Upload
aaron-jones
View
226
Download
0
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Tech Action: Spring 2011
Citation preview
Tech ActionS p r i n g 2 0 1 1
Col. Carl Baswell inducted into Hall of Distinction. See pages 4-5.
James Bibler, Lyndall Stout and Jack Hamm inducted into Hall of Distinction.See pages 4-9.
Director of Alumni Relations Kelly DavisCoordinator of Young Alumni Alison ParksCoordinator of Alumni Communications and Activities Kelly Thornton BostickAlumni Office Administrative Assistant Terry Holland-Finley
Tech Action is published quarterly by the Arkansas Tech Alumni Association, 1313 N. Arkansas Ave., Russellville, AR 72801. It is sent to alumni, parents, friends and faculty/staff of Arkansas Tech University. We welcome manuscripts and photographs from our readers. Please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you would like your originals returned. Parents, if your son or daughter attended Tech and is no longer living at this address, please notify our office of his or her new address. Address updates can be submitted to the Arkansas Tech Office of Alumni Services by calling (479) 968-0242 or by sending e-mail to [email protected].
Cover Photograph Steve NewbyContributing Photographers Steve Newby, Liz Chrisman, Ashley Schurtz, Shelly Doyle Chuck Lajeunesse, Beth HallE-mail address [email protected] site www.techties.atu.edu
Editorial Committee Kelly Davis, Jayne Jones, Julie Nebben Morgan, Susie Nicholson, Sam Strasnerpublications/creative Services Felisha WeaverAsst. Director of New Media Carrie Harris Phillips
Philip Alexander ‘89 12/11
Doug Brown ‘06 12/11
Jimmy Cunningham ‘75 12/11
Robert Ford ‘86 12/11
Dixie Gossett ‘70 & ‘74 12/11
Tommy Johnston ‘91 12/11
President: Jim Murphy ‘71 President-Elect: Shirley Drewry Dodd ‘59
Raymond Molden ‘96 12/11
Cara Hammond Witherspoon ‘78 12/11
John Carter ‘02 12/12
Molly Fleming ‘09 12/12
Leslie Miller Harris ‘08 12/12
Ronda Hawkins ‘92 12/12
Ann Irwin ‘83 12/12
Steve Pfeifer ‘71 12/12
Kendall Tabor ‘89 & ‘92 12/12
Angie Wyatt ‘03 12/12
Katherine Nunn Bowden ‘54 12/13
Sue Chiolino ‘68 12/13
Brenda Metcalf Hipp ‘63 12/13
Steve Kesner ‘77 12/13
Tayler Melton ‘10 12/13
Todd Sweeden ‘76 12/13
Jim White ‘78 12/13
Vickie Yates ’79 & ‘89 12/13
Brian Bass, Ozark Campus Rep.
Tech Action, Volume 47, No. 2. Arkansas Tech University Alumni Association, Alumni House, Russellville, AR 72801
Alumni Association Board of Directorstech
catch up with an old friend today
www.techties.atu.edu
Tech Action
It’s not goodbye, it’s a new phase of lifeAs I packed up my office, I became overwhelmed with
all the memories. I rediscovered thank you notes from
many alums who acknowledged my help in organizing
a reunion, hosting alumni events and helping them get
reacquainted with an old roommate or friend.
In hindsight, I should have been thanking them.
Doing all those things have helped make the past six
years working for my alma mater a dream come true.
I’ve resigned as the alumni director so I can stay home
with my eight month old son. Making the decision has
been a hard one. I loved my job. Working with the alumni
of Arkansas Tech has been a joy. But, my son Grayson is
growing up so fast and I don’t want to miss any moments
with him.
I’ll treasure all the memories I’ve made and the
friendships that have formed through the years. I’ll look
back with fond memories of all the alumni scholarships
awarded, Homecomings planned and alumni gatherings
where I’ve fellowshipped with new friends.
I have loved hearing your stories and memories of
why you love Arkansas Tech. While our time on campus
as students has varied over the decades, we all share a
common bond of loving our alma mater.
I’ll leave as alumni director proud of the fact that I had
a hand in implementing a new organizational structure for
the Arkansas Tech Alumni Association Board of Directors
and that we’ve made an effort and continue to do so
in reaching out to young alumni. We also upgraded the
alumni Web site and expanded our presence in social
media.
I’m going back to being a volunteer for the university,
same as I was before I joined the alumni staff.
To the Board of Trustees, the administration, faculty,
staff and alumni....thank you for allowing me to serve as
the alumni director of a great institution. I take away a
new sense of what being a part of the TECH family is all
about.
The alumni association has many great days ahead of
it. If you haven’t gotten involved, it’s not too late to do
so.
See you at a TECH event soon!
Angela DeWitt Bonds ‘95
Director of Alumni Relations 2008-2011
2 Tech Action
Dr. Kenneth G. Kersh
3Spring 2011
Dr. Kenneth G. Kersh, who served as president
of Arkansas Tech University from 1973-93, died on
Wednesday, March 23. He was 83.
In honor of Dr. Kersh and his long service as
president, all classes at Arkansas Tech on both the
Russellville and Ozark campuses were cancelled on
Friday, April 1.
A native of Fort Smith, Kersh was already a veteran
of the U.S. Air Force when he enrolled at Arkansas Tech.
He graduated from Tech in 1954.
Kersh was the first student commander of the Army
ROTC program at Arkansas Tech. He served in that
capacity from 1952-53.
Kersh and Robert F. Merritt received the first second
lieutenant commissions in the history of the Arkansas
Tech ROTC program in May 1954.
Kersh went on to a 20-year career with the U.S.
Army. He served as a Green Beret from 1965-69.
Kersh was also a member of the Wonder Boys
baseball team, served on the staff of the Arka Tech
student newspaper and was president of the Arkansas
Tech Military Club during his time as a student in
Russellville.
Kersh continued his education by earning a
master’s degree and a Ph.D. from the University of
Arkansas. He was serving as chairman of the Hendrix
College Department of Education when the position of
president at Arkansas Tech became available in January
1972.
A year-long search resulted in Kersh being selected
as Arkansas Tech president in December 1972.
The only alumnus to ever serve as president at
Arkansas Tech University, Kersh took office as the 10th
president of the institution on Jan. 1, 1973.
“I do not view Tech as being
my institution, nor does it
belong to the administrators
or faculty,” said Kersh in an
interview shortly after becoming
Arkansas Tech president. “It was
put here to satisfy the academic
needs of the young men and
women of our state.”
Kersh oversaw two major
advances in the early years of his
two-decade tenure as president.
The summer of 1976 saw both of those changes
come to fruition, as Arkansas Tech offered courses
toward a master’s degree for the first time and the
name of the school was changed from Arkansas
Polytechnic College to Arkansas Tech University.
In 1985, the Kersh administration and the Arkansas
Tech Board of Trustees implemented a plan that
reorganized academic offerings at Tech into five schools
– the School of Business, the School of Education, the
School of Liberal and Fine Arts, the School of Physical
and Life Sciences and the School of Systems Science.
Among the major baccalaureate programs founded
during the Kersh administration were nursing, business
education and hospitality management.
Master’s degrees in education, instructional
technology and liberal arts also became part of the
program inventory at Tech on Kersh’s watch.
Tucker Coliseum, Crabaugh Hall, Tech Field, Corley
Hall and the Energy Center are among the major
facilities that were completed, constructed or planned
during the Kersh presidency.
Kersh retired as Arkansas Tech president on June 30,
1993. He was inducted into the Arkansas Tech Hall of
Distinction, the highest honor that the university can
bestow upon an alumnus, in 1994.
IN MEMORIAMDr. Kenneth G. KershArkansas Tech President, 1973-93
4 Tech Action
2011 Hall of Distinction
James Bibler says that he is not an
expert when it comes to computers
and technology. He’d rather drive a
logging truck than work on a hard
drive.
But he does understand and
appreciate the value of change. In
fact, his willingness to grow and
adapt might be the No. 1 reason
that the lumber company he built —
Bibler Brothers, Inc., in Russellville
— grew to become one of the
most progressive and successful
operations of its kind in the United
States.
“Our mill burned down in 1969,”
said Bibler. “Before that, it was a
manual operation. Our technology
had not moved forward. Most of the
people in our company wanted to get
out at that point. They asked me what
I wanted to do — build it back or shut
it down. I said I wanted to build it
back, but we’re not going back to the
same old, same old.
“The chipping saw came along,”
continued Bibler. “It was an in-
line machine that created a much
more efficient process. There was
quite a bit of electronics involved,
rudimentary as it was back then. It
changed how you made lumber. We
put in the first one in the state. It
went from there. Every time a new
piece of equipment would come out,
if it was something that I thought
would work, I wasn’t afraid to put it
in. We had a lot of serial No. 1s. Thank
goodness a lot more of them worked
than didn’t or we wouldn’t be having
this conversation.”
Bibler graduated from Hector High
School as part of a graduating class of
21 students. He enrolled at Arkansas
Tech with a goal of playing football.
There was just one
problem. Hector High
wasn’t large enough
to have a football
team, which left Bibler
without even the most
basic of experience.
“I didn’t know how
to put the uniform
on,” said Bibler. “They
knocked me around
pretty good that first
year.”
Bibler
studied business
administration at
Arkansas Tech for two
years before going to
work for his father, who
was a farmer, one of
the largest landholders
in Pope County and the owner of a
lumber business.
Bibler started out as a lumber
stacker and became president of the
lumber company at the age of 33.
“When your business grows and
you start dealing with people, it’s
valuable to know what it’s like at every
level,” said Bibler of his experiences in
the company. “It is hard for someone
to pull the wool over your eyes. I’d
been there and done that.
“I always had a passion for the
ground and for planting trees,”
continued Bibler. “When you’re
integrated in the lumber business
it is a long-range deal. I’ve planted
a bunch of trees I’ll never see
harvested. I think one of the things
that kept me interested in it was the
progression of what we were going
through and what the industry was
going through.”
