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Aloha Homecoming Oct. 9, 2010 Page 20

New Business & Conference Center Plans Underway

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The Columns of East Central UniversityFall 2010

The Office of Alumni Relations is dedicated to establishing and nurturing lifelong, mutually beneficial relationships with alumni, friends and future students. Dedicated staff members of this office manage friend-raising activities in order to preserve and enhance the traditions and pride of East Central University.

East Central University’s mission is to foster a learning environment in which students, faculty, staff, and community interact to educate students for life in a rapidly changing and culturally diverse society. Within its service area, East Central University provides leadership for economic development and cultural enhancement.

East Central University will be recognized both within the state and nation as Oklahoma’s premier comprehensive student-centered regional university, offering outstanding academic programs and experiences for its students and contributing to the betterment of the region and beyond.

In compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendment Act of 1972, Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other federal laws and regulations, East Central University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, handicap, disability, or status as a veteran, in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This includes, but is not limited to, admissions, employment, financial aid, and education services. This publication is issued by East Central University as authorized by Title 70 OS 1981, Section 3903. Mercury Press, Inc., of Oklahoma City has printed and mailed 1,800 copies at a cost of $3,201.96. 08/10

Reader’s GuideThe Columns is published biannually—fall and spring—by the Offices of Alumni Relations and Communications and Marketing.

Feature Writers: Jill Frye, Cathie Harding & Brian JohnsonOther Contributors: Catie Caton, Amy Ford, Tiffany Grant, John Hargrave & Buffy LovelisDesigners: Amy Ford, Jill Frye, Susan Ingram & Gina SmithPhotographers: Amy Ford, Jill Frye, Susan Ingram, Buffy Lovelis, Gina Smith & US ArmyAlumni News and Events: Buffy LovelisSports Information: Brian Johnson & Brian DeAngelisOnline Version: Ryan Wetherill

How to update your information:

Fill out and mail the form at the bottom of this page, or contact the Office of Alumni Relations in one of the following ways:

Post us: Alumni Relations East Central University 1100 E. 14th, PMB Y-8 Ada, OK 74820E-mail us: alumni@ecok.eduCall us: 580-559-5651Fax us: 580-332-3042

Let us hear from you! Your opinions and suggestions are encouraged and appreciated.

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Hang 2010

Homecoming

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Alumni

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From the President’s DeskHas it been a year already? July 1 marked my first anniversary as president of East Central University. The time has simply flown as I have been privileged to get acquainted with our students, faculty and staff as well as the citizens of Ada and many alumni in Oklahoma and Texas. Kay and I are very happy to be in Ada. People here are great. I have come to believe that educators have the greatest of all professions. They get to share their knowl-edge with a new group of young people every year and watch as the light bulbs go on in their minds. I am convinced that our educators are more approachable and caring than those at almost any other college or university. I love working with students. Their spirit and enthusiasm are contagious. I also love hearing all the stories from alums and friends about ECU. I have my own, of course, but hearing others’ stories binds us together as Tigers and, I think, shows we are part of something bigger – a continuum of history and traditions as one generation blends into another. Did I mention that I love East Central University more than ever? And one of our own, Gen. James D. Thurman (’75), was promoted to four-star general in June and took over huge responsibilities for thousands of American soldiers. I am thrilled to announce that he will be in Ada for Homecoming. He will be our parade marshal and will attend the Homecoming football game. I want to invite you to be here as well. This year has been a wonder beyond my wildest imagination. Enjoy the campus with me – see you at homecoming.

John R. Hargrave, J.D. President, East Central University

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“Get back to where you once belonged.”-- Paul McCartney

John Hargrave knew last year when he was thinking of returning to East Central University to become its eighth president that, as Paul McCartney once put, it was time to, “Get back, get back, get back to where you once belonged.” Now, after a little over a year on the job, he will take his turn with the mace and medallion, ceremonial symbols of leadership and responsibility entrusted to the president, to continue what he hopes is the “last job he ever has.” President Hargrave’s formal inauguration will take place the afternoon of Nov. 19 in the Ataloa Theatre, Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center. The public is invited to the ceremony and reception which follows in the Bill S. Cole University Center. “This inauguration is not just for me and my family, but for the family of ECU,” Hargrave said. “I look forward to celebrating another page of our institution’s history.” Hargrave came to this conclusion a long way from home. Traveling last May with Dr. Mara Sukholutskaya, professor of English and languages, on her 10th anniversary trip to Ukraine and Russia for ECU students and community members, Hargrave was taken with the grandeur and permanence of the Russian culture. The artifacts of the czars and the history they represented made him realize that an institution’s traditions are all part of the fabric of its history. “The pomp and circumstance were essential to show publicly that this is how we do business,” he said. The inauguration in the fall would become yet another piece of the fabric that is the history of the family of ECU. Hargrave’s saga at

ECU began in 1973. His four years were typical of any student, any year. As a student, he was given the sense that he was wanted at the university, that he was family and that he would be taken care of, a sense he would like to pass on to current students. Fond memories include rushing to the Memorial Student Union to make sure he got his favorite spot in the crowded booths and then finding it hard to leave to go to class. “I can still hear the loud voices of the happy students,” he said. “They are wonderful memories.” He remembers Billie Floyd not only teaching him tennis and how to bowl but encouraging him to take ballroom dancing. He remembers history professor Dr. James Harris giving him his first raw oyster and teaching him to approach life as a gentleman. “I would like to make sure that our students have some of those experiences to prepare them both socially and culturally,” he said. When ECU broke the barriers for students with disabilities, he was proud to be a part of that experience. “It taught us to be accepting and tolerant to students with physical challenges,” he said. If current students tell him that ECU is a suitcase college and that everyone goes home on the weekends because there is nothing to do on campus, he is reminded of the Student Senate’s attempt to keep students on campus with a “Don’t Go Home This Weekend, Weekend.” One of his favorite memories is Gary Childress running for homecoming queen and the national media attention it garnered. At first the administration did not want a man to tarnish the tradition of homecoming queen, but mindful of the ensuing uproar, they decided to allow it. The talk of the campus was who was going to kiss him if he won. Naturally, the captain of the football team was out. “The stadium was on fire with excitement the evening of homecoming,” Hargrave said. “It was one of the most exciting things that happened on campus. It was decided that Student Senate president Becky Gallup would do the kissing honors.” However, the kiss never happened because Gary was the first runner-up. President Hargrave left ECU in 1977 when he graduated with honors with a major in speech and sociology. Now as president, one of his main goals is to expand activities that will not only bring potential students to campus to become part of the ECU family and share in their own memories but to encourage alumni to return and share their favorite moments. Hargrave would like to encourage the entire

ECU family to heed the words of Paul McCartney and “get back” to ECU.

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round-upThe President’s Circle

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July 16, 2010Wintersmith Lodge

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Longt

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“Dr. Cole loved being president and he cared deeply about those who worked for him.”

Dr. Bill S. Cole, president emeritus of East Central University, died March 10 in Ada after a battle with cancer. His funeral service was held at the First Baptist Church in Ada, followed by a memorial

service at Redlands Community College in El Reno where he also served as president. He was buried in El Reno. “The entire ECU family mourns the passing of Dr. Bill Cole,” ECU President John Hargrave said after learning of his death. “He was a great leader with great vision and East Central University has flourished because of his leadership.” Cole, 72, was ECU’s sixth president from 1989 until his retirement on June 30, 2006. That was the first day he had not been president of a college or university for 30½ years, since 1976 when he was named president of El Reno Junior College, now Redlands Community College. “Dr. Cole loved being a president and he cared deeply about those who worked for him. His sense of loyalty and ability to support us had no boundaries,” said Dr. Duane C. Anderson, ECU provost and vice president for academic affairs. “I worked for him for

27 years, and personally, I miss his counsel and advice. His impact on my professional life was immeasurable. He was a credit to this university and to this community.” Cole came to ECU after budget cutbacks caused by the oil bust of the early 1980s postponed maintenance and repairs to campus buildings. Not only did he have to tackle those problems, he helped build new academic programs and kept abreast of the technology revolution, which he said was the biggest change during his presidency. He also established relationships with people, agencies and organizations that helped enhance the university as it relied more on grants and private gifts to attract high-quality faculty members and pay for physical improvements. He oversaw 21 construction, renovation or expansion projects, 16 endowments of chairs, professorships and lectureships, approximately $100 million in grants, the growth of the ECU Foundation, Inc. from less than $2 million to approximately $20 million in assets, and ECU’s entry into NCAA Division II athletics. Cole was called a builder because something on the campus was undergoing either repairs, renovation or construction most of the years he served as president. His construction projects included the

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Bill S. Cole University CenterLinscheid Library and the University Center, which was renamed the Bill S. Cole University Center on Feb. 26 by the Board of Regents of the Regional University System of Oklahoma. The largest project, the $27 million Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center, was under construction when he retired. Cole was instrumental in securing a $5 million gift from Hallie Brown Ford to get that project underway. Cole, the first person in his family to go to college, could count about 40 degrees earned by those in his immediate family and their spouses when he retired. He received an associate’s degree from Eastern Oklahoma State College in 1957, a bachelor’s degree in education from ECU in 1959, a master’s degree in natural science from the University of Oklahoma in 1965 and a doctorate in education from Oklahoma State University in 1973. He was born in Stuart and grew up in McAlester. He graduated from McAlester High School in 1955. He taught biology at Putnam City High School from 1959 to 1964 and science at Purcell High School from 1965 to 1967. He was chair of the Science Department at Redlands from 1967 to 1975, then assistant dean of instruction until he was named president in 1976. Cole held numerous leadership positions, including two terms as chair of the Council of Presidents, an advisory council to the Oklahoma

State Regents for Higher Education, and two terms as president of the Presidents’ Council for the Board of Regents of the Regional University System of Oklahoma. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the ECU Foundation, Inc. He was a past president of the Ada Area Chamber of Commerce and served on the Boards of Directors of the Ada Area United Way and the Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He was a member of the Ada Sunrise Rotary Club (Paul Harris Fellow) and of numerous professional and civic groups in Ada and El Reno. The former ECU president was inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame in 1996, the Oklahoma Educators Hall of fame in 2005 and the ECU Educators Hall of Fame in 2007. He received the Distinguished Leadership Award in 2005 in Washington, D.C., from the Council of Opportunity in Education for his service to federal TRIO programs. Cole is survived by his wife Sondra, their five sons, Brent, Page, Rhys, Wade and Drew, and their families, including 11 grandchildren. The family designated two funds for memorials, the Dr. Bill Cole Presidential Scholarship Fund through the East Central University Foundation, Inc. or the Falls Creek Building Fund through the First Baptist Church of Ada.

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Cover Story

Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. (left) removes Lt. Gen. James D. Thurman’s three stars in order to promote him

to a four-star general at the U.S. Army Forces Command at Fort McPherson, Ga. Thurman was accompanied by his wife Dee.

GEnEralGen. James D. Thurman (‘75) Takes Over largest Army Command

If he were a civilian, Gen. James D. Thurman would be the equivalent of the CEO of a major corporation – a very major corporation with approximately 245,000 employees in 120 countries and another 13,000 in the United States. He travels around the world to talk with them, attends high-level meetings, makes operational and budgetary decisions and develops strategies for success, just like

other CEOs. But Thurman’s

respons ib i l i -ties go a little deeper, affect-

ing the very lives of thousands of Americans,

not to mention national security.

By Jill Frye

His employees are soldiers who work in treacherous situations, and he is very much aware that each one is also someone’s son or daughter, parent, husband or wife. On June 3, Thurman, a 1975 graduate of East Central University, was promoted to four-star general and took over command of the U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) at Fort McPherson, Ga. It is the Army’s largest command.

