UH Alumline- Summer 2008

New Projects Changing Campus Horizon

Always By My Side: Jim Nantz’s Memoir Reveals

Man Behind the Mic

2 UHALUMNIQUARTERLY

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E

4 Alumline by Barry Adams

5 Events Calendar

6 CampusNews

8 New Projects Changing the Campus Horizon

10 Jim Nantz: “A Son’s Love”

12 Still Life: Brave Alumnus Memorializes Colleague with Camera

13 Leaving Their Print

14 Spectator Code of Sportsmanship Adopted by HAO Board

14 Donnie Avery Drafted by the Rams

15 New Faces, New Heights: 2008 Houston Cougar Football

17 “Back to Packing” for Operation School Supplies

18 Baccalaureate Bling

20 Alumni and Friends Travel Program Takes Flight

22 Alumni Awards Dinner Showcases Success and Service

23 CareerBeam Shines Light on Career Prospects

24 ClassNotes

30 CougarCorner

31 Paws and Remember

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Cover shot by Pathik Shah

UH Alumni Quarterly is published for alumni, friends, donors, and members of the Houston Alumni Organization. Editorial offices located in Athletics/Alumni Center, 3100 Cullen Blvd., University of Houston.

EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER

Barry Adams

MANAGING EDITOR

Joy Wagman Krohn

EDITOR

David Raffetto (’05)

GRAPHICS/ART

Seleste Bautista

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Trevor N. Mitchell

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Jeremy L. KeasPathik Shah

HOUSTON ALUMNI ORGANIZATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

Cheryl Creuzot (’81, J.D. ’92, L.L.M. ’99), ChairMike Baker (‘68, J.D. ’71), Chair-ElectLarry Parker (’75), SecretaryRon Page (’80), TreasurerElizabeth L. Ghrist (M.Ed. ’67)Rick Bowen (’88, M.B.A. ’91)Stephanie Foy (M.S.W. ’94)Jason Fuller (’94)Joe Heard (’80)James Holmes (’86)President Renu Khator (ex-officio)Judie Lilie (’95)Lance Livingston (’66)Ricky Raven (’83, J.D. ’86)Emyré Robinson (’70)The Honorable Reece Rondon (’92, J.D. ’95)Steve Simmons (’81)The Honorable Thaddeus “Bo” Smith (’67)The Honorable John Whitmire (’75, J.D. ’76)Daniel Wong (’83, M.S. ’85, Ph.D. ’88)

UH Alumni Quarterly, Volume 1,Issue 1 (USPS 018-676) (SSN 1089-9154) is published four times a year (April, July,September, December) by the Houston AlumniOrganization, located at 3100 Cullen Blvd.,Suite 201, Houston, Texas 77204-6000. Annual memberships start at $45, $4.50 of which isallocated for a subscription to this publication. Periodicals postage paid at Houston, Texas.

Postmaster:Send address changes to the Houston Alumni Organization, P.O. Box 230345, Houston, Texas, 77223-0345.

A L U M L I N E

I once heard an engineer complain that to meet the goal of completing a highway project on time the construction crews would have to work through the steamy summer nights but would do so even if it required them all to bring flashlights to work everyday. Before the last load of cement was poured, a lot of overtime was logged-in. Completion meant the holiday weekend was made more convenient for thousands counting on the new route to be open. In the end, much more had been required beyond flashlights but they were part of every worker’s tool box from that point on. In many ways, the University of Houston is constructing a new road. And similar to the quote “A person can grow only as much as his horizon allows,” this institution is heading toward a very bright horizon. Certainly there will be some unexpected bumps and perhaps even a pothole to be filled, but from here there is a spectacular view and a perspective that is very wide. To complete the project, however, your flashlight and commitment will be on call. Inspired by the vision of our new President, Renu Khator, the Houston Alumni Organization has reformatted, residesigned, and renamed our membership periodical UH Alumni Quarterly. Alumline, as you can read here, has become the name of a column I will write in every issue. The past does indeed play a role in our future. With this inaugural issue you will be reading more about institutional priorities and UH initiatives. Our new publication will amplify the contributions of alumni and friends and stress the importance of constituent organizations, clubs and networks. We will call upon our readers to advocate on behalf of UH and to strut the abundant strengths our university has in front of your neighbors, your local schools and even the state legislators. Photos will enlighten our stories and should remind us of the beauty of the place and the people you met here – in the classroom, on the athletic field or among the library stacks. Our highlights will bolster the success stories of alumni, pro-grams, faculty and students. We will note transitions with class notes while promoting youth’s prowess for eliminating boredom and the routine. Let us know what you think. Tell us about your interests and introduce us (and thousands of others) to the icons and people who touched or continue to influence your outlook on life. In the meantime, we will need your flashlights. As UH moves wisely toward a bright and spectacular new horizon, turn them on. Become a member of HAO, or better yet, a Life Member. Remember that a portion of all dues goes toward scholarships. Give as generously as you can to the annual fund and/or the college, school, department, team or program that you want to help. Attend campus events, performances, shows, lectures and activities whenever you can. Be in the bleachers or the stands or the gym when those Cougar teams take the field. Wear the insignias of the University of Houston proudly and often. Hire students for internships. Interview a new graduate. Help recruit an outstanding scholar or host an admitted student reception. Volunteer on campus or in your region with groups supporting UH and HAO. Celebrate our successes whether it is in research, educa-tional leadership, corporate partnerships or community alliances. Thousands of flashlights. We need yours turned on and helping us light the way. A new day is coming.

With Cougar Spirit,

Barry Adams, PresidentHouston Alumni Organization

Bright horizons ahead require more than a few flashlights in the dark...

4 UHALUMNIQUARTERLY

HAO/UNIVERSITY EVENTS

7/17 Alumni and Friends Dinner at the Texas Pharmacy Association Conference, Fisherman’s Wharf Seafood Grill, Galveston, 7:00 p.m.

8/6 Whistle-Stop Tour with President Khator, Oak Hills Country Club 5403 Fredericksburg Rd, San Antonio, 6:30 p.m.8/12 Whistle-Stop Tour with President Khator, The Austin Club, 110 East 9th St., Austin, 6:30 p.m.8/21 Beginning of fall classes

9/5 Dinner for Major Donors and Scholarship Recipients, UH Hilton Hotel, 6:30 p.m.9/5 Mexican American Studies Open House, Agnes Arnold Hall, 12:00 p.m.9/12 Bauer Alumni Annual Meeting, C. T. Bauer College of Business- Melcher Hall, 6:00 p.m.9/12 Rockwell Farfel Lecture—“Green is the New Red, White and Blue,” presented by Thomas J. Friedman, winner of the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for commentary, Cullen Performance Hall, 5:00 p.m.9/13 Band Alumni Reunion, TBD9/13 HRM Mentoring Program Tailgate, Robertson Stadium, 2:00 p.m.9/15 CenterPoint Energy Alumni Golf Tournament, Tour 18 Golf Course, Humble, 2:00 p.m.9/18 Dr. Renu Khator’s Investiture Ceremony, Cullen Performance Hall, 1:30 p.m.9/25 Fall Business Career Fair, UH Hilton Hotel, 1:00 p.m.

ATHLETICS EVENTS

8/30 UH football vs. Southern (home opener), Robertson Stadium, 6:00 p.m.8/22 UH soccer vs. Texas-San Antonio (home opener), Robertson Stadium, 7:00 p.m.

9/6 UH football at Oklahoma State, Boone Pickens Stadium, TBA9/13 UH football vs. Air Force, Robertson Stadium, 2:30 p.m.9/17 UH volleyball vs. Lamar (home opener), Athletics/Alumni Center, 7:00 p.m.9/20 UH football at Colorado State, Hughes Stadium, 2:30 p.m.9/20 UH football at East Carolina, Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, 2:30 p.m.