Bibler Brothers, Inc., became a
division of Great Northern Nekoosa
in 1973, but 13 years later Bibler
formed James Bibler Enterprises and
purchased all of the stock in Bibler
Brothers, Inc. His action saved the
mill and the jobs of those who worked
there.
“I didn’t want to see the people
put out of work,” said Bibler. “The
average tenure of our employees at
that time was 15 years. Not only were
they employees; they were almost
like family. That was a big factor in the
decision. We had three employees
who were the third generation of
their families to work at the mill. That
makes a difference. So we bought it
back and started rebuilding it.”
From 1986-98, Bibler led major
renovations at the mill, brought
state of the art equipment online
and oversaw the construction of a
new office facility just south of the
mill on Arkansas Ave. in Russellville.
James BiblerDistinguished Alumnus
5Spring 2011
2011 Hall of Distinction
At one point, the modernization
of the grade reader allowed the mill
to go from producing 94 pieces per
minute to 150 pieces per minute.
The payroll at Bibler Brothers,
Inc., increased from 100 employees
when Bibler reclaimed the
business in 1986 to as large as 256
employees.
“When we started modernizing
that cut the number of employees
back over time, but we never laid
anyone off,” said Bibler. “We let
attrition take care of it.”
Bibler sold 90 percent of the
company to Freeman Brothers, Inc.,
in 1998, but he remains active in the
business.
“This last recession we went
through…we never stopped
modernizing,” said Bibler. “There’s
only one place left in the mill where
a human has to make a decision,
and we’ve got plans on the drawing
board to change that. I’ve never
backed up on computerizing the
mill.
“I don’t know how to turn the
computer on, but I can look at the
end product and tell you whether or
not it’s working,” continued Bibler.
“That’s where the rubber meets the
road. If you know that, you can find
folks to fix the computers. You don’t
get that overnight, and you don’t
learn it in school.”
Today, Bibler serves as chairman
of the Ouachita Timber Purchasers
Group and as a member of the
Southern Pine Inspection Bureau
Board of Directors.
He is a past chairman of the
Arkansas Forestry Commission,
having been appointed to that
board by Gov. David Pryor and re-
appointed by Gov. Bill Clinton.
Bibler is a past president of
the Southern Forest Products
Association and the Arkansas
Forestry Association.
He served as vice chairman
of the public timber division of
the National Forest Products
Association.
“I used to go to these national
board meetings for the forestry
industry,” said Bibler. “I’d be sitting
around a table with people who
graduated from Harvard or Yale,
and they’d ask me where I went
to school. I told them I went to
Arkansas Tech for two years, and
then I went to the school of hard
knocks. Those fellas hadn’t stacked
a lot of lumber.”
A lifelong supporter of his alma
mater, Bibler has shown his affection
for Arkansas Tech by serving on the
College of Business Advisory Board.
His work in that capacity helped the
institution’s accounting program
gain its accreditation. He also
made a gift to the Hindsman Tower
project.
“I don’t know if I’ll be able to
keep the tears out of my eyes,”
said Bibler when asked about his
induction into the Arkansas Tech
Hall of Distinction. “In fact I know
I won’t. I got that from my father.
He was a little emotional, so I can’t
keep from being emotional. It means
a great deal to me.”
2011 Hall of Distinction
6 Tech Action
Traditions are important on
college campuses. At Arkansas
Tech University, no tradition is
more ingrained in the fabric of the
institution than the one-on-one
attention that faculty members
provide to Tech students.
Over the past half century, no
person has done more to preserve
that important Arkansas Tech tradition
than Dr. Jack Hamm.
A 1964 graduate of Arkansas
Tech and a 36-year veteran of the
Arkansas Tech faculty, Hamm served
the university as vice president for
academic affairs from 2001-08.
“I think the one-on-one attention
that our faculty members provide
to our students is the key element
in our success,” said Hamm. “Most
students really need it and all students
appreciate it. We get some students
that are going to succeed under most
any circumstance. They’re just that
good. But there are a lot of students
that really don’t know how good they
are or how good they can be.
“That mentoring and that one-
on-one is what changes them from
an average student to an excellent
student,” continued Hamm. “If I
had to say that there is one, most
important thing for our university,
that’s what it would be.”
Hamm was recruited by legendary
head coach Sam Hindsman out of
Mount Judea High School to play
basketball at Arkansas Tech in 1959.
Those hills north of Russellville
were fertile recruiting ground for
Hindsman, and in Hamm he found a
young man who had quite a Wonder
Boy pedigree.
Hamm’s father, Elmer Hamm, was
a member of the original Wonder Boys
football team in 1920. So was his
cousin, G.W. Hamm. In all, three of
Hamm’s first cousins played football
at Arkansas Tech during the glory days
of the 1920s.
For the younger Hamm, an ability
to play basketball opened the door to
a better life.
“One of the things I learned
through participation in athletics
is that it takes a lot of hard work
and dedication in order to really
accomplish anything,” said Hamm.
“That really carried over to the
academic work. It was an interesting
time, and the fact that I was able to
participate in athletics gave me the
opportunity to earn a scholarship.
Had that opportunity not been
available to me I probably would have
taken a very different road. It has been
a great benefit to me, to have that
opportunity that Coach Hindsman
gave me. I will always be grateful for
that.”
Hindsman was not the only
mentor that Hamm encountered
during his days as a student at
Arkansas Tech.
Claude Padgett, John Ferguson,
Jack Dodd, John Tucker and Alfred
J. Crabaugh were among the faculty
members who helped shape young
Jack Hamm.
But despite the fact that he started
out as a physical education major
and ended up in mathematics and
physics, Hamm counts a one-on-one
mentoring session with an English
professor as a turning point in his
education and in his life.
“I was not one who was prone
to do well in English courses,” said
Hamm. “I liked literature, but it just
wasn’t where I wanted to spend
my time. I should never forget an
experience I had. I guess we’d been
off on a trip playing basketball, and I
had gotten behind in an upper-level
literature course.
“So I went in and talked to Dr.
(Lillian) Massie, who was head of
the English Department,” continued
Hamm. “I went in with a lot of
trepidation. I thought I was really
going to catch heck, because she had
the reputation for really being able to
do that. I had observed that on other
occasions. But she was really nice to
me. She just said ‘son, what you need
to do is get yourself organized.’ She
sat down with me and outlined to
me the things that I needed to do to
improve my academic work. It turned
out to be one of those events that
made a marked impression on me and
made it possible for me to do better
academic work.”
Improved organizational skills
in tow, Hamm saw the trajectory of
his life change dramatically. He went
from making a C in remedial math to
graduating from Arkansas Tech with a
degree in mathematics and physics.
He taught in the public schools of
Texas for two years before enrolling
in the master’s program at the
University of Missouri at Rolla (now
the University of Missouri for Science
and Technology) in 1966.
Jack HammDistinguished Alumni Service
2011 Hall of Distinction
7Spring 2011He earned a master’s degree
(1968) and a Ph.D. (1972) in applied
mathematics from the University of
Missouri at Rolla.
Shortly after earning his terminal
degree, Hamm was offered an
opportunity to return home as
a member of the Arkansas Tech
mathematics faculty.
Over the next 36 years, Hamm
played a large role in helping
Arkansas Tech change, grow and
improve more than anyone could
have imagined.
His leadership as dean of the
Arkansas Tech School of Systems
Science (now the College of Applied
Sciences) from 1982-2001 led to
accreditation for the engineering
programs at Arkansas Tech, the
construction of Corley Hall to
accommodate the laboratory needs
of the engineering and computer
science programs and the creation
of a separate College of Business
at Tech.
Hamm was promoted to vice
president for academic affairs in
2001. It would be his final full-time
assignment as a member of the
Tech faculty, and he used those next
seven years to implement a variety
of initiatives that will benefit the
university for generations to come.
Under Hamm’s leadership
as vice president for academic
affairs, Arkansas Tech attained
Southern Regional Education Board
Level 3 status, a move that put
Tech on equal footing with other
comprehensive regional universities.
Arkansas Tech gained funding
from the federal government to
offer an Upward Bound program
on the Russellville campus during
Hamm’s tenure as vice president.
The program targets students with
risk factors that might prevent them
from completing high school and
provides them with the guidance,
mentoring and tutoring necessary to
help them persist to post-secondary
education.
From 2003-09, 100
percent of the students in
the Arkansas Tech Upward
Bound program graduated
from high school or earned
a GED. Ninety-one percent
of those students went on
to enroll in post-secondary
education.
Hamm retired as vice
president for academic
affairs in 2008, but he has
remained an active member
of the Tech family.
Upon his retirement
he became the first
person in Arkansas Tech
history to earn the title of
distinguished professor.
Hamm was named professor
emeritus of mathematics
at Arkansas Tech in March
2011.
He is currently serving as the
first president of the Arkansas Tech
Alumni “T” Club, a revival of a former
student organization that will work
to recognize the achievements of
current letter winners and maintain
the bonds between former student-
athletes.
“It’s a tremendous honor to be
chosen,” said Hamm of his induction
into the Arkansas Tech Hall of
Distinction. “I don’t know that
there is anything that could have
happened to me that would have
made me feel better, but I also know
full well that while it is given in my
name it actually recognizes the work
of many people.
“If I was ever able to achieve
anything, it was because I had the
help and support of a lot of good
people,” continued Hamm. “I’m
honored. As I told President Brown
when he called to tell me, I’m
overwhelmed. It’s something that I’ll
always treasure.”
2011 Hall of Distinction
8 Tech Action
It was about 112 degrees in
Denison, Texas, that day. Lyndall Stout
was a young reporter with a dream to
live the glamorous life of a television
news anchor.
