A Learning Environment Biodiversity of WNC Mountains Offers

Fall

2006 Western

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A Learning Environment Biodiversity of WNC Mountains Offers

The Magazine o Endless Research Opportunities Tackling the Tube Catamount fans across the Southeast who can’t make it to the Saturday, Sept. 23, football game at Furman or to the Homecoming showdown with Chattanooga still can have front row seats. Both games are scheduled to be broadcast by ComCast/Charter Sports Southeast (CSS) for cable subscribers in 12 states —Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. WLOS/WYMA of Asheville, which is donating the uplink and satellite time for the WCU-Furman game, will carry a replay on Sunday, Sept. 24, at 2 p.m. Negotiations also are under way to televise the annual Battle for the Old Mountain Jug when Appalachian State returns to Cullowhee on Nov. 11. For updates on the televised games or a complete fall athletics schedule, visit catamountsports.com. Western The Magazine of Wes t ern Carolina Universi t y

Fall 2006 Volume 10, No. 3 Cover Story Western Carolina University Magazine, formerly known as Our Purple and Gold, is produced by the Office of Outdoors Odyssey Public Relations in the Division of Advancement and WNC Mountains Take External Affairs for alumni, faculty, staff, friends and 8 students of Western Carolina University. Students Above and Beyond (on the cover) Kathy Mathews, assistant professor of biology, Chancellor John W. Bardo points out aspects of rivercane to Western students Sharhonda Bell, Katie McDowell and Adam Griffith (from Vice Chancellor Clifton B. Metcalf left to right). Their measurements and observations will be Advancement and used to help restore the plant, which, though native to External Affairs the region, has struggled for survival in the face of development and agricultural planting. Associate Vice Chancellor Leila Tvedt Public Relations Managing Editor Bill Studenc Features Associate Editor Teresa Killian 4 Millennial Campus Art Director Rubae Sander Campus of Future Embraces Innovation, Service to WNC Chief Photographer Mark Haskett ’87

Contributing Writers Mike Cawood Randall Holcombe 14 Serving Citizens Daniel Hooker ’01 Public Sector Careers John Kenyon Attract WCU Alums Jim Rowell ’72 Steve White ’67 Dianne Yount ’79

Contributing Designers John Balentine 19 Homecoming Attraction Loretta Adams ’80 Catamounts Come Back to Cullowhee Contributing Photographer Ashley T. Evans Chris Edmonds

Special thanks to: 24 Sporting Goods The U.S. Marine Corps, Robins Air Force Base, The Sylva Herald, the Asheville Citizen-Times, Five Named to Hall of Fame, Clay County Progress, DownStreamPhoto.com Grads Grab Gridiron Glory, and the Charlotte Bobcats for their contributions Softball Superstars to this issue.

Please send story ideas and suggestions to: Western Carolina University Magazine 32 Courageous Catamounts Suite 420, H.F. Robinson Building Freedom Fighters Earn Western Carolina University Cullowhee, NC 28723 Bronze Stars or via e-mail: [email protected].

Go to the Western Carolina University Alumni Association Web site (alumni.wcu.edu) to add a class note, update your information, or catch up on campus events. 34 News and Notes Catch Up with Classmates Postmaster: Send address changes to: Office of Alumni Affairs, Suite 440, H.F. Robinson Building Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC 28723. The Evolution of an Idea Millennial Initiative Looks to the Future While Maintaining the Vision of WCU’s Founders By BILL STUDENC

When Robert Lee Madison assembled 18 students in specialty senior housing or a company that supplies products August of 1889 in the one-room schoolhouse that was the related to health and aging. forerunner of Western Carolina University, he did so with a vision of what he called “the Cullowhee Idea”—the concept of an educational institution with an influence ranging far “Western Carolina University’s Millennial Initiative beyond the small mountain community where it was located. As capitalizes on Western’s research and entrepreneurial described by history professors Curtis Wood and Tyler Blethen in “A Mountain Heritage: The Illustrated History of Western strengths to promote economic development and Carolina University,” Madison came to the Cullowhee Valley to prepare the region’s workforce for the transformed launch a school at the behest of people characterized by a stead- economy of the new millennium.” fast “spirit of progress, ambition and change for themselves and — N.C. Gov. Michael Easley their children.” The vision and the spirit of Madison and WCU’s founders are now taking a giant leap into the future as the university “These neighborhoods will become home to educational implements the Millennial Initiative, which Chancellor John and outreach programs that are co-located to improve the W. Bardo calls “a defining moment in university history.” The education of our students while also supporting the regional Millennial Initiative calls for the university to develop close economy,” said Paul Evans MS ’72, director of WCU’s Insti- partnerships with business, industry and government in tute for the Economy and the Future, which will oversee the a way that simultaneously increases hands-on educational Millennial Initiative (see related story). “Students not only learn opportunities for students, allows professors to conduct in the classroom, but also can effectively apply that learning high-tech research and plays a role in regional economic to real problems as they work with public and private partners development. WCU will build multiple-use neighborhoods located in the very neighborhoods where those students are that cluster academic buildings, research facilities, business, living and learning.” industry and housing on portions of the existing campus and N.C. Gov. Michael Easley said the ability to produce on 344 acres recently acquired across N.C. Highway 107. In innovative technologies and a skilled, knowledgeable those on-campus neighborhoods, partners from the university, workforce is an important factor to the state’s future economic private industry and government will come together, share success. “Western Carolina University’s Millennial Initiative resources from manpower to knowledge and conduct capitalizes on Western’s research and entrepreneurial strengths research into scientific and technological innovations that have to promote economic development and prepare the commercial applications. region’s workforce for the transformed economy of the new University officials say Western’s plan is not a conventional millennium,” he said. “research park” or “business incubator” approach in which Propelling the Millennial Initiative forward is the North research and business activities occur in a separate district, but Carolina Board of Governors endorsement this spring of the is a new arrangement in which those activities actually will be in- university’s plans to create a “knowledge enterprise zone.” The serted into the existing, traditional campus to create integrated endorsement capped a process that began six years ago when knowledge communities. A mixed-use neighborhood centered the General Assembly approved Millennial Campus legislation on retirement, aging and health, for instance, would not only based on a measure originally written by WCU staff. The leg- have classroom space for students but might also have nearby a islation makes it possible for UNC institutions to seek public- private health care provider who works with older populations, private partnerships to improve the academic experience for

The Magazine of Western Carolina University FALL 2006 Senior Policy Fellows Helping Chart Path for Economic Future Leading the way in planning Western’s Millennial Initiative is the university’s think tank and regional economic development arm, guided by a distinguished group of scholars, military leaders, government officials and business professionals who are lending their expertise to help accomplish the mission. students and allow universities to apply their intellectual re- In their roles as senior policy fellows with WCU’s sources—their faculty, students and staff—to foster economic Institute for the Economy and the Future, they are assisting development to benefit their respective regions and the state. the university in crafting a long-range plan for regional “We are pleased that the Board of Governors has approved our growth in Western North Carolina and for pursuing business request, which follows an exhaustive process involving the opportunities for its Millennial Initiative (see related story). campus, the local community and the entire Western North The fellows, who joined the university earlier this year, also Carolina region,” Bardo said. are assisting in developing policy studies, survey research Now, the Millennial Initiative is coming to life as the uni- and public forums on regional economic development issues. versity updates its master plan, which guides construction and Among the fellows’ other projects, for example, is a recent development (see related story). Already, representatives of survey of America’s state-level homeland security officials that several private companies, including a business investigating revealed ongoing concerns about national security and federal environmentally friendly methods of pest control, a wireless disaster preparedness. technology company interested in new product development, The senior policy fellows are Alphonse Buccino, a technology and a secure data storage facility, have contacted university consultant who has worked at the National Science Foundation officials to explore potential partnerships. and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy; Attracting new high-tech businesses and industries to Maj. Gen. Geoff Higginbotham, a retired Marine who served the region is a critical element of the Millennial Initiative. during the Vietnam and Desert Storm campaigns; Daniel Os- “We are attempting to fulfill a promise we made to the people tergaard, former executive director of the U.S. Department of of Western North Carolina to do everything in our power to Homeland Security’s Advisory Council; Arnold Packer, a work- help keep some of the best and brightest of the region’s young force development authority who has worked with the U.S. people from being forced to leave home to find the type of high- Department of Labor; William T. Thompkins Jr., an informa- paying jobs available elsewhere,” Bardo said. “We want tion technology development and management expert; Alan Z. the children of the mountains to be able to remain in the Thornburg, formerly a N.C. Court of Appeals judge; and Robert mountains, to be prosperous, and to be participants in the Warshaw, former U.S. deputy drug czar. global economy.” “With the announcement that these distinguished and State and federal officials say that WCU’s efforts will help a highly skilled leaders have agreed to serve as senior policy fel- region and state that have been hammered hard by the loss of lows at the IEF, we have taken a very important step in meeting jobs in such traditional manufacturing settings as textiles and our commitment to build a regional think tank with capacities furniture—jobs that are gone and not coming back. for rigorous research and economic base analysis that can help “As we look to the future of North Carolina, job creation Western North Carolina prosper,” said Chancellor John W. and technological development will be essential to our growth Bardo. Formerly known as the Center for Regional Develop- and prosperity,” U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole said. “The creation ment, the IEF is working on projects targeting digital entrepre- of the Millennial Initiative will play such an important role in neurship; economic modeling and visualization; issue polling, this endeavor, helping to lead the way for university, private research and policy analysis; and executive education for global industry and government partners to work together.” competitiveness in critical areas such as corporate security. The Millennial Initiative will attract high-tech businesses to campus that offer students more hands-on experiences such as those pictured above. From left to right, Pictured above: Senior policy fellows at Western’s Institute for the Economy and the Sarah Reneer operates equipment in an audio-visual production lab; Lee Scholoss Future, from left to right, are Daniel Ostergaard, Maj. Gen. Geoff Higginbotham, and Phillip Thrailkil work with machinery; Jonika Shank explores robotics; Alphonse Buccino, William T. Thompkins Jr., Arnold Packer and Alan Z. Thornburg. nursing students Megan Gillette and Zoe Quinn practice skills; and Brett Banther experiments with prototyping.

FALL 2006 The Magazine of Western Carolina University Architectural drawing of the proposed retirement, aging and health neighborhood Plans for this neighborhood call for a 145,000-square-foot School of Health and Gerontological Sciences building and neighboring facilities for private business and industry, such as a health care provider or company that supplies products linked to health and aging.

A Roadmap to the Future Master Planning Process Guides Development of Existing Campus, Millennial Properties By BILL STUDENC With new academic buildings, residence halls and traffic enterprises in a place featuring common recreational facilities, patterns popping up all across campus during the construc- open space and other commercial and community amenities. tion boom of the past several years, Chancellor John W. Bardo “We are reinventing Western Carolina University,” said has often said, “If you haven’t been to Western in the past few Bardo. “We are transforming the traditional notion of a months, then you really haven’t been to Western.” With the university into a broader notion of a university-centered addition of 344 acres that more than doubled the size of campus knowledge community. In this conception, the university and the dramatic transformations envisioned in the university’s continues its traditional functions, but also serves as a central new master plan, future visitors may have difficulty even source of intellectual energy—a knowledge-based economic recognizing the place. development enterprise—to spur regional prosperity in That’s because the master plan recently approved by WCU’s the knowledge economy.” board of trustees represents an innovative new concept of The master plan calls for developing “neighborhoods of the 21st-century university. The plan, a long-range roadmap interest” on portions of the existing campus and on the recently designed to guide future growth on Western’s existing cam- acquired property, which runs roughly from the Jackson County pus and development of the new property, moves away from Airport to the N.C. Center for the Advancement of Teaching. old notions of an ivory tower removed from the rest of the Neighborhoods of interest are mixed-use areas designed so that world. Instead, the plan, a major component of the Millennial partners from private business and industry work alongside fac- Initiative, envisions the Western of the future as a mixed- ulty and students teaching and learning in academic programs use knowledge community that blends traditional campus closely related to the activities of those firms. functions and facilities with private and governmental

The Magazine of Western Carolina University FALL 2006

Architectural drawing of the proposed learning services and education neighborhood The neighborhood would be anchored by a 163,000-square-foot School of Education building and would offer space for related public-private endeavors, such as the development of educational software.

The first two neighborhoods to be developed on the specialty housing related to older populations, and companies that new property are expected to focus on retirement, aging supply products or services related to health and aging. The and health, with a new $46 million School of Health and education and learning neighborhood would create Gerontological Sciences; and on learning services and opportunities for public-private partnerships in research and education, with a new $40 million School of Education. Both policy studies, competitive learning systems, and pedagogy and new buildings have been designated high funding priorities by software development. the UNC Board of Governors. Other potential neighborhoods identified in the master University officials believe the health, aging and retire- plan include those focused on technology and engineering; ment neighborhood, where students and faculty interested in arts and entertainment; business; humanities and culture; those areas would study, teach and live, also would provide a social sciences and services; and the Honors College. The good location for private health care provider facilities, master plan calls for the creation of “town centers” on both sides of campus, where restaurants, coffee shops, retail stores and other businesses would provide services to help keep students on campus and attract visitors. The plan also continues the emphasis on a pedestrian- friendly campus that was a hallmark of the previous master plan, with strong walking corridors, plazas and ample green space, and provides for a true “front door” to campus at the connection between the old and new parts of campus, as well as an “entrance statement” at the “back door” to campus off Old Cullowhee Road.

The Millennial Initiative property (shown inside the yellow lines) is located on 344 acres across N.C. Highway 107 from the existing WCU campus.