Basically, he’s in charge of all U.S. Army troops outside Iraq and Afghanistan. “My command is responsible for 237,000 active duty and 560,000 reserve component soldiers,” Thurman said. “We are responsible for their training, mobilization, deployment and sustainability. The bulk of operational forces inside the Army rests inside this command.” FORSCOM, which also has 3,500 civilian employees, oversees three Army corps and eight of the Army’s 10 divisions. “Our job is to train that force to send into Iraq or Afghanistan right now,” he said. “The bulk of that rests with me. It’s a huge mission. We provide Gen. Petraeus with combat units that are properly

Gen. Thurman will be parade marshal at

Homecoming on Oct. 9

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Cover Story

manned, trained and equipped. “We can never send someone’s son or daughter into combat without being properly equipped, properly manned or properly led. That’s a rule with this soldier from southern Oklahoma.” FORSCOM is an Army command responsible directly to the chief of staff of the Army. It also is an Army Service Component Command that reports to the Joint Forces Command in Norfolk, Va. – the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines. “I’m the Army component of that,” the general explained. “When they need Army forces, they come to me.” Tens of thousands of FORSCOM soldiers are deployed every day to Operation Iraqi Freedom, En-during Freedom in Afghanistan or other locales around the world, and in the Unit-ed States to support homeland defense by protecting key national assets, assisting in civil defense and helping protect against terrorism. They also provide assistance abroad following such crises as tsunamis and earthquakes and after hurricanes at home. By the time Thurman took command, FORSCOM had overseen the training, readiness and deployment of more than 832,000 soldiers since the terrorist attacks on the United States on Sept. 11, 2001.

Leadership “Nobody joins the Army to lose,” the general said. “When someone enlists, we’ve got an obligation to provide good training, leadership and equipment.”

While this generation of young people differs from others, “I’ve got to tell you,” he said, “I have observed them on the battlefields, and the men and women today, they really want to do a tremendous job, and they are doing it.” They understand the Army’s core values, he said. “It’s all about leadership,” he explained. “How you build units and build a winning attitude. It’s amazing to watch what they do on any given day.” Celebrities who visit troops in Iraq and Afghanistan often comment on the soldiers’ dedication, patriotism, focus and politeness.

“That speaks to their quality,” Thurman said. “It gets back to the basic values we have in the Army. We inculcate that in every soldier – loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage. You’ve got to demonstrate that and the warrior ethos: Always accomplish your mission, never accept defeat, never quit and never leave a fallen comrade.” Thurman said training has really advanced since he entered the army in 1975. “Our combined training centers are world class,” he said. “They use role playing and are fully instrumented. Soldiers train on the ground just like

the environment they’re going into. We train a lot virtually now with web-based software and simulators. As we get

ready to send units into Iraq or Afghanistan, they are getting the very best training. “We are more culturally aware today,” he added. “We’re doing more with language training. We have to be culturally adept. We are more adaptable, more agile. I’ve seen a

huge change. “Everybody has a GPS today. We are fully instrumented today and fully digitized. I’m not using a grease pencil and a map any more.” Even mine-resistant vehicles have training packages, he said. Soldiers train with weapons simulators and with trainers who have been “in theater” to learn what is needed for real-time training. “At the end of the day, there’s a soldier be-hind all that. I tell everyone that with confidence in yourself, confidence in your

Above: Following Fort McPherson tradition, Gen. James Thurman, Maj. Gen. Jeffery Hammond, FORSCOM chief of staff, and Gen.

Charles Campbell inspect the troops at the change of command ceremony. Below: Gen. Campbell congratulates Gen. Thurman.

“You never stop training, even in combat. You’re constantly conducting an after-action review of what you’ve done, and what you can learn from it. This is a requirement in this nature of fighting.

It’s a pretty tough enemy.”Gen. James D. Thurman

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equipment and confidence in your leader-ship, you’ll be able to do anything.”

Experience Thurman was an Army aviator for 15 years, flying AH-64 Apache attack helicopters. He has commanded at all levels, up to the top corps level, with most of his career focused on training. “I was director of Army training at the Pentagon, and as the deputy chief of staff, G-3/5/7, I was operations officer for the U.S. Army for Gen. George Casey and the secretary of the Army. As a colonel, I worked at Fort Irwin, Calif., and ran the National Training Center.” He also has served as the commander of a troop in the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, a squadron in the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment and another in the 3rd Infantry Division, a brigade in the 3rd Infantry Division, the National Training Center’s Operations Group, the 4th Infantry Division and V Corps in Germany. His army and joint staff experience includes serving as assistant to the chief of staff for plans and policy, Allied Forces Southern Europe, Regional Command South in Italy; chief of operations for the Coalition Forces Land Component Command C3 in Kuwait; and director of the Army Aviation Task Force. His combat assignments were as a battalion executive officer in the 1st Cav-alry Division during Desert Shield/Desert

Storm from 1990-91; chief of operations for the Coalition Forces Land Component Command during Operation Iraqi Free-dom from 2002-03; and the Multi-Nation-al Division-Baghdad Commander in 2006.

How It All Began Thurman played football at Marietta High School and many of his leadership analogies relate to building a successful football team. He also worked for Willis Choate, publisher of the Marietta Monitor. “I helped print that paper,” he said. “I never will forget that. It was one of my first jobs.” When it was time to go to college, Thurman wanted a school that offered ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) training. “Second, I didn’t want to go to a big school,” he said. “Third, I went up there (ECU) and there was a friendly atmosphere. They had the things I wanted to study.” His older brother, J.W. Thurman, was

a captain in the Army who had served in Vietnam and was going to ECU through the Army’s Bootstrap Degree-Completion Program. He is a retired colonel who now lives in Elizabethtown, Ky. Thurman majored in history because it tied in with the military. He minored in accounting, but didn’t like it as much as he had expected. “Dr. (Palmer) Boeger was the director of the History Department,” the general remembered. “We had some very good instructors in history. I ate that up. I had a very good experience with all my professors. They were there to help you learn.” Thurman enrolled in ROTC and was offered a scholarship as a sophomore. “When I got that ROTC scholarship I was offered the opportunity to go to OU and OSU. I chose to stay at ECU. I think I did okay,” he said with a smile. “If I had it to do over again, I would come to ECU. I got a very good education. It was a springboard to move forward to a

Soldiers and civilians of the Army Forces Command watch in a FORSCOM building atrium as Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. promotes Gen. James. D. Thurman in a ceremony held just before the FORSCOM change of command.

Military photos courtesyof U.S. Army

Jim Hamby once harassed a four-star general. Of course, James D. “Jim” Thurman was only a freshman at the time and a cadet in ECU’s ROTC program. “I was his Cadet Corps commander,” Hamby said. “Now I tell him, ‘All your successes are because of what I taught you,’” Hamby said with a laugh. “He says, ‘Yeah, right.’” Thurman was two years behind Hamby at ECU. Hamby was very good friends with Thurman’s older brother, J.W. Thurman, a decorated Army captain who had come to ECU through the Army’s Bootstrap Degree-Completion Program. “J.W. was a helicopter gunship pilot who had done one or two tours in Vietnam. He had been shot down four times,” Hamby said. The younger Thurman ran around with the two upperclassmen. Hamby, now the chief executive officer of Vision Bank in Ada, didn’t imagine that James D. Thurman would become a general, but he knew Thurman had a bright future. “He had the mark of a good commander,” Hamby said. “He is a leader of men. He’s very smart. He’s an extremely hard worker. He leads by example and his troops follow him because they respect him.”

‘He had the mark of a good commander’

Cover Story

Gen. Casey (center) passes FORSCOM’s colors to Gen. Thurman (left) during ceremonies at Fort McPherson. Gen. Campbell looks on.

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Cover Story

very good career.” Because of his success in his career and personal life, Thurman was named an ECU Distinguished Alumnus, the university’s highest honor, in December 2008. He gave the Commencement address for fall semester graduates. As a student, he worked for campus security and lived in Pontotoc Hall (and remembers Mrs. Thompson, who “made sure your room was clean”) until he married his high school sweetheart, Dee, in 1974. “I could not have done this without her support,” the general said of his career. “We’ve moved 26 times. We just saddle up and go.” There will be another move for the Thurmans in the near future. Fort McPherson is scheduled to be closed and FORSCOM will relocate to Fort Bragg, N.C., next year. The Thurmans have two daughters. Jaime is married to Lt. Col. Miles Brown. They have two children, Abigail and Andrew. Carey is married to Maj. Scott Thomas who is serving in Iraq. They have two children, Tyler and James. “We’ve had someone (in our family) in Iraq since the war started in 2002-03,” the general said.

A Good Career Thurman never intended to be in the Army for 35 years.

“There have been times when I thought maybe I ought to get out,” he admitted. “I saw (the Army) as a way to get in and get a good start to progress to a good career.” That is what motivates many soldiers, he said. “Inside Forces Command, we’ve met our retention goals for the year,” he said. “A lot of folks are attracted to the military. You can get a good education and benefits. They see it as a way to a good career. It can help you out later in life. “I was at ECU when they stopped the draft. I’ve watched us build an all-volunteer force. We’ve been in nine years of war and we’re holding it together.” It all equates back to good leadership and the right benefits to take care of soldiers’ families, he said. “The Army is the place to be. I’ve learned so much in the Army. The human dimension is so much of what we do.” Thurman also earned a master’s degree in management at Webster University through the Army. “As I look back, I would do it again,” he said. “I would not change one thing I’ve done. It’s been a challenge, but nothing is easy.” The change of command ceremony on June 3 was held on Hadeiken Field at Fort McPherson. Thurman succeeded Gen. Charles C. Campbell who retired after 40 years of service. Soldiers from the 1st Cavalry Division Horse Detachment, dressed in 1870-era cavalry uniforms, led horses onto the field for Campbell,

Thurman and Gen. George W. Casey Jr., secretary of the Army, to review the troops on horseback. “It was quite a day,” Thurman said. “Fort McPherson is a historic installation. It was held on the polo field where they used to play. They were keeping alive some of the traditions. All the commands were represented on the field. It was quite a deal. Many family and friends were there. Some of them had never seen anything like that.” He said he would build on Campbell’s leadership and move to the next level. “As I come into this job, I’m bringing 35 years of experience,” he said. “I just take this job like all the others – do the best I can. It’s an honor to serve our great country, to move up to the level of leadership the civilian leaders expect. “You should never take yourself seriously,” he added. “You can’t change (just because you have a more prestigious job).” Thurman doesn’t know what lies ahead in his career. “I haven’t thought about it,” he said. “I’ve got so much to do. So much responsibility. At this level you serve at the pleasure of the chief of staff of the Army and the president. You just give it all you’ve got and do the best job you can to provide leadership.”

Command Philosophy

Thurman’s Six Imperatives – 1. Discipline – you can’t do anything without that. That goes back as long as there have been armies. 2. Training and leader development. 3. Maintenance – of yourself and your equipment. 4. Leading – leaders leading 5. Caring about the soldiers and their families. 6. Risk management – the ability to protect soldiers, the human dimension.

Thurman, then a three-star general, visits with ECU faculty members after being named an ECU Distinguished Alumnus and giving the Commencement address in December 2008.

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East Central University has taken yet another step in building for the future. Plans are in the works for a new Business and Conference Center. The facility will not only enhance the ability of the campus and community to host conferences but will house ECU’s school of business. Located at the gateway entrance to campus, the center will be adjacent to the Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center and Centennial Plaza. It will be within walking distance to the Arts District of Ada. Financing for the project is more than halfway completed.