After covering a manhunt for 10
hours in the oppressive Texas heat,
she returned to the station where she
made $14,000 a year to find that the
water cooler had been taken away
because employees were drinking too
much water.
Many people would have cried in
that situation, and Stout admits that
she did. Many others would have quit,
but that wasn’t an option for Stout. It
only strengthened her resolve to keep
putting in the long hours for little pay
in pursuit of a dream that she would
one day live.
“Experiences like that teach you
and you realize pretty quickly that
you love the profession,” said Stout.
“I love this so much. I’d do it for
free. That’s the benchmark — to feel
that you are able to use your talents
to make the world a better place. It
sounds like a pageant answer, but it’s
the truth.”
Stout attended Pawhuska High
School in Pawhuska, Okla. She was
15 years old when she went to a
speech camp at Cameron University
in Lawton, Okla., and signed up for a
15-minute workshop with Faye Hawks,
who at the time was a member of the
Arkansas Tech speech faculty.
“I thought it was so cool to work
with someone from a college from
out of state,” said Stout. “I thought
she was amazing, and I guess it was
mutual because she told me to call
her when I graduated from high school
and she would give me a scholarship.”
Stout didn’t need to wait that long.
She was already sold on Arkansas
Tech, and that feeling was cemented
when she visited the campus following
her junior year at Pawhuska High
School.
“I was just a small-town girl from
Oklahoma who hadn’t been exposed
to much,” said Stout. “I wanted out of
my small town, but I didn’t want to go
somewhere overwhelming. I wanted
to be a news anchor, and I knew there
was broadcasting there. The student
television station appealed to me.
There were about 4,000 students at
that time. It was 4-5 hours from home.
It was a natural fit.”
Stout began working at the
Arkansas Tech student television
station during her sophomore year.
She learned every aspect of the
operation, from running the camera to
producing graphics. She remembers
that graphics weren’t her strong suit,
but that wasn’t her destiny.
She soon became the top anchor
at Tech TV, earned internships in
professional settings and solidified in
her mind that she wanted to make a
career in television news.
“I don’t want to downplay the
importance of what takes place in
the classroom, but in a field like ours,
you need that real-world application,”
said Stout. “It was collaborative. We
were able to make our mistakes and
learn on a small cable station. It was
hands-on learning. I loved it. It laid the
groundwork for my career.”
Stout earned a Bachelor of Arts
degree in journalism and speech
communication from Arkansas Tech
in 1994.
“I love Arkansas Tech,” said Stout.
“It will always have such a special
place in my heart. The opportunities
I was given to grow at that time mean
the world to me.”
After earning a Master of Mass
Communication degree from
Louisiana State University, Stout
began her career in television at KTEN
in Denison, Texas, in 1998.
One year there led to an
opportunity to join the staff at NBC
affiliate KARK in Little Rock.
“When I moved to Little Rock, it
was like coming home,” said Stout. “It
was such a friendly place. Arkansas
has always felt like my second home.”
She stayed at KARK for four-
and-a-half years, filling the roles of
general assignment reporter, weekend
anchor and morning anchor. Stout
was recognized by the Arkansas
Associated Press and was nominated
for an Emmy for her reporting at KARK.
Lyndall StoutOutstanding Young Alumna
2011 Hall of Distinction
9Spring 2011
Her work in Little Rock led to an
opportunity to become the main
anchor for WBRE/WYOU in Wilkes-
Barre, Pa.
Little more than five years
since that dreadful day in Denison,
Stout’s dream of becoming a news
anchor was coming true.
“It was definitely a culture
shock,” said Stout of the move
to Pennsylvania in 2003. “It was a
thrill from a career perspective but
a huge adjustment culture wise. I
moved there in the fall, just as the
weather was starting to change. It
was a lot harder than I thought it
would be to adapt to the culture,
but I took the attitude that I’m
going to prove myself over time.
I wanted to establish myself and
build credibility.
“There is a level of genuineness
that never goes out of style,”
continued Stout. “People will sense
it if you are the real thing and they
will appreciate that in you. I just try
to be myself and be consistent.”
Those principles landed Stout
multiple Emmy nominations and an
opportunity to serve the station as
managing editor over the course of
six years at WBRE/WYOU.
She developed the station’s
newsroom editorial guide and
worked closely with management
and producers on story ideas.
But a funny thing happens to
many of us on the path to our
dream. The process reshapes our
goals and changes our focus.
“Working in television brings
huge sacrifices because you have
to move where the jobs are,” said
Stout. “Between school and career
I was away from Oklahoma for 19
years.
“You have to be willing to work
holidays and take critiques at all
levels to make it in TV,” continued
Stout. “You work with egos and
personalities in very high-stress,
hard-working conditions. And you
have to shine under pressure.
You can’t fall apart during a
live newscast. It takes a certain
personality to do that.”
Stout has the personality to do
that, but she also knew when it was
time to go home.
That opportunity presented
itself on Oct. 23, 2010, when
Stout took over duties as host
and senior producer for SUNUP,
a weekly agriculture television
program that airs on 19 public
broadcasting stations around the
state of Oklahoma every Saturday
morning.
The program is produced by the
Oklahoma State University Division
of Agricultural Services and Natural
Resources.
“Our program is a way for the
Oklahoma Cooperative Extension
Service to communicate with
producers and people in Oklahoma
and beyond,” said Stout. “We talk
about things they can apply to
their agriculture operations. It’s
the first Monday-through-Friday,
8-to-5 job that I’ve ever had, and it
is a slower pace than a newsroom.
I never dreamed I’d get the chance
to live in Stillwater and be on
television.”
And after nearly two decades
of chasing the dream, home suits
Stout pretty well.
“I am always looking for new
challenges,” said Stout. “I look for
ways to grow professionally and
personally so that I can continue
to contribute. I want to challenge
myself, and challenge others around
me who want to be inspired in
similar ways. Moving every couple
of years has always been the
norm for me. I don’t want to move
anymore.”
Alumni News
10 Tech Action
Angela DeWitt Bonds, director of alumni relations at
Arkansas Tech University for the past three years, resigned
from her position effective May 15.
Bonds and her husband, Dr. Dusty Bonds, welcomed
their first child — Grayson Dean Bonds — on Sept. 16,
2010.
“Angela has an awesome personality, and she
possesses a great skill set for the position of director
of alumni relations,” said Jayne Jones, vice president for
development at Arkansas Tech. “We were very fortunate
to benefit from her leadership in that area for the past
three years and her dedication to the alumni office for
the past six years. I am so happy for her, Dusty and
Grayson.”
A native of Danville, Bonds graduated from Tech in 1995
with a Bachelor of Arts degree in speech communication.
Bonds first served in the Arkansas Tech Alumni Office
as coordinator of young alumni from 2005-08. She was
promoted to director of alumni relations for her alma
mater on March 20, 2008.
Since taking the helm of the Tech Alumni Office,
Bonds aided in the planning and implementation of a new
organizational structure for the Arkansas Tech Alumni
Association Board of Directors.
One of the hallmarks of Bonds’ time in the Tech
Alumni Office was a commitment to reach out to young
alumni. She and her staff hosted numerous annual events
around the state of Arkansas that ensured that young
alumni remain connected to Arkansas Tech. The Arkansas
Tech Alumni Office has also upgraded its Web site and
expanded its presence in social media under Bonds’
guidance.
Bonds steps down as director of alumni
Alumni News
11Spring 2011
Kelly Davis was appointed director of alumni
relations at Arkansas Tech University on May 19.
Davis had previously served Arkansas Tech as
director of corporate and athletic relations since 2004.
He succeeds Angela DeWitt Bonds, who resigned in May
after serving her alma mater the past six years.
“Angela provided excellent leadership and recruited
an outstanding staff to the Arkansas Tech Alumni
Office, so I inherit a great situation,” said Davis. “I look
forward to the opportunity to serve Arkansas Tech in
this new way.”
Davis earned a Bachelor of Science degree in
business administration from Tech in 1981 and was
named All-America in 1979 in recognition of his efforts
as a place kicker and punter for the Arkansas Tech
football team.
Since returning to his alma mater as a member of
the Office of Development seven years ago, Davis has
maintained and developed relationships with members
of the local business community on behalf of the
university.
Davis received the highest honor that Arkansas Tech
can bestow upon an individual during Homecoming
2008 when he and 34 other All-America student-
athletes were inducted into the Arkansas Tech Hall
of Distinction under the Distinction in Intercollegiate
Athletics category.
“As an alumnus of Arkansas Tech and a former
president of the Arkansas Tech Alumni Association
Board of Directors, Kelly Davis is well suited for the role
of director of alumni relations,” said Jayne Jones, vice
president for development. “We are fortunate that Kelly
was excited to embrace this new opportunity.”
Davis takes leadership of alumni office
Centennial Convocation
12 Tech Action
A CENTURY FORWARDHarmon focuses on future at convocation
Keynote speaker Major Gen.
William E. Harmon (Ret.) encouraged
Arkansas Tech University to embrace
“new technology, new traditions
and new opportunities” during the
keynote address at the Arkansas Tech
Centennial Convocation on Friday,
April 29, at Tucker Coliseum.
Harmon, a member of the
Arkansas Tech Class of 1960 and a
1990 inductee into the Arkansas Tech
Hall of Distinction, served with his
wife Suzanne as honorary co-chairs of
the Arkansas Tech Centennial.
The celebration of the 100th
anniversary of Arkansas Tech began
on Jan. 14, 2009, with a special event
at the State Capitol in Little Rock
and concluded with the convocation.
It was the first such academic
convocation in Tech history.
A veteran of 32 years of
distinguished service to the U.S. Army,
Harmon spoke of the Arkansas Tech
Centennial as a “temporary pause to
remember events, milestones and
individuals” that have allowed the
institution to grow and develop.
Much of his address focused on
the rapid evolution of technology and
how it will change education in the
future. He said that he did not know
what the future holds, but that it will
be “radically different and executed at
a faster pace.”