FALL 2006 The Magazine of Western Carolina University Learning Environment

Retired WCU Biology Professor J. Dan Pittillo (pointing) teaches “Forest Ecosystems of the Southern Appalachians,” a course offered at nearby Highlands Biological Station. Photo courtesy of Highlands Biological Station

The Magazine of Western Carolina University FALL 2006 Mountains, Climate Near WCU Create World-Renowned Outdoor “Classroom” By Teresa Killian Scientists estimate 100,000 different species reside and restore a habitat that will support aquatic inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park, though life including trout. fewer than 10 percent had been documented when This summer, work continued on a project to locate, Western Carolina University began participating in the study and revitalize rivercane. The once plentiful grass, All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory several years ago. This which can grow 12- to 16-feet tall, not only helps summer, the initiative had documented more than 600 prevent sedimentation and flooding problems species new to science and the national park’s 5,000th but also is used for making baskets entry – the velvet leaf blueberry shrub. and other Cherokee goods. There’s a lot to discover in the great outdoors around Today, students such as Katie Western, and those discoveries could be important for McDowell from Franklin everything from developing future medicines to guaran- are working with faculty teeing the quality of drinking water. members who have “This is really a magical place,” said Jim Costa, WCU expertise in genetics, professor of biology and director of the Highlands botany, geochemistry, remote sensing, Biological Station to the south of campus. The Southern sedimentology and ecology restoration Appalachians offered refuge to organisms driven away to revitalize the plant. McDowell said by historic glaciers, and the mountains, over time, she has hiked deep into thick, thorny naturally divided and isolated species that adapted to brush to document about 40 sites in six the significant precipitation and temperatures. “It’s so counties with a notebook and tools including biologically rich,” said Costa, adding that herpetologists Global Positioning System devices. Students record around the world describe the area as second only to the location, density and height. American tropics in diversity of salamanders. The “Rivercane is not Asian bamboo or kudzu,” said Rob thin-skinned creatures are easy prey to pollution, and Young, associate professor of geosciences. “It’s a native studying them can help assess environmental health. plant that belongs here. If it were aggressive, it would not Such resources create many opportunities for West- be gone. We think rivercane restoration is a high priority ern students. Wes Bonds, an assistant professor of for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and it’s excit- chemistry, leads classes in the search for new genes in ing for WCU to be able to provide that kind of service.” the northern red oak tree. Their findings could improve information useful to the forestry industry. Sean O’Connell, an assistant professor of biology, and his students have examined microbial communities, tis- sue decomposition and bacterial biodiversity in caves of the Smokies. Their findings could yield information in the field of forensic microbiology—an evolving crime investi- gation method utilizing bacteria to determine how long a body may have been decomposing. Western students have studied whether the roots of different plants could help clean hazardous waste and how to protect the endangered Frazer fir. They have inves- tigated the effects of ozone and air pollution on healthy hikers in the national parks. Hundreds of other students have participated in a project to restore a 1-mile portion of Cullowhee Creek to improve water quality Jerry R. Miller, the Blanton J. Whitmire Distinguished Professor of Environmental Sciences, helps student Jessica Jaynes take measurements at the Tuckaseigee River just a few miles from campus.

FALL 2006 The Magazine of Western Carolina University Get Out, Get Ahead WNC Recreational Opportunities Prepare Students for Success By Teresa Killian Fishermen perch on the banks of creeks and rivers that wind are comfortable with, and they leave thrilled to realize that they along Western Carolina University. Five miles away, national for- have abilities they had not recognized,” said Scott Philyaw ’83, est trails invite hikers and mountain bikers. To the south, WCU associate professor of history, director of the Mountain Heritage faculty and student kayakers take turns playing on a whitewater Center and lifelong outdoors enthusiast. river feature called “the Slab.” And just inside the Jackson County “But, it’s more than, ‘I didn’t know I could do that,’ after a border, cyclists attack the hill up to the Blue Ridge Parkway and first trip down a whitewater river or climbing something that rock climbers explore Laurel Knob, the highest cliff-face east of looks scary,” Philyaw said. “You also learn that you can, in un- the Mississippi. predictable wilderness situations, take care of yourself. Even a The great outdoors in Western’s back yard offers many op- birdwatcher can get caught in a summer thunderstorm, or a trout portunities to students, from the chance to participate in outdoor fisherman in rising water. The self-confidence from knowing you adventure sports to the opportunity to work in the burgeoning can take care of yourself is incredibly valuable in any situation.” outdoors and tourism industries. What participants also practice are the personal tools of suc- “People come to the mountains to experience a number of cess—planning, focus, risk assessment, a can-do attitude, things – activities not readily available in other regions,” said problem solving, strategy, teamwork and leadership Michael Despeaux, an outdoors sports enthusiast and WCU —that are requirements in any career, whether career services coordinator and counselor. “They come here every indoors or out. weekend with kayaks on their cars to paddle on the Nantahala Continued on page 12 River or drive hours to hike in the Smokies or on the Appalachian Trail and fish on the Tuckaseigee.” This summer, “Good Morning Western’s Base Camp Cullowhee program hosts a wide range of instructional and America” and National Geographic Adventure featured rafting recreational activities for students on the Nantahala as one of the nation’s “Top Ten Trips with a including whitewater rafting (upper Splash,” on par with snorkeling in Hawaii and swimming with left), cycling (upper right) and rock climbing (right). dolphins in Florida. One of the latest ways Western is seizing outdoor opportunities near campus to enhance education is a new “Integration of Learning” program. The interdisciplinary program invites interested freshmen to choose an adventure sport such as cycling or trail running. Working with Base Camp Cullowhee and a small group of faculty, students will participate in a sport and then incorporate their experiences into tailor-made English and sociology courses. They also will help develop a historical exhibit for WCU’s Mountain Heritage Center. “By establishing a strong connection to several faculty members and to a subculture in this community affiliated with Andrew Allen an outdoor sport, the students will be grounded here at the university,” said Despeaux, who was one of the developers of the inter-disciplinary learning program. “They will be more likely to stay at Western and succeed at Western. They also will walk away with an appreciation of the important economic and sociological components of those sports to this region.” Adventure Sports Foster Personal Growth Outdoor adventure sports reel participants back again and again. “People test the limits of what they can do and what they

10 The Magazine of Western Carolina University FALL 2006 Leader of the Pack Former Professional Cyclist Josh Whitmore Inspires Students By Teresa Killian A former professional cyclist who trying to develop athletes physically, but about using outdoor started racing in high school runs Base Camp activities as a medium for personal growth, a sense of self Cullowhee, Western’s launchpad for outdoor and group development.” Whitmore completed his master’s programs from rock climbing to snow skiing. degree in recreation management in Montana. He sees working And although Josh Whitmore wasn’t as big with college students as a way to help young adults growing Josh Whitmore or as fast as his archrival in his early racing up in a technologically dependent generation get away from days, he usually beat that yellow bus to school every morning the impersonal communication of cell phones and instant and back home every afternoon. He even gave his nearly 15-ton messaging. “Spending time together outdoors requires personal competitor a head start as he finished his homework at school interaction and removes a layer of being anonymous and of before taking off so he wouldn’t have to haul books on the being less responsible or less accountable,” said Whitmore. 10-mile ride, uphill, both ways, in the snow. Well, actually, WCU students such as Ted Denning say they have come there was no snow, but the ride was rigorous enough to prepare away from Base Camp Cullowhee activities feeling more con- Whitmore for a chance meeting with a cyclist who was decked nected to Western and to themselves. “Josh made my first year out from aerodynamic jersey to high-tech bike shoes. The gym- at Western great,” Denning said. “He’s done it all. There is not shoe wearing 14-year-old turned and chased him down. Their a conversation with him that I don’t learn something new, or conversation yielded an invitation to Whitmore’s first race where he doesn’t open my eyes to a part of the world that I never (not with a school bus). thought about.” Denning is not alone. In the past year, Whitmore “By the time I was 16, all I really wanted to be was a bicycle said participation at Base Camp Cullowhee has tripled. racer,” said Whitmore. Graduating a year early from high school Now training in his spare time to represent the United allowed him more time to train on a bicycle worth far more States this fall at the Union Cycliste Internationale World Cup than the $300 Ford Escort he used to chauffeur it to races. A in Canada, Whitmore says taking the job at Western was about few years later, he was a professional cyclist. The problem was fulfilling a commitment to pass on to others the kind of experi- he felt like that was all he was. “You have to be single-focused ences that are important to him. Windy Gordon, an assistant to be that kind of athlete,” said Whitmore. “I was getting burned professor in psychology who also teaches kayaking, says Western out and really missed lots of other activities – rock climbing, is fortunate to have Whitmore at the helm. kayaking and backpacking. I started to wonder what my role “Unless you really press Josh, you will never know how in the world was, what it should be, and needed to have more deep and broad his skills are,” said Gordon. “He’s a world-class meaning in my job.” cyclist. If he chose, he could be a world-class mountaineer. Instead of striving to transform his body into a high-per- He is certainly a very skilled paddler, and most impressive is his formance cycling machine, Whitmore took jobs teaching and leadership ability and capacity to train new student leaders. He guiding others with Outward Bound and the National Outdoor is profoundly understated and remarkably over competent. Leadership School. “Leading outdoor programs was not about He is an absolute coup for us.”

FALL 2006 The Magazine of Western Carolina University 11 Great Outdoors, Great Occupations Milestone Press Mary Ellen Hammond MPA ’91, Co-Owner and President Mary Ellen Hammond MPA ’91 will release a hiking guidebook for Western combined her love of writing and passion North Carolina. for the outdoors in her work as co-owner “Who would have guessed, back in and president of Almond-based Milestone the early 1950s when the first canoes were Press, which publishes outdoor guidebooks navigating the Nantahala River, that white- for whitewater rafting, canoeing, kayaking, water rafting would draw so many tourists hiking, camping, rockhounding, mountain to this region, and that athletes would train biking, road biking and motorcycle touring. here for Olympic whitewater kayak com- Milestone’s publications include the “Off petition?“ Hammond asked “Who knows The Beaten Track” guide series by Ham- what’s next?” mond’s husband and business partner, Jim Parham. Next spring, Milestone www.milestonepress.com

U.S. National Whitewater Center

Ben Edson/downstreamphoto.com David Hepp ’98, Paddlesports Manager David Hepp ’98 relocated from National Team. “This is easily the steepest Western North Carolina to Charlotte this whitewater park in the world.” summer to become paddlesports manager Nearby rivers drew Hepp to WCU, of the world’s largest whitewater park of where he met his wife. The couple recently its kind—the U.S. National Whitewater sold Dillsboro Chocolate Factory in antici- Center. Hepp coordinates boating and pation of the move to Charlotte with their rafting on a multi-channel, 12-million- three daughters. “We are true to Cullowhee, gallon artificial river, which drops 23 though,” Hepp said. “I can see us moving feet in altitude in 1,000 yards. back someday, and I can envision a perfect “It’s big,” said Hepp, a paddler who place for a whitewater park.” has competed at similar whitewater parks around the world while part of the U.S. www.usnwc.org

Get Ahead Continued from page 10

Outdoor Businesses Offer Hands-On Work Experience “This area has a nice balance of professional talent and academic talent as well as being close to major projects of ours,” said Meanwhile, WCU students themselves are a resource to Mark Singleton, executive director of American Whitewater. “Just the businesses and organizations that serve outdoor recreational down the road from Western, we are working on agreeing to have enthusiasts in Western North Carolina. For instance, all summer whitewater releases on the West Fork of the Tuckaseigee, which staff members at the Dillsboro River Company are Western will create another new paddling opportunity, and, as a result, students, said owner Shane Williams ’96. another economic opportunity.” Catamounts have put their academic skills to work as they researched and wrote brochures for the Blue Ridge Parkway. Visitors to Region Fuel Tourism, Hospitality Industry Others helped organize the documents needed for the advocacy Philyaw said the economic impact of outdoor recreational efforts of American Whitewater, a nonprofit that works to con- sports is much higher than most people realize. “You may think serve and restore America’s whitewater resources and enhance a camper goes out in the woods, sleeps in a tent and goes home, opportunities to enjoy them safely. The organization recently but that’s not true,” said Philyaw. “When you walk out of the relocated its national headquarters from Washington, D.C., woods, you want a hot shower and a good hot meal. Adventure to Jackson County. sports are play, but the economic impact is profound.”

12 The Magazine of Western Carolina University FALL 2006 Dillsboro River Company Shane Williams ’96, Owner and Guide shane Williams ’96 owns and operates part of the year, works as a raft guide for Dillsboro River Company, which offers begin- the Nantahala Outdoor Center and leads ner and intermediate family-oriented rafting international kayaking trips. What struck trips. “Families often begin very nervous, him as he trained to guide on the Cheoah not knowing if it’s something they can do, River was the quality of experienced and when they finish, they have a sense of instructors and guides they will find in accomplishment that they can and did some- Western North Carolina, which regularly thing like that together.” attracts visitors from Atlanta, Charlotte, Williams also teaches outdoors courses Greensboro and Chattanooga. at Southwestern Community College for www.dillsbororiver.com

Bliss-Stick Kayaks Michael Briere ’96, Agent Statesville native Michael Briere ’96 that I would be doing this,” Briere said. has applied his bachelor’s degree in market- When he started kayaking after ing to working as an agent for New Zea- graduating from Western, he found himself land-based Bliss-Stick, which manufactures driving past the university to get to his out- kayaks. Briere travels from his Asheville doors destinations. “Mention the Smokies home to trade shows and festival demon- to any paddler in the world, and they will strations and takes clients out to try prod- mention one thing —‘lots of whitewater,’” ucts one-on-one at “cool” area rivers. “Never Briere said. in a thousand years would I have imagined www.bliss-stick.com in Dr. Myron Leonard’s marketing classes American Whitewater Laura Blalock ’03 MAc ’05, Financial Accountant laura Blalock ’03 MAc ’05 does not single parent, her interests turned to busi- consider herself an outdoors enthusiast but ness and accounting. has a job she loves thanks to the outdoor “Moving, getting a job and attending industry. Blalock is the full-time financial school were challenges for me since I had accountant for the Sylva-based nonprofit little to no savings,” said Blalock. She gradu- organization American Whitewater. ated summa cum laude with her under- She came to Western originally to graduate degree in accounting and won the www.usnwc.org study education, but, as she conquered the business school’s Outstanding Senior Award financial challenges that come with going in 2005. to school and providing for her family as a www.americanwhitewater.org

Western professors have researched the multimillion-dol- celebrate such history as the spectacular sleek, small boats that lar industries linked to outdoor sports, from Chris Cooper, the Cherokee designed. assistant professor of political science and public affairs, who That kind of historical and cultural element is critical to the authored “Pedaling for Dollars: From Outer Banks to Mountains, future of the industry, says Windy Gordon, an assistant professor Cycling Brings Big Bucks to NC,” to in psychology at Western. “The business is Hal Herzog, professor of psychology, “Adventure sports are play, but the no longer just about how to tie knots,” said who studied the economic impact of economic impact is profound.” Gordon, who not only works at Western but whitewater rafting in the “New Ency- —Scott Philyaw ’83 also has instructed, managed and served clopedia of Appalachian Whitewater.” on the board of directors for the Nantahala Bob Dalley, a retired associate professor from the engi- Outdoor Center. “It’s ‘How does this place where we are climbing neering technology department, says he believes the outdoor tie into the history of the native people who lived here?’” Gordon recreation industry has room to grow. Dalley, who designs and said. “You can’t just be a kayaker or a rock climber. You need to builds boats ideal for fishing on moving water, is advocating for bring to those activities an appreciation of art, history, literature the creation of a National Paddling and Rowing Heritage Center and sociology. There’s got to be a reason to go to a place other in WNC. He sees the center as a tourist attraction that would than an adrenaline charge of hiking, climbing, biking or boating.”

