s p r i n g 2 0 0 6 excellence for oral roberts university alumni and friends
Glowing from Within Aaron Svenby pursues his passion.
SEE PAGE 31. YOURVOICE Are We Up to the Challenge? O RU is dealing with a situation that able to give a grant to every eligible stu- was brought to our attention at the dent this coming fall. Eventually, we want Alumni Board of Directors meeting in to see an increase in the amount given to January. It’s one of those “we have good each student. And ultimately, we want the news, but . . . ” situations. fund to be endowed so that future genera- More and more children of alumni are tions will be taken care of. enrolling at ORU. That’s the good news. What I’m asking is this: please join Here’s the challenge: with us by giving your most generous ORU has been offering an Alumni gift to build the Alumni Scholarship Scholarship grant to alumni offspring fund. It will mean so much to the grow- for many years. It was manageable in ing number of students who have decided the early years, because ORU is a young to enroll at ORU and carry on the tradi- university with mostly young graduates. tions that their mom or dad — or both As the years go by, however, and as we parents — began. alumni — (cough) — mature, that pool of ORU will be better for our contribu- 18-year-olds gets larger. tions, and so will the world, because we’ll Like most scholarship funds, the be helping future generations of ORU Alumni Scholarship is not a bottomless students prepare themselves to come and well. It’s not an endowed fund. And now join us in our quest to make changes that that ORU has more alumni offspring matter — all for the glory of God! enrolling each fall, making that grant available to every qualified student, every year, has become increasingly difficult. E. Rhae Buckley 80 As the men and women who repre- Chairman sent all the graduates of Oral Roberts Alumni Board of Directors University, we decided as a board that all of us would step up to the plate and con- You can send your gift to the ORU Alumni tribute to this fund. Our short-term goal is Foundation, P.O. Box 702333, Tulsa, OK 74170, to make sure there’s enough money avail- or give online at http://alumniweb.oru.edu. PHOTOS BY EVAN TAYLOR PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTOS BY TAYLOR EVAN ORU students are givers. Consider their trip to Long Beach, Miss.., last October when they spent fall break helping residents clean up after Hurricane Katrina.
2 | Excellence | Spring 2006 | http://alumniweb.oru.edu Alumni Relations Staff TABLEOFCONTENTS Key Contacts
David Wagner 73 President and Chairman Alumni Foundation Board of Directors 918/495-7236 Are We Up to the Challenge? [email protected] George Paul 69 Associate Vice President Alumni and Development excellence 918/495-7324 [email protected] FORF O R OORALR A L RROBERTSO B E RT S UUNIVERSITYN I V E R S I T Y AALUMNIL U M N I AANDN D FFRIENDSR I E N D S
Tim McKitrick 97 M.A.Th. Alumni Director 918/495-6588 Spring 2006 | Vol. 18, No. 1 [email protected] A Promise of Change by Aaron Svenby 04
page5 page31
Kevin Bish 93, 02 M.A.Ed. Major Gifts Director 918/495-7436 FEATURES DEPARTMENTS [email protected] Winnie Perdue 2 Your Voice Alumni Events Coordinator Homecoming 2006 918/495-6627 [email protected] 5 Good Teamwork
Publisher 4 Presidential Perspective ORU Alumni Foundation Editor Alumnus of the Year Awards 15 On Campus/Off Campus Debbie Titus 77 George 9 Contributors/ Writers Meet the newest members of the club. • Extraordinarily Cool, Chemically Diverse E. Rhae Buckley 80, Debbie Titus • ORU Seeks Funds for Biotechnology Lab 77 George, Elissa K. Harvill, Sylvia LaRose, Ginger Shepherd, Mark Sterns Leaving Teethmarks • Attention, School of Business Graduates! 78, 80 MBA 12 • Heading Off Collisions Photography Mark Steele is a real force of nature. Kristen Carollo, Chris Dinkle, Tim McKitrick 97, Don Wilson 77, ORU Photo Archives, Katie Mueller (courtesy of the 21 The Eli Report Tulsa Sports Commission) 14 Going Hollywood • Winning Our Hearts Back cover photos provided by ORU • Carter Receives Sportsman Award Photography and the School of Business. Jim Stovall’s ‘Gift’ book is headed for the big screen. Long Beach, Mississippi photos taken by Evan Taylor Photography. 26 Lifelong Links Homecoming logo designed by Hampton • Alumni News Creative. • AOY 2007: Nominate now Art and Production • Obituaries Waller & Company Public Relations • City Events Excellence is published and distributed three times a year to • Through a Lens, Brightly alumni and friends by the Oral Roberts University Alumni Foundation.
Direct all inquiries to: ORU Alumni Foundation P.O. Box 702333 On the front cover: This photo by Aaron Svenby 04, Tulsa, OK 74170 titled “Glowing from Within,” was taken at the Zion Phone: 918/495-6610 Fax: 918/495-6650 Canyon National Park in Utah after Svenby and his wife, Web site: alumniweb.oru.edu Sara, hiked in the darkness on the side of the steep E-mail: [email protected] Questions or comments? canyon walls. “The stillness and silence of the canyon Contact the editor at [email protected]. was unforgettable, and the only audible sound was the Excellence Magazine small trickling of the river in the canyon below. The Mission Statement freezing winter air seemed to stop time, and the trees The purpose of Excellence magazine is stood still as if to keep their fragile limbs from breaking threefold: to make alumni aware of what their former classmates are doing, to off,” Svenby said. “Waiting on the edge of the canyon’s tell alumni what is happening today on cliffs, we eagerly watched as the sun slowly made its the Oral Roberts University campus, and to share the good news about alumni way down the canyon walls. The river soon began to accomplishments with faculty, staff, glow and reflected the warmth of the coming sun to the and friends of the University. Excellence anticipating canyon below.” magazine is proof positive that the page21 mission of ORU is being carried out on a daily basis all over the globe — “in every person’s world.”
e-mail: [email protected] | Spring 2006 | Excellence | 3 PRESIDENTIALPERSPECTIVE
at the President’s Banquet during Something Old, Something New Homecoming. Tom Newman, Tim and Lorrie Reiterman, and Dr. Tim Elmore hat do you think of our new are all doing remarkable things…in W Web site? If you haven’t seen very different ways. Tom is making a it yet, I recommend that you visit creative impact on “a sight and sound www.oru.edu to check it out. As I’ve generation” and has a new movie out mentioned before, we’ve been in the in theaters, called End of the Spear. process of working with an image The Reitermans have contributed consulting firm to help us better generously to the total life of the uni- express what ORU is all about. On the versity, setting students “ablaze” with home page you’ll find our new logo everything they need to succeed. And and tagline: It’s about you @ ORU. Dr. Tim Elmore is, like ORU, raising What does that mean — “It’s about up leaders all over the world, through you”? It means that as a university, mentoring young people and corporate we are doing our best to provide a executives alike. Holy Spirit-infused education that will President Roberts is spending more and You alumni amaze me. more time with students these days, as he give students an edge when they leave did in a Government 101 class. As I said earlier, we’ve modified the campus to pursue their calling. dress code yet again. Though students Of course, achieving that edge accountability and help mold their are now allowed to wear “neat jeans,” requires self-discipline, and integ- character. We want them to look sharp. sweatshirts, and tennis shoes, I have to rity…which brings me to my next We want them to be healthy, physical- say they’ve never looked better. (See point. ly and spiritually, and we want them to the alumni Web site for dress code Last fall, I decided to spend more get the most out of the education ORU rules.) Staff and faculty are also enjoy- one-on-one time with students. I went offers. It’s about you, we’re telling ing business casual — year-round, as of to hall meetings and student leader them. Jan. 11 — and they look great too. (No meetings so students could tell me So what happened to “a Christ- ties required!) Methods and fashion what they like and don’t like about centered education for the whole trends may come and go, but the mis- ORU. I heard them out, and I took a person”? Absolutely nothing. ORU sion of ORU is staying put. Don’t you lot of what they said to heart. will continue to specialize in equip- worry. We may look more modern, but Out of those meetings came a ping the “whole person” to bring the we’re still the same at heart. decision to make further changes to love and healing power of Christ into If you participated in the image the dress code (read about that below) every person’s world. That’s what study surveys, I want to thank you and a conviction that I need to do a ORU is about, has always been about, for your comments. We so value your better job of explaining to students the and will always be about. Now we feedback because you know better than reasons behind ORU’s standards and want to make more improvements in anyone what it’s like to go to school at rules. our customer service to students, from ORU. With your help, we can go for- As alumni, you and I both know admission to graduation. The students ward with the mission God gave to my that after having been through col- are ORU’s reason for being. As I told father in the very beginning. lege ourselves, with a little more age them recently, I don’t just see them We are committed to keeping and wisdom on our side, we have a as students, I see them as tomorrow’s ORU under God’s authority, and to better understanding of why there’s a leaders. And that’s not just wishful doing everything we can to see that it need for rules and curfews and honor thinking. I know how far ORU stu- continues to get better every year — codes and dress codes — why we dents can go in the world because I’ve I promise you that. have chapel and aerobics requirements seen you go there — you are serving and a classroom attendance policy. as leaders today in a wide variety of In short, it’s about you. We want our professions. students to get enough sleep and stay It was my privilege to honor our Richard L. Roberts out of danger; we want to give them Alumnus of the Year award recipients President and CEO
4 | Excellence | Spring 2006 | http://alumniweb.oru.edu good teamwork
“I’m the oldest freshman in the world.” It was January of 1967, and Kenneth Copeland had just enrolled at ORU. He was 30 years old. “I had to take a math refresher course,” Copeland told his ORU chapel audience on Jan. 13. Who could remember all those lessons learned in high school math, twelve long years after solving the last problem?
i believe . . . in team spirit (Together Everyone Accomplishes More)
> > KENNETH COPELAND SPOKE IN CHAPEL. > > (L TO R) AOY HONOREES TIM ELMORE, TIM AND LORRIE REITERMAN, AND TOM NEWMAN.
elcome to ORU Homecoming, a time when and lots of people and what do you get? In this case, W even thoughts of math can bring smiles to the something good . . . something very good. faces of alumni and students alike. Chapel was just the opening salvo of the weekend, It would not be inaccurate to say that this Homecoming to be followed by the usual entertainments: open had a lot to do with math. The theme, after all, was houses, receptions, luncheons, reunion dinners, Milne says every day at alumni advisory committee meetings and, of course, TEAM Spirit — Together EveryoneTrimark is Accomplishesa new adventure. More. Add together the talents Whoand will hard call, work and what of lots basketball. (The Golden Eagle men defeated IUPUI, will they order? 86-76; the women were idle.)