ARTS CALENDAR

Blaffer Gallery: 713.743.9530 – www.class.uh.edu/blafferThrough 8/2 – Charles “Teenie” Harris: Rhapsody in Black and White. From 1936-1975, Harris photographed life in Pittsburgh’s black neighborhoods for the Pitts-burgh Courier, one of America’s oldest black newspapers.

Moores School of Music: 713.743.3313 – www.music.uh.edu9/11 – Collage 2008, Moores Opera House, 7:30 p.m. A free season preview presenting faculty, students, and performing ensembles in concert. Over 600 performers will play samples from jazz, symphony, choral, opera, and the band program.

School of Theatre and Dance: 713.743.2929 – www.theatredance.uh.edu08/08-08/18 – The Emperor’s New Clothes, as part of the children’s Theatre Festival. An original musical based on the timeless tale of a naive Emperor.

Blaffer Gallery Moores School of Music

School of Theatre and Dance

COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY STARTS FUTURE STUDIES MASTERS PROGRAM

BAUER COLLEGE’S ‘COUGAR FUND’ PLACES THIRDIN INTERNATIONAL STOCK COMPETITION Joe Corkin, Mauricio Franco, John Keeton, and Quyen Nguyen—graduate students in the Bauer College’s Finance Department—teamed to place third in the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute’s Global Investment Research Challenge, held this past May in New York City. They fi nished fi rst among American universities, defeating the University of Texas and Rice University in early rounds, and ahead of powerhouses Babson College and Carnegie-Mellon University in the fi nal rounds. The team was given a company to analyze—Men’s Wear-house—less than three months before delivering their winning presentation. Working with assigned mentor Pearce Hammond, with Simmons and Co., the four students put more than 100 hours into a written analysis of the company and presentation. Nationwide bragging rights and seeing themselves televised on the NASDAQ screen in Times Square made those 100 hours a sound investment.

Valenti Honored with Renamed School of Communication The UH School of Communication now bears the name of Jack J. Valenti (’46), adviser to President Lyndon Johnson and head of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) for nearly four decades. Plans to offi cially change the name to the Jack J. Valenti School of Communication were announced April 25, 2008. His desk, professional library, and copies of all his speeches are being donated to the school. Valenti, who passed away in 2007 at the age of 85, is former President of the Houston Alumni Organization Board, a former member of the Board of Regents, and a Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient (1952).

Starting this fall, the College of Technology will offer a Masters of Technology in Future Studies. The 36-hour degree will prepare its graduates to apply a wide range of theoretical and practical models to examine the sources, patterns, and causes of change and stability in order to map probable, plausible, and preferable futures. The interdisciplinary curriculum will pull from business, political science, and consumer science and offer courses such as “World Futures” and “Scenarios and Visions.” For more information on this program or other College of Tech-nology programs, visit www.tech.uh.edu.

C A M P U S n e w s

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PROFESSOR TONY HOAGLAND HONORED WITH JACKSON POETRY PRIZE

UH GEOLOGIST HONORED BY ROYAL IRISH ACADEMYJ John Dewey, Distinguished Research Professor of Geology at UH, was recently granted an Honorary Membership to the Royal Irish Academy. Dewey’s early work in Western Ireland led him to study the previously adjoining Canadian province of Newfoundland, where his research demonstrated that the Northern Appalachians formed more than 300 million years ago from the collision of the North American and African continents. His work placed him at the forefront of the plate tectonics movement, now accepted as orthodoxy. Dewey’s work also has earned him the Penrose Medal, the highest honor given by the Geological Society of America, and the Wollaston Medal of the Geological Society of London. He is also a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and a Fellow of the Royal Society of London. Founded in 1785, the Royal Irish Academy is Ireland’s leading cultural institution. Its members include those of Irish birth who have earner international distinction in the sciences and humanities. Honorary Memberships are reserved for non-Irish scholars who, like Dewey, have a special connection to Ireland.

UH WIND POWER TESTING SITE GETS GOVERNMENT GREEN LIGHT

Award-winning poet and UH creative writing professor Tony Hoagland has another award to add to his collection of honors. Hoagland was named the second annual recipient of the Jackson Poetry Prize. Presented by Poets & Writers Inc., the nation’s largest nonprofit literary organization serving creative writers, this honor is awarded to an American poet of exceptional talent who has published at least one book of recognized literary merit but has not yet received major national acclaim. The Jackson Poetry Prize carries a purse of $50,000. Hoagland is the author of seven volumes of poetry, most recently Hard Rain (2005). Two other books—Donkey Gospel (1998) and Sweet Ruin (1992)—won the James Laughlin Award and Brittingham Prize, respectively.

The University of Houston has completed an agreement with the De-partment of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to design, construct, and operate a state-of-the-art wind turbine blade testing facility at Ingleside, Texas. UH will receive technical and opera-tional assistance from NREL, as well as $2 million in equipment. The Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between UH and NREL was announced June 3 at the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) Wind Power Conference. The Texas-NREL Large Blade Research and Test Facility (LBR&TF) will be able to perform full-scale testing of turbine blades up to 70 meters in length. Construction is expected to be completed in 2010.

While the national housing market struggles to rebound, the University of Houston is in a building boom. New land has been acquired, dirt is moving, cranes are lifting,

and the campus horizon will soon have a very different line. Most recently announced, the Hilton University of Houston Hotel and Conference Center, home to the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management, will receive a $12 million facelift thanks to a $6.5 million gift from the Conrad N. Hilton Fund, an affi liate of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, plus $2.9 million from the university and $2.6 million from hotel capital reserves. The College is redeveloping the existing hotel property into a state-of-the-art hotel and conference center that will provide hospitality students with a new training facility and enhanced experiential learning program. In addition to aesthetic improvements, functional upgrades, and the development of six prototype rooms that will be used to test hotel room designs, the project also includes a multi-year pro bono consulting and services agreement with an affi liate of Hilton Hotels under which the University will receive assistance in managing the hotel. “Since Conrad Hilton wrote the College’s $1.5 million founding check in 1969, his Foundation and the affi liated Fund have contributed over $60 million,” says John Bowen, dean of the Conrad N. Hilton College. “This unwavering support has allowed us to reach the level of international preeminence we enjoy today. The Hilton Fund’s latest gift is yet another act of generosity that will allow us to

take the Hilton College to the next level, and we are grateful.” The new Hilton Hotels consulting agreement was effective June 1. Renovation is slated to begin in late fall with completion targeted for December 2009. Most notable to drivers of Interstate 45 is the 552,000-square-foot, $107 million Calhoun Lofts project. Occupancy is scheduled to begin in August 2009. Housing graduate and professional students, the lofts will offer fi rst-fl oor retail space, a theater room, fi tness center, fl oor laundries, coffee bar, catering kitchen, study rooms, and both private and public courtyards. “A facility like this creates an environment that lifts the attitude and morale of the university,” said Leroy Hermes (’66), former UH System Board of Regents chairman. “What we’re trying to build is tradition. By having a facility that encourages people to remain close to the university, we achieve that goal.” Adjacent to Calhoun Lofts will be the multistory, 33,000-square-foot Michael J. Cemo Hall. After giving the lead $3 million gift for the additional C.T. Bauer College of Business building, Michael J. Cemo (’68), a former UH System regent, saw his generosity take form at the June 5 groundbreaking. The building will feature a 450-seat auditorium, three 80-seat classrooms, and faculty offi ces. It will also house three vital student services: a satellite of the university’s Writing Center, a testing facility, and the Elizabeth D. Rockwell Career Services Center. The much-anticipated opening is scheduled for June 2009.

