90 hillviews spring/summer 08 - Texas State University€¦ · Ryan Andres, to Andy ’97 and Stacey Enriquez ’01 Alvarado, Sept. 10, San Antonio Nixon Royce, to Tim ’00 and Danielle

90 hillviews spring/summer 08

From the president

By way of introduction, I am the middle of three generations of Texas State

Bobcats and the middle of three siblings who attended Texas State simultaneously. In 1998 I married a Bobcat. Texas State has always felt like home. Since joining the Alumni Association Board of Direc-tors in 1999, the future of Texas State has been my passion.

The 2008 Board of Directors is composed of six officers, 20 at-large members and five representatives from the Past Presi-dents Council as voting members. Ad hoc members include alumni chapter presi-dents and student delegates.

The board’s committees will concen-trate on the four goals that were updated in 2007. The Membership Committee will develop plans to substantially increase the number of paid members, which will benefit all funding efforts. The LBJ Lecture Series Committee will collaborate with the university’s LBJ Centennial Celebration Steering Committee on special events to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of our most famous alumnus. We will provide opportunities for asso-ciation members to attend receptions and programs related to the event. Additionally, we are planning to host a Distinguished Alumni Reunion to honor the memory of the award’s first honoree, LBJ, to recognize our 2008 awardees and celebrate the lives of all recipients of this distinction.

Most alumni reminisce about their expe-riences at Texas State with warm, enthusi-astic appreciation and often speak of a sense of family. Well, it’s time for this family to

have a home, a place to gather. This home should be magnificent and symbolic of the generations who have come here before and those who will follow. Members of the Past Presidents Council and a board committee will focus attention on the funding and building of the Texas State Alumni Center.

These are only a few of our tasks at hand. However, one objective has already been accomplished – the 2008 Scholarship Gala honoring scholarship and alumni award winners with the theme “A Reflection of You.” To me, this theme means that Texas State is a reflection of you, our alumni, your past experiences and recent accomplish-ments. Our alumni scholars are a reflection of you, through your continued commit-ment and financial contributions.

The future of our association and Texas State University will be a reflection of the combined efforts of us all. I challenge you to join our efforts to reach these goals.

Warmest Regards,Johanna Haley ’722008 Alumni Association President

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Haley

OfficersPresident – Johanna Haley ’72, San

MarcosPresident-Elect – Jim Barney ’84,

ArlingtonFirst Vice President/Treasurer – Kay

Henderson ’67, New BraunfelsSecond Vice President – Chuck

Dicker ’72, New BraunfelsSecretary – Kathy Evans ’87, San

AntonioImmediate Past President – Justin

Edmondson ’88 &’01, Martin-dale

Executive Director – Dorothy Evans ’66 &’70, Wimberley

At-large board members

Judy Bishop ’63, ’93, San Antonio Jim T. Brown ’61, AustinDale Bulkley ’81, New Braunfels Ralph Davis ’68, San Marcos Monica Gonzalez ’78, Austin Patrick Graham ’76, Austin

Loraine Harrison ’67, Martindale Donna Hill ’70, San Marcos Kenneth Huewitt ’85, Pearland Keith Kenebrew ’86, Houston Kevin Land ’76, Fischer Chris Luna ’65, Boerne Rand McDonald ’78, Austin Lynn Miller ’77, Canyon Lake Karen K. Mitchell ’87, Fort Worth Marisa Moore ’83, Round Rock Ann Roberts ’75, Houston Mitchell Ward ’89, DallasJune Whitney ’79, San Antonio Bill Wright ’70, Houston

Representatives for Past Presidents Council Andrea Allely ’93 & ’00 Robert Cotner ’72 Rich Durand ’70 Susan Hawkinson ’83 Arlene Pace ’85

Ad hoc board membersPresidents of Local Chapters/Affilia-

tions with bylaws African-American – Arlene Pace ’85Austin – Jody Campbell ’05Dallas – Matt Adler ’94; Quinn

McConnell ’03Houston – Sherwood Gregory ’74Laredo – Bobby Trevino ’96 Mid Cities – Al Celaya ’72San Antonio – Debbie Christenson

’99San Marcos – Connie Martin ’90Strutters Always – Julie HaynesStudent Foundation Alumni – Bill

Poston ’88

Three student representativesAlumni Association Student Chapter

President – Mario Herrera ASG President – Reagan Pugh Student Foundation President –

Matthew Priest

2008 Texas State Alumni Association Board of Directors

www.txstate.edu hillviews 91

Trade-Up Day

Bobcat pride was everywhere as the Alumni Association Student Chapter

held its third biannual Trade-Up Day in February. Anyone who walked by the tent on the Quad could trade a T-shirt from another university for a Texas State tee provided by the Student Chapter. Chapter members, aided by coaches from the foot-ball team and women’s basketball team, had handed out almost all of the shirts by noon. Boxes overflowed with “other” university shirts, which were taken to Goodwill.

Gala honors scholars, alumni

The 2008 Alumni Association Scholar-ship Gala honored alumni scholarship

and award recipients in February. The annual prestigious event brings together alumni, scholars and friends to celebrate and allows students a chance to meet and thank their generous scholarship supporters. The formal event was filled with an experience of fine-dining, elegant décor and music provided by the Sarinda String Quartet and classical guitarist Donna Nall.

Honored at the event were:Alumni Achievement

Light Townsend Cummins ’68 & ’72, Sherman

Kathy Fite ’69 & ’70, San MarcosNicki Harle ’71, BairdKatie Harvey ’91, San AntonioDonna Hill ’70, San MarcosMitchell Ward ’89, Plano

Alumni StarSusan Angell-Gonzalez and Albert

Gonzalez, San MarcosEverette Swinney, San Marcos

Teaching Award of HonorBrock Brown, San Marcos

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Award winners seated from left: Kathleen Fite, Mitchell Ward holding his son, President Denise Trauth, Susan Angell-Gonzalez, Albert Gonzalez, Everette Swinney. Standing from left: Donna Hill, Katie Harvey, Nicki Harle, Brock Brown, Light Cummins, Association President Johanna Haley.

Linda and Jerry Fields of Houston stand as President Trauth announces their $1.1 million gift to Texas State.

Seventeen past presidents of the association attended the gala. Seated from left: Susan Hawkinson (2003), Judy Allen (1998), Nicki Harle (1976), Arlene Pace (2006), Dorothy Evans (1993), Andrea Allely (2002), Kathleen Fite (1986). Standing from left: O. C. Haley (1990), Mark Mayad (1992), Robert Cotner (2004), Gerald Hill (1984), University President Denise Trauth, Brad Koenig (2005), Bruce Brunner (1999), Craig Vittitoe (1983), Justin Ed-mondson (2007), Rich Durand (2001). Not pictured: Pat Pohl (1980).

The association annually pledges $100,000 in scholarships to Texas State students. The above students are a portion of the alumni scholarship recipients.


Diving with the sharks

Paige Schwinn ’94, right, and D’Anne Johnson Wengenroth ’93 won diving

excursions in Disney World’s Epcot Center and the Bahamas with this photo.

Schwinn, now an elementary music teacher in Dallas, and Wengenroth, sales manager for J.C. Penney’s in San Antonio, have been best friends since they roomed together in Blanco Hall and took two semesters of scuba diving at Texas State. They recently began scuba diving together again and entered a “Just Dive” photo contest. The rules for the contest said the photos had to show diving certificates, so the pair are showing off their certificates.

