumnus/Alumna; Distinguished

Service Award; Distinguished Young Alumnus/Alumna;

Distinguished Alumni Service; and Distinction in

Intercollegiate Athletics.

Col. Carl Franklin Baswell became the 100th Tech

graduate to be inducted under the Distinguished Alumnus

category in May 2009.

Please contact the Arkansas Tech Alumni Office at

(479) 968-0242 or [email protected] for an information

packet and nomination form.

Arkansas Tech University is currently accepting

nominations for the 2010 Arkansas Tech Alumni Board of

Directors.

The Alumni Board meets three to four times a year.

Members serve three-year terms. If you have an interest

in serving on the Alumni Board or know of someone who

is interested or who you believe would be a good board

member, please let the Alumni Office know.

Nominations will be accepted until Oct. 1, 2009.

Contact the Alumni Office by phone (479-968-0242),

e-mail ([email protected]) or traditional mail (Alumni

House, 1313 N. Arkansas Ave., Russellville, AR 72801) for

more information.

All submitted names will be forwarded to a nominating

committee of the Alumni Board. The nominating

committee will then select a slate of candidates, which will

be approved by the Alumni Board, to appear on the ballot.

Voting will take place in the fall issue of Tech Action.

Call for Alumni Board Nominations

Crowden interns for Rep. BoozmanArkansas Tech alumnus Joel Crowden already has

a four-year college education in the field of politics.

This summer, he received a one-month crash course in

applying that education on a very high-profile level.

Crowden, who graduated Summa Cum Laude from

Arkansas Tech with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history

and political science in May, was one of six individuals

who served as interns for U.S. Rep. John Boozman in

Washington, D.C., from July 7-Aug. 7.

“This experience has definitely changed my perspective

on politics and Washington,” said Crowden. “I am now

more aware of current political problems and the lengthy

process that is involved with crafting legislation. I have

also observed that compromise plays a key role in getting

things done. I also learned that that many people are very

interested in the legislative process and enjoy expressing

their opinions.”

A resident of London, Crowden graduated from the

Arkansas School for Mathematics, Science and the Arts in

Hot Springs in 2005 before enrolling at Arkansas Tech.

Crowden noted that among his biggest surprises was

the fast pace of life in Washington and the convenience

of the subway system that connects the U.S. Capitol with

the Capitol office buildings.

“I believe my experience as an intern will definitely

prepare me in whatever profession I choose to enter,”

said Crowden. “My internship provides me with valuable

government workplace experience and gives me insight

into the political process.”

Tech senior Danielle Adkins of Dover also interned for

Rep. Boozman from July 7-Aug. 7. To read more about

Adkins’ experience, visit www.arkansastechnews.com and

search for “Danielle Adkins.”

Page 19: Tech Action: Summer 2009

Today’s Tech

19Summer 2009

Tech names new deans in four collegesNew deans assumed leadership in four Arkansas Tech

University colleges over the summer months.

Dr. William Hoefler, who served as interim dean of

the Arkansas Tech College of Applied Sciences during

the 2008-09 academic year, moved into that role on a

permanent basis as of July 1, 2009.

Also on July 1, Dr. Eldon Clary became dean of the

Arkansas Tech College of Education and Dr. Mary Gunter

became dean of the Arkansas Tech Graduate College.

Clary was previously dean of the Graduate College,

while Gunter moves from her previous position as head

of the Arkansas Tech Center for Leadership and Learning.

The final change in leadership came in the College

of Arts and Humanities, where Dr. Thomas DeBlack has

agreed to serve as interim dean while Tech conducts a

nationwide search to fill that position.

Dr. John Watson, Arkansas Tech vice president

for academic affairs and professor of mathematics,

announced on June 9 that Dr. Glenn Sheets had

submitted his resignation as dean of the Arkansas Tech

College of Education, a post he had held since 2003.

Sheets, who holds the rank of professor of

education, will return to the classroom. Sheets has

been a member of the Arkansas Tech University faculty

since 1990. He previously served as registrar

from 2000-03.

Watson also announced that Dr. Georgena Duncan,

dean of the Arkansas Tech College of Arts and

Humanities since 1996, had submitted her resignation

as dean.

Duncan, a professor of history first appointed to the

Tech faculty in 1975, will return to the classroom. In

addition, she also accepted a special assignment with

the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs

in conjunction with the English as a Second Language

Academy at Tech.

“All of these changes in assignment involve senior

colleagues who have given outstanding service to

Arkansas Tech University over many, many years,” said

Tech President Dr. Robert C. Brown. “We express our

sincere gratitude to all of those involved, and we solicit

the cooperation and assistance of all of our faculty

colleagues during this time of transition in some of our

most prominent academic operations.”

Dr. Eldon Clary, Dean

Dr. Thomas DeBlack, Interim Dean

Dr. Mary Gunter, Dean

Dr. William Hoefler, Dean

Page 20: Tech Action: Summer 2009

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Class Notes

20 Tech Action

Todd Arthur Rudisill (JOUR ’94) and Robyn Renee Sites

were married on May 10, 2009. Todd is an account

services manager in corporate communications at

Tyson Foods. They live in Springdale.