e-mail: [email protected] | Spring 2006 | Excellence | 5 HOMECOMING2006
> > 10-YEAR REUNION > > 20-YEAR REUNION > > 30-YEAR REUNION
> > BASKETBALL: ALUMNI VS. FACULTY/STAFF > > ALUMNI BOARD OF DIRECTORS > > CHRISTINE LEDERLE AND KYLE MACALMON, HOMECOMING QUEEN & KING. > > ORU’S 86-76 WIN OVER IUPUI. > > DENTISTRY CLASS OF ’86
You can feel it in the air. Something Amazing is happening at ORU! HOMECOMING 2006 • JANUARY 13 & 14 • i believe . . . in team spirit
Alumni came from far and wide (even Afghanistan!) to see Every Homecoming is special for certain classes, such as the old friends, reminisce with faculty members who kept them on 10-, 20-, and 30-year groups. This year, it was also prime time track all those years ago, and honor the 2006 “Alumnus of the for graduate and professional school alumni. Members of the Year” award winners: Tom Newman, Dr. Tim Elmore, and Tim dental school’s Class of ’86 enjoyed a reunion dinner at CityPlex and Lorrie Reiterman. Towers. Meanwhile, over in the Fireside Room, the business school’s MBA Class of ’81 alumni looked at one another and Homecoming came earlier than usual this year, but the weather said, “Twenty-five years? Somebody get me a calculator; that was fine and the welcome back to campus was as warm as can’t be right!” ever. At the President’s Banquet, alumni who hadn’t checked the Alumni Foundation’s Web site in a couple of days learned Many thanks to Mark Sterns for his report on the MBAs (see page that there’s a new dress code in town: jeans rule! (So do sneak- 8), and many thanks to all those alumni who came to Tulsa just ers and capris.) Alumni also had the pleasure of hearing from nineteen days after Christmas for the party of the year. a current student whose speech made clear that no matter what students are wearing, they’re still getting the same education Now, that’s team spirit! that was instituted in 1965.
“The work of most universities is solely to enlighten the mind and make students academically proficient; this is good but can be better. This is why I thank God for Oral Roberts University, which combines strengthening the mind, body, and spirit — educating the whole person — using one stone to kill three birds.”
OKEY MADUKA, SENIOR, LAGOS, NIGERIA
6 | Excellence | Spring 2006 | http://alumniweb.oru.edu HOMECOMING2006
> > 10-YEAR REUNION > > 20-YEAR REUNION > > 30-YEAR REUNION
> > BASKETBALL: ALUMNI VS. FACULTY/STAFF > > ALUMNI BOARD OF DIRECTORS > > CHRISTINE LEDERLE AND KYLE MACALMON, HOMECOMING QUEEN & KING. > > ORU’S 86-76 WIN OVER IUPUI. > > DENTISTRY CLASS OF ’86
You can feel it in the air. Something Amazing is happening at ORU! HOMECOMING 2006 • JANUARY 13 & 14 • i believe . . . in team spirit
> > COACH BERNIS DUKE (CENTER) POSES WITH ALUMNI AT THE AFTER-GAME RECEPTION. > > THESE ALUMNI ENJOYED THE MBA ’81 EVENT. > > MELISSA PHILLIPS 05 SIGNS A BIRTHDAY CARD FOR CHANCELLOR ORAL ROBERTS. > > PRESIDENT ROBERTS (CENTER) STANDS WITH THE AOY HONOREES. > > WINNIE PERDUE GREETS MICHAEL 81 AND KIMBERLEE 82 HAIRSTON AND THEIR SONS, NATHAN AND CHRISTOPHER.
e-mail: [email protected] | Spring 2006 | Excellence | 7 HOMECOMING2006
MBA 25-Year Reunion something special BY MARK STERNS 78, 80 MBA
The MBA Class of 1981 reunion exceeded all expec- Kent Russi said his time at ORU was “the best two years of my life.” John Blaho shared stories of Dr. Hunt’s probing ques- tations as classmates returned from Idaho, New Jersey, tions of “Are you hurting, pal?” Indeed he was, but he received Connecticut, Texas, Florida, Oklahoma, and Afghanistan. healing and the infilling of the Holy Spirit on Dr. Stevens’ Joining the grads were faculty members who were invited couch. Andrew Zwick testified that “my Christian life came together here.” Neal Bratschun shared how after graduation, in to the MBA banquet on Friday night and attended the Afghanistan, he prayed healing in the name of Jesus for one of business open house as well. his native co-workers. The co-worker came back the next day, asking Neal if he would write that prayer down for his mother. The current dean, Dr. Mark Lewandowski, welcomed the Neal gave him a copy of one of alumnus Billy Joe Daugherty’s group and updated us on business school developments and books and pointed out a chapter on healing. The man returned achievements. After his presentation, the enthusiasm and level and said, “I’m a Christian now — I read chapter 1 and that’s of joy went up a notch. what it was about.” Founding dean Dr. R. Henry Migliore (“Uncle Henry”) Further reports were given and greetings shared from class- regaled the gathering with highlights and class memories, mates who could not attend. including the exploits of the Faculty Fuperstars who seemed to Ron Bartling and Nancy Howard and all the grads remarked always beat the students at the annual student/faculty basketball on how amazing it was that the faculty had such close personal game. It was no wonder, with former college players in Rinne relationships with the students. Those relationships continued as Martin, Phil Sherwood, and of course, Uncle Henry. The dean Dr. Migliore, Dr. Robert Feller, Dr. Rinne Martin, and Dr. Phil recounted tales of Modular and the Russian Roulette method Sherwood and wives made a great effort to be there. of case presentations where the students had to be prepared to The weekend continued with the business school open house present a case study in the event they were selected. At that on Saturday and interaction with other faculty and students time, the Wall Street Journal published an article that said from various years. That night, the Eagles performed splendidly the greatest need in business schools was figuring out how to — not only with a win, but nearly breaking the school record for integrate the disciplines. ORU already had this accomplished shooting percentage as well. Finally, the weekend was capped through the modular format where students had to integrate with a gathering at the Hilton on Sunday morning for breakfast business solutions for marketing, finance, accounting, and with Henry and Mari Migliore and prayer for one another. operational problems in the same setting. Cross-pollination was Gary Skinner of New Jersey summed it up by saying, “This something ORU pioneered as well. was one of the best three days of my life.” Graduates shared ORU highlights, like David Rieck’s A Band of Brothers (and Sisters) returning after 25 years favorite memory of the procession from the dining hall to the — that’s what makes ORU a special place. Aerobics Center for water baptism, complete with palm fronds.
THE MBA ’81 REUNION WAS A GREAT TIME TO RECONNECT WITH OLD FRIENDS, BOTH WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE BUSINESS SCHOOL. LEFT: MARK STERNS WITH NEAL 81 AND DONNA BRATSCHUN. CENTER: LEE RETTEDAL 77, CARL SCHELL 77, DWIGHT OLSON, DVM 76, BOB APPEL 76, AND WAYNE CHOISNET 77. RIGHT: FORMER DEAN DR. R. HENRY MIGLIORE AND HIS WIFE, MARI (ORU CLASS OF ’87).
Pearson says, “The bus business has been where God has called me.”
8 | Excellence | Spring 2006 | http://alumniweb.oru.edu Alumnus of the Year ALUMNIFEATURE Getting Goose Bumps
B Y GIN G E R S H EPHERD
Oral Roberts University wasn’t Tim 77, 79-MBA or Lorrie (Peterson-77) Reiterman’s first choice for higher education, but with a little divine intervention as well as some familial encourage- ment, the couple ended up in Tulsa and left with more than just three degrees. TIM AND LORRIE REITERMAN were recognized for their “Distinguished Service to the Tim was preparing to go to Milligan University on a Alma Mater” at Homecoming. basketball scholarship when his mother asked him to look into ORU. Memories aren’t the only thing the couple took away from “It was my mother’s influence,” he said, but he is quick to ORU. The lessons of seed-faith and the whole-man concept mention the God factor. “I met my wife here. God wanted us they learned at ORU are still very close to their hearts. Also to be together; we were destined to be together.” ingrained in them is the knowledge that Jesus Christ can’t be Lorrie was applying to various schools in Washington and compartmentalized; He is essential to every aspect of one’s had never heard of ORU, but her grandparents had. life. “They thought I should go to school ‘back east,’” Lorrie “It works,” Tim said, referring to both the sowing-and- said, and they thought ORU was the place, so she applied and reaping principle of seed-faith and ORU’s focus on develop- was accepted. ing the spirit, mind, and body. “If you apply what you learn Although she realized she didn’t have the money to attend here, you will be successful.” This has proved true for the ORU, she felt drawn to it. She made some applications for Reitermans, who have what can best be described as a well- scholarships and received both a work and an academic schol- rounded life. Along with raising their two children, Brittani arship. Even with the scholarships, she felt some apprehension and Blake (who are both active in Bible Quiz), being involved about coming, she explained, but sensed it was where God in their church, and indulging in sports, Tim is the procure- wanted her to go. ment manager for global partners of The Boeing Company, “I decided to come, and if I didn’t like it I could leave,” and Lorrie is the CFO and operations manager for Washington Lorrie said. “ORU was a whole new world for me. It was a little Capital Management, a private investment management firm. scary my freshman year.” The Reitermans were honored at Homecoming for In time, however, Lorrie settled in and began establishing Distinguished Service to the Alma Mater. Along with finan- friendships that have lasted through the years. cial support, they contribute by being positive spokesmen for She recalls a particular chapel service during her first ORU, telling others that along with its focus on spiritual life year. At that time, chapel was held in the Mabee Center and ORU offers excellent academic programs — such as the busi- students had assigned seats; hers was in the third row. During ness program through which they earned their degrees — and that chapel service, then-President Oral Roberts picked her to so much more. pray for him. “If students take advantage of the opportunities and par- Tim has good memories of playing junior varsity basket- ticipate in the missions, they will be successful and be better ball and intramural sports, but his strongest memories are people in the end,” Lorrie said. of brother-sister wing activities and the camaraderie on his The couple comes back to ORU about every ten years for wings, including Fortress. He said that when he comes to Homecoming. In between, Tim said, he comes to campus campus, especially during Homecoming, he goes to his old whenever he is in Tulsa on business. It remains a moving dorm, E. M. Roberts Hall, and introduces himself to the new- experience. est residents. “I get goose bumps every time I come back.”