They dived with the sharks, turtles, rays and fish in Epcot’s The Living Seas, a 6-mil-lion-gallon tank in October and are plan-ning a trip to the Bahamas this summer.

Pfeifer named associate director

Sara Pfeifer is the new asso-

ciate director of the Alumni Rela-tions Depart-ment. She has three years of experience with the American Cancer Society in fundraising, three additional years in develop-ment and mar-keting and eight years in alumni work. She will be active in outreach initiatives, chapter activities and fundraising.

Upcoming events – Put on your calendar now2008 HomecomingMark your calendar to attend 2008 Home-coming Oct. 18. A reunion of all Alumni Association Award recipients and Gaillard-ians will be held in Bobcat Stadium’s Sac-N-Pac Room following the football game.

Strutters’ 50th year celebrationThe Strutters Always Chapter of the asso-ciation has begun making plans for the 50th year celebration of the founding of Strutters. Activities are planned for the entire day of Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009. A black-tie-optional gala will cap the day’s events. If you are a Strutter, please be sure to contact the Alumni Association at www.TxStateAlumni.org to make sure you receive all of the information about the celebration.Power eventsThe Alumni Association is now hosting power breakfasts and luncheons. These quarterly gatherings are perfect for alumni to meet other Bobcats and to build relation-ships for further personal business growth. Houston power luncheon Houston alumni attended a power luncheon hosted by Texas State Distin-guished Alumnus Kelly Frels. Recently elected to chair the board of the Texas Environmental Research Consortium, Frels spoke to the group about clean air issues in Texas. Vice President for University Advancement Rebecca Prince presented Frels with a commemorative Bobcat print to thank him for his continual support to Texas State and the association.

Dallas power breakfast Distinguished Alumnus Barry Andrews hosted a power breakfast for Dallas area alumni. After hearing Andrews’ presenta-tion on “A Passion To Win” and viewing an exciting video, the group toured Andrews Distributing.

Who should show up for Homecoming 2007 but the 1977 cheerleading squad, who spent the whole game cheering from the stands. Getting together before the game are, from left, Dale Chafin ’78, Houston; Debbie Whittle Dunphy ’78, Spring; Leroy Hardy, ’79, Incline Village, Nev.; Amy Collins Rush, ’79, Dallas; Mike Mc-Crum ‘78, Bulverde; Karen Perry Accord ’79, Katy; David Brueck ’80, Gilbert, Ariz.; and Greg Cavanaugh ’78 (who was actually from the ’78 squad), Houston.

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Twenty-one former Alpha Delta Pi sorority sisters from 1966 – some of whom had not seen each other in 41 years – gathered for a reunion at the Jacksonville, Texas, lake house of Phillip and Marlene Jowell last summer. Seated from left are Mildred Hill Davis, Georgetown; Marlene Olson Jowell; Loraine Harper Harrison, Martindale; Shelley Wells Judd, Tyler; Martha Crane Click, Buda; Rita Smith Deddens, Houston; Sandra Whitaker Warren, Corona del Mar, Calif.; Carol Ann Heine Allen, Houston; Rhoda Lannen Woods, Fayetteville, Ark. Standing are La-treca Taylor Black, Kingwood; Judy Porter Smith, San Antonio; Kathy Brown Petitt, San Antonio; Becky Brookshire Isbel, Waco; Toni Meyer Lucas, San Antonio; Mary Beth Nance Harper, San Marcos; Sue Borchers Holloman, Har-lingen; Nelda Mott Durham de Hoyos, Katy; Robbie Bennett Marano, San Antonio; Shirley Davenport, Odessa; Sue McNutt Broughton, Pasadena. Not pictured is Patty McQuinn Niemann, Nacogdoches.

Pfeifer


Ryan Andres, to Andy ’97 and Stacey Enriquez ’01 Alvarado, Sept. 10, San AntonioNixon Royce, to Tim ’00 and Danielle Peterson ’01 Badilla, Aug. 16, AustinHarper Ellen, to Sean ’99 and Jodie Boysen ’01 Claes, April 18, 2007, New BraunfelsCierra Grace, to Charles ’91 and Charlotte Mills ’91 Contreras, Dec. 8, San AntonioJoshua George Wesley, to John ’02 & ’04 and Natalie Wilkinson ’04 Dailey, Nov. 20, AustinMadeline Claire, to Clay and Colleen Jamail ’99 Elkins, Aug. 17, HoustonAllison, to Josh ’04 and Megan Mayfield ’04 Graham, April 24, 2007, Plano

Brady Robert, to Josiah ’05 and Mindy Hajovsky ’01 Johnson, Aug. 4, Joliet, Ill.Benton Edward, to Ericka and John Khoury ’00, April 27, 2007, Corpus ChristiMikel Alan, to Kathryn and Mark Mendoza ’02, April 8, 2007, LewisvilleTristan Michelle, to Evan and Christina Kucinkas ’94 McKee, May 5, 2007, Albuquerque, N.M.Olivia Anne, to Clayton ’99 and Bonnie Kutach ’97 Nall, July 16, VictoriaHunter Ray, to Amber and Jason Richardson ’05, Aug. 31, RowlettMeredith Paige, to Mark ’95 and Amy Robertson ’95 Quinn, Aug. 21, Dallas

Hunter James, to Brent and Kristi Bell ’99 Smith, May 29, 2007, KingwoodLandon, to Jason ’98 and Julia Smith ’99, May 12, 2007, FriscoEmma Rose, to Meredith and Kelly Terrell ’93, Oct. 11, Princeton, N.J.Peyton Nicole, to Jason and Nicole Kluting ’02 Townsley, May 21, 2007, San AntonioCayden James, to James ’99 & ’06 and Melissa Hurlbut ’03 Wheeler, July 11, San MarcosBlaine Edward, to Michael and Stacy Huncherick ’01 Wonfor, Nov. 9, Temple

Baby Bobcats As reported to Alumni Relations between Aug. 18, 2007, and Jan. 31, 2008

alumniBasic members

2000sDavid Ellis ’07, Converse, completed his Master of Science in Criminal Justice degree in last fall.

Robbin Follett, Sweeny, is currently a junior at Texas State studying general agri-culture and aims to be a high school agri-science teacher.

Clifton Hall ’07, Azle, currently attends Oklahoma City University School of Law.

Misty Martin ’07, San Marcos, currently works as an administrative assistant for the Center for International Studies and is in the paralegal studies program at Texas State.

Ahren Rudolph ’07 currently works for Cameron Surface Systems in Casper, Wyo.

1970sMichael McCrum ’78, Spring Branch, has joined the international law firm of Thompson & Knight in Austin.

Betty Benningfield Buenning ’71, Palatine, Ill., recently completed a master’s degree in library and information services from Dominican University in River Forest and hopes to work in her middle school library until retirement.

Non-members2000sDebbie Field ’06, San Antonio, has been named director of communications with

the City of Windcrest and the Windcrest Economic Development Corporation.

Kim Arispe ’05, San Antonio, has been appointed as graphic designer for Murillo Design.

Landon Nickerson ’05, Orlando, Fla., currently works for Disney’s Y.E.S. Programs, which provides educational programming for students all around the world.