Jason Wallace (HEPE ‘00) and Loretta Wilson were

married on July 25, 2009. Jason has coached the

freshman girls’ basketball team at North Little Rock

High School to a 45-0 record the last two years.

Hannah Tipton Lane (HOSP ADMIN ’03) and Timothy

Wayne Garner were married on July 18, 2009. Hannah

works at Eldridge Supply Company in Augusta. They

live in McCrory.

Jon Matthew Hall (COMS ’04) and Kelly Nicole Edington

were married June 6, 2009. Matt is a senior business

analyst at Wal-Mart. They live in Northwest Arkansas.

Cristin Lee Napier (ECED ’04) and Jonathan Atha were

married on May 30, 2009. Cristin teaches for the Rogers

School District. They live in Fayetteville.

Stephen Clark Carroll (RPA ’05) and Mary Valerie Belden

were married on June 27, 2009. They live in Little Rock.

Jeremy Ragland (HIST ’05) and Laura Widner were

married on April 25, 2009. They live in Harrison.

Randy McClaren (MCEG ’06) and Jill Abernathy were

married on March 21, 2009. Randy works for Bekaert

Corp. in Van Buren.

Jessica LeAnn Sanders (HIM ’06) and Eric Christopher

Williams were married on May 16, 2009. Jessica is a

medical coder at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center.

Aubrey Cammack (JOUR ’07) and Jeffrey Holt (HIST

’07) were married on June 20, 2009. They live in

Clarksville, Tenn.

Jonathan Bryan Querdibitty (MGMT/MKTG ’07) and

Molly Kimball Smith were married on May 30, 2009.

They live in Little Rock.

Magean Leann Warnock (SOC ’07) and Randy

McArthur Brents Jr. (RPA ’09) were married on March

21, 2009. Randy is employed by the U.S. Forest Service

and Magean works for the Arkansas Division of Children

and Family Services. They live in Russellville.

Marriages Nathaniel Gatewood (BIOL ’08) and Brenttany L.

Thompson (BIOL ’08) were married April 28, 2009. They

relocated to the Cayman Islands prior to the fall 2009

semester after Brenttany was accepted to St. Matthew’s

University Grand Cayman British West Indies School of

Veterinary Medicine.

Adrienne L. Gautier (HIST ’08) and Jonathan Woods

were married Feb. 28, 2009.

Nathan George (ECON ’08) and Samantha Chadha

were married on May 30, 2009.

Births

Larry Collins (COMS ’91) and his wife, Vera, a daughter,

Lydia Abigail Isabella, May 20, 2009. Lydia has a sister,

Sophie (6).

G. Bart Dickinson (HIST ’95) and Dr. Leslie Hall

Dickinson (BIOL ’98), a son, Graham Barnett, July 13,

2009.

Tommy Langston Parker (HEPE ’95) and his wife,

Laura, a son, Madden Tommy, April 6, 2009. Madden

has one brother, Langston Phillip (8).

Katharine Bear-Diemer Robinson (JOUR ’95) and

Paul Robinson (ALUM), a daughter, Hunter Elizabeth,

Dec. 2, 2008. Katharine is writing for the Arkansas Times

about dining opportunities in the Natural State on the

Eat Arkansas blog.

Dana Keys Sumter (ART ’95) and her husband, Chris,

a son, Lucas Neil, June 26, 2009. Lucas has a brother,

Noah (6).

Sarah Humphreys Copeland (ELED ’96) and her

husband, Kevin, a daughter, Laney Alise, Oct. 29,

2008. Sarah is a sixth grade math teacher at Simon

Intermediate School in Conway. She recently achieved

National Board Certified Teacher status.

Dr. Raymond Molden (BIOL ’96) and Kimberly Wade

Molden (REHAB SCI ’98), twin boys, Evan and Aidan,

July 23, 2009.

Bryan Rust (HEPE ’97) and Amy Hoyt Rust (MGMT/

MKTG ’97), a son, Luke Ryan, Feb. 23, 2009. Luke has a

sister, Madison (9), and a brother, Drew (7). They live in

Pottsville.

Page 21: Tech Action: Summer 2009

Class Notes

21Summer 2009

Chadwick Terry Foster (CRWR ’98) and Kristin Lynne

Jones, a son, Riley James, June 25, 2009. Riley has a

sister, Avery (5). They live in Russellville.

Miranda Wofford Hale (ELED ’00) and her husband,

David, a daughter, Jenna Kale, Sept. 19, 2008. Jenna has

one sister, Anna (4).

B.J. Bayer (ELEG ’01) and his wife, Kristy, a son, Brooks

Morley, April 28, 2009. B.J. is employed at Arkansas

Nuclear One, while Kristy is head volleyball coach at

Arkansas Tech.

Christopher Brockett (MGMT/MKTG ’01) and Susan

Wajszczuk Brockett (HIST ’01), a son, Sebastian DeWitt,

Dec. 23, 2008. Sebastian has a sister, Sydney (3).

