The Columns of East Central University Fall 2009

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

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

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

In compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendment Act of 1972, Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other federal laws and regulations, East Central University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, handicap, disability, or status as a veteran, in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This includes, but is not limited to, admissions, employment, financial aid, and education services. This publication is issued by East Central University as authorized by Title 70 OS 1981, Section 3903. Mercury Press, Inc of Oklahoma City has printed 1,800 copies at a cost of $2,579.88.

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

Feature Writers: Jill Frye, Susan Ingram & Brian JohnsonOther Contributors: Diane Berty, Catie Caton, Dallas Coplin, Amy Ford, John Hargrave, Buffy Lovelis & Gerald WilliamsonDesigners: Jill Frye, Susan Ingram, Gina Smith & Ryan WetherillCover Photographer: Jacklyn Patterson of Fine Photography by Jacklyn PattersonPhotographers: Amy Ford, Jill Frye, Susan Ingram & Gina Smith Alumni News and Events: Buffy LovelisSports Information: Brian Johnson, Brian DeAngelis & Gerald WilliamsonOnline Version: Ryan Wetherill

How to update your information:

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

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

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

Personal Information Date _________________________

Name ______________________________________________________ first middle last (maiden) Street ______________________________________________________City____________________________ State ______ ZIP _____________Home Phone ___________________ Cell Phone ___________________Email __________________________________ DOB _______________ECU Grad Year(s) ________________Major _______________________Campus Affiliations and Activities ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Personal News ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Employer _________________________ Occupation _______________

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Family InformationSpouse’s Name _____________________________________________Spouse DOB _______________ Anniversary Date _________________Did spouse attend ECU? ____________ Grad Year(s) _______________Cell Phone ____________________ Email _______________________Spouse Employer _________________ Spouse Occupation __________

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Been promoted? Honored? Awarded? Recently moved? Married? Had a baby? What’s the scoop about you and your family?We want to hear from you!

The Columns 3

Fellow Alumni,I have to be one of the happiest ECU alums

anywhere. I am now back at the school I love and am humbled to be its eighth president as of July 1.

My family has a long tradition here. I guess I was destined to be a Tiger. My grandparents attended ECU, both my parents are graduates, and so are their three children. In addition, I met my wife Kay here and my two sisters, Cindy Keefer and Jana Howard, met their husbands at ECU.

My mother and one of my aunts also have master’s degrees from ECU and one of my children went to school here for two years.

It is fun to reminisce about our ECU years, especially as we are reminded of our history during this Centennial year. We all have our stories about our college friends, classes, professors, tribulations and triumphs. I hope yours are as memorable and meaningful as mine.

I used to study in the original Linscheid Library, which we called the Money Maze Library, after a TV

President’sMessage

game show of the time, because everything was on a half-floor. I could not have known that it would be transformed into Danley Hall one day, stripped of its half-floors, and I would come to work in the president’s office on the second floor.

I want all of you to know that your school is alive and well. You can be certain it is very well maintained and its reputation is strong.

You are always welcome to come back and I hope you do. In fact, we want and need your help. Alumni play a very important role in recruiting new students and showing them the traditions and spirit of their university.

We have the prettiest campus in Oklahoma and the new Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center is a beautiful state-of-the-art facility that will open so many doors for students and offer many enhanced cultural opportunities for southeastern Oklahoma.

We have much to brag about, but still much work to do. We have begun to make huge improvements in our athletic facilities that will pay big dividends in our athletic program. The new Pat O’Neal Strength and Conditioning Center is one of the best in NCAA Division II athletics. It will not only facilitate the strengthening and conditioning of our athletes, it will be a great recruiting tool.

That structure made it possible to totally remodel the Elvan George Building to enlarge the football locker room and upgrade the coaches’ locker room and meeting room.

Also, the stadium has new aluminum seats, there are new bleachers at the tennis courts and the baseball and soccer fields plus a new press box at the baseball field.

These improvements show our commitment to our athletes and to winning. People will notice and want to be a part of it.

You also are an important part of East Central University – you represent the reason we exist: to educate students. Please stay involved. Keep up with the university on our website, www.ecok.edu, or on the alumni website, alumni.ecok.edu, or call Buffy Lovelis, director of alumni relations, at 580-559-5651.

Once a Tiger, Always a Tiger,

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

The President’s Viewpoint .....................................3ECU’s New President .............................................4Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center. .....................8A Legacy of Caring ..............................................12Evening of Honors & Recognition Recap ...........12Commencement 2009..........................................14

Homecoming ’09..................................................16Alumni Association ..............................................18Centennial Scholarship Fundraising ....................20Centennial Celebrations .......................................21Tiger Athletics ......................................................22Tiger Tracks .........................................................26W

hat’s

Ins

ide:

4 The Columns

He’s lived in an East Central University residence hall and eaten in the cafeteria. He shoveled sand for new campus sidewalks, tore out old lockers in McBride Gym and carried half the beds out of Knight Hall for remodeling projects, and – the worst time of his life – crawled through the dank

depths of Science Hall to seal it against moisture.

ECU’s New President

The Hargrave family includes Melissa (foreground), Robert (from left), Lora, John R. Hargrave, wife Kay and Jeff.

He also graduated with honors in 1977, earning numerous speech and debate trophies for ECU, performing in theatre productions, leading his fraternity and participating in many campus activities. And about a dozen years ago he even provided color commentary for radio broadcasts of ECU Tiger football. Today, John R. Hargrave of Wewoka has returned to the campus as the university’s eighth president. His appointment by the Board of Regents of the Regional University System of Oklahoma became effective on July 1. Dr. Duane C. Anderson, provost and vice president for academic affairs, had served as interim president since Jan. 1 following the resignation of Dr. Richard Rafes. “This is not only a dream for me, but for my wife as well,” Hargrave said. “I hope this is the last job I ever have.” Hargrave, 54, resigned June 1 as a managing partner of the Edmonds Cole Law Firm which he helped establish in Oklahoma City in 1985. He brings to ECU his extensive experience in management, bringing about economic development to Seminole County and working with all levels of government as Wewoka’s mayor. Many people encouraged him to apply for the presidency of ECU, he said. “I think I can make a difference,” he said. “I want to make a difference. I want to live in Ada and be involved in education. I really enjoy teaching and working with young adults.” During his presidency Hargrave

plans to emphasize one thing – “I want our faculty, staff and students to never lose sight of why ECU exists: for the education of our students,” he said. “I want students to know that I’m here for them,” he added. “I want to be their adviser. I’m here to help them, as are our faculty and staff members. I want students to know that I lived in Pesagi Hall my freshman and senior years, that I ate in the cafeteria. I want students to know that I lived in student housing this past summer.

“I don’t ever want to be put on a pedestal.” Recognizing the hardship students and their parents face during these difficult economic times, Hargrave said, “We all need to be aware of those struggles and help any way we can. “Students need to appreciate the sacrifices their parents make to provide them their education. I will work as hard as I can to create opportunities for families struggling to send their kids to school.

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Continued on Page 6

“I had three children in college at the same time for three years,” he added with a sigh. “My wife and I personally understand the challenges faced by our students and their families.” Hargrave’s first semester as president will be devoted to learning about the university, its physical property and its people. “I want to learn everything I can before we change anything,” he said. “ECU has good people. I want to let them do their jobs.” However, as he learns he also knows he wants to look at ways to expand activities that will bring more high school students to ECU’s campus. “Through these activities, students and their families will see how friendly we are and will have the opportunity to explore our beautiful campus. We’ll have a better chance to recruit them,” he said. He knows this from personal experience as that is exactly what happened to him. Hargrave had planned to enroll at the University of Oklahoma until he competed in a high school speech and debate tournament at ECU.

“The ECU coach came up to me and said, ‘I want you to debate at ECU,” he recalled. “I felt wanted and honored. I came here on a speech and debate scholarship and then majored in speech and sociology.” Hargrave said he and his wife Kay, a 1978 ECU graduate, wanted to move back to Ada, and almost did, after he received a juris doctor degree from the University of Oklahoma School of Law in 1980. However, jobs kept them from realizing this dream. She was a chemist in the electrical engineering department at Western Electric in Oklahoma City

and he began practicing law with an Oklahoma City law firm. He was managing partner of Neimeyer, Edmonds, Noland, Alexander & Hargrave from 1983 to 1985 when he became one of the founders of the Edmonds Cole Law Firm. The couple had busy schedules and one child by the time he graduated

John and Kay Hargrave (left) pose at the Block Party that welcomed students back to the campus in August. President Hargrave (center, from left) moves into an apartment in Tiger Commons. He lived in the residence hall and apartment during the summer. A television reporter interviews Hargrave at a reception in his honor. A good friend (bottom), Becky McKenzie welcomes President Hargrave back to the East Central University campus at the reception.

Oklahoma Bar Association in 2004. He was mayor of Wewoka from 2002 to 2007 and helped oversee the construction of a new water/sewer plant and the improvement of water purification plants. Hargrave also helped negotiate the establishment of a juvenile treatment facility in Wewoka while a long-time member of the Board of Directors of Wewoka Industries. He founded the Downtown Investment Group and the Wewoka Community Foundation and served as the liaison for these groups and the city of Wewoka and Wewoka Industries with the Wewoka Chamber of Commerce. The Hargraves have four children, Jeff, a former ECU student who is an attorney for the Whitten Burrage Law Firm in Oklahoma City; Robert, a recent graduate of Oklahoma State University who works for Central Rural Electric Cooperative in Stillwater; Lora, a recent graduate of the University of Oklahoma School of Nursing; and Melissa, a veterinary medicine student at Oklahoma State University.

6 The Columns

‘I think I can make a difference. I want to make a difference.’

- John R. Hargrave

from law school. But after the birth of their twins, things got really hectic and Hargrave made a suggestion to Kay: Since they had always wanted to move to a small town, which might have fewer opportunities for a chemist, why didn’t she take the LSAT (Law School Admission Test) and become an attorney? “She did, and she scored much higher than I did,” Hargrave acknowledged. In 1994, now with four children, the Hargraves bought a five-bedroom house behind his parents’ home in Wewoka and realized their goal of living in a small town. Kay Hargrave is an assistant district attorney in Wewoka for Seminole, Hughes and Pontotoc Counties and plans to continue her career. The new ECU president is the son of Justice Rudolph Hargrave of the Oklahoma Supreme Court and Madeline Hargrave. His grandfather, also an ECU alumnus, was an attorney and so is his oldest son. Hargrave said he, his parents, and both sisters, Cindy Keefer of Ada and Jana Howard of Ardmore, all met their spouses while attending ECU.