FALL 2006 The Magazine of Western Carolina University 13 Public Goods From the Mountains to the Coast, Local Governments Rely on Alums By BILL STUDENC

It was almost on a whim that Jay Denton ’78 MPA ’05, Sylva “I’ve been involved in local government for a long time. I knew a town manager, fired off an e-mail inquiry to a group of North Caro- lot of Western alumni were employed in the public sector, but it was lina city and county managers earlier this year. Denton, who was amazing how many replies I got in one afternoon,” said Denton. In searching for fellow Western graduates currently working in local Sylva alone, Denton finds himself working alongside several Western government positions across the state, said responses began pouring alumni, including town clerk Brandi Henson Ashe ’03 and finance in almost immediately, flooding his inbox with the names of nearly officer Lynn Allen Bryant ’89. Just down the street at the Jackson 50 Catamount brothers and sisters working as management profes- County Courthouse are land records and mapping director Bobby sionals from the westernmost mountains to the easternmost shores McMahan ’81 and John Ashe ’73, executive director of the Jackson of the Outer Banks. County Public Housing Agency. What is it that draws so many Catamounts to public service? For Steve Wyatt MPA ’91, recently appointed Henderson County manager, it’s knowing that when you get up in the morning to go to work, you have the ability to make a real difference. “I have a burning desire to see Western North Carolina improve, to enhance the quality of life for our folks. I have an opportunity to do that in my job,” said Wyatt, who works alongside assistant county manager Selena Coffey ’93 MPA ’95. “Local government is the place where the rubber meets the road, where government meets the people. You don’t go to Washington or Raleigh to work directly with the people you serve. If you want to make a real difference in the lives of people, you do that at the local level.” Other WCU graduates in local government positions agreed. “This is a very rewarding profession that gives you the opportunity to serve all the citizens in your community,” said

Kendra Penland Turner ’04 MPA ’06, neighborhood coordinator for the city of Asheville, meets Wayne Bowers ’69, city manager for Greenville since 1977. with assistant city manager Jeff Richardson, who also teaches in the MPA program. “Each day brings new and interesting challenges, but all have in

Other Western alumni working in local N.C. government positions found through Denton’s investigative work:

Shannon Ashe ’97 – police detective, Sylva Billy Joe Farmer ’83 MBA ’86 – city manager, Tracy Jackson ’88 – assistant county manager, Randy Billings ’73 – executive director, Red Springs Iredell County Piedmont Triad Council of Governments William Alan Gill ’80 – parks and recreation Jeff Jamison ’80 – chief of police, Sylva Matt Brinkley ’02 MPA ’04 – city budget of- director, city of Henderson and Vance County Charles Mashburn ’68 – finance director, ficer,Durham Stacy Guffey ’99 – planning director, Stanly County Paula G. Carden ’03 MPA ’06 – public health Macon County Al McClure ’76 – finance director and director, Jackson County Andy Hedrick ’77 – town manager, deputy executive director, Cape Fear John Connet ’92 – city manager, Clinton Fuquay-Varina Council of Governments Heather Wakenshaw Cotton ’00 – William Todd Herms ’05 – town manager, Kimberley Mecimore ’93 – environmental city planner, Marion Badin health specialist, Iredell County Mike Decker ’84 MPA ’00 – Charles Horne ’74 MPA ’85 – Alice Collier Smith Moore ’70 – city public city administrator, Franklin county manager, Chatham County information director, High Point

14 The Magazine of Western Carolina University FALL 2006 The town of Warsaw seems to recognize the value of the program, earlier this year hiring Jason Burrell ’03 MPA ’05 as its city manager, replacing fellow alum Frankie Maness MPA ’01, who left to become assistant city manager in Graham. “The board didn’t start out looking for someone from Western Carolina’s program, but it no doubt helped to know that someone with that background could do an outstanding job,” Warsaw Mayor Win Batten told the Warsaw- Faison News. April Bone ’00 MPA’03 credits the lessons she learned in her MPA statistics and government classes with providing her with the skills necessary for her job as budget analyst for Gaston County. “I help prepare and monitor the county’s $202 million budget,” Bone said. “The MPA program is the reason I have a job. I interned with the Gaston County Budget Office and was hired a few months after graduation. The foundation laid in the program continues to serve me on a daily basis.” And Craig Honeycutt MPA ’04, city manager for Laurinburg, says his WCU years gave him the ability to listen. “Western’s program was unique because of the great mixture of young and old, of straight-from-undergrad-students to students who had years of practical experience,” Honeycutt said. “The open and frank discussions in class were wonderful, and were led by professors who encouraged differences of opinion, because when dealing with the public, that is part of the job.” Just ask William Andrew MPA ’92. Upon his recent departure as resources development manager to accept the long-embattled position of city manager for Flowery Branch, Ga., the Hall County (Ga.) Board of Commissioners presented Andrew with a bulletproof vest. In spite of the flak – and the occasional need for a flak jacket – WCU alums working in the public sector say they wouldn’t trade their jobs for any other. “I’ve been working in local government for 24 years Western alums working together to serve the residents of Henderson County are Steve Wyatt MPA ’91, recently appointed county manager, and Selena Coffey ’93 MPA ’95, now,” said Steve Harrell ’77, planning and development director for assistant county manager. Carolina Beach. “You get a true feeling of giving something back to the community and contributing to the common welfare, and a feel- common the provision of essential services to the citizens of your ing of having an impact—an impact that is measurable.” community. Citizens depend on city government to provide these services each day and generally let you know directly if the services are not being provided properly. As an administrator, you get to be a part of a fascinating political process without being a politician.” Many Catamounts employed in upper-level public sector jobs are graduates of WCU’s Master of Public Affairs program, which offers classes at night in Asheville for the convenience of government professionals already working in the business. Among them is Joel Mashburn ’69 MPA ’84, currently Iredell County manager. “I was the county manager in Henderson County, and would travel to Ashe- ville for my classes,” said Mashburn, who has worked in the public sector for 32 years. “It took four years, but I did it, and I feel the MPA not only helped establish me as a professional administrator, but it improved my reasoning skills and taught me discipline. Also, I developed a much broader view of the relationships necessary for effective government.” Jay Denton ’78 MPA ’05, Sylva town manager (left), and former town clerk Alison Lyons ’02 MPA ’04 (center) consult on a project with Christopher Cooper (right), MPA program director.

L. Richard Nifong ’71 – city communications Mary Elizabeth Quidley ’79 – town clerk, Jennifer Turner MPA’03 – law enforcement and information services director, High Point Kill Devil Hills officer, Asheville Allen Oliver ’78 – city parks and recreation Joshua W. Ray MPA ’03 – town manager, Mark Wagner ’95 – director of parks and director, High Point Biscoe recreation, Pinehurst Jonathan A. Olson ’90 – division chief, Glenn Rhodes ’74 – town manager, Steve Warren ’75 – deputy director of Wake County Emergency Medical Services Columbus planning and inspections, Iredell County George Page ’93 – parks and recreation direc- Dan Schaeffer ’79 – public works director, Sylva Frank Willis ’69 – retired in May as Randolph tor, Brunswick County Richard Shore ’73 – parks and recreation County manager after 30 years of service Chad Parker ’97 MPA ’06 – director of supervisor, High Point John Wilson ’79 – town recreation director, solid waste management, Jackson County Richard Smith ’92 – director of planning Hudson Michael C. Peoples ’98 – town manager, and community development, Kannapolis Joseph Zalkin ’81 – assistant chief, Cramerton Jerry Taylor ’88 – information services, Wake County Emergency Medical Services Susan L. Powell MPA ’98 – town clerk, Iredell County Mills River

FALL 2006 The Magazine of Western Carolina University 15 FineSuccessful and Performing Arts CenterSequel Launches Second Season It’s hard to believe that nearly a year has passed since comedian and “Tonight Show” host Jay Leno helped Western launch its new Fine and Performing Arts Center at a black-tie celebration featuring the funnyman’s humorous observations and the music of blues singer Kat Williams. The gala opening back in October was just the tip of the arts and entertainment iceberg, as the center’s inaugural season attracted capacity crowds for shows by the internationally acclaimed Atlanta Ballet, the singing Von Trapp family from “The Sound of Music” and the dazzling light show and performance art of Luma, to name just a few. The center is ready to raise the curtain on its second season. Nine shows will be hitting the boards as part of the 2006-07 performance series, “Galaxy of Stars: Legends on Stage.”

Performance Hall Fine Art Museum Galaxy of Stars: Legends on Stage Sunday, Sept. 17 – “Let’s Put on a Show,” a collection of songs, “Hazel Larsen Archer: reminiscences and jazz by Mickey Rooney, 3 p.m. Black Mountain College Monday, Oct. 16 – “Man of Constant Sorrow,” the story and music of Photographer.” The Ralph and Carter Stanley, 7:30 p.m. college and people Sunday, Nov. 19 – Selections from “The Nutcracker” and other classical who lived and created works, by the Atlanta Ballet, 3 p.m. in the experimental arts Thursday, Dec. 14 – The Lettermen, performing music spanning the community in the late 1960s through today, 7:30 p.m. 1940s and 1950s come alive in this collection of Thursday, Feb. 1 – “Ol’ Time Religion,” featuring the American Spiritual Ensemble, 7:30 p.m. images. Aug. 22 - Sept. 23.

Thursday, March 1 – Cirque le Masque, a gravity-defying European “Art That Works: The stage show, 7:30 p.m. Kimmel Collection of Saturday, March 17 – “Out of the Mist: A Dragon & An Ire-ish Tale,” Art and Design.” The a puppet extravaganza by Wood and Strings Theatre, 3 p.m. eclectic exhibit explores Sunday, April 15 – “Amadeus,” a performance by the Atlantic Ballet modernism in wide- Theatre of Canada, 3 p.m. ranging American, Friday, April 27 – The Capitol Steps, a traveling troupe performing and European fine art political satire, 7:30 p.m. and design spanning 100 years from 1885 to For more information, call (828) 227-2479 1985. Sept. 23 - Oct. 21. or visit the Web at www.wcu.edu/fapac.

16 The Magazine of Western Carolina University FALL 2006 Roy Clark Takes the Stage Successful Sequel as WCU Opens Kimmel Exhibit Country music legend Roy Clark will perform opening night at Western’s premiere of a colorful, unique art exhibition that celebrates the marriage of form and function — “Art that Works: The Kimmel Collection of Art and Design.” Clark, a co-host of the television show “Hee Haw” for more than 20 years and award-winning musician, will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 23, at Western’s Fine and Performing Arts Center. The musician’s hits include “Yesterday When I Was Young” and “Thank God and Greyhound,” and he made appearances on TV shows including “Harvey K. Littleton and “The Tonight Show” and “The Beverly Hillbillies.” Clark’s awards include Friends: A Legacy of the Pioneer Award from the Academy of Country Music, numerous Transforming Object, Instrumentalist of the Year awards and Entertainer of the Year. Tickets Image + Idea.” Littleton, to the show are $45 each and can be purchased by visiting the Web site called the father of the at www.wcu.edu/fapac or calling the box office at (828) 227-2479. contemporary studio The concert follows a by-invitiaton-only gala preview of the glass movement, also in- Kimmel exhibit at the Fine Art Museum for Fine and Performing Arts vented the vitreographic Center major donors. Following the major donor gala preview, ticket print-making process. The holders for the Roy Clark performance will also be able to view the exhibit features Littleton Kimmel Collection beginning at 6:30 p.m. A free reception and gallery Studio prints and works in talk opening the exhibit to the public will be held from 1-3 p.m. Sunday, glass, sculpture, ceramics Sept. 24. The exhibit features art pieces that Joe and Cynthia Kimmel and painting by Littleton acquired nationwide and during their travels around the world. and 15 guest acclaimed The Kimmel collection includes examples of art noveau and art deco artists. Oct. 21 - Dec. 16. movements as well as modernist furniture, glass, ceramics, paintings, photographs and sculpture. Works of art range from limited edition For more information prints of Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse, the exquisite glass of Emile about museum hours Galle to the innovative chair design of accalimed architect Frank Gehry. and events, call Joe Kimmel, founder of one of the leading construction industry (828) 227-3591 executive search companies, Asheville-based Kimmel & Associates, is or check out a strong supporter of Western’s construction management, engineering www.wcu.edu/fapac. and technology school, which was recently named in his honor. For more information about the Kimmel Collection exhibit or attending the gala preview for major donors, contact the museum For more information, call (828) 227-2479 office at (828) 227-3591. or visit the Web at www.wcu.edu/fapac. The Kimmel exhibit features a diverse collection of art pieces (right) ranging from prints to glass.