John C. Carter (ECON ’02) and his wife, Erin, a

daughter, Ashley Nicole, Aug. 21, 2008.

Genevive Brown (NURS ’03) and James Brown, a son,

Chayse, March 13, 2009.

1950s

Joe Magness (ENG ’53) and Bonnie Morphis Magness

(HOME EC ’54) celebrated their 55th wedding

anniversary on June 13, 2009. They live in Benton.

Juanita Butler (EDU ’55) received the first Beta Nu

Butler Achievement Award from the Beta Nu Chapter

of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. The

award was established to honor a Delta Kappa Gamma

member who has given distinctive services in education

and to society. Juanita worked as an elementary teacher

for 34 years in Bergman, Pottsville, Flippin, Yellville and

Russellville.

Mike Roys (’56) and Janet Roys (ALUM) were honored

with a 50th wedding anniversary reception on June 7,

2009.

James W. Tucker (BUAD ’56) and Kay White Tucker

celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on June 20,

2009. James is retired after 33 years in management

with Sun Oil Company. They live in Russellville.

Carolyn Hilliard Estelle (HOME EC ’57) and her

husband, John, celebrated their 50th wedding

anniversary with a reception on Aug. 2, 2009. They live

in Salem, Ore.

1960s

Dr. Phil Godwin (MUED ’64) retired from Belmont

University in Nashville, Tenn., in May and was named

professor emeritus. He taught music at Belmont for

36 years and focused in the areas of composition and

music theory.

Elizabeth Balkman House (MUS ’64) retired from

Augusta State University in Augusta, Ga., after 33 years

of service. She received the titles of dean emeritus of

the ASU College of Arts and Sciences and professor

emeritus of English.

Fred Tate (HEPE ’64) was honored as one of Shelter

Insurance’s highest achieving sales representatives

based on overall 2008 agency operations. Fred has

represented Shelter since 1972 and has earned the

company’s champion designation 31 times.

Sandra Petray Hillier (BUAD ’66) retired from Ozark

Opportunities Inc. as director of its RSVP program for

Boone County and Marion County.

Robert L. Roberts (’67) was honored as one of Shelter

Insurance’s highest achieving sales representatives

based on overall 2008 agency operations. Robert has

represented Shelter since 1973, and he has earned the

company’s champion designation 26 times.

1970s

Travis Beard (MUED ’70 & M.Ed. ’77) and Debbie

Beard (MUED ’76), long-time music teachers in the

Russellville School District, retired at the end of the

2008-09 academic year. They were presented with

Lifetime Achievement Awards and Travis was named

director emeritus of the Russellville High School Band

during the annual end-of-year concert in May. In

presenting their awards, RHS Band Director Dewayne

Dove (MUED ’87) estimated that the Beards taught

more than 8,000 students during their careers.

Larry Brandt (BUAD ’70) was elected to a three-year

term on the board of the Heartland Community Bankers

Association during the group’s annual meeting in

Colorado Springs, Colo., in June. Larry is chairman of

the board and CEO of First Federal Bank in Harrison.

Get Inside

Visit

arkansastechnews.com

for the latest news from

the Tech campus

Page 22: Tech Action: Summer 2009

Class Notes

22 Tech Action

Major Gen. William Wofford (MATH ’71) received the

Veteran Small Business Champion Award from the

Small Business Administration Arkansas District Office

in recognition of his work to create small business

opportunities for those who have served the United

States.

Bill Maxwell (MUED ’74) was named 2008-09 teacher

of the year for the Mountain Home School District. Bill

serves as the junior high band director.

Gary Stratton (HEPE ’75) retired at the end of the

2008-09 academic year after nine years as due process

coordinator for special services at Russellville High

School and a total of 36 years with the Russellville School

District.

Diane Cain Walters (HEPE ’75, M.Ed. PE ’79 & M. Ed

ELED ’92) accepted a position on the physical education

faculty at Arkansas Tech University. Previously, Diane

taught physical education at Crawford Elementary School

in Russellville for 34 years.

Gary Gunter (BUAD ’76) and Martha Walden Gunter

celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on June 24,

2009. Gary is a classification specialist for the Fort Smith

Public School District. They live in Arkoma, Okla.

Miles Johnson (FISH/WLDLF BIOL ’79) received a

2009 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Legend Award

in Washington, D.C. Miles is recreation and resource

manager for the Corps’ Russellville project office.

Lisa Clark Huelle (HIST/POL SCI ’81) received the

2009 Heloise Griffon Scholarship from the Arkansas

Association of Instructional Media during the group’s

annual conference on April 20. Lisa is enrolled in the

Master of Education in instructional technology program

at Arkansas Tech. Previously a middle level social studies

teacher for the Dardanelle School District, Lisa will serve

as library media specialist for Dardanelle Middle School

beginning this fall.

Joe Trusty (MUED ’81) led his Cabot High School

Marching Band on a trip to Washington, D.C., to appear in

the annual July 4th parade in the nation’s capital.