“We received a $1.5 million FEMA grant,” said ECU President John Hargrave. The projected construction cost of the building is $11.1 million. As of now $7.4 million has been secured in pledges or gifts. An additional $3.7 million needs to be raised. Sponsorship opportunities are available for anyone who would like to contribute to any part of the center. Classrooms, offices, lounges, conference rooms, etc., can be named after the donor or for a loved one. Anonymous donations

can also be made. Currently there are several major donors involved in the project. “In this day and age, there is no limit to the amount of technology and costs associated with a conference center. Therefore, even long after the building is completed, there will be opportunities for sponsorship,” Hargrave said. The 51,300 square-foot building will be three stories high with the first floor housing a multi-use conference center capable of

New Business and Conference Center

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banquet seating for 500 people. A synergistic learning center, small business development center, campus police office, food court and community safe room will also be located on the first floor. The second floor will primarily contain the School of Business classrooms and student lounge. Each classroom will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology.The third floor will consist of the dean’s office, faculty offices, conference rooms, computer labs and a student work area. “ECU’s school of business has long enjoyed an outstanding reputation as the best in the area,” Hargrave said. “Having a modern facility filled with modern technology and innovative new approaches will guarantee its legacy for years to come.” The added pedestrian traffic the new center will generate and the

enhanced conferencing technology it will provide will be consistent with the dream of a viable arts district. “Enhancing Main Street is a priority to the city of Ada and the university,” Hargrave said. “More people will come to Ada.

New Business and Conference CenterHotels and restaurants will benefit. Everyone will benefit. “I look forward to continuing the partnership with the people and organizations that have made the dream a reality,” he said.

Wendell Godwin (‘84), has been named the dean of ECU’s School of Business. Godwin was a senior business executive who directed all sales functions in an 18-state area for a national For-tune 1000 company.

Dr. William R. (Rudy) Lewis (‘62) has been named acting direc-tor of university advancement at ECU. Lewis has been in higher education for most of his profes-sional career, beginning in the 1970s when he was dean of stu-dents at ECU.

Two ECU Alums Return to Campus

Together, Godwin and Lewis will help finalize fund-raising for a new school of business and conference center. Several naming opportunities are available. For more information call 580-559-5537 or 580-559-5274.

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Evening of Honors & Recognition

Dr. Andy Tompkins, a 1969 graduate of East Central University, has been named president and CEO of the Kansas Board of Regents, the governing board for the state’s six universities and the statewide coordinating board for Kansas’ 32 public higher education institutions. Tompkins, called a highly respected leader in the education community in Kansas and beyond by Kansas education leaders, assumed the position on June 1. His leadership abilities, educational policy expertise, public service and knowledge of Kansas higher education were cited for his selection. He had been the dean of the College of Education at Pittsburg State University since 2007. Tompkins began his career as a high school English teacher in Pauls Valley in 1969, became a high school principal and was the superintendent of three different school districts from 1977 to 1994. He was an interim dean and associate professor at Pittsburg State University from 1994

to 1996, the commissioner of education for the Kansas State Department of Education from 1996 to 2005 and an associate professor at the University of Kansas from 2005 to 2007. He was named the Kansas Superintendent of the Year in 1992 and inducted into the Kansas Teachers Hall of

Fame in 2001. In 2002 he received the Governor’s Award from the Kansas State High School Activities Association and the Leadership Kansas Alumnus of the Year Award. Tompkins received the KU School of Education Alumni Distinguished Service Award for exemplary service to the fields of education or human services in 2004. The award recognized the outstanding leadership Tompkins provided throughout the state and nation on behalf of children, teachers and public education. He was inducted into the Mid-America Education Hall of Fame at Kansas City (Kan.) Community College in 2007. Tompkins also has served as a Kansas commissioner to the Education Commission of the States since 1995. He received a bachelor’s degree from East Central University, a master’s degree from Emporia State University and a doctorate from the University of Kansas.

TOMPKINS PRESIDENT, CEO OF KANSAS BOARD OF REGENTS

The 2010 distinguished alumni are August Petersen (center photo), a senior partner, officer, board member, investor and consultant to numerous Texas business ventures and a faculty member at the University of Texas, and Randy Grinnell, the deputy director for the Indian Health Service, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Dr. Davis D. Joyce, professor emeritus of history, received the Distinguished Former Faculty Award. He taught at ECU from 1987 to 2002.

14 The Columns

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Evening of Honors & Recognition

There aren’t many people who can point to a precise moment in time when their life takes a permanent turn for the better. I can. It was 10 minutes to four, Tuesday, June 4, 1974. I was meandering down the hall of the administration building at ECU when O.J. Collins bumped into me as he backed out of the financial aid office. Lucky for me, this was the day he had to leave the campus 10 minutes early. Let me back up a minute. I was just passing through town that day. I had no job, no fixed place of residence, no plans, no car and no money. In the six years since I graduated from high school, I had been a soldier, a truck driver, a bartender, a wandering minstrel, a vagabond, an itinerant grape harvester in France, a preacher, a part- time college student and a petty criminal. I just couldn’t seem to find an occupational shoe that would fit. My old friend Fred Ury was working for Southwestern Bell in Ada and, returning from some aimless wanderings around southeast Oklahoma, I decided

to stop on my way to Oklahoma City and let him treat me to lunch at Folger’s. He persuaded me to stay a few days and we’d go to OKC together that weekend. After lunch, he went back to work and I spent some time loitering around the campus. I was winding up my tour of the campus when I bumped into O.J. Being the gentleman he is, he asked if there was something he could do to help me. O.J. inquired if I’d like to attend school at ECU. Timing was perfect as classes started the day before and I could hit the ground running. I explained that I’d love to give East Central a try, but I had no money, no place to stay and no job. O.J. laughed and told me there was plenty of financial aid available and getting a job on campus was no problem. Within 24 hours, I was enrolled, my tuition and books were paid, and Fred put me up until I got a job. This was the beginning of a story that took me to law school. I retired from the law five years

ago and spend my time writing, speaking and traveling. Thanks, O.J. And thank you, ECU.

ECU Helps Hinkle Find His Direction

The Distinguished Family Award was presented to the Clements-Compton Family, actually two families who are connected by marriage and as former ECU football players.

Mike Hinkle (‘77) publishes his first novel, “The Butane Gospel.”

by Mike Hinkle

The Columns 15

April 23, 2010 ~ 6 p.m. ~ ECU’s Stanley P. Wagner Ballroom

16 The Columns

Lights, Camera . . . Action

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A series of donations by William C. “Bill” Thrash and his wife Billie is allowing future broadcasters from East Central University and the Ada community “to keep the bar high.” The Thrashes completed their pledge of $50,000 over several years to the ECU Foundation, Inc. to help build and furnish the new television studio in the Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center. The William C. Thrash Television Studio was dedicated July 22. It is the first true high-definition TV studio in this part of Oklahoma. The 1961 ECU graduate is an award-winning television producer and the station manager of OETA – the Oklahoma Network. Although there are no pending plans, the ECU studio also could involve area high school students to produce public affairs programs or it possibly could be used to support community initiatives and local businesses. ECU students’ work is broadcast online at www.youtube.com/ectvhd. “It is hard work to make good television,” Thrash said at his induction July 18 into the Gold Circle of the Heartland Chapter of the National Academy of Televisions Arts & Sciences. To be eligible for the Gold Circle Emmy Award, a recipient must have been in broadcasting for 50 years and made a significant contribution to the industry. He previously was inducted into the Heartland Silver Circle for at least 25 years in broadcasting. Thrash was one of 20 people

honored by Gov. Brad Henry at the 31st Annual Governor’s Arts Awards in 2006. He received the Bill Crawford Memorial Media Award which recognizes an individual member in the print and/or electronic media who demonstrates commitment to the arts in Oklahoma, documented through public awareness support and fairness, initiative, creativity and professionalism in reporting. He began his broadcast career in 1955, learning the live TV production business from the ground up at KTEN-TV in Ada while attending Ada High School. Since then, he has brought numerous arts activities into Oklahoma homes through television, helping produce or direct some of the biggest entertainment productions in state history. He joined KOCO-TV in Oklahoma City in 1962 where he produced and directed numerous specials involving orchestras and ballet companies from state universities. One of his specials was the first Oklahoma City Symphony concert broadcast on live television in 1967 from the newly renovated Civic Center Music Hall. Thrash moved to Channel 4 in Oklahoma City in 1971 and directed a nationally televised series of patriotic Fourth of July shows, the “Stars and Stripes Shows,” for NBC with such entertainers as Bob Hope, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Kate Smith and others. He supervised “Danny’s Day” with Danny Williams and the now-famous Mary Hart. He also directed numerous country music and holiday specials and series and became Channel 4’s program

manager and station manager. Thrash joined OETA – the Oklahoma Network in 1988. He produced the award-winning historical series “Oklahoma Passage,” the most popular nationally broadcast series in the history of public television. He develops the Emmy Award-winning arts and culture television series, “Gallery.” He also was involved with OETA’s state centennial productions in 2007. The OETA station manager also produced and directed many Lawrence Welk television specials for the Public Broadcasting System, raising more than $50 million for PBS stations. Thrash was inducted into the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame. He received national attention as the Public Television Programmer of the Year and has won several Emmy Awards for his statewide OETA productions. When asked in interviews if he has been in television all his life, Thrash gives this response, “Not yet.” For information about donating to the university, contact Phyllis Kunze, executive director of the ECU Foundation, Inc., at 580-559-5514.

Lights, Camera . . . Action William C. Thrash Television Studio

18 The Columns

PresidentTiffany Grant

Other Board MembersLance AlleeJesse Allen

James BrownSam Caton

Kassie CothranMonica CowartRobyn Elliott

Hillary FarrellBrooke HolmanRonda Martin

Edie McCrackenMaxine McFallsBarbara MillerRay NicholasCurt RawlsJoe Sharber

Dustin SmithBeth Vezina

TreasurerPat Fountain

SecretaryTori Petete

Past PresidentZeak Naifeh

President-ElectMark Walters

ECU Alumni Association2010-11 Board of Directors

Vice PresidentTommy Vass

What a busy and exciting time for the Alumni Association and East Central University! The spring and summer months were packed with alumni reunions and events, including newly added reunions in Denver, Austin and at Wewoka Lake. We hope you had a chance to attend an area reunion and reconnect with friends and fellow alumni. Join us in 2011 as we plan to expand the area reunions to even more cities to help us stay connected with our ECU family! The fall semester is in full swing and it’s great to see the new and returning students, faculty and staff enjoying ECU and the various events going on around campus and in the Ada community. What an exciting time to be on campus! There are so many ways to be involved at ECU, I encourage you to check out the campus events calendar at www.ecok.edu and get involved with your alma mater. We are gearing up for another successful Homecoming. On behalf of the association, I invite you back to campus for “Aloha Homecoming,” Oct. 8 and 9,

2010. There will be plenty of activities for you and the whole family. Join us for traditional activities like the golf tournament, 5k Tiger Run, Golden Tiger Brunch and parade as well as new activities such as a luau and pep rally, La Fragua Reunion and fireworks after the game! Visit our website at alumni.ecok.edu for more information and to register for many of the 2010 Homecoming events. It’s a wonderful time to be a Tiger and I look forward to seeing you on campus this fall! Go Tigers!