Harmon said that education must
be “current and applicable.” He stated
that graduates must leave Arkansas
Tech with “advanced skills” and the
preparation that will allow them
to contribute immediately in their
chosen career.
According to Harmon, the
increases in technology may change
society’s current idea of the word
campus.
“Proximity will become irrelevant,”
said Harmon. “There may come a day
when the virtual campus outgrows the
physical campus. I do not see this as
a stretch of the imagination. We can
be an international university with
worldwide legs.”
In closing, Harrmon left the
audience of students, faculty
members, administrators, staff and
alumni with one final challenge.
“Let future generations at
Arkansas Tech say of you that you
laid the foundation for new heights
of excellence and exploration,” said
Harmon.
ABOVE: Bill Harmon delivers
the keynote address at the
Arkansas Tech Centennial
Convocation.
RIGHT: Members of the Tech
faculty participated in the
historic occasion.
13Spring 2011
Centennial Convocation
Arkansas Tech President Dr.
Robert C. Brown opened the
convocation by welcoming several
special guests of the university,
including members of the Chambers
and Hull families.
Three generations of the
Chambers family have served on the
Arkansas Tech Board of Trustees,
including current Board Chairman
John Ed Chambers III of Danville.
Dr. Joseph W. Hull is the longest-
serving president in Tech history.
Hull was nominated for
the presidency by Judge John
Ed Chambers (the current Mr.
Chambers’ grandfather) in 1932,
and Hull maintained that post for
35 years before retiring in 1967.
Hull passed away in 1971, just days
after it was announced that the Hull
Physical Education Building would
be named in his honor.
Dr. Thomas A. DeBlack,
professor of history at Arkansas
Tech, offered a history of the
institution. He spoke of the
challenges in opening the school
due to construction delays in
October 1910. He told of the
development of the institution
under President Hugh Critz
(1918-23), President Hull and the
unprecedented growth of the past
15 years.
“The first 100 years of Arkansas
Tech have seen fires, floods, wars
and depression,” said DeBlack. “The
next 100 years are sure to present
more challenges, but Arkansas
Tech stands better prepared to face
those challenges than ever before.”
The convocation included an
alumni response from Jim Murphy,
president of the Arkansas Tech
Alumni Association; a faculty
response from Dr. Linda Bean,
chair of the Arkansas Tech Faculty
Senate; and a student response
from Travis Flower, president of the
Arkansas Tech Student Government
Association.
Musical performances
highlighted two commissioned
pieces that were written especially
for the occasion of the Arkansas
Tech Centennial.
The Arkansas Tech Symphonic
Band performed “Celebration,”
which was written by Philip Parker.
An associate professor of music at
Arkansas Tech, Parker directed the
performance of the piece.
The Arkansas Tech Concert
Chorale performed “Doors of
Daring” under the direction of
Gary Morris, director of choirs at
Arkansas Tech. The choir piece was
composed by Andrea Ramsey, a
2000 Arkansas Tech graduate.
Hal Cooper Retirement
14 Tech Action
MARCHING INTO HISTORYCooper to retire as Tech band director
Arkansas Tech University has only known three
directors of bands during its 102-year history. The third
man to hold that title has notified the Arkansas Tech
Board of Trustees of his plans to retire.
Hal Cooper, associate professor of music and director
of bands at Tech since 1979, will retire Aug. 13, 2011.
“It is with mixed feelings that I tell you that I must
resign my position as director of bands at Arkansas
Tech,” wrote Cooper is his letter of resignation. “Recent
health issues on my part and the need for youth in the
band position make this the best decision for everyone
concerned.
“The long career at Tech and being a part of such
a strong tradition has been a wonderful experience
for me, and the support from our administration, our
faculty and our students has been above and beyond
any expectation,” continued Cooper. “I look forward to
witnessing continued success from a different perspective.”
The musical tradition at Arkansas Tech was founded
by the first student to ever enroll at the school — Marvin
Williamson. He served as director of bands at Arkansas
Tech from 1913-50 and continued to serve on the music
faculty until 1956.
That tradition was carried on and expanded by Gene
Witherspoon, who came to Tech as its director of bands in
1950 and remained in that role until he died as the result
of a heart attack on Jan. 14, 1979, at the age of 59.
Cooper took the reins of the Arkansas Tech Symphonic
Band and the Arkansas Tech Marching Band, known far and
wide as “Arkansas’ Band of Distinction,” in autumn 1979.
He has served as president of the Southwest Division
of the College Band Directors National Association, a
member of the Arkansas School Band and Orchestra
Association, a charter member and president of the
Arkansas Bandmasters Association, member and
president of Arkansas Phi Beta Mu and district governor of
Kappa Kappa Psi college band service fraternity.
Cooper was named Arkansas Bandmaster of the Year
in 1988, and he achieved membership in the American
Bandmaster Association in 1992.
The owner of two degrees from Henderson State
University, Cooper was recognized by his alma mater as a
distinguished alumnus in 2006.
Arkansas Tech University honored Cooper in May 2009
with the creation of the Hal Cooper Band Scholarship.
The surprise announcement was made during the band’s
annual end-of-year concert to mark the conclusion of
Cooper’s 30th year at Arkansas Tech.
“I can think of no higher honor than for my name
to be attached to the opportunity for someone to be a
bandsman at Arkansas Tech,” said Cooper at the time.
“I must accept this recognition on behalf of the music
faculty and administration at Arkansas Tech, who are
committed to the success of our students.”
Hal Cooper Retirement
15Spring 2011
Memoriesof a
MasterMusician
From those who served with
and studied under Hal Cooper
“On a hot and muggy June day in 1981, my wife D’Anne and I arrived on
the Tech campus. During the interview process, one of the first people to
extend a hand was Hal Cooper. During the course of the day I began to get
the sense that working with this band director might truly be something
special. It did not take long for this feeling to be confirmed. Taking the
Tech band program to new heights of achievement is due in part (as Hal
often says) to administrative support, strong studio teaching and talented
students. The real secret to success however comes down to the man on the podium.
Hal Cooper and his unique gifts as a musician have put the Arkansas Tech Bands
on the map! For that, the Tech community will always be thankful.”
— Dr. Gary Barrow, professor of music, Arkansas Tech
“His strategy was to recruit quality musicians, establish high instrumental music standards and see that future teachers
were thoroughly prepared. Among the qualities that allowed him to be an outstanding teacher are incredibly detailed and
critical listening, integrity in dealings with individuals, a genuine, shared love of music and constant mindfulness of his
family. Tech and countless numbers of graduates are most fortunate to have enjoyed his dedicated efforts. Speaking as
a former colleague and administrator, alumnus and friend, I say congratulations on a job extremely well done and say a
humble thank you for your life work at Arkansas Tech. Bravo!” — Andy Anders, former Music Department head
“I am most proud to have been a part of the Arkansas Tech Band under the direction of Hal Cooper. I graduated in 2001
and every year I have been a teacher, Mr. Cooper has been there for me. Any time I call and ask him to come and work
with my kids or come work with me so that I may pick his brain he is always there. I once remarked to him ‘Mr. Cooper, I’ve
been gone from Tech for 10 years and yet you’re still teaching me.’ As a musician, Mr. Cooper’s artistry in conducting and
communicating the aesthetic beauty of music is unrivaled. On the other hand, Mr. Cooper is a blue collar band director
that can relate to his students the way to build a band program, deal with students, cooperate with administrators and
teach beginning band. Everything I do well as an educator I learned from Mr. Cooper’s example. I cannot imagine where
I would be as a musician, educator or what type of person I would be had it not been for Mr. Cooper’s influence. I am
grateful and thankful to call him my teacher.” — Ralph Brody, band director, Clarksville High School
“Hal Cooper is a band icon. It is truly the end of an era at Arkansas Tech University. It was an honor and privilege
to perform in his bands at Tech from 1987-1992. His passion, insight and extensive knowledge in my undergraduate
training were invaluable tools that have helped me have a successful career as a band director. I still have notebooks and
handouts from Mr. Cooper from college that I use to this day. Not only is Mr. Cooper a band icon, he is a friend. He has
been there over the years for advice, encouragement and just hanging out from time to time. Congratulations, Mr. Cooper,
on a job superbly done!” — Tom Chentnik, band director, Mountain Home High School
Today’s Tech
16 Tech Action
Four earn professor emeritus statusFour retired members of the Arkansas Tech University
faculty who gave a combined 118 years of service to the
institution received the designation of professor emeritus
from the Tech Board of Trustees on Thursday, March 17.
Dr. Jack R. Hamm, Dr. Joseph L. Moore, Dr. Richard S.
Smith and Dr. Thomas P. Tyler were all named professor
emeritus, an honorary title that according to the Arkansas
Tech Faculty Handbook is “reserved only for those who
have given extraordinary and outstanding service to the
university over an extended period of years.”
Hamm (photographed, right)
joined the faculty as an assistant
professor of mathematics in 1972.
He was promoted to associate
professor of mathematics in 1977
and professor of mathematics in
1981.
In addition to his work in the classroom, Hamm also
served Arkansas Tech in an administrative capacity as
head of the Department of Mathematics (1977-82), dean
of the School of Systems Science (1982-2001) and vice
president for academic affairs (2001-08).
The other men granted the title of professor emeritus
on March 17 all served Tech in its College of Business.
Moore (photographed, right)
came to Arkansas Tech as a
professor of economics in 1988.
He retired from full-time teaching
in 2009 but continues to lend
his talents to the university as a
member of its adjunct faculty.
Smith (photographed, right) was
a member of the Arkansas Tech
faculty from 1991-2009.
He joined the university as an
assistant professor of economics.
In 1995, he was promoted to
associate professor and named head of what was then
known as the Business and Economics Department. Smith
was promoted to professor and returned to full-time
classroom teaching in 2003.
