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Contents Established in 1902 as The Graduate Magazine
Solempne 22 The Professor’s Tale: Remembering the “special dignity” of Carroll Edwards.
BY ROBERT DAY
Aftershock 26 Trapped in rubble when a January earthquake devastated Haiti, Ann Varghese found new passion for her work on the impoverished country’s health care challenges.
News Judgment BY WHITNEY ERIKSEN 30 These are tough times for journalism, as papers and other traditional news outlets struggle to cope with massive changes brought on by the digital revolution. Learn how KU’s J-school is preparing students for journalism’s big rewrite.
BY JULIE METTENBURG
Cover illustration from a photograph by Steve Puppe
26
Volume 108, No. 5, 2010
September 2010
Publisher Kevin J. Corbett, c’88 Editor Jennifer Jackson Sanner, j’81 Creative Director Susan Younger, f’91 38 Associate Editors Chris Lazzarino, j’86 Steven Hill Staff Writer Terry Rombeck Editorial Assistants Karen Goodell Photographer Steve Puppe, j’98 Graphic Designer Valerie Spicher, j’94 5 FIRST WORD Advertising Sales Representative The editor’s turn Whitney Eriksen, c’08, j’08 Editorial and Advertising Office 6 ON THE BOULEVARD KU Alumni Association KU & Alumni Association events 1266 Oread Ave. Lawrence, KS 66045-3169 JAYHAWK WALK 785-864-4760 • 800-584-2957 8 Students (and parents) get oriented, Chi-O www.kualumni.org [email protected] fountain wins art award, and more 10 HILLTOPICS News and notes: University targets retention and KANSAS ALUMNI MAGAZINE (ISSN 0745-3345) is published graduation rates for improvement. by the KU Alumni Association six times a year in January, March, May, July, September and November. $55 annual subscription includes membership in the Alumni Association. Office of 16 SPORTS Publication: 1266 Oread Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045-3169. Football kicks off the Gill era. Periodicals postage paid at Lawrence, KS. ASSOCIATION NEWS POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Kansas Alumni 38 Magazine, 1266 Oread Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045- Hilltop Honors recognizes Jayhawk stalwarts; 3169 © 2010 by Kansas Alumni Magazine. Non-member programs staff gathers accolades. issue price: $7 44 CLASS NOTES Profiles of a celebrity haberdasher, a spiritual life coach, a super TV producer and more Your opinion 60 IN MEMORY counts! Deaths in the KU family welcomes letters to 64 ROCK CHALK REVIEW the editor. Our address is Kansas Alumni Final curtain falls on E.A.T.; books chronicle magazine, 1266 Oread Avenue, Lawrence, journalist Doris Fleeson and Kansas attractions. KS 66045-3169. E-mail responses may be sent to the Alumni Association, GLORIOUS TO VIEW [email protected]. Letters appear- 68 ing in the magazine may be edited for Scene on campus space and clarity. For every letter pub- lished, we’ll send a free gift of the KU Magnet Game, a $15 value.
3 2010 Jayhawk Generations is online! The 2010 edition of Jayhawk Generations is now online. Thank you to the KU families who participated in the latest chapter of this longstanding KU Alumni Association tradition. This “green” file can be downloaded and printed or just viewed on your screen. We encourage you to make the leap from crimson and blue to green. You can find Jayhawk Generations at www.kualumni.org/jayhawkgenerations BY JENNIFER JACKSON SANNER First Word
We corralled them after dinner—and not a single one scowled.