Tiffany Grant, Class of ‘07 President, ECU Alumni Association

“ I would like to personally thank the ECU Alumni Association

Board of Directors for their hard work and dedication to East Central University. I am very

blessed to have the opportunity to work with such an amazing

group of people.” - Tiffany

Greetings from the Alumni Association

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2010 Epsilon Omega Alumni Association 4th Annual Reunion

“Once a PIKE, Always a PIKE” is something every PKA member learns from his earliest days of pledge-ship. With this in mind, a great time was had by all who attended the 4th Annual Pi Kappa Alpha Epsilon Omega Reunion in Oklahoma City at the Bricktown Brewery on Aug. 7, 2010, sponsored by the Epsilon Omega Alumni Association. This event is intended as a time when all members, both active and alumni can connect/reconnect and celebrate our common bond. The guest list encompassed all decades of ECU Pikes, with over 125 in attendance including over 70 fraternity alumni, spouses/significant others and distinguished guests such as ECU administrators and Epsilon Omega Alumni, President John Hargrave (’77), Dr. Gerald Williamson (initiated ‘09) and Wendell Godwin (’84). Many attendees had not seen each other since their days at East Central University, so there was a lot of catching up to do. Members of the active chapter on campus were present to meet and mingle with fraternity alumni while also handling event registration. Current members Taylor Howard and Isaac Ramirez gave a brief update on the “state of the chapter.” Along with fellowship, food and good spirits, there were a few other highlights to the

evening. Accomplishments of the Alumni Association in 2009-10 were mentioned, including sending two current members as delegates to the Pi Kappa Alpha International Convention in Austin, Texas, and the presentation of new PKA letters to the chapter for permanent display on Pesagi Residence Hall. Members celebrating 25 years of membership in Pi Kappa Alpha were Greg Flanagan (‘88), Kelvin Williams (‘88) and Michael Corcoran (‘88). During the evening $1,000 was raised for the Dr. James R. Harris ('74) scholarship at ECU, while there was also a "passing of the hat" for donations to help upgrade the PIKE lounge on campus which totaled more than $800. Plans are now underway for the 5th annual Pi Kappa Alpha Epsilon Omega Reunion to be held on Aug. 6, 2011. While the location is still to be determined, this annual event promises to be a date to circle on your calendars! For more information on joining the Epsilon Omega Alumni Association or upcoming events, please visit www.EastCentralPikes.com or email us at Alumni@EastCentralPikes.com.

2010 ECU

Alumni Reunions

Are you planning a mini-reunion with your fellow alums? Send us the photos and we will publish them

in an upcoming edition of The Columns!The Columns 19

20 The Columns

Monday ~ Oct 4

12:30 p.m.

Banner Contest Starts, University Center

11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Homecoming T-Shirt Sale, University Center

**while t-shirts last**

Tuesday ~ Oct 5th

11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Homecoming T-Shirt Sale, University Center

**while t-shirts last**

12:00 noon

School of Business Alumni Luncheon, Ballroom

Wednesday ~ Oct 6

8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

King & Queen Voting, on the Mall

11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Homecoming T-Shirt Sale, University Center

**while t-shirts last**

Thursday ~ Oct 7

11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Homecoming T-Shirt Sale, University Center

**while t-shirts last**

7:30 p.m.

Fools, Chalmers Herman Theatre

Friday ~ Oct 8

11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Homecoming T-Shirt Sale, University Center

**while t-shirts last**

11:30 a.m.

Golf Tournament Lunch, Oak Hills

1:00 p.m. Tee Off

Golf Tournament, Oak Hills

5:30 p.m.

Luau, on the Green

6:00 p.m.

Pep Rally, on the Green

7:30 p.m.

Fools, Chalmers Herman Theatre

Schedule of Events Saturday ~ Oct 9TBAOpen House, College of Health & Sciences 8:00 a.m.5K Tiger Run, Wintersmith Park9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.Funky Fall Art Fair, Centennial Plaza10:00 a.m.Golden Tiger Brunch, Ballroom11:00 a.m.Veteran Appreciation Event, ECU Honor PlazaAthletic Alumni Meeting, Kerr Center Room 2131:00 p.m.Parade, Main Street

2:00 p.m.Baseball Alumni Game, ECU Baseball FieldBand Alumni Meeting, HBF Fine Arts Center2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.Honors Program Open House, Faust Room 1593:00 p.m.Fools, Chalmers Herman Theatre4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.Tailgate, Norris Field Parking lot

many groups will have tables for gathering5:30 p.m.Coronation, Norris Field

6:00 p.m.ECU vs. Incarnate Word, Norris FieldFireworks immediately following the football game9:00 p.m.La Fragua Reunion, Elks Lodge

please checkalumni.ecok.eduoften for updates or changes

20 The Columns

The Columns 21

Monday ~ Oct 4

12:30 p.m.

Banner Contest Starts, University Center

11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Homecoming T-Shirt Sale, University Center

**while t-shirts last**

Tuesday ~ Oct 5th

11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Homecoming T-Shirt Sale, University Center

**while t-shirts last**

12:00 noon

School of Business Alumni Luncheon, Ballroom

Wednesday ~ Oct 6

8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

King & Queen Voting, on the Mall

11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Homecoming T-Shirt Sale, University Center

**while t-shirts last**

Thursday ~ Oct 7

11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Homecoming T-Shirt Sale, University Center

**while t-shirts last**

7:30 p.m.

Fools, Chalmers Herman Theatre

Friday ~ Oct 8

11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Homecoming T-Shirt Sale, University Center

**while t-shirts last**

11:30 a.m.

Golf Tournament Lunch, Oak Hills

1:00 p.m. Tee Off

Golf Tournament, Oak Hills

5:30 p.m.

Luau, on the Green

6:00 p.m.

Pep Rally, on the Green

7:30 p.m.

Fools, Chalmers Herman Theatre

Saturday ~ Oct 9TBAOpen House, College of Health & Sciences 8:00 a.m.5K Tiger Run, Wintersmith Park9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.Funky Fall Art Fair, Centennial Plaza10:00 a.m.Golden Tiger Brunch, Ballroom11:00 a.m.Veteran Appreciation Event, ECU Honor PlazaAthletic Alumni Meeting, Kerr Center Room 2131:00 p.m.Parade, Main Street

2:00 p.m.Baseball Alumni Game, ECU Baseball FieldBand Alumni Meeting, HBF Fine Arts Center2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.Honors Program Open House, Faust Room 1593:00 p.m.Fools, Chalmers Herman Theatre4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.Tailgate, Norris Field Parking lot

many groups will have tables for gathering5:30 p.m.Coronation, Norris Field

6:00 p.m.ECU vs. Incarnate Word, Norris FieldFireworks immediately following the football game9:00 p.m.La Fragua Reunion, Elks Lodge

please checkalumni.ecok.eduoften for updates or changes

The Columns 21

22 The Columns

What comes to mind when people think of graduates of East Central University? Teachers? Nurses? Athletes? Well, how about attorneys? For students studying at prestigious law schools, hopefuls taking the bar exam and teachers motivating budding law students, ECU guided the way. Dr. Christine Pappas, associate professor of political science, believes that an ECU education is actually better than one from a larger university. “Professors are able to spot student weaknesses and focus on improvement,” Pappas said. “We spend hundreds of hours with students. Our letters of recommendation are more detailed and supportive.” Getting into law school isn’t easy. Applications far outnumber available seats in first-year classes. Schools look at two main criteria in determining whether to admit a student, undergraduate grade point average and Law School Admission Test score.

“You basically need a pretty good number for both or a really good number for one or the other,” said Blake Parsons (‘07), a legal studies major at ECU who recently graduated from the Oklahoma City University School of Law. “Applicants can also compensate for a low number in one by writing an exceptional personal statement explaining to the law school why they should be admitted.” Parsons learned at an early age the huge impact lawyers can have on the lives of others. “I’ve always wanted to be a lawyer to help ensure that those huge impacts are good ones,” he said. According to Thomas Pack, a 2006 graduate in political science, coming from a small school can be a plus or minus depending on the school of choice. “I’m sure OU and OCU prefer candidates from the larger universities in Oklahoma,” Pack said. “But if you’ve truly excelled at East Central, then national law schools are quite interested in increasing their regional and socioeconomic

lumniA Spotlight :

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S

diversity with students from less well-known schools.” Pack is in his second year of law school at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif. Since 1992 Stanford, along with Harvard and Yale, has been ranked in the top three schools of law by U.S. News & World Report. Every year from 4,000 to 5,000 hopefuls apply for admission but only around 170 are accepted into first-year classes. The American Bar Association does not recommend any major or course of study before admission to law school, but recent ECU students lean toward political science, legal studies, history and criminal justice. However, students found professors across the campus to be helpful. “The legal research and writing classes with Dean Peterson were invaluable, as was civil rights and liberties with Dr. Pappas,” Parsons said. “Those two professors were particularly special to me, as they wrote letters of recommendation for my law school application process. Dr. Pappas was even more special, as she helped me immensely with writing my personal statement. Dr. Pamela Jackson’s classes were helpful in illustrating that some professors enjoy taking your life and making it their own via voluminous amounts of coursework, something that all law professors love to do.” Others found the link to the real world provided by adjunct professors from the legal profession valuable. ECU also provided the extracurricular activities crucial in forming the well-rounded student. The ABA suggests that students take advantage of any opportunity to develop research and writing skills.

“Any classes or activities that teach you to think critically and write well will prepare you for law school,” Pack said. “For me, working at The Journal, ECU’s student newspaper, was helpful as was my political science and Honors Program coursework. You don’t need to be a legal studies major. Law school is the place to learn the law. Undergrad is the time to learn how to think about big issues in a systematic way.” The life of a law student can be grueling. Law student stress and depression are problems that have become national in scope. While students enter law school suffering from clinical stress and depression at a rate that mirrors the national average, this number skyrockets during the first year of law school. “To be successful, one must be willing to put law school before all other priorities, especially the first year,” Parsons said. “Lawyers frequently say ‘the law is a jealous mistress.’ For me, law school was more like a jealous wife and a couple

of jealous mistresses....just ask my wife.” Shiloh Renes (‘07), a political science major at ECU who graduated from OCU with Parsons, said her three years in law school were pretty much what she expected. “I read in a book once that the first year they scare you to death, the second year they work you to death and the third year they bore you to death,” Renes said. “This is one of the truest statements I have ever read. The first year is extremely competitive and terrifying.” Renes knew that she wanted to be a lawyer from the moment she was told that she had to dissect a cat in zoology class. Up until that time, she had been toying between the law and a career as a veterinarian. “I had constitutional law with Dr. Pappas and fell in love with it,” Renes said. “I’m not brave enough to be a soldier in the army, but I feel like in a much smaller way I am serving our country by seeking justice for those who can’t find it by themselves. Plus, my mom always told me that if you have a job that you love, then you will never work a day in your life.” Renes and Parsons were joined at OCU’s commencement by fellow alum Virgil Barksdale, a legal studies major. The three spent the early part of the summer studying for the Oklahoma Bar Exam which they took in late July. Steven Foster, director of academic achievement at OCU, recommends studying for the bar approximately 600 hours spread out over the 10 weeks between graduation and the exam. That breaks down to 10 hours a day, six days a week. All three students tried to stick to that schedule with a little help

from family and friends. “My family has always been very supportive and understanding,” Renes said. “I had to learn to make the most out of the time that I had with them. Now that I am out of law school, I think that I appreciate my family much more and take them for granted less often. Though time consuming, it is not all work. “Earlier in the quarter, my life looks pretty much like a 40-hour per week job, with a healthy break for some exercise and California sunshine during the middle of the day,” Pack said. “There’s usually a speaker and free food during the law school’s lunch period. During my first year, I heard from both Chief Justice Roberts of the U.S. Supreme Court and Chief Justice Yazzie of the Navajo Nation Supreme Court. Parsons and Pack share similar career interests. Parsons hopes to practice Native American Indian law. Pack would like to make it a part of his legal career as well and eventually land

potlight : ttorneysAA Journey of three eCu grAds to LAw sChooL & Beyond

by cathie harding

24 The Columns

somewhere in government. Renes is just hoping to find a job and “get some sleep.” Jenna Owens, new director of legal studies at ECU, chose a different path to express her love of the law, a love she has had since high school government class. Owens, a direct product of ECU’s legal studies program, graduated from the University of Oklahoma College of Law, took the bar exam and returned to practice in Ada. When asked to speak on a “Women in Law Day” panel at ECU, she learned that the director position would soon be available and went for it. “I thought this would be a unique opportunity to be involved in the program that I respect so much and that got me where I am today,” Owens said. “It is unique in that it strikes a perfect balance between preparing students to work in the legal field as well as preparing them for law school.” Following in the footsteps of Christine Pappas, former director of legal studies and her “most favorite teacher in my life,” Owens plans to carry on the tradition of learning she experienced at ECU. “I hope to offer students an opportunity to utilize this unique program to its fullest and leave inspired and excited about their futures as members of the legal community,” Owens said. Other East Central graduates currently preparing for the legal profession include Megan and Lauren Hensley, both history majors who have been accepted at the University of Oklahoma, and Jacobi Nichols, a political science major who is in her second year at OU. History major Matthew McCready and political science major John Baca are going to Oklahoma City University in the fall and Ryan Logan, political science,

and Jeremy Cumbie, criminal justice, are currently attending OCU. Greg Roller, political science, is at Washburn University in Topeka. Graduates of ECU populate the legal landscape across the country including John Hargrave, president of the university, and his father Rudolph justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Hargrave and Dr. Pappas are in the process of reviving the ECU Lawyers Alumni Association. For more information, contact Pappas at 580-559-5640 or cpappas@ecok.edu.