e-mail: [email protected] | Spring 2006 | Excellence | 9 Alumnus of the Year
Working Toward a Global Goal
B Y GIN G E R S H EPHERD
Working with the next generation — to help young men and women become leaders — has always been a passion for Alumnus of the Year Dr. Tim Elmore 83, but that passion has blossomed into a global goal. “It has been evolutionary,” Elmore said, explaining his path. DR. TIM ELMORE, his wife, Pam, and their children, Bethany and Jonathan, have always made family time a priority. Elmore was named Alumnus of the Year for his As a sophomore at ORU, Elmore started working with “Distinguished Service to the Community.” young people, serving them as a youth minister. Upon comple- tion of his degree, he joined forces with leadership savant Dr. John Maxwell. Through the experience, he learned about effec- Turner, Elmore said, had served as an intern with him. tive principles of leadership. Later, he helped Maxwell develop After having so many leadership principles poured into her, the Maxwell Leadership Bible. she wanted to take everything she had learned back to ORU Although he still works with adults in corporate leadership, and share it with others. Elmore spends much more time with youth, impressing upon That first year, he said, Turner and Davis and their team them that they can use their lives to lead and influence others raised about $18,000 to cover conference expenses, not know- in a positive way. Through Growing Leaders (www.growing ing if anyone would show up, but more than 500 students not leaders.com), the nonprofit organization he founded and leads, only signed up but attended. Elmore and four other leadership coaches provide leadership Turner is not the only young person that Elmore has events and tools. observed teaching others. He has witnessed other students “I target middle school, high school, and college students,” using similar principles. he said. He has spread the leadership gospel on numerous “Leadership is a process, not just an event,” Elmore said. public and private school campuses as well as at various uni- Through the Ignite conference, students are given an event to versities and colleges, including Duke University, Florida State help turn the “light bulb” on as well as the opportunity to par- University, Bethel College — and ORU, where he has been a ticipate in mentoring groups after the main event. It is a chance speaker at the annual Ignite Conference, a student-organized to practice and learn. leadership event. Reaching many young people as well as adults means a lot While he is targeting young people, his target group is sim- of travel time. Elmore has been to more than 34 countries since ply getting bigger. He and his staff at Growing Leaders realized he started ministering to leadership needs. To reach youth and that the next generation worldwide is growing and is roughly 70 have a happy and healthy family life is a balancing act. million strong, he said. To stay on track, he and his wife, Pam, work together. Each “Seventy million students is a challenge,” Elmore said, month, they sit down with a calendar to go over the month’s but that number doesn’t dismay him or his fellow coaches. He plan. explained that the organization has established a goal. They “I like to try to be home about 20 days a month and have would like to reach at least 1 percent of the youth population. 10 to 12 days on the road,” he said. “She (Pam) has final veto Goal or not, Elmore is having an impact on the lives of the power.” next generation of leaders. It is something he has even seen at Elmore may be passionate about training future leaders ORU. The annual Ignite conference was the brainchild of Sara around the world, but the two who matter most to him are right Grace Turner 03 and Selah Davis 03. there in his own home: Bethany, 17, and Jonathan, 13.
10 | Excellence | Spring 2006 | http://alumniweb.oru.edu 10 | Excellence | Spring 2006 | http://alumniweb.oru.edu Alumnus of the Year
once-violent Waodani (Auca) tribesmen were transformed after they killed five missionaries in 1956. Following the fatal spear- No Little Plans Here ings, the world received a great influx of missionaries, many of
B Y ELISSA K. HARVILL them inspired college students who decided that the least they could do was live for their faith, given that these men had been willing to die for theirs. Long before D.C. Talk, Tom Newman 80 was “My dream of dreams,” Newman glimmered, “would be that blazing a trail for future Jesus Freaks. His per- [End of the Spear] would inspire college-age kids to commit sonal “road to Damascus” experience actually hap- their lives to go wherever God would ask them, no matter how un-glorious it may look, no matter what level of risk it was, and pened in an army tent in Korea at the tail-end of that it would [result in] the next great [release] of missionar- the Vietnam War. Before Newman left to serve his ies…from our country,” the greatest ever seen. country, his uncle gave him a Bible. Desperate for Currently, Newman is collaborating with Jim Graff 83, who pastors a 3,500+-member church in Victoria, Tex., a revelation, Newman started reading it. relatively small community. The pair is doing a series on “The Significant Church” (airing on TBN this fall) — churches that One evening not long before the midnight curfew, a com- are succeeding in penetrating their cultures and bringing in 2 plete stranger came by Newman’s tent and told him that Jesus to 3 percent of their counties’ population. Of his inspiration for loved him and had a wonderful plan for his life. Early the next such projects, Newman shared, “One thing leads to another, and morning, Newman cried out to God for salvation and knowl- when you start talking to people of like mind and faith, it just edge of His plan. In the 30 days that followed, Newman led 100 seems to come.” people to the Lord. Newman said he was both “honored and surprised” to Today, Newman says he is the happiest and most fulfilled receive the Distinguished Service to God award from the person he knows. As co-founder and president of Impact Alumni Association. “I’ve determined that every day of my Productions, the company that grew out of a stage production life, I’m going to pursue my dream,” he said. “Sometimes it’s called The Masterpiece, A Toymaker’s Dream, he and his team a financial disaster. Sometimes it works…. It’s not easy, but I continue to “reach a sight and sound generation” through 3-D couldn’t imagine today doing something I wasn’t passionate animation, children’s programming, and feature films. about.” “There’s still a pretty big divide between creative church Newman’s word to fellow alumni: go for the dream. “I’ve evangelism and creativity in the world,” Newman said. “I’m learned more than anything else that God is faithful, and that trying to tear down that wall.” His latest masterpiece, End of the the more I risk, the more I step out, the more I see God show Spear, ranked No. 10 among the top grossing films during its up…. God never gives us a dream to frustrate us. He only gives opening weekend in January. The film tells the story of how the us a vision so that we’ll take steps toward it.”
TOM NEWMAN has taken the world by storm with projects ranging from The Masterpiece, A Toymaker’s Dream to the recently released End of the Spear.
e-mail: [email protected] | Spring 2006 | Excellence | 11 ALUMNIFEATURE Leaving Teethmarks*
B Y ELISSA K. HARVILL
“Executive Creative”/author/actor/comic/father/husband/1991 ORU alumnus Mark Steele (with a silent “e”) is not zany. Thank goodness.
Having listened to his 1999 comic recording “Ignore Me” Oh, the book itself leaves more than a flashbang. “I want prior to our interview, I admit to having expected some zani- people to read the book because it’s about them,” Steele said. ness. However, I was delightfully surprised to find Steele “I believe that if every person would put themselves in the extremely calm, subdued even, but definitely not boring. shoes of me, as they read this book, what they’ll really come Nor is he completely spent after publishing his autobiog- to the conclusion of is that there are two ways that we can raphy in 2005, flashBANG: how I got over myself (Relevant live: one way really heals people and really changes people, Books). Did he actually get over himself? Steele, like many and one way just makes us look good…. My hope is that a Time-Life announcer before him, will tell you: “Read the people who read it can begin that process that I have begun, book.” But don’t let the title fool you. It’s not all self-help and that is to get over themselves as well.” and hilarity; it is at times poetic, at times prophetic — you Steelehouse Productions, Steele’s full-service produc- might be laughing out loud on one page and find yourself tion company, operates out of one of those really cool old convicted by the Word of God on the next. buildings in downtown Tulsa (Elizabeth Manor, precisely).
What makes Mark Steele come alive? His children, art . . . his children’s art; here he poses in front of the collection.
12 | Excellence | Spring 2006 | http://alumniweb.oru.edu ALUMNIFEATURE
Got creativity? Steelehouse is a place for flexible, emotionally sta- ble “creatives” to do film, video, theater, animation, “basically every type of art for businesses and ministries to help them maxi- mize their impact,” according to Steele. The staff consists almost entirely of ORU alumni.
When I arrived with our photographer for the interview, I really communicating the truth was greeted with, I suppose, the usual serenity of a Thursday of Christ, and so it’s important morning at Steelehouse…instead of the party of cartoon that everyone who comes on characters I might have expected. Everyone was in his or her board has that same passion.” place, intently working, including Steele himself. There were Like many entertainers, no live animals. Some sketches of cartoon ones, but not live. Steele is really an introvert. “I Not yet. enjoy performing and I enjoy So how does one become a professional creative? being the host, but it’s not a break According to Steele, you just make it happen. “You become for me, it’s not relaxing,” Steele said. “Relaxing for me is a professional creative the moment you make it your passion having quiet moments. What I love more than anything else in life to do nothing less than that…. At ORU, we launched is to just be at home with my wife and three kids. Last night sketch comedy shows that we would do on campus, and I we had our devotion night and our game night…we just sit would go find hosting gigs and stand-up gigs. We would around and laugh at the table for an hour, we do a devotion, just kind of make our own. I come from a small community we play games for like two hours. We just laugh. My kids (Roswell, Ga.) with a small church and a small school, so if love to laugh. That is just an A-plus night for me.” you wanted to do anything in arts, you had to just do it. And And the perfect workday for Steele is sitting at his desk, when I graduated from college there wasn’t any question of writing. “Writing the scripts that we’re putting together right whether I could find a job to do this, it was I’ll just make a now for theater pieces and film pieces — that energizes me,” job to do this. And as I just made the way and pushed myself Steele said. “Getting these guys involved in the creativity of into those holes where it was needed, eventually it became a it, taking those ideas, writing them, sitting down and writ- career.” (Note: Steele also jump-started his career by spend- ing this book, that’s a great day. When I’m too old to be out ing seven years working for Tom Newman [see pg. 11] at there on a film set, doing 12-hour days, I’ll still be writing Impact Productions.) these pages.” We couldn’t help but notice the overwhelming majority As though he doesn’t already have enough to do, Steele of ORU-ians that Steele employs. “My experience with ORU and his extroverted wife, Kaysie, have recently agreed to was strong academically because of how much the profes- serve as pastors of the college-age program at Believers sors cared. Those who were directly over me cared about my Church in Tulsa. passion for art, cared about my passion for Christ, and fos- For more information on Steele’s book, visit http://flashbangbook.com. tered both, so that’s why I was a success. And because I was You can also check out Steelehouse Productions’ latest projects at a success there, I was drawn to people who came from the http://www.steelehouse.com. same community,” Steele shared. “We do a lot of ministry *From the book’s dedication and Chapter Two. work, and everything that we create we have a passion for
e-mail: [email protected] | Spring 2006 | Excellence | 13 ALUMNIFEATURE Going Hollywood Jim Stovall’s ‘Gift’ book is headed for the big screen.
B Y GIN G E R S H EPHERD
Jim Stovall 81 has always known the importance of giving; after all, it’s something he has been doing since he was a student on the ORU campus. In keeping with his giving nature, this writer, motivational speaker, and TV network leader has found a way to drive the concept home: through a novel-turned-movie.