Tyler (photographed, right) gave
43 years of service to Arkansas
Tech.
He was hired as an instructor of
economics in 1967, promoted to
assistant professor in 1970, named
associate professor in 1974 and earned professor status
in 1983.
Tyler served three stints as head of the Arkansas Tech
Department of Business and Economics. He was named
dean of the College of Business in 1995, and he held that
position until his retirement in 2010.
Requirements for professor emeritus status for retired
Arkansas Tech University faculty members include 15 or
more years of consecutive service and nomination by any
member of the university community who holds faculty
rank.
Authority to grant professor emeritus status rests with
the Arkansas Tech University Board of Trustees upon the
recommendation of the president of the university.
Biller resigns as VP for student servicesDr. Gary M. Biller, vice president for student services
at Arkansas Tech University for the past 11 years, has
resigned and accepted the same position at Western
Illinois University.
Biller joined the Arkansas Tech administration in July
2000. He was responsible for student housing, health and
wellness, counseling services, public safety and parking,
student activities, student success services, career
services, the disability and testing center, intramural and
recreational sports, Greek life and student government.
“It has been my pleasure to serve as vice president for
student services at Arkansas Tech University,” said Biller. “I
am proud of our efforts to enhance the college experience
for Arkansas Tech students and ensure that they have
the best learning environment possible. I am grateful to
President Dr. Robert C. Brown and the Board of Trustees
for the opportunity to work on behalf of Tech students for
the past 11 years.”
Arkansas Tech will conduct a nationwide search for a
new vice president for student services.
Today’s Tech
17Spring 2011
Burnett appointed to Board of TrusteesGov. Mike Beebe has appointed Eric Burnett of Fort
Smith to the Arkansas Tech University Board of Trustees.
Burnett will serve on the board through Jan. 14, 2016.
He replaces Dean Wilburn of Harrison, who was chairman
of the Tech Board of Trustees in 2010. Wilburn concluded
a decade of service to the board on Jan. 14, 2011.
Burnett is the head boys’ basketball coach at Fort
Smith Northside High School. He was named to that
position in April 2010 after spending the previous five
seasons in the same role at Springdale Har-Ber High
School.
Burnett also has four years experience as the head
boys’ basketball coach at Fort Smith Southside High
School.
A 1994 Tech graduate, Burnett earned four letters as a
member of the Wonder Boys basketball team.
Burnett is Arkansas Tech’s all-time leader in 3-point
field goals made (354). He also ranks among the Wonder
Boys’ career leaders in scoring (6th, 1,981 points),
rebounding (5th, 775), free throws made (7th, 397),
assists (8th, 343), steals (T-8th, 150) and field goals made
(10th, 615).
He was named an NAIA All-American in 1993 and he
was a two-time All-Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference
selection. The Wonder Boys won 83 games and the 1993
AIC title during Burnett’s career.
Gov. Beebe’s appointment of Burnett completes the
five-member Arkansas Tech Board of Trustees for the
2011 calendar year.
Burnett joins fellow board members John Ed
Chambers III of Danville (chairman), Leigh Whiteside
of Russellville (vice chairman), Charles Blanchard of
Russellville (secretary) and Tom Kennedy of Little Rock.
Lamar’s Cromer crowned Miss Tech 2011Brandi Cromer, an agriculture business major from
Lamar, was crowned the 56th Miss Tech on Friday,
Feb. 25, during the 2011 Miss Arkansas Tech University
Scholarship Pageant at Witherspoon Auditorium.
Daughter of Theresa and Terry Cromer of Lamar,
Cromer won the CenturyLink Interview Award and a
share of the lifestyle and fitness swimsuit competition.
She offered a vocal performance of the song “Hurt”
during the talent competition.
When the time came for Miss Tech 2011 to be
announced, Cromer heard her name called by one
of her teachers, Miss Tech Executive Director Dr. Jim
Collins. Collins is a professor of horticulture at Arkansas
Tech.
Cromer’s critical issue is Farm to Table. According to
the national organization’s Web site, the Farm to Table
initiative informs and strengthens the sustainable and
local foods community by providing a collaborative
journalistic forum for the presentation of a unified
voice for small farmers, restaurateurs, consumers and
everyone in between.
“I’m an agri girl, raised on a farm,” said Cromer.
“I just love everything about agriculture and I want
to share that with everyone. I’m very passionate
about that, so if you need help with farming give me
a call.”
Today’s Tech
18 Tech Action
Flower, Grate top 2011 seniors at TechIndividuals who study and participate in public
relations do so because they enjoy celebrating the
achievements of others.
On April 18, a pair of Arkansas Tech University public
relations students got their moment in the spotlight.
Travis Flower of Harrison and Lydia Grate of Atkins
received the top two honors available to students
at Arkansas Tech University during the 2011 Student
Leadership Banquet.
Flower was presented with the Alfred J. Crabaugh
Award, which is given annually to the most outstanding
senior male student at Arkansas Tech.
Grate received the Margaret Young Award, which
goes to the most outstanding senior female student at
Arkansas Tech each year.
Flower was president of the Student Government
Association (SGA) for the 2010-11 academic year.
Flower’s service to the university included work with
the Arkansas Tech Presidential Leadership Cabinet, the
Interfraternity Council (IFC), the Student Activities Board,
the Volunteer Action Council and the Tech Loyalty Fund
class gift committee.
“It’s breathtaking, honestly,” said Flower in reaction
to receiving his award. “I’ve been involved in so many
things on this campus the last four years through student
government, through my fraternity and through Greek
life in general. To receive this award means a lot to me. It
means there is someone out there who realizes that I am
trying to help the university and sees what I am doing.”
The 2009 SGA Senator of the Year at Arkansas Tech,
Flower received the Spark Award in 2009 for his service to
student government and he was twice honored with the
IFC Academic Excellence Award.
“What I have enjoyed most about Travis is his sense
of maturity and responsibility,” said Dr. Hanna Norton,
instructor to both Flower and Grate in public relations
courses. “Those qualities extend to his relationships with
his family and his fellow students. He is a natural leader of
any team that he is a part of.”
Son of Brenda and Mike Flower of Harrison, Flower
graduated with a degree in journalism and public relations
with a minor in business in May. Flower has applied to
graduate school.
Grate served as president and public relations and
recruitment officer for Students In Free Enterprise
(SIFE). She also belonged to the Society of Professional
Journalists, the Public Relations Student Society of
America and the forensics program at Tech.
“It means so much to me just to know that so
many people have believed in me,” said Grate. “I’m so
thankful and grateful for the people who have helped
me and guided me along the way. I’ve learned so much
in the classroom and being a part of so many student
organizations has given me the opportunity to take on
leadership roles and build relationships with my friends
and my teachers.”
Her other affiliations at Arkansas Tech included
student radio station KXRJ 91.9 FM, the Arkansas Tech
student television station, the Student Government
Association, Volunteer Action Council and the university
standing committee for guidance and counseling.
Grate earned the Dr. Robert Edwards Book Scholarship,
a Dean’s Scholarship, a departmental performance
scholarship and multiple Dean’s List awards at Arkansas
Tech.
“One of the especially great aspects of teaching is
watching the personal growth in your students,” said
Norton. “Lydia was obviously a conscientious student
from the time she arrived at Arkansas Tech, and now she
has grown to become a savvy public relations professional
with a wealth of skills. She is never satisfied with good
enough. She is the ultimate role model for her fellow
public relations students.”
Daughter of Glenda Brown-Grate of Pottsville, Grate
graduated from Arkansas Tech in May with a degree
in public relations, broadcast journalism and speech
communication with minors in business and history.
Grate has accepted an opportunity to serve in
the Peace Corps for a period of 27 months following
graduation. She will work in the African nation of Togo.
Travis Flower
Lydia Grate
Ozark Campus News
19Spring 2011
PATH TO PROGRESS
CAMPAIGN
Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus has announced the Path to Progress campaign, a private fundraising initiative that has a goal of raising $100,000 for the construction of a new half-mile walking trail around campus (shown, below).
The walking trail will feature a new entrance marker to the Arkansas Tech-Ozark Campus, a matching marker with donor listing on signage, a water feature, lighting, landscaping and benches. Leigh Burns Whiteside is serving as campaign chair, while Bud and Dr. Jo Anne Harper, Eddie Melton, Lonnie Turner, Don Burns, C.A. Kuykendall and Michael Smith are on the campaign committee.
“As a native of Ozark, a member of the Arkansas Tech University Board of Trustees and chair of this campaign, I am honored to lead this fundraising project for the Ozark Campus,” said Whiteside. “This project will enhance campus life for students, as well as provide fitness opportunities and beautification for the community. We look forward to working with the friends and alumni of the Ozark Campus to ensure the success of this project.”
Call (866) 225-2884 or visit www.atu.edu/ozark to learn more about making a gift to this project.
Development Corner
20 Tech Action
Class of ‘11 Donates $2,000 to loyalty fundMembers of the Arkansas Tech University Class of 2011 made a
collective donation of $2,000 to the Tech Loyalty Fund (TLF).
This was the sixth consecutive year in which members of the
Arkansas Tech senior class formed a committee for the purpose of
asking their peers to begin a lifetime tradition of giving to Arkansas
Tech by making their first gift to the university before graduation.
Jayne Jones (far right), vice president for development, accepted
the donation on behalf of the Arkansas Tech Foundation. Also
photographed are Class of 2011 TLF committee members (from left)
Keyvan Sierra, Tesa Murray, Danielle Jolie, Lydia Grate and Dana Florian.