1980s

Jeff Eddleman (JOUR ’82) of Elkins High School was

selected to serve as head coach for the West baseball

team during the 2009 Arkansas High School Coaches

Association All-Star Week in Fayetteville.

Lynne Campbell Mitchell (MED ASST ’82) is the new

regional chief financial officer for Sisters of Mercy Health

System. She will oversee operations at St. Joseph’s Mercy

Health System in Hot Springs, St. Edward Mercy Health

System in Fort Smith and Mercy Health System in Rogers.

Jon Carroll (AGBU ’83) was appointed to the board of

directors for the Bank of Brinkley.

Jeananne Cooper Hawking (JOUR ’85), senior sales

manager for Crowne Plaza Hotel in Little Rock, was

elected president of the Sales and Marketing Executives

International board of officers and directors for the state

of Arkansas.

Lori Melton (ACCT ’86), a certified public accountant

at Shoptaw, Labahn & Co., graduated from Leadership

Russellville in May. The nine-month experience is a

Russellville Area Chamber of Commerce program designed

to identify, educate and motivate potential leaders to

become involved in the future of the community.

W. Kirk Turner (PRE-LAW ’86) is listed in the latest edition

of “Best Lawyers in America,” a referral guide that is

published on an annual basis. Kirk leads the labor and

employment law group for the Tulsa, Okla., law firm of

Newton, O’Connor, Turner & Ketchum.

Bill Hardgrave (COMS ’87) received the Ted Williams

Award from AIM Global in recognition of his contributions

to the development of the automatic identification and

mobility industry. Bill is only the third person to receive

the award. He is executive director of the Radio Frequency

Identification Research Center at the University of

Arkansas at Fayetteville.

Charlie Melton (’88) was selected to serve as an assistant

coach for the West softball team during the 2009 Arkansas

High School Coaches Association All-Star Week in

Fayetteville. Charlie is employed by the Scranton School

District.

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Page 23: Tech Action: Summer 2009

Class Notes

23Summer 2009

Linda Jo Williams Pendergrass (M.Ed. GTED ’89)

retired from the Cedarville School District in December

2008 after serving for more than 24 years. Linda taught

journalism and oral communications, was the gifted and

talented coordinator for the school district and advised

student publications for 23 years. Linda is working part-

time for Heritage Studios in Van Buren.

1990s

Shawn Pierce (JOUR ’92 & M.Ed. ITED ’00) became

director for the Lonoke/Prairie County Regional Library

in June. Shawn was previously the technical services

librarian for the Arkansas Supreme Court Library for

eight years.

Mike Simmons (HEPE ’92) of Mountain View High

School was selected to serve as an assistant coach

for the West boys’ basketball team during the 2009

Arkansas High School Coaches Association All-Star

Week in Fayetteville.

Jed Bullock (HRM ’93), manager of the Best Western

Eureka Inn in Eureka Springs, received the 2009 State

Leader Award from the American Hotel and Lodging

Association.

Roy Hester (ELED ’93) was hired as the new

superintendent for the Lamar School District.

Ryan McKinnie (SPH ’93) was named senior corporate

instructor for the UPS management team in the

corporate office. Ryan has been with UPS for 10 years.

He lives in Nashville, Tenn., and has two children —

Savannah and Ryland.

David Bevis (HIST EDU ’95) completed a Spanish

immersion class at Camp Camby, Ind. David is an officer

with the Russellville Police Department.

Greg Black (BUAD ’95) was hired as vice president and

lending officer at Diamond Bank of Hot Springs’ Mount

Ida branch.

Clay McCammon (HEPE ’95) of Searcy High School was

selected to serve as head coach for the East baseball

team during the 2009 Arkansas High School Coaches

Association All-Star Week in Fayetteville.

Brad Shipman (SOC ’95) was named president of

Centennial Bank in Mountain View. He and his wife, Kay

Jones Shipman (ELED ’94), live in Mountain View with

their children, Brady and Kaley.

Daryl Fimple (HEPE ’97) was selected to serve as

an assistant coach for the East girls’ basketball team

during the 2009 Arkansas High School Coaches

Association All-Star Week in Fayetteville. Daryl is head

girls’ basketball coach at North Little Rock High School.

Doug Loughridge (HIST/POL SCI ’97) was selected to

serve as head coach for the West football team during

the 2009 Arkansas High School Coaches Association

All-Star Week in Fayetteville. Doug is head football

coach at Charleston High School.

Todd Meimerstorf (ECON ’97) graduated from the 74th

annual American Bankers Association Stonier National

Graduate School of Banking, which was held June 13-19

at the University of Pennsylvania. Todd is vice president

for commercial lending at Arvest Bank in Russellville.

Michael Shane Sapp (ENGR ’97) earned a Master

of Divinity degree from the Reformed Presbyterian

Theological Seminary in Monroeville, Penn., on May

22, 2009. Michael, his wife Kelly and their children —

Grover (6) and Clementine (3) — live in Broomfield,

Colo. Michael is pastor of Westminster Reformed

Presbyterian Church in Westminster, Colo.