That message of giving was a produced the movie themselves. source of inspiration for Stovall, who Stovall was involved in writ- launched the Crusader Scholarship ing the screenplay, and that’s not Fund for ORU students back in 1988 all. He said he helped cast the with some of his former wingmates. parts — actors James Garner, Lee Giving became the theme of The Meriwether, and Brian Dennehy Ultimate Gift, a book he released in were chosen to star. And Stovall 2000. himself has a cameo role. Filming After Stovall had written five or took place September through six nonfiction books, he said, “pub- November in Charlotte, N.C. The lishers continued to demand more movie is currently in the editing books, and I was running out of mate- room and is due out later this year. rial. My thought was, if I could make The entire process was fascinat- up a story maybe that would suffice.” Actors Bill Cobbs and Lee Meriwether pose for a quick picture ing for Stovall, but it was just the with Jim Stovall (center). Cobbs and Meriwether portray char- The end result was The Ultimate acters in the film adaptation of Stovall’s “The Ultimate Gift.” beginning. In addition to the movie, Gift, his first work of fiction. Stovall and his Emmy Award- The book tells the story of a young man, Jason Stevens, winning Narrative Television Network teamed up with the who is selfish and spoiled and has little or no real concept Legacy Financial Group in Boston, the Film Foundry, and of the world. When his great-uncle, billionaire Red Stevens, the Helixx Group to form the Ultimate Gift Experience. dies, Jason expects a large inheritance. However, that isn’t Launched about 18 months ago, Stovall said the Ultimate what his uncle has in mind for the young man. Red sends Gift Experience is designed to allow families and individuals Jason on a 12-month journey to discover the meaning of to experience the ultimate gift, just as the main character in love, friendship, laughter, and giving — the ultimate gift. the book does. “At the time I published The Ultimate Gift, I had no real Each of his business partners, he explained, plays a role expectations other than that I was hoping I could tell a good based on their area of expertise, whether it is financial plan- story with a good message,” Stovall said. ning for families or videography (used to produce videotaped There has been a strong response to the message of the wills like the one Red Stevens creates in the book). book. He said so far, more than 2 million copies of the book As with the book, the support for the Ultimate Gift have been sold worldwide. Healthy book sales, however, are Experience and the movie has been humbling for Stovall. He just one chapter in the book’s success. is “proud this message is making a difference in the lives of After the book was published, Stovall had several movie millions of people around the world. studios contact him about making the book into a movie. “Giving is among the most important elements of our Ultimately, he joined forces with some financial groups and lives,” he concluded. “All receiving begins with giving.” a film company; together, they raised additional funding and
14 | Excellence | Spring 2006 | http://alumniweb.oru.edu ONCAMPUS |OFFCAMPUS Extraordinarily Cool, Chemically Diverse
Confused? You won’t be after you’ve read these brief reports on what ORU alumni, students, faculty, and staff have achieved since September. And the greatest achievement of all: the “Big O” turned 88!
Good Chemistry
Last fall, Dr. Jim Thompsen 78, senior research scientist at ConocoPhillips in Ponca City, Okla., donated two Hewlett Packard gas chromatographs that are being used in chemistry student labs and for depart- mental research. Some of that research includes a joint effort with the City of Tulsa Water Treatment Group to study Tulsa’s drinking water in order to detect and measure disinfection by-products such as chloroform.
The equipment, valued at $130,000, is also available to students doing senior projects and assisting with faculty Chemistry major Nathan Ham places a capillary column into the new HP gas chromatograph that research. was donated by ORU alumnus Dr. James Thompsen. The conference featured three speak- Out of the Ordinary Summit Up ers: ORU alumni Clifton Taulbert, Dr. Tim Elmore, and Jim Stovall. Taulbert described the role that his great aunt, The 2005 student worship album, October’s one-day Generational Summit “Mama Ponk,” had played in his life called Extraordinary, was recorded last was designed to accomplish two things: and how she served as his mentor. fall and will be available for purchase honor senior adults and emphasize the Both Elmore and Stovall brought their this spring at participating retail stores value of mentoring. fathers and talked about how their and at http://campusworship.com. The idea for a generation-based fathers mentored them. Extraordinary is also the title song of conference that looked at senior adults the album, co-written by music minis- and the role of mentors came from a Sjoberg said the conference was a tries director Brad Fontaine and music success, with many students walking private donor, said Leadership Academy department faculty member and away understanding how important director Dr. Connie Sjoberg 77, who worship leader Dr. Leanne coordinated the event. mentors are to how individuals live (Polvado 93, 96, 01) Benton. and lead in life. She estimated there The conference was designed to let The album’s 13 tracks were all written were about 150 to 200 in attendance, students and older adults alike know and performed by ORU students and including students and others invited there is no end to being involved in peo- alumni (including Darrell Evans and from area churches. ple’s lives, she said, adding that “there is Kari Jobe). still a lot to be done.”
e-mail: [email protected] | Spring 2006 | Excellence | 15 ONCAMPUS |OFFCAMPUS
Heat Relief
Out with the 40-year-old cooling tower, in with the new. No one expect- ed the first one to last so long (15 years past its prime), but thank God it did. Now there’s a new, $300,000 tower in town — funded by alumni and friends of ORU and installed on Jan. 24, Chancellor Oral Roberts’ 88th birthday. Talk about a cool campus!
Career Assists
What ORU student doesn’t want help finding a job? Fortunately, the College The campus is chillin’. and Career Guidance Center stands ready to help. At the fall Career Expo, companies and students than any more than 50 area employers and other career event in recent years, and Our Roofs Are Sealed nationally acclaimed companies came feedback from employers was good. One employer said, “It seemed the to campus to do some recruiting for After last spring’s hailstorm, many students know what they want and positions in finance, engineering, campus roofs came in for some serious where they are headed.” A spring expo computer science, customer service, repairs during the summer, fall, and took place on March 1. Good news for tech support, and more. winter. The final repairs were com- alumni: you can use CCGC’s services pleted on Christ’s Chapel earlier this According to CCGC director John too; e-mail [email protected] or call year. The old upper roof was removed Brown, this expo drew more 918/495.6912. and replaced with a flexible, durable, weather-resistant membrane, and the lower roof was recoated. The skylights in Kennedy Chapel were closed to prevent future leaks. This spring, ORU personnel began sealing the windows and repairing the stucco finish on the interior walls.
Commercial Roofers, Inc., president Scott Howard 79 volunteered to do a study of ORU’s roofs two years ago. After the hailstorm, the insurance company hired Howard to manage the bid process and the project. Four different roofing contractors were involved in putting 17 roofs on 12 campus buildings, at a cost of close to $3 million.
Christ’s Chapel has new roofing.
16 | Excellence | Spring 2006 | http://alumniweb.oru.edu ONCAMPUS |OFFCAMPUS
Organized by the Student Association, Can-do Attitude Cleaning Up “I Believe Week” (Oct. 28-Nov. 4) aimed to unify the campus community More than 900 students and faculty Blood is thicker than water, as the say- — from honors students and athletes members joined forces on Halloween ing goes. So when Tulsa’s sister city, to administrators and desk ladies night to do something good for oth- Long Beach, Miss., was ravaged by — through such activities as a tailgate ers. They went door-to-door in Tulsa Hurricane Katrina, Tulsans came to the party, prayer and fasting, a special cha- neighborhoods and collected more than rescue. Specifically, 143 ORU students, pel service (where “I Believe” speech 10,000 canned food products that were along with Mayor Bill LaFortune and contest winner Okey Maduka of Lagos, destined to wind up in the cupboards members of GUTS Church, spent fall Nigeria, gave his speech), a three-point of families in need of nourishment. break week (Oct. 16-21) down south. basket shoot-out, and a drum line-led And when these hunters and gather- Work assignments included restoring march to the Mabee Center. children’s baseball fields, clearing trees ers returned to campus that night, they A highlight of the week (remember, and debris from yards, and making were greeted by alumni who had come this was before the dress code change; repairs in storm-damaged homes. to serve them hot chocolate. Sweets for see pg. 4) was “Denim to the Rescue.” the sweet… By voluntarily purchasing a $5 bracelet each school day, students, faculty, and staff could buy the right to wear jeans. Proceeds went to hurricane-afflicted ORU students who needed financial assistance to return for the spring semester; about $19,000 was raised.
“The purpose of ‘I Believe Week’ [was] to bring everyone on campus together,” said SA president Heather Thomas in a University Oracle story.
“When we unite, there’s no stopping us.”
It’s a Big Hit
Phase I of the new Golden Eagle Chancellor Roberts, you’ve got mail! Sports Complex was on schedule Eighty-eight is Great Believe It to open before the end of March, a welcome addition to J. L. Johnson Stadium. This phase includes a strength Thousands of ministry partners and ORU students and alumni come from and conditioning center that is being ORU students and hundreds of alumni a variety of backgrounds, but there used by all ORU student-athletes, took time to send birthday cards to are beliefs they all share. They believe baseball offices, and the Jim Brewer Chancellor Oral Roberts on the occa- in God, in the mission and vision of Champions Room, named for the late sion of his 88th birthday, celebrated ORU, in serving others, and in their ORU pitching coach. The Champions on Jan. 24. Speaking on The Hour of ability (with God’s help) to make the Room has a hospitality room for press Healing TV program that night from world a better place. These beliefs conferences, meetings, and game-day his home in California, surrounded by drove the Alumni Foundation’s “I functions, and an exterior observation stacks of cards, the chancellor said, Believe” annual fund campaign, and deck. “These birthday cards lift my heart that theme was picked up by the stu- and they make my day. I am just over- dents for a special weeklong series of whelmed.” events on campus.
e-mail: [email protected] | Spring 2006 | Excellence | 17 ONCAMPUS |OFFCAMPUS
Construction on Phase II, an indoor moving,” said Trent, who is also asso- practice facility for baseball, soccer, ciate professor of English at ORU. and track and field athletes, will begin The conference addressed the growing in the summer of 2008 when pledges issues of diversity in America, includ- are in and the City of Tulsa’s work on ing race, ethnicity, gender, culture, nearby Fred Creek has progressed religion, age, and physical disabilities sufficiently. — as seen through a Christian world- view. Trent and her co-chairs plan to Such Diversity! edit a book-length manuscript featuring the best scholarship from the confer- ence. Conference proceedings will also ORU’s first Conference on Christianity, be published at www.oru.edu/cccda. Culture and Diversity in America (CCCDA), held Nov. 11-12, was an “I think God chose [ORU] to bring overwhelming success. this vision to pass because we have so much diversity on our campus,” Trent That’s the conclusion of the conference said. “Now our challenge — and privi- chair, Dr. Mary Alice Trent, who cited lege — is to highlight our diversity “prayer and coordination” as key as one of the strongest features of this elements. campus, all to the glory of God.” “We’ve had so many scholars from (Those interested in supporting an upcoming around the country e-mailing us that ORU alumnus Bill Winston, pastor of Living conference or contributing to ORU student [the conference] was not only intellec- WWordord Christian Center in Forest Park, Ill., was and faculty scholarships for future diversity tually stimulating, but spiritually one of the CCCDA sponsors. meetings may e-mail Dr. Trent at [email protected].)