FALL 2006 The Magazine of Western Carolina University 17 Mountain Offers Music, Crafts, Heritage Folk Arts, Food and Day Fun Weekend of Se ptember 30th

BluegrassRhonda Queen to Play Vincenta Busy Mountain Heritage Weekend The 2006 edition of Western’s annual Mountain Heritage Weekend features a performance by bluegrass music chart-topper Rhonda Vincent and her band, the Rage, on Friday, Sept. 29, leading up to Mountain Heritage Day, the university’s daylong festival of mountain culture, on Saturday, Sept. 30. Vincent and the Rage will present a pre-festival concert in the Ramsey Regional Activity Center at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Dubbed “the new queen of bluegrass” by the Wall Street Journal, Vincent is a six-time winner of the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Female Vocalist of the Year Award. Tickets, at $10 and $15, go on sale Friday, Sept. 1, and may be purchased by calling the amsey Center box office at (828) 227-7722, toll-free (866) 928-3378, or by clicking on the Web at http://ramsey.wcu.edu. Shortly after daybreak on Saturday, the 32nd annual Mountain Heritage Day kicks off on WCU’s campus with demonstrations of authentic mountain folk arts; three stages of traditional music and dance; exhibitions of shape-note singing and Cherokee stickball; an arts and crafts midway featuring handmade items; food booths with old-fashioned fare; and numerous just-for-fun competitions. Mountain Heritage Day is held outside, rain or shine, and admission to the festival is free of charge. Pets are not allowed on festival grounds, but service ani- mals are welcome. For more information about the festival, call (828) 227-3193 or click on the Web at www.mountainheritageday.com. It will be a busy Mountain Heritage Weekend at Western, as the Catamounts do battle with Georgia Southern in a Southern Conference football clash at 6 p.m. Sept. 30 in E.J. Whitmire Stadium, and as WCU students welcome moms, dads, brothers and sisters to campus for Family Weekend Sept 29-30. For information on accommodations, contact the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce at (800) 962-1911, or click on the Web at www.mountainlovers.com.

18 The Magazine of Western Carolina University FALL 2006 Mountain Offers Music, Crafts, Heritage Folk Arts, Food and Day Fun Weekend of Se ptember 30th HOMECOMING 2006 October 13-15

W estern C arolina U ni v ersit y

Join us to celebrate the pageantry of the present and the memories of the past. WCU Alumni Association Come Home to Cullowhee Homecoming 2006

Event Calendar Friday, October 13 Noon – Alumni Scholarship Golf Tournament, a Homecoming tradition, tees off at Laurel Ridge Country Club in Waynesville. Shotgun start. Cost: $80 per person, includes fees and cart. Four-person “captains choice” format. Refreshments available during play. Social following the tournament. RSVP is required by Friday, October 6. Call the Office of Alumni Affairs at (877) 440-9990 or (828) 227-7335, or e-mail [email protected].

6:15 p.m. – Homecoming 2006 Main Street Parade in Sylva. Cheer as community and student floats, Western cheerleaders, football team, Homecoming Court, and Catamount Marching Band parade through downtown Sylva. Prizes awarded for best floats; winners announced during Saturday’s football game.

7 p.m. – WCU Nurses’ Alumni Association Reception at Moore Hall. Come and meet the Class of 1973, the first class to graduate from Western’s nursing program. Please contact Sharon Metcalfe at [email protected] or 828-670-8810 or Diane Oakley at [email protected].

8 p.m. – Spirit Night. Join students, faculty, staff and alumni for a pep rally, music and food on the lawn of A.K. Hinds University Center. Fireworks will light up the autumn sky at the conclusion of the evening.

Gathering of “The Herd” Come join more than 100 former athletes and cheerleaders from the mid-1950s through the mid-1960s. Get reacquainted with your old Catamount teammates from years gone by as the group known as “The Herd” reunites for Homecoming weekend. From 12:30 until 3 p.m. Saturday, “The Herd” will host a pre-game tailgate adjacent to the E.J. Whitmire Stadium parking lot. Look for the big purple-and-gold tent at the bottom of the Ramsey Center stairs. After the game, come join “The Herd” for dinner at the Jarrett House in nearby Dillsboro at 7:30 p.m. For more information and to RSVP, contact Tobe Childers ’61 at (800) 211-8759 or e-mail [email protected].

Come Home to Cullowhee

8$6

ALUMNI

Homecoming 2006 ASSOCIATION

$ 6 $ - / -08 & year reunion! )& 5 Class of 2001

year reunion! 10 Class of 1996

year reunion! 15 Class of 1991

year reunion! 20 Class of 1986

Saturday, October 14 year reunion! 8 - 10 a.m. – WCU Alumni Breakfast. The University Center Grandroom 25 Class of 1981 becomes Alumni Central! Come join fellow WCU alumni and friends for a continental breakfast. It’s a great time to make weekend plans with your old classmates, or simply reminisce about those good ole days in Cullowhee! RSVP by Friday, October 6, to [email protected]. Class Reunion 12:30 - 3 p.m. – Pre-game tailgate, with live 12 - 2pm – Class Reunion music in the parking lot of Jordan-Phillips Luncheon Reunions for the Field House. classes of 2001, 1996, 1991, 3:30 p.m. – Football. The Catamounts do battle 1986 and 1981.Come visit against the Mocs of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in the cozy confines of Whitmire with your classmates from Stadium and Bob Waters Field. years gone by. You and your

7 p.m. – Stompfest 2006, a step-show class will be provided a competition featuring African American complimentary lunch in fraternities and sororities. Ramsey Regional Activity Center. For tickets or information, Illusions on the third floor call the Center for Student Involvement at (828) 227-2276. of the University Center (adjacent to the Grandroom). 10 p.m. - 1 a.m. – Stompfest After Party. University Center Grandroom. RSVP by October 6 to Marty Ramsey at Sunday, October 15 (828) 227-7335 or 3:30 p.m. – The crowd-pleasing Inspirational (877) 440-9990 or Choir Concert will bring Homecoming Weekend to a close. University Center Grandroom. [email protected]

For more information, visit the Alumni Association Web site at http://alumni.wcu.edu or contact Marty Ramsey ’85, Director of Alumni Affairs, at (828) 227-7335, (877) 440-9990 or [email protected]. Continuing the Tradition Alumni Association Scholarship Helps Daughter of Western Graduates

Juanita Proffitt ’39 did not know how she would afford college. The “bank burst” in 1929. The aunt from Speedwell who raised her had terminal cancer. There was simply “no money, no anything,” Proffitt said. “My mother finally raised $6 – that was a lot of money then – and that got me started at Western.” Proffitt was able to work her way through the teacher education program, taking jobs such as grading papers for professors. “Most of the time, I had enough money to pay my way, but I realized children with potential need help,” she said. “I have really tried through the years to help. I think about them, and I empathize.” Proffitt, a member of Western’s Alumni Association board of directors, and her husband, Brank Proffitt ’42, have reached out to students in many ways, but the latest has been through supporting The first Alumni Association scholarship recipient, WCU senior Amanda Roach the Alumni Association Scholarship Fund. The scholarship fund (second from left), celebrates the honor with her mother Judy Davis Roach ’73, is designed to help Western students who have financial need, scholarship supporter Juanita Proffitt ’39 and her father, Leon Roach ’73 MAEd ’77. preferably students who have close family ties to Catamount alumni or whose parents work for the university. “The No. 1 reason people old. The avid sports fan also played, and it was actually an athletic give for dropping out is a lack of money,” said David Andrew ’83, trainer who helped her recover from an injury that inspired her to president-elect of the Alumni Association and chairman of its pursue a career path incorporating her love of sports and desire to financial affairs committee. “We are very pleased now to be able to work in physical therapy. “Sports are a big part of my life, and I did award the first scholarship.” not want to leave them,” she said. The $40,000 raised so far enabled the association to award the Her mother said she is impressed with the amount of hands- first scholarship this summer to Amanda Roach, a senior athletic on experience her daughter is gaining through Western’s athletic training major from Fairview whose parents both graduated from training program. “She has worked really hard,” said Judy Roach, Western. Hospital bills from a recent medical emergency in her noting the long hours athletic trainers put in, from arriving before family have caused some financial stress. “The scholarship is just the team to staying until after practices and games. Roach has done such a blessing to me and my family,” said Roach. “Every little bit everything from assisting the championship Swain County High helps.” School football team to working with a Catamount baseball player Her parents, Judy Davis Roach ’73 and Leon Roach ’73 who has Horner’s Syndrome. MAEd ’77, said they were not surprised when their daughter chose The syndrome can affect the nerves and cause one pupil to be to attend WCU and study athletic training. As the daughter of an constricted. Roach’s curiosity and interest in the player inspired a A.C. Reynolds High School teacher who also coached sports, she research project about her experience with him that won invitations attended her first high school football game when just 2 months to every major athletic training conference on the East Coast, from the National Athletic Training Association meeting in Atlanta to the Eastern Athletic Training Association event in Philadelphia. “We Want to help? would think the constriction in his left eye would affect his depth Make checks payable to: perception and ability to play, but it did not,” she said. “It’s just WCU Foundation (Alumni Scholarship Fund) amazing how the human body adapts itself over time.” c/o The Office of Alumni Affairs Meanwhile, she lived for three years in Reynolds Residence Hall, 440 H.F. Robinson Administration Building where her father also stayed when he was at Western. She recently Western Carolina University moved to the Phi Mu sorority hall to be closer to her “family away Cullowhee, NC 28723 from home.” Her parents have had a bit of a homecoming, too, when they visit her. “There’s a lot of new things and changes, and yet still a For more information, contact Brett L. Woods, director of lot that brings back the memories,” said Judy Roach. “We are excited annual and special gifts, at (828) 227-7124 or [email protected]. to see the direction the school is going.” Making Headlines Sherry Melton ’95 MPA ’96 and Ken Melton ’94 MPA ’96 often read the MPA Degrees Help Couple newspaper together at the start of workdays spent monitoring public policy proposals for the state. Sherry Melton also edits North Carolina magazine (right) Advocate for Change through her work with the North Carolina Citizens for Business and Industry. By Teresa Killian

Ken Melton ’94 MPA ’96 cranks up the car, carries the lobbyists in policymaking proved so true and valuable to me,” she local daily newspaper back in the house and reads headlines to said. “What I learned from Dr. Gordon Mercer about manage- his wife as she finishes getting ready for work. “Ooh, read that,” ment and leadership theory also prepared me to succeed in my says Sherry Melton ’95 MPA ’96 when he hits stories she’d like first job—not only in managing and motivating staff, but also in to hear before going over the paper herself—cover to cover. The coordinating and organizing grassroots activism. What I learned news hounds met at Western, where they arrived with goals of from Dr. Ken Wink about government budgeting prepared me to working in TV journalism but left with something else—a desire analyze and make sense of North Carolina’s $30-plus billion bud- to not only gather news but also help make it. “I evolved from get, and taught me how the government budget game is played.” wanting to do documentaries or pieces that highlighted what was Livingston said he tries to teach his students to develop wrong to really wanting to do more to fix problems,” said Ken research, analytical and communication skills as well as stay Melton. Today, the New Bern native helps coordinate appropria- informed about political developments in the world. “I want tions activity and works with proposed tax laws as legislative them to realize that an individual’s success in life is measured affairs director for the North Carolina Department of Revenue. not by one’s accumulations but by one’s contributions,” he said. Meanwhile, Sherry Melton recently began working as vice Livingston describes Sherry Melton as bright, industrious and president of communications with the North Carolina Citizens highly motivated with outstanding organizational, analytical and for Business and Industry, which serves as the state chamber of communicative skills, and Ken Melton as a sharp young man who commerce and manufacturing association. She traces the fork in was an industrious and serious student with superb people skills. her career path to a required political science course under Don “He and Sherry are a great team,” Livingston said. Livingston. “I fell in love with politics,” said Sherry Melton, who It was in Livingston’s class that Ken Melton said he fine- grew up on a family-owned dairy farm near Franklin. “I became tuned his public speaking skills. After a discussion, a classmate absolutely determined to make a career out of communications told him that he made a good point. The small compliment had and politics together.” a big effect. “It just dawned on me that I belonged, that I was She has—a very successful career. With NCCBI, Melton’s re- just as valued a voice and opinion in discussion as anybody else,” sponsibilities include editing North Carolina magazine, a weekly Ken Melton said. “I really felt like whatever I do out of here, I can legislative bulletin, and the association’s Web site. She works go out and try to make a positive impact in the world of public with reporters and with communication among policymakers, policy in some form or fashion.” members and potential members. “My job is to advance a public A required internship led him to the Buncombe County policy agenda for the betterment of North Carolina and all her Board of Elections and ultimately developed into a full-time job. residents,” Melton said. “It doesn’t get any better than that.” He became the deputy director in charge of absentee voting and Her “break” came after landing a job at the State Employees special projects before moving on to work as a legislative as- Association of North Carolina. During her eight years there, she sistant to state Sen. Virgina Foxx (now U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx) lobbied the North Carolina General Assembly and ultimately was and researcher with the General Assembly. Ken Melton then “put promoted to public relations director. “The competition (for the in quite a bit of shoe leather” with lobbyist Zeb Alley. “We were job) was fierce. I had to compete with MPA (Master’s of Public the eyes and ears on the ground for legislation that may have an Affairs) graduates from numerous other well-respected universi- impact on any of our clients,” said Ken Melton, who the North ties, such as UNC-Chapel Hill, N.C. State University and Duke Carolina Center for Public Policy Research ranked among the top University. I knew, however, that no one had received a better 50 of more than 500 lobbyists for the 2003-04 year. He moved education than I had at WCU,” Melton said. to the state revenue department from there. “I wake up in the “What I learned from Dr. Don Livingston in his public policy morning and look forward to going to work,” he said. formulation course about ‘influence peddlers’ and the role of FALL 2006 The Magazine of Western Carolina University 23 WCUAthletics From Game to Fame Five Former Cats To Be Inducted into Hall in September By MIKE CAWOOD Five former Catamounts will be inducted into the Western Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame on Saturday, Sept. 16, prior to the Catamount’s football game with two-time NCAA I-AA national champion Eastern Kentucky. This fall marks the 17th consecutive year that WCU will pause to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of former student-athletes, coaches and administrators, continuing a tradition begun in 1990. Induction ceremonies will be held on the Ramsey Center concourse prior to the 6 p.m. kickoff. Members of the 2006 Hall of Fame class are Mark Ferguson (football), Scott Gay ’88 (baseball), Ralph Lundy ’73 MAEd ’76 (men’s soccer), Darrell Murray (men’s basketball) and Willie Williams ’03 (football). Ferguson played football for the Catamounts from 1970-73. In his senior season, the Asheville native was a first team All-American as selected by the American Football Coaches Association and The Football News. An offensive lineman, he helped Western to a 6-3-1 record that season. The previous year, Ferguson was a key figure in Western posting a 7-2-1 record and a ranking of eighth in the final Associated Press small college poll. Gay was a member of Western’s baseball squad from 1983-85, leaving after his junior season as a fourth-round draft pick of the New York Yankees. A first-team All-Southern Conference selection in 1984 and 1985, the Milford, Conn., native was named conference Player of the Year after leading WCU to the SoCon championship and the school’s first-ever NCAA Tournament berth in 1985. He led the conference in strikeouts twice, and his 12 wins in 1985 established a school and SoCon single-season record. Lundy came to Western as a junior in 1970, helping the Catamount men’s soccer team turn around a 1-6-1 record in its inaugural season to an 8-2 record and a berth in the NAIA playoffs. After receiving his undergraduate degree in physical education, Lundy joined the Marines, later returning to Western as an assistant coach and receiving his master’s degree in physical education. Lundy left in 1976 to become head men’s soccer coach at Erskine. In 1987, Lundy moved on as head men’s coach at the College of Charleston, a post he still holds. During his 30 years as a head coach, Lundy has a career record of 333-218-37 and ranks among the nation’s top 10 in career victories.