Allison Smedley (RPA ’98), park ranger and natural

resource specialist for the U.S. Army Corps of

Engineers, was voted interpreter of the year for the

Southwest Corps of Engineers Division and she

received the Hiram M. Crittenden Award for Excellence.

Dustin Peters (HEPE ’99) was hired as head boys’

basketball coach at Gravette High School in May. He

coached in the Ozark School District for nine years.

Adam C. Robison (SPH ’99 & M.Ed EDLD ’07) was

hired as principal at Atkins High School.

Beau Thompson (HEPE ’99) of Farmington High School

was selected to serve as an assistant coach for the

West boys’ basketball team during the 2009 Arkansas

High School Coaches Association All-Star Week in

Fayetteville.

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Page 24: Tech Action: Summer 2009

Class Notes

24 Tech Action

Chris Watson (HEPE ’99) accepted the position of assistant

principal and athletic director at Danville High School.

Shawn Gordon (MGMT/MKTG ’00) was appointed to the

Russellville Advertising and Promotion Commission.

Matt Dillman (RPA ’01) joined Pinnacle Country Club in

Rogers as an assistant golf professional.

Jeremy Goss (ACCT ’02) was promoted to manager at

BKD LLP in Little Rock.

Chris K. Davis (ECON ’04) was promoted to assistant

examiner for the Arkansas State Bank Department.

Rebecca Miriam King (BIOL ’04) earned a Doctor

of Optometry degree from the Southern College of

Optometry in Memphis, Tenn. She was also presented

with the VISTAKON Award of Excellence in contact lens

patient care, the Outstanding Clinician Award for overall

exemplary clinical performance and the Dr. David P.

Sloan Memorial Award for commitment of services to the

profession of optometry and the community at large.

Melissa Manatt (SPAN ’04) earned a Doctor of Pharmacy

degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical

Sciences College of Pharmacy in Little Rock on May 16.

Sarah Jamell McCoy (BIOL ’04) earned a Doctor of

Pharmacy degree from the University of Arkansas for

Medical Sciences College of Pharmacy on May 16.

Kristin Keaster McNulty (EAM ’04), owner of Bow-K’s

Flowers and More, graduated from Leadership Russellville

in May. The nine-month experience is a Russellville Area

Chamber of Commerce program designed to identify,

educate and motivate potential leaders to become

involved in the future of the community.

Deidre Wilbanks Luker (MGMT/MKTG ’05) graduated

with honors from the William H. Bowen School of Law at

the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She works for

Bullock Law Firm in Russellville.

Ashley Erin Mason (BIOL ’05) graduated from the

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little

Rock on May 16 with a Doctor of Medicine degree.

She is completing her residency work at UAMS with a

specialization in obstetrics and gynecology.

2000s

Ike Ohanson (SPH ’06) helped the Snohomish County

Explosion reach the semifinal round of the 2009

International Basketball League playoffs. Ohanson ranked

24th in the IBL in scoring (18.8 points per game) and fifth

in the league in rebounding (11.3 per game) this season.

Kenneth Warden III (M.Ed. EDLD ’06) was promoted

to chief business and community outreach officer at

Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus.

Ryan Cutler (MGMT/MKTG ’07) was promoted to

assistant branch manager for Arvest Bank in Clarksville.

Breanne D. Davis (SPH ’07), assistant at Blackstone

Construction, graduated from Leadership Russellville in

May. Breanne was named the outstanding leader in this

year’s Leadership Russellville class.

Rochelle Gann (ACCT ’07) was hired as staff accountant

at BKD LLP’s Little Rock office.

D. Keith Reeves (MUED ’08) is the new choral director at

Ramey Junior High School in Fort Smith.

Jonathan Webster (SOC ’08) was hired as defensive backs

coach for the football program at Southwest Mississippi

Community College.

Brittany Brunson (JOUR ’09) was promoted to coordinator

of student recruitment at Arkansas Tech-Ozark Campus.

Molly Fleming (JOUR ’09) earned a second place award

for freelance writing from the Arkansas Press Association

in its 2009 awards competition.

Amanda Grappe (ECED ’09) was named to the 2008-

09 Gulf South Conference Top 10, a list that honors the

top student-athletes in the GSC based upon athletic

achievement, academic performance and community

service. Grappe was an All-America forward for the

Arkansas Tech Golden Suns and will serve as a graduate

assistant for the Tech women’s basketball program in

2009-10.

Earnest Taylor (ELEC ENGR ’09) joined the Conway

Corporation staff as an electric systems engineer intern.

Taylor Wallner (HIST ’09) won the Fayetteville Country

Club Stroke Play Championship in June. He shot 66-65 for

a 9-under par total of 131.

THE place for all your Arkansas

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Page 25: Tech Action: Summer 2009

Obituaries

25Summer 2009

tech Friends We’ll MissIobra Eileen Shelton (HOME EC ‘37) died May 28,

2009. She was a retired school teacher. Survivors include

her son, Dorwin Lynn Shelton; daughters, Elizabeth Sue

Ober, Janice Sloan and Glenda Burns; and sister, Bernice

Thorp. Iobra lived in Harrison. She was 92.