STEVE PUPPE Chancellors Archie Dykes and Del Shankel presided over KU during my years in the journalism school, when stu- dents typed on typewriters and used melted wax, XACTO knives and Rubylith to paste up pages before sending them to the printer. Today’s students in Stauffer-Flint Hall and journalism’s second campus home, the Dole Center, use vastly different tools to publish in the Internet age. In our cover story, Julie Mettenburg, j’91, explores the many ways in which the William Allen White School of Journal- ism and Mass Communications has responded to a transformed industry. In the Sept. 3 University Daily Kansan, Editor-in-Chief Alex Garrison explained the challenges: “We are no I Five chancellors represented nearly 40 years of KU history at the Sept. 10 Hilltop Honors longer the student newspaper of the Uni- celebration: Chancellors Archie Dykes (1973-’80), Del Shankel (1980-’81 and 1994-’95), versity of Kansas; we are now the student Bernadette Gray-Little, Gene Budig (1981-’94) and Bob Hemenway (1995-2009). media of the University of Kansas,” she wrote. “We are print, we are television, we are online, we are social media, we are radio.” She closed her column by inviting y grandma adored her Kodak tional slight of having his head cut out of her readers to contact her and “have the Instamatic almost as much the photos. courage to contribute to the new and as she craved gravy. In her Now I’m doing penance for all the scary—that’s what we’ll be busy with.” gargantuan purse (“pocket- times I crossed my arms and glared at Changes in the journalism curriculum Mbook” in her Texas parlance), she always Grandma. My job is to document KU help students cope with the new and carried her plastic camera and the family gatherings. In the quest for pho- scary—and compete successfully in a flashcubes that fastened on the top like tos, I shamelessly interrupt conversa- daunting marketplace, where some of Legos. She documented every family tions, intrude upon quiet interludes, and the jobs they will land haven’t yet been event, forcing us to line up for the obliga- intercept unsuspecting Jayhawks as they invented. As faculty members continue tory photos whether we were at home or arrive at events or attempt to make quick to refine course offerings, they are sur- out and about. Nary a bashful bone in getaways. All the while, I swear I can hear veying recent graduates, who have had a her pleasingly plump body, she routinely Grandma chuckling at my plight. chance to see how their college experi- asked restaurant servers or strangers on Photos that become keepers for the ence stacks up in the industry. the street to take our picture. Almost no KU annals are well worth the trouble. But the traditional standards that have one could say no to Grandma. Such was the case on Sept. 10, during built the KU J-school’s longheld promi- Those of us who acquiesced to the Association’s first Hilltop Honors cel- nence remain the core of journalism edu- Grandma usually wore scowls on our ebration—a tribute to recipients of the cation: thorough research, critical faces in the finished prints, although my Distinguished Service Citation and Fred thinking and clear writing. Even in a new husband’s expression often remained a Ellsworth Medallion (see page 38). era, the goal endures. Use vivid words mystery. As the tallest member of the Among the luminaries at the history- and images to tell truthful, memorable family, he suffered the repeated uninten- making event were five KU chancellors. stories. Create keepers.
5 On the Boulevard
9 Turtle Island Quartet 21 “Fiddler on the Roof” 22 Big Bad Voodoo Daddy TERRY ROMBECK (4) ROMBECK TERRY 27 “Spring Awakening” 29 KU Symphony Orchestra Halloween Concert 30 KU Symphony Orchestra at Stringworks Festival
5 Armitage Gone! Dance 7 Marching Jayhawks Concert 10 KU Wind Ensemble 12 Peter Goodchild’s “The Real Dr. Strangelove” 13 Interpreti Veneziani I Fierce Jayhawk competition isn’t limited to the basketball court or football field. The competitive 18-19 KU Symphony Orchestra spirit was alive and well Aug. 16 at the Alumni Association’s Ice Cream Social. More than 2,500 and University Dance Company students attended the event at the Adams Alumni Center, which featured games including a bungee run (above) and KU giveaways. Of course, there was plenty of ice cream (right, top) and appear- ances by Baby Jay (right, center) and the KU cheerleaders (right, bottom). The Ice Cream Social I Murphy Hall events was part of ’Hawk Week, which welcomes students back to campus each fall. I Exhibitions 20 Fall Tuba-EuphoniumFEST 11-14, 18-21 “A Midsummer “Grand Recital,” Swarthout “Talking Trees: Karen McCoy/Robert Night’s Dream,” written by William Recital