IN MEMORY/HONOR OF (October 1, 2010 through April 30, 2011)The following individuals made gifts to Tech in memory or in honor of a friend or loved one
In Honor of Bill AbernathyFaye Abernathy
In Memory of Susan AdamsRoss and Rita Adams
In Memory of Heartsill and Polly BartlettBill and Suzanne Harmon
In Honor of Dr. Linda BeanMike and Kandis Croom
In Honor of Kenneth BowdenBill and Suzanne Harmon
In Memory of Firman BynumTravis and Lou AdamsBill and Suzanne Harmon
In Memory of Bernice ClaytonDavid and Dana Moseley
In Memory of Justin CollinsLyle and Lisa Wheeler
In Honor of Sarah CottonDavid and Dana Moseley
In Memory of Jason CroomJoseph CroomMike and Kandis Croom
In Memory of Joyce DempseyTravis and Lou AdamsAgnes AlfordMarshall and Betty ColeBetty LienhartJohnny and Julie MorganDavid and Dana Moseley
In Memory of Nona DirksmeyerCarol Martin
In Memory of Michael DuranFabricio and Karen Duran
In Memory of Samantha HaleMike and Shauna Donnell
In Honor of Bill and Suzanne HarmonJohnny and Julie Morgan
In Memory of Sam HindsmanFerne Shinn Anderson
In Memory of Sandra HodgesJames CollinsJohn GilbreathErnest and Jamie HodgesCarol MartinRobert and Dorothy NorthupBob and Judy TaylorJames and Lea Witt
In Memory of Kenneth KershJeffrey CookJacqueline GardnerTom and Jayne JonesTomela KeenanMary Ann Rollans
In Memory of Jim Ed McGeeJohnnie and Carolee Hamilton
In Memory of Gordon and Joyce McLerranArnold and Katherine Bowden
In Memory of Harlan McMillanBryn and Tracy BagwellRichard and Mary CohoonDavid GarrettJohnnie and Carolee HamiltonHelen HawkinsBill Pullen
In Honor of Phil ParkerRobert and Susan Dunn
In Memory of Lena RexingerDolores Beene
In Memory of Selma SmithBill and Suzanne Harmon
In Honor of Timothy SmithRobert and Susan Dunn
In Memory of Elgin SpenceJohnny and Julie MorganDavid and Dana Moseley
In Memory of Christina StinnettJoann HaysCharlotte LinchRonald and Joanne OwnbeyBobby and Linda Rush
In Memory of Audrie StonecipherJohnny and Julie Morgan
In Memory of Reggie TalleyMary Ann Rollans
In Memory of Thomas TateBarbara Tate
In Memory of Roy and Mary TaylorMary “Doy” Branch
In Memory of Ewell WelchLaVoy Welch
In Memory of Gene WitherspoonJohnny and Julie Morgan
In Memory of Mike “Bear” WomackNelda Womack
Miss the Winter 2011 Action?Due to an unexplained failure on the part of the U.S. Postal Service, many Arkansas Tech alumni and friends
did not receive the winter 2011 issue of Tech Action. Arkansas Tech has maintained an ongoing dialogue with the
U.S. Postal Service in an attempt to avoid similar situations in the future.
In the meantime, please visit www.techties.atu.edu to read the winter 2011 Tech Action online.
Class Notes
21Spring 2011
Dr. Sean McDougal (BIOL ’88) and Shannon Moon
(ENGR ’91) were married Aug. 12, 2010. Sean served
on the Tech Board of Trustees from 1997-2007.
Sarah Fink (HIM ’07) and Donald Johnson were
married March 12, 2011.
Saira Khan (CRWR/ENGL ’07 & M.A. ENGL ’10) and
Shane Hendrix (PHYS SCI ’08) were married April 9,
2011. They live in Russellville.
Ashley Watts (M.A. EDU ’10) and Dillon Carr (BUS
’10) were married March 19, 2011. Ashley is a teacher
at Russellville High School.
Marriages Ryan Davis (AGBU ’04) and Sarah Milam Davis
(ECON ’08), a son, Wyatt Hudson, April 12, 2011.
Ashlee Giles (PSY ’04 & M.S. CSP ’07) and Robert
Giles (RPA ’06), a son, James Todd, Oct. 7, 2010. J.T.
has one sister, Shelby Denise. Ashlee is admissions
and post secondary advisor at Cossatot Community
College of the University of Arkansas in Nashville.
Robert is a park ranger at Cossatot River State Park.
They live in Wickes.
April Patterson Clark (MED ASST ’05) and her
husband, Nathan, a daughter, Hayden Isabella,
March 28, 2011. Hayden has one sister, Lillie (3).
They live in Clarksville.
Justus Bowman (SOC ’06) and Andrea Parton
Bowman (FR ’07), a daughter, Ruth Ellen, March 5,
2011.
Natalie McMillen Jones (’06) and her husband,
Chaz, a son, Peyton, April 4, 2011.
David Kern (MGMT/MKTG ’06) and Meghan Bailey
Kern (’09), a son, Christopher Paul, April 5, 2011.
Gina Parker Rockwell (SPH ’06) and Garren
Rockwell (M.Ed PE ’07), a daughter, Gabriella
Elizabeth, April 12, 2011.
Clint Mainer (MGMT/MKTG ’07) and Kendra Powell
Mainer (HEPE ’09), a son, Jake Lee, April 12, 2011.
Drew Chronister (MGMT/MKTG ’08) and Kari
Bryant Chronister (REHAB SCI ’08), a daughter,
Adalynn Presley, Feb. 9, 2011. Adalynn has one
brother, Brayden Dane (3). They live in Russellville.
Edward Wayne Palmer (MGMT/MKTG ’08) and his
wife, Jenny, a son, Kamden Allen, March 19, 2011.
Kamden has three siblings: sister Taylor (11) and
brothers Landon (6) and Carson (6).
Ozzy Dean Picton (EMTB ’09) and his wife, Jaime, a
son, Brysyn Dean, April 8, 2011.
Chandra Lanelle Smith (AGBU ’10) and Jonathan
David Smith (ALUM), a daughter, Harper Lanelle,
April 4, 2011. Harper has two siblings: sister Calin
and brother Maddox. They live in Russellville.
David Conley (BUAD ’94) and his wife, Heather, a
daughter, Mayden Lynn, April 4, 2011. Mayden has
three siblings: sisters Destiny (14) and Ashton (10)
and brother Taylor (6).
Greg Woolf (’95) and his wife, Kelly, a daughter,
Brenley Kiel, March 24, 2011. Brenley has one sister,
Mailey (7).
A.J. Burk (BUAD ’97) and Natalie Wheat Burk (RPA
’03), a son, Bear Andrew, March 20, 2011.
Bryan Fisher (NTRL SCI ’99) and Paige Cooley Fisher
(ENGL ’03), a son, Jett Anderson, March 10, 2011.
They live in Russellville.
Eric Pratt (FW ’02) and his wife, Stephanie, a
daughter, Adalyn Kambyl, April 18, 2011. Adalyn has
one sister, Averie Klaire (2). They live in Russellville.
Josh Buchanan (AGBU ’03) and Irene Flores
Buchanan (MGMT/MKTG ’09), a daughter, Mia
McKenzy, Feb. 15, 2011. They live in Dardanelle.
Brittany Claunch Lehman (MGMT/MKTG ’03) and
her husband, Tim, a daughter, Ellie Madison, Feb. 23,
2011. They live in Benton.
Sandra Elaine Miller (SPAN/SPH ’03) and her
husband, Samuel, a son, Simeon Tim, Feb. 22, 2011.
Simeon has three siblings: sister Abigail (2) and
brothers Gabriel (6) and Maximus (4). They live in
Morrilton.
Births
Class Notes
22 Tech Action
1950s
Ruben H. Johnson (AGRI ’50) was honored when the
city of Magazine named its rural fire department the
Ruben H. Johnson Fire and Rescue Complex. Ruben
served with the University of Arkansas Cooperative
Extension Service for 34 years and retired at the rank
of colonel from the Arkansas Army National Guard. He
and his wife, Charlotte, celebrated their 60th wedding
anniversary on Dec. 15, 2010.
Dan McGuire (ENGR ’58) was elected president of the
Plastic Pioneers of America. The organization consists
of 250 members who have spent at least 25 years in the
plastics business and made noteworthy contributions
to the industry.
Elbert T. “Tommy” Townsend (HIST/POL SCI ’59)
received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine from Gov.
Beverly Perdue of North Carolina on March 16, 2011.
The Order of the Long Leaf Pine was established
in 1965 as a way for North Carolina to recognize
extraordinary public service. Tommy was the longtime
head of the New Hanover County Veterans Council
and is a past president of the North Carolina Veterans
Council. He was also a founding board member and
treasurer for the Cape Fear Literacy Council.
1960s
Killian Middleton Smith (LANG/LIT ’63) and her
husband, Tim, were awarded the community hero award
for environmental change at Arabia Mountain Nature
Preserve in DeKalb County, Ga., on April 10, 2011.
Dr. Jim Edson (CHEM ’65) was honored as the 2010
University of Arkansas at Monticello teacher of the year
by the Monticello-Drew County Chamber of Commerce.
Jim is a professor of geology at UAM and has served on
the faculty there since 1977.
Barry Birkhead (BIOL ’67) was appointed to the State
Emergency Response Commission (SERC) by Gov. Mike
Beebe of Arkansas.
Robert Dale (MATH ’68) was honored with a retirement
reception at First State Bank on April 14, 2011. Robert
is stepping aside from full-time duties as senior vice
president of mortgage lending, but he will continue
to be associated with First State Bank on a consulting
basis.
Jean Jewell Moreno (ART EDU ’73) was named 2010
teacher of the year at Elberta Middle School in Elberta,
Ala. Jean has taught for 20 years, including 15 years in
Baldwin County, Ala.
Charlie Sorrels (HEPE ’76) stepped down after 24 years
as head football coach at Atkins High School, but he
will continue to serve the school district as director
of athletics. Charlie compiled a record of 176-95-1 as
head football coach at Atkins. He led the Red Devils to
eight conference championships and 19 berths in the
state playoffs.