24 The Magazine of Western Carolina University FALL 2006 WCUAthletics Playing In The Big League Former Baseball Manager Named to State Sports Hall of Fame By TYLER NORRIS GOODE On an evening back in May, Dave to the Reds during their run of four World Bristol ’59 found himself in a room filled Series appearances in the 1970s. “I always with sports figures he’s always admired. By enjoyed him as one of the sharpest baseball the time that night was over, the Andrews men I knew.” native stood beside them as a member of Since Western North Carolina had the N.C. Sports Hall of Fame. He was one few opportunities for aspiring ballplayers during of 10 inductees for 2006 in a ceremony in Bristol’s younger years, he used to hitchhike Raleigh. to Haywood County to play for a team there. “It was like getting money from home He signed with the Reds after high school without writing,” Bristol said describing the and played for Cincinnati farm clubs in the experience. “It could not have been better. 1950s and early ’60s—the last few years as When I introduced my daughter (Murphy a player-manager—before his big league girls’ basketball coach Cissy Dyer) to Dean managing debut. Smith, that was a proud moment. It was Bristol coached the likes of Pete Rose, worth the whole trip to see her standing Johnny Bench, Dale Murphy and Mike Schmidt. there talking to him.” After concluding his career as a manager in Bristol became the youngest manager 1980, he stayed at the big league level as a in Major League Baseball when the Cincinnati Reds hired him in coach, for Philadelphia and later for Cincinnati, before leaving 1966 at age 33. He led the Reds from 1966-69 and managed at MLB after the 1993 season. the big league level for all or part of 11 seasons until 1980, with “Because Dave Bristol lived in the big leagues for so long, stops in Milwaukee, Atlanta and San Francisco. he has insights into the game that few people have,” said Chuck Former Citizen-Times sportswriter Bob Terrell ’51 first Jackson, a former big league baseball player who lives in Ashe- covered him as a player when Bristol was 14 and later followed ville. “I don’t know if coaches around here realize what kind of a him at spring training during Bristol’s managerial career. “Dave resource we have in WNC. The baseball community around here developed a good part of the Big Red Machine for Cincinnati in needs to find a way to tap into this resource. He’s a treasure.” the minor leagues,” Terrell recalled, referring to the nickname given Reprinted in edited form with permission of the Asheville Citizen-Times.

Murray was a forward for Western on the 1962-63 men’s basketball team, which advanced to the NAIA national championship game. An All-Carolinas Conference selection, the Elwood, Ind., native ended his career fourth on Western’s all-time scoring list (1,471 points) and second in rebounding (1,208), being just one of three Catamounts to accumulate 1,000 points and rebounds in a career. As a senior, Murray led Western to a 20-6 record and a second-place league finish. As a sophomore, he helped the Catamounts to a 21-8 record and a Carolinas Conference Champion- ship. Murray was named to the North State Conference All-Freshman Team after setting a school season record of 155 offensive rebounds. Williams, Western’s first football player to reach the Super Bowl, was a three-time All-SoCon pick (1990-92), earning first-team honors in 1992. The Columbia, S.C., native, like fellow inductee Ferguson, is a member of WCU’s All-20th Century Football Team and holds the distinction of being the first WCU player selected to play in the Blue-Gray All-Star Classic. A defensive back, Williams was drafted in the sixth round by the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he played for four seasons, leading the AFC in intercep- tions and playing in Super Bowl XXX in 1996. He followed his first stint in Pittsburgh with seven seasons with the Seattle Seahawks before returning to the Steelers for the last two seasons, helping his team win Super Bowl XL this past season. For more information about Hall of Fame weekend or any other WCU athletics event, contact the department of athletics at (828) 227-7338.

Hall of Fame inductees pictured are Ralph Lundy ’73 MAEd ’76 (upper left), Mark Ferguson (center left), Willie Williams ’03 (lower left), Darrell Murray (upper right) and Scott Gay ’88 (lower right).

FALL 2006 The Magazine of Western Carolina University 25 photo by Johnof the Fletcher courtesy Asheville Citizen-Times

Friday Night Lights Many WCU Alums Are Among High School Football Coaching Legends By STEVE WHITE ’67 America needed a change of pace in the late 1940s fol- in WCU’s legacy is Charles “Babe” Howell ’53, who won lowing a decade and a half of economic depression and global a North Carolina record 301 football games. Included in conflict. And although there were few lighted local fields Howell’s resume are five state championships at Sylva- immediately after World War II, high school football quickly Webster High, where he spent 24 seasons. He has been grew into the cultural event now known as Friday Night inducted into the WCU, Western North Carolina, N.C. High Lights. The phenomenon sprang from that need for diversion School Athletics Association and North Carolina Sports halls and community spirit, spreading throughout much of the of fame. Even the winningest high school football coach nation. North Carolina was not immune, as the consuming of all-time, the legendary John McKissick MA ’69 of topic in cafes and barber shops from Murphy to Manteo Summerville (S.C.) High, holds a WCU graduate degree. during the autumn months revolves around the fortunes In the ’70s, a new set of coaching legends was crowned. of local high school football teams. Boyce Deitz ’69 took over the reins at Swain High in 1977 Western has contributed its share of icons that helped and, over the next 20 seasons, won 201 games and five state make high school football an integral part of the state’s championships. Bob Colvin ’62 earned a North Carolina culture. In the 1950s and ’60s, when high school football record 11 state championships at Robbinsville from 1966 was blooming in Western North Carolina, Hugh “Pee Wee” through 1985 and prevailed in 177 games in those 20 seasons. Hamilton ’50 and Norris “Pee Wee” Jones ’51 were Jim Taylor ’70 collected 201 victories in 20 seasons at legends. Hamilton won 145 games at Andrews, Asheville and Shelby High, while Bruce Peterson ’63 claimed eight confer- East Henderson high schools. Jones coached for 20 years at ence titles at Lee Edwards/Asheville High in 10 seasons. T.C. Roberson High and 10 years at Swain High, chalking up Currently, 17 WCU graduates are active as head coaches 195 victories. in North Carolina high schools, and at least a dozen in South Perhaps the most-renowned high school football coach Carolina and Georgia. Among the most successful are John

26 The Magazine of Western Carolina University FALL 2006 photo by Ann Ferguson of the Clay courtesy County Progress

photo by Steve of the Dixon courtesy Asheville Citizen-Times

Catamounts who became hometown heroes for coaching high school football include, from left, Charles “Babe” Howell ’53, who won a North Carolina record 301 football games; Al “Mutt” DeGraffenreid ’77 MAEd ’80, former Cherokee High School coach who is now athletics director at Smoky Mountain High School; Danny Wilkins ’79, who led Asheville High to the state 3A championship last year; and (background) Neil Setzer ’81, coach of the Hayesville Yellow Jackets.

Lowery ’78, who is pushing 200 triumphs at Forest Hills student body, the band and the community all on the same High in Union County; Mike Biggerstaff ’70, who has page for several hours and, generally, that enthusiasm and won more than 100 games at West Caldwell and East Burke; spirit carries over into everyday life,” he said. Jim Fox ’71 at Rosman, who also has passed the century Fox, who has coached at several large- and small-classi- mark in the W column: Danny Wilkins ’79, who guided fication schools, said Friday nights in the one-school-in-one- his Asheville High squad to the state 3A championship last town venues of the Smoky Mountain Conference are special. season; and Neil Setzer ’81, who has secured more than “The excitement at the Murphy, Hayesville, Swain, Robbins- 60 wins at Hayesville High and has developed a perennial ville and Rosman games cannot be matched in Charlotte or state playoff program. Greensboro. It’s like a family reunion every Friday night. Over the years, high school football has come to de- Everyone in the stands knows the players and vice-versa,” fine communities. In many small towns, Friday night at the he said. stadium is as significant as Christmas and the Fourth of The post-war coaches saw numerous innovations and July. “The annual Fat Friday game between East Burke and changes such as two-platoon football, the addition of face Freedom epitomizes the spirit and community of high school masks, development of the kicking game, and a move from football,” says Biggerstaff, ex-Catamount all-star linebacker the hard-nosed, grind-it-out running game to using the whole and East Burke’s head coach. “They can turn off the traffic field. The newer legends also have seen the game change with lights in Morganton, Drexel and Valdese because everyone is integration, artificial playing fields, the emphasis on strength at the game.” and conditioning, and sophisticated passing and blocking Now director of regional outreach for WCU’s athletics schemes. Despite the changes, when the lights come up on department, Deitz says nothing unites Swain County better Friday night again this season, one thing will remain the than Friday football in Bryson City. “You’ve got the team, the same. It’s THE game.

FALL 2006 The Magazine of Western Carolina University 27 Powers Play Former Player, Coach Returns to Bob Waters Field By MIKE CAWOOD

A familiar face from the glory years of Catamount football ship game. During his tenure as a defensive coach, a total of 27 once again will be prowling the sidelines this fall as former West- all-SoCon honors were bestowed upon Catamount defenders over ern player and assistant coach Don Powers ’68 MAEd ’69 returns a seven-year period. as defensive coordinator. Powers, who has been in “Coach Powers join- private business since 2000, ing our program will make previously coached 12 years at a huge impact,” said Kent The Citadel, including the last Briggs ’79 MAEd ’81, the five as the Bulldogs’ head coach. Catamounts’ head coach. Powers took over a Bulldog team “His experience, personality that was 2-9 overall and 0-8 in and love for Western Caro- the Southern Conference before lina bring a lot to the football taking the helm and guiding program, as well as to the them to an 11-12 league mark university. He is a Catamount during his first three years. Un- and always will be a Cata- der his leadership, the Bulldogs mount. Every Catamount, went from two victories present and past, is excited in 1995 to six wins in 1997, to have Coach Powers back.” marking the top increase in While an assistant the Southern Conference coach at Western (1974-83), during that time span. Powers was associated with As the Bulldogs’ defensive Western’s most prolific teams coordinator, Powers was a and coached some of the two-time Southern Conference Don Powers ’68 MAEd ’69 returns to help coach Catamounts. greatest players in school his- defensive assistant coach of the tory. After playing four years as an outside linebacker and earning year honoree (1990 and 1992) as he helped The Citadel win its National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics All-District hon- second SoCon Championship in 1992, and first since 1961. That ors three times, Powers joined the staff of legendary Coach Bob team went 11-2 overall and 6-1 in the SoCon, while recording wins Waters in 1968 as a graduate assistant. He became a full-time as- over Arkansas and Army and reaching the second round of the sistant the following year, working the linebackers, a post he held NCAA I-AA playoffs. until 1974 when he was named defensive coordinator. His impact “It’s great to be back where I belong, back home at Western, was felt immediately, as the unit finished fourth in the nation in because this is my home in so many ways,” Powers said. “I am scoring defense in 1974, allowing just 87 points in 11 games. elated with the way Coach Briggs approaches the program. We are Powers was named assistant head coach in 1982, becoming both proud to be a part of the Bob Waters heritage and legacy, the first person in WCU history to earn such a title. Five times and my strongest motivation is to help achieve the success that from 1976-83, Western ranked among the NCAA leaders in pass Coach Waters envisioned for this program. I really want to see defense, pacing the nation in the category in 1977 by allowing just Western have a Southern Conference championship in football. 77.5 yards per game. Western also led the Southern Conference I am very strongly motivated to achieve that for Coach Waters, in passing defense from 1977-79. In his final season at Western, for every player who has ever played at Western, and for all Powers helped the Catamounts reach the NCAA I-AA champion- Catamount fans.”

Fast Company At the rate he’s going, Danny men claimed the indoor track and field Williamson ’84 MAEd ’86 is going to conference title, helping Williamson earn have to build a bigger trophy case. That’s coach of the year honors for that sport. because the veteran Catamount coach For Williamson, it was the 20th confer- was named Southern Conference ence coaching honor. And, on the heels of Outdoor Track and Field Coach of the that honor, he was selected the Southeast Year after guiding his squad to a come- District Men’s Outdoor Track & Field from-behind first-place finish in the 2006 Coach of the Year by the U.S. Track & SoCon championships in April. The victory Field/Cross Country Coaches’ Associa- came just a couple months after Western’s tion. Now, about that bigger trophy case....