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N EW P RO J E C TS C H A N G I N G T H E C A M P U S H O R I ZO N

“We are not celebrating a building because it will bear my name,” Cemo said. “We are celebrating the positive impact that Cemo Hall will have on many generations of students and the University of Houston. The building also represents an opportunity for those of us here, whether we are alumni, friends or business partners, to help us grow what I believe to be Houston’s fi nest business school and one of

the fi nest in the country—the C.T. Bauer College of Business.” Cemo was president and CEO of AIM Distributors, Inc., the retail-marketing arm of AIM Management Group Inc., and a director of AMVESCAP PLC until his retirement in January 2004. With the increased living and classroom space on the east side of campus, students will need somewhere to park. University administration is one step ahead, already reserving a site across the street from both Calhoun Lofts and Cemo Hall for a 900-space parking garage. Construction is scheduled to begin in August with a July 2009 completion date. The ambition to expand and improve facilities can only advance so far on a fi nite campus. But who says campus space has to be fi nite? The University of Houston recently purchased 43 acres of original MacGregor Park land for $25 million dollars. The heavily-wooded tract sits at the northeast corner of Martin Luther King Boulevard and Old Spanish Trail. “This property is one of the few undeveloped properties of comparable size inside the 610 Loop, and no similar property immediately adjacent to the campus will ever be available,” wrote Eric Gerber (’72), director of university communication. “As such, it provides an unmatched opportunity for the university to meet a number of goals outlined in its strategic and framework plans.” To alumni who are overdue for a back-to-campus visit: grab a map. You’ll need it.

N EW P RO J E C TS C H A N G I N G T H E C A M P U S H O R I ZO N

JIM NANTZ “A Son’s Love”B Y : T R E V O R N . M I T C H E L L

He says that it was at the age of 11 when he offi cially knew. And, the fi rst person he told of his childhood dream was his

father, Jim Nantz Jr. Like many young boys growing up in Colts Neck, New Jersey, a small township resting between New York City and Philadelphia, Jim Nantz III (’81) quickly developed a love for sports. However, the one thing particularly out of the norm was that the athletes Nantz watched on television were not his heroes; it was the sports broadcasters who were covering the games and providing the stories about the athletes who garnered his complete attention. “It bordered on an obsession,” Nantz said. “I knew that I wanted to become one of the voices that would tell the story of the championships of American sports. I told my dad from day one exactly what I wanted to do and that I would do everything in my power to make it happen. Back in my day, we didn’t have any weekday sports coverage like ESPN. So every weekend, I would tune in to listen to the voices of my youth—like Jim McKay, Pat Summerall, Jack Whitaker, Dick Enburg, Curt Gowdy, Chris Schenkel, and Keith Jackson.” As a kid, Nantz was so enthralled with professional and collegiate sports broadcasts that he would run outside of his parents’ home to turn the antenna during random commercial breaks so that he could watch different games in different markets. “It’s funny because I would be looking at coverage of a New York Jets or New York Giants game, and then I would go out and turn the antenna toward Philadelphia to see a bit of the Eagles’ game,” Nantz said. “What I was doing was creating my very own studio network. I was taking an audience of one from game to game wherever the action merited my full attention.” Nantz’s family eventually moved to Texas, and he enrolled at the University of Houston. While at UH, he played on the men’s golf team as a walk-on for legendary golf coach Dave Williams and roomed with future greats Fred Couples and Blaine McCallister. After earning his radio/television degree from UH in 1981, it only took four years for the words Nantz spoke as a young kid to become prophetic. And, he says that being a part of the University of Houston’s campus community helped foster his desire to become a sports commentator even more. “There was so much positive energy at UH that it was contagious,” he said. “My era at UH was a moment in time when the school was fi lled with

10 UHALUMNIQUARTERLY

dreamers who would become achievers. There was a unifi ed attitude around campus that was contagious—because everyone was so into uplifting the students that the majority of us went on to do whatever it was we dreamed of doing in life.” In 1985, Nantz was hired by CBS, the broadcasting company he had aimed for all along. He initially served as a play-by-play announcer and studio anchor for a number of events including the NFL, the NBA, college football and basketball, the Masters and PGA championship golf tournaments, the U.S. Open tennis championship, and the Winter Olympic Games. Today, however, over 20 years since he fi rst sat in front of the microphone on major television, Nantz has become one of best and most well-known sportscasters in the industry. He has called every NCAA Final Four since 1991, and in 2004, he became the top play-by-play announcer for the NFL on CBS. From February through April of 2007, Nantz enjoyed a remarkable 63-day journey where he earned the distinction of becoming the fi rst broadcaster to host the Super Bowl, announce the NCAA Men’s Championship game, and provide coverage of the Masters golf tournament all in the same year.

While Nantz has had the opportunity to mingle with U.S. presidents, claim numerous sportscaster of the year awards, travel around the world, and enjoy a life and career that any true sports fan would envy, unfortunately, one of his other dreams never did come true. Nantz’s father, who had long supported his son’s aspirations, was supposed to have accompanied his son on his journey through many of America’s most iconic sports venues. However, a stroke and a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease in 1995 derailed that plan—permanently. “Traveling with my dad during that three-event championship journey would have been the ultimate father-son road trip,” said the UH alumnus. “My father always looked at sports more as a metaphor for life, not so much for the competition. But, he loved the stories that had a real heartbeat, the stories that delivered something about humanity.” Last year, Nantz decided to begin writing his own story—a book that would chronicle his prolifi c years in sports broadcasting and also pay homage to his father Jim, and all of the lessons he taught along the way. Nantz’s book, titled Always By My Side: A Father’s Grace and a Sports Journey Unlike Any Other,debuted this past May and manages to trace his career through many rich anecdotes, discuss his friendships with sports legends such as Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer, and John Wooden, and successfully follow a simple, yet very meaningful theme—a son’s genuine love for his dad. Over the past few months, the publication has led Nantz on a nationwide book tour visiting such cities as Houston, New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Pittsburgh, Washington D.C., and more. The 273-page book, which

Nantz spent 10 months writing, has quickly risen up the charts as a bestseller in the sports genre. But ask Nantz, and he’d quickly say that Always By My Side is much more about life, family, and loyalty. In essence, he believes that the book serves as a long goodbye to his graceful father. “The mission was to write a loving tribute about my dad,” he said. “I had a lot of strong messages that I felt everybody could relate to—whether they were sports fans or not. I’m very proud to see that a book about goodness still has the ability to sell here in America.” Sadly, after a 13-year battle with Alzheimer’s, Nantz’s father, his sole inspiration behind his book, fi nally succumbed to the ill-fated disease on June 30, 2008. It was Nantz, along with his mother, Doris, and his sister, Nancy, who rode what he calls a “wave of emotions” ever since the day his father was fi rst diagnosed. There was the tough family decision to remove his father from his Houston home and place him in a nursing facility in 2000. Then, there were the days of joy, followed by days of pain, and then joy again. As fate would have it, Nantz was right by his father’s side when he passed away last month. So it appears that the title of Nantz’s book: Always By My Side, was not just an attempt to offer up a few crafty words, but actually an elegant way to foreshadow the bond that Jim Nantz Jr. and Jim Nantz III will always share. “My father was a man who asked for nothing and opened up his heart to everyone. He was never rich, never famous. He was just a great dad who did everything he could to make his children’s lives better,” Nantz said. “He trusted people and respected everyone he ever met. He just instilled so many wonderful virtues that made me refl ect on his life and use that inspiration to write about some of the things that I believe he stood for, and how I see those virtues instilled in others. I’ll carry my father with me forever, both in my heart and in my head. My dad will be, now and forever, always by my side.”