Brianna Peterson ’05, Rockwall, is currently attending Texas Women’s Univer-sity working towards a master’s degree in sports nutrition and aspires to be a regis-tered dietitian.

Marilyn Merriman ’04, San Marcos, has recently started a new e-commerce business called Everyday Occasions.

Sinead Gallagher Rundell ’04, Dallas, recently passed the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design examination (LEED) administered by the U.S. Green Building Council as announced by Rees Associates Inc.

Jason Barkemeyer ’03, Salt Lake City, Utah, currently works as an academic advisor for undergraduate students at the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business.

Sandra Rodriguez ’03, Staten Island, N.Y., currently works as a senior sourcing profes-sional with Advantage HR at Deutsche Bank in New York City.

Jennifer Kesinger Parks ’02, Arlington, graduated with a master of science in social work from University of Texas at Arlington in May.

Mindy Hajovsky Johnson ’01, Lockport, Ill., is a stay-at-home mom with her son, Brady, born August 2007.

Derik Graves ’00, Uvalde, Derik and Katy would like to announce the birth of their daughter Avery on July, 15, 2006.

1990sCathy Benford ’99, Pflugerville, is the director of jazz studies for the Stony Point High School Band.

Kevin Gately ’99, Woodbridge, Va., is working all over the world and states, “Texans are still the best.”

Kimberlee Heinsohn ’99, Houston, would like you to visit her website at www.MyTimelessPhotography.com.

Freddy Mendoza ’99, Germany, is currently a pilot in the United States Air Force. He has participated in operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Noble Eagle and Southern Watch. He has flown over 200 combat sorties throughout Iraq and Afghanistan.

J.P. Ellis ’96, Plano, currently works as a residential home builder.

Amy Robertson Quinn ’95, Mesquite, is a stay-at-home mom with Taylor Madison, 10, Kyle Patrick, 8, and Meredith Paige, 5 months.

Nathan Wade ’95, Marietta, Ga., has received the Justice Robert Benham Award for Community Service from the State Bar of Georgia and the Chief Justice’s Commis-sion on Professionalism.

Class Notes As reported to Alumni Relations Aug. 17, 2007, to Jan. 31, 2008


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David Peyton ’93, Mansfield, obtained his master of arts in church music degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2000 and is currently serving a Baptist Church in Mansfield.

Richard Perez ’90, San Antonio, was recently appointed to the board of directors for the San Antonio River Foundation.

Tami Rice Reeves ’90 & ’98, San Marcos, and her husband Darold would like to announce the birth of their daughter Brin-kley Morgan, Dec. 20, 2006.

George Sonnenberg ’90, Helena, Mont., is a CPA working and living in Montana.

1980sWanda Newman Wilkerson ’89, Midlothian, lives and works in the DFW area and has two children, Tara, 13 and Bodie, 7.

John Murphy ’87, Dallas, has been named into the Who’s Who of Poets for 2007. He was nationally recognized for his poem on voting machines and vendor security flaws.

Linnes Chester Jr. ’86, Las Vegas, Nev., assumed duties of hospital adminis-trator at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., in August 2007.

Andy Farwell ’86, Pearland, was named Special Agent of the Year for 2004 by the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.

Robert Lange ’85, Katy, has two daughters, Cera and Kelsey, and stays busy with school and social activities.

Beth Randow Keith ’84, Austin, has been named director of language arts for the Eanes Independent School District in Austin.

Peggy Leonard Price ’84, Houston, stays busy with her family and new business, EnergyWorkz Distributing.

Cathy Poerner Supak ’84, Houston, has been an athletic trainer with Christus St. John Sports Medicine Center providing care to the athletes at Clear Book High School for 16 years. She was elected to serve as chair for the Texas State Athletic Trainer’s Association Board of Directors in 2007.

Jennifer McDaniel ’82, Sugar Land, has a daughter attending Texas State and a son who will graduate from high school in May 2011.

Marina Garcia Marmolejo ’81, San Antonio, has joined the international law firm of Thompson & Knight in the firm’s Austin office in the area of trial and dispute resolution.

Robert Newman ’80, San Antonio, has been named to the Texas Super Lawyers list for 2007 by the Fulbright & Jaworski in San Antonio.

1970sRusty Kasmiersky ’79, Coppell, has a son who is a sophomore at the University of Oklahoma.

Dee Ann Petrlak Treanor ’78, Houston, runs a part time interior design business called Dee Ann Deesigns.

Debra Tucker Clapp ’77, Katy, has received a master’s in educational leadership with a principal’s certification.

1960sJohn Thomas ’69, Comfort, retired as a colonel from the Air Force Reserves in 1996 and then as a captain from Continental Airlines in September 2006. He has three grown children.

Reagan Pugh ’08 of Coppell, president of the Association Student Government, left, Alexis Dabney ’08 of Austin, ASG vice president, and Robert Doerr ’03 of San Marcos, ASG president in 2003, show off the class rings they received in May. Photo by Don Anders.

Steven Badeaux ’06 and Stephanie Doyle ’05, Sept. 22, Houston

Gary Boerner ’04 and Brittney Buffo ’03, Sept. 22, Austin

Bert Burgeler and Krista Haas ’02, May 5, 2007, New Braunfels

Jason Evans ’04 and Stephanie Howard ’04, Aug. 6, Galveston

Roy Hartman and Melanie Lewis ’02 & ’03, July 14, Valley of Fire, Nev.

Quinton Hoekstra ’06 and Brooke Heffner ’06, Aug. 12, 2006, Salado

Weslie Hollas ’05 and Amy Gandy ’06, March 2, 2007, Deer Park

Eli Ibarra and Holly Aud ’01, Oct. 6, Lake Jackson

Michael Jolly and Kimberly Gunn ’00 & ’04, July 21, Zephyr Cove, Nev.

Priscilla Archer and Cecil Kelley ’72, Nov. 3, Fredericksburg

Drew Lindsey ’05 and Cassidy Shipman ’06, Feb. 24, 2007, Lake Jackson

Nolan Mast ’06 and Paula Zook ’05, Sept. 08, Austin

Jesse Mendoza Jr. and Jennifer Coddington ’00, Dec. 28, Wimberley

Andre Morgan and Shanna Odums ’99, March 10, 2007, Houston

Garry Morris and Jen Neunlist ’95, Dec. 19, Las Vegas, Nev.

Jackson Motal ’76 and Laura Hensley ’05, Sept. 15, El Campo

Jeffrey Peel and Jennifer Howe ’03, Aug. 11, Belton

Cody Pennell ’03 and Shelley South ’01, Oct. 20, Gonzales

Ryan Pervier and Megan Hannes ’06, Dec. 29, West

Adrian Rodriguez and Christy Askew ’99, July 14, Wichita, Kan.

Luther Thompson Jr. and Star Black ’85 & ’98, July 28, Alpharetta, Ga.