“And most of the friends we travel with and socialize with are kids we met at ECU,” he said. After moving back to Wewoka, Hargrave commuted to his office in Oklahoma City, participated in numerous civic and youth-related activities in Oklahoma City and Wewoka while still carrying the same workload as his colleagues. Never one to stand on the sidelines, he has worked extensively with the Oklahoma City YMCA, the Boy Scouts of America and with his children on Future Farmers of America projects. He received the Cross and Flame Award from the Methodist Church for work with the youth. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Seminole State College Foundation and the Visitors Board of the Sam Noble Museum of Natural History on the OU campus and a trustee of the Jasmine Moran Children’s Museum in Seminole and the Wewoka Foundation for Excellence in Education. The Hargraves received the Volunteer Parents of the Year Awards in 2004 and 2006 from Wewoka Public Schools and the Outstanding Service to the Public Award from the

President Hargrave (above) speaks at the ribbon cutting of the Pat O’Neal Strength and Conditioning Center. President Hargrave (right) rides a mechanical bull at the Block Party, to the delight of students.

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•PartofthenewECUPresi-dentialLeadershipClassin1973,oneof100freshmenselectedtoreceivefulltuition. •Asafreshman,namedthebestspeakerinadebatetourna-mentatSouthwestTexasStateUniversity. •Asasophomore,withDavidFrost,wonatournamentinKansasqualifyingthemtodebateinanationalcompetition--andwin--against80schoolsfrom13states. •Asajunior,tookfirstplaceastopspeakeratacompetitionatSoutheasternLouisianaStateUniversity. •HasaletterfromthelateCarlAlbert,speakeroftheU.S.HouseofRepresentativesatthetime,con-gratulatinghimasacandidatefortheLinscheidAwardforexcellenceinforensics,whichhewon,andforwinningfirstplaceinanoratoricalcontestatECU. •RecipientoftheFrancisco-HatchettScholarship

Student Accomplishments

Left: Hargrave re-hearses with Roger Harris, now an Ada radio executive, for the ECU production of “Enter Laughing.”Far Left: Har-grave and David Duke work out blocking for “Enter Laughing” in 1977.

ECU alums and parents of President John Hargrave are Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice Rudolph Hargrave and Madeline Hargrave.

Left: Hargrave as an ECU freshman and as a law student at the Uni-versity of Oklahoma.Below: Hargrave (far right) with the East Central Debate Team that won second place at the Southwest Tex-as State University Speech Festival: Dr. Dennis Jones, Rodd Payne, Lila Sex-ton and David Frost.

8 The Columns

Aug. 17 – Sept. 26 Centennial Show - American

Masterpieces, Leon Polk Smith, sponsored in part by the National

Endowment for the ArtsArt Gallery, HBFFAC

Sept. 25 & 26Centennial Musical

ECU - A Year in the LifeAtaloa Theatre, HBFFAC

Sept. 28Centennial Clarinet RecitalAtaloa Theatre, HBFFAC

Friday, September 25, 2009Tours of the Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center

3 - 3:45 p.m.Dedication in the Ataloa Theatre

4:00 p.m.Tours of the Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center*

5 - 6:45 p.m.Centennial Performance

“ECU, A Year in the Life: Celebrating 100”*7:00 p.m.

* Encore performance and tours available. See website for details: www.ecok.edu/hbffac

OctoberSept. 29 - Oct. 24

3 Women from TexasArt Gallery, HBFFAC

Oct. 22 - 25Book of Days by Lanford WilsonDirected by Dr. Rick Groetzinger

Chalmers Herman Theatre, HBFFAC

Oct. 27Music Theatre Cabaret Featuring SHOWTIME

Directed by Patrick SweetChalmers Herman Theatre, HBFFAC

Dedication & Grand Opening

Oct. 28Massenkoff Russian Folk Festival

as part of the Scissortail Arts SeriesAtaloa Theatre, HBFFAC

Oct. 29Instrumental Ensembles Recital

Ataloa Theatre, HBFFAC

Oct. 30“Country Can Cure” Concert

hosted by ZTAbenefitting Breast CancerEducation & AwarenessAtaloa Theatre, HBFFAC

Fine Arts Schedule of Events2009 - 2010

Visit www.ecok.edu/hbffac or call 580-559-5781

for more information and event updates.

NovemberOct. 26 – Nov. 30

24 Works on PaperArt Gallery, HBFFAC

Nov. 5Literary Arts Festival

as part of the Scissortail Arts SeriesDorothy I. Summers Theatre, SH

Nov. 12 - 15Senior Project Showcase

Night, Mother! by Marsha NormanDirected by Randi Hall

Chalmers Herman Theatre, HBFFAC

Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Luneby Terrence McNally

Acting project by Kim WrenChalmers Herman Theatre, HBFFAC

Nov. 16 - 20Centennial Interpretation Showcase

Lockmiller Grand Lobby

Nov. 19 - 21The Old Maid and the Thief

& The Medium (double header)both by Gian Carlo Menotti

Directed by Dr. Melody BaggechDorothy I. Summers Theatre, SH

Nov. 21 & 22Lowak Shoppala’ (Fire & Light)

Chickasaw Nation & ECUAtaloa Theatre, HBFFAC

DecemberDec. 1 - 17

Senior ExhibitsArt Gallery, HBFFAC

Dec. 2 & 3Centennial performance

MessiahAtaloa Theatre, HBFFAC

Dec. 5Oklahoma City Ballet presents

The Nutcrackersponsored by the Ada Arts Council

Ataloa Theatre, HBFFAC

FebruaryFeb. 8 & 9

Interscholastic Art ShowArt Gallery, HBFFAC

Feb. 15 – March 12Red Ryder

Art Gallery, HBFFAC

Feb. 18 - 21A Little Night Music

by Stephen SondheimDirected by Dr. Rick Groetzinger

Ataloa Theatre, HBFFAC

MarchMarch 8

ECU Wind Ensemble/Symphonic Band ConcertAtaloa Theatre, HBFFAC

March 9 & 10 District Vocal Music Festival

Ataloa Theatre, HBFFAC

March 22 - April 9Annual Faculty ExhibitArt Gallery, HBFFAC

March 25Instrumental Ensembles Recital

Ataloa Theatre, HBFFAC

AprilApril 1 - 3

Scissortail Creative Writing Festivalas part of the Scissortail Arts Series

Estep Multimedia Center, UC &Dorothy I. Summers Theatre, SH

April 8 - 11Baby with the Bathwaterby Christopher Durang

Directed by Theo PeshehonoffChalmers Herman Theatre, HBFFAC

April 10So Percussion

as part of the Scissortail Arts SeriesAtaloa Theatre, HBFFAC

April 12 - 30Annual Student Art Show

Art Gallery, HBFFAC

April 23 & 24Spring Dance Concert

Ataloa Theatre, HBFFAC

April 29ECU Wind Ensemble/Symphonic Band

ConcertAtaloa Theatre, HBFFAC

April 30SHOWTIME Dazzling Duets & More

Directed by Patrick SweetChalmers Herman Theatre, HBFFAC

JanuaryJan. 11 – Feb. 5

Frank WickArt Gallery, HBFFAC

Jan. 16Oklahoma Band Directors

Association ConcertAtaloa Theatre, HBFFAC

MayMay 1 - 14Senior Exhibits

Art Gallery, HBFFAC

• HBFFAC - Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center

• SH - Science Hall• UC - University Center

Building Key

10 The Columns

Facility Amenities Ï The HBFFAC features 25 classrooms

and three computer labs. Ï The Dr. Arthur W. Kennedy (‘41) Band

Room contains percussion rehearsal space, storage for instruments, a band library and eight private practice rooms.

Ï The William C. Thrash Television Studio features three new cameras and is the first true high-def TV studio in the southeastern Oklahoma.

Ï The new art gallery exhibits the work of nationally renowned and locally known artists as well as student shows.

Ï The Sculpture Garden displays student work and has a working sculpture courtyard and ceramics studio.

Ï The Chalmers Herman Theatre is an intimate theatre with versatile seating of up to 200 patrons and features a balcony performance/seating area.

Ï Ataloa Theatre is a large theatre that seats up to 1,091 patrons with both floor and balcony seating available.

Ï The Ataloa Theatre orchestra pit is automated to raise or lower as needed for musicals and ballets.

Ï The Peshehonoff Scene Shop features specific areas for construction and painting, as well as technical office work.

Ï The HBFFAC features a recording studio that enables ECU students to record live events occurring in the Ataloa Theatre and to have them available later on CD.

Degree programslocated in the

Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center

Art Ï Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Arts, Graphic

Design & Art Education Ï Minors available in Art and Art History

Communication Ï Electronic & Print Media Ï Advertising/Public Relations Ï Communication Studies Ï Speech Education Ï Theatre Ï Musical Theatre Ï Minors offered in Communication

Studies, Dance, Media Graphic Arts, Mass Communication and Theatre

Music Ï Instrumental Music/Teacher

Certification Ï Instrumental Music Ï Vocal Music - Teacher Certification Ï Vocal Music Ï Piano - Teacher Certification Ï Piano Ï Sacred Music Ï Minors offered in all areas of Music

Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts CenterHallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center

“I know the Fine Arts Center has been on the drawing board for a long time. I think it will give our arts departments a much needed boost in enrollment as well as attendance at the performances...there is a lot of talent in our school and hopefully people will really support us.” - Kassie Ingle, ’09 Theatre

“The new Fine Arts Center is completely different, it does not have the essence and the history of old Science Hall, but it will surely make its own.” - Kelli Lowe, ’08 Theatre

“I think it will be good for Ada’s growing community. It will bring greater unity to the music department, especially with the instrumental and vocal departments in particular. Students will have a greater pride in their participation in the fine arts.” - Krista Hatter, ’07 Music

“I believe having all the fine arts together: theatre, band, choir, mass communications and art, will improve each individual major by promoting unity throughout the arts. It will be nice to see how the departments work together as well as seeing students explore other opportunities that are now available. Because we lived in ‘different worlds,’ or buildings, we didn't know of the various opportunities that were available outside of our own major.” - Cryse Burns, ’06 Music

“I think the new fine arts building is amazing. I think it will draw students’ attention to majors housed there that they may not have considered before.