On September 27, 2007, Adrees La-tif (’00) stood on the marble steps of the Shwedagon Pagoda. Because

Myanmar (Burma) prohibits foreign journal-ists from entering the country during nation-wide protests against the government, he was there without approval and without any me-dia credentials. But Latif ’s risk wasn’t the only that day. That morning, thousands of demonstrators began clashing with riot police. Among the chaos was Japanese journalist Kenji Nagai,

a man Latif never knew beyond four frames that captured a man lying on his back. But Nagai wasn’t trampled. He hadn’t lost his bal-ance. He was shot by a Burmese soldier and continued to take photographs while dying from his wounds. For capturing the tragic yet heroic act, Latif was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography. He is the fi rst University of Houston alumnus to ever win a Pulitzer. Born in Pakistan, Latif moved to Houston with this family at the age of seven. Enrolling

at UH after graduating from Jersey Village High School, he worked as a Daily Cougar photographer and photo editor. He would work for the Houston Post and the Houston Chronicle before accepting his current posi-tion as a foreign correspondent for Reuters. “I am fi lled with joy for winning the Pu-litzer, but I must always take a moment to remember Kenji Nagai — a fellow journalist who exhibited inspiring courage in his fi nal moments of life, while covering his last as-signment,” Latif said.

STILL LIFE: BRAVE ALUMNUS MEMORIALIZES COLLEAGUE WITH CAMERA

Photographer Adrees Latif (’00) on assignment abroad just months before his Pulitzer-winning work would enfl ame the debate on journalistic freedoms.


TE

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OA

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Telephone Road, Texas provides readers a chance

to zip back in time to experience southeast Houston his-

tory through chapters on the Houston Municipal Airport,

Christy Bros. Circus, Galveston-Houston Interurban Train,

Sam Allen Ranch, Gold Star Recording Studio, and Gulfgate

Mall. Also included are photos and details of celebrity vis-

its to the area such as John F. Kennedy’s trip to NASA’s

Manned Spacecraft Center on Telephone, Howard Hughes’

celebration of his around the world fl ight, and musicians

like Louis Armstrong, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Fats Domino

performing at the Jimmie Menutis Club. In addition, brief

histories and photos are provided of many long-standing

southeast Houston businesses, neighborhoods, churches,

restaurants, and other places of interest.

Burton Chapman grew up in southeast Houston about a

mile off of Telephone Road. He graduated from Mt. Carmel

High School and the University of Houston with a BA in

History. He fi rst thought of writing a book about the his-

tory of southeast Houston while driving down Telephone

Road in 2001, and has been researching and writing Tele-

phone Road, Texas ever since. He lives with his wife and

daughter in Pearland, Texas. He currently is a teacher in the

Special Education Department at Pearland High School.

Baxter PressFriendswood, Texas

ISBN 978-1-888237-78-8

9 781888 237788

5 1 5 9 5

$15.95

As only the second University of Houston alumnus to ever hold the title “Texas Poet Laureate,” Larry Thomas (’70) is quick to proclaim his Cougar roots. Having grown up in West Texas, Thomas attended night classes at UH while working full time for Harris County Social Services—filling whatever free time was left with Cougar football and basketball games. Though he spent much of his life working in adult criminal justice, retiring in 1998 as branch director for the Harris County Adult Probation Department, Thomas’ mind always came back to the stark, but spiritual landscape of the West—a land where “nothing rots, only wears away to dust.” The author of seven books of poetry, his latest, New and Selected Poems, is published by TCU Press as part of their Texas Poet Laureates Series. His The Fraternity of Oblivion, published by Timberline Press, is believed to be the only poetry book on outlaw biker counter culture. Readers can visit Amazon or Barnes & Noble websites to purchase his works.

LARRY D. THOMAS: 2008 TEXAS POET LAUREATE

Cougars of Any Color: The Integration of University of Houston Athletics, 1964-1968 Telephone Road, Texas Nice to Come Home To

Rebecca Flowers (M.F.A. ’94)

Prudence Whistler is a thirty-six-year-old grant writer who, in the space of one week, loses her job, her boyfriend of two years, and her self-confidence along with everything else. Filling her life with colorful, nonconformist char-acters, Pru learns that a deep commit-ment to others can open doors you never dreamed of.

Katherine Lopez (’02, M.A. ’04, Ph.D. ’07)

From 1964-1968, University of Hous-ton coaches revolutionized the nature of collegiate athletics in the South by recruiting black student athletes—Don Chaney, Elvin Hayes, and Warren McVea to name a few. Lopez outlines the Athletic Department’s handling of integration, the experiences of the school’s first black athletes, and the im-pact that the University of Houston’s integration had on other programs.

Burton Chapman (’96)

A photographic and comprehensive history of some of southeast Houston’s most interesting and important places and people. Hobby Airport, Gulfgate Mall, Jimmie Menutis Club, Gold Star/Sugar Hill Recording Studio, and historic neighborhoods like Eastwood and Idylwood are just a few of the places Chapman explores.

L E AV I N G T H E I R P R I N T

SPECTATOR CODE OF SPORTSMANSHIP Adopted by HAO Board

The fi rst wide receiver taken in the NFL draft and the fi rst player drafted from the state of Texas, former UH wide receiver Donnie Avery was selected by

the St. Louis Rams with the 33rd overall pick. Yes, #2 was the second pick in the second round. Blessed with game-changing 4.2 speed, Avery will get a chance to return kicks in addition to playing receiver. And he’s already learning from one of the best in the busi-ness, seven-time Pro Bowler and now current teammate Tory Holt. Avery’s talents coupled with veteran mentor-ship should make for fast success—but fast is nothing new for this NFL rookie.


During its May meeting, the Houston Alumni Organization (HAO) Board adopted a “Spectator Code of Sportsmanship” that has now been endorsed by 11 alumni associations of the universities belonging to Conference USA. The code, which stipulates that HAO “recognizes intercollegiate athletics as an important part of the student and alumni experi-

ence,” outlines several sportsmanship values relating to university athletic programs. Collectively, the associations call for “upholding high standards of scholarship, competitive performance, and spectator behavior.” Citing and crediting student athletes for their “commitment to academic and athletic excellence,” and the need to support coaches, HAO joined the other alumni organizations of the conference in suggesting strict application of spectator behavior on campuses, in stadiums, and arenas. The code underscores the pride that campuses have in spirit groups, marching bands, and mascots, and encourages their contributions to intercollegiate competition. It strongly suggests that all fans show respect for the traditions of their opponents and admonishes those that make negative comments and gestures which dishonor other teams and players. It lauds fans who are passionate about being courteous and respectful of visiting teams, coaches, other spectators, and offi cials.

Donnie AveryDrafted by the

RAMS

Briles is gone. Avery and Alridge are gone. With that out of the way, can we leave the past in the past? With a new staff, new

schemes, and new faces ready to make their mark, the focus of UH football should be on the future. And it’s looking bright. New head coach Kevin Sumlin, former co-offen-sive coordinator at Oklahoma (the same Oklahoma offense that dropped 63 points on the Cougars in 2004), has surrounded himself with an experienced and well-respected staff that is already paying dividends in early recruiting. Former Texas Tech offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen offered a taste of his pass-happy offense at the Red and White Game, generating 660 yards and seven passing touchdowns. Former Central Florida defensive co-ordinator John Skladany will try and resurrect the Mad Dog mentality. So who’s going to catch all those passes and make all those tackles? The Keenum/Joseph two-headed quarterback “quandary” returns. Both shined at different mo-ments last season, but it remains to be seen which of their skill sets is better suited for the new offense. Tight end Mark Hafner is the only proven receiving threat who returns, but Chris Gilbert and L.J. Cas-tile bring the speed and athleticism, respectively, to turn opposing defenses in circles. Expect Andre Kohn and Terrance Ganaway to split time running the ball behind an experienced offensive line that should be the best in C-USA. The defense has enough returning talent to be the best in sometime, and a switch to a 4-3 scheme should take advantage of very good defensive line. Defensive end Phillip Hunt is a nightmare for op-posing quarterbacks, and linemen Ell Ash, Cody Pree, and Tate Stewart are all solid. Arkansas trans-fer Tyrell Graham could make an immediate impact at linebacker, and Kenneth Fontenette is still roam-ing the secondary. The new coaches, schemes, and players have piqued the interest of a fanbase eager to return to former heights, best evidenced by a rather remark-able spring game turnout. But the same enthusiasm needs to be present on gamedays. “The alumni presence is critical,” Coach Sumlin remarked. “There is no substitute for a home sta-dium being worth a touchdown advantage. That’s what we need at Robertson.” You heard the man. For tickets, visit uhcougars.com or call 713.GO.COOGS. See you August 30.