A fascination with East Asian history has led a new East Central University graduate to become the university’s first recipient of a prestigious Fulbright grant. Dianna Kriegh of Vanoss was awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship last spring through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program which offers fellowships for study, research and teaching in other countries. She applied to teach English for a year in South Korea. The US. Student Program is

one part of the large Fulbright Program, the international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and named for the late Sen. J. William Fulbright of Arkansas. It is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries.

Approximately 7,500 Fulbright grants are awarded annually in a number of categories for students, scholars, teachers, professionals, artists, musicians and scientists. The goal of the English Teaching Assistantship is for foreign students to improve their English language abilities and knowledge of the United States while American students enhance their knowledge and language skills of their host country. Kriegh wanted to go to Korea to learn to speak the Korean language. The South Korean government wants its children to learn to speak English fluently. “There is a big demand in Korea for native English-speaking teachers,” Kriegh said. “They want all their high school graduates to be able

lumniA potlight :S

ECU ALUM WINS FULBRIGHT ENGLISH TEACHING

ASSISTANTSHIP IN KOREA

The Columns 25

potlight :S eachersT

to speak fluent English. They want them to have the proper pronunciation and accent. Native Koreans can’t teach the proper pronunciation and accent.” She was one of 90 English teaching assistants chosen to go to South Korea. She left the first of June for six weeks of orientation at a university before being placed in a rural area. She learned in August that she will teach at Seondeok Girls' High School, a private school in Gyeongju, and should return to the United States toward the end of July 2011. Fulbright pays for her travel and some other expenses. Her Korean school furnishes her housing, which she expected to be with a family, and pays her a stipend of 1.6 million won each month, or $14. “In Korea, teachers are very respected. There is no disrespect in their school system,” Kriegh said. “It is a very strict system, a rote system, what we try not to do here.” She is expected to teach 40 students 20 hours per week, in addition to spending 20 to 30 hours planning, grading papers and helping Korean teachers. “Their schools go pretty much year-round,” she said. “They have a longer school day, from eight to 10 hours each day. The students get out at 5 or 6 p.m. Since the school systems are so highly competitive, and future jobs depend on the school system they are in, many students go to special academies in the evenings. School is a 24-hour job.” Because the academies and universities are expensive, many South Koreans go to high school and college in other countries, Kriegh said. The Fulbright teaching assistants are not required to know the Korean language.

“I’m a lot better reading and writing Korean. My conversational skills are pretty much nil. It’s kind of scary,” she said before she left. Kriegh completed her student teaching at Roff last spring and graduated from ECU with a bachelor’s degree in history with teacher certification. She plans to earn a graduate degree in East Asian history, hopefully at the University of Pittsburgh. “I’ve always loved history,” she said. “I want to know as much as I possibly can. I got intrigued with East Asian history. It’s as different, compared to U.S. history, as you can get.” One of her ECU roommates was from South Korea, and one thing led to another. Kriegh needed a foreign language component to qualify for graduate school. One of her history professors directed her to a Korean language course last summer at the University of California at Berkley. “If I hadn’t done that,” she said, “I wouldn’t be doing this.”

That’s where she found out about and considered applying for the South Korean government’s TaLK program in which Americans teach English for six months to two years. Back at ECU, she learned about the Fulbright Program and decided to apply. Kriegh was notified by email in January that she was a finalist, but heard nothing more until she received a contract in the mail on April 22. The hardest part was waiting to find out, she said. Since she was about to graduate from ECU, she worried mainly about what to do if she didn’t receive the Fulbright grant. She didn’t apply for the graduate school she wants because it’s highly competitive, and if she had to turn it down to go to Korea, she could lose that opportunity. Now, she sometimes thinks, “Oh, my gosh, I can’t believe I did this. But I’m really looking forward to it.” There is a little fear of the unknown, she admitted. What concerns her most, though, is that she won’t be allowed to leave South Korea until July 2011. “That’s a long time to be gone from home.” Kriegh had a 4.0 grade point average at ECU and was one of the finalists for the Nigh Award presented annually to the top graduating senior. She is a member of Alpha Chi national honor society and presented a paper in March at the Alpha Chi Super-Regional Convention in Little Rock, Ark. She also is a member of Phi Alpha Theta history honor society and the ECU Honors Student Association.

ECU GRADS NAMED TEACHERS OF THE YEAR

LaDeanna Andrews (‘98, ‘01), Roff SchoolChuree Chaffin (‘95), Lone Grove High SchoolBrandi Dickson (‘95, ‘00), Cross Timbers Elementary in TecumsehMatt LaHue (‘00), Shawnee High SchoolGreg Lovelis (‘04, ‘07), McLish Middle SchoolBilly Marquard (‘73), Maud Middle SchoolSyrena Moreland (‘01, ‘05), Tishomingo Elementary SchoolJanice Parrott (‘08), Parker Intermediate Center in McAlesterJerry Raper (‘73), Davis High SchoolElizabeth Smith (‘93, ’97), Byng Junior High in Ada Susan Walker (‘96, ’08), Maud High School

26 The Columns

Three educators who began their successful careers at East Central University were inducted into the Gene and Evelyn Keefer Educators Hall of Fame on April 14, 2010 in ECU’s Danley Hall atrium. The inductees are Dr. Donnie Nero, president of Connors State College in Warner; Dr. Joe Parsons of Ada, retired ECU professor and administrator; and Dr. Jimmy V. Scales Sr., superintendent of Hamilton County Schools in Chattanooga, Tenn. Their photographs will be displayed in the Hall of Fame in the Education Building along with those of past inductees Dr. Bill Cole, Clarence Oliver, Marvin Stokes, Pat Kellogg Roller, George Abshire, Stephanie Canada, Kenneth Murphy, Billie Floyd, Leon and Mary Pauline Lanoy, Ray Stout and John Zimmerman. The Educators Hall of Fame is sponsored by Janice Diamond and Paul Keefer, the children of Gene and Evelyn Keefer, to recognize ECU-prepared educators at any level who have made a significant contribution to the field of education. The Hall of Fame is dedicated to the Keefers and other parents like them who could not afford to go to college but who made it a priority that their children have that opportunity. Inductees in the Keefer Educators Hall of Fame can be a support staff member, teacher educator or administrator. They must have completed a program of preparation at the bachelor’s or master’s degree level or have taken significant course work toward completion of an education degree or certification program at ECU. The inductees are:

Dr. Donnie L. Nero Dr. Donnie L. Nero has been president of Connors State College in Warner, which also has campuses in Muskogee, for 10 years. He was a secondary teacher and administrator in Sapulpa for 12 years and held numerous positions for 15 years, including provost, at Tulsa Community College’s Southeast Campus.

Nero has been a program analyst for Rockwell International in Tulsa. In 2002 he received the Department of Human Services Trailblazer Award and was named ECU’s Distinguished Alumnus and the Phi Theta Kappa Distinguished CEO for the Oklahoma/Arkansas Region. He also received the 2007 Progressive Award. He is a board member of the Office of Juvenile Affairs, Communities Foundation of Oklahoma, Governor’s CLASS Task Force and the Oklahoma Community Institute. He earned a bachelor’s degree in health, physical education and recreation at ECU and both his master’s degree in educational administration and his doctorate in occupational and adult education at Oklahoma State University. Nero has also has been president of the Muskogee Area Educational Consortium, the Indian Capital Technology Center and the Muskogee Rotary Club. He also has served on the boards of the Muskogee Chamber of Commerce, Greater

Muskogee Development Corporation, Tulsa Area United Way, Volunteer Center of Tulsa, Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce and Big Bothers and Sisters of Tulsa.

Dr. Joe Parsons Dr. Joe Parsons, who has always been known for his caring spirit, quick wit and dedication to education and ECU, was a student at ECU when World War II began. He was a veteran of the D-Day invasion on Utah Beach in France and participated in all the major European campaigns. He returned to ECU and completed

his degree in business education in 1948. He also received master’s and doctoral degrees from Oklahoma State University. He taught a year at Pharoah High School, his alma mater, then was principal of Graham High School before moving to Weleetka Public Schools where he served as principal and superintendent of schools. In 1966, Parsons joined the ECU Department of Education. He later served as vice president of student services; vice president for development, university services and personnel; and executive director of the ECU Foundation, Inc. He was interim president of ECU during the year preceding the selection of Dr. Bill Cole as president in 1989. Parsons was a member of the Ada City Council for five years and served as mayor one year. He was active in civic and public affairs and served terms as president of the Ada Chamber of Commerce and the Ada Lions Club. His late wife, Harol Deane, also an educator, and his three children, Paula, Penny, and Patrick, all graduated from East Central University.

Dr. Jimmy V. Scales Sr. Dr. Jimmy V. Scales, Sr., a nationally recognized educator, civic and social leader, is superintendent of Hamilton County Schools in Chattanooga, Tenn. He was one of the first two African American football players at ECU in 1963. He was a teacher, coach and principal of Millwood High School in Oklahoma City

and McLain High School in Tulsa before becoming deputy superintendent of the Dallas Independent School District and superintendent of the College Station (Texas) Independent School District. Scales was the first African American appointed to the Oklahoma State School Board in 1984 by Gov. George Nigh. In 1984, Millwood High School received the National Exemplary School Award from the United States Department of Education. He received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Booker T. Washington High School in Idabel. He is a former trustee of Hillcrest Hospital in Tulsa and Texas College in Tyler. Scales is an avid supporter of the United Way of America. He also is a Rotarian and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. and Grand Boule’ Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity.

ECU Educators Hall of Fame Induct Three

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East Central University Business School graduate Craig Scheef, former College of Education faculty member Don Kellogg and ECU Distinguished Alumnus, the late Lee Horne, have combined for decades of loyalty to the university. They or their families have recently made commitments to The ECU Foundation, Inc. Through their caring and generosity, students in the future will have an opportunity to enjoy and gain from the ECU experience.

Craig & Christy Scheef

East Central University has received a gracious commitment from Craig and Christy Scheef. Through planned giving, the Dallas couple included the university in their estate plan by committing one half of their accumulated wealth to ECU. A native of Plano, Texas,

Craig was recruited to Tigerland to play football for Coach Pat O’Neal. He earned a marketing degree from the East Central University School of Business in 1985. Craig continued his education at the University of North Texas, where he completed his MBA and met his wife, Christy, who is an elementary schoolteacher in the Dallas area. Together they share a love of raising boxers. Craig has spent the past two decades in the banking industry. In 2008, he started Texas Security Bank and currently serves as CEO, president and chairman of the board. Craig has remained in close contact with his alma mater, serving on the ECU Foundation Board of Directors and as a member of the President’s Circle. He has also been a generous supporter of the athletics program as well as the School of Business. In 2004, Craig was honored with the Milam Award, which honors a former Tiger football player who has distinguished himself in his chosen field. The Scheefs’ bequest will be used to enhance funding for the East Central University football program. “This was an easy decision for Christy and me,” Craig says about their legacy to ECU. “East Central provided me so much at the time I needed it the most. As time passes, I’ve realized what an excellent job the School of Business and East Central athletics did in preparing me for my career. The relationships created while I was at East Central continue today. My hope is that East Central will continue to grow and prosper for generations to come.”