The Dorothy Summers Theatre allowed for small to medium sized performances. The new theatre will allow for productions on a much larger scale. While the Dorothy Summers Theatre was a venue steeped in tradition, I think this new theatre will help our students understand some of the larger scale theatres around the nation by providing them with information about the preparation necessary for a large scale performance.” - B.J. Echard, ’07 Theatre & Mass Communications ECU Recruiter

“New facilities, that are as big and impressive as the Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center, will motivate students to have a higher quality of work and performance.” - Adam Hall, ’08 Art

With the Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center opening at East Central University, two recent acquisitions are on exhibit in the art gallery – valuable paintings by one of Latvia’s most noted artists, Ludolfs Liberts.

The paintings were donated to ECU by Liberts’ granddaughter, Melita Long of Ada, who works on campus for Chartwell’s Dining Service.

Both paintings appear to have been painted in Venice, and both are valued at approximately $10,000.

“They were just sitting in my house, so I talked to my mom before I did this and went from there. She was all for it,” Long said.

Her mother, Jana Mitchell of Altus, was born in Riga, Latvia, to Liberts and his wife, Latvian opera singer Amanda Liberts Rebane. They all fled from Latvia during World War II.

“My mother-in-law and father-in-law went to school at ECU and I work here, so I decided it would be nice to donate the paintings and let the students enjoy them,” Long said.

Liberts was known for painting landscapes and cityscapes, but he also was a stage designer. He designed 35 productions for the National Opera of Latvia, later named the Riga Opera Theatre.

Amanda Liberts Rebane performed the role of Carmen some 300 times, Long said.

Long never knew her grandfather, who died in 1959 in New York, but she has scoured the internet to learn more about him. A number of

paintings can be viewed online, including a couple of his stage designs from operas in which her grandmother performed.

“It’s nice to have all his paintings in your home,” Mitchell said, “but only a small number of people see them. In a museum or art gallery, more people will see them. That’s what my father believed, too. Besides enjoying painting them, he wanted other people to see and enjoy them.”

Dr. Brad Jessop, chair of ECU’s Department of Art, said he was amazed when Long offered to donate her paintings to the university.

“His (Liberts) name rang a bell but I was not familiar with him,” Jessop said. “I did some research and thought, ‘Oh my gosh.’

“If I hadn’t had the experience before of bumping into people who had a good painting, I would have been more surprised,” he added. “It’s funny how life takes you on a certain journey and you end up in a certain place. I think it’s great Melita did this.”

Long also will loan some art books about her grandfather’s work for exhibition in the Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center. They list museum collections with his work in Paris, Brussels, Moscow, Stockholm, Vienna, Helsinki, Oslo, Riga, Belfast, Dublin, London, Madrid and New York.

Some of those museums were damaged or destroyed during World War II, however, and Long does not know the fate of those paintings.

In 1944, Long’s mother and grandparents “sneaked out of Latvia,” Long said. “They wanted to give my mom a better life.”

They were among many of the Latvian opera company’s members who left their country and never returned after it was invaded by Russia in 1940 and occupied by German troops in 1941. Many changes had come to the opera company and some members were arrested or deported.

The Liberts family first went to Austria, then to Germany after the war ended. They were

sponsored by American artist friends and came to the United States in 1950, settling in New York where Liberts continued to paint and taught at New York City College.

Famous Artist’s Granddaughter Donates Paintings To ECU

Melita Long (right) shows off one of two paintings by Latvian painter Ludolfs Liberts that she has donated to East Central University. Participating in the presentation were Dr. Brad Jessop (from left), chair of ECU’s Department of Art, and Long’s niece and sister, Kyra Spradling and Mary Spradling, both of Shawnee.

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Messiah to be Performed In years past, East Central University presented an annual Hanging of the Greens and hosted performances of Handel’s Messiah to spread the warmth and joy of the holiday season to the surrounding community. Keeping with that tradition, Dr. Steven Walker, director of chorale activities, will direct the Ada and ECU communities in a production of Messiah, bringing our Centennial to a close. “It fits into the Centennial year so well,” Walker said, “because it was such an integral

part of the choral program in the 1950s and 1960s when Robert Kaebnick, the music department chair and director of choral activities, did it every year.” Messiah is an oratorio composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel, based on the life of Jesus of Nazareth and his significance according to the Christian faith. This year, in honor of the closing of the Centennial, ECU will present traditional selections from the three parts of Messiah at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2, and Thursday, Dec. 3, in the Ataloa Theatre following

the annual holiday party and tree lighting ceremony in the Lockmiller Grand Lobby of the new Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center. The performances are free to the public. The production will incorporate ECU students, faculty, staff and alumni in leading roles and ECU and Ada community members in the chorus. We invite you to join us in celebrating the holiday season and 100 years of excellence at East Central University.

12 The Columns

Dr. Jack Paschall As the faculty member with the longest continuous service to ECU, Paschall held the honor of carrying ECU’s mace while leading the president and platform party in commencement ceremony processions. He came to ECU in 1970 and directed audio visual

services for 11 years and taught an audio visuals course for every student in the Education Department. Next, he was director of student teaching and field experience for 13 years, assigning all education students to public schools along with ECU faculty members to supervise them. “I supervised a large number myself. I loved that part,” he said, “being out in the schools.” Paschall said people decide to become teachers because they find that working with young people is highly

enjoyable. “Teachers and young people are wonderful to work with,” he said. “I’ve laughed a lot about this – Look at who lawyers get to be with all day. Then look at who I get to be with all day. It makes me glad I’m not a lawyer,” he said with another hearty laugh. Paschall worked with the state’s Resident Teacher Program for first-year teachers since its beginning in the early 1980s, visiting schools to observe new teachers several times a year. He taught at the Ardmore Higher Education Center the first semester ECU offered classes there and taught ECU classes at McAlester, Duncan and Shawnee. He also was dean of ECU’s School of Graduate Studies from 1990 to 2000. He will teach online classes part-time this fall and supervise student teachers. Paschall earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Southeastern Oklahoma State University and a doctor of education degree in secondary education and instructional technology from the University of Oklahoma.He and his wife Linda are the parents of three children,

EvEning of Honors and rEcognition

2009 Distinguished FamilyThe Fentem Family

2009 Distinguished Former FacultyDr. William Carter

A Legacy of Caring Chances are, if you didn’t know Dr. Jack Paschall during your years at East Central University, you probably knew Marcia Carter. Paschall, professor of education and an Adolph Linscheid Distinguished Teaching Professor, retired this spring after 39 years at ECU. Carter worked in the Financial Aid Office for 39 years and retired in June 2008 as director. The two colleagues coming to ECU at approximately the same time, had young sons about the same age and their families became good friends. Both say their years at ECU have been extremely rewarding. “There comes a time when it’s time to move on. I always thought it’s better to leave while people could still pretend they’re sorry to see you go,” Paschall said with a hearty laugh. Carter decided to retire last year after a medical problem almost took her life. “Leaving ECU was the most difficult thing I’ve done in my life,” she said. “I still get teary-eyed thinking about it. I just didn’t ever imagine myself not being there.” She said she cried any time someone mentioned her approaching retirement, but she knew it was the right thing to do. “It was time. The Lord spared me for some reason, but it was not to be at ECU,” she said with a chuckle. Paschall, who will be inducted into the Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame this fall, estimated he has taught about 10,000 students at ECU. Carter said she has no idea how many students she’s worked with over the years.

Presenting awards are Dr. Duane C. Anderson, Provost and Dr. Diane Berty, Interim Vice President for University Advancement.

two surviving, and have nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. “I’m blessed to have been allowed to spend my life at ECU doing what I’ve been doing with the people I have been associated with,” he said. “I wouldn’t change a thing. I truly mean that.”

Marcia Carter Carter began on Sept. 1, 1969, as the first secretary in the Financial Aid Office. She became the assistant director in the 1970s and director in 2003. People who work in financial aid “either stay forever or they work a year and they’re gone,” Carter said. “It’s high stress and ever changing. We have to meet federal regulations and make university policies work with the federal regs.”

Seeing a student who has become successful far outweighs the frustrations, however. “I’ve had lots of students say, ‘I couldn’t have made it without you,’ but obviously, they could,” she said. “They say, ‘If you hadn’t helped me and walked me though (the financial aid process), I wouldn’t have stuck it out to finish.” Carter often had to deal with angry students and parents who thought they should have received more financial aid. ECU, like other universities, has to comply with several federal, state and university regulations. “Students might get angry at us for things we had no control over. We were bound by federal law. It is frustrating. But when someone comes in and tells us we made a difference, it makes up for all the others.” Carter believed that students were her customers and should be treated like she wanted to be treated when she walked into a business, especially if she didn’t understand something. “More than anything, I wanted students to understand the reason why we did what we did,” she said. “We had to do what was governed. We took time to talk to them, which made them feel better, even if they didn’t agree.” She had a quotation printed which still hangs in the Financial Aid Office. It says that a student is the most important person on the campus and that without students,

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EvEning of Honors and rEcognition

2009 Distinguished ServiceBillie Jean Floyd

2009 Distinguished AlumnusBill Bridgwater

New Scholarships at the ECU Foundation 2008-09: � Bridges-Burke Social Work Scholarship � Mary Bella Faust Piano Scholarship � Buddy Gaster "Marketing Buddies" Scholarship � Tim Green Scholarship � Jack Paschall Centennial Graduate Scholarship � Kellogg Math & Science Education Scholarship � Carl Bardin Accounting Scholarship � Fenton Family Business & Accounting Scholarship � Horace Mann Memorial Centennial Scholarship � Accounting Graduate Scholarship � Business Centennial Scholarship � Austin Deaton Scholarship � Wandella McNutt Business Scholarship � Nancy Myers Scholarship � Marvin Kroeker History Award

We thank youfor your continued support!