NEW FACES, NEW HEIGHTS:

2008 Houston Cougar Football

Fans sample new players running new plays at the annual Red and White Game, held this past April.

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“Back to Packing” FOR OPERATION SCHOOL SUPPLIES

“Back to Packing” FOR OPERATION SCHOOL SUPPLIES

IMPORTANT DATES TO KNOW:

Wednesday, July 92008 Campaign Kick-Off at H-E-B Gulfgate

Wednesday, July 9University of Houston main campus drive begins

Thursday, July 24School supply collection at HEB Gulfgate

Wednesday, July 30Houston Astros collection drive

Saturday, August 9Houston Public Library back-to-school party

Saturday, August 16Sort & Box Day at UH Athletics/Alumni Center

For school kids everywhere, summer is a time for sleeping late, chasing the ice cream truck, first kisses, and swimming in water that environmentalists would cringe at. And as summer lingers on, those pleasures shouldn’t surrender to worries about the embarrassing backpack

with all the holes, or the inevitable request to borrow pen and paper on the first day of school. Let’s let kids be kids. More than $150,000 worth of school supplies that benefitted 32,000 students in over 330 schools marked the final numbers for Operation School Supplies’ 2007 campaign. Students from the fol-lowing districts were directly impacted: Aldine, Alief, Alvin, Channelview, Clear Creek, Cleveland, Conroe, Cypress Fairbanks, Deer Park, Fort Bend, Galena Park, Galveston, Goose Creek, Houston, Humble, Katy, Klein, La Porte, Lamar Consolidated, Magnolia, Montgomery, New Caney, North Forest, Pasadena, Pearland, Sheldon, Spring Branch, Spring, Texas City, Tomball, and Waller. Visit www.myCougarConnection.com/OSS to donate today or learn more about volunteer opportunities. Together, we can give these students the tools to become future Cougars.

BACCALAUREATE BLING


BACCALAUREATE BLING

Imagine sitting in an interview, the vice president of the prospective company across the table. It’s not your new suit or voluminous resume that catches his eye, but a glint of gold. “What school?” he asks, motioning to your finger.

“The University of Houston.” “No kidding?” he asks. “I got my MBA there!” The connection is instant. Hundreds of University of Houston students and alumni are identifying with the recognition and personal pride that a class ring embodies. So many, in fact, that two separate ring ceremonies were held this spring to accommodate the demand. Attended by President Renu Khator and Vice Chancellor/Vice President Elwyn Lee, the May 1 and May 2 ceremonies offered graduating students, near graduating students, and alumni the chance to symbolically affirm their academic progress in front of standing-room-only crowds of family and friends. Available to students and former students who have completed at least 70 credit hours and are in good standing with the university, the class ring adorns the interlocking UH logo atop. The right shank presents the university seal—a variation of Sam Houston’s coat of arms—that features flanked martlets, two greyhounds, and a winged hourglass with the motto “In Time” above it. The wearer’s graduation year is also featured on this side. The left shank bears the wearer’s degree, a façade of the Ezekiel Cullen Building, and the university’s founding date, 1927. Rings are available in either yellow or white gold with options like antique finishes and diamond settings. Tradition dictates that current students wear the ring facing inward. Only alumni should wear the ring with the logo facing outward. In an address to his fellow ring ceremony honorees, Josh Sarkar (’08), a Student Alumni Connection board member and graduating senior noted, “Every time I put on my ring I will think of the people here at the University of Houston and the four years of my life spent here. I will remember your personal stories, the lives and people I’ve made contact with, along with the lessons you’ve taught me. This ring will always reinforce those memories.” Starting as low as $500, alumni can order class rings online at www.mycougarconnection.com/class_ring/. Whether you’re a recent graduate or a long-time alumnus who has always regretted not having one, a University of Houston class ring is one accessory that is necessary for every Cougar.

The Houston Alumni Organization (HAO) has announced four exciting destinations to inaugurate its Alumni and Friends Trav-

el Program: Peru, February 5 –February 12, 2009; Holland & Belgium, April 10 – April 18, 2009; Tuscany, April 26 – May 4, 2009; and China, May 20 – June 1, 2009. Open to University of Houston alumni, friends of the university, and their guests, the program aims to provide participants with an engaging, memorable experience shared with fellow Cougars. Whether you’re echoing the fight song among the mountainous ruins of Machu Picchu or whistling the “alma mater” while strolling the vineyards of Chianti, these opportunities are once-in-a-lifetime. “It’s about offering something that the commer-cial travel market can’t provide,” said Barry Adams, President and CEO of HAO. “It’s about building and fostering relationships with a traveling base that already shares a passion for this university. Infusing scenes and cultures from around the world into a ‘Cougar’ experience nurtures that spirit and inspires alumni to keep UH close to their hearts.” The itinerary for Peru (February 5 –February 12, 2009) begins with three nights in Lima—the City of Kings—at the Jose Antonio Executive Lima hotel. While there, travelers will enjoy both the historical and high-paced facets of the capital city, including a stop at the National Museum of Archeology, Anthropology, and History. Next comes four nights in Cuzco at the Jose Antonio Cuzco hotel. This will serve as a base city to ex-plore the ruinous houses, palaces, and temples of Machu Picchu; the colorful Andean market at Chinchero; and the stair-studded battle-scene at

Ollantaytambo. And don’t forget Cuzco itself, a city of color, cuisine, and culture that will leave travelers dreaming of its charm long after they’ve left. Once renowned for their nautical prowess, come cruise the waterways that the Dutch call home (April 10 – April 18, 2009). Spend seven nights aboard the exclusively chartered five-star M.V. Heidelberg cruise vessel with port calls in Amsterdam, Rotter-dam, Dordrecht, Middelburg and Volendam, and Ghent and Antwerp, Belgium. Though it would be tempting not to leave the crafted woodwork, ac-claimed cuisine, bar, salon, library, fitness center with massage, sauna, steam room, and sun deck of the ship—opportunities to tour the windmills at Kinderdijk, learn the techniques of porcelain craft at Porceleyne Fles, and sample the confections of a Belgian chocolatier are too good to pass up. The sun and soil of Chianti (April 26 – May 4, 2009) grow memories just as well as they grow grapes. Spend seven nights in Tavarnelle Val di Pesa at the first-class Villa Borgo di Cortefreda. Explore the Renaissance wonders of Florence, the cobble-stone streets of Siena, the twists of the Chianti Road, and of course, see and taste wine making at the Castello di Monsanto. Your palate will thank you. Give China (May 20 – June 1, 2009) a trial run this summer by watching it serve as the Olympic stage. Then spend a night in Beijing at the Hilton Beijing, two nights in Xi’an at the Sofitel on Renmin Square, three nights cruising the Yangtze River aboard the M.V. Yangtze President, and three nights in Shang-hai at the Hilton Shanghai. From marveling at the Great Wall to enjoying performances of the Peking Opera and the Shanghai Acrobatic Theater, China is sure to light a torch in you.


ALUMNI AND FRIENDS Travel Program Takes Flight

FIND OUT MORE IN PERSON. To learn more about any of the

four trips, including itineraries and pricing, join us at our

Destinations Preview, Thursday, September 4, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Hilton Houston

Post Oak. Visit www.myCougarConnection.com/travel to RSVP, or email other questions to

[email protected].

ALUMNI AND FRIENDS Travel Program Takes Flight

Like the individuals honored that evening, the 54th Houston Alumni Organization Awards Dinner was a

complete success. On April 17, 2008, with more than 600 in attendance at the Hyatt Regency downtown,

the event grossed over $238,000 that will directly support HAO scholarships and programs.