Hall Carl,” Spencer Museum of Art at Shakespeare, directed by Paul Meier Marvin Grove, fall 2010 “Reviving the Past: Antiquity & I Lied Center events 2, 5, 8, 10 KU Opera, “Cosi Fan Antiquarianism in East Asian Art,” Tutte,” Robert Baustian Theatre Spencer Museum of Art, 10 Jack Winerock, piano, Swarthout through 2010 24 Collage Concert Recital Hall 28 KU Symphony Orchestra 20 I KU Brass Chamber Recital, University Theatre 30 Neil Berg’s “100 Years of Swarthout Recital Hall Broadway” 24 Collegium Musicum, Swarthout 7-12 “Lost in Yonkers,” written by Recital Hall Neil Simon, directed by Jack Wright 26 KU Choirs, Swarthout 2 Punch Brothers featuring 28-31, Nov. 2-3 “Lobby Hero,” Recital Hall Chris Thile written by Kenneth Lonergan, directed by Hun Choi 3 Adam Gyorgy 6 KU Wind Ensemble 4 KU Saxophone Quartets, 8 Bayanihan Philippine National Swarthout Recital Hall Folk Dance Company 9 KU Choirs, Swarthout Recital Hall
6 I Special events 14-15 KU Spirit reunion 4 Parsons 22-23 Class of 1985 25-year 6 Dodge City reunion 25 Family/Band Day 6 Gardner 22-23 KU Band Alumni Chapter Homecoming reunion weekend 25 Jayhawk Generations Breakfast, 12 Garden City Adams Alumni Center 22-23 KU Black Alumni 13 Arkansas City Chapter Homecoming reunion 13 Salina weekend 7 University Women’s Club, featuring 20 Garnett 22-23 KU School of Law Sacie Lambertson, Kansas Union 20 Overland Park reunion weekend 18-24 Homecoming Week 21 Hays 23 Game Day at the Adams 25 El Dorado Homecoming tailgate party, KU vs. Texas A&M 25 Emporia 1-27 Border Hunger Showdown, 30 Ames: KU vs. Iowa State 25 Overland online food drive to benefit Harvesters away-game tailgate Park 4 University Women’s Club, featuring Mary Beth Petr, Marilyn McCleary and Angela Oguna; Kansas Union 6 Game Day at the Adams 1 Manhattan tailgate party, KU vs. Colorado 3 Chapman 13 Lincoln: KU vs. Nebraska I Lectures 3 Liberal away-game tailgate 8 Wichita 20 Game Day at the Adams tail- 9 Osage City gate party, KU vs. Oklahoma State 18 The Muncy Journalism and 9 Topeka 21 Salina: History of the Jayhawk Politics Lecture with David Broder, Dole Institute of Politics 16 Kansas City 21 Hays: KU Chamber Choir performance and reception 19 Ross Douthat, Humanities Lecture 17 Independence Series, Kansas Union
I Alumni events 16 Joseph O’Neill, Humanities Lecture Series, Kansas Union 23 Winfield: South Kansas Chapter alumni dinner I Academic Calendar 24-25 KU Hispanic Alumni Chapter reunion . 25 Game Day at the Adams tailgate 14-17 Fall break party, KU vs. New Mexico State
Lied Center ...... 864-ARTS University Theatre tickets ...... 864-3982 I Kansas Honors 2 Wichita: Jayhawk Roundup Spencer Museum of Art ...... 864-4710 Program 2 Waco: KU vs. Baylor away-game Natural History Museum ...... 864-4540 tailgate Hall Center for Humanities ...... 864-4798 7 Joplin, Mo.: Tri-State Chapter Kansas Union ...... 864-4596 15 Wellington Hawktoberfest KU Info ...... 864-3506 20 Clearwater Adams Alumni Center ...... 864-4760 9 Kingman: South Central Kansas KU main number ...... 864-2700 22 Lawrence Chapter Hawktoberfest Athletics ...... 1-800-34-HAWKS 29 Hutchinson 11 Hutchinson: Prairie Dunes Booth Hall of Athletics ...... 864-7050 29 Leavenworth Jayhawk Invitational Dole Institute of Politics ...... 864-4900 29 McPherson
7 Jayhawk Walk
The front nine e’re not sure how Bostonians feel Wabout their megalopolis—which
CHARLIE PODREBARAC they proclaim “the Hub of the Universe,” being referred to as a “college town,” but it’s nice company for Lawrence, which in June joined Boston among MSNBC.com’s nine favorite U.S. college towns. MSNBC editors, citing such charms as manicured campus lawns, funky cafes and youthful energy—although not necessar- ily manicured funky youth—wrote that “college towns have a certain appeal even to those of us who haven’t cracked a textbook in years.” As for Lawrence, they lauded Old West Lawrence, dining and shopping on Massachusetts Street, galleries and museums, public art and Clinton Lake’s outdoor adventures. Also joining the party were Austin, Texas; Berkeley, Calif.; Athens, Ga.; Gainesville, Fla.; Princeton, N.J.; Madison, Wisc.; and ... hmm ... are we still speak- The kids will be just fine ing to Boulder, after our altitude-falutin former Big 12 compatriots dashed off to he summer edition of New Student Orientation has become as the Pac-10? Guess we can’t deny the Tmuch a ritual for first-time Jayhawks as driving the wrong way down mountains’ majesty. Tennessee and Kentucky streets. During June and July, freshmen and their parents enroll in two-day crash courses on KU that challenge—and ease—their minds. The curriculum includes subjects formidable (“Enroll and Pay”) as well as warm and fuzzy (“Holding On and Letting Go”). This year’s edition attracted more than 4,800 parents and students, who booked fall classes and social engagements: early September dinners for small groups at Mrs. E’s, the Daisy Hill dining spot, with their summer orientation assistant (KU’s version of cool camp counselors). Known as Rock Chalk Chow Downs, the events reunite new students with the upperclassmen who guided their summer tours down Jayhawk Boulevard, providing another dose of reassurance. The extra TLC surely appeals to parents, who are grateful for the orientation program. As one parent wrote, “I wanted to go back to school. Lucky kids.” But please don’t show up at Mrs. E’s for dinner. TERRY ROMBECK TERRY