For more information or to donate to a scholarship fund, please contact:

East Central University Foundation Inc.1100 E. 14th PMB Y-8

Ada, OK 74820

580-559-5514

Foundation_Group@ecok.edu

there is no need for the institution. “They aren’t interrupting our work, they are our work,” she said. At first, Carter was not much older than some of the students she was helping and they became friends. “Then later they would come back with their children and say, ‘I’m so glad you’re still here. I was telling my kids how much you helped me.’ That was very rewarding,” she said.

Jim Lehrer Jim Lehrer, executive editor and anchor of “The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer” on PBS, took over the “NewsHour” in 1995-96 when Robert MacNeil left “The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour” after an award-winning 20-year partnership. Lehrer also has been the moderator for 11 of the nationally televised debates among presidential candidates during the last six elections. He is a prolific author, with 19 novels, two memoirs and three plays to his credit. His 18th novel, “Mack to the Rescue,” is the seventh in his successful series of novels featuring a fictional lieutenant governor of Oklahoma. In the 1950s Lehrer worked as a ticket agent in a Continental Trailways bus depot in Victoria, Texas. One of his duties was to call for passengers to board a bus about to depart for a string of cities across the country. At ECU, he followed his tradition of including a bus call in every speech he makes for good luck. Lehrer graduated from Victoria College in Texas and the University of Missouri and served as an infantry officer in the U.S. Marines before beginning his journalism career. His work for The Dallas Morning News and the Dallas Times-Herald led him to public television at KERA-TV in Dallas, later moving to Washington, D.C., to become public affairs coordinator for PBS. Lehrer joined the National Public Affairs Center for Television and teamed up with Robert MacNeil in 1973 to provide NPACT’s continuous live coverage of the Senate Watergate hearings on PBS, an Emmy-winning collaboration. Lehrer was the anchor for PBS’ coverage of the House Judiciary Committee’s impeachment inquiry of Richard Nixon. He has received numerous awards: the 1999 National Humanities Medal, two Emmys, the Fred Friendly First Amendment Award, the George Foster Peabody Broadcast Award, the William Allen White Foundation Award for Journalistic Merit and the University of Missouri School of Journalism’s Medal of Honor. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and was inducted in 1999 into the Television

14 The Columns

East Central University graduates have enjoyed outstanding commencement speakers in the last year, and one of ECU’s favorite alums, former Gov. George Nigh, will be the speaker for fall Commencement, one of ECU’s final Centennial Year events. Jim Lehrer, a nationally known news anchor, author and moderator of 11 presidential debates, was the commencement speaker on May 9. Lt. Gen. James D. Thurman, the deputy chief of staff of the U.S. Army, gave the commencement address last December.

Gov. George Nigh Former Gov. George Nigh, often called Oklahoma’s cheerleader for his enthusiastic promotion of the state, is

a 1950 ECU graduate who was elected to his first term in the Oklahoma House of Representatives while he was a senior at ECU. He also taught at McAlester High School until 1958 when he was elected lieutenant governor at age 31, the youngest in state history and the youngest in the nation at the time. He

held that office for 16 years and promoted tourism in the state and introduced legislation that made “Oklahoma!” the state song. In 1963, however, he became Oklahoma’s 17th governor for nine days following the resignation of Gov. J. Howard Edmondson. Nigh was elected governor in November 1978. He was sworn in five days early in 1979 to fill another unexpired term, that of Gov. David Boren. He was re-elected in a landslide in 1982, becoming the first governor in state history to be elected to more than one term and the first gubernatorial candidate to carry all the state’s 77 counties. No one else has served four terms as governor. Nigh also worked to bring movie producers to film on location in Oklahoma and appointed the first two women as justices on the Oklahoma Supreme Court. For five years he was a Distinguished Statesman in Residence at the University of Central Oklahoma and served as president from 1992 to 1997. He later became a director and public relations adviser for IBC Bank.

Commencement Speakers

The Columns 15

Hall of Fame with MacNeil and The Silver Circle of the Washington, D.C. Chapter of The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences,

Lt. Gen. James D. Thurman Lt. Gen. James D. Thurman, the deputy chief of staff of the U.S. Army, was named an East Central University Distinguished Alumnus during the fall Commencement ceremony on Dec. 13, 2008. Thurman became the Army’s deputy chief of staff, G-3/5/7, in September 2007. The Army G-3/5/7 has the

Army General Staff responsibility for strategy formulation, overall force development, individual and unit training policy, the functional aspects of strategic and tactical command and control systems, nuclear and chemical matters and establishing requirements and priorities for the employment and sustenance of Army forces. The deputy chief of staff G-3/5/7 also is the Joint Chief of Staff deputy for Army Operations and serves as the principle adviser to the chief of staff of the Army on joint matters, National Security Council matters and the politico-military aspects of international affairs. A native of Marietta, Okla., Thurman received a bachelor of arts degree in history from ECU in 1975 and a master of arts degree in management from Webster University in 1986. In 1975, Thurman was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Armor branch of the Army. He began his career in the 4th Infantry Division serving as platoon leader, executive officer and motor officer for the 6th Battalion, 32nd Armor. Thurman commanded at all levels from troop to corps. After attending the Officer Rotary Wing Aviator Course, he commanded the Aero-Scout Platoon and later became the Operations Officer, A Troop, 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C. He completed the Armor Officer Advanced Course, United States Armor School, Fort Knox, Ky., in 1982 and was assigned to the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment from 1982 until 1985 where he served as a troop commander and the operations officer in the Aviation Squadron. At Fort Hood, Texas, he was the operations officer of the Apache Training Brigade from June 1986 until July 1988. Thurman then served as executive officer, 3rd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Brigade, at Fort Hood. From 1990-1991 Thurman served as the executive officer for 1st Battalion, 32nd Armor, 1st Cavalry Division, during Operations Desert Shield/Storm, Saudi Arabia. His previous assignments include commander, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment; 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized), United States Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany; commander, 2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized), Fort Stewart, Ga; commander, Operations Group, United

Commencement Over the Years

States Army National Training Center, Fort Irwin, Calif.; assistant to the chief of staff for plans and policy (J5), Allied Forces Southern Europe, Regional Command South, Italy; commanding general, National Training Center and Fort Irwin, Fort Irwin, Calif.; director of training, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3, Headquarters, Department of the Army, Washington, D.C.; and chief, Operations, Coalition Forces Land Component Command C3, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Camp Doha, Kuwait.

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1915

1932

1973

2009

16 The Columns

ECU Homecoming 2009“Celebrating 100 Years: Once a Tiger. Always a Tiger.”

Schedule of Events

Monday, Oct. 2612:30 p.m.

Banner ContestUniversity Center

Noon - 2 p.m.

Homecoming T-shirt Sale University Center

Tuesday, Oct. 27Noon - 2 p.m.

Homecoming T-shirt Sale University Center

7:30 p.m.Musical Theatre CabaretFeaturing SHOWTIME

Chalmers Herman TheatreHallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center

Wednesday, Oct. 28Noon

School of Business Alumni Luncheon

Stanley P. Wagner Ballroom

Noon - 2 p.m.Homecoming T-shirt Sale

University Center

7 p.m. Massenkoff Russian

Folk FestivalAtaloa Theatre

Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center

Thursday, Oct. 29Noon - 2 p.m.

Homecoming T-shirt Sale University Center

4:30 p.m.Alzheimer’s: A Patient’s Perspective

hosted by Bill Bridgwater (’78)Estep Multimedia Center

University Center

6:30 p.m.Pep Rally

Kerr Activities Center Lawn

7 p.m.Volleyball Game

Kerr Activities Center

7:30 p.m.Instrumental Ensembles

Ataloa TheatreHallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center

Friday, Oct. 3011:30 a.m.

Golf Tournament LunchOak Hills Country Club

Noon - 2 p.m.Homecoming T-shirt Sale

University Center

1 p.m.Golf Tournament Tee Off Oak Hills Country Club

3 p.m.Women’s Soccer

Soccer Field

7 p.m.“Country Can Cure” Concert

hosted by ZTA benefitting Breast Cancer Education & Awareness

Ataloa Theatre Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center

Saturday, Oct. 318 a.m.

5K Tiger RunWintersmith Park

10 a.m.Golden Tiger Brunch

Stanley P. Wagner Ballroom

11 a.m.Athletic Alumni MeetingElvan George Building

NoonHomecoming Parade

Main Street

1 - 3 p.m.ECU Historical Artifacts Display

Linscheid Library

1:30 p.m.Volleyball Game

Kerr Activities Center

2 p.m.Band Alumni Meeting

Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center

3:30 p.m.Men’s Basketball Alumni Game

Kerr Activities Center

4 - 5:30 p.m.Tiger Tailgate

Norris StadiumParking Lot

5:30 p.m.King & Queen Coronation

Norris Field

6 p.m.ECU Football vs. UCO

Norris Field

9:30 p.m.Alumni Social

Doc’s BBQ & Steakhouse

alumni.ecok.edu 580-559-5651 alumni@ecok.edu

The Columns 17

18 The Columns

Wow! ECU’s Centennial year has quickly flown by, and what an awesome time it has been! From a whistle-blowing marking ECU’s establishment, to unveiling the time capsule, to the first annual student-faculty softball game, to Jim Lehrer delivering the commencement address, what an exciting time it has been! Between all the Centennial events and all the summer Alumni Reunions, we hope you have enjoyed the chance to visit our campus during this exciting time.

As we begin this fall semester, it’s great to see new and old faces on campus, and the excitement they bring. With the kickoff of the Block Party on Aug. 16, to

all the fall Centennial school events, to Gov. George Nigh delivering the fall Commencement address, campus doesn’t look to be slowing down anytime soon. We have a rich future ahead of us, thanks to alumni support.

On behalf of the Alumni Board, I personally invite you back to campus for Homecoming, Oct. 30 & 31, 2009. This year’s theme is “Once a Tiger, Always a Tiger. Celebrating 100 Years!” And not only will there be a variety of activities for you and the whole family, but former senators and CREW members have been invited back to campus to reconnect and join in on the celebrations. Make sure to check out alumni.ecok.edu for all of the information.

Fall is an exciting time to be on a college campus, and we hope you will come back to ECU. It’s a great day to be a Tiger! Go Tigers!