Brandon Van Sickle and Susan Baitland ’02, Aug. 4, Houston

Shannon McGee and Trey Vanderhule ’00, June 16, 2007, Austin

Bobcat weddings As reported to the Alumni Association between Aug. 18, 2007, and Jan. 31, 2008


alumniAlumni by choice Anderson Vending, Austin | Jan Rayburn Burns, Houston | Ponciano DeLeon, McAllen | Drew Finger, The Woodlands | Garrett Graham, Houston | Ashley Krejci,

San Marcos | Tiffany Singleton Miller, Friendswood | Ken and Barbara Neuse, New Braunfels | Beth Wroten Newsom, Beeville | Schulz and Wroten Pharmacy, Beeville | Lauren LaHaye Tucker, Sugar Land | Carol Hendrix Yarbrough, Austin

07 Kelechi Aguocha, Houston | Zachery Almaguer, Round Rock | Vito Fortunato, Pflugerville | Christopher Jones II, San Marcos | Teresa Mack, Round Rock | Matthew Sinclair, San Antonio | Andrae Turner, Houston

06 Kathryn Espinosa, San Marcos | Sarah Fletcher, San Antonio | Nancy Warner Henson, San Antonio | Kortni Jaramillo, League City | Amanda Jones, Universal City | Cody Jones, Austin | Steven Kulcak, Richmond | Rusty Rex, Houston | Andrew Schweichler, Alexandria, Va. | Nora Segura, Houston

05 Darrell Edgar, Austin | Christopher Knecht, Houston | Julie Moye, Nederland | Ryan Reneau, New Braunfels | Stefanie Smith, Tyler | Laura Speer ’05 & ’07, Austin | Lindsey Taylor, New Braunfels

04 Sarah Brooks, Houston | Briana Caramagno, Round Rock | Christopher and Elizabeth Colman Jendrzey, Elgin | Jorden Mahler, Richmond | Philip Mears, New Orleans, La. | Jahna Smith, Buda | Jason Stiefer, Austin | Richard Thomas III, San Marcos | Debra Tijerina and Joe Alvarez ’06, New Braunfels

03 Lynn Ahrens, San Marcos | Cody Bennett, Boca Raton, Fla. | Brenda Bustillos, Alvarado | Lynnsey Jones

’03 & ’05, San Marcos | Charles Meadows, Dripping Springs

02 William Atkins, Houston | Scott Childress, Houston | Jodi ’02 & ’04 and Matthew Edgar ’03, Cypress | Damon and Lori Avila Gier, Richmond | Christopher Henderson, Corinth | Travis Irby, San Antonio | Justin and Kimber Samples ’04 Morley, Schertz | Robert Reeves Jr., Irving | Janet Schaefer, New Braunfels

01 Ryan Bubela ’01 & ’03, Leander | Michael Medcalf, San Marcos | Cindy Merrill, New Braunfels | Brandy Schnautz, Austin

00 Jason Hartfield ’00 & ’05, Houston | Keith and Meredith Crouch McKenna, Plano | Isabel Plume, Houston | Carl Walls III, Austin

99 Donnalynn McKee and Christopher Barton ’03, San Marcos | Amanda Calhoun, Arlington | Kelli Remmert, Brenham | Matthew Rottman, Rosamond, Calif. | Kerri White Thompson, Carrizo Springs

98 Henry Castillo ’98 & ’01, Georgetown | Angie Gauntt Newby, Kerrville | Marcus Ollington, Austin | Jennifer Vickers Schulze, New Braunfels | Jennifer Rice ’98 & ’04 and Jason Todd ’99, Broken Arrow, Okla.

97 Marlin Crabb Jr., Irving | Richard Gonzalez, San Antonio | Ed Stuart, Austin, married in November 2005, adding two step-sons to his family of three children.

96 Becky Hudson Blaylock, Houston | L. Smith Davis, San Antonio | Jose Montemayor, Austin

95 James Stiles, Richardson

94 Bradley and Rhonda Schumann ’95 Koenig, Friendswood. Brad serves on the Past Presidents Council of the Alumni Association. | Emma Leal, Uvalde | Amy Armstrong Peck, Garland | Fan Zhang and Xiaoxia Yao ’96, Chalfont, Pa.

93 Robert Poston, Houston | Robert and Lindsay Fowler ’95 Schima Jr., Cypress | Jeffrey Seiler, Tomball | Sheridan Simmond, Houston

92 Christopher Hogan, Missouri City | Peter Kerkez, New Braunfels | Buddy Matthews Sr., Live Oak | Joel and Catherine Johnson Ondrusek, Rosenberg

91 Russell Cain ’91 & ’93, San Marcos | Kevin Griffith, Buda | Michelle Martinez, San Antonio | Elizabeth Greenwade Qualls, Houston | John Rychlik, Caldwell | Michael Segner, Austin

90 Diane Perez Gamboa, San Antonio | H. Garcia, Austin | Connie Doster

’90 Martin, New Braunfels, is the 2008 president of the San Marcos Chapter of the Alumni Association. | Alan Sheppard, Edmond, Okla. | Waurine Walker Turner, Wimberley

89 Teresa Barfield ’89 Allmond, Colleyville | James Brunett, Rowlett | Sean and Stephanie Berger Duffy, Katy | Robert Karisch, Houston

88 Carol McCray Barnett, Broomfield, Colo. | Chris and Carol Scott ’92 Boeker, Houston | Caroline Braffett-Smejkal, Sand Springs, Okla. | Alice Callahan, Austin |

Alumni Association Century Club

Lifetime members

06 Robert Hernandez, Austin Lindsay Johnson, Port Lavaca

00 Adelle Carlson Connors, Austin

92 Yvette Martinez, Houston, has just completed her MBA in international business at LeTourneau University.

91 Wayne and Michele Maresh Blanchette, Springfield, Va.

89 Mark Kudela, Austin

82 Wes ’84 and Laura Rose Agnew, Midland, Wes and Laura announce their daughter, Elizabeth Agnew’s selection for the Israeli National Softball Team.

78 Michael and Dianne Hunt Bowman, Houston

75 Marjorie Martin Gauntt, Fort Worth, is self employed and contracts out to various school districts using her psychology degrees. She has five successful children and six beautiful grandchildren.

74 Sherwood Gregory III, Houston, is the general manager for Custom Windows of Houston, which manufactures replacement and new construction windows and doors for home and businesses.

72 Jack Womack, Pasadena, graduated from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in December 2005. In June, he was commissioned as a probationary elder and is in the pool of pastors to be sent to “plant” a church.

71 Savino Ferrales, Edmonds, Wash.

67 Steven `67 & `71 and Pam BelSon `68 & `71 Bradley, Austin

62 Ross and Betty Harper ‘63 Murphy, Fredericksburg


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ni Melissa Garvin Chandler, Plano | Luis Chapa, Tomball | Ian Cloud, Houston | Darin Darby, Houston | Mel Davis, Cumming, Ga. | Richard Doherty, Cedar Park | Suzanne Arriaga Echevarria, Katy | John Garza, Austin | Kristin Mayfield and Tony Holt ’89 & ’90, Austin | Jerica Richardson Hutto, San Antonio | John Munoz, Las Cruces, N.M. | Bill Poston, Boerne, serves as president of the Student Foundation Chapter of the Alumni Association. | Kimberley Bruskie Rayburn, Keller | Grace Rosales, San Antonio | Marilyn Scheps Sadler, Missouri City | Teresa Saenz, San Antonio | Guy Schultz, Austin | Bryan Todd, Sheridan, Wyo. | Eric Trotter, Fort Worth | James and Michelle Renaud ’90 Tussey, Broken Arrow, Okla. | Jeanne Marchal Wagner, College Station | Michael Williams, Houston | Orlin Williams, Waelder

87 Cheryl Dreier Bender, Springboro, Ohio | Raymond Briones, Round Rock | Kristi Creamer, Duncanville | Cynthia Nemeth Franklin, Irving | David Harvey, Houston, is an attorney with Williams, Birnberg & Andersen and offers a “Bobcat discount” on his standard legal fees. His daughter is currently a freshman at Texas State, and his son will enroll the fall of 2008. |

Steven King, Corpus Christi | Keith Lane, Arlington | Chuck and Melissa Hickey ’88 Miketinac, San Antonio | Karen Kowierschke Mitchell, Fort Worth | Scott Purcell, Urbandale, Iowa | Chris and Bonnie Davis Schweinsberg, Spring Branch

86 Charles and Sonia Shuvalov ’93 Colley, Pflugerville | Chris and Colleen Welsch ’87 Ellis, Iowa Park | Fidel and Jan Finley Fernandez, Bryan | Keith Kenebrew, Sugar Land, serves on the Alumni Association Board of Directors. | Leah Knox Roberts, Pearland | Thomas Sutherland ’86 & ’94, Austin | Celia Tolbert and Stennett Thompkins ’88, Bentonville, Ark.