Julia Ann “Judy” Buerkle Roberts (‘49) died Oct. 12,

2008. She was the daughter of John G. Buerkle, the

namesake for the playing surface at Tech’s football

stadium. Survivors include her husband, Bill Roberts;

daughters Carol Starrett and Nancy Flake; and son, Bill

Roberts Jr. Judy lived in Bartlesville, Okla. She was 78.

J.D. Horn (‘56) died June 21, 2009. A veteran of the

Korean War, J.D. owned Horn’s Used Cars in Russellville

for 36 years. Survivors include his wife of 54 years,

Leota Horn; daughter, Phyllis Stone; brothers, Doise

Horn and Donovan Horn; and sisters, Yvonne Housley,

Winona Waldo, Eula Buchanon, Lela Drewry and Lura

Judd. J.D. lived in Russellville. He was 81.

B. Wayne Keene (ENGL ‘64) died Feb. 23, 2009. He

taught in the University of Tennessee at Martin English

Department from 1966-2000 and was awarded the title

of professor emeritus. Survivors include his wife, Judy

Roberts Keene; stepson, Monte Belew; brother, Manuel

Keene; and sister, Deborah Keene. Wayne lived in

Martin, Tenn. He was 71.

Gary Walker (EDU ‘72) died July 18, 2009. He was a

math teacher for 17 years and principal for 18 years

at Hartford High School. Survivors include his wife,

Vickie; sons, Brad Walker and Mark Hester; daughters,

Lori Walker, Stephanie Maddox and Amanda Rowe; and

brother, Lary Walker. Gary lived in Midland. He was 63.

Michael Looney (PARKS/REC ‘74) died June 8, 2009.

He served as a park ranger and superintendent at Lake

Dardanelle State Park. He went on to teach at Rose

State College (Okla.) for 23 years. Survivors include

his wife of 20 years, Wanelle Wilson; mother, Mary Lou

Looney; daughters Robin Franke and Mary Ward; sisters,

Barbara Norman and Dorothy Rose; and brother, Bill

Looney. Michael lived in Midwest City, Okla. He was 61.

Freddy Keith Brown (HIST/POL SCI ‘81) died June 5,

2009. Survivors include his mother, Geneva Brown;

sons, Clinton Brown and Collin Brown; daughters,

Angela Chaffin and Kelsey Brown; and brother, Kenneth

Brown. Freddy lived in Morrilton. He was 55.

Nancy Kaye Brooks (HIST/POL SCI ‘87) died Sept. 25,

2008. She worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

and the U.S. Forest Service for 30 years, beginning as

a secretary and finishing as an attorney at the Office of

Counsel with the Corps of Engineers. Survivors include

her son, Joe Hurdle; and daughters, Tammy Wallman

and Kimberly Luningham. Nancy lived in Russellville.

She was 65.

Justin Mitchell (‘99) died July 1, 2009. He was appointed

to the Arkansas Board of Workforce Education and

Career Opportunities by Gov. Mike Beebe in 2008.

Survivors include his wife, Ari Stanage-Mitchell;

daughter, Elizabeth Ann “Libby” Mitchell; mother, Ann

Davis; stepfather, Freddie Davis; and brother, Blake

DeSalvo. Justin lived in Little Rock. He was 34.

Lucille Word Cobb (ALUM) died May 29, 2009. She

worked at Brewer Drug Store in Ola from 1941-95, first

as co-owner and later as bookkeeper for her son and

daughter-in-law. Survivors include her son, Maurice

Cobb. Lucille lived in Russellville. She was 93.

Carl Lueker (ALUM) died June 15, 2009. A veteran of

World War II, Carl earned a doctorate from the University

of California at Berkeley in 1959. He spent his life in

agriculture, including stints as a livestock specialist

for the University of Arkansas and as an employee at

Winrock Farms. Carl was active in Rotary International,

the Cattleman’s Association and the Farm Bureau.

Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Aileen Lueker;

sons, Bill Lueker and Jim Lueker; and daughter, Susan

Lueker. Carl lived in Buffalo, Mo. He was 85.

Kyle Edward Snead (ALUM) died July 12, 2009.

Survivors include his mother, Barbara Snead; father,

Lewis Snead; and brother, Ryan Snead. Kyle lived in Fort

Smith. He was 24.

Charles Edward Wilson (ALUM) died May 4, 2009.

A veteran of World War II, Charles was a retired small

business owner. Survivors include his daughter, Tish

Nisbet; and sister, LaDonne Campbell. Charles lived in

Little Rock. He was 83.

Lorene Jones Moore (FMR STAFF) died June 4, 2009.

Lorene was a former dorm mother at Arkansas Tech.

Survivors include her sons, Henry Vance Moore, Jerry

Dean Moore and Dr. Larry Joe Moore; and sister, Anita

Haulmark. Lorene lived in Russellville. She was 87.