Thank you to our award recipients, the indispensible volunteers who offered their time and resources, and

everyone who attended. We hope to see you next year, Friday, April 17, 2009, at the Omni Hotel in Houston, for

the 55th Houston Alumni Organization Awards Dinner. Visit www.myCougarConnection.com/awardsdinner

to nominate someone for 2009!

HAO Chair’s AwardCarolyn Farb, hc

Distinguished Alumni AwardsDr. Dorothy F. Caram (Ed.D. ‘82)Marvin Nathan (J.D. ‘66)Col. Barrye L. Price, Ph.D. (‘85)Christopher Theofanidis (‘90)

Distinguished Service AwardsJ.W. “Willie” Burns (‘58)David Doll (‘88, M.B.A. ‘92)Christopher Mims (‘87)

Outstanding Volunteer AwardAlton “Red” Veselka (‘77)

2008 HONOREES

ALUMNI AWARDS DINNERShowcases Success and Service


For tickets: Call 713-GO-COOGS or visit

All Times Central; Home Games in BOLD CAPS; *-Conference USA Game

PHILLIP HUNTDEFENSIVE END

Aug. 30 SOUTHERN (Cougar FB Classic) 6 p.m.Sept. 6 at Oklahoma State TBA

Sept. 13 AIR FORCE (Armed Forces Day) 2:30 p.m.Sept. 20 at Colorado State 2:30 p.m.

Sept. 27 at East Carolina * 2:30 p.m.

Oct. 9 UAB * (All-UH Day) 7 p.m.Oct. 18 at SMU * 7 p.m.

Oct. 28 at Marshall * 7 p.m.

Nov. 8 TULANE * (Homecoming) 4 p.m.Nov. 15 TULSA * (Red Rage) 4 p.m.

Nov. 22 UTEP * (Coogs For Charity) 4 p.m.Nov. 29 at Rice * 2 p.m.

KEVIN SUMLINHEAD COACH

Detailed information on over 18 million organizations and companies. Search-

able databases of 20 million industry contacts, many with biographies and direct contact information, allowing users to pinpoint users with Univer-sity of Houston connections. Re-sume and cover letter development tools. All in one location. Sounds like the fi rst stop for any UH alumnus, recent or otherwise, who is searching for a job or interest-ed in exploring a career change. And thanks to CareerBeam, offered by University Career Services, students and alumni can access all the listed information and much more from the convenience of any computer. The Career Services offi ce fre-quently notes that 80-90% of people do not obtain career opportunities through open job postings. Ninety eight percent of companies are pri-vate, they cite, and 97% of them are not sourcing their best talent through traditional recruiting efforts. Career-

Beam operates on a philosophy that acknowledges these dynamics by directing users to the brain-source of jobs, not through a human resources department that you have no con-nection with. But CareerBeam is more than raw data, though it offers an astound-ing amount of it. It understands the importance of interactive guidance and interactive preparation, featur-ing assessment exercises—discur-sive inquiry that explores personal values, temperament, personality, interests, skills, talents, fascinations, and culture—and “conversation starters”—lists of the most relevant topics and questions to discuss when networking with leadership in over 200 industries. And like our student and alumni base, CareerBeam is international in scope, spanning over 70 countries for its information. To register for the career ser-vices site and CareerBeam, visit www.career.uh.edu.

CareerBeam Shines Light onCareer Prospects

CareerBeam Shines Light onCareer Prospects

1950sMamie Moy (M.S. ’52) has been nominated as a “Texas Woman of Distinction” by the West Harris County Branch of the American Association of University Women.

1960st Chelsea “Ches” N. Blevins (’69) has joined Jackson Walker LLP as a new partner in the Regulatory & Legislative section of the firm’s Austin office.

Dr. Herbert A. Fritsche (M.S. ’68) was named to DermTech’s

Scientific Advisory Board. DermTech is a biotechnology company developing molecular diagnostics for the early detection of melanoma and other diseases.

Phyllis Gebauer (M.A. ’64) has published her memoir, Hot Widow, with Fithian Press.

1970sRichard H. Anderson (’77), CEO of Delta Airlines, Inc., was inducted as a member of The Buckhead Coalition, north Atlanta’s non-profit chamber-type civic group.

Dan Bellow (’73), president of the Houston division of The Staubach Co., will continue to lead the local commercial real estate operation after it merges with Jones Lang LaSalle Inc.

Brett Cullen (’79), who has played roles on ABC’s Lost and Ugly Betty, will star alongside Charlize Theron and Kim Basinger in the set-for-2009 release of The Burning Plain.

Cynthia Griffin (’79) has joined Proposal Software, Inc. as director of Legal Markets.

t Dr. Delma McLeod-Porter, (’76) has been honored with McNeese State University Alumni Association’s 2008 Distinguished Faculty Award.

Sid Shaver (’79), managing director of Hunter Wise Financial Group LLC’s Houston office, is spear-heading a program to assist privately-held Texas businesses in the booming energy sector.

Zane Ann Tigett (M.Ed. ’71) has retired as director of St. Paul’s School in Houston

Joyce A. Tipton (’79), administrative director of pharmacy at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital, has been appointed to the Texas State Board of Pharmacy’s Task Force on Class C Pharmacy Regulations.

Shara Zatopek (’74), associate dean of administration and clinical associate professor at UH College of Pharmacy, has been appointed to the Texas State Board of Pharmacy’s Task Force on Class D Pharmacy Regulations.

1980sHerschel Brannen (’80) was appointed by Governor Rick Perry to the Trinity River Authority.

Debbie Carter (’87) has accepted a position as presidential diarist with the National Archives in Washington D.C.

Dennis C. Dunn (J.D. ’82) has joined King & Spalding as a partner in its nationally-ranked healthcare practice.

William “Bill” Fortier (’83), currently senior vice president franchise development, Americas, for Hilton Hotels Corporation will assume the role of senior vice president development, Americas, with responsibility for developing both the managed and franchised businesses in the region.

t The Honorable Vanessa Gilmore (J.D. ’81) has co-authored a book with Dr. Janice Beal titled A Boy Named Rocky: A Coloring Book for the Children of Incarcerated Parents.

Carlos Jimenez (’81), associate professor of architecture at Rice University, won an American Institute of Architects (AIA) Design Award for his work on the Rice University Data Center.

Vicki LoPachin (’88) was named medical director of the 788-bed North Shore University Hospital, Long Island’s largest.

Trey Wilkinson (‘92, M.B.A. ‘02), Oscar Gutierrez (‘79, M.B.A. ‘94) and Kimberley Wilkinson (‘93) stop to smile at the Ted Bauer Golf Classic and Silent Auction.

C L A S S N O T E S

Roy Horlock (‘55), Mike Shoup (‘54), and Elsa Horlock catching up at the Brenham Area Club spring picnic.

Hakeem Olajuwon (former student) was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

t Ricky Raven (’83, J.D. ’86), a partner in the Trial Practice Group of Thompson & Knight’s Houston office, was elected to the Executive Council of The Houston Forum. He previously served as a member of The

Houston Forum’s Board of Governors.

Carrie M. Sacky (’80), has been nominated for vice president of the Texas Pharmacy Association, which will hold elections in July.

1990sMarisa de los Santos (Ph.D. ’96) has published her second novel, Belong to Me, and made the “NY Times Hardcover Best Seller” list.

Dr. Ahmad Jan Durrani (M.B.A. ’99) was appointed vice chancellor of Lahore University of Management Sciences in Pakistan.

Scott Elmer (’97), Missouri City’s Public Works Director, has been named as one of the “top 10 public works leaders of the year” by the American Public Works Association.

Shahid Ghauri (J.D. ’96) has joined the Jones Day Houston office as a partner.