85 Roland Altinger, Friendswood | Joel Burns, Waco | Grady Foshee, Manchaca | Judy Johnson, Rosenberg | Karen Gebert Thompson, Orlando, Fla., is a 2004 Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient.

84 Mary Riddinger Adcox, San Antonio | Richard and Wendilee Hoge Burchfield, Kemah | Lynn Gibson, Sunnyvale | Hector Gomez, Austin | Stanley Keith, Houston | Raymond Keys III, San Antonio | Marty Canipe Lax, Austin | Sandra Michalewicz

’84 & ’91, San Marcos | Michael

Morales ’84 & ’85, Edinburg | Donna Moon Selcer, San Marcos | Bob Tanner, Philadelphia, Pa.

83 Tracy Wright Avant, Dilley | Michelle Drake Hays, Harlingen | Jay Hiebert, San Marcos | Claire Matthews Huebinger, Alice | Richard Keitt, Corpus Christi | Don and Jean Mathers ’84 Kreuz, Kingwood | Ronnye Williams Patterson, Lake Jackson | Russell and Caren Macicek Rice, Kingwood | René Ruiz, Austin | Mary Stolle Wright, Houston

82 Becky Williams Cooper, Yoakum | Clarence Cruse III, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. | John Pellegreen Jr. ’82 &

’85, Flower Mound

81 Roy Anderson, Austin | Dale Bulkley, New Braunfels, is a 2006 Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient and serves on the Alumni Board of Directors. | Edward Hernandez ’81 & ’82, San Antonio | Paul and Carol Fowler ’83 Huntsberger, Austin | Marilyn Goertz Miller, Littleton, Colo. | Christopher O’Connor, Bulverde | Nan Burley Richie, Austin | Dewayne Vaughan, Davidsonville, Md.

Book your personal and business travel on our new travel website, www.TxStateTravel.com!

Every time you do, the Texas State Alumni Association will receive a portion of the travel commissions – at no additional cost to you.

You get the same low rates offered by other travel websites while helping to raise funds for the Texas State Alumni Association. It’s that simple!

Turn your vacations into Alumni Association donations


alumni

80 Danny Drake, Austin | Kari MaCaulay Hollway, Houston | Gregory Spears has been a real estate broker in Victoria for 25 years and has served as president of the Victoria Board of Realtors and the Kiwanis Club of Victoria. | Ray Torres, Castroville | Lori White-Harmon, San Antonio

79 Bruce and Kathy Willms Flanigan, Temple | Sampson Jordan, Round Rock | Ronald and Cynthia Bowen Kuhn, Port Aransas | Mark Mayad, Dallas | Michael Pausewang, Taylor | Deborah Cecil Russell ’79 &

’82, Fairborn, Ohio | June Blocker Whitney, San Antonio, serves on the Alumni Board of Directors. | Paul Xiques ’79 & ’81, Wimberley

78 Mary Catalani and Brian Arnold ’79, The Woodlands | Susie Castillo ’78 & ’06, Seguin | Kay Fink Kobeski, Friendswood | Jon Moore, San Marcos | Michael Scott, Raymondville

77 Robert Arrant, San Antonio | David Dickey, Houston | Randy

Fitzpatrick, San Marcos | Cynthia Kelly and Barron Frith ’78, Houston | Lee Merriweather, Houston | Arno Novosad, Salado | Charles and Marlene Persyn ’78 Richter, San Antonio | Barry Woitena, San Antonio

76 Leslie Kiefer Amann, Houston, is the senior vice president of Sentinel Trust Company, has two sons in high school and is serving as the president of the Houston Business & Estate Planning Council, the vice chair of the University of Houston Law Alumni Association and continues to take piano lessons. | Debbie Brauckman-Brooks, Buda | Josie Garrott, San Marcos | Gilbert and Laura Jennett, Houston

75 Debra Kennamer, Houston | Howard Kleinecke, Victoria | Scott and Lou Ann Frazier Medbury, Sugar Land | Jeffrey Miller ’75 &

’77, Martinez, Ga. | Charles Rufe, San Antonio | Lorna Zane, San Antonio | Audrey Zane, San Antonio | Ernest Zernial Jr., San Antonio

74 Glenn Brucks, Austin | Michael and Debbie Chelf, Leander | Dennis McQueeny, Rohnert Park, Calif. | Susan Caffey Newsome, Del Rio | Andrew Nicholas, San Antonio | Gregory and Julie Donnelly ’76 Rosen, Austin. Gregory recently retired from the U.S. Treasury Department after 35 years of service. He and Julie married in 1975 after meeting in a political science class in the spring of 1974. | Thomas Schendel, Kingwood

73 Julia Duenas Castro, San Antonio | William and Nevin Cunningham, San Marcos | Gerry and Patti Harrison ’74 Gamble, Salado | Ramiro Guzman, El Paso | John Lowery Jr., Miami, Fla. | Nancy Schilder Webster, Soda Springs, Idaho | Richard Yoe, Las Vegas, lived overseas for more than 25 years, 15 of which were spent in Thailand.

72 Sue Hopson Cole, San Marcos | Robert Damron, Cleburne | Charles and Ginger Gueldner ’73 Dicker, New Braunfels. Chuck currently serves as the second vice president

Matthew Wendel travels an average of 250 days a year, living out of a suitcase and frequenting hotels across the nation

and world.

The native of Danbury works at the U.S. Department of State’s Office of the Chief of Protocol, which is organized into five divisions including Blair House, Ceremonials, Diplomatic Affairs, Management and Visits.

As deputy assistant chief of protocol for visits, Wendel, class of ’85, coordinates the activities of prominent figures invited by the president, vice president and secretary of state and organizes presidential delegations abroad.

“What’s great about my job is that I get to be a part of all the excitement in a town where there is always something going on,” Wendel said. “And since we’re not on Capitol Hill, we don’t have to deal with the political side of things.”

The office coordinates approximately 350 visits per year by foreign leaders, ministers and other high-ranking officials to Washington, D.C. Almost every nation has a counterpart, usually referred to as the chief of protocol, in a profession that extends back as far as the Babylonians, who initiated the first recorded exchange of envoys with other kingdoms.