Donnie Whitson (HEPE ’79) resigned as principal at
East Hills Middle School in Greenwood effective June
30. Donnie served in the Greenwood School District for
30 years. He was named the 2009 Arkansas Association
of Educational Administrators Middle School Principal
of the Year.
1980s
Scott Smothers (BIOL ’81) was named lead medical
staff associate at CSL Plasma in San Antonio, Texas. He
and his wife, Shirley Henderson Smothers (ALUM), will
celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary in July 2011.
Dr. Randall Wight (PSY ’81) will assume the duties of
dean of the Ouachita Baptist University W.H. Sutton
School of Social Sciences on July 1, 2011. Randall has
served as chair of the Ouachita Baptist Department of
Psychology since 2003, and he has served on the OBU
faculty since 1986.
1970s
1990s
Tom Berryhill (BUAD ’91) accepted the position of vice
president and branch manager for the First State Bank
branch near Arkansas Tech in Russellville.
Rodney Parks (ECON ’91) was elected vice chairman of
the Arkansas State Banking Board on April 21, 2011.
Dr. Cora Jones (MUED ’94) completed a Master of
Science degree from the University of Phoenix in
December 2010. She adopted twin boys — Kendrick
Antwone Columbus Jones and Kenneth Cortez William
Jones — on Aug. 16, 2010. Cora has been employed by
the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services for
more than 10 years. She was recently assigned to the
juvenile justice division.
Come On, You know you like us
Visit
www.facebook.com and
“like” these official
Tech Facebook pages:
• Arkansas Tech
University
• Arkansas Tech
University Athletics
• Arkansas Tech
University - Alumni
Class Notes
23Spring 2011
Roxanne Cox Benincosa (ACCT ’97) was promoted
to senior manager for Beall, Barclay and Co.
Roxanne is a certified public accountant. She lives in
Bentonville.
Leah Richardson (NURS ’97) accepted a position
as nurse educator at the University of Arkansas at
Little Rock. Leah lives in Conway with her husband,
Michael, and their son, Brady.
Jared Wood (ECON ’97) and Dr. Jeneen Wood (RPA
’99) welcomed Parker Sloan Wood to their family on
Feb. 23, 2011. He was born on April 18, 2010.
James Brashear (MATH ’00 & ACCT ’06) was
promoted to senior accountant for Beall, Barclay
and Co. He recently received his certified valuation
analyst designation from the National Association of
Certified Valuation Analysts. He lives in Fort Smith.
Josh Masters (ACCT ’00) was promoted to senior
manager for Beall, Barclay and Co. Josh is a certified
public accountant. He lives in Lavaca.
Jason Wallace (HEPE ’00) was named head girls’
basketball coach at Mount St. Mary’s Academy
in Little Rock. Jason was previously the assistant
girls’ basketball coach at North Little Rock High
School, where he helped NLRHS head coach Daryl
Fimple (HEPE ’97) win the 2010 Class 7A state
championship and put together a 59-game winning
streak from 2009-2011.
Matthew Dillman (RPA ’01) was hired as head
golf professional at Thousand Hills Golf Resort in
Branson, Mo. Matt is a PGA of America Class A
member.
Melissa Kelly (JOUR ’01) was promoted to
assignment manager for television stations KHBS/
KHOG and 4029tv.com in Northwest Arkansas and
Fort Smith. She has worked at KHBS/KHOG since
2002, rising from associate producer to reporter to
co-anchor of the station’s morning program.
David N. Wyatt (ACCT ’01 & ECON ’03) was
promoted to in-charge accountant for Beall, Barclay
and Co. He lives in Barling.
2000s
Rebecca Freyaldenhoven (SPAN ’02) is employed
by the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences
and the Arts through the Office of Distance Learning
as a Spanish teacher. She works from her home in
Russellville.
Melissa Schriver (REHAB SCI ’03 & A.S. ECED ’05)
was named director for Kidz University in Conway in
January 2011.
Patricia Ann Whorton (ECED ’04) welcomed her
fourth grandson, Israel Christopher Such, on April
4, 2011.
Chris Taylor (ACCT/ECON/MATH ’07) was promoted
to serve as an in-charge accountant in the tax
department for Beall, Barclay and Co. He lives in
Fort Smith.
Kari Powers (HIST ’05 & M.LA ’09) assumed the
duties of state drug court coordinator for the
Arkansas Supreme Court in February 2011.
Sara Milam (HEPE ’06) was promoted to manager
for seven corporate wellness programs for Cooper
Corporate Solutions in Dallas, Texas.
Nathaniel Scott (ELEC ENGR ’07) was promoted
to general manager of Sentinel Power Services, a
consulting service in Tulsa, Okla.
Katherine Harst (MUED ’09) was named Big
Brothers and Big Sisters of Arkansas Big Sister of
the Year. She is an elementary music teacher for the
Russellville School District.
Kirsten Boyd (ACCT & MGMT/MKTG ’10) accepted
a position as staff accountant with BKD, LLP in its
Rogers office. She received the Arkansas Tech College
of Business Ambassador Award in April 2011.
Ronald D. Hudson (M.S. CSP ’10) received the 2011
Dr. Jim Ed McGee Award as the most outstanding
graduate student at Arkansas Tech University. Ron
has performed three tours of duty overseas as a
member of the Arkansas National Guard. He serves
as coordinator of student recruitment at Arkansas
State University-Beebe.
2010s
Do YouTweet?
Visit
www.twitter.com and
follow “ATUAlumni”
Obituaries
24 Tech Action
tech Friends We’ll MissJohn Rankin (AS ’37) died April 12, 2011. John served
in the U.S. Navy during World War II. A former mayor
of Russellville, John resigned that office to accept a
position with the Bureau of Land Management in the U.S.
Department of the Interior. Following appointments in
Washington, D.C., and Denver, Colo., John was transferred
to the Bureau of Land Management New Orleans Outer
Continental Shelf office and began a 25-year career in
the development of minerals and then transportation
systems in the Gulf of Mexico. He presided over the
first $1 billion sale of oil and gas leases in the Gulf of
Mexico. John retired in 1985 and was presented with the
U.S. Department of the Interior Award for Excellence of
Service, Meritorious Service and Distinguished Service.
John lived in Russellville. He was 92.
Olen Raymond Churchill (’38) died Feb. 27, 2011. He
served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Olen was
later superintendent of the Hector School District and
coordinator of secondary instruction for the Arkansas
Department of Education. After his retirement Olen
served as executive director of the Arkansas Association
of Secondary School Administrations. He served as
president of the Arkansas Tech Alumni Association in
1956-57. Olen lived in Little Rock. He was 83.
J.C. Noggle (AGBU ’48) died Jan. 29, 2011. J.C. earned a
Ph.D. from the University of Maryland in 1965 and spent
his career in agriculture research. J.C. lived in Vilonia. He
was 84.
William “Billie” Taylor (’48) died April 4, 2011. Billie
served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He later
visited 50 different countries as part of a team of WWII
pilots who transported missionaries to posts around the
world. He wrote about those experiences in his book “The
Ambassadors.” Billie also worked in his family’s business,
Taylor Flowers of Russellville, from the time he was a child
until it was sold. Billie lived in Clearwater, Fla. He was 86.
Samuel H. Jones (’51) died Jan. 23, 2011. Sam served
in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and was
retired from a career as a lineman for AT&T. Sam lived in
Russellville. He was 86.
William N. Abernathy (’59) died April 29, 2011. A veteran
of the U.S. Army, Bill served as Pope County sheriff from
1971-76 and as Pope County judge from 1983-88. Bill
lived in Russellville. He was 77.
Roberta “Nan” Carnahan Cocke (MATH ’64) died June
16, 2010. Nan served as editor of the Arka Tech newspaper
and played on the extramural women’s tennis team during
her time as a student at Arkansas Tech. She joined the
staff of the Warrensburg Daily Star-Journal newspaper in
Warrensburg, Mo., on Nov. 1, 1978, and stayed there for
nearly 30 years. She served as editor for the Daily Star-
Journal from 1984-2008. Nan lived in Warrensburg, Mo. She
was 67.
Arch M. Jones (HEPE ’64) died March 25, 2011. Arch
played basketball under head coach Sam Hindsman
at Arkansas Tech. He went on to a 45-year career in
education, including serving the University of Central
Arkansas as its assistant men’s basketball coach (1981-
90), assistant athletic director (1990-93), head men’s
basketball coach (1993-99) and interim men’s athletic
director (1999-2000). He completed his tenure at UCA as
a member of the intramural sports staff before retiring in
2010. Arch lived in Conway. He was 68.
Martha Ann Julius Pearson (ACCT ’78) died April 21,
2011. She was retired from a career as a certified public
accountant. Martha lived in Clarksville. She was 55.
Judy Hood Taylor (PSY ’79) died March 15, 2011. She
earned a master’s degree and a Doctor of Education
degree from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville
following her undergraduate education at Arkansas Tech.
Judy lived in Russellville. She was 71.
Margaret L. Harp (REHAB SCI ’86) died April 11, 2011.
She worked as an alcohol rehabilitation counselor and
as an instructor at Arkansas Tech. Margaret lived in Fort
Smith. She was 82.
Mona Diane Hiemer (M.Ed. ELED ’98) died April 3, 2011.
Mona taught at Dover Elementary School for 28 years.
Mona lived in Russellville. She was 51.
Dr. E. Sue Doss (FMR FACULTY) died April 19, 2011. She
served on the English faculty at Arkansas Tech from
1956-93. Sue succeeded Dr. Lillian Massie as chairman of
the Division of Languages and Literature at Arkansas Tech
in 1963 and maintained a leadership position in what later
became the Department of English and Foreign Languages
until 1980. She held the title of professor emeritus of
English at Arkansas Tech. Sue lived in Russellville. She was
88.