Stephen C. Haynes (M.B.A. ’91) has been elected as vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer by the Harvest Natural Resources, Inc. Board of Directors.

Pauline Higgins (LL.M. ’92), a partner in Thompson & Knight’s Finance Practice Group and the firm’s Chief Diversity Officer, was a recipient of the DiversityFIRST Leadership Award by the Texas Diversity Council.

Dana Johnson (M.B.A. ’92) was named president of US operations for Enerplus Resources Fund

Nancy C. LeGros (J.D. ’93) has joined King & Spalding as a partner in its nationally-ranked healthcare practice.

George Matta (M.S. ’94) was named chief financial officer of Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies.

Dr. L. Michael Metke (Ed.D. ’93) was named president of Tyler Junior College.

t Ellie Parsa (J.D. ’96) was elected the founding president of the Houston Chapter of the Iranian American Bar Association.

CampusCougars, a group comprised of alumni who work on campus, turn and listen to Lee De Leon, director of marketing for the Athletics Department, as he introduces head football coach Kevin Sumlin. The group gathered as part of an appreciation luncheon hosted by the Houston Alumni Organization.

Askari Mohammad and Alida Bonifaz (’07) were just two of the more than 400 guests who attended Gourmet Night 2008 at the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management. Then student Stacey Kosar (’08) and current student Katelyn Halpern—the green and blue fairies, respectively— teased and amused guests throughout the evening as part of the evening’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream theme.

C L A S S N O T E S

Paige Pitman (’94, M.B.A. ’03), and her husband, Ron, welcomed their third child, Sadie Claire Pitman, on Feb. 23, 2008. Pitman is the clinical coordinator of staff development at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital.

t Jennifer Rogers (’94, M.S. ’97, J.D. ’00), attorney with Jackson Walker LLP, was named a 2008 Rising Star by Texas Monthly.

t Angie (’95) and Steven Shortt (’94) recently welcomed their second, Eli Robert Shortt, on March 15.

Christopher Theofanidis (’90), a 2008 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, has accepted an

appointment at Yale University as Professor of Composition.

t Christopher Thompson (J.D. ’97), attorney with Jackson Walker LLP, was named a 2008 Rising Star by Texas Monthly.

Chad E. Tiedt (’94) was appointed by Crestline Hotels and Resorts as director of Sales

and Marketing for Hotel Derek in Houston.

Griffin D. Vance IV (’96) has launched a solo law practice after more than seven years leading the in-house legal team of a recognized international media and publishing company. The Law Office of Griffin D. Vance, PC (www.gdvlaw.com), founded in 2007, is located in Houston and serves a diverse client base.

David A. Wallace (Pharm.D. ’98), a clinical assistant professor at UH College of Pharmacy, has been appointed to the Texas State Board of Pharmacy’s Task Force on Class D Pharmacy Regulations.

t Temple Weiss (M.H.M. ’96) has been selected as executive vice president

and chief financial officer for La Quinta.

t Trey Wilkinson (’94, M.B.A. ’02) was promoted in March to Senior Vice President at U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management.

He serves as a portfolio manager for high-net-worth individuals, foundations and endowments.

May J. Woo (’91) was elected National President-Elect of the Phi Lambda Sigma pharmacy leadership honor society in March. Woo is a clinical assistant professor at UH College of Pharmacy.

2000st Rebecca “Becky” Allen (’06) married Eric Veazie on April 12 in Galveston, Texas.

Sameer Bhasin (’03) has been promoted to director of marketing at Independent Marketing Alliance in Houston.

Ana Calvo (M.S.W. ’07) was honored with the 2008 Commitment to Leadership Award by United Way of Greater Houston.

Ardis M. Clinton (’02) was recently hired by Perkins+Will as a project manager in the firm’s Science/Technology Houston office.

Harold Cariaga DelasAlas (Pharm.D. ’04) has accepted an Internal Medicine residency with a subspecialty in Invasive (Interventional) Cardiovascular Medicine at Washington University/Barnes-Jewish Hospital.

Layne Eggers (M.H.M. ’00) has been nominated for the 2008 IFSA President’s Award for developing and implementing the Airline Services Management class at the Hilton College.

t Paula Do Amaral Galhardo (LL.M. ’07) has joined Looper Reed and McGraw as a foreign legal consultant. As the firm’s resident specialist on Brazilian

law, Galhardo interfaces with the firm’s South American client base in addition to advising energy clients on contractual issues.

James Garcia (’06) was named Victory 2008 director for Colorado by the Republican National Convention.

Christina A. Gonzalez (J.D. ’07) has joined King & Spalding as an attorney in its nationally-ranked healthcare practice.

President Renu Khator mingles with alumni after the first stop on her Whistle-Stop Tour, hosted by the Fort Bend Club. Future stops include San Antonio (August 6), Austin (August 12), and Dallas (October 17).

Jocqueline English (’07), Natalie Camarata (’06), Rachelle Dismukes (’07), Cheyenna Brehm (’97), Kim Maraldo (’03), and Lisa Burns (’98) flash their Cougar spirit at the 2008 Cougar Saltwater Open, hosted by the School of Communication Alumni Association.

Heather Hartman (Pharm.D. ’07), a pharmacy resident at Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, was a member of a two-person team that won the Texas Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists’ 2008 Clinical Skills Competition.

Alison Hartney (’04) is now hotel trends coordinator for PKF Consulting in Houston, TX. Prior to that, she served as catering sales manager for ARAMARK.

JoAnn Ho (’04) and Jimmy Duong (’06) were married on March 1, 2008 in Houston. They have relocated to Las Vegas where Jimmy is a restaurant manager at Caesars Palace and JoAnn is a restaurant manager at Green Valley Ranch Resort and Casino.

Lisa Kivela (Pharm.D. ’01), and Robert Scholz (’77, M.S. ’88), were married on Oct. 20, 2007, in Houston. The administrative director of pharmacy operations at the Harris County Hospital District, Lisa Scholz has been appointed to a joint national Health Resources & Services Administration team in collaboration with the Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality.

Denise Kudva (Pharm.D. ’05), and her husband, Ryan, welcomed their first children, twins Dylan and Grace, on Dec. 20, 2007. Denise is a clinical pharmacist at The University of Texas-M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

Michael L. Lammers (M.S. ’04) was named flight director by NASA, joining a select group of individuals who lead human spaceflights from Mission Control at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Denise Martinez-Jonathan (Pharm.D. ’05), attended the Texas Pharmacy Association’s RxPerts Leadership Institute in San Antonio in October 2007. She is the pharmacy administrator of clinical services at Kelsey-Seybold Clinic.

Aldo Medina (’04) has accepted a new position as Assistant Director of Finance at the Hilton Post Oak in the Galleria.

Bebe Miller (’02) has accepted a new position as director of catering sales at the Hotel Derek in Houston.

Shannon Miller (’03), the most decorated gymnast in US Olympic history, was recently inducted into the International

Women’s Sports Hall of Fame.

Luis Carlos Montenegro (Pharm.D. ’04), has been promoted to Pharmacy Operations Coordinator at Las Palmas Medical Center in El Paso, Texas.

Lana Pipkins (’07) is working as a news producer for a NBC affiliate in North Texas.

Staci Prescott (Pharm.D. ’04), who works as the Lead Staff Pharmacist at Harris Methodist Fort Worth Hospital, recently received the Texas Society of Health-System Pharmacists’ 2008 New Pharmacist Award.

Rebecca J. Rentz (J.D. ’00) has rejoined Bracewell & Giuliani as counsel in the firm’s Environmental Group based in Houston.

Bettina Rodarte (M.H.M. ’03) has accepted a new position at Askar Capital Inc. in Satellite Beach, FL as manager of their real estate advisory group.

Yousif Rojeab (Ph.D. ’07), is an assistant professor of pharmaceutics at the Ohio Northern University College of Pharmacy in Ada, Ohio.

