Department Faculty
G. T. Howerton – Professor of Biology, Geology,and Geography. He was an original ECU facultymember that was noted for his shocking biologyclasses. Some of these included factualdiscussions of human reproduction processes,dissection of animal bodies, and evolution.
Early Faculty MembersAt A Glance
History of the Biology DepartmentThe First 100 Years: 1909-2009
Researched by Dr. Nick Cheper
Edison A. MacMillan
1912- ?
Marvin P. Hatchett
1922-1951
-Marvin P. Hatchett taught many students inhis time at ECU, including future facultymember Doyle McCoy, and Hallie Brown Ford.
Gilman Mackin
1926-????
Mackin specialized in invertebratezoology and was a tennis coach. CurrentBiology Dept. chair, Dr. Nick Cheper,utilized several references from Mackin’swork in his dissertation on isopods.
Dr. Churchill Thomas
ECU Botanist – 1930s
Dr. Thomas examined the fossil of the Callixylon tree that isnow prominently on display on the campus of ECU, just outsideof Horace Mann. The tree was found on the Fitts property, justoutside of Ada, in 1930.
Biology Department
1940s – 1950s
Dr. McKnight was department chair from 1952-1975. He played a crucial role in establishing theMedical Technology, Nursing, & EnvironmentalSciences Programs here at ECU. Dr. McKnightalso obtained grants from NSF to help improvelaboratories. Two of his students include Dr. BillCarter, ECU faculty member, and Dr. Bill S. Cole,president of ECU.
Dr. Thomas McKnight
1947-1975
Dr. Doyle McCoy1950-1959
1962-1966
Dr. Clifford Dennis1950-1963
Poster 1 of 2
History of the Biology DepartmentThe First 100 Years: 1909-2009
Researched by Dr. Nick Cheper
Dr. Elmer Brown
1961-2000
*Dept. Chair: 1982-85
&1988-95
Poster 2 of 2
Dr. William A. Carter
1964-1995
*Dept. Chair: 1976-81
Dr. Don Noble
1965-1993Dr. Clyde
Butler
1966-1991
*Dept Chair:
1982-1985
Dr. Harry Love
1967-1990
Biology Dept.
1978
Biology Dept.
1986
Dr. Nicholas Cheper
1980-Present
*Dept. Chair: 1996-Present
Dr. Jeff Black
1988-1995
Biology Dept.
1980-Present
Current Biology Dept.
Faculty
Terry Cluck -
1990-Present
Rahmona Thompson
1991-Present
Charlie Biles -
1993-Present
Mike Bay -
1995-Present
Larry Choate
1995-Present
Ken Andrews
2000-Present
Steve Fields
2007-Present
Three Biology Dept. Chairs (from L to R):
Bill Carter, Nick Cheper, & Elmer Brown
Chemistry – Then and NowEast Central University
Department of Chemistry
East Central UniversityAda, OK 74820www.ecok.edu
Faculty: Past and Present
Dr. Willis Decker and Dr. Paul Denny (not pictured) were the first two Chemistry Faculty
Chemistry Faculty in 1986L to R: Dr. Don Stafford, Dr. Carl Eddington, Dr. Robert Neman, Dr. E.J. (Bernie) O'Brien
Dr. Robert L. Neman1979-2007
Dr. Dwight Myers1993 - present
Dr. Charles Crittell1995 - present
Dr. Dan McInnes 1996 – present
Dr. Matthew Marlow 2007 - present
Mr. Fred Pfeffer Often teaches Labs
for us
Calculation: Past and Present
The Pocket Calculator (and the Computer Spreadsheet) have
replaced the Slide Rule
Chemical Equipment: Past and Present
Two-pan Analytical Balance (ca. 1960)
Weights for Analytical Balance
Modern Analytical Balance
Molecular Models
Physical Model of Sodium Chloride NaCl (s)
Computer Generated Model of Co(OH)3 (g)
Biology Clubs Over The YearsResearched by Dr. Cheper
Biology Student Clubs have changed over the years since they
were first organized in 1922. We would like to commemorate and remember these clubs and our
students in this our Centennial Year.