28 The Magazine of Western Carolina University FALL 2006 A Storybook Season Catamount Softball Hits Home Run in First At-Bat By Daniel Hooker ’01 At the risk of sounding cliché, the inaugural season of Cata- mount women’s softball was seemingly straight from the pages of Individually, freshman a fairy tale. The storybook season could not have been written any pitcher Mendy McKenzie led better by screenwriters in Hollywood. The first pitch was a strike… the league in wins (22) and the first hit was a home run… the first game was a win… and the strikeouts (207) during the Winning moments in the Catamounts’ first season include, clockwise from left, Mendy McKenzie’s first season resulted in a championship. regular season while ranking fast pitches, Samm Keppel’s golden glovework, Preseason predictions pegged the youthful Cats in seventh second overall in earned run Ashley Adams’ championship-clinching catch place in the eight-team league. But amid the hills of Western average (2.17). The Clemmons and the national anthem at the dedication of North Carolina, an offensive juggernaut and a one-two pitching native garnered a SoCon-re- Western’s new softball facility. combination was unveiled. When the dust finally settled on the cord five pitcher-of-the-week honors during the season, and was infield diamond, Western had racked up nine Southern Conference twice named the conference’s pitcher of the month. She would weekly honors; six All-SoCon selections, including five first-team eventually be dubbed the SoCon Pitcher of the Year. honorees; three monthly awards; and three of the conference’s The second part of the powerful one-two pitching punch was four annual awards. And, the Cats brought home a regular season Fremont native Jenny Jackson, who secured 15 wins in the circle championship trophy in their first year of existence – something with the third-best ERA in the SoCon (2.38) during the season. that no other SoCon team in any sport had ever pulled off before. Credited with the school’s first no-hitter, Jackson also hit .302 “When we first made the move to add softball to our list of with 11 home runs as a utility player and earned the SoCon’s sponsored sports, no one would have ever believed that this team Freshman of the Year award. would have accomplished in one year what they did, and we could The architect of Western’s success also was lauded by the not be more proud of their accomplishments,” said Chip Smith, league, as Head Coach Megan Smith garnered the SoCon’s Coach of WCU athletics director. the Year award. Hired in July 2004, Smith guided the Catamounts Five players, led by junior Ashley Adams, belted double-digit to the regular season championship with only four losses in league home runs this season as the Catamounts shattered the confer- action. Along the way, she collected her 100th career victory in just ence record for homers in a single season with 81 round-trippers. her second stint as a head collegiate coach. Adams led the way with another SoCon record, amassing 21 four- Despite an early exit from the conference tournament, the baggers. Freshman Lauren Ross began the home run barrage in Catamounts are primed for next year. The championship roster, the season-opener, blasting two—including smashing the team’s composed mostly of freshmen, bears just two juniors and a pair of first-ever hit over the centerfield wall—to lead the Catamounts to sophomores, and the entire starting lineup returns intact. “I am victory in their inaugural outing. just so proud of this team—very proud,” Coach Smith said. “This Western was the first school in the conference to reach 20, team did more than anyone expected and really played their hearts 30 and 40 wins, and was the only league team to hit the 40-win out all season long, and that’s all any coach can ask. Things just did mark during regular season competition. The Catamounts tore not go our way at the tournament, but I am still very proud of this through the conference and captured the 2006 regular season team. They want to and cannot wait to get back here next season.” championship, sweeping the College of Charleston at home to Catamount softball fans feel the same way. This is one earn the crown. Hollywood story crying out for a sequel.

FALL 2006 The Magazine of Western Carolina University 29 alumniAchievements

Dr. Frances Owl-Smith ’83 works as a pathologist and laboratory medical director at Haywood Regional Medical Center. A Positive Diagnosis First Eastern Band Woman To Earn Medical Degree Inspires Others To Work Hard, But Enjoy Life By RANDALL HOLCOMBE Sitting on stage in front of 900-plus graduating students and doctor, but those years were not easy as she tried to balance roles as a close-to-capacity crowd at spring commencement, Dr. Frances wife, mother and student while dealing with the sleep deprivation Owl-Smith ’83 was a little nervous about giving her “thank you” caused by clinical rotations and nighttime study. speech, but the Waynesville pathologist, on hand to accept WCU’s After graduation from medical school, Owl-Smith was chosen Award for Academic and Professional Achievement, was pleased to to enter the pathology residency program at UNC-Chapel Hill. Dur- have her family, including three grandchildren, in the Ramsey Cen- ing the five-year residency, the couple’s son was diagnosed with a ter audience. “I hoped my grandchildren could see that if they work medical illness that would need lifelong attention. That was a major hard and are dedicated to their educations, they can do anything adjustment for the family, but they persevered, and Owl-Smith they choose to do,” she said. “And I was hoping that something I became a practicing pathologist at the age of 42. would say would be an inspiration to other people.” The family moved to the Southwest as Owl-Smith began her It’s hard to imagine anyone being less than inspired by Dr. career working for the Indian Health Service in Arizona and New Owl-Smith, the first female member of the Eastern Band of Chero- Mexico, partly as payback for loans. The family came back to the kee Indians to receive a medical degree. A Cherokee native, she mountains in 2002 when she accepted a position at Haywood graduated from Swain County High School in 1968 and married Regional Medical Center, where she is a pathologist and laboratory Doyle Smith, and the couple soon began having children. Over the medical director. next decade, she kept busy as a housewife while working occasion- Owl-Smith’s many admirers include Dan Southern, WCU clini- ally as a teacher’s aide or nurse’s assistant. Smith’s flexible schedule cal laboratory sciences professor, who taught and mentored her. as a barber made it possible for his wife to enroll at Western, and “Dr. Owl-Smith is a very respected pathologist and has helped save in 1979, at the age of 29, she joined the freshman class. Owl-Smith many lives with her diagnostic skills,” Southern said. “As a supervi- became a dean’s list student, enrolled in the medical technology sor of laboratory personnel, she’s adored by her employees, many of (now clinical laboratory sciences) program, recorded a 4.0 grade whom are graduates of WCU’s clinical laboratory sciences program. point average during her junior and senior years, and graduated She also gives unselfishly to her family, community and to her heri- summa cum laude (with highest honors). tage, and she’s been an ardent supporter of the CLS program.” Owl-Smith had never considered medicine as a career until No wonder that after receiving her award at spring commence- a visit to a podiatry school led her to consider applying for medi- ment, she spoke to the graduates about the importance of doing cal school. She had attended an eight-week program for minority good. “As a practicing pathologist, I’m obligated to make accurate students at UNC-Chapel Hill in the summer of 1982. Because of diagnoses, and today I have a diagnosis for all of us,” she said. “We her success in that program, she was accepted into medical school all have a terminal illness called life. So I challenge you to go out at Chapel Hill. Loans, financial aid and a fellowship helped the there and get a real life—a life not just of the mind, but of the soul family make ends meet while husband Doyle continued barbering. —a life where you do good.” Owl-Smith graduated with high honors four years later as a medical 30 The Magazine of Western Carolina University FALL 2006 alumniAchievements

Purpose-Driven Life Zest for Philanthropy Guides Career By Teresa Killian Joe Crocker ’74 had long admired chancellor at Winston-Salem State both worked for Wachovia. “You knew the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, which University. “He is a very serious, honest, he would ask questions, and he would ask in the past 70 years has directed more religious person driven to always do the the hard questions until he was satisfied than $360 million to nonprofit organiza- right thing. It’s just who Joe is.” that he had a full understanding of the tions and charitable activities that benefit Ricky Shore, president of Aladdin issue,” said Lough, adding that he also is a North Carolinians. So when offered the Travel & Meeting Planners, described people person who is quick with a smile. chance to join the foundation last year as his former Wachovia coworker as just a “You instantly feel comfortable and at director of operations, Crocker said yes. solid citizen. “There is a book about the home around Joe. He really puts people He saw the move as an opportunity to purpose-driven life, and that is what Joe at ease.” be closer to the philanthropic work he al- is about,” said Shore. “The move to the Lucky for Western, Crocker has kept ready was part of as senior vice president Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation enables room in his heart and made time for his and community affairs manager for the him to come closer to fulfilling a purpose- alma mater. He has served two terms Wachovia Corporation in Winston-Salem. driven life.” on the university’s board of trustees “The foundation provided the oppor- The list of organizations that Crocker and made history as WCU’s first African tunity to be involved full-time as opposed has helped lead or contribute to is long, American board chairman, during a time to part-time,” said Crocker, former chair- including Western Carolina University, of tremendous growth. man of Western’s board of trustees. “The the North Carolina Rural Center, the Indirectly, too, he and his wife, Carol more you are in the community serving North Carolina Public School Forum, the Vaughan Crocker ’75, have had a hand the community through leadership and North Carolina Network of Grantmakers, in recruiting at least two students. One Dr. Frances Owl-Smith ’83 works as a pathologist and laboratory medical director at Haywood Regional Medical Center. board positions, the more you become Donors Choose, the North Carolina Medi- was their daughter Marcella, who said aware of the needs. Since I started my cal Care Commission, the Mint Museum she grew to love the mountains and the working career, I have served on local in Charlotte, Family Guidance Center, school during their many visits back to boards and worked with organizations the Inter-Faith Housing Development Cullowhee for football games and other to help others. This is a culmination of Corporation of Hickory, Catawba County events. “He’s been bringing us here to that beginning.” United Way, Catawba Valley Community Western ever since I can remember,” Thomas W. Ross, executive director College and Catawba Memorial Hospital. said Marcella Crocker ’05. The other of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, What Crocker brings to the organiza- was their daughter’s longtime friend and said Crocker’s background in community tions that he assists is a listening-based, Lough’s daughter, Betsy Walker ’05, who relations and economic development inquisitive and decisive leadership style. joined the Crockers on one of those trips made him an ideal choice for the orga- “At meetings, I would be amazed how west. “Carol was a music major and took nization, which processes 700 to 1,000 many questions he would ask,” said Betsy around,” Lough said. “There was grant applications annually. Crocker’s Catherine Lough, director of develop- something so special that appealed friends and colleagues also say the new ment at the North Carolina Center for to Betsy that she came home right away job is a perfect fit. “Joe is an exceptional the Advancement of Teaching. Lough and said, ‘That’s where I want to go.’ individual and a tremendous asset to got to know Crocker when they She sat at the kitchen table and filled the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation,” said out her application.” Harold Martin, senior vice president for academic affairs for the University of North Carolina system and former

WCU is a family tradition for Carol Vaughan Crocker ’75, Marcella Crocker ’05 and Joe Crocker ’74.

FALL 2006 The Magazine of Western Carolina University 31 alumniAchievements Triumph over Tragedy Courage and Commitment Drive Alums Five Years After 9/11

Emergency Responder Embraces New Mission, New Life By Teresa Killian Lt. Col William “Bill” Lochridge IV ’65 cannot forget the first night, as it broke loose from its pole, flew through currents reason he spends his days protecting the waters around New of hot air and caught itself on a lamp post,” said Lochridge. “It York. The commander of the New York State Military Emer- never touched the ground.” gency Boat Service can still see the scattered shoes and the body For the next 51 days, Lochridge and others at Ground Zero of a fallen firefighter, even though 9/11 was five years ago. worked 18- to 22-hour shifts. Lochridge helped coordinate the Lochridge also cannot forget the “Pier 92” family of flow of materials needed at Ground Zero. He directed installa- emergency responders who grew so close that he and his fiancé tion of defensive security and safety systems for the Command relocated their October 2001 wedding to the Ground Zero Center on Pier 92 and coordinated with the Coast Guard and Command Center. Then-Mayor Rudy Giuliani performed the police marine units for waterfront security. ceremony. “‘We need an uplifting event like this,’ Giuliani told Meanwhile, fast approaching was his wedding day to a me,” said Lochridge. woman from Germany who had been a professional ballerina The 22-year veteran of the computer and communications that he first met when he was a student at Western. Twice, he industry who also served two tours in Vietnam was feeding proposed. Twice, she said no. Finally, in 2000, they reconnected. breakfast to his yellow lab, Chance, when he heard that a plane “Only this time, she asked me to marry her,” Lochridge said. hit the World Trade Center, turned on his TV and watched the “Amen.” unthinkable. “My commanding general called and instructed me On their wedding day, a police car drove them from to find a way into the city,” said Lochridge, a member of the New LaGuardia International Airport to the command center near York Naval Militia. “I told the general that all bridges and tun- Ground Zero, which had been decorated with everything from nels into the city were closed, traffic congestion was horrendous, floral arrangements to a wedding cake from the Red Cross. and all non-military and law enforcement aircraft were re-routed Military personnel joined New York and New Jersey state police, or grounded. He said, ‘Lochridge, you find a way in.’” firefighters, sanitation workers and state and federal emergency His way was a friend’s 36-foot high-speed power boat workers in an honor guard that led to the Command Center named the Huntress, which picked him up at the Greenwich podium. Instead of “Here Comes the Bride,” a piper played the Yacht Club. They traveled to the 23rd Street Marina through “Marine Corps Hymn.” When Giuliani asked Lochridge if he was three Coast Guard blockades. “The memories of those first ready to get married, he said, “Yes, sir. It’s only taken 37 years few days shall always be with me: the smell; the powdery ash since I first asked her.” covered with paper from offices that once were occupied; shoes littering the ground; a flattened baby stroller in front of the Millennium Hotel; crushed fire trucks and police cars around the impact site; and an American flag that I watched, on the

Lt. Col. William “Bill” Lochridge IV ’65 commands the New York State Military Emergency Boat Service (above). Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani presided over Lochridge’s wedding at a command center near Ground Zero a month after 9/11 (left).