ORU Seeks Funds for BiotechnoBiotechnologylogy Lab
Since ORU was awarawardedded a $60,000 challenge grant frfromom the TTulsa-basedulsa-based HeHelmerichlmerich Foundation in January, the university’s biology department has been working to raise the necessary $60,000 in matching funds. More than $18,000 had come in from alumni by mid-March. And, as biology chair Dr. Hal Reed noted, “We do plan to seek other funds for support” as well. The money the department is working to raise will result in a total of $120,000 that can be used to purpurchasechase much-needed equipment for a biobiotechnologytechnology llab,ab, iincludingncluding cell and bacterial culturculturee hoods, PCR workstation, specialized cecentrifuges,ntrifuges, aandnd a rreal-eal- time PCR machine. DrDr.. Reed said thrthroughough the grant, ORU will crcreateeate a sstate-of-the-arttate-of-the-art Greater research projects lie ahead for students like Narcisa Webb and Travis Nelson, who are seen here lab that will provide better research and training opportunities for biology and pre- conducting a simulated blood typing test as assistant medicine students. professor of biology (and ORU alumna) Dr. Caroline The lab will allow students and faculty to work mormoree closely togettogetherher aandnd ttoo uusese tthehe O’Farrell looks on. latest molecular biology techniques that support the growing biotechnology industry, Reed said. He added that ORU has four faculty members specifically trained in molecular biology, which is a rapidly expanding field. “It will indeed increase opportunities for faculty, student, and summer research activities,” Reed said. ORU has until September 2006 to match the foundation’s grant. Those interested in making a gift may contact the ORU Alumni Foundation, donate online at http://alumniweb.oru.edu, or send a check to the ORU Alumni Foundation, P.O. Box 702333, Tulsa, OK 74170. (Write “Biology Lab Grant” on the memo line of the check.)
18 | Excellence | Spring 2006 | http://alumniweb.oru.edu ONCAMPUS |OFFCAMPUS
Attention, School of Business Graduates!
The school’s dean, Dr. Mark Lewandowski (right), welcomed broadcast design/art grad Barry Hatchett 86, a set dresser on the show Criminal Minds, back to ORU at Homecoming. ORU has awarded 2,544 undergraduate and 628 graduate business degrees since 1969.
To achieve this advanced accredi- this spring. The data collected will With a new dean, a new admin- tation, ORU must demonstrate that be analyzed to establish bench- istrative structure, a refurbished it has a high level of achievement, marks and help set goals for con- office suite, and 499 students success, and satisfaction from stu- tinuous quality improvement. pursuing degrees this year, the dents, employers, and the community. Thank you in advance for support- ORU School of Business is ready ing your school by participating to take another major step. To document achievement, a set in this survey. Please update your of surveys has been created to e-mail address on the alumni Web To do so, the school will need the measure the level of preparedness site (http://alumniweb.oru.edu) if help of its alumni. and satisfaction among the school’s you have not kept it current; the stakeholders. The survey will be blast e-mail concerning the sur- As was reported in the fall issue conducted online, and those who vey will be sent out using the list of Excellence magazine, the respond will remain anonymous. of e-mail addresses on file in the School of Business is seeking a Both alumni and their employers Alumni Office. specialty accreditation through the are being asked to complete the For more information, contact Association of Collegiate Business survey. Be ready to help when Dr. David Dyson at [email protected] Schools and Programs (ACBSP). notice of the survey arrives later or at 918/495.7026.
e-mail: [email protected] | Spring 2006 | Excellence | 19 ONCAMPUS |OFFCAMPUS
In later years, Ma’s faith was put Heading Off Collisions to the test. He was in a car accident. Also, his young daughter injured her Professor’s research could lead to safer roads head at a playground. Ma thought, “I am so weak. I need some strong By Sylvia LaRose reaction delay. With this early warn- support.” So he prayed. “And thank ing signal, a driver can brake or steer God, He answered my prayers. And I n the not-too-distant future, away when he or she is a mere second I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior your car may be equipped with away from danger. “Probably 70 and I was baptized.” a unique radar, or ITS (intelligent percent of car accidents could be As he was doing post-doctoral transportation system) created by Dr. avoided in the intersection or on the work at Duke University, Ma began Xiaomin Ma, assistant professor of road with this communication sending out his résumé. He discov- engineering and physics at Oral Roberts system,” says Dr. Ma. ered Oral Roberts University on the University. Already, auto manufacturers It’s no wonder that Ma is pursuing Internet. In January 2003, he accepted Ford, GM, and Honda have expressed this ambitious project to help others. a position on ORU’s engineering interest. While growing up in southeastern and physics faculty. In addition to The basic idea is to build a sensor to China, his parents encouraged him to teaching, he participates in a “Pilot measure the distance between your car pursue his interests and to “never give Ministry” for Chinese students study- and another car, and the relative speed. up.” It was at Beijing University that ing at Tulsa flight schools. He also In an emergency situation, your car he became “very interested” in radio gets his own engineering students sends a signal through wireless com- and wireless communication — and involved in research to help them munication to warn the other driver of spiritual power. understand what they’re learning in danger. Statistics show that many auto “I was not brought up in a class. accidents are caused by a one-second Christian family,” explains Ma. “But “ORU is a Christian university. We in China, I already felt some super- need to do all things to glorify God’s natural power beyond this physical name,” clarifies Ma. “Some students world. Thank God, this one friend just want to learn engineering for who used to be a Buddhist gave me a graduation. Some will take it with Bible. He told me, ‘I don’t need this. them as their profession. Some may You can look at it.’ So I just put the serve in a church or foreign country. Bible by my bed and I read it once in In my classes, they not only gain the a while to help me get to sleep. I was knowledge of science and engineer- not a serious believer at the time.” ing, but also how to be a good person When Ma came to the United and please God.” States, for some reason he brought Ma and his students continue to the Bible with him. His first room- perfect the early warning radar sys- mate was a Christian, so he met a lot tem for cars. He is also collaborating of other Christians. “My American with a professor at the University of friends took me to their church,” con- Oklahoma on this project. Because, tinues Ma. “Initially, I just wanted to as Ma said, “we cannot predict what improve my English, but gradually I progress we are going to make in our started thinking, there IS a God. And research,” it could take a few months there’s a solution from God. There is or perhaps a few years for the research hope for eternal peace.” team to determine if the system will actually go into development. “We can benefit from it and others can benefit Dr. Ma’s classes are not just about engineering. He also wants his students from it,” Ma concludes. “Maybe this to learn “how to be a good person and could be a way, through engineering, please God.” to reach out to other people in the world.”
20 | Excellence | Spring 2006 | http://alumniweb.oru.edu ELIREPORT
Winning Our Hearts
Valentine’s Day came ten days early for four former ORU athletes. There was lots of love on the court as Krista Ragan-Binam, Tom Nieto, Jim Kane, and Bryan Norton were officially inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame.
You gotta love’em… Ragan-Binam File
Keep the Ball Rolling third in three-pointers, third in three-point percentage, BY GINGER SHEPHERD fourth in assists, and fifth in steals. As a basketball player at ORU, Krista Ragan-Binam “Probably the two trips to the NCAA tournament, 02 saw unprecedented success. That’s what made her a [however], are my best memories,” Ragan-Binam said. slam-dunk choice for the ORU Athletics Hall of Fame. Although honored and excited about the induction, During her time at ORU, Ragan-Binam was named finding time to Mid-Continent Conference Player of the Year three times return for the — in 1999, 2001, and 2002. She became ORU’s second Feb. 4 ceremony All-American woman basketball player and was first-team proved to be a bit All-Conference for four straight years. more of a chal- If that isn’t enough to wow you: Ragan-Binam is the lenge; it happened conference’s all-time leading scorer, with 2,105 points in the middle of under her belt. She is in ORU’s Career Top 10: second in basketball season. scoring, sixth in scoring average, second in field goals, Toward the end
Ragan-Binam took what she learned on and off the court at ORU to share with her high school basketball players. KRISTA RAGAN-BINAM • JIM KANE • TOM NIETO • BRYAN NORTON
e-mail: [email protected] | Spring 2006 | Excellence | 21 ELIREPORT
of January and the start of February, Ragan-Binam had experience for the coach-to-be. “It was a great oppor- about three to four basketball games a week. tunity to learn in my — not four years, but six — For those games, Ragan-Binam wasn’t stepping up years here, especially the two years I sat out. It was a to the line to take a shot. She was giving encourage- chance to observe Coach Finkbeiner help the team.” ment from the sidelines. She is serving as the head Ragan-Binam missed the 1996-97 and 1997-98 coach of the Glenpool High School women’s basket- seasons after suffering torn ligaments and tendons in ball team. her left ankle, a torn ACL, and a broken arm. Her success from ORU has followed and touched A great coach wasn’t the only thing that Ragan- her coaching. In the 2004-5 season, Ragan-Binam’s Binam found at ORU. She said the university is a Lady Warriors went undefeated and won both the great place that has good Christian values, and a regional and district championships. natural support system. Around the time of her induction, her team was “We got great support,” she said. “President ranked in the top ten for Oklahoma’s Class 4A and [Richard] Roberts really supportedFormer ORU us. golf He coach came Bill to Brogden holding onto a 14-2 record. all the games that he could.(center)” was on hand to see Norton There are a couple things that can explain Ragan- And she met her husband,and NathanKane (right) Binam, inducted a play- into the Binam’s success, outside of her natural talent. There is er on the men’s team (1997-00)Hall. at ORU. He might the coaching and there is the support. be an equal partner in the marriage, but as Ragan- “Actually, I did sign with Coach (Jerry) Finkbeiner Binam noted at the pre-game dinner on the 4th, “We at SNU (Southern Nazarene University), but I fol- coach the Glenpool team together, but I’m the head lowed him when he left to come to ORU,” Ragan- coach; he’s my assistant!” Binam said. And it proved to be a good learning Jim Kane File
The Right Choice A third option emerged while Kane BY GINGER SHEPHERD was playing in the U.S. Open Qualifying Choosing the school with just the in San Jose. At the match, he ran into his right golf program was no easy chore friend, Joey Rassett. for ORU Hall of Fame inductee Jim “Joey had just committed to ORU Kane. He had some very enticing and asked me if I had signed with any choices. In the end, however, it came college yet. I said no but was leaning down to the influence of ORU’s head toward Stanford or BYU,” Kane said. “Joey“Joey immediately convinced me not to coach, Bill Brogden. Jim Kane At the time Kane was looking at sign any letters of intent until I had an colleges, Stanford and Brigham Young opportunity to speak with Bill Brogden University had made it onto his short list. Both schools and visit ORU. The rest, [as] they say, is history.” could offer a very solid golf program. It was a choice that provided Kane with an endless “I had been accepted into Stanford and was then supply of experiences and memories, that even 25-plus offered a full scholarship,” Kane said. “Not only was years later are still vivid in his mind. He said some of Stanford a great educational institution but they were his best memories are of when the ORU golf team would in the process of rebuilding their golf program and [I] defeat national powerhouses, such as Oklahoma State wanted to be a part of that process.” University, in tournaments. Stanford had an added benefit for the young Kane: “It was always great to hear people say, ‘That ORU It was close to home — just 15 miles from his home- team is REALLY good,’ or words to that effect,” Kane town of San Mateo, Calif. said. While playing at ORU, Kane and his team took In addition to being a powerhouse, BYU appealed second place in the 1981 NCAA golf championships to Kane because his best friend at the time, Bobby and third place in 1980. Kane was also a four-time All- Clampett, was planning to attend the Utah-based school. American.