Biology Club in 1950
The Biology Club was first organized in 1922 by
Professor M. P. Hatchett. (Above in circle)
Biology Club in 1969 (note student in white dress - Ms. Angela
Ables of ECU Foundation)Biology Club in 1972
Biology Club in 1981 - In picture is Todd Crabtree (Byng Superintendent)
and Gary Robinson (Director of MSC PTA program)
Biology Club in 1985
Biology Club in 1989
Biology Club in 1964
Biology Club in 1992
Biology Club in 1996 Biology Club in 2000
Dead Rat Society in 2000 and 2003
Biology Club in 2005
Biology Club in 2009
Biology Club in 1948
1971-1972 1972-1973 1973-1974 1974-1975 1975-1976 1976-1977 1977-1978 1978-1979 1979-1980 1980-1981 1981-1982 1982-1983 1983-1984 1984-1985 1985-1986 1986-1987 1987-1988 1988-1989 1989-1990 1990-1991
1991-1992 1992-1993 1993-1994 1994-1995 1995-1996 1996-1997 1997-1998 1998-1999 1999-2000 2000-2001 2001-2002 2002-2003 2003-2004 2004-2005 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009
Dr. B.J.. TillmanDirector
(1971-1972)
Dr. Ralph Ramsey 1971-1974 Chairman (1974)
Dr. Robert Garner Dean (1973-1979)
Mickey Rowe Chairman (1975-1989)
Mickey Rowe 1974-1994
Steve Schmelling 1977-1988
Mickey Rowe 1996
Dr. Laurin Patton 1978-1982
William Galegar 1981Asmare Atalay
1986Dr. Daniel Boatwright
1989-1990
Dr. Paul Woodson 1991-2001 Chairman (1994-1995, 1997-1998)
Jay Moore 1992 Jay Moore 1994-1998
Dr. Doug Weirick 1993-2009 Interim Chairman ( 2002-2003) Chairman (2004-2009)
Dr. Darryl Barnett 2000-2001 Chairman (2000)R.S.Kern Chairman
Patrick Bohan 2002-2009
Dr. Guy Sewell 2003-2009R.S.Kern Chairman
Dr. Paul Woodson Jay Moore Dr. Doug Weirick Dr. Darryl Barnett Patrick Bohan Dr. Guy Sewell
Dr. B. J. Tillman Dr. Ralph Ramsey Dr. Robert Garner Mickey Rowe Dr. Steve Schmelling Dr. Laurin Patton William Galegar Dr. Asmare Atalay Dr. Daniel Boatwright
CENTURY
Honoring The Past
OF
Enabling Academic Success
Captain William L. Roddie
Born in 1840, Captain William L. Roddie was the oldest member of the original E.C.U. faculty.
A Confederate veteran, he had a battle scar across his nose that was the result of a saber wound received during the War between the States. Inquiries about that scar frequently encouraged the Captain to launch into detailed accounts about its origin as well as his other wartime exploits.
Roddie's son was Oklahoma State Senator Reuben Roddie, who worked to secure the location of the state normal school at Ada. When his son's efforts proved successful, Captain Roddie found a place on the faculty and taught history and political science to packed classes.
Roddie retired from E.C.U. in 1919.
By Houston Mount
Captain William L. Roddie
Born in 1840, Captain William L. Roddie was the oldest member of the original E.C.U. faculty. A Confederate veteran, he had a battle scar across his nose that was the result of a saber wound received during the War between the States. Inquiries about that scar frequently encouraged the Captain to launch into detailed accounts about its origin as well as his other wartime exploits. Roddie's son was Oklahoma State Senator Reuben Roddie, who worked to secure the location of the state normal school at Ada. When his son's efforts proved successful, Captain Roddie found a place on the faculty and taught history and political science to packed classes. Roddie retired from E.C.U. in 1919.By Houston Mount
Louise Sloan Hornbeak
In 1923, Louise Hornbeak came to East Central State Teachers College as a professor of European history. She retired as the history department chair in 1963 before officially retiring from teaching in 1967. During those 44 years, she greatly influenced thousands of students through her energetic lectures, countless hours of study and preparation, and a willingness always to go the extra mile for her students.
Aside from teaching, Hornbeak traveled extensively. From 1929 – 1930, she was on leave from East Central while traveling through Europe with the purpose of gaining a better understanding of European history. In 1932, Hornbeak spent time in Russia during Stalin’s regime at a time when the state was collectivizing farms, and famine was sweeping the countryside. She was considered an authority on the Russian Revolution.
Hornbeak’s legacy lives on at ECU through one of the largest gifts that the university has ever received. Upon her death on Nov. 5, 1990, Hornbeak bequeathed her estate to the university, totaling nearly $1 million. The funds were used to establish the Louise Hornbeak History Scholarship. The award allows Hornbeak Scholars to attend ECU for four years with all expenses paid. There were nine students in the inaugural group of Hornbeak Scholars and since the first year, one new scholar is awarded the scholarship each year.
By Susan Ingram
Palmer H. Boeger
James Harris, Marvin Kroeker, Palmer Boeger, Lloyd Goss 1982
ECU History Department 2009
Pictured from left to right, back row: Dr. Thomas W. Cowger, Professor of History, Chair, Chickasaw Endowed Chair; Dr. Christopher B. Bean, Assistant Professor of History; Dr. Bradley R. Clampitt, Assistant Professor of History;
Front row: Dr. Gregory K. Sutton, Assistant Professor of History; Dr. Linda Reese, Associate Professor of History; Dr. Houston F. Mount, Assistant Professor of History
Dr. Boeger was a professor of history at ECU from 1953 to 1989, retiring as chairman of the university’s history department after 36 years of teaching. He continued teaching on a part-time basis from 1989 to 2001. He received his bacehlor’s, masters and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Wisconsin.