32 The Magazine of Western Carolina University FALL 2006 alumniAchievements

Darkhorse Marine Decorated for Valor By Cpl. Mark Sixbey

Darkhorse Marine 1st Lt. Alfred L. Butler IV ’01 was decorated with the nation’s fourth-highest award for valor by the 1st Marine Division commanding general. Maj. Gen. Richard Natonski presented the Bronze Star Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device to Butler, weapons company executive officer, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, outside the battalion’s command post in May. “I knew his father, and I think he’s following in his footsteps,” Natonski said. “This is his third deployment to Iraq, and he’s done a marvelous job over here.” The 27-year-old from Jacksonville earned the award for his actions and leadership while commanding an 81mm mortar platoon on Dec. 23, 2004, during combat operations in Fallujah. Maj. Gen. Richard Natonski presented the Bronze Star Medal with Combat Distinguishing “It was one of those days when everyone ran out of ammo,” said Device to 1st Lt. Alfred L. Butler IV ’01 (right). Butler. “We even used AK-47s.” U.S. Marine photo by Cpl. Mark Sixbey. As insurgents ambushed his platoon, Butler rushed to the attack where he found several men pinned under heavy auto- matic weapons fire on a stairwell. He evacuated them from the house and learned insurgents had isolated additional men on other makes you not want to leave the second floor. He quickly organized an assault force and the Marine Corps.” raced to an adjacent house under constant small arms fire to Butler was only 5 years old recover the men. when his father, Marine Maj. Alfred Butler The platoon commander led his team as they cleared two III, was killed in Beirut. Butler said most of buildings, jumping from roof to roof to reach them. He shielded what he knows of his father he learned from the bodies of the fallen Marines when a grenade landed nearby, Marines like Maj. Gen. Natonski who served with then threw two grenades into a room filled with insurgents. him. “From what I understand, he was a great While delivering cover fire, Butler moved the men across to man, great Marine, husband and father,” an adjacent rooftop, personally evacuating a wounded Marine said Butler, who is currently on duty in under constant small arms fire and grenade attacks. His actions Iraq. “If I can be half of that, I think preserved the lives of the men. I’ll be fine.” Butler credited the decoration to the Marines under his command. “I owe those Marines my life,” he said. “The things Reprinted in edited form with permission they did that day are the sort of things you read about in books. of the U.S. Marine Corps. What they do for each other and what they sacrifice for each

Catamount Alumna Earns Bronze Star By 2nd Lt. Sequoiya L. Franks Former Catamount golfer 1st Lt. Sarah Parris ’00 broke soldiers to travel her back and injured her face when a Humvee in which she was to An Nasiriyah to manning a gun turret flipped over. The vehicle had swerved to vote. She helped avoid an Iraqi running toward the convoy – one of 50 Parris rode develop standards in while serving with the 78th Security Forces Squadron. not only for Camp In recognition of her service, Parris was honored at Robins Ur, but also define Air Force Base in May with the Bronze Star, a medal presented the path taken for heroic or meritorious achievement of service, not involved in by coalition forces aerial flight, in connection with operations against enemy forces. in Iraq. Her responsibilities in Iraq included advising and mentoring “I’ve enjoyed Iraqi soldiers at Camp Ur near the city of An Nasiriyah, a my experience, and Col. Theresa C. Carter, 78th Air Base Wing Commander, nontraditional role for females in those areas. “It was definitely I will value this presents a citation for meritorious service to 1st Lt Sarah a challenge trying to get accustomed to the Iraqi culture,” she honor for the rest Parris ’00 (right). U.S. Air Force photo by Sue Sapp. said. “It’s definitely not in my personality to accept treatment as of my life,” said Parris, who separated from the Air Force this a second-class citizen just because I’m a woman. It took a month summer and plans to work as a physical education teacher. At or so for the Iraqis to get used to women being assertive and Western, her athletic achievements landed her in 11th place on in positions of authority. The main thing was respecting their the university’s all-time golfing career scoring charts with 6,458 culture, taking things slowly and showing them that we can all strokes in 76 total rounds for a stroke average of 84.97. “I am work together.” looking forward to being ‘Coach P’,” she said. In addition to training soldiers, Parris helped create several security plans. One was developed for the high-profile Iraqi Reprinted in edited form with permission of the Robins Air Force Base newspaper, the Robins Rev-Up. elections in October and December, enabling more than 2,000 FALL 2006 The Magazine of Western Carolina University 33 •class NOTES• The Class Notes section features news about personal or professional accomplishments of Western graduates. Alumni are listed in the year in which they earned their first degree at Western. City and county names not otherwise identified are in North Carolina.

1939 1974 1977 before becoming administrative Darnell Phillips Spann received Chairman of Sylva’s WestCare Previously vice president for services director, a position he held special recognition for Mother’s Health System board of trustees academic affairs at Western for three years before retiring with Day this year. As the oldest mom since 2005, Jim Manring MBA Piedmont Community College in 30 years in N.C. public schools. attending worship that day at Pilot ’76 in April received a state trustee Morganton, Jim Burnett MAEd Baptist Church, she was presented service award at the Annual ’84 EdS ’92 became the college’s with a vase of red roses. Spann N.C. Hospital Leaders Institute fifth president in January. An lives in Zebulon. of the North Carolina Hospital alumnus of WPCC and honored Association. The trustee service as WPCC Alumnus of the Year in 1965 awards recognize hospital trustees 2001, he joined the staff in 1973 Dale Hollifield and wife Dianne who, through their leadership, as coordinator of veterans’ ’66 were honored in May as the have made significant and unique affairs and then served in various Southern Conference Distinguished contributions to their hospitals positions, including dean of student Service Award winners from and the communities they serve. services, registrar and adjunct Western. Each member institution A member of WestCare’s board business instructor. selects honorees based on their of trustees since 1996, Manring is overall contributions to the school. director of planned giving 1978 The Distinguished Service Award at Western. After more than 10 years with honors select individuals who theaters in Kansas City, Boston and have gone above and beyond the 1975 Providence, Jeff Clark returned call to help Southern Conference After 30 years in education—the to his home state last spring as 1982 institutions better achieve their past 23 at West Henderson High executive director of the Mariam Serving as Western’s acting goals to the benefit of thousands School in Henderson County— and Robert Hayes Performing Arts registrar since October, Larry of student-athletes. In 1995, Dale cross country coach and guidance Center in Blowing Rock. His job Hammer MS ’96 (pictured above) retired from United Parcel Service counselor Greg Price MAEd includes executing the business in June was appointed registrar. with 28½ years of service, and ’76 retired in June. Before going plan and creating programming Prior to moving to the Registrar’s Dianne has spent her entire career to West Henderson in 1983, and patron services for the new Office in October, he was in education, teaching at various he was at Rugby Middle School center, scheduled to open in information systems coordinator levels and in many areas. Both and Highlands High School. “My August after almost five years for enrollment management at have been lifelong supporters of daughter is graduating (from of arduous fundraising for the Western. Hammer and wife Darla Western athletics, academics West Henderson High) this year, 15-year-old dream. live in Sylva with son Paul and and the arts. so I thought I’d graduate with daughter Elizabeth. her,” he told the Times-News 1979 1971 of Hendersonville. Among the After holding many positions 1983 It is a reunion of sorts for trophies and plaques his student- with Angel Medical Center in Commander Wesley S. Trull has Timothy C. Jacobs MAEd ’75 athletes have won over the Franklin over the past 15 years, retired from the U.S. Coast Guard MA ’99, former director of years are boys’ and girls’ state Jean Sprinkle recently returned after serving almost 23 years in WCU’s A.K. Hinds University championships in 1993 and the to a position she held 10 years the armed forces. Commissioned Center, who is serving as interim boys’ state championship again ago—director of Home Health and a second lieutenant in the U.S. director for the University Union in 1995. Hospice. The agency offers patients Army after college, he transferred at the University of North Texas and their families education, to the Coast Guard in 1987. His “as a favor” to his ex-boss at 1976 training, treatments and therapy, last assignment was at the U.S. Western. Bonita Jacobs (no Recently selected as one of four as well as bereavement counseling Coast Guard Air Station in San relation), former associate vice supervisors in the United States for for up to one year after the death Francisco, where he served as the chancellor for student affairs NCAA women’s basketball, Judith of a loved one. unit’s operations officer and the at WCU and current vice president L. Stroud MAEd ’81 has reached executive officer. for student development at a milestone in women’s basketball: 1980 UNT, asked Jacobs in January She has played, coached, officiated Retired director of administrative 1985 to step in and run the student and—beginning in September—will services for Cleveland County After 21 years in the U.S. Air Force, union until a permanent director supervise officials, bringing her Schools, Steve C. Borders Lance Sigmon has retired as a is named. He is in charge of a involvement in the sport to MAEd EdS ’82 recently was lieutenant colonel and opened a 198,000-square-foot facility more than 30 years. A resident of appointed to serve as interim law practice in Newton. During with more than 65 employees. Hendersonville, Stroud is an agent superintendent of the school his military career, he served as The facility averages 17,500 with State Farm Insurance and a system, beginning in July. He served a military trial judge, the chief users a day at the 32,000- member of Western’s College of as teacher, assistant principal and appellate government counsel for student university. Business Advisory Board. principal in Cleveland County the Air Force, the chief prosecutor

34 The Magazine of Western Carolina University FALL 2006 •classNOTES• for Europe and the Middle East, a K–4 resource teacher for two “We have another agenda: to teach inspires students to learn through and a military defense counsel. years, then spent about nine them character and respect. We assignments centered on personal His new practice will involve the years working with children with want to teach the kids the basic reflection. In addition to earning representation of any member of disabilities in a regular education fundamentals of basketball and how National Board Certification, two the military accused of a crime setting. Cook also has acquired sports can relate to life.” Hayesville High School Teacher and facing trial by court-martial. certification in academically of the Year awards and the 2003 Under the Uniform Code of intellectually gifted education. Last 1991 North Carolina Character Educator Military Justice, military personnel year, she was voted Kings Mountain of the Year, Leek is the 2005-06 accused of a crime may elect to be Middle School’s teacher of the year. Teacher of the Year for Region represented by a civilian attorney 8 in North Carolina. “Marianne at trial. Sigmon’s practice will be 1990 exemplifies the type of teacher that based in Newton, but he will travel In April 2005, Rick Gardin, we aspire to prepare at Western,” worldwide to represent clients. lead counselor for group homes said Michael Dougherty, dean of for challenged youth in Burke the College of Education and Allied 1987 County, began the Heroes for Professions. “She understands Kings Mountain Middle School Christ Youth Sports Organization, and effectively demonstrates the seventh-grade language arts a Christian-based organization three ‘Rs’ in the correct order: teacher Cynthia Jean Cook that hosts three basketball teams relationship, relevance and rigor.” in March was selected a Star for boys and girls ages 8 to 17. Teacher and recognized at the Although the organization has Lisa Majors-Duff joined the 16th annual Time Warner Cable a Christian emphasis, Gardin American Cancer Society as an Star Teacher banquet at Gardner- says it is unaffiliated with a single The list of achievements keeps income manager in June 2005. Webb University. Before receiving denomination. “Basketball is just growing for Hayesville High School Her responsibilities include certification in middle grades a way to get them here,” he told English teacher Marianne Leek generating more than $250,000 language arts in 1998, she was The News Herald of Morganton. MAT ’01 (pictured above), who in contributions in Jackson and Continued on page 36 Capitol Communication Catamount Works With Congressman By Teresa Killian

Deborah Potter ’80 used to sign off her deejay slots at Western Carolina University’s radio station with “I love you Cullowhee!” The station played everything from Steely Dan to The Rolling Stones, and Potter’s discovery of how much she loved working there set the course for a career in the communications field that led her to a position today as press secretary for U.S. Rep. Charles Taylor, who was recently awarded an honorary doctorate at Western. Potter had planned to become a school teacher when she enrolled at Western, but switched her major to radio and television. She graduated summa cum laude on a Saturday and went to work for WLOS-TV in Asheville the following Monday. After six months of working as a video editor (and six Deborah Potter ’80 joins U.S. Rep. Charles Taylor on a tour months of “bugging” the news director), she began reporting. of Western’s biology and chemistry research facilities. During her time at WLOS and at WSPA in Spartanburg, she covered stories including the Republican National Convention be able to find a job here and won’t have to move away like my in New Orleans when then-Vice President George H.W. Bush sons.’ I thought about that a lot.” was nominated as a presidential candidate. Potter cried in Potter, a mother of two, joined Taylor’s staff nearly three the newsroom when she heard the missing children of South years ago, and Taylor said she has brought a new level of Carolinian Susan Smith were found dead in a lake. She spent professionalism to their office. “A lot of the initiatives we are long days covering the search for Atlanta Olympics bomber working on are very complex, and Deborah has been successful Eric Rudolph. Potter then moved to an editing position at the at working with our district media to keep the public informed Asheville Citizen-Times, where Jim Buchanan ’83, editorial of what we are working on,” Taylor said. page associate editor, said Potter was always a friendly, reliable Potter has had the chance to visit Western’s campus “go-to” person. “When you wanted something taken care of, several times to observe some of the growth Taylor has helped you could direct it to her and it would be done,” Buchanan said. make happen. She visited the Center for Applied Technology, a Taylor had called her “out of the blue” to ask her to join 28,000-square-foot facility that was the first new building his staff, she said. They talked about his initiatives and vision constructed on Western’s campus in more than 17 years. for Western North Carolina. “I was amazed because I had not Nearly $8 million in federal funds enabled its construction. heard about them, and he said that was why he needed me as “I thought how cool it would have been to use all that great a press secretary—to help more people learn about them. He equipment with all the bells and whistles,” Potter said. “I was said, ‘You know, Deborah, if I’m successful at what I want to proud to be working with someone who did so much to make do, then maybe by the time your girls get out of college, they’ll that building a reality.”