Page 26: Tech Action: Summer 2009

Tech Athletics

Dawson hired as tech head baseball coachDave Dawson, who guided Kansas Wesleyan University

to back-to-back Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference

regular season baseball championships in 2008 and 2009,

was named the 17th head baseball coach in Arkansas

Tech University history on June 17.

Steve Mullins, athletic director and head football

coach at Arkansas Tech, announced the hiring via a press

release from the Arkansas Tech Athletics Department.

“We are pleased to add Dave to our athletic family,”

said Mullins. “He has built a winning program at Kansas

Wesleyan and we know he can achieve the same success

here at Arkansas Tech.”

Dawson was head coach at Kansas Wesleyan from

2006-09. He inherited a program that was 14-35 in 2005,

but within two years Dawson had the Coyotes among the

KCAC elite. His record in four years at Kansas Wesleyan

was 115-94, including a school-record 40 victories in

2009. Dawson was 71-35 in his final two years at KWU. He

was voted KCAC coach of the year in 2008 and 2009.

“First off, I would like to thank everyone on the

committee, along with Coach Mullins and Dr. (Robert C.)

Brown for allowing me with this opportunity to serve as

the head baseball coach at Arkansas Tech University,” said

Dawson. “I am extremely excited to join a fine institution

and also get the chance to coach in the best NCAA

Division II baseball conference in the country.”

A native of West Plains, Mo., Dawson earned a

Bachelor of Arts degree in physical education from Ottawa

University (Kan.) in 1996. He was a three-time All-KCAC

selection during his four-year collegiate career as a

catcher for the Braves.

Dawson put in six years as a head coach at the high

school level, first at Higbee High School (Mo.) and then at

Piper High School (Kan.).

He returned to the collegiate level as an assistant

coach at the University of St. Mary in 2004-05 — earning

a Master of Arts in education from that institution in 2005

— before heading to Kansas Wesleyan in 2006.

The Coyotes were 17-33 in his first season at KWU,

but in year two their record improved to 27-26, Kansas

Wesleyan finished third in the KCAC and went on to win

the 2007 KCAC Tournament.

Then came a 31-18 record in 2008 and a 40-17 mark

in 2009 with back-to-back regular season conference

championships. Dawson’s 2009 Kansas Wesleyan team

captured the KCAC Tournament title, the Coyotes’ second

postseason league championship in three years, and

advanced to the NAIA Tournament.

Kansas Wesleyan closed the 2009 season on a tear,

winning 26 consecutive games from April 4 and through

its first two games of the NAIA Tournament. The Coyotes

ultimately fell just one win short of a trip to the NAIA

World Series, losing to Campbellsville University 11-0 on

May 14 and 4-0 on May 15.

“To be successful in baseball it starts with pitching and

defense and that is something I’m going to stress to our

current players and also when I’m out on the recruiting

trail,” said Dawson. “I’m going to work hard and bring a lot

of energy and enthusiasm to build a quality program.”

Son of Shirley and Bruce Dawson, Dawson and his

wife, Janene, have two children — Cole (7) and Blake (4).

26 Tech Action

Thursday, Aug. 27 at Northeastern State Tahlequah, Okla. 7 p.m.Saturday, Sept. 5 Incarnate Word Russellville, Ark. 6 p.m.Thursday, Sept. 10 *at West Alabama (GSC-TV Live) Livingston, Ala. 7 p.m.Saturday, Sept. 26 *Arkansas-Monticello (Family Day) Russellville, Ark. 6 p.m.Saturday, Oct. 3 *at North Alabama Florence, Ala. 6 p.m.Saturday, Oct. 10 *Southern Arkansas Russellville, Ark. 6 p.m.Saturday, Oct. 17 *West Georgia (Homecoming) Russellville, Ark. 6 p.m.Saturday, Oct. 24 *at Henderson State Arkadelphia, Ark. 3 p.m.Saturday, Oct. 31 *Delta State (Senior Day) Russellville, Ark. 6 p.m.Saturday, Nov. 7 *at Harding Searcy, Ark. 2 p.m.

2009 Arkansas Tech Football Schedule

*Denotes Gulf South Conference game | Times are Central and are subject to change. | Home games are played at Thone Stadium at Buerkle FieldAll games broadcast in the Russellville area on KWKK 100.9 FM and around the world at www.athletics.atu.edu

Joby Hills

• Running Back

• Dean’s List Member

Page 27: Tech Action: Summer 2009

Alumni News

27Summer 2009

Name_________________________________________________ Tech major and year ___________________________________

(include maiden name if applicable) Graduated or attended (circle one)

Spouse’s Name_______________________________________ Tech major and year ____________________________________

(include maiden name if applicable) Graduated or attended (circle one)

Mailing address________________________________________ City__________________________ State_____ Zip __________

Telephone____________________________________________ E-mail ________________________________________

Occupation: His________________________________________________ Hers __________________________________________

News: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I would like to make a donation to the Arkansas Tech Alumni Association Scholarship: $__________

I would like to make a donation in honor of __________________________________________________: $__________

I would like to make a donation in memory of _________________________________________________: $__________

Please make checks payable to the Arkansas Tech Foundation and write Alumni Scholarship in the memo field of the check.