22 | Excellence | Spring 2006 | http://alumniweb.oru.edu ELIREPORT
One memory that is Kane’s best — and worst — is team to his family’s home in Salina, Kan. It was culture the 1981 championship. He can recall Coach Brogden on shock for the California boys — Kane, Rassett, and Bill the 18th tee telling him he needed a par, indicating the Glasson. “I had never shot a gun, gone fishing, or ridden team was either tied with BYU or ahead by a couple of a horse,” Kane said. “We did all of that. It was one of strokes. He shot well, and was excited; however, about the most memorable times I had at ORU.” 20 minutes later when Rassett was putting, the team Kane played golf professionally following his four learned they had lost the championship by two strokes. seasons at ORU (1978-81), but returned to complete “It was difficult ending my career that way. We all his degree in 1986. He said without the support and the had worked so hard to bring a national championship to patience he received from the university’s recreation ORU,” Kane said. department, he would not have been able to do that. At the Feb. 4 Golden Eagle Club dinner, Kane Once a golfer, always a golfer: Kane is currently the described something more positive that took place dur- head golf pro at Eagle Bend Golf Course in Lawrence, ing his senior year. Teammate Bryan Norton invited the Kan.
Coach Brogden
Shades of Bill Brogden File Norton Bryan BY GINGER SHEPHERD wasn’t the only Like his teammate Jim Kane, Bryan Norton 82 person that made did not put ORU at the top of his list of “colleges I’d Norton think ORU like to attend” back in the late 1970s. He wouldn’t have should be his col- described himself as a very spiritual person, so ORU lege home. was not anywhere on his radar screen. “I had a chance So what brought the Kansas golfer to Tulsa? It was to speak with an encounter with ORU head coach Bill Brogden at a President Oral In describing himself and his teammates, Norton said, “We were a competitive golf camp where Norton was a counselor. “He was wear- Roberts,” Norton bunch.” ing his groovy sunglasses,” Norton said at the Hall of said, and that truly Fame Night dinner, drawing laughter from Golden Eagle inspired him. In Club members. After five recruiting trips — none of Roberts, Norton found a man who believed in his athletes them to ORU — Norton had found the coach he wanted and wanted his athletic programs to succeed. to play for. “Roberts funded the golf program like no other school The coach made an impression on the young man. at the time,” he said. The two of them simply “clicked.” In the late 1970s, there weren’t many restrictions on a “He was young,” Norton said of Brogden. “We (my college golf team’s travel, Norton explained. Many teams teammates and I) related to him.” traveled by van to tournaments around the country and At that time, many of ORU’s golfers were away would eat McDonald’s all the way. That wasn’t the case from home for the first time, and Coach Brogden knew for ORU’s Titans. and understood what they were going through, Norton “ORU provided flights on commercial airlines,” explained, adding that several of his teammates were Norton said. “And Coach Brogden treated us first class from the West Coast. with a meal at a nice restaurant.” “Oklahoma was a different experience,” Norton said. Playing golf at ORU, he continued, was a chance to “He took us under his wing and helped us through it.” become well-traveled, with trips to Mexico, Pine Hurst, Although he was understanding, that doesn’t mean and Athens, Ga., for the NCAA tournament. At the time, Coach Brogden wasn’t tough on them. Norton said their he said, those places were exotic to him, being from a coach pushed them to be a successful team. The pressure small town in Kansas (Salinas) and having little travel paid off for Norton, who was a two-time second-team experience. Another appeal ORU had for Norton was that All-American (1980, 1981). He also tied for fourth at the it was still close to home. 1980 NCAA championships.
e-mail: [email protected] | Spring 2006 | Excellence | 23 ELIREPORT
ORU was more than just a place to play golf for Norton. Today, Norton is focused on his work as a vice It was a place to learn, to gain experience, and to succeed. president for Lockton Companies, insurance brokers in “I came here a kid from a bumpkin little town,” Norton Kansas City. He still has sharp memories, however, of said. “When I left, I was an experienced person. I grew up.” funny things that happened at college tournaments, like Part of his growth as a person involved learning to focus, the time he swung too hard, missed a shot, knelt down on a lesson he mastered. He excelled on the golf course and in the ground, and proceeded to give vent to his anger. the classroom, graduating with honors. “A lady came up to me afterwards and said, ‘That’s Norton explained that it wasn’t unusual for the golf team so neat how you guys pray after you hit a shot.’” Too to be traveling four to five weeks a semester…and then far away to hear what Norton was saying, she jumped to there was practice. However, one of the advantages of a what seemed like a logical conclusion. school like ORU, he said, was that there weren’t the same As Norton learned, “You’re really in the spotlight “social sideline” distractions that other schools’ ath- when you go to a school like letes contend with. Oral Roberts.”
Catching Up with Tom Nieto ORU head coach) called. BY ELISSA K. HARVILL “My dad convinced me to For the first time in 24 years, former Titan catcher go check [ORU] out. I had Tom Nieto was back on campus, this time with his never been out of the state of son, Marcus. The occasion was Nieto’s induction into California at that point, but the ORU Athletics Hall of Fame. I went out there and Larry Former Titan catcher and current Cochell and some other players Tom Nieto File “The school hasn’t changed a bit,” Nieto said. “We New York Mets coach Tom Nieto were wanting to get to the bookstore, and stopped and showed me around, and about asked a couple of students who were walking by [for two hours into it, I had decided directions], and the students are just as I remembered them: that I wanted to play for Oral Roberts — probably the best the most polite, nice people, just as they were when I was decision, as far as my future and career [were concerned], at ORU — just fantastic people who go there to get a great that I ever made. I didn’t know it at the time, but I sure education. It’s still a wonderful school.” know it now,” Nieto said. In 1981, after a stellar year of catching for ORU and Nieto describes his role on the Titan team as “just a small earning All-American honors, Nieto was drafted by the St. piece of a puzzle that really fit together well.” That year, Louis Cardinals. Soon after, he was making the winning play eight ORU players were drafted by major league teams. in Game 4 of the ’84 World Series. Nieto also played for the This year, as a Hall of Fame honoree, Nieto spoke to current Minnesota Twins in the ’87 Series and served as a coach in players about what it meant to him to play for ORU, and the four other World Series, with defensive catching being his traditions he and his teammates had built. He encouraged specialty. He’s now a coach with the New York Mets. the players to keep these traditions going. “I’ll always remember my first day in the big leagues… “I know I was always a part of that Oral Roberts family, after playing Little League baseball and playing in high but with the way my career went and not getting a chance school and college, hoping someday — not thinking you to come back for a long time, it feels really good to be back would — but hoping someday you’d be playing in the major in the ORU family,” Nieto said. “I will definitely make it a leagues…when I had the chance to do that in 1984 with the habit to come back every year.” St. Louis Cardinals, that was really something,” Nieto said. At the Hall of Fame banquet, Nieto, who has experienced “I’ve been really fortunate with the way things have turned the World Series twice as a player and four times as a coach, out, and I truly believe that Oral Roberts University was an shared: “From the bottom of my heart, this is the proudest important part of getting me there.” moment of my life.” Before he settled on ORU, Nieto was considering other Today, Nieto lives with his wife of 23 years, Karen, and scholarship offers and had made up his mind to play for their two children, Nicole, 19, and Marcus, 15, in Land O’ California State-Fullerton. But then Larry Cochell (former Lakes, Fla. (Marcus plays baseball, of course.)
24 | Excellence | Spring 2006 | http://alumniweb.oru.edu ELIREPORT
been a struggle to get” people to recognize how valuable we are Carter Receives Sportsmanto the city of Tulsa. Award ’s annual Since Carter began serving at ORU in 1994, the school has A career in business and sports law is all well and good, joined the Mid-Con (1997) and has won the league ’s Cup award four times and been runner-up but it seems to be in athletics has found— specifically, his true calling. ORU athletics Commissioner Mike Carter — that ’s decision to switch careers was three times, Carter notes, to a school with more sports. During The Athletics director that period, the Golden Eagles have established a conference validated once again on Feb.” award 9 when from he the received Tulsa theSports record for regular-season titles and tournament championships , a man “Sportsman of the Year Tulsa World (87), and taken part in 40 NCAA tournaments, in sports such as Commission during the Bill Connors Sports Dinner. basketball, baseball, and volleyball. Connors is the late sports editor of the “much of that credit goes to “To the extent that” Carter this award said, is because of the success of whose fair and honest reporting made him a champion of athletics at ORU, the Tulsa-area sports community. President (Richard) Roberts and executive vice presidents Dave Carter was honored for a long list of achievements that Ellsworth and Ralph Fagin for their unwavering support of ath- have had a positive impact not just on ORU but on Tulsa letics, and to the coaches for recruiting great players, and to the as a whole. He helped bring the Mid-Continent Conference Athletics administration who runs” the programs to help make basketball tournament to Tulsa last year (and again this our student-athletes successful. ” whose con- year, and through 2008); ORU is a Mid-Con member. ORU Carter also complimented“the other the Golden people Eagleof Tulsa Club, the ORU has hosted Mid-Con tournaments in other sports, such as Champions Club, and ’s latest effort baseball and volleyball. ORU athletes have earned a cumu- tributions in the past two years made it possible to improve the lative grade-point average of at least 3.0 in seven of the past athletics programs and facilities, including Carter for details.) Excellence eight years. ’m proudest of is that the university” Carter itself said. is on behalf of the school and the city: the Golden Eagle Sports “The thing I Complex. (See the Fall 2005 issue of ’s gaining recognition for ’itss been accomplishments, some time since anyone from “That’s the best part. It ORU has been recognized with a city award like this. It
Carter (center) receives his award as Bob West (left) and last year’s winner, Keith Bailey, look on.