Zeak T. Naifeh, Class of ‘04

President, ECU Alumni Association

Greetings from the Alumni Association

2009-2010 ECU Alumni Association Board of Directors:Lee Bahner, Kassie Cothran, Monica Cowart, Robyn Elliott, Hillary Farrell, Pat Fountain,

Tiffany Grant, Brooke Holman, Jeff Keel, Ronda Martin, Edie McCracken, Maxine McFalls, Barbara Miller, Zeak Naifeh, Ray Nicholas, Tori Petete, Curt Rawls, Joe Sharber,

Jessica Shores, Dustin Smith, C.J. Vires, Tommy Vass, Mark Walters and Kristy Yager

ECU Alumni Association Executive Committee: Front Row: (L-R) Tiffany Grant, president-elect; Hillary Farrell, past president.

Back Row: (L-R) Tommy Vass, secretary; Mark Walters, vice president; Pat Fountain, treasurer; Zeak Naifeh, president.

Alumni Area Reunions

Ardmore � Dallas Tulsa � McAlester

Oklahoma City

Visit our website, alumni.ecok.edu

for reunion updates and details

Buffy Lovelis, Director of Alumni Relations Check out all of the changes to the ECU alumni website! Tell us why you love ECU, find out the latest information on news around campus, register for events and update your contact information.

Log on today! alumni.ecok.edu

2009 PIKE Reunion A new state-of-the-art venue, the Ardmore Convention Center, was a great backdrop for the Epsilon Omega Alumni Association’s third annual Pi Kappa Alpha Reunion on Aug. 1. The event was truly a celebration of the “Enduring Tradition” of the Epsilon Omega chapter and its brothers. More than 120 attendees, including 85 members from 1965-2007, were greeted by a rousing introduction, via video address, by new ECU President and fellow Epsilon Omega brother John Hargrave (‘77). Travis Haynes, who attended the event along with several representatives from the active chapter, gave an update on the state of the active chapter. Tom Riley (‘90) led a remembrance of the members who are part of “Chapter Eternal,” while Wayne Lee (‘87) took a moment to pay respect to those brothers taking part in military service, including Raymond Hopkins (‘07) who served in Iraqi Freedom. The night was highlighted by a performance by Chuck Allen Floyd (‘90) and his band, “The Liars Club.” The evening was then topped off by the announcement that the James R. “Doc” Harris (’75) Scholarship had reached endowment, thanks to the generosity of the brothers who have made donations. The scholarship will be awarded each year starting in 2010. The fourth annual Epsilon Omega PIKE Reunion will be held Aug. 7, 2010, at the Ardmore Convention Center.

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Join the ECU Alumni Association in celebrating ECU’s Centennial by donating to the Centennial Legacy Endowment fund!

Our goal is to have 1,000 alums contribute $100 in time for us to present the fundsto the university as part of the Centennial Homecoming activities in October.

The Alumni Association also is assisting the university with the construction of a Centennial Gate, located at Francis and 14th Streets,

to honor all ECU Alumni from 1909 - 2009.

Gifts may be made online at alumni.ecok.edu/donations or mailed to:The ECU Alumni Association, 1100 E. 14th Street, PMB Y-8, Ada, OK 74820

Alumni Association Centennial Campaign

alumni.ecok.edu - 580-559-5651

James Shockley (left), a graduate of the Horace Mann School once located on the East Central University campus, points out the location of a future memorial to the school to former Interim ECU President Duane C. Anderson (center) and Dr. Bill Osborne, dean of ECU’s College of Education and Psychology.

Centennial Scholarship Fundraising

20 The Columns

As interim president, Dr. Duane C. Anderson announced the university’s commitment to raise a total of $90,000 for Centennial Endowments. Current President John R. Hargrave has endorsed and strongly supports this initiative. Each of ECU’s three colleges, two schools and the Athletic Department has committed to raising a minimum of $15,000. Interest from the endowments will fund scholarships in the College of Education and Psychology, the College of Health and Sciences, the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, the School of Business and the School of Graduate Studies and supplement the Athletic Department’s operational budget. The College of Education and Psychology already has made great progress through the efforts of the Horace Mann Society, which was formed in the past year to keep the memory of the Horace Mann Training School alive and has raised slightly more than $23,000. Most of those funds, about $21,500, will endow a “living memorial,” a new Horace Mann Memorial Centennial Scholarship for students majoring in education. The remainder of the funds will be for markers on the plaza outside the Physical and Environmental Sciences Building, the original location of the Horace Mann School. The school educated elementary, junior high and high school students on the ECU campus from 1920 to 1960 and was a “laboratory” for ECU students studying to become teachers. The markers will be near a granite bench the Horace Mann Alumni Association placed on the plaza in 2004 to honor the legacy of the school’s alumni and faculty. To complement the newly completed gateway to the Centennial Plaza and the university at the east end of Main Street, Anderson said the university has commitments for approximately $45,000 from donors to construct three additional Centennial Gates to mark various entrances to the university. Plaques will be placed on each Centennial Gate to honor the donors. Donors for two of the gates are

Efforts are underway to provide more scholarships for East Central University students and add additional gateways to mark entrances to the campus.

Louise Young Ph.D. (ECU, B.A., 1969) and Vivienne Armstrong, R.N. (ECU, B.S., 1974); and Dr. Joe Parsons, Mark and Paula Kedy, David and Penny Martin, Patrick and Evelyn Parsons, and Bill, Twyla and Brandon Bridgwater. The Alumni Association has committed to fund the third gate and is currently seeking donations for the project. The proposed locations of the new gates will be at the corner of Stadium Drive and East 10th Street (northeast corner of campus), the corner of Stadium Drive and East 14th Street (southeast corner of campus), and the corner of Francis and East 14th streets (southwest corner of campus). For additional information or to donate to the Centennial Funds, contact ECU’s Advancement Office at 580-559-5253 or email at give2ecu@ecok.edu. You also may visit www.ecok.edu/give2ecu.

ECU History on DisplayDon’t miss your chance to view items from East Central University’s past

during the Centennial Homecoming!

Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009From 1 - 3 p.m.Linscheid Library3rd floor (mainfloorwhenenteringfrom the mall)

Special preview will be held during theGolden TigerBrunch

The celebration doesn’t miss a beat in the fall 2009 semester as East Central University continues to observe 100 years. Many of the activities will include alums and the community.

All freshmen who enrolled full-time for the fall 2009 semester will have a unique way to be part of ECU’s history. They will receive a $100 Centennial Scholarship each semester for four years to commemorate the event.

The week of Sept. 21-26 officially marks the 1909 beginnings of classes for ECU. On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday campus departments open their doors to showcase the learning experience. Wednesday also honors veterans past and present. On Thursday another tradition continues with the installation of the 2009 time capsule. Friday is the dedication of the Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center. On both Friday and Saturday, the building will be open for tours followed by a performance of “ECU - A Year in the Life,” a musical presentation of life at ECU through the decades.

Homecoming week, Oct. 26-31, centers on the Centennial with the theme “Celebrating 100 Years: Once a Tiger. Always a Tiger.” A special float will mark the occasion on Saturday.

On Dec. 2-3 faculty, staff, students, alums and community members perform Handel’s “Messiah.” Also on Wednesday, ECU follows in the footsteps of Tigers past with the Holiday Tree Lighting ceremony. On Dec. 31, 2009 ECU’s Cross Country Team will attempt to break the Guinness World Record with “100 miles for 100 years.”

The yearlong observance of the Centennial actually kicked off officially on Dec. 31, 2008, with the First Night Ada community celebration. A laser show finale featured a tribute to ECU’s 100th anniversary.

Students probably enjoyed many scavenger hunts in prior decades, but they could not have imagined something like the Great Centennial Race. In January students participated in a 2009 version of the game. An interactive, text message-based

scavenger hunt allowed teams to play for free from any cell phone as they solved riddles, found locations, took pictures with their cell phones and collected points to win.

The Orange and Black Sweetheart Social was a big part of the social scene on Valentine’s Day with music by Zoom City. The fundraiser Tiger Cause: Centennial Edition - Dancing through the Decades and the musical “Cinderella” also took place in February.

A special week in March focused on the 1909 signing of the Normal School Bill, which included a whistle blowing ceremony to commemorate when news reached Ada about the Normal School establishment. The ceremony was followed by a centennial address given by Dr. Duane C. Anderson. Special performances that week included student dance, instrumental and vocal music groups. An ECU birthday party on March 26 featured the opening of the time capsule buried on the campus mall during ECU’s 75th anniversary in 1984.

Centennial Celebrations

22 The Columns

When East Central University returns to the athletic fields in 2009-10, there will be three new head coaches in the fold. Returning to head up ECU’s football program is Tim McCarty, while Riley Bailey was elevated from assistant to head coach of the Lady Tiger soccer program. Just recently, Dino Rosato was named the new head coach of ECU’s baseball program.

TIM McCARTY McCarty, who guided ECU to its best record in the past seven years at 6-4 in 2004, returns for his second stint as head coach, after serving three years as assistant head coach at Kansas State University of the Big 12 Conference. He coached the Tigers for two years in 2004 and 2005, guiding

the team to a 9-11 mark before leaving for Kansas State University, to work under Ron Prince for three years. While at K-State, his 2007 offensive line was rated No. 1 in the Big 12 for fewest sacks allowed and the Wildcats had the No. 1 red zone offense that same year. During his first time at ECU, McCarty coached 30 conference-recognized players and 15 who achieved academic accolades from the Lone Star Conference. He coached defensive end Justin Brown, who made six All-American Teams and played professionally in NFL Europe and in the Arena League. Linebacker James Callins was the 2005 LSC North Academic Player of the Year, along with being named an Arthur Ashe All-American for his performance on the field, in the classroom and in the community. The Tigers, who won five of their first six games that season, were picked to finish last, but ended up in a tie for third place. Prior to his arrival at ECU, McCarty coached a traditionally beleaguered Tabor College (Kansas) program to success at the NAIA level. When McCarty took over the Tabor program in 1999, the Bluejays had only one winning season since 1967. After McCarty’s first Tabor squad went 0-10 in 2000, the 2001 team finished 5-5 and the 2002 version went 6-4, before the 2003 squad set a school-record for wins with a 9-2 mark, advanced to the playoffs for the first time and was ranked 15th nationally. For his efforts, McCarty was named 2003 KCAC Coach of the Year and NAIAFootball.net National Coach of the

Year. McCarty played his final collegiate season and was a team captain at Fort Hays State (Kan.), which compiled an 8-3 record in 1983. He also played one season at Memphis State University in 1982 after spending two seasons at Dodge City Community College (Kan.), where he earned all-conference awards in 1980 and 1981 and was twice named defensive player of the week. His other coaching stints included: assistant at Greenville College (Ill.) from 1998-99; offensive coordinator and head track coach at Southwest Baptist University (Mo.) from 1994-97; offensive coordinator at Dodge City Community College from 1990-93, assistant at Middle Tennessee State in 1988, graduate assistant at the University of Kansas in 1987, assistant at Hays High School (Kan.) in 1986 and student assistant at his alma mater Fort Hays State in 1984-85.