He is remembered locally as a fixture at the Travertine Nature Center in the Chickasaw National Recreation Area where he often worked as an interpretative ranger in the summer months from 1969 to 1993.
History department faculty are professionally active throughout the academic year participating in conferences, presenting papers and lectures, writing grants, authoring book reviews, articles and book chapters. Department members also serve on numerous community, university and professional committees and boards. We continue to partner with the Department of Education and staff of the Teaching American History Grant and the Center for the Advancement of American History at East Central.
The newly created Native American Studies programs (major and minor) serve the American Indian constituency of ECU’s student body and represent a landmark achievement in partnering effectively with local Indian communities. It makes use of the strengths of university faculty members in history, political science, business, nursing, legal studies, art, English, human resources and other disciplines.
Through these efforts and a strong dedication teaching, our faculty stands ready to help our students prepare for and meet the challenges ahead, both academically and professionally.
Dr. Duane AndersonProfessor of History
Provost
Dr. Michael A. Hughes Adjunct Professor of
History
Dr. Scott BartonProfessor of HistoryDean of College of
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Back row, left to right: Dr. Bradley R. Clampitt; Richard Cooper, Master Teacher, TAH Grant; Dr. Thomas W. Cowger
Front row: Mitchelle Barton, TAH Project Coordinator; Kevin Lynch, Master Teacher, TAH Grant; Dr. Linda Reese
Native Voices ProjectKyle Gardner – First-Year Experience Coordinator
Shawna Jackson – Retention SpecialistPatricia Frasher – Data Collection Specialist
Renee Hogue – Project Director
Palmer H. Boeger
Left to right: Dr. Judy Goforth Parker, Dr. Cole, Kennedy Brown, Chickasaw FoundationDr. Thomas W. Cowger
HISTORY
Shaping The Future
Kate K. Knight E. E. Matthews
Glenn C. ClarkAlfred L. Fentem
R. S. NewcombGrace Threlkeld
E. E. HeimannBrown Mackin
James O. DanleyRobert Tinney
Darrell Terrell Donald Stafford
Phillip BriggsGene Stephenson
James HerndonKenneth BradyBurt Burns
Philip AlmesRay HamlettRita EdwardsMickle DugganAnita Walker
Eugene HobbsDragan Jancović
Patricia GrasseDavid Rose
John ColemanAnne Fine
Kerry JohnsonDavid Pike
Linda BraddyRobert Ferdinand
Meredith WortJohn Davenport
Heather HannahNoel SagulloJanet Wansick
Edmon PerkinsAndrei Ghenciu
Knight
Fentem
Heimann
Terrell
Briggs
Stephenson
Brady
Duggan
Hannah
How Different Was 1909? Three Theories of Social ChangeThe 21st Century: Wild Times?
When society changes rapidly, it’sability to put limits on individuals’behavior is reduced. Fast-changing,modern, societies experienceanomie—literally “normlessness.”In periods of anomie,individuals are lessconstrained by societyand more likely toengage in selfishbehavior. EmileDurkheim usedsocial indicators suchAs suicide, divorce, and crime ratesto demonstrate the presence ofanomie in a society.
1909 2009Homicide Rate(per 100,000 pop.)
4.2 5.9
Suicide rate(per 100,000 pop.)
14 11.1
Divorce rate (per 1000 pop.)
0.9 3.6
As the stats show, insome ways the “good oledays” may not have beenas stable as we oftenassume! Early 20th
Century America wasa time of rapid change;people 100 years ago faced similar problems.
Fewer Kids, Longer Lives
In the old days, human populationshad high birth and death rates.Technological advancement lowersdeath rates by allowing more foodproduction, better medicine, & otherinnovations. As populations growand society industrializes, fewerpeople farm and kids become aneconomic liability instead of anasset. Families choose to have fewerchildren. Demographic TransitionTheory accurately predicts reducedbirth rates in developed societiesto go with sinking death rates.In fact, most developed societies’birth rates are so low thatpopulations would shrink each yearif not for immigration.
1909 2009Average Family Size
4.6 2.58
ECU
So
cio
logy
ECU So
ciolo
gy
God & CountryIn 1909 the U.S. was a very religious, very Protestant nation. Most Americans believed that all Americans should be Christian and that non-Christian immigrants should convert to Christianity. Attempts were made to keep Catholics and Jews out of the U.S. Schools
around the U.S. began the day with aprayer. In 2009 the U.S. is still a very religious nation, but less so than inthe past. A growing percentage (about 12%) of Americans are non-believers, and a large majority ofAmericans believe that religion is a very private matter—and thatimmigrants should be allowed to practice whatever religion they
choose. Despite resistance, the U.S. Supreme Court has moved closer to Thomas Jefferson’s vision of a “separation of church and state.”
The secularizationthesis is the ideathat, as a societydevelops techno-logically and eco-nomically, religiousbelief and practicefade. While a majorityof Americans believe in god, today only about25% attend weekly church services regularly.