PHOTO BY KATIE MUELLER
e-mail: [email protected] | Spring 2006 | Excellence | 25 Notes From Alumni
says he sees his service on the Dr. Richard Williams 88 1970s Clay Jacobsen 78 has committee as “an opportunity to and wife Nancy are excited to Ken 73 and Sharon released a new book, The bring healing into many homes” announce the birth of their fourth (Perry) 73 Holmgren Ultimate Reality Show, a story and “to bring God’s healing power child, Joseph Martin, on Nov. 11, announce the birth of their first about Jack Forrest, a 27-year-old to the whole person.” Bill and his 2005, joining Angela, 10, Stephen, grandchild, Kiera Joy Larson, football coach who is given a wife, Lisa (Herman-89), are 8, and Julia, 6. After serving in the born on Oct. 17, 2004. She lives chance to win $10 million. Jack co-pastors of Capital Life Church U.S. Air Force medical corps and with her parents, Jonathan and faces many challenges, includ- in Rosslyn, Va., just across the the space shuttle program, Richard Rachel (Holmgren) Larson, ing a career that’s in jeopardy bridge from Washington, D.C. and family moved to Cheshire, in Colorado Springs, Colo. and intense circumstances on They lead weekly Bible studies at Conn., where he is a family In December of 2004, Ken the show, but none pose a threat the White House. They have three physician. They even took the started his career as a freelance like the possible disclosure of a children: Aubrie, 11, Taylor, 9, plunge this year and started home editor. Sharon has been a sub- secret that’s been kept from Jack and Sydney, 6. schooling; “Yes, it’s work, but stitute teacher for the St. Paul his entire life. He must decide: www.capitallifechurch.com. totally rewarding!” Richard says. school system for the past two how much will he lose if he Jolene (Seeman) Belchak years. They are learning more wins it all? You can find 86 and husband John traveled Chris Davis 89, 91 MA, 92 about Jesus daily and would love out more about it at to China in 2005 to adopt their MA and Joel LaCourse 84 to hear from their ORU class- www.clayjacobsen.com. daughter, Lorna Jolene. Jolene is started their own law firm in mates of 1969-1973. currently working as wardrobe August 2001. The firm, originally coordinator and special projects called LaCourse & Davis, P.L.C., 1980s assistant at Living Word Christian recently changed to LaCourse Carol Burton McLeod 77 Carolyn Markham 82 is now Center. She would love to hear Davis Coffey & Gudgel, P.L.C. In launched her first book, The Carolyn Striker, having wait- from her friends, and sends its five years of existence, the firm Rooms of a Woman’s Heart, ed 45 years for the right man. greetings to those from Claudius has grown to eight attorneys and in March 2005. The book had She says she is now very hap- Roberts 7 Blue. an overall staff of 16. It’s a general an accompanying workbook pily married to Joe Striker, who practice firm with a high concen- and DVD; the DVD won a had never been married before, Dr. Robert Barry Blair 86 tration in business and corporate- Telly Award for Religious either. received the 2005 Southern related issues, and is committed to Programming. Carol’s second Business Education Association Christian values and excellence. book is being published by Collegiate Teacher of the Year Thomas Nelson. Look for it on Award at its convention in bookshelves this summer. Carol Franklin, Tenn., in October. He is is traveling all over America Rev. Bill Shuler 85 has an associate professor of Business You can track either one of them and the world, teaching women been selected to serve on the Education, Marketing Education, down at almost any ORU Golden how to live a life filled with the National Advisory Committee and Office Management at Middle Eagles basketball game. Chris joy of His presence. Carol and on Violence Against Women, Tennessee State University in and wife Adora (Michels 87) have husband Craig 77 have five a committee that provides Murfreesboro, Tenn., where he one daughter, Emilie, who is 4. children: Matthew 04 (mar- “practical and general policy also serves as director of the ried to Emily Hawkinson advice” dealing with issues such Center for Economic Education. 04), Christopher 05, Jordan, as domestic violence, sexual He would enjoy hearing from Joy, and Joni. Craig is on the abuse, and stalking. Formed in Knights of the Son (EMR 7E 1990s board of CBMI and pastors The 1995, the committee generally 1982-83) and Fortress (EMR 6S David J. 90 and Maria Tabernacle in Orchard Park, N.Y. has 30 members drawn from 1983-86). (Preston) 90 McDaniel were Matt is on staff at ORU as assis- law enforcement, victim service Glen Wells 86, his wife, Lynne, involved in pastoral ministry from tant director of Media Relations providers, schools, faith com- and their children — Abigail, 12, 1990 to 2001 in California. The and Jordan will be starting his munities, and other groups. Brock, 12, and Oliver, 9 — have couple then joined Youth With A freshman year at ORU in 2006 as Co-chairs are the U.S. Attorney relocated to Mauritania. Glen Mission (YWAM). They spent a a music major. For more informa- General (at present, Alberto works in the American Embassy season in Kona, Hawaii, before tion on Carol’s book, go to www. Gonzales) and the Secretary of in the capital city, Nouakchott. moving to Tokyo, Japan, to serve justjoyministries.com Health and Human Services. Bill with YWAM. They are pioneer-
HOLMGREN 73 MCLEOD 77 JACOBSEN 78 STRIKER 82 SHULER 85 BELCHAK 86
26 | Excellence | Spring 2006 | http://alumniweb.oru.edu Notes From Alumni LIFELONGLINKS
ing a School of Worship and Charissa (Fidellow) Franz Kimberly Cearley 94 and with the Army Reserves. working within various missions 91 and husband Brandon dear friend Jason Coble met communities and local churches, received a two-for-one spe- while working at ORU 7 years Nicole Jacob 96 and husband developing worshipers and cial. Their fraternal twins, ago. The two married on Dec. 31, Claude-Alix welcomed their teams for local and international Zachary Samuel and Caroline 2005. Kimberly says, “God made second child, Ania Gabriella. ministry. They are also involved Andrea, were born on Sept. His plan known, Jason asked, Their first child, Guy- in leadership development and 20, 2005. Both babies and and I said yes!” She continues, Alexandre, turns 3 this year. training and pastoral care within parents are healthy and hap- “I am so excited and blessed to YWAM, local churches, and pily at home in San Antonio, have such a wonderful man in my Radhika Mittapalli 96 MBA ministries. David travels and Tex. life.” Kimberly recently returned is going “where My light is seen teaches on worship, interces- Lovely (John) Thannickal to the U.S. after working in the dim, where My voice is heard sion, and spiritual warfare as 93 and her husband, Steve mission field for 3 1/2 years in small, and My healing power is well as leadership and character (former director of Financial Germany. She is currently living not known, even to the uttermost development. He and Maria Aid at ORU), adopted a baby in Tulsa, Okla., and working at bounds of the earth.” She says also are the parents of David boy named Prem last year from the American Red Cross. Jason is God has allowed her “to witness Rees, 7, and Hannah Claire, 2. a children’s home in Bangalore. transitioning back to the States, as His work firsthand in 12 differ- he served in Iraq for nearly a year ent nations. So many souls have
The Truth. The Whole-Person Truth.
Hear ye, hear ye! It’s as simple as Court is now in session! 1, 2, 3 . . . 1. Log on to http://alumniweb.oru. We’re looking for brave witnesses edu/programs_services/board/ to testify on behalf of alumni who aoy.php and click on Nominate are charged with Distinguished an Alumnus Now! Service to God, to the Community, 2. Fill out your statement. and to the Alma Mater. 3. Do it before July 1, 2006. We will do our best to find your Do you know anyone who fits that nominee guilty on all counts. description? If so, bear witness and nominate them for Alumnus * The Witness Protection Program is of the Year 2007! available if needed.
HOLMGREN 73 MCLEOD 77 JACOBSEN 78 STRIKER 82 SHULER 85 BELCHAK 86 BLAIR 86 MCDANIEL 90 FRANZ 91 THANNICKAL 93 CEARLEY 94
e-mail: [email protected] | Spring 2006 | Excellence | 27 LIFELONGNotesLINKS From Alumni
come to the Lord through my award in electronic media. She his master’s in aerospace Acacia Slaton 04 released a partnership with Teen Mania, was honored for her work on the engineering from Georgia Tech new book in January titled Launch Victory Christian Center, and Matthew Drake reports, a moving and now works as an aeronautical Out Into The Deep! The market Orphans Unlimited.” Last fall, series that chronicled the life of engineer for Lockheed Martin in niche is unique, she says, because she went to Mozambique (ranked a soldier, both prior to and after Marietta, Ga. Deanna is currently “it’s a devotional based on true- #7 among the world’s poorest his service in Iraq. Spc. Drake, a working on her master’s in life inspiration. There’s virtually nations, according to the U.N.) Christian, suffered a severe brain educational psychology at Georgia nothing like it on the market. It’s for the third time. “Our heart injury in Iraq. Sarah’s award State University. chock-full of Scripture and bibli- is evangelizing and discipling was special since she had only cal poems and is truly inspired the unreached,” she says. Go to been working at WTVG/13 ABC Joseph Brettell 03 writes by the Holy Spirit. Many people www.orphansunlimited.org for (Toledo, Ohio) for one year at the that he is still working in have been tremendously blessed more information on missions. time. Washington, D.C., “where by the illustration for my book Casey Zachary 01, an inner- God continues to be faithful. I cover as well as the flash anima- Ryan 99 and Katie (Statler) city public school teacher, and his have taken a job as director of tion on my site.” Check out the 00 Bangert received a special wife, Briana, a medical student, Government Affairs for HNTB, animation at www.launch-out.com. delivery on Aug. 25, 2005, when were living in New Orleans when a multimillion-dollar transporta- their son, Samuel Ryan, was born. Hurricane Katrina hit. They lost tion infrastructure consulting Ryan is currently an attorney their home and everything they firm. I’m faced with a huge for Baker Botts in Dallas and owned to the floodwaters. And job of building a Government Associates Katie is blessed to be a full-time yet, Casey said, they “were thank- Affairs division almost from Rodney Johnson, a successful mother of the new baby boy and ful as we knew that God is our scratch but I’m thrilled at the realtor in the Los Angeles area, their daughter, Hailey, who is 2. strength and portion in this life.” challenge.” Joe married Erica has become a published author They had “the grace and mercy of Ferrill in July of 2005. Erica is with the release of his first book, God along with the love and sup- a Legislative Correspondent for Possessing Your Promised Land – port of our friends and family.” Oklahoma Senator James Inhofe. Biblical Principles for Real Estate 2000s The Zacharys are temporarily in The Brettells live in Alexandria, Acquisition. (He was a contribut- Trait Thompson 00 resigned Houston, where Briana is continu- Va. Joe says, “Let us know the ing author in Stormie Omartian’s his position in June 2005 after ing her education. They’ll return next time you’re planning a best-selling The Power of a working for 5 years at MCI in to New Orleans this summer and visit to the Capitol!” Praying® Husband.) Within the Tulsa. Two days later, he married Casey will resume his teaching pages of this, his first solo book Sara McCord from Oklahoma position in the fall. Casey says Mindi Wallace 03 and project, Rodney draws on wisdom City. After a honeymoon in they “intend to serve the Lord and Jordan Linscombe 04 were earned during his nearly 20 years Cancun, they moved to College the Haitian people in Haiti at the married on Aug. 5, 2005, in as a real estate professional and Station, Tex. Trait is now a conclusion of my wife’s educa- Colorado Springs, Colo. Both are approaches the subject from the graduate student in the Bush tion.” teaching in public schools and context of Spirit-filled living. School of Government at Texas involved at New Life Church. The text is positioned to become A&M, working on a degree in Mindi will receive her master’s “a guidebook for Christians public service and administra- Lukus 02 and Ellany in education in May 2006 from looking to realize their own real tion. Sara is a 5th-grade teacher. (Newman) 02 Collins, who the University of Colorado. This estate dreams.” The foreword Trait would love to catch up are living in Oklahoma City, summer they are going to fulfill a was written by Jack W. Hayford; with some ORU friends, espe- are expecting their first child in lifelong dream and travel around endorsements came from Pat cially those on Semper Fi September. the world. Boone, Michael Reagan, Lisa or those who were involved Whelchel, and others. Rodney in the Student Association. Deanna (Hafer) 02 and Jonathan 03 Dingman would Sarah Oehler 01 is climbing like to announce the birth of their the journalism media ladder of first child, their beautiful daugh- e-mail: [email protected] success. At the Toledo Press Club ter Katelyn Amelia, born Oct. Touchstone Awards, she received 13, 2005. Since graduating from http://alumniweb.oru.edu an “Excellence in Journalism” ORU, Jon has graduated with @