RILEY BAILEY Bailey spent eight seasons (two separate stints) at ECU as an assistant coach. He most recently completed his second five-year stint. However, Bailey is no stranger to serving as a head coach. Following his first three-year stay as an assistant at ECU, Bailey was the head coach at Lambuth University (Tenn.), an NAIA

school, for two seasons (2001-02). He guided Lambuth’s program to a 15-18-3 record during that span, including a pair of postseason tournament playoff appearances. Bailey also coached one All-American player, several all-conference players and numerous academic all-conference award winners. Both of his Lambuth teams received National Soccer Coaches Association of America Team Academic honors. Following his two-year stay at Lambuth, Bailey spent one season as an assistant on the staff at Angelo State University where he helped guide the Rambelles back to the postseason for the first time in five years. Bailey has a wealth of miscellaneous soccer coaching experience. He has conducted coaches’ clinics for the Oklahoma Soccer Association, Oklahoma Olympic Development Program, South Texas Soccer Association and the Jackson (Tenn.) Area Soccer Association. He also started and coached the Ada High School soccer program in 2000-01 before heading to Tennessee. He is a native of Allen, Texas, and is licensed with the United States Soccer Federation and holds several NSCAA

Tiger Athletics

Visit www.ecutigersports.com for this season’s schedules, results and live action!

The Columns 23

diplomas. He received his bachelor’s degree in marketing from Oklahoma Christian University in 1995 and a master’s in secondary education from ECU in 1999.

DINO ROSATO Rosato was named Tiger head baseball coach on June 12. He replaces Mike Hurt, who stepped down after three seasons. Rosato most recently led Bacone College to a 29-20 finish this past season, including a second-place finish to Northwood (Texas) and a 10-5 mark in the NAIA’s Red River Athletic

Conference. He spent three seasons as an assistant at Bacone before taking over the head post for the 2008-09 school year. In 2008, Bacone posted an impressive 41-14 record. During his Bacone coaching stint, the Warriors showed gradual improvement in the pitching department. This past season, seven of his Bacone players earned all-conference accolades and 14 received academic all-conference recognition. In 2008, nine of Rosato’s players achieved all-conference awards while two garnered NAIA All-American awards. Two pitchers on Rosato’s 2007 Bacone squad were ranked nationally in several categories. Prior to his arrival at Bacone, Rosato was an assistant for one season on the staff at Ohio Dominican University, which made an appearance at the NAIA World Series in 2005 and finished with a 47-18 record. Rosato is a graduate of St. Thomas University in Miami, Fla., where he earned a baccalaureate degree in liberal arts. He served as outfield/hitting instructor while helping St. Thomas make back-to-back NAIA Region 14 tournament appearances, which included an average of 40 wins per season. A member of the American Baseball Coaches Association, Rosato also served as an assistant at the College of St. Scholastica, Concordia University, and the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League. Rosato received his master’s degree in education with an emphasis in sports management from ECU. He played his college baseball at Muskingum College (Ohio) for two years and Concordia for the next two years as a catcher and second baseman. Rosato also played his high school baseball at Hebron Lakewood under the winningest coach in Ohio history, Don Thorp.

Pat O’Neal Strength & Conditioning

Center Update

Visit www.ecutigersports.com for this season’s schedules, results and live action!

East Central University’s new 7,000-square foot strength and conditioning facility for athletics, the Pat O’Neal Center, is open and serving ECU athletes. The Ada Area Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting and grand opening for the facility was held on Aug. 13. “We’re confident that this is one of the top strength and conditioning centers in NCAA Division II and even better than some Division I strength centers,” said Travis Reust, director of strength and conditioning. According to Reust, the facility serves all 13 of ECU’s athletic teams. “The new strength and conditioning center is not only going to allow us to make our current athletes bigger, faster and stronger, it along with the renovated Elvan George (football dressing room and former workout facility) allows us to recruit higher caliber student-athletes to a program that is making progress toward having some of the best facilities in NCAA Division II athletics,” Reust said. Along with university support, generous donations have been received from Tiger supporters, including the Ada community, ECU alumni, local organizations and former athletes. A dedication for the building will be held on Sept. 19, prior to the Tigers’ football home opener against Angelo State.

24 The Columns

East Central University became ‘Football Officiating Central’ during the 2008-09 school year. One of ECU’s own, Derick Bowers, served as head linesman for Super Bowl XLIII, a 27-23 thriller won by the Pittsburgh Steelers over the Arizona Cardinals. Bowers, who teaches an adjunct class in ECU’s kinesiology program, spent nearly two decades as a high school and college football official, with the last seven of those in the Big 12 Conference and its predecessor, the Big 8. He made his professional debut as a referee, working two seasons in NFL Europe, before making his official NFL debut in 2003. Bowers worked his first playoff game in his second season in the NFL in 2004, which pitted old rivals – the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers – at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. He has since been on the field for at least one playoff game in each of the last five seasons. Bowers earned a spot on the officiating crew for the 2009 Super Bowl in only his second season of eligibility. As head linesman, he was responsible for numerous things before the snap on each play and for watching a specified group of players once the plays began. During the 2008 regular season, Bowers worked on the crew headed by second-year referee John Parry, but was the only one selected off that crew to work the Super Bowl. This year’s Super Bowl officiating crew was headed by NFL veteran Terry McAulay. Besides the Minnesota-Green Bay playoff game in 2004, Bowers has worked several rivalry games in the past, including the Red River Shootout between Oklahoma and Texas in the collegiate ranks, and the heatedly contested

Tiger AthleticsNew England Patriots-New York Jets clash in the pros. Bowers’ other career (besides teaching and officiating) is serving as a manufacturer’s representative of electrical products for All-Pro Sales. His wife is Sandra and they have four sons – Heath, Scotty, Brady and Brooks. Derick and Sandra are both ECU graduates. Bowers wasn’t the only football officiating focus during the ’08-’09 school term. ECU served as host of a two-day collegiate officials’ clinic in late April. Clinical officials’ referees representing several NCAA Division I leagues, including the Big 12 Conference, Conference USA and Southland Conference, along with Division II’s Lone Star Conference, were in attendance as well as officials from the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference. The clinic attendees, approximately 70 of them, were small college and high school officials from Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas and Missouri. The clinic also offered position breakout sessions in which attendees could ask specific questions pertaining to the area where they worked on the field. After classroom training, those participating in the clinic officiated 10 to 20 plays of the ECU Spring Game while receiving on-field instruction from the clinic officials. Following the game, the referees returned to the classroom to receive a personal evaluation of their performance during the game as well as an overall review of the spring game film by clinic officials. Also in attendance at the game were supervisors of officials from the Big 12, Lone Star, KJCCC along with the commissioner from the KJCCC, Bryce Roderick.

Football Officiating Central

The Columns 25

3rd Annual

Tim Green All-Sports Golf Tournament, May 2009

The winning team pictured with Gerald Williamson (center) were from left: Vince Eichhorn, Wes Wilkinson (’75), Dave Dawley and Bryan Gray.

26 The Columns

1960sTo commemorate their golden wedding anniversary, Dr. Gary (’60) and Patricia (’61) Lawley, Anchorage, Alaska, paid a visit to the campus of East Central University where they met. Mrs. Lawley majored in elementary education and

worked in the Linscheid Library. Dr. Lawley attended East Central State College with a football scholarship and was recognized as an all-conference pass receiver. He graduated with a degree in Biology. During the summers he worked as a smokejumper for the U.S. Forest Service in Missoula, Mont. The Lawleys have four children: Gary Gregory and wife Amy Hayes Lawley of Anchorage; Stephanie and husband Kirk Waggoner of Anchorage; Christa and husband Tony Williams of Denver, Colo.; and Jay and wife Carolyn Salazar Lawley of Bellevue, Wash. They have 11 grandchildren: Trevor, Meryl, Hilary and Tate Williams; Ashley, Sydnee and Ethan Waggoner; Marlee, Gannon and Toren Lawley; and Carissa Drey Allen.

1970sGreg Mauldin (’79) worked in corporate America for 24 years – Texaco, Motorola, Monsanto, Dell and Gateway. He retired in 2003, bought a nice digital camera and has since been trekking the planet and enjoying the cultural and natural aspects of the geographic area.

1980sMichael Brown (’85) is teaching Heavy Equipment and CDL Class A training at Pontotoc Technology Center, which is one of only two technology centers in the state to offer this Heavy Equipment Operator Class. He graduated from ECU with a B.S. in industrial technology. Michael and his wife Kim have three children, Shaun, Tyler and Whitney. They reside in Roff, Okla.

Leslie Fisher-Switzer (’85) is the vice president of attorney resources at Pre-Paid Legal Services Inc. where she has worked for 23 years. She’s an Ardmore High School graduate and holds a B.S. in accounting. Leslie is married to Alan Switzer and they have four children, Wyatt, Gentry, Matt and Lauren.

1990sJeannie Forneris (’96) has been employed at Pre-Paid Legal Services Inc. for 11 years and is the communications supervisor. She graduated from Anadarko High School and holds a B.S. in business administration. Jeannie is married to Frank Forneris and they have one daughter, Aly.

Sean Stevens (’96) is a 20-year military veteran, having served in the 1120th Army Reserve from 1988 until being granted an interservice transfer to the Air Force Officer Candidate School, from which he graduated in 2004. He was selected from a pool of dozens of company grade officers and recognized for his outstanding service, performance and leadership while teaching chemistry at the Air Force Academy Preparatory School in Colorado Springs, Colo. Sean graduated from ECU with a degree in chemistry. Sean and his wife Sheri have four children: Sarah, 13, Sasha, 10, Spencer, 8, and Scottie, 4.