8 Ice, ice baby plastic water bottles arrayed in arcs to mimick water jets, is installed in winter, he fifth—or was it the 50th?—consecu- and our photographs show the unique Ttive day of Mount Oread temperatures sculpture with light dancing off snow and soaring past 100 degrees caused us to find ice ... and yet again we give thanks for the particular glee in the news of an important power of art to transport the viewer to award for a Chi-O Fountain art display. another place and time. “Frozen Assets,” created last year by In this case, winter. Matthew Farley, f ’09, was named one of the 40 best public artworks in the country by the Public Art Year in Review project. A head for brew
lenty of college students discover a Pprofound interest in beer. Far fewer parlay that newfound hobby into a website pubs or Huckaba’s living room, with his STEVE PUPPE and—maybe, someday—a TV show. parents and girlfriend, a chef, pitching in Jameson Huckaba, ’11, is trying to do (and pitching back) to help out. But he just that. Huckaba founded beergeni.us, a hopes the part-time quaffing develops into blog devoted to video reviews of craft full-time work. He recently moved to beers and cooking Portland, Ore., a city that boasts 35 brew- segments that highlight pubs, and wants to transform beergeni.us beer as a complement to into the industry equivalent to Wine fine food. Spectator or even a Food Network show. “We’re teaching For now, though, he’s having “an “When [Farley] proposed and created people that beer goes absolute blast” sampling and sounding off this piece for the public art class I was with food as well as or on the huge variety of craft beers brewers teaching,” says Associate Professor John better than wine does,” send him for review. Hachmeister, “the conceptual power and Huckaba says. “That’s a relatively new “I’m trying to educate people about how visual appeal stood out from the start.” concept for the mainstream public.” fun beer can be,” enthuses Huckaba. The “frozen fountain,” with 1,000 empty Reviews have a homey feel, filmed in Tough job, but somebody’s gotta do it.
A river rushes through it toward the base of the rock climbing wall, with anything that comes our way.” where it crashed like white-water rapids. Even the Mississippi, via Mount erhaps hoping to wait out a wicked Chappell estimates damage at more Oread. Pstorm, Mary Chappell had yet to leave than $20,000, though she’s more inter- her office in the Ambler Student Recre- ested in counting blessings: The water hit ation Fitness Center the evening of June while students were on duty and close to 16 when suddenly the chaos outside was the regular arrival time for maintenance also inside: “The Mississippi River is rush- and janitorial crews, meaning all hands ing down the corridor!” shouted frantic were on deck. The center’s information student employees. technology systems were spared Chappell, director of recreation and damage to hallways, walls services, later learned the hatch on a and doors was kept to a steam-tunnel under repair near Sunnyside minimum, though the rock pit’s Avenue had not been sealed. The deluge cushioned flooring—meant to gushed down the Hill, through the tunnel only simulate the great out- and into the rec center’s basement doors—had to be replaced. hallways. “We were really saved,” Quick-thinking employees used 2,000 Chappell says. “And it gave us gym towels to fashion dams and levees to an opportunity to look at things direct the 21-inch-deep stream away closely and make sure we’re as from electrical and computer rooms and prepared as we can be to deal LARRY LEROY PEARSON LEROY LARRY
9 Hilltopics BY STEVEN HILL
demically,” Haufler says, noting that in the current system it can be hard to help EARL RICHARDSON struggling students until it’s too late. “The first exam comes a month into I the semester, and by then you have already lost that win- dow of opportunity.” Better rates for retention and gradu- ation are among goals the chancellor outlined as top ini- tiatives when she moved into Strong