Donations may be mailed to the Arkansas Tech Foundation, P.O. Box 8820, Russellville, AR 72801

let

us

hear

from

you

mail class notes to Tech Alumni Office, 1313 N. Arkansas Ave., Russellville, AR 72801 or e-mail to [email protected].

Tech tourists visit coasts in Europe, AmericaTwenty-six individuals joined the Arkansas Tech

Alumni and Friends Travel Group on adventures to

the Mediterranean region of Europe and the Pacific

Northwest of the United States during summer 2009.

Eight individuals represented Arkansas Tech on a

12-day excursion to the Italian Lakes and Greek Islands

May 29-June 9. The trip included a seven-day cruise on

the Mediterranean Sea.

July 20-27 found the Arkansas Tech Alumni and

Friends Travel Group in the Pacific Northwest and

California. Highlights of the trip included a visit to

Redwood National Park and Fisherman’s Wharf in San

Francisco. Eighteen people participated in what was the

group’s second trip of the summer.

There is one adventure remaining for the travel

group in 2009. Members will take a 10-day tour of

Scotland beginning Sept. 14. Participants will visit

Edinburgh, St. Andrews, Loch Ness, the Isle of Skye and

many other Scottish destinations.

The Arkansas Tech Alumni and Friends Travel Group

is planning three trips for 2010 — 10 days in Hawaii

beginning Feb. 4; 10 days in the imperial cities of

Europe (Prague, Vienna, Budapest) beginning June 10;

and six days in New England beginning Nov. 30.

For more information about the Arkansas Tech

Alumni and Friends Travel Group, contact Dana

Moseley, director of gift planning, at (479) 964-0532 or

[email protected].

Leave a lasting memory with Tech’s brick programArkansas Tech alumni and friends will have an

opportunity during Homecoming 2009 to be among the

first people to purchase an engraved brick that will be

placed on the new plaza area outside Thone Stadium.

Representatives of the Tech Development Office will

have a brick program booth on the plaza from

3-5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17.

For just $100, alumni and friends can purchase a

4x8 brick that will provide those who love Tech with an

opportunity to leave a permanent legacy on campus.

Each brick may be personalized with up to three

lines of text and 15 characters per line.

To learn more, call Debra Fithen at (479) 968-0400.

Page 28: Tech Action: Summer 2009

Tech ActionArkansas Tech UniversityAlumni AssociationAlumni HouseRussellville, AR 72801

Arkansas Tech University Alumni Association

Volume 45 No. 3

HOMECOMING REGISTRATIONName___________________________________________________________ Class Year _____________

Spouse/Guest____________________________________________________ Class Year______________

Address _________________________________________________________________________ Apt. #_______

City________________________________________ State____________ Zip Code______________

PLEASE INDICATE NUMBER ATTENDING EACH EVENT BELOW (See page 3 for more information):

Friday, October 16

_____ Homecoming Classic Golf Tournament (3-Person Scramble) Russellville Country Club, $75 per person Name Player 1 __________________ Does this person have a cart? Y or N Name Player 2 __________________ Does this person have a cart? Y or N Name Player 3 __________________ Does this person have a cart? Y or N

_____ Ladies Champagne Bingo Luncheon Lake Point Conference Center, $15 per person

_____ All Alumni & Friends Reception Russellville Country Club, $10 per person

Saturday, October 17

_____ O’Neal Teammates Breakfast Lake Point Conference Center, $10 per person

_____ Homecoming Tailgate Buffet $10 adults and $8 for children 8 and under

_____ Football Game Tickets $8 adults, $5 children and senior citizens

Make checks payable to Arkansas Tech Foundation and mail to: Alumni Office, 1313 N. Arkansas Ave., Russellville, AR 72801

Call (479) 968-0242 or e-mail [email protected] for more information.Visit www.techties.atu.edu for the latest Homecoming news.

Daytime Phone __________________________________ E-Mail Address____________________________________________________________

HOTEL ROOM

BLOCKS

HAMPTON INN(479) 858-71992304 N. Arkansas Ave. $77 Single/King; $82 Double

LA QUINTA INN(479) 967-2299111 E. Harrell Dr. $71.10 Single/King; $75.60 DoubleReservation Deadline: Sept. 30

LAKE POINT CONFERENCE CTR.(479) 356-6244 (ask for Alison)61 Lake Point Ln.$65 Single/$75 Double

Please Put an ‘X’ by the reunions you plan on attending during the Homecoming Tailgate from 3-5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17:

___ Football ___ Volleyball ___ Boxing ___ Cross Country/Track ___ Golden Girls ___ Cheerleaders ___ Athena Troop ___ Homecoming Royalty

___ College of Business ___ 1930s ___ 1940s ___ 1950s ___ 1960s ___ 1970s ___ 1980s ___ 1990s ___ 2000s