Julia Ray (’98) is the manager of historic preservation and repatriation for The Chickasaw Nation where she has worked for 16 years. She graduated from Ada High School and holds a B.S. in office administration and master of human resources and master of education degrees. She lives in Ada with her daughter, Shelby, and son, Brandon.

2000Feliza Coody and Michael Griffin (’08) exchanged wedding vows Oct. 18, 2008, at Emanuel Baptist Church, Shawnee. Feliza graduated from Maud High School. She is employed at Chickasaw Nation. Parents of the bridegroom are Mike and

Patricia Griffin, Wolf. Michael graduated from Seminole High School and received a bachelor’s degree in biology in 2000. He received a master’s degree in education in 2008 and is employed by Sasakwa Schools as a science teacher.

2001David W. Gwin (’01) of Oklahoma League for the Blind in Oklahoma City was honored as the winner of the 2009 Peter J. Salmon Employee of the Year Award by National Industries for the Blind (NIB). He is a telephone switchboard operator for OLB at Tinker Air Force Base. Gwin received a bachelor’s

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Hazel Marie AbelliDaughter of

Kristina Napolitano (’09)

Regan & Tessa BakerDaughters of

Robert & Shawna (’94) Baker

Traynor & Braelyn BlasengameSon & Daughter of

Tracy (’90) & Dawn (’91) Blasengame

Karlee KateBrundidge

Daughter of Kasey Brundidge (’04)

Jacob Edward Bryson

Son of Mike (’97) & Kelly (’00) Bryson

Alex & Sophia Canaga

Daughters of Maria Canaga (’06)

Tiger Tracks...See What’s Happening With Your Fellow Alums

The Columns 27

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Neree Gerome CastleberrySon of Jerome Castleberry

(’02 & ’04)

Hudson Samuel ClarkSon of Jarred (current) &

Jill (current) Clark

Madison and Trenton CochranDaughter and Son of

Dale & Carla (’09) Cochran

Jalen CoonSon of Joseph &

Rachel (’09) Coon

Alaina EmersonDaughter of Rick

(’03) & Stacy Emerson

degree in sociology and minored in communications.

2002Melissa Cottrell and Wes Hilliard (’02) exchanged wedding vows Nov. 15, 2008, at First Free Will Baptist Church, Sulphur. Melissa graduated from Wynnewood High School and from the University of Central Oklahoma

with a degree in journalism. She is employed with the Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector’s Office. Wes graduated from Davis High School and has a master’s degree in education. He serves the people of House District 22 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives and is also employed by Landmark Bank in Davis.

2003Jeremy Bennett (’03) is a programmer/analyst for ECU where he has worked for five years. He graduated from Vanoss High School and has a B.S. in computer science and an M.S. in engineering & technology management from Oklahoma State University. Jeremy lives in Ada with his wife Retha.

Doug (‘03) and Desiree Taron (’03) live in Broken Arrow. Doug graduated with a bachelor’s degree in nursing and is a registered nurse at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa. Desiree graduated with a B.S. in

exercise science and is employed with Dr. Thomas Gilbert as an administrative assistant. They have three children, Gabrielle, Trinity and Izabelle.

2004Meredith Brooking (’04) and John Murphy (’02) exchanged wedding vows Oct. 11, 2008, at First United Methodist Church. Meredith graduated with a bachelor’s degree in

accounting and is an accounting officer at Vision Bank. John graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He is employed by the Chickasaw Nation as an internal auditor. He is a certified fraud examiner and a Pontotoc County reserve deputy sheriff.

2005Lucas Clark (’05) is an assistant vice president/loan officer for First United Bank where he has worked for two years. He is a graduate of Konawa High School and has a degree in HPER/exercise science. He lives in Ada with his wife, Ronna.

Elizabeth Hernandez (’05) has worked for Vision Bank for over a year and is a loan officer trainee. She graduated from Coalgate High School and earned a B.S. in finance. Elizabeth is married to Rodrigo Hernandez and they have a son, Yazid.

Tara Holman (’05) and Jeremy Burns (’01) exchanged wedding vows July 25, 2009, at Trinity Baptist Church in Ada. Tara, a 2000 graduate of Ada High School, received a degree in elementary education. She is a 1st

grade teacher at Roff Elementary School. Jeremy, a 1995 graduate of Byng High School, received a degree in education. He is self employed.

Lacey Eberhart and Casey Miller (’05) exchanged wedding vows Oct. 4, 2008, at Central Baptist Church. Lacey graduated from Central High School and from Cameron University in Lawton with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. Casey graduated from Plainview High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He is a deputy in the Stephens County Sheriff’s Department in Duncan.

Karissa Pickett (’05) has been employed at the Chickasaw Nation for six years and is the communications officer. She graduated from Booker ISD in Booker, Texas, and has a B.S. in mass communications. Karissa lives in Ada with her husband Paul.

Jessica Tillery (’05) and Jason Holland exchanged wedding vows Sept. 13, 2008. Jessica has a degree in human services counseling and is employed by the Chickasaw Nation. Jason is a graduate of Ada High School and is employed by Ada Glass and Window. They are members of the Church of Christ in Ada.

Keelie Ginter and Tim Timmons (’05) exchanged wedding vows Sept. 19, 2008, in Norman. Keelie completed the business computer technology and graphic arts design program at Great Plains Technology Center, Lawton.

She is a realtor for Red Mountain Realty in Norman. Tim graduated has a degree in environmental health science. He is employed by Surbec Environmental Services in Norman.

2006Megan Knox (’06) and Travis Shields exchanged wedding vows June 13, 2009, at First Baptist Church of Ardmore. Megan graduated with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. Travis graduated from Oklahoma State University with a bachelor’s degree in sociology in 2004.

Madelyn EnseyDaughter of

John (’00) & Rhonda (’02) Ensey

28 The Columns

2007Beth Hastings Boles (’07) lives with her husband Brent in Byars, Okla. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and teaches in Lexington Public Schools. Brent is a lineman for OG&E. They have two daughters, Blaike and Bailey. Beth enjoys softball, basketball and horseback riding.

Megan Ford (’07) and John Sherbert exchanged wedding vows Sept. 26, 2008, at Grand Avenue United Methodist Church, McAlester. The bride is a 2003 graduate of Indianola High School and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She is employed

with Big Five Community Services as a vocational site manager. Sherbert is a 2005 graduate of Ada High School and an active member of the Oklahoma National Guard, working at the Ada Armory.

Karla Steele Miller (’07) lives in Norman, Okla. She graduated with a master of education degree in library media. She is a teacher at Ninnekah public schools and enjoys reading, cross-stitching, and quilting. She has one daughter, Sara Jade Miller.

Savannah Cassell and Kyle W. Mott (’07) exchanged wedding vows Sept. 20, 2008, at Crosspointe Church in Ada. The bride is a 2005 graduate of Ada High School, a server at Chili’s restaurant, a hairstylist and a gymnastics coach at Ada Champion

Tumble and Cheer. He is a 2002 graduate of Pauls Valley High School and received a bachelor’s degree in psychology. He is a sales consultant at Ada Nissan.

Kaycee Roberts (’07) and Jacob Thompson (’08) exchanged wedding vows May 20, 2009, at Fossil Creek Ranch. Kaycee earned a bachelor’s degree in social work and Jacob has a bachelor’s degree in environmental health science.

Carrie Welch (’07) and Jeffrey Odell exchanged wedding vows July 18, 2009, at the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens in Texas. Carrie is a 2003 graduate of Stonewall High School and received a degree in business

administration/finance. She is employed by First United Bank. Jeffrey is a 2002 graduate of Roff High School and is employed by Hibbett Sporting Goods Inc.

2008Terra Griffith (’08) & Cody Wainscott (’07) exchanged wedding vows July 11, 2009, at Richmond Free Will Baptist Church in Allen. Terra is a 2004 graduate of Allen High School and has a degree in elementary education. She is employed by Calvin Public Schools. Cody is a 2001 graduate of Calvin High School, has a degree in biology and is employed by the Chickasaw Nation

Kellie Humphrey (’08) and Austin Greenhaw exchanged wedding vows Oct. 18, 2008, on the beach of the Riviera Maya in Mexico. A reception was held at Lansbrook Event

Center in Oklahoma City on Nov. 1. She is a 2002 graduate of Ada High School and has a degree in elementary education. He is a 2000 graduate of Edmond Memorial High School and a 2004 graduate of Northeastern State University. He is employed by Howell-Stone Insurance Agency.

Heather Magee (’08) and Dusty Hacker exchanged wedding vows on Feb. 21, 2009, in the Healdton Assembly of God Church. Heather received a degree in early childhood education. They live in Wilson.

Lisa Moore (’08) and Jason Wellington (’07) exchanged wedding vows Oct. 11, 2008, at First Presbyterian Church in Bartlesville, Okla. Lisa graduated with a degree in kinesiology and plans to attend massage therapy school in Fayetteville, Ark. Jason graduated with a degree in computer science and is a computer programmer for Wal-Mart in Bentonville, Ark.

Victor Neal (’08) received his official degree from ECU after attending more than 30 years ago. He started ECU straight out of Wanette High School in 1950. He was a pre-med major and lacked a physical education credit for graduation. He was accepted into OU’s Medical School in 1953 and is now a retired physician. For Christmas in 2008, his children contacted ECU and Dr. Neal was granted a bachelor’s degree. Some 32 years of skiing and several trips across Oklahoma on a bicycle earned

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Ryleigh, Kylen & Kaden CooperChildren of Leonard (’03)

& Stephanie (’94 & ’97) Cooper

Ali DarbisonGranddaughter of

Reggy & Sherry Darbison (’81)

Colt FaganSon of Cody (’06, ’08) & Rheanna

(’05 & ’06) Fagan

John & William GladdersSons of Roxanne Maynard Gladders (’92)

Grayson JamesGalloway

Son of Beau Galloway (’04)

The Columns 29

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him the lacking PE credit. Victor’s wife, Mary Shephard Neal, is a 1954 ECU graduate. They live in Tulsa.

Ashley Pulliam (’08) and Jeffrey Rutledge exchanged wedding vows on June 20, 2009, at the Chickasaw Lake Club in Ardmore. Ashley graduated from Ardmore High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in social work. Jeffrey graduated

from Abilene Cooper High School in Abilene, Texas, and earned a bachelor’s degree in resource and environmental management from Texas State University in San Marcos.