Helping ECUby

Remembering

ECU Foundation, Inc.

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The Kelloggs have also named the foundation in their estate plans. The inclusion of the endowment in their estate will assure that qualified and deserving students preparing to teach math or science will forever have a resource to help defray the cost of attaining a degree at ECU. Don says, “This is an excellent way for Jane and me to be able to see some of the results of our contributions.”

Evan Lee Horne

Lee Horne, a former ECU football player for the legendary Elvan George, a former coach at Cameron University, president of the ECU Foundation, Inc. in 1998 and the Distinguished Alumnus in 2000, left a legacy at ECU that will last forever. After his untimely death in September 2009, his family established an endowed scholarship that will

be used to defray educational expenses for an upper-level or graduate student in the ECU football or basketball program who is pursuing a career in coaching or business. As a long-time generous supporter of ECU Athletics, the School of Business, and the ECU Marching Band, Lee was passionate about ECU and the relationships that he developed while attending school there. One of his long-time friends, Ken Johnson, stated, “Lee always talked about the wonderful experiences and the great relationships that he established at ECU. After his graduation, his main goal was to repay his debt to the University.” Another friend and fellow coach, Pat O’Neal, noted that “Lee was a true gentleman, 100 percent for ECU not only while in attendance but for the remainder of his life. The University was of utmost importance to him.” And Grace George, also a lifelong friend, stated that “Lee was one of the most loyal and dedicated best friends that Elvan George and ECU has ever had!” Because of Lee’s generous donations throughout the years, combined with his family’s contributions and continuing donations from friends and alums, future students will benefit in the best way possible: by gaining an excellent education at one of the premier regional universities in Oklahoma.

Don & Jane Kellogg

For 25 years, Don Kellogg taught aspiring math and science teachers at East Central University. For 20 years, Don Kellogg has been a retired ECU faculty member. Forever, Don Kellogg’s generosity will help recruit, recognize and reward East Central University students pursuing degrees in math or science education through a scholarship

endowment he set up with the ECU Foundation, Inc. Don donated a life insurance policy he purchased in 1975 to the foundation. By naming

the foundation as owner and beneficiary of the policy, he’s not only helping ECU students, but he also receives a significant income tax deduction. By donating the insurance policy, Don and his wife, Jane, were able to fulfill their dream of helping to increase the number and quality of science and math teachers.

Helping ECUleads to

Unique DonationsECU GETS $100,000

ENDOWMENT FROM MASONIC FRATERNITY

A new $100,000 endowment fund will be bringing more cultural enrichment programming to East Central University. The endowment was established at ECU by the Masonic Fraternity of Oklahoma in May. "The Masonic charities called us totally unsolicited and said they had an endowment scholarship and asked us what we'd like to use the money for. They're just so generous - it's very heartwarming to know these people are everywhere in Oklahoma,” ECU President John Hargrave said. The $100,000 endowment will help fund new cultural enrichment programming at ECU's new Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center. The $28 million center was completed about a year ago and ECU administrators say this endowment will help fulfill the building's potential by expanding the programming inside. "With the additional programming needed to really utilize the versatility of this building, we felt like that would be the best use of the money,” Hargrave explained. The university is still planning how it will spend the interest from the endowment, but Hargrave said it will fund programs across the arts and will touch as many students as possible. The Masonic Fraternity of Oklahoma said this endowment is one of six going to regional universities. "We know what great students go to these universities, and we just feel like they need to have some of the same opportunities that the large ones do,” explained Charles Belknap, grand master of the Masons of Oklahoma. Hargrave said the endowment will benefit students across the campus and people in the community. It will bring in notable speakers and fill the stage with headline performances for everyone to enjoy.

ECU Foundation, Inc.

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The gate at the northeast corner of campus (across from Tiger Comons) honors Dr. Joe Parsons as an ECU faculty member, vice president for student services, dean of students, vice president for development/university services/personnel and interim

president. Parsons was also inducted into ECU’s Educator’s Hall of Fame in April 2010. This gift was provided by Parsons, his three children, Paula Kedy, Penny Martin, and Pat Parsons and their families. The third gate

at the southeast corner of the campus (by Married Student Housing) was funded by a gift from Louise Young, a 1969 graduate of ECU, and Vivienne Armstrong, a 1974 graduate.

ECU Foundation, Inc.

Dr. Duane C. Anderson, interim president of ECU during its Centennial year, had a 15-year-old vision of three memorial gateways to mark the boundaries of the campus. From the date that he issued a “challenge” for construction of the gates until the funds were raised was less than six weeks, and from his “challenge” to final construction was less than nine months. It was apparent that his “vision” belonged to the University, its faculty, staff, students, and alumni. The Centennial Gateways were constructed at a cost of $15,000 each. The one at the southwest corner of the campus (by the tennis courts) was funded by the ECU Alumni Association, which made the first donation, and honors all alumni from 1909 through 2009.

During the Evening of Honors and Recognition on April 23 Centennial Gate donors were recognized. Pictured from left: President Hargrave, Zeak Naifeh, Duane Anderson, Tiffany Grant, Gerald Williamson, Paula Kedy, Phyllis Kunze, Vivienne Armstrong, C.J. Vires and Louise Young.

DONATIONS FUND CENTENNIAL GATEWAYS

30 The Columns

It was an undergraduate summer research program that determined which fork in the road Courtney Karner (’04) would take. The East Central University scholar-athlete also

known as “Moose” was majoring in biology, trying to decide whether to go on to medical school or graduate school. Then in the summer of 2002 he was selected to participate in the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City and discovered how much he enjoyed research. That sealed the deal. Today he has a Ph.D. in developmental biology from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, one of the foremost medical research centers in the world – and in May was awarded the highest honor bestowed by the university’s Southwestern Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Karner received the Nominata Award which is presented annually to a senior graduate student who has demonstrated academic excellence and an exceptional level of research achievement. The award includes a $2,000 prize and the honor of presenting the last seminar of the University Lecture Series. Other speakers for the weekly lectures are prominent scientists and speakers from UTSW and across the country and the world. Karner’s lecture, titled “Canonical and Non-canonical

Wnt9b Signaling Regulates Kidney Progenitor Expansion, Differentiation and Tubule Morphogenesis,” was based on research he conducted for his doctoral dissertation. “I was shocked (to get the award),” he said. “I still don’t believe they picked me. “I’m borderline between being confident and cocky,” he explained. “I probably toe that line often. Every time I submit a poster at a meeting, I expect to win. But I know the people who won this thing the last two or three years, and it’s so shocking that I won – to say I’m on the level of those people. “Hopefully, they haven’t realized they made a mistake,” he

said with a chuckle. Karner completed require-ments for a bachelor’s degree in biology in 2003, but a glitch in the enrollment process at another graduate school kept him at ECU for another year. That allowed him to take additional ECU cours-es and minor in chemistry, math and physics as well as continue playing football for the Tigers as a starting right tackle and deep snapper. He was named an academic All-American his senior year and received the Lone Star Conference Male Scholar Athlete Award in 2004. He won the Tri-Beta Biological Honor Society’s Frank G. Brooks Award for excellence in undergraduate research. His graduate mentor at UTSMC, Dr. Thomas Carroll, assistant professor of internal medicine and molecular biology, has said Karner’s intellectual curiosity, work ethic and excitement about science set him apart. In a UTSMC story, he described the ECU graduate as “completely fearless about tackling a new technique or idea,” and said it was fun to have back-and-forth conversations about his research. Karner went to UTSW in 2004 and completed his doctorate

last November. In December he began work in a postdoctoral program at the Washington University Medical Center in St. Louis and married Brittany (Vawter) Karner of Southlake, Texas. She is a 1st grade teacher who completed her school year in the Dallas area before moving to St. Louis in June. They met when one of her childhood friends married one of Karner’s football teammates, Stephan Langford. Karner said he still maintains his ECU friendships. “I keep in touch with the majority of people in my class for sure, and some others. It’s mostly by phone,” he said. “I’m not into Facebook and those kinds of things. There are a few

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JoIn ThE ECU AThlETIC AlUmnI AssoCIATIonFormer ECU Athlete? Join the revitalized Athletic Alumni Association today for just $50 and receive a t-shirt, e-mail updates and more. Call Brian DeAngelis at 580-559-5604 or e-mail him at bdeangls@ecok.edu.

The Columns 31

people I talk with weekly.” It takes between five and six years to complete a PhD in his research field, Karner said. Most of his former teammates who have been coaching for several years needle him for staying in school so long. “They laugh at me because they make twice as much money as I do and I just got out of school,” he said.

Someday, maybe it will pay off, he added. Because he always made good grades, people would tell him he should be a doctor, but that’s not what he wanted to do. “I couldn’t see racking up $200,000 just for tuition and books over four years,” he said “I thought that was asinine.” In research, however, graduate students are paid between

$20,000 and $26,000 per year and have health insurance, “a nice alternative,” Karner said. Karner also was offered postdoctoral positions at Harvard, Columbia, the University of Texas, Stanford and the University of California at Berkley but chose a postdoctoral position at Washington University Medical Center in St. Louis to study bone development and its role in the development of hematopoetic stem cells. “I went from working on the kidney to bone systems,” he said. “A postdoctoral position is supposed to enrich your experience and prove that you’re versatile enough to produce knowledge in different areas,” he said. It also is supposed to be training for researchers to run their own labs, but, Karner said, they just do more research and don’t run anything or supervise anyone. He has five years, under National Institutes of Health policy, to be a “postdoc.” The title could be changed to instructor, he said, but the aim is for the postdoc to find his own position. That will be the next fork in the road – either stay in the research world or teach. “Some days I want to shoot the moon,” he said, “see how

far I can take this thing. See if I can thrive at the top. “But, I like to fish and hunt, things like that. That’s not really accepted, and the effort and time it takes to be successful is not conducive to having a life outside the lab. “As you can see, I haven’t figured that out yet.” Realistically, he said, he will never find the cure for any diseases, and that’s not where his interests lie. “I’m more interested in how I or you have developed. How we go from a single cell to a couple trillion cells. I’m more interested in what regulates that. How does an organ form? How does it know to turn into a specialized organ rather than something else?” At UTSW he investigated the molecular regulation of stem cell maintenance, mesenchymal to epithelial transition and epithelial morphogenesis during the development of the kidney. His work under the original grant led to a million-dollar grant for his mentor. From his first undergraduate research experience through his “long, interesting journey” to his doctorate, Karner has been quick to praise the broad-based education he received at ECU. “I always felt I was much better prepared (than other students) for everything we faced in graduate school,” he said. “That was attributable to the education I received at ECU. No one else had that type of education. Everyone had part of what I had but no one had the whole picture.” Karner grew up in Altus. He is the son of Dawnelle Karner, who now lives in Broken Arrow, and the late Dr. Miles Karner, who

was the area entomologist and state cotton specialist for Oklahoma State University’s Cooperative Extension Service in Altus. Karner donated his father’s 49 reference and technical books on entomology to ECU in 2006.

Courtney Karner (far left) delivers a lecture on his research as the winner of the Nominata Award at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. A framed announcement (left shared the stage with Karner. He demonstrates (below) how he grew cells associated with wound healing in 2002 at the OU Health Sciences Center.

ConTInUE To bE A TIGER!