JACOB 96 BANGERT 99, 00 OEHLER 01 ZACHARY 01 DINGMAN 02, 03 BRETTELL 03
28 | Excellence | Spring 2006 | http://alumniweb.oru.edu LIFELONGLINKS
has appeared on the Christian Minna led in singing Hebrew students that he considered critical 2000, and quickly made friends. Television Network (CTN) in an praises while playing the guitar or in combating the encroaching tide Instructor Charles Atkins said, interview conducted by Herman the violin. of secular humanism. “I witnessed a devout Christian” and Sharron Bailey. More inter- Sexton had retired from ORU in who battled health challenges views are being planned by his Lindsey Sehorn, a Class of 1999. He was awarded Faculty — “a vibrant force.” He described publisher. To learn more about 1969 graduate, passed away on Emeritus status at Commencement Chapman as being “like a stained- Possessing Your Promised Land, March 17, 2005. As a student, he that year. glass window whose true beauty visit www.rodneyjohnson.com, majored in business and psychol- is only revealed if there is a light where you can also read his real ogy. He was the safety officer At Sexton’s retirement reception, within.” estate blog and find other resourc- for the Tulsa County Parks as Dr. William Jernigan joked about es. well as their chief horticultur- how long it took Sexton to finish Dr. Cal Easterling noted that Daniel Ortiz and family had a ist. He was also on the board of his doctorate. “He always thought Chapman taught two Sunday school lot to be grateful for this past year. the Oklahoma Forestry Council a new book would be coming out classes at Victory Christian Center, He announced, “Our little boy and a member of the Spirit Oasis that he would want to make men- one called “Roamin’ through Taylor lived through two heart Fellowship in Jenks. He was mar- tion of in his dissertation,” Dr. Romans” (his favorite book). After surgeries. God works sometimes ried to Margaret Sehorn, a French Jernigan said. “I promised to buy Hurricane Katrina, Chapman spent different than we would like, but professor at ORU. him a steak dinner if he would 14 hours loading a truck with relief thank our Daddy in Heaven for all finish his doctorate. He did, and I supplies…and then went in for his His love, and mercy. Thank you bought him the dinner.” kidney dialysis appointment. for all your prayers.” Betty Ford, former librarian at Other faculty members and Terry Unruh said, “He constantly ORU, passed away on Jan. 3 at www.petraroofing.com. administrators who attended that demonstrated his love for the Lord the age of 77. reception talked of all that Sexton and his genuine concern for the had done in his 32 years at ORU students. The practice of gather- Dr. J. Franklin Sexton Obituaries to help build a true liberal arts ing 3 x 5 note cards from students Rev. Barry Chambliss, who was, at various times, a teacher, institution that was distinctly with their prayer needs was one earned an M.Div. from ORU watchmaker’s apprentice, and pas- Christian. of his priorities for the beginning in 1995 and a D.Min. in 2000, tor. Rumor has it that he achieved of each new semester. Robert’s passed away on Aug. 26, 2003. a perfect score on an IQ test. He “You go to the heart of this prayers were powerful and sig- knew his Bible well; in fact, he university,” Roberts said then. nificantly impacted many students Jill Hardway, a 1984 graduate, memorized the book of Romans. “Without men like you, we would facing severe family or academic passed away on Dec. 28, 2005, not be where we are.” problems. His personal testimony after a two-year bout with breast To thousands of ORU students, was inspiring and allowed him to cancer that had left her paralyzed. however, he will always be the Sexton is survived by his wife, build special relationships with Her husband, Don, said, “Jill’s man who, along with the late Dr. Ruth, their son, Stephen, and those who had faced or were facing strong faith was an inspiration Harold Paul, taught them history seven brothers and sisters. significant challenges in their own to many people.” The Hardways and humanities. Robert Chapman was a man lives. Watching Robert worship the have two sons, Scott, 23, and Dr. Sexton passed from this life who loved to spend time with Lord or listening to Robert pray David, 16. on Feb. 2, 2006. He was 77. his students, and even cook for was moving because he did so with such enthusiasm, reverence, and Minna Makkonen died in a ORU president Richard Roberts them at an annual retreat. His son, joy.” car accident in Finland on July 2, recalled the story of how Sexton Robert III, remembers that his dad 2005. Her parents, who were also came to Christ. “It was in “didn’t like to wear a shirt and At the time of his passing, in the car, died as a result of the Goldsboro, N.C., at one of my tie.” An ORU security guard says Chapman was completing the same accident. Minna received a father’s meetings in 1949,” he “he walked like John Wayne.” coursework for a Ph.D. in finance. said. Who knew that Sexton’s and bachelor’s in music from ORU ORU’s own urban cowboy passed Oral Roberts’ paths would some- in 1997 and a master’s degree in away on Jan. 7. He was 48. education in 2002. ORU Hebrew day cross again? Chapman, an instructor of professor Lenore Mullican “He ate, lived, drank, and slept accounting and finance, began remembers Minna coming to her humanities,” Roberts said, impart- working at ORU on Aug. 7, house for prayer meetings, where ing a Christian worldview to his
JACOB 96 BANGERT 99, 00 OEHLER 01 ZACHARY 01 DINGMAN 02, 03 BRETTELL 03 LINSCOMBE 04 SLATON 04 JOHNSON ORTIZ MAKKONEN 97
e-mail: [email protected] | Spring 2006 | Excellence | 29 LIFELONGLINKS Blamin’ It All on . . . Broadway (Or, guess who came to dinner?) The Alumni Office staff last visited New York City in October 2003 for a dinner event. It went so well, they decided to do it again — last Oct. 14. This time, the scene was Trattoria Dopo Teatro, located in the Theater District. Thirty-four alumni defied traffic and a down- pour so they could see old friends from their ORU days, make some new friends, and enjoy a complimentary dinner. Larry Wayne Morbitt 74, still appear- ing in Phantom of the Opera, had to leave early for a makeup call, but others stayed late to share stories from their own lives and hear news of what’s happening back in Tulsa. 6
It was a full house at the New York City event.
6 At the Trattoria Dopo Teatro
in New York City, Alumni Relations events coordina- 6 tor Winnie Perdue (right) conversed with the grand- Larry Wayne Morbitt 74 and George Paul 69 (associate mother of an alumni guest VP for University Relations at ORU) enjoyed some laughs and with Marthé Miller 80. in New York.
High Society If you’re going to have dinner in Philadelphia, dear alumni, go for the gold. Choose a restaurant voted “Best of Philly,” like Bistro Romano in the Society Hill District, and be sure to meet up with at least 16 fellow alumni.
That’s a game plan that worked for the Alumni Office staff last Oct. 15. It also proved to be a good 6 plan for Joylyn Williamson 91, an alumna who All things considered, spends most of her evenings at the Bistro anyway; she’s these alumni preferred the stage manager for the restaurant’s mystery dinner being in Philadelphia… theater. This is one alum who’s putting her ORU degree (in drama/TV/film) to good use! (L to R) Linda (Eberwein) Lloyd 87 and her husband, 6 In such a historic setting, it was fitting to talk about Darin, enjoyed Italian the past — both distant and recent — and to enjoy a cuisine with future ORU side dish of good old-fashioned ORU-style fellowship. student Nick Petrucci.
30 | Excellence | Spring 2006 | http://alumniweb.oru.edu STEP OF FAITH Through a Lens, Brightly B Y GIN G E R S H EPHERD Images have a special hold on Aaron Svenby 04. They always have. So the transition from business to professional photographer was as natural as the images he captures.
is fascination with images started when he was a young boy. He said he would pick up H books and “spend hours studying the images.” Study moved to application when Svenby was just 15 and started taking pictures. “I found a camera at a garage sale for $35,” he said, explaining that it was a good deal. Basically, “the lady gave me a $1,000 camera.” People who saw his work were impressed by it and began to tell him, “You should do this professionally.” But he didn’t really think about it that way because it was something he just enjoyed doing. As a junior at ORU majoring in business and taking accounting and economics courses (and minoring in music), it occurred to Svenby that he might want to do something else. He took pictures everywhere — including on various missions trips. He has practiced his craft in England, Denmark, Belize, Africa, Hawaii, and Panama. “I got to thinking” about career goals, Svenby said, acknowledging that “I’m not that good at accounting and economics.” Facing reality and following his heart, he began to move into photography, selling some of his work and taking photographs for the ORU student newspaper and yearbook. Since leaving ORU with a degree in business, he has splashed onto the arts scene with two different exhibitions, including an October show in Tulsa called “Awe.” Photography has become more than just a profession for Svenby; it is a ministry. And Svenby is simply translating images to express God’s word, using Psalm 19:1-4 as his theme. “Look at a flower and see how beautiful it is and how much care He shows it,” Svenby said. “And we’re His greatest creation…[see] how much He cares for us.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO OBSERVE SVENBY’S WORK, GO TO WWW.AARONSVENBY.COM.
Editor’s Note: Aaron and his wife, Sara (Toedter), an ’04 graduate, moved to Colorado Springs at the end of December once Sara had completed the requirements for her master’s degree in marriage and family counseling from ORU. Back in January, Sara was preparing to launch her career and Aaron was making plans to open a gallery. AIMING FOR HEAVEN
e-mail: [email protected] | Spring 2006 | Excellence | 31 NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID .. , TULSA, OK PERMIT NO. 777 .. ,
“I’ll bet when God made him, He didn’t do anything else for the rest of the day — just sat around and felt good.” — Dr. Cal Easterling
Dr. J. Franklin Sexton 1928-2006 ORU PROFESSOR • 1967-1999 Dr. Robert Chapman HISTORY AND HUMANITIES 1957-2006 ORU INSTRUCTOR • 2000-2006 “Sometimes when I left his home, I would ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE kneel down by my car and thank God for the privilege of spending time with this man.” — Chaplain Dal Newberry