Jillian Schroeder (’08) & Terrance Bush exchanged wedding vows on June 13, 2009, at the home of Debbie and Tracy Marion. Jillian graduated from Latta High School and has a bachelor’s degree in biology. She is an optician. Terrance graduated from Hugo High School and serves in the United States Army.

Megan Stringer (’08) and Justin Groves (’07) exchanged wedding vows on July 11, 2009, at the Arbuckle Wedding Chapel in Davis. Megan graduated from Clinton High

School and has a degree in kinesiology. She is a teacher and coach for Purcell Public Schools. Justin graduated from Byng High School and has a degree in environmental health science. He works at the Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Lab in Ada.

Amy Wight (’08) and Andy Hinkle (attended) exchanged wedding vows May 23, 2009, at Ada First Free Will Baptist Church. Amy has a degree in early childhood education and was employed by Byng Schools. She began teaching in Weatherford in August. Andy attended ECU two years and is in pharmacy school at Southwestern Oklahoma State University. He expects to graduate in May 2011.

2009Ronna Butler (’09) and Matthew Cooper exchanged wedding vows August 1, 2009, in the Ardmore First United Methodist Church. Ronna graduated from Plainview High School and

earned her degree in business administration with a concentration in finance. Matthew graduated from Jenks High School and studied criminal justice at Seminole State College.

Allison Franks (’09) and Joseph Ross (attending) exchanged wedding vows July 18, 2009, in Ada. Allison is a 2005 graduate of Latta High School and has a degree in elementary education. Joseph is a 2004 graduate of Latta High School and is pursuing a medical physics degree.

Chelsea Furr (’09) and Dillon James exchanged wedding vows May 2, 2009, in Fittstown. Chelsea has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. James works at Holcim Inc.

Jennifer Gibson (’09) and Jake Weaver (attending) exchanged wedding vows July 18, 2009, at Fossil Creek Ranch. Jennifer is a 2005 graduate of Paoli High School and has a degree in early childhood education. Jake is a 2004 graduate of Davis High

School and attends ECU. He is employed by the Chickasaw Nation Security Integration Systems.

Nataly Keeton (’09) and Cody Bynum (’09) exchanged wedding vows July 27, 2009, at Birdsong Wedding Cottage. Nataly, a 2006 graduate of Dickson High School, received a degree in accounting and is working on her master’s degree in accounting. She is a staff accountant at Horne and Company Certified Public Accountant, P.C. in Ada. Cody is a 2004 graduate of Dickson High School. His degree is in physical science and he is working on his master’s degree in secondary education/sports administration.

Courtney Woodson (attending) and Riley Mann (’09) exchanged wedding vows May 23, 2009, at the Paiute Golf Resort in Las Vegas. Courtney graduated from Edmond Santa Fe High School and is a nursing student at ECU. Riley

is an Ardmore High School graduate has a degree in nursing and is a registered nurse in the transplant intensive care unit at Integris Hospital in Oklahoma City.

Hayley White (’09) and Sam Bryant (’09) exchanged wedding vows July 11, 2009, at Trinity Baptist Church, Ada. Hayley is a 2005 graduate of Latta High School and has a degree in English education. She is employed by Coyle Public Schools. Sam is a 2005 graduate

Dallen, Dayton and Denton ForsytheSons of Valerie Lovelace Forsythe (’96)

Lola Sue & Jewell RaLyn GrahamDaughters of Les

(’04) & Amy (’04 & ’05) Graham

Jordan GrubbsDaughter of

Clayton & Jana (’93) Grubbs

Katelynn Marie Hayes

Daughter of Brian (’06) & Kristen

(’06) Hayes

Nolan OscarHensley

Son of Billy & Melissa (’05) Hensley

Austin JohnsonSon of Melody Johnson (’00)

Chase JonesSon of Heath &

Carmon (’06) Jones

30 The Columns

of Roff High School and has a bachelor’s of science degree in biology.

Currently AttendingStephanie Arms (attending) and Adam Cason exchanged wedding vows Oct. 3, 2008, at Thunderbird Chapel in Norman. Stephanie graduated from Sulphur High School in 2006 and attends ECU. Adam graduated from Sulphur High

School in 2003 and is stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, with the 112th CAB, Bravo Company of the U.S. Army.

Amanda Catalano (attending) and Jeffrey Lewis exchanged wedding vows May 16, 2009, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Ada. Amanda is pursuing a degree in family and consumer sciences. She works at Vision Bank. Jeffrey is employed by an Oklahoma City firm.

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Brittany Cupps (attending) and Sam Crosby (attending) exchanged wedding vows on July 18, 2009, at Crosspointe Church. Brittany is a graduate of Ada High School and is a senior at ECU where she is a member of the color guard and is

majoring in early childhood education. She is employed at the Linscheid Library. Sam is a graduate of Shawnee High School and a junior at ECU where he is a member of the band and is majoring in music education. He is employed by Quiznos in Ada.

Jillian Horton & Justin Curry (attending) exchanged wedding vows July 11, 2009, at the First Lutheran Church, Ada. Jillian is a 2003 graduate of Neenah High School and is employed by Valley View Regional Hospital. Justin is a 2003 graduate of Byng High School and is pursuing a degree in cartography. He is a member of Gamma Theta Upsilon, the international geographic honor society.

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Konner Grayson Mackey

Son of Jonathan (’02) & Kristen (’03)

Mackey

Riley & Hunter Manning

Sons of Michele Manning-James

(’08)

Cole McElroySon of Michael (’00)

& Allyson (’02) McElroy

Perri, Tracy & Andi McGillDaughters of

Denzil (’92) & Janet (’92) McGill

Jaxon, Dezmond & Brycen Miller Sons of

Raymond & Seanna (’09) Miller

Jordan MosleySon of

Sumer Milson (’02)

Kyler, Noah & Chad OxleySons of Julia Tyler-Oxley (’98 & ’07)

& Dewey Oxley II (’96 & ’00)

Camryn Michelle Regier

Daughter of Clint& Erin (’98) Regier

Gabrielle, Trinity, & Izabelle TaronDaughters of

Doug (’03) & Desiree (’03) Taron

Send us your Tiger Track information today! Log on to: alumni.ecok.edu.

Julie Jackson (attending) and Corey Elkins (attending) exchanged wedding vows Nov. 22, 2008, at Ardmore First Baptist Church. Julie graduated from Plainview High School in 2005. She is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in family and consumer sciences education. She is employed by The Brown Paper Bag in Ardmore. Corey graduated from Milburn High School in 2000 and from Murray State College in Tishomingo with an associate degree. He is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing. He is employed by Washita Refrigeration and Equipment Co. in Tishomingo.

Jamie Kubiak & Caleb Lochridge (attending) exchanged wedding vows June 6, 2009, at Faith Center Church, Sulphur, Okla. Jamie graduated from Sulphur High School in 2003 and is a dance teacher at the Dance Center in Sulphur. Caleb graduated from Davis High School in 2008 and is pursuing a degree in business administration/finance.

The Columns 31

In MemoriamThe ECU family offers our deepest sympathy to the

families of the alumni and friends we have lost.

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Andrew and Patrick RitterSons of Adam Ritter (’08)

Keela ScottDaughter of Alicson

Scott (’03 & ‘08)

Clay TatumSon of Michael & Carla (’01) Tatum

John Earl “Tre” Thompson III

John (’96 &’06) & Teresa (’99) Shamas

Thompson

Grant Michael Vernor

Son of Michael & Stephanie (’08)

Vernor Leslie Taylor

WaltersDaughter of Zac

(’02) & Brandi (’02) Walters

Dalton & Walker Weston

Sons of Tanner & Jamie (’04 & ’08)

Weston

Jeremy WilliamsonSon of Richard

Williamson (’86)

Landri Alyse ZinkDaughter of Robert

(‘91) & Charla (‘91) Zink

Erin & Brooke YoungbloodDaughters of Susan Youngblood (’03)

George McKoy (from left) ’75, Broomfield, Colo.; Ken Logsdon ’73, Columbia, Mo.; Janie (Garrett) Odom ’69, Pauls Valley, Okla.; and Ralph Turner ’71, Columbia, Mo..

The group gathered July 18 for a mini ECU Alumni Reunion at Ralph Turner’s home in Columbia, Mo. George and his wife, Carolyn, were spending a weekend with Ralph and Linda Turner, and Janie (Garrett) Odom was visiting her stepson, Barry Odom. Ralph and Ken, both living in Columbia, thought it would be fun for all of them to get together. Ralph, George and Ken are all Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity brothers, and Janie is an Alpha Gamma Delta. Ralph writes that “it was great to spend several hours with former classmates and friends from the ECU Greek system.”

Bruce Adams (attended)Imogene Allison (attended)Orville Ashcraft (attended)Nancy Boissenin (attended)Pattye Norwood Box (attended)Dr. Ed Brooks (faculty)Jack Chapman (’66 & ’70)Lajuana Clark (attended)Jewell Coleman (attended)Frank Crabtree Sr. (attended)William Dawson (attended)Billy DePrater (’58)Thelma Peck Edwards (’41) Virginia Evans (attended)Harold Fitzhugh (attended)Frank Fountain (attended)Jerry Fullerton (attended)Shirley Hinesley (attended)Bertha Hoppe (’84)Angie Jackson (attended)Winford Laughlin (attended)

James P. Leon (’94)Karen (Dale) Limke (’80)Ruby Little (’49)Brenda (Maddox) Logue (’01)Lee Edward McGaughy (’85)Wandella McNutt (attended), facultyWilliam “Bill” Mote (attended)Nancy Myers (’07), adjunct facultyBonnie King Pinkston (’56)Wylie Pitts (attended)Charles Pokorny (’63 & ’88), staffLarry Ramsey (attended)Lisa Reeves (’95)Dr. Don Rippee (’72)Hicks Avery Smith (’58)Joe Martin “Marty” Turner (’71) Sammy Keith Walker (attended)H.L. Waters (attended)Patricia Whelchel (attended)Les O. White (attended)Charlotte “Ann” Willis (’72)

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PAIDPermit No. 162

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

Mark your Calendars ECU HomecomingOctober 31, 2009!