Working within the Visits Division, Wendel is responsible for planning, scheduling, arranging and executing detailed programs for visiting dignitaries, expediting port clearances and preparing the logistics of trips abroad. Other responsibilities of his division

include foreign press inquiries for the Department of State and the White House and planning for larger conferences to facili-tate multilateral meetings among governments, such as the G-8 summit and U.N. General Assembly.

Wendel has met more than 100 international leaders from Afghan President Hamid Karzai to Queen Elizabeth II and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

While the work is exhausting, Wendel says the benefits of the job are enough to keep him going. “It’s very interesting,” Wendel said. “I’m meeting new people and doing something different every day.”

Connecting White House with international leaders


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Henry Adcox Jr. ’89Lucille Ahrens ’41Susie Alkire ’37Rodney Alsup ’28Kate Malloch Appling ’41

& ’42Karen Armer ’91Nancy Atnip ’69Marie Schlemstedt Bachle

’25Kathryn Bailey ’62 & ’66Joseph Ball ’39Hattie Johnson Ballard ’40Jenny Bankhead ’69Grace McKinney Barfield ’43Roy Bartlett Jr. ’77Regina Leopold Beck ’77Morris Bell ’36Wally Bohannan ’95Dorothy Mosley BondyNancy Splinter Boyd ’83Royce Brandt ’57E. Ardelia BrennenThomas Briggs ’77Robert Broadus ’86Mary Crozier Brown ’48 & ’54Juanita Rushing Brownlee

’43Wesley Butler ’61Kate Callihan ’40Anne Carsner ’40John T. CarterWillie Chapman ’18John Chenette ’65Lydia Christiansen ’42Rod ClarkByrl Clayton ’48Gerald CochranJohn Coers ’25 & ’52

Jim Collins ’67Mary Conner ’94Eloise Burnett Covington ’41Laura Clark CowanZachary Creech ’91Vida Putnam Crunk ’55John Dailey ’36Anton Darilek ’38 & ’52Joyce DonohoeGilbert Drozd ’50 & ’53Vivienne Garnett Engel ’47Azalea Willingham Fandel ’40Dorothy Farnish ’89Elinor FrankJay FrankMary Arnold Free ’48Jeanne French ’94Bill Gary ’61Prentiss Gilbreath ’47Clyde Gott ’34Donald GranataJames GrantVes HaleLindsey HenryMarguerite HillVictoria Hodges ’30 & ’45Evelyn Kramer Hoffman ’39

& ’53Tommy Holbrook ’65 & ’73Eleanor Jett Holland ’51Jesse HollowayMarie Hillegeist Hornung ’40Anna Wallace Iley ’59William Isgitt ’25Sophia Hilsher Janda ’49Betty Jones ’70Cora Reese Keeling ’46Grace Carter Keeling ’31Nathan Keith

James KennonIola Sutton Kirby ’48Judith KirtleyGesine Hines Klappenbach

’35Ann Kleeman ’64Helen Hoermann

Kleinschmidt ’48 & ’52Inez Currie Koepp ’49Joyce Singleton KoonceJulius KroschewskySuella LacyDavid Leija ’09Della Cooner Lewis ’43Alma Lightsey ’49Carter Lomax ’41Guenther Luckenbach ’48

& ’50Charles Lumpkin ’33 & ’39Josephine Lumpkin ’37Luella Lumpkin ’39Glen Brooks Lumpkins ’42

& ’56Pat Lyssey ’57Pauline Maguschak ’72Rufus Mahan ’39 & ’41Gertrude Scott McClaflin ’44Allen McDuff ’48Olga Evans McGehee ’39

& ’40Bess Lea McGlothing ’49Laura Araiza McGowan ’86Charles MearHolly Miller ’87Joann Cole Mitte ’53Delbert Moore ’50Robert Moore ’60Annie Nelson ’41 & ’51Russell Nicholson ’80Irving Nixon ’28 & ’38

David Norman ’91Vina Norwood ’42John O’ConnellMaude Miles OgleRobert OgleEffie Page ’42Earline ParkerJames Parker ’53Jewel ParkerAntonio Pena ’75Winnie Bowen Petty ’54Bill Phillips ’69 & ’74Norma Allen Pittman ’42Roger Porter ’23Cynthia Gutierrez Pozzi ’82Grace Edwards Pul ’42 & ’53Jack Rackley ’63Tom RameyBessie Randle ’38Katie Reuter Randle ’39Mary Randolph ’41Charity Hamon Ray ’46Laura Rettig ’42Ruth Richter ’41 & ’51Armando Rios IIIAmanda Roark ’89Elspeth RostowJoyce Ewing Rudder ’42Randy Scheel ’59Minnie Bagley Schmeltekopf

’39 & ’56Kathryn Norwood Schneider

’42Henry Sellers ’79Jennie Silvey ’48Jeffrey Slomka ’86Erica SmithJeanette Smith ’84Kimberly Smith

Lera Shelander SmithRush SmithLeroy SpinksElenor Dean Stevenson ’60Nelle Storey ’29 & ’42Lillian Sutton ’31 & ’52Fidel Tafolla ’28Juanita Mowdy Tampke ’46

& ’68Kenneth Taylor ’57 & ’62Jeff Tennison ’95Floyd TetreaultTroy Thiel ’94 & ’96Wave Thompson ’37 & ’54Sandra Trevion ’95Denise Tucker ’81Joe Tyer ’59Edna Upton ’40Lance Van Horn Sr. ’74Bonnie Posey VeltenJulia Slawson Vernon ’49Matthew Vilven ’03Ethel Gordon Walker ’16Lutrell Watts ’44 & ’58Wilfred WebbAlton Weston ’67Ruth Whitfield ’46Ouida Richardson Wiggins

’47Stephen Windham ’03Debbie WingertMargaret Winton ’82Fred Wright ’49William Wyatt Jr. ’46Mary Yoe ’36Ruth Young ’35 & ’52

Friends we will miss as reported to the Alumni Association between Aug. 13, 2007, and Jan. 31, 2008

for the Alumni Association. | Thomas and Terri ’78 Foose, Boerne | Cecil Kelley, Schertz, is currently employed by the Judson Driving School as a classroom instructor. He enjoys riding his motorcycle and is a member of the Fellowship Riders from Community Bible Church and The Honda Riders Club, both in San Antonio. | Charlotte Tate, Chicago, Ill., is a 2006 Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient.

71 Charles McCollum, Fort Worth | Aquila McGrew Jr., San Antonio | Kenneth and Sylvia Vinson ’72 Medcalf, San Marcos | Greg Miller

’71 & ’72, Portland, Ore. | Linda Dorr Robison, Wheelock | Norman Schrank II, Austin | James Smith, Brandon, Miss. | Michael Young, Austin, is a 2007 Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient.

70 Richard and Kathy ’73 Clay, Austin | Richard Glasco Jr., Austin | Pat Hoffmann, San Antonio | Mike Martin ’70 & ’73, New Braunfels | Timothy and Kari Kent ’78 Schultz, San Antonio | Bill and Kathleen Kellogg ’71 Wright, Houston. Bill is a 2005 Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient and a member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors.

69 Kathleen Fite ’69 & ’70, San Marcos, is a 2007 Alumni Achievement Award, 1989 Key of Excellence Award and the 1990 Teaching Award of Honor recipient. | Leslie ’69 & ’79 and Patricia ’85 Steger, Bartlett

68 Alfonso Cervantes ’68 & ’73, Del Rio | Alice Crozier Morgenroth, Austin | Judy Welch Smith, Round Rock | George Wozar, Chalfont, Pa. | John ’68 & ’71 and Bernadette Barry Young, Manchaca

67 Franklin Allen, New Braunfels | Ronald Kast, Beaumont | Dan and Cynthia Lindly ’73 Locker, Brownwood. Dan is a 2001 Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient.