FALL 2006 The Magazine of Western Carolina University 35 •classNOTES• Enduring Patience Surgeon Teaches Trauma Reconstruction Western’s registrar “The man who Sal did surgery on Larry Hammer ’82 MS had had a mustache most of his ’96 vividly remembers his life that was destroyed, and he friend Dr. Sal Lettieri ’83 said on the show that he was very walking down the hall in pleased Dr. Lettieri was able to re- the Natural Sciences store it as he built a new upper lip,” Building reading his physi- Woosley said. “It was amazing.” cal chemistry textbook Lettieri said he feels very aloud – in French. fortunate to have built a career Lettieri was a student around something he is happy to the extreme: He didn’t doing and for which he has an just study foreign language. aptitude. Before he started college, He became fluent, tutored the math whiz considered pursu- others and considered at- ing a career in engineering and tending school in Montreal. enrolled at Western with every Instead, the chemistry and Dr. Sal Lettieri ’83 specializes in trauma reconstruction at the Mayo Clinic College intention of transferring to N.C. mathematics major went to of Medicine in Arizona. State University. “I ended up medical school in North Carolina and pursued postdoctoral work liking Western so much that I just stayed and majored in math at Johns Hopkins Hospital and Maryland Shock Trauma Center. and chemistry,” he said. Today, the student has emerged a teacher. Lettieri shares his After graduation, Lettieri spent a year as a graduate assistant expertise as a plastic surgeon specializing in trauma reconstruc- with the chemistry department at Western. He considered dental tion with residents at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in school but, as a senior, decided he would rather pursue medicine. Arizona. “The difficulty is fewer and fewer plastic surgeons are Lettieri lacked the biology credits other medical school applicants willing to do trauma reconstruction exclusively,” said Lettieri, had, having decided to apply so late in his undergraduate career. who was drawn to the profession for the variety of work. “The He was not accepted the first time, but Woosley and other faculty lifestyle can have long, unpredictable hours, and the reimburse- helped him prepare to reapply during his year as a graduate as- ment for such procedures is diminishing.” sistant and supported his dream however possible. “I went from His patients range from burn victims to people with ad- one year not getting in to the next year not only getting in but vanced cancer, such as a patient whose jaw eroded as a result of with a full scholarship to attend Bowman Gray School of Medi- a tumor or treatment. Episodes of the TV show “Saving Life and cine at Wake Forest University,” said Lettieri. Limb” highlighted how Lettieri helped repair a woman’s scalp Woosley said he has enjoyed hearing over the years about the after a dog attack and reconstruct the face of a man injured in success of the student that he remembers sitting in a chemistry a lawn mower accident. Royce Woosley, the head of Western’s class with arms folded, listening without taking notes and yet chemistry department when Lettieri was a student, said the lawn jumping in with answers to difficult, thought-provoking ques- mower injury documentary was hard to watch and yet incredible. tions. “We are very, very proud of him,” he said.

Haywood counties during the representative to the Georgia has been hired to coach 1998 2006 Relay For Life season. An Bar Association and on other volleyball at Buncombe County’s Known nationally as both a English major who honed her supervisory committees. Roberson High. leadership and drum major writing skills as a staff writer with clinician, Bobby Lambert, drum the Western Carolinian and as a 1994 1996 major for Western’s “Pride of the student worker in WCU’s Office of Former director of radiology at In May, Matthew Henry Goode Mountains” Marching Band for Public Information, Majors-Duff was Mission Hospitals in Asheville, and Shannon Renea Gibson were three years, returned to campus in news editor of the Sylva Herald James A. Miller is now vice married in Rockingham. He is April with his Marian Catholic High before moving to her current president of clinical operations a field sales engineer with the School Concert Band. Winner of position with the American Cancer for neurosciences and orthopedic Greensboro office of Hammond numerous awards and honors, the Society. She lives in Balsam with services at Mission. As director Electronics Inc. Marian Catholic Band program is her husband, Greg, and 12-year-old of radiology, he led the undefeated since 1980 in its class daughter Nikki. implementation of Mission’s 1997 in the State of Illinois Marching digital imaging network, a Talmadge Garrett (“Tal”), first Band Championships. At Bands of 1992 multi-site network that child of Autumn Nelson America competitions, the school Mark A. Casto recently formed accommodates nearly 500,000 Kanistras and husband Todd has been named Summer National the law office partnership of imaging procedures annually. Garrett Kanistras ’95, was Champion five times, Class AA Bennett & Casto, P.C. Located in born last September. The family National Champion for 10 years the prestigious historic district of 1995 lives in Florida, where Todd is vice and Grand National Champion Columbus, Ga., the firm focuses After nine years teaching and president of General Caulking and seven times. “This is an awesome primarily on medical malpractice coaching at Reynolds High School Coatings Inc. band, arguably one of the very best and severe bodily injury litigation. in Buncombe County, Regina high school band programs in the Casto currently serves as the area Dunlap Phillips MAEd ’06 country,” said Bob Buckner ’67,

36 The Magazine of Western Carolina University FALL 2006 •classNOTES• WCU’s marching band director. “Their me so well. They are to be highly whole program is excellent, and it’s commended,” she said. always good for our students, some Photo by Kent Smith for Charlotte Bobcats Pros and Cons aspiring band directors, to see what can be accomplished.” Graduate Student Takes

1999 Hollywood Out of Crime Director of the Macon County Parks By Derek Hodges and Recreation Department for two years, Seth Adams keeps track of Years before Woody the rental of facilities, safety issues Woodring ’05 enrolled in and ballgames and also oversees the improvement of existing facilities and classes at Western, he found plans for new ones. Even with the himself in a bad situation challenges he faces because of the – arrested for driving while rising number of participants, both intoxicated and assault. adult and youth, who regularly use Woodring began to ponder the fields, Adams still enjoys his job. “I have always been what you could call what motivates a person to live outside the law, a ‘sports junkie,’” he told The Franklin 2002 Press. “Not to mention, I love working Continuing to enjoy her love of and, when he was re- with kids.” He and wife Nikki have dance, Monique Douglas (pictured leased from jail, decided one son, Grant. above) has been a member of the to put his curiosity to Charlotte Bobcats dance team since 2000 positive use. 2004, after spending one year with Woodring began With Wachovia Bank in Winston- the Carolina Cobras Snakecharmers. Salem since his graduation from She is “Miss December” in the attending South- Western, David Hartwell was 2006 Bobcats Dance Team calendar western Commu- promoted to senior systems and also appears on the cover. nity College to study human administrator in Wachovia’s In addition to teaching French at information technology division last services and substance abuse counseling. Spaugh Middle School in Charlotte, After graduating from SCC with two associate May. In December 2005, he finished Douglas serves as coordinator of the his MBA with a concentration in AVID (Advancement Via Individual degrees, Woodring transferred to WCU, where he information systems from High Point Determination) program, an in-school majored in sociology, focusing on deviant behavior, and University. He and his wife have academic support program that is now working toward a master’s degree in counseling. two children, 4-year-old Craig and prepares students for college eligibility 22-month-old Ellie. The more he learned, the more curious he was about and success. the criminal mind, and he started writing letters to some of the criminals he saw featured in true crime 2003 May wedding bells rang in Sylva for stories on television. David St. Clair and Sara McGraw “I wanted to know what the real story was, without ’05. Western alumni in the wedding the Hollywood spin on it,” he said. He began penning party were best man George letters to some of the nation’s most notorious criminals, and Oliver ’04 Amy Mathis including the man known as the “Son of Sam,” Winston- ’05, a bridesmaid. David is a Web developer for Offutt Systems and Salem’s “Dungeons and Dragons” murderer, and even Eric Sara works at Goodwill Industries as a Rudolph. Woodring said he found a connection between computer instructor. The couple lives many of the criminals. “There’s always a few out there in Greensboro. who are just wired wrong, but most of the people I talked to had rough childhoods,” he said. 2004 Former feature writer and “Top 10 Woodring compiled his correspondences into a self- Busted!” columnist for the Western published book titled “The Convict Speaks,” released last Carolinian NewsMagazine, Emily year. In the book, Woodring prefaces each set of letters Weaver recently was named staff with a description of the crimes that person committed. 2001 writer for the Kings Mountain Herald. Last Christmas, Mary Anna Hicks She is covering all aspects of news, He includes an unedited transcript of his correspondenc- Meek (pictured above) received a including city and county government, es with the inmates and, in some cases, actual photocop- special present, one she had worked education and community, and people ies of the letters themselves. diligently to receive. In October, she features. Most recently she worked The main lesson Woodring learned, he said, is took the two-day test for the National as a communications and marketing summed up in the final chapter. “I have gotten to know Council Interior Design Qualification, assistant for DesignLab Inc. in a prestigious exam in the design Greenville, S.C. some of the nation’s worst people, (and) there have been field that measures the competency few that I would want to have a second chance in society. of interior designers to practice as 2005 However, I found one or two that I truly think would professionals. On Christmas Day, she With 17 years experience in the learn from what they have done to become a learned that she passed. Now a full firefighting field,Wes Lail recently good citizen.” professional member of the American was sworn in as fire chief of Morehead Society of Interior Designers, she City. Prior to taking the job he was fire works at Toni Burnett Interiors Inc. in chief of the cities of Lewisville and King. Reprinted in edited form with permission of The Sylva Herald. Myrtle Beach, S.C. “I could not have He and wife Lynn have two college- done it without the wonderful interior age sons, Derrick and Cory. design professors that prepared

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Weddings William R. “Bill” Stallings Jonathan Heath Huggins ’61, June 15; Greenville. Share Your News! ’04 and Kelli Amanda Harris, May 13; Shelby. Darryl Donavan Thames Do you enjoy reading about friends and classmates ’00, March 4; Asheville. in Class Notes? Edward Lamar Surrett ’90 ’91 MBA ’93 and Charles L. Trull ’66, August Why not return the favor and share news about Cindy Michelle Thrower, 27; Canton. your recent happenings? April 22; Advance. University Deaths Are you newly married? Alumni Deaths Teena Little, member, Did you just land a new job or receive Melba Nanney Buckner WCU board of trustees, an award? ’41. March 2; Asheville. May 23; Southern Pines. We want to know about it. Jarrett Foster ’95 MAEd Correction ’97, student-athlete and former An article in the spring edition WCU assistant track and field of Western Carolina University coach, July 8; Clemson. Magazine incorrectly stated that Drop us a line at: sophomore golfer Matt Cook, The Magazine of Western Carolina University Keith LeClair ’89, Hall of who was named 2006 Southern Suite 440, H.F. Robinson Building, Cullowhee, N.C. 28723 Fame baseball player and Conference Men’s Golfer of the coach, July 17; Greenville. Year, was the first Catamount in or visit the Alumni Association Web site team history to earn that honor. http://alumni.wcu.edu/ Clair K. Olson ’47, In actuality, Charles Bruce past president, Alumni Kullman ’91 attained that ac- Association, June 19; complishment in 1991. Thanks to Hendersonville. reader David E. Duckworth HAVE YOU MOVED? ’91, also a member of the golf Have you moved within the last three to six months? Please let Carroll P. Rogers III ’64, team that year, for bringing the May 25; Hartford, Conn. us know so that we can update our mailing records and keep you oversight to our attention. up-to-date on what’s happening at Western Carolina University. William Raymond Siniard Send address corrections to the Office of Alumni Affairs, Suite 440, ’90, March 4; Brevard. H.F. Robinson Administration Building, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, N.C. 28723, or via e-mail: [email protected].

38 The Magazine of Western Carolina University FALL 2006 eventsCalendar

August October Thursday, August 31 Thursday, October 5 Football—vs. Chowan. 7 p.m. E.J. Whitmire Stadium/ Lectures, Concerts and Exhibitions Series -- The New York Lyric Bob Waters Field. (828) 227-7338 Chamber Players, 7:30 p.m., Recital Hall, Coulter Building. (828) 227-7206

September Saturday, October 14 Saturday, September 16 Football—vs. Chattanooga. Homecoming. 3:30 p.m. Football—vs. Eastern Kentucky. Hall of Fame Weekend. 6 p.m. E.J. Whitmire Stadium/Bob Waters Field. (828) 227-7338 E.J. Whitmire Stadium/Bob Waters Field. (828) 227-7338 Monday, October 16 Sunday, September 17 Legends on Stage—“Man of Legends on Stage—“Let’s Put On a Show!” Mickey and Jan Rooney. Constant Sorrow: The Story 3 p.m. Fine and Performing Arts Center. (828) 227-2479 of Ralph and Carter Stanley.” 3 p.m. Fine and Performing Monday, September 18 Arts Center. (828) 227-2479 Chancellor’s Distinguished Speaker Series— Gen. Richard B. Myers, former chair, Joint SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21 Chiefs of Staff: “World War ‘X’—What’s at Tournament of Champions Stake in the Global War on Terror?” —Elite high school marching 7 p.m.Fine and Performing Arts Center. band competition with WCU Marching Band performances. Preliminary Tickets available Aug. 21. competition 8:45 a.m. Finals 7 p.m. E. J. Whitmire Stadium/Bob Waters (828) 227-2479 Field. (828) 227-2259

Saturday, September 23 Concert—Roy Clark and the opening of the Joe and Cynthia Kimmel Collection in the Fine Art Museum. 7:30 p.m. Fine and Performing Arts Center. (828) 227-2479

Wednesday, September 27–Sunday, October 1 Theatre—The University Players present “Brighton Beach Memoirs” by Neil Simon. Wednesday–Saturday, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday matinee, 3 p.m. Hoey Auditorium. (828) 227-2479

Friday, September 29 November Wednesday, November 8–Sunday, November 12 Pre–Mountain Heritage festival concert—Rhonda Vincent and the Rage. 7:30 p.m. Ramsey Regional Activity Center. Theatre—The University Players present “Children of a Lesser God” by (828) 227-7722 or toll-free (866) 928-3378 Mark Medoff. Wednesday–Saturday, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday matinee, 3 p.m. Hoey Auditorium. (828) 227-2479 Saturday, September 30 Saturday, November 11 Mountain Heritage Day— Football—vs. Appalachian State. Purple 32nd annual celebration Pride Day/Catamount Club Day. 2 p.m. of mountain life. E.J. Whitmire Stadium/Bob Waters (828) 227-3193 Field. (828) 227-7338

Football—vs. Georgia Sunday, November 19 Southern. Family Weekend. Legends on Stage—“The Atlanta 6 p.m. E.J. Whitmire Ballet Presents…” 3 p.m. Fine and Stadium/Bob Waters Field. Performing Arts Center. (828) 227-7338 (828) 227-2479 is a campus University ofan Equal and Opportunity University the North Carolina system Carolina 06-143 Western of printed $0.32 each. $19,591.00, or a cost Institution. August at of Publications public document this were 2006, 60,000 copies

FALL 2006 The Magazine of Western Carolina University 39 The 340-piece Pride of the Mountains Marching Band takes the field for its 65th consecutive season this fall to “Get This Party Started.” The show features music from artists such as 50 Cent, Black Eyed Peas and Madonna. The band also debuts a new fanfare and a recently composed fight song called “Catamount Thunder.”

WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY NONPROFIT CULLOWHEE, NC 28723 ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID PPCO