Ryan K. Roux (Pharm.D. ’99), recently named Chief Pharmacy Officer of the Harris County Hospital District, has been honored with the Texas Society of Health-System Pharmacists’ 2008 Pharmacy Leadership Award.

Guest speaker Dr. Ioannis Kakadiaris and NSM Alumni Association President Danny Nguyen (’97, M.B.A. ’04) chat at the Haak Winery tour and tasting.

Beth Brennan (’02), Bettina Rodarte (‘98, M.H.M ’03), Gregg Rockett (’86) and host James Wieting (’06) socialize at a Hilton College South Florida Alumni Chapter get-together.

C L A S S N O T E S

Paula Saentz (’06) recently started as an asset management analyst for Westmont Hospitality Group in Houston.

Rick Schneider (Pharm.D. ’04), and his wife, Jennifer, welcomed their second child, Julie Marie Schneider, on Jan. 25, 2008. Schneider is a pharmacist for Walgreens in Cinco Ranch (west Houston).

Maria Victoria Tejada-Simon (M.Ed. ’07) has joined the UH College of Pharmacy as an assistant professor of pharmacology.

Christina Tremblay (Pharm.D. ’06), and Benjamin J. Head were married on May 19, 2007, in Lake Tahoe, Calif. Christina is a pharmacist at College Station Medical Center.

Amanda Tullos (’03) has been hired to lead Green Building Services, Inc.’s new Houston office.

t Joseph Virene (J.D. ’07) has joined Looper Reed and McGraw as an associate specializing in general commercial and construction litigation.

David Wilkinson (’07) recently accepted a position as assistant front office manager at Hotel Derek in Houston. Previously, he held the position of front office supervisor at InterContinental Hotels and Resorts.

Regent Nelda Blair (J.D. ’82), President Renu Khator, Regent Lynden Rose (’83, J.D. ’89), Regent Carroll Ray (J.D. ’02), and Regent Dennis Golden (’76, O.D. ’77) help Chairman Welcome Wilson (’49) celebrate his 80th birthday.

inmemoriam

Sadie Williford Riley (’37)

Arlene W. Ashmore (M.Ed. ’47)

Billy Ray Barfield (’50, M.S. ’60)Sanford “Sandy” Carr (’53, M.Ed. ’56)

Eugene Coddou (J.D. ’54)Dr. Harold B.Crasilneck (Ph.D. ’54)

Alan B. GaylorHarold E. Horan (J.D. ’53)

Bob LevyDorothy May Leach (’58)

Edwin L. Maxcy (’52)Burton H. Parks (M.Ed. ’57, J.D. ’57)Fred L. Sullins (J.D. ’58, M.B.A. ’60)

George ThornPatrick Wakefield (’50)

Charles Franklin Browning (J.D. ’68)James R. Collins (’61)

Lloyd K. McDonald (’62)James R. Mitchell (’60)

Arley Clayton PriceHowie Ryan (’69)

Charles R. Sundin (’65)James McMurry Waltrip (’66)

Dr. Carroll Zabel

Richard Bjerke (’77)Ann Ervin Bolton Ball (’73)

Dorothy R. Calvo (’70)Gary Easterly (’72)Rupert Garcia (’78)

Dr. James Harding (Ph.D. ’70)Deborah Robins Knopf (’73)

Joel H. Braswell (M.B.A. ’84)William “Bill” C. Cornwall (’87)Mary Ann Stewart (M.S. ’80)

Carol Ann Whitcomb (J.D. ’89)

Julie Anne Bradshaw (’91, M.A. ’97)Esteban “Steve” Robles (’95)

Ron Stone (Hon. ’94)

Raphael Baly (’04)John R. Dawson (’06)


Red denotes Houston Alumni Organization Life Members.Email your own classnotes and accompanying pictures to [email protected].

C O U G A R C O R N E R

Member FDIC

A quarterly profi le of Life Members

Presented by

LEROY BURRELL (’94)

RU

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ING

IN

PL

AC

E

“Running in Place” seems a strange headline for the former world record holder in the 100 meters, but for Leroy Burrell (’94), “place” has been the Uni-

versity of Houston—as a student athlete, as an Olympic trainee, and now as a coach. “I’m a living, breathing testament to the growth of this uni-versity,” Burrell, a Houston Alumni Organization Life Member, noted. “It’s been over 20 years that I’ve been on campus in some capacity, and it’s been great to watch the momentum build, to watch countless new buildings pop up.” In 1985, Burrell wasted no time making his mark as a fresh-man. He broke UH’s freshman long jump record (formerly held by Carl Lewis) with a 26’ 9” jump at a dual meet against UCLA. After an injury-plagued sophomore season, he returned in 1988 earning All-America honors with a fifth-place finish in the 100 meters and a seventh-place showing in the long jump at the NCAA Championships. The next year, he won the NCAA indoor long jump cham-pionship, and later set the NCAA outdoor meet record with a personal best jump of 27’ 5.50”. Two weeks later, Burrell won the 100 meters at the USA Outdoor Championships in 9.94 seconds, the fastest time ever recorded by a collegian. He also teamed with Carl Lewis, Danny Everett and current UH assis-tant coach Floyd Heard to set a world record in the 4x200 meter relay with a time of 1:19.38. As a senior in 1990, Burrell won the NCAA Indoor Long Jump

title for the second straight year with a leap of 27 feet. He also won the 100 meters at the NCAA Outdoor Championships when he posted a wind-aided time of 9.94 seconds. He set the NCAA meet record in the semifinals in 10.03 seconds. His outstanding season resulted in Burrell receiving the Jumbo Elliott Award as the nation’s top collegiate track and field ath-lete. Graduation didn’t sever Burrell’s connection to the university. He used the athletics facilities as a training center between meets. Burrell and Lewis joined forces at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain, when they combined with Mike Marsh and Dennis Mitchell to win the gold medal and set a new world record with a time of 37.40 seconds. Burrell also had a fifth-place finish in the 100 meters at the Olympic Games. In 1996, he earned a spot on the USA Olympic Team, but was forced to withdraw because of an Achilles tendon injury. Two years later, he announced his retirement as the American record holder in the 100 meters and was selected to succeed his collegiate coach and USTCA Hall of Fame coach Tom Tellez at the University of Houston. “It’s a different perspective coaching at your alma mater,” Burrell said. “I can identify with athletes by recalling when I started out here. My experience mirrors theirs. I know what it’s like to take psychology with Dr. Kasschau, or to take English 1303.” Since taking over the program in 1998, Burrell has been named the Conference USA Coach of the Year a combined 15 times after guiding his men’s teams to 10 C-USA indoor and outdoor championships, and his women’s teams to 11 C-USA titles. Individually, Burrell has tutored 37 All-American athletes during his tenure. Now that’s passing the baton.


PAWSA N D

R E M E M B E R

Members of the Houstonian staff channeling a Charlie’s Angel vibe. George

“Bud” Wilkins, Alicia R. Garcia, Donna Person, and Sheila S. Lidstone.

Refusing to wait his turn for the shower, T. Edward Bell

employs the resourcefulness UH students have become

renowned for, much to the chagrin of administrators

with window offices in E. Cullen.

Taub Hall, fourth floor. A motley group, indeed. At

front: Bruce Baird, Mark Ripple. Second row: Joe

Pogge, Randy Blum, Tom Condon, John Doody, Gary

Long, Mike Patrick. Third Row: Bill Morgan, Richard

Rathburn, John Fischer, Duke Odizor, Rod Smith,

Phil Brennan.

To leisurely browse past issues of the

Houstonian, the official University of Houston

yearbook, is to relive the dreams of students

eager to make their mark on the world. “Paws

and Remember” will regularly highlight

photographs, some funny, some nostalgic,

from a single year in Cougar history. Please

enjoy these selections from

1979.

126 University CenterHouston, TX 77004

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Documents

UH Alumline- Summer 2008