66 Dorothy Saunders Evans ’66 & ’70, San Marcos, currently serves as the executive director of the Alumni Association and is the 1994 Key of Excellence Award recipient. | Frankie Kubecka, Cedar Rapids, Iowa | Marshall McMillan, San Augustine


alumni

“Of course you’re going to college — you’ve got one in your back yard!”

It was assumed in the Ruiz household that the kids would go to college — all seven of them — so they did.

Lillie and Ruben Ruiz Sr. did not go to college themselves, but they expected their children to go. “My parents never said we had to go to college,” says Ruben Ruiz Jr., the oldest. “It was just assumed that we would.”

Ruben and Lillie Ruiz of San Marcos raised their family on the principle of “get involved or don’t complain” and modeled that principle for their children. Ruben, a veteran of Korea, earned his living in various businesses — tax preparation, insur-ance, real estate, The Depot restaurant downtown, the Texan Palace dance hall on Highway 123, a record company — but it was his evening Spanish-language program on the local radio station that served to inform and unite the San Marcos Hispanic community in the late 1950s and 1960s. He became the first Hispanic to win an elective office in the county — as a City Council member in 1961 and as a Hays County commissioner in 1976 — and continued to be active in local politics and business until his death in 1992. Lillie worked as a teacher’s aide until her retirement and, at age 80, still volunteers with her church and the local hospital and food bank.

The Ruiz children started school on campus long before enrolling as freshmen. The older ones attended St. John’s School, the Catholic elemen-tary that sat at the northeast corner of Guadalupe and Woods. As teenagers, the kids worked at whatever family business needed them, the ones owned by their father or another local dance hall owned by their grandfather, Encarnacion (Chon) Ruiz, who had come from Mexico in the early 1900s and set up a tailor shop in San Marcos, occasionally making suits for Lyndon Johnson.

“We were expected to wait tables, wash dishes, sweep floors — hard work,” Rene Ruiz, the middle child, remembers with a laugh. “Maybe that was to subtly tell us ‘You can do this the rest of your lives or you can go to college!’ It worked.”

They all lived at home while attending the university because that made college affordable. They worked various jobs, took out loans at the bank and shared the family car. All seven attended,

and five graduated. Ruben Jr. ’73, married to Amanda, is now a financial planner in San Marcos, and their daughter Raquel is currently enrolled and son Richard is a former student. After Texas State, Roland graduated from culinary school, married Lydia and is now a caterer in Houston. Rosina ’79, who is married to David Valle ’77, chief appraiser for the Hays County Appraisal District, is director of community development and partnerships for the local school district; their son David Rene is a current student. Rene ’83 is a San Marcos realtor and married to Diane Garza, a pediatrician; their children Jonathan and Cristina are future Bobcats. After graduating in 1988, Rodney earned degrees at the LBJ School of Public Affairs and St. Mary’s Law School and now works in the Attorney General’s Office in Austin. Robert owns Cancun Rob’s Fajita Hut near downtown San Marcos. Rhea ’98 is a vice president with Compass Bank

in Austin. And as adults all of the children have followed their parents’ example of staying active in the community, with the schools and church and at the university.

Rosina, who taught for years at De Zavala Elementary and earned her master’s at Sul Ross, is a candidate for a PhD in education in the school improvement program at Texas State. “When I was a student at St. John’s, I remember thinking I was already a part of the university, and in a way I was.

“I recently took a picture of my son [David, a current student] and me at the site of that old school. I feel like I’ve come full circle. But I can still hear my father saying ‘You’ve got no excuses — college is right here.’”

No excuses!

Members of the Ruiz family — Rodney Ruiz, Rhea Ruiz, Jonathan Ruiz, Diane Garza, Rene Ruiz (behind), Cristina Ruiz, Amanda Ruiz, Ruben Ruiz, Raquel Ruiz, Richard Ruiz, Rosina Valle, David Rene Valle and David Valle – gathered on the site where their grandfather Chon Ruiz once owned Modern Tailor Shop, now the site of the Texas State Alumni House. Photo by Don Anders.


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ni 65 Beverly Badough Curtice, Houston | Harry Dietzmann, San Antonio | Jack and Lorraine Lowery ’66 Haby, Kerrville | Billy Lynum, San Antonio, is now retired after 36 years with State Farm Insurance and spends his time playing tennis, skiing and traveling.

64 Patricia Simpson Davis, El Campo | Patricia Stoup Hugh, Huntington Beach, Calif. | Sara Felty Leclerc, Windcrest

63 Henry Juenke, Boerne | Charles Kay ’63 & ’64, Buda | Victor Krejci, Buda | Frank and Viola Katt Norwood, Abilene | Lillian Jackson Pittman ’48 & ’63, Bulverde

62 Martha Clayton Bethke, Blanco | Barbara Guinn and Howard Tidwell, San Marcos. Barbara is a 1996 Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient.

61 John and Amy Huff ’63 & ’69 Beck, San Marcos. John is a 2004 Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient. | Navis Massey Coats, San Antonio | Terry Darden, Dallas, currently serves as the chair for the Texas Dental Association. | Edwin and Virginia Patterson Floyd, Austin | Bruce Gregg Jr., San Antonio

60 Kenneth ’60 & ’65 and Nola Alexander ’65 Hanson, Hondo

59 Hyman Thomas, Colton, Calif.

58 Patricia Anderson, El Campo | Handler Smith, San Marcos

57 Wilfred Block, Cuero | James and Ann Burns ’58 Gann, Bay City | William Hasse Sr., Alvin | Genie Polan Hurta, San Antonio | Geneva Treybig Smedley, Kenedy

56 Ruby Perry Overton, Rockport | Jimmy Pappas, Norfolk, Va., is a 1993 Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient. | Norma Pruett Vickrey, San Antonio

55 Truett Mobley, Hilltop Lakes | Jerry Pape, Butler, Ky. | Ted and Jannet Traylor ’56 & ’86 Smith, Austin | Ben Wolf ’55 & ’62, Austin

54 Larry ’54 & ’58 and Carroll Stephens ’56 Coleman, Cypress | Grace Middleton, Houston | Rosalie Kotrla Orrick ’54 & ’61, Grand Terrace, Calif., is actively involved in a local woman’s club concerned with environmental issues and international relations. | Bob and Chris Williamson, San Marcos

50 Otto ’50 & ’53 and Billie Lang ’53 & ’57 Stoepler Jr., San Marcos

49 Jimmy Littleton, San Antonio, is a 1979 Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient.

48 Clarence ’48 & ’49 and Margie Beran ’67 Schultz Jr., San Marcos

47 Carla Beilharz Parsons, Orange, Calif.

45 Ruth Kuretsch Krueger, Bryan

43 Doris Giese Koenig, Houston

41 John and Kathryn Kelly ’46 Prescott, College Station. John is a 1983 Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient.