Tech Athletics
25Spring 2011
WALKING AWAY A WINNERGolden Suns leave GSC as champions
Two years ago, Arkansas Tech women’s basketball
coach Dave Wilbers put together a deep and talented
recruiting class with a goal in mind — beat Delta State,
reclaim the upper hand in the greatest rivalry in NCAA
Division II women’s basketball and win championships.
Mission accomplished.
The Golden Suns won the Gulf South Conference
West Division title, the GSC Tournament crown and
the NCAA Division II South Region championship for a
second consecutive year during the 2010-11 season.
After losing 12 consecutive women’s basketball
games against Delta State from 2005-10, Arkansas Tech
was 6-2 against the Lady Statesmen over the past two
seasons. Four of those six wins came in the postseason
— twice in the GSC Tournament championship game
and twice in the NCAA Division II South Region final.
“Everybody always told me you can’t beat Delta
State, you can’t overcome that,” said Wilbers. “These
girls did that. They are a bunch of Arkansas kids
who wanted to come to Arkansas Tech, and they are
winners.”
Arkansas Tech’s 85-77 triumph over Delta State in
the 2011 NCAA Division II South Region championship
game might have been the sweetest of them all because
it was the last time that the Golden Suns and the Lady
Statesmen are guaranteed of meeting on a basketball
floor.
Arkansas Tech will move forward to the new NCAA
Division II Great American Conference in fall 2011.
That transition will close an era of regular match-
ups between the program with the highest winning
percentage in NCAA Division II women’s basketball
history — Delta State — and the program with the
second-highest winning percentage at that level —
Arkansas Tech.
The 2010-11 Golden Suns saw their NCAA
Tournament run come to an end with a 69-58 loss
to eventual national runner-up Michigan Tech in the
national quarterfinals at the St. Joseph Civic Arena in
St. Joseph, Mo.
Arkansas Tech completed the 2010-11 women’s
basketball season with an overall record of 30-3, and
the Golden Suns were 61-6 over the past two seasons.
JOIN A WINNING
TEAM
Check out the back
cover of this issue of
Tech Action to learn how
you can join the
Green and Gold Club
and help Arkansas Tech
continue its winning
ways in the new
Great American
Conference!
ABOVE: Shaquilah Davis,
who was injured in the GSC
Tournament championship
game, accepted the NCAA
South Region championship
trophy on behalf of the
Golden Suns.
Tech Athletics
26 Tech Action
Doug Karleskint could be a head coach for many years
before he is involved in more dramatic finishes in critical
games than he was in his first season as the head men’s
basketball coach at Arkansas Tech.
The Wonder Boys earned their second consecutive Gulf
South Conference West Division championship and made
their third straight trip to the NCAA Division II Tournament
during the 2010-11 season.
Arkansas Tech finished with an overall record of 25-6,
giving the Wonder Boys a cumulative record of 96-28 the
last four years. Tech suffered through seven consecutive
losing men’s basketball seasons before its current run of
prosperity.
The Wonder Boys won their first 13 conference games
of the season, including a 72-71 overtime win at Harding
on Feb. 24 to clinch the GSC West title.
The Bisons got their revenge with an 80-61 victory
over Arkansas Tech in the GSC Tournament championship
game, but the Wonder Boys earned an at-large bid to the
NCAA Tournament and headed to Huntsville, Ala., for the
NCAA Division II South Regional.
It was there that senior point guard Laithe Massey, who
completed his career ranked second in school history in
steals and fourth in school history in assists, hit one of
the greatest and least likely shots in Arkansas Tech men’s
basketball history.
His 3-pointer with three seconds remaining — which
was just his eighth 3-pointer of the season — gave the
Wonder Boys a 61-58 win over Benedict College in the first
round of the NCAA Tournament.
Arkansas Tech’s second-round game against regional
host Alabama-Huntsville was equally thrilling, but this
time it was the Chargers who came up with the big plays
at the big moments.
UAH outscored the Wonder Boys 9-0 over the final 1:08
of overtime to earn a 74-71 win and end Arkansas Tech’s
March Madness dreams.
Karleskint was named GSC West coach of the year and
Massey was named All-NCAA South Region in recognition
of their efforts during the 2010-11 season. Massey was
joined on the All-GSC West honor squad by teammates
Johnie Davis and Jeremy Dunbar.
GSC West men’s basketball title goes to Tech
Saturday, Sept. 3 *at Arkansas-Monticello Monticello, Ark. 6 p.m.Saturday, Sept. 10 at Southwest Baptist Bolivar, Mo. 6 p.m.Saturday, Sept. 17 Delta State Russellville, Ark. 6 p.m.Saturday, Sept. 24 West Alabama (Family Day) Russellville, Ark. 6 p.m.Saturday, Oct. 1 at Central Missouri Warrensburg, Mo. 1:30 p.m.Saturday, Oct. 8 North Alabama Russellville, Ark. 6 p.m.Saturday, Oct. 15 *at Southern Arkansas Magnolia, Ark. 2:30 p.m.Saturday, Oct. 22 *SE Oklahoma State (Homecoming) Russellville, Ark. 6 p.m.Saturday, Oct. 29 *East Central (Senior Day) Russellville, Ark. 2 p.m.Saturday, Nov. 5 *at SW Oklahoma State Weatherford, Okla. 2 p.m.
2011 Arkansas Tech Football Schedule
*Denotes Great American Conference game | Times are Central and are subject to change. | Home games are played at Thone Stadium at Buerkle FieldAll games broadcast in the Russellville area on KWKK 100.9 FM and around the world at www.athletics.atu.edu
Arkansas Tech advanced to the final day of the Gulf South Conference Baseball Tournament
for the first time in a decade during the 2011 event at USA Stadium in Millington, Tenn.
The Wonder Boys came out of the elimination bracket with three wins in three days, but
a 4-3 loss to Harding on the final day of the tournament ended Tech’s GSC title dreams one
game short of the championship contest. Head coach Dave Dawson and the Wonder Boys
finished the 2011 season with a 32-19 record. Matt Johnson (photographed) hit .454 with nine
home runs and 50 runs batted in to become Tech’s first GSC West baseball player of the year.
He set new single-season school records for hits (99), runs (79) and stolen bases (37).
Millington magic: Wonder Boys reach final day
Doug Karleskint
Laithe Massey
Tech Athletics
27Spring 2011
Name_________________________________________________ Tech major and year ___________________________________
(include maiden name if applicable) Graduated or attended (circle one)
Spouse’s Name_______________________________________ Tech major and year ____________________________________
(include maiden name if applicable) Graduated or attended (circle one)
Mailing address________________________________________ City__________________________ State_____ Zip __________
Telephone____________________________________________ E-mail ________________________________________
Occupation: His________________________________________________ Hers __________________________________________
News: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I would like to make a donation to the Arkansas Tech Alumni Association Scholarship: $__________
I would like to make a donation in honor of __________________________________________________: $__________
I would like to make a donation in memory of _________________________________________________: $__________
Please make checks payable to the Arkansas Tech Foundation and write Alumni Scholarship in the memo field of the check.
Donations may be mailed to the Arkansas Tech Foundation, 8820 Tech Lane, Russellville, AR 72801
let
us
hear
from
you
mail class notes to Tech Alumni Office, 1313 N. Arkansas Ave., Russellville, AR 72801 or e-mail to [email protected].
Golden Suns dethrone 5-time GSC championsArkansas Tech is leaving the Gulf South Conference with the league’s
women’s golf championship trophy under its arm.
Head coach Amy White and the Golden Suns posted a final-round score
of 310 on April 18 to run away from a nine-team field and post a 16-stroke
victory in the 36-hole tournament. Tech had a two-day total of 636, while five-
time defending champion West Florida finished second with a score of 652.
It is the first conference championship in the 10-year history of the
Arkansas Tech women’s golf program, and it comes in Tech’s final year of
membership in the GSC. Arkansas Tech will move forward to the new NCAA
Division II Great American Conference in fall 2011.
Tech takes third GSC West softball crownArkansas Tech was picked by league head coaches to finish
fifth in the Gulf South Conference West Division during the
2011 softball season. So much for preseason polls.
The Golden Suns amassed a 34-19 overall record and a 23-7
record in GSC games on their way to winning the GSC West
softball title for the third time in the last four years. Arkansas
Tech won 21 of its last 27 regular season games on its way to
the regular season league title.
Tech ActionArkansas Tech UniversityAlumni AssociationAlumni House1313 North Arkansas Ave.Russellville, AR 72801
Arkansas Tech University Alumni Association
Volume 47 No. 2
2011-12 Green & GoldMembership Form
Your Name_____________________________________Company Name_______________________________
Address ___________________________________________________________________________________
City____________________________________________ State __________________ Zip_________
Home Phone________________________________ Business Phone ________________________________
E-Mail Address______________________________________________________________________________
Name As I Wish It To Appear in Football Game Program_____________________________________________
r I wish to make my donation by check. A gift in the amount of $___________ is enclosed.
r I wish to make a donation of $______________, and I wish to charge my gift to my credit card:r Visa r Master Card
r Discover r American Express
Account #______________________________________
Expiration Date __________________________________
(Month) (Year)
Signature Required________________________________
Make checks payable to: Arkansas Tech Foundation(Write Green and Gold Club on memo line)
Green and Gold Giving Levelsr Platinum ($5,000) r Diamond ($3,000) r Emerald ($1,500)
r All-American ($1,000) r Captain ($500)
r All-Star ($250) r Tech ($150)
r Check here for membership with game ticketsr Check here for membership with no tickets
Designate My Gift For: r Specific Sport__________________
r Greatest Need
Your gifts support Tech Athletics.
Thank you for aiding the Wonder Boys and
the Golden Suns.Mail Completed Form To: Arkansas Tech Foundation 8820 Tech Lane, Russellville, AR 72801
Consult your tax advisor to determine how this applies to your tax situation.