32 The Columns

ECU sofTbAll sqUAd sTAGEs

mEmoRAblE 2010 sEAson

It was a season to remember for the 2010 East Central University softball team. Posting their most successful campaign in school history, the Lady Tigers flourished to a 34-21 record and reached the

finals of the Lone Star Conference Championship Tournament for the first time. In fact, it was ECU’s first appearance in the tournament since the 1998 season. “This is something we had been building. These girls knew we had potential to be this good and kept working and working,” said Lady Tiger head coach Destini Anderson, who wrapped up her fourth season at the helm. “Team chemistry was strong and we meshed well together.” The three major ingredients – hitting, pitching and defense – came together for ECU as the team finished with a combined .296 batting average, compared to the opponents’ .277. The Lady Tiger pitching staff also had a combined earned run average of 3.37, compared to the opposition’s 3.44. ECU

also committed 18 less errors (77-59) than the opponents. Offensively, the Lady Tigers had six players hit .300 or better, led by junior outfielder Nicole Sanchez, who batted .380 with four homers, five triples, 12 doubles and 21 runs batted while hitting in the leadoff spot. Sophomore first baseman Emily Kennemer was next at .342 with six home runs, 14 doubles and 34 RBIs. Sanchez and Ken-nemer were named to the All-Lone Star Conference North First Team and both were also voted to the LSC All-Academic Team for their success in the classroom. Also hitting .300 or better were freshman shortstop Shelby Simmons (.337), sophomore catcher

Desiree’ Nordie (.314), freshman outfielder Laura Loughmiller (.306) and junior outfielder Cassandra Nordie (.300). Junior third baseman Kasey Barber batted .295 with six homers and led the team with 41 runs batted in. The team’s only senior, second baseman Hillary Hughes, was named to the All-LSC Second Team for the second year in a row after finishing with a .979 fielding percentage for the season (with only three errors). She also batted .237, drove in 18 runs and doubled five times. Simmons and Barber were honorable mention all-conference picks for 2010. The Lady Tiger pitching staff had a solid 1-2 punch in junior right-handers Wanda Malone and Randee Crockett. Malone, who was named LSC Newcomer of the Year and a Second Team All-LSC North honoree, posted a 15-12 record with a 2.48 ERA while Crockett earned a 15-4 mark with a 3.69 ERA. The strikeout to walk ratio was also impressive as Malone struck out 153 batters and walked only 35 while Crockett fanned 122 batters and issued just 19 free passes. Defensively, ECU had a .960 fielding percentage, compared to a .951 clip for the opponents. “With Randee we’ve had a strong pitcher the last couple of years and then we add Wanda to the mix. I thought our pitching was real deep this year. Offensively, we had more hits with runners on base and, defensively, we got better as the season went along,” Anderson said.

The Lady Tigers capped off the season with a surprising and magnificent run in the LSC Postseason Tournament, going 3-2 and earning three victories over NCAA Division II regional qualifiers. ECU entered the tournament as one of the two lowest seeds after finishing fourth in the LSC North Division. ECU opened play in the tournament with a stunning 6-1 win over 11th-ranked West Texas A&M, the No. 1 seed from the South Division, behind the pitching of Crockett, who allowed no earned runs off six hits with only two walks and

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Lone senior Hillary Hughes (kneeling with flowers) poses with her teammates on senior day before the last home game of the season on April 27. The Lady Tigers finished second overall in the conference tournament this year.

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ECU nAmEs nEw mEn’s bAskETbAll CoACh East Central University has named Joe Redmond as its new men’s head basketball coach. Redmond, 36, brings a wealth of experience to Ada as an NCAA Division I assistant and Division II head coach. Redmond most recently spent three seasons as an assistant at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington. The NCAA Division I Seahawks made vast improvement during his second season there, going 20-13 in 2007-08 after a 7-22 finish in 2006-07. Prior to that, Redmond was at Henderson State University (Ark.) for six seasons, the first three as an assistant and the next three as head coach. “We’re excited about having someone of Joe’s experience and character join our Tiger family,” said ECU Director of Athletics Brian DeAngelis. “His background in Division II and recruiting in this region will be a valuable asset to our basketball program and help propel it toward future success.” ECU President John Hargrave agreed. “I appreciate Joe’s enthusiasm about the future of our basketball program,” Hargrave said. “He is ready to go to work, and we are looking forward to the next Tiger basketball season under his leadership. He brings with him head coaching experience. He is known

for teams that play a disciplined and rugged defense.” In his first season as head coach at Henderson State in 2003-04, he guided the Reddies to a 23-7 record, the Gulf South West Division title and their sixth straight NCAA South Regional berth. His teams went 13-14 in 2004-05 and 15-12 in 2005-06. His overall head coaching record on the Division II level is 51-33. “I’m extremely excited. There’s a wealth of potential for the basketball program here. The interest, energy level and overall excitement from the president on down is intriguing,” said Redmond. “I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work.” As for the style of play, it all depends on returning personnel and recruiting, according to Redmond. “We will be a man-to-man defensive team and a good one. I know that,” Redmond said. “I really need to try and evaluate who is returning and see what holes we need to fill. I know we need to add as much post depth as possible.” As Henderson State’s top assistant, Redmond helped guide the team to a 30-5 finish as the Redddies captured Western Division and Gulf South Tournament championships in 2002-03. That team went on to advance to the South Regional finals. In his six-year span at HSU, the Reddies earned two GSC titles and three GSC West Division crowns while making four NCAA Division II Tournament appearances and reaching the regional finals twice.

eight strikeouts. Simmons went 3-for-3 in the game and scored three runs while Desiree’ Nordie was 2-for-3 and knocked in two runs. In the next round, the Lady Tigers shocked the No. 2 seed from the North in Central Oklahoma 5-4 as the sister combination of Cassandra and Desiree’ Nordie homered while Sanchez and Kennemer drove in another run apiece. Malone allowed six hits, walked two and fanned four in the win. That led to the winners’ bracket finals in which the Lady Tigers fell to Angelo State 4-1. ECU’s only score came off Courtney Gaines’ single down the right field line, scoring Barber from second base. But as was the case through most of the season, the Lady Tigers bounced back in an elimination game as ECU, trailing 1-0 entering the bottom of the seventh and final inning, strung a two-out walk with three consecutive singles to stun UCO again, 2-1. A Barber walk and a Cassandra Nordie single set the stage for Gaines’ RBI single down the left field line to tie it up. Then Hughes came through with a walk-off game-winning single to center, sending the Lady Tigers to the tournament finals. Unfortunately, ECU was no match for Angelo State in the title game as the Rambelles cruised to a 9-1 victory. ASU, the only team to defeat the Lady Tigers in the tournament, also advanced to the regional playoffs. Through the course of the season, ECU earned seven victories over regional-qualifying teams, beating UCO three times and West Texas A&M twice while topping Midwestern State and Angelo State one time apiece.

Former Lady Tiger Softballers Hold Reunion in June

Pictured Back Row (left to right): Tammy Muncrief Odom (‘94 & ‘04), Stacie Becker Wartchow (‘99), Tina Blankenship (‘02), Shawn Richmond (‘99), Erin Regier (‘98), Coach Ron Miller (‘78), Staci Tompkins Trenary (‘98), Paije Fauser (‘00), Carey Vestal (‘99), and Jennifer Sperling Jones

Front Row (left to right): Teresa Thompson (‘99), Mandy Caster (‘98), Shawna Melton (‘01), Tammy Daniels Arthmann (‘00), Jennifer Landrith Russell (‘98)

34 The Columns

Redmond, a native of Parsons, Kan., was also a head coach at Labette Community College (Kan.) for three seasons. He played football at Independence Community College (Kan.), before transferring to Pittsburg State (Kan.). While completing his degree at Pittsburg State, Redmond coached freshman basketball at Pittsburg High School. He spent one season as a graduate assistant at the now defunct Phillips University in Enid. Redmond and his wife Carla have an 8-year-old daughter, Mae.

ChARlEs TERRy nAmEd AssIsTAnT CoACh

New East Central University men’s head basketball coach Joe Redmond has announced that Charles Terry will

join his staff as the team’s top assis-

tant for the 2010-11 season. Terry most re-

cently served as head basketball coach at Lincoln (Mo.) for six years. Prior to that, he spent three years as the head coach at Oklahoma Panhandle State University in Goodwell. Terry also had assistant coaching stops at Fayetteville High School (Ark.), Little Rock McClellan High School (Ark.), University of the Ozarks (Ark.) and Drury (Mo.). He is a 1972 graduate of Emporia High School (Kan.) and was a junior col-lege All-American at Hutchinson Com-munity College (Kan.) where he played for the legendary Gene Keady. After his two-year stint at Hutchin-son, Terry played two seasons for an-other legend, coach Eddie Sutton, at the University of Arkansas. Terry was a two-time All-Southwest Conference se-lection for the Razorbacks. “Coach Terry brings a wealth of ex-perience,” said Redmond. “We’re lucky to have someone of his caliber on our staff. We look forward to working with him.”

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The Columns 35

TIGER TRACKSJennifer Diane Putman and Jarrod Anthony Tollett (’00) exchanged wedding vows on Dec. 26, 2009 at the Bennett

Church of the Nazarene in Norman. Jennifer graduated from Little Axe High School in 2001 and from Seminole State College in 2008 with an associate’s degree. Jarrod graduated from Ada High School in 1995 and from ECU in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in history.

Lacy Soward (’08) and Cody Grammer (’01) exchanged wedding vows on April 21, 2010, at Shalimar Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas. Lacy is a 2004 graduate of Ada High School and a 2008 graduate of ECU where she received a bachelor of science degree in business administration/finance. Cody is a 1996 graduate of Lone Grove High School and a 2001 graduate of ECU where he received a bachelor of science degree in business administration/management.

Lesley Ann Claxton (’07) and Christopher Ian Cottrell exchanged wedding vows on June 5, 2010, at the Walnut Creek Chapel. Lesley is a 2003 graduate of Ada High School and a 2007 graduate of ECU where she received a bachelor of science degree in

nursing. Christopher is 1997 graduate of Carl Albert High School and a 2001 graduate of Rose State College.

Amy Lynn Cox (attending) and Stephen Joe l M c D o n o u g h ( ’ 0 4 ) exchanged wedding vows June 5, 2010, at the Central Church of Christ. Amy graduated from Ada High School in 2001 and is a student at ECU majoring in nursing. Stephen is a 1995 graduate of Sulphur High School and a 2004 graduate of ECU where he received a degree in art.

Beverly Medcalf (’04) and Cody Weaver (’05, ’07) exchanged wedding vows on June 26, 2010, at Weaver Acreage in Noble, Okla. Beverly is a 2000 graduate of Latta High School and a 2004 graduate of ECU where she received a bachelor of science degree in biology. She is also a 2008 graduate of the SWOSU College of Pharmacy. Cody is a 2001 graduate of Noble High School and a 2005 graduate of ECU where he received a bachelor of

See What’s Happening With Your Fellow Alums

Bayne BonnerSon of Paige Orstad (‘10)

Davis HargraveGrandson of

John (‘77) & Kay (‘78) Hargrave

36 The Columns

ECU PROFESSOR WinS AWARD

Dr. Karen Williams, professor of physics at East Central University, has received the Winter 2010 American

Association of Physics Teachers Distinguished Service Citation...

EMSA nAMES LEHMAn AS VP OF FinAnCiAL SERViCES

EMSA has named Angie Lehman (‘96) as vice president of financial services. Lehman will work out of EMSA’s Oklahoma City office....

LOREnE ROCKER EARnS DEGREE AT 80

“You gotta live until you die,” says Lorene Rocker, which explains why she finished

her bachelor’s degree at ECU this summer – at age 80 and with 13 great-grandchildren...

RETiRED EDUCATORS ASSOCiATiOn HOnORS HUGGinSMaudie Huggins of Davis is the 2010 Very Important Member of the Murray County Retired Educators Association...