39 Esther Peterson Wright ’39 & ’54, Bastrop

38 Stephen Gregg Sr., Wimberley | Wilbur Hopson ’38 & ’58, San Marcos

37 Wren Ansell Giesen, San Marcos

Breakthrough studies on chimps

Primatologist Jill Pruetz, who earned her bachelor’s degree in anthro-

pology at Texas State in 1989 and her PhD from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, has recorded the first evidence of chimpanzees’ us-ing tools to hunt.

Pruetz, assis-tant professor of anthropology at Iowa State Univer-sity, reported her b r e a k t h r o u g h research last year in Current Biology. She reported the evidence she had found in the West African nation of Senegal that confirms tool use by female and juvenile chim-panzees when hunting vertebrates. In order to make their observations, Pruetz and her team spent four years getting the chimpanzees accustomed to a benign human presence throughout a 39-mile worksite.

Her study, funded by the National Geographic Society, is the first record of chimpanzees’ hunting with tools and the first account of habitual tool use by non-humans while hunting other vertebrates. It’s also the first report of hunting by female chimpanzees.

While female chimpanzees are known to make and use tools to extract insects from mounds of earth and crack open nuts for consumption, hunting was always considered a male activity. Pruetz documented 22 cases of female and juvenile chimpanzees fashioning tools such as spears to use in hunting smaller primates in hollow branches and tree trunks.

Pruetz is also involved in teaching and conservation in the tropics. She is co-director of the non-profit organiza-tion DANTA and affiliated with the El Zota Biological Field Station in Costa Rica. Pruetz offers field courses on primate behavior and ecology at El Zota and has taught similar courses in Nica-ragua, Panama and Costa Rica.

Sisters Jennifer Roecker ‘05, Heather Roecker ‘06 and Chelsea Roecker ’09 from Robstown wash their new class rings in San Marcos River water at the Alumni Association’s ring ceremony in May. The ceremony, in which recipients receive their rings and then dip them in river water, is in its third year. Photo by Don Anders.



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Alumni ChaptersVisit the website at www.TxStateAlumni.org for upcoming events and chapters in your area. Be sure to register in the on-line alumni directory to receive e-mail notices of events and the association’s monthly newsletter.

Austin Events held the second Thursday of the month

A group of Austin alumni enjoy lunch at Threadgill’s this fall.

Jody Campbell, Austin Chapter president, presents Curt Schafer, director of career services, with a mug after Schafer talked to Austin alumni at Spaghetti Warehouse about career development and the services available to alumni from Texas State’s Office of Career Services.

San Antonio Events held first Thursday of the month

Volleyball Coach Karen Chisum talks to San Antonio alumni about the upcoming volleyball season this fall at a gathering at the Longhorn Cafe. Chapter President Debbie Christensen assists.

Dallas Events held fourth Thursday of the month

Bobcats and a future Bobcat gathered at the Blue Mesa in the Village on the Parkway in Dallas to enjoy an evening of networking.

San Marcos Events held second Thursday of the month

Paul Gowens of the business faculty, faculty liaison with athletics, presented athletics’ strategic plan that includes a move to the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) to a group of San Marcos alumni at Mamacita’s this fall.

Members of the Student Chapter of the association joined San Marcos Chapter alumni for a reception at Palmers in February.

Houston Events held third Thursday of the month

An enthusiastic group of Houston alumni met at Big Woodrow’s in December to discuss future events for the chapter.

Atlanta

Texas State alumni (and alumni from other schools) in the Atlanta area got together March 2 to celebrate Texas Independence Day. From left are Carolyn Allgaier Triana ‘85, Noel Taylor ‘99, Lisa Edmunds Russell ’84 and Allan White ’85.

Strutters Attending the Strutters Founder’s Day reception in the fall were, seated from left, Pam Belson Bradley, Kathy Fite, Carol Hendrix Yarbrough; standing, Neva-Jack Havel Caffey, Tracy Wright Avant, Debbie Johnson Robertson.


alumni

Lawrence Harris may be the only Native American NFL player /opera singer in

the United States. At 6 feet 5 inches, the imposing descendant of Choctaw ances-tors and native of Sherman appears more likely to be on “The Sopranos” than sing-ing with a soprano.

A former offensive lineman for the Houston Oilers, Harris retired from professional football after eight seasons with the team. He decided to begin a new career as an opera singer and performer but knew he would need additional training to reach the next level.

Enrolling in the opera program at Texas State in 1989, he formed a friendship with music professor Bert Neely, who told Harris that success in opera would take no less effort than the focus he had placed on professional football.

“Bert knew it was important for me to do something at the same level of compe-tition and challenge,” Harris said. “At the time, I had a love of music and didn’t know where to go with it until he had me commit one way or another.”

In 1990, Harris and his wife, fellow musician Renee Guerrero, class of ’89, moved to New York permanently. His wife’s talent management company, GMI Artists, which is run out of their home in Yonkers, represents Harris and others, including Texas State faculty member and guitarist Mark Anthony Cruz.

He has since contributed his bari-tone voice to more than 30 operatic roles from around the nation and world, receiving numerous acco-lades from the operatic commu-nity. Today, he travels the country singing for multiple productions at opera houses and even lectures on the side as a motivational speaker.

His program, titled “From Foot-ball to Opera,” inspires younger generations to pursue various talents and provides a message of hope. More infor-mation about Harris can be found at his website at www.harrisopera.com.

From football to opera

As an alum of Texas State, you may purchase a variety of high quality,

competitively priced insurance products through the Texas State Alumni Association. These plans are administered by the Marsh Alumni Services. For more information on any of the plans listed below, contact Marsh directly at 888.560.2586.

Short-term medicalAre you between jobs? Or perhaps a recent

grad? Chances are you’re in need of tempo-rary medical insurance until you become part of an employer’s plan. The Short-Term Medical Plan provides comprehensive, temporary medical coverage.

Catastrophe major medicalWhile we like to think that it will never

happen to us, a serious accident or illness could occur. Would your current health insurance or Medicare cover all of the expenses? The Catastrophe Major Medical Plan is designed to help pick up where your basic health insurance, or even Medicare, leaves off.

10-year term life You may be thinking, I already have life

insurance. Why would I need more? Chances are, you probably do not have enough. Financial experts recommend you have life insurance coverage equal to six times your annual income. The 10-Year Term Life Plan offers up to $1 million in coverage.

Auto/home The Texas State Alumni Association has

teamed up with Liberty Mutual to offer Texas State Alumni Group Savings Plus – a program that provides savings of up to 10 percent on your auto and home insurance. Group Savings Plus also features convenient automatic account deductions with no down payment or finance charges, as well as 24-hour claims and roadside assistance.

Disability income You select a monthly benefit that’s best

for you – up to $10,000 per month to help provide an income when a covered disabling accident or illness prevents you from working. All alumni of Texas State and/or

spouses of alumni, under age 60, who have been actively working (at least 30 hours a week) are eligible to apply for the Group Disability Income Plan.

Long-term care Private long-term care insurance pays

many expenses not covered by Medicare and helps prevent you from having to “spend down” your assets, a prerequisite for Medicaid assistance. More importantly, it helps protect your freedom to choose a nursing home facility or home health care provider. That’s a liberty you may not have with Medicaid.

Medicare supplementThe Medicare Supplement program

can help keep intact the savings you’ve spent a lifetime building in the event of a prolonged illness or a severe injury. The plan is designed to help cover those expenses not covered by Medicare.

Texas State Alumni Association insurance

Documents

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