AnGiE SHERRELL (‘84) nAMED OnE OF MOST POWERFUL WOMEn in TExASThe Texas Diversity Council hosted its sixth Annual Diversity and Leadership conference April 7-9, which included the Most Powerful and Influential Women of Texas Breakfast...

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Jadyn & Colton HowardDaughter & Son of

Joe & Kellie (‘95) Howard

Caroline McBride, Marshall McBride & Matthew Hooser

Children of Christi (‘10) Carruth

bachelor of science degree in education. Nicholas is a 1999 graduate of Plano East Senior High and a 2001 graduate of New Mexico Military Institute. He is also a 2009 graduate of ECU where he received a bachelor of science degree in sociology

Rachel Rayburn (’05) and Wi ley Barnes exchanged wedding vows on July 10, 2010. Rachel is a 2001 graduate of Pauls Valley High School and a 2005

graduate of ECU where she received a bachelor of science degree in education. Wiley is a 1996 graduate of Ponderosa High School in Parker, Colo., and a 2001 graduate of Oklahoma State University.

Tiffany Denise Moreau and Brent Matthew Williams (’05) exchanged wedding vows on April 17, 2010, in the Slade Methodist Chapel in Orange, Texas. Tiffany graduated from Little Cypress High School in Orange. Brent graduated from Ardmore High School and from ECU in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in environmental health science.

Nicole Burnett (’06) and Mark Elkins (’10) exchanged wedding vows on June 5, 2010, on the beach of Nassau Bahamas. Nicole graduated from Coalgate

High School in 2002 and from ECU in 2006 with a bachelor of science degree in biology. Mark graduated from Ada High School in 2002 and from ECU in 2010 with a bachelor of science degree in kinesiology.

arts degree in rehabilitation counseling. He also earned a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling from ECU in 2007.

Mary Kathryn Beam and James Andrew Scivally (’04) exchanged wedding vows June 26, 2010. Mary is a 2007 graduate of Texas Christian University where she received a bachelor of science degree in nursing. James is a 2004

graduate of ECU where he received a bachelor of science degree in business administration.

Zack Womack (‘04), former ECU football player, has been named ECU’s new director of strength and conditioning. Womack played three seasons as a running back for ECU from 2001-03 after transferring from Pittsburg State University (Kan.). As a Tiger, Womack scored 14 career touchdowns, eight on pass receptions and the other six off rushes. He finished with 50 career receptions for 526 yards and had 177 career carries for 657 yards. A native of Davis, Womack earned his bachelor of science degree from ECU in 2004 and completed 12 hours in the exercise and sports science master’s program at the University of Memphis.

Tammi Lea Fry (’05) and Nicholas Doyle Jones ( ’ 0 9 ) e x c h a n g e d wedding vows June 5, 2010, at the First United Methodist Church in Plano, Texas. Tammi is a 2000 graduate of South Gray High School and a 2005 graduate of ECU where she received a

The Columns 37

Semah Yekzaman (’06) is in Bulgaria as a volunteer for the Peace Corps. She will be there for 27 months. Three are for training and learning the language, followed by two full years of living in a community to work as a volunteer in social work. Semah graduated from ECU in 2006 with a bachelor of social work degree and then earned a master of social work degree from OU Tulsa. She will be helping underprivileged children in Bulgaria.

Sarah Danielle Johnson and Chad Lee Henry (’07) exchanged wedding vows June 4, 2010, at the First United Pentecostal Church in Ada. Sarah is a 2005 graduate of Byng High School and a 2009 graduate of Gateway College of Evangelism with a bachelor’s degree in music. Chad is a 2000 graduate of Vanoss High School and a 2007 graduate of ECU where he received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.

Katrina Elaine Miller (’07) and Jeffery Todd Brown exchanged wedding vows on May 27, 2010, at Provodencialse, Turks & Caicos Is lands. Katrina graduated from Ada High School in 2002 and from ECU in 2007 with a bachelor of science degree in kinesiology. Jeffery graduated from Ada High School in 1985 and from Oklahoma State University in 1991.

Amy Byrd and Christopher Hopper (’08) exchanged wedding vows on June 12, 2010, at the First United Church of Ardmore. Amy is a graduate of Ardmore

High School and the University of Oklahoma. Christopher is also a graduate of Ardmore High school and a 2008 graduate of ECU with a bachelor of science degree in business administration/finance.

Kasi Jordan Darbison (attending) and Brandon Hopstein (’09) exchanged wedding vows May 14, 2010, at Fossil Creek Ranch. Kasi is a 2006 graduate of Ada High School and a current student at ECU majoring in family & consumer sciences/retail merchandising. Brandon attended Seminary High School in Seminary, Miss. and is a 2009 graduate of ECU where he received a degree in kinesiology/exercise science.

Michelle Krzywda (’10) and Zachary Campbell ( ’ 1 0 ) e x c h a n g e d wedding vows May 24, 2010, aboard the Carnival Cruise Ship

Ecstasy while in port at Galveston, Texas. Michelle is a 2006 graduate of Norman North High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from ECU in 2010. Zachary is a 2005 graduate of Ada High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from ECU in 2010.

Pfc. Rachelle Higgs and Ronald Lee Black I I (attending) exchanged wedding vows on April 4, 2009, at the Arbuckle Wedding Chapel. Rachelle graduated from Lone Grove High School in 2009 and serves in the United States Army at Fort Gordon, GA., as a private first class. She is a communications signal specialist. Ronald graduated from Dickson High School in 2005 and is a current student at ECU.

Adryn & Brayden IngleSons of Daniel & Kassie (‘09) Ingle

Jordan & Makai BladesGrandchildren of

Donnie (’71) & Shirley (’71) Nero

Rosa Mae Harrison (a t t end ing ) and Easton Dakota Dale Denton (attending) exchanged wedding vows on June 5, 2010. Rosa is a graduate of Porum High School and a current student at ECU where she is

pursuing a degree in early childhood education. Easton is a graduate of Konawa High School and a current student at ECU pursing a degree in communication studies.

Danna Howry (attending) and Jonathan Borntrager exchanged wedding vows May 22, 2010. Danna is a 2007 graduate of Ada High School and a current student at ECU majoring in elementary education. Jonathan is a 2005 home school graduate and attended the College of the Ozarks in Branson, Mo.

Danli Mills (attending) and Cowboy Sanford (attending) exchanged wedding vows on March 12, 2010 at Bethel Free Wi l l Baptist Church in

Allen. Danli is a 2009 graduate of Allen High School and currently attends ECU where she is majoring in accounting. Cowboy is a 2007 graduate of Holdenville High School and currently attends ECU where he is majoring in criminal justice.

Caleb AllenSon of Amy (‘10) Allen

38 The Columns

Kaci Patton (attending) and Trevor Ange l (attending) exchanged wedding vows on July 24, 2010, at Abba’s House Worship Center. Kaci is a 2006 graduate of Vanoss High School and is currently attending ECU where she is pursuing a degree in business administratio/finance. Trevor is a 2009 graduate of CCS and is currently attending ECU where he is pursuing a degree in kinesiology.

P h o e b e K a t e P r i c e (attending) and Jeffrey Paul B a r r o n ( a t t e n d i n g ) exchanged wedding vows May 15, 2010, at the Chickasaw Lake Club in Ardmore. Phoebe graduated

from Ardmore High School in 2007 and is currently attending ECU where she is a communication studies major. Jeffrey graduated from Schulter High School and is a current student at ECU majoring in business administration.

Former ECU cross coun-try runner Josh Stewart (at-tended) won the 10th Annu-al Oklahoma City National Memorial Marathon and

John Sutrick (‘08) finished 10th. Stew-art, who just com-pleted his senior season of cross country at Cameron University, clocked

in at 2:34:26. Sutrick, who wrapped up his ca-reer at ECU in 2009, posted a time of 2:50:35. ECU cross country alumnus Matt Aguero (‘03), who is the current men’s head cross country coach at Cameron, won the 2005 race with a time of 2:31:42.

Hayley Jennings (attending) finished third overall in the Oklahoma City National Memorial Women’s Half Marathon in Oklahoma City April 25. Jennings, who just completed her rookie campaign with the ECU women’s cross country team, finished the half-marathon race (13.1 miles) in 1:29:36 as she took first in the 19-and-under age division.

Lorita Bonifield, attendedJane A. Bullard, 1987 & 1990Nathan Burris, attendedBeth LaTrell Burwell, attendedNancy Campbell, attendedJosie Christian, attendedDr. Bill Cole, 1959 President Emeritus (1989-2006)Dorothy June Schafer Cox, 1978Wayne Leroy Craig, 1953William Edward “Ed” Denny, attendedPercy Dale “Leo” Dittemore, 1953Cecil “Blair” Easley Jr. 1965Iris Faye Gaar, attendedMary Jean Gaffaney, attendedJoan Ganus, attendedAnnetta Beth Gibson, 1974Jim Clark Gillispie, attendedJames Goddard, attendedJames Harold Haines, 1952Henry Lee “Hank” Heiskill, 1979Mark D. Hendon, 1983Glossye Isaacs, attendedGary Jackson, 1980Carroll Ray Johnson, 1998Kay C. Johnson, attended

IN MEMORIAMThe ECU family offers our deepest sympathy to the families of the alumni and friends we have lost.

Mabel Jones, 1939Richard Lee Jones, attendedWillie Lawson, attendedLeola Lindley, 1969Leatrill Lockhart, attendedDon James Loveless, 1951Muriel Edwards Lowrance, 1954Roger McCracken, 1951Charles McKenzie, attendedHermie “Totsie” McKinney, attendedAlta Meneffee, 1959Blanche Marie Sanders Monroe, 1938Syble Moore, 1955Judson “Jud” Porter, 1964Frances Virginia Rhoads, attendedBill Rodebush, 1964Margie “Pepper” Sands, attendedRoy K. “Ted” Smith, 1948Mary Lou Southerland, attendedPat Summers, attendedDavid Taylor, 1975 & 1995Billye Verticchio, attendedLawrence Waggoner, attendedLorene Wallis, 1942Winna Jo Gray Wilmer, attendedPatsy Young, 1971

We Want to Hear From You!Send us your Tiger Track information today!

Log on to: alumni.ecok.edu

As an alum your child and/or grandchild is a Legacy and very important to us.

We want to send a FREE t-shirt to them, and if you share your photo, we’ll publish it in an upcoming edition of The Columns.

Josh Stewart&Hayley Jennings

John Sutrick&Matt Agureo

Don’T F

orgeT! La Fragua

reunionoct. 9, 2010

(after Homecoming)

9:00 p.m.elks Lodge

The Columns 39

There are several ECU alums who

The ECU Career Development Center’s mission provides educational services, student learning opportunities and programs enhancing the overall experience for those we serve. The Center is dedicated to helping students and alumni identify, develop and implement their career goals over a life span for success in a rapidly changing and culturally diverse society.

Services provided for current students & alumni:

• Career Services• Online Assessments• Placement Services• Online Job Board• Resume & Cover Letter Templates• Resume Development

For more information visit: www.hireatiger.org

Enrollment – 5,705 (highest enrollment ever!)States/Countries Represented: 20/30Average Class Size: 21Student-faculty ratio – 18 to 1Male/Female Ratio: 6:10Campus Size: 38 buildings, 140 acresTotal faculty – 278Full-time faculty – 168Part-time faculty – 110Percent of faculty with advanced degrees – 65%

“Hire A Tiger”

• Mock Interviews• Job Shopping• Tiger Mentoring• Career/Job Fairs• Alumni Speakers• Clinics/Workshops • Networking Events

2010 ECU Quick FactsFO

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40 The Columns

Non ProfitOrganizationU.S. Postage

PAIDPermit No. 162

Ada, OKEast Central University1100 E. 14th Street, PMB Y-8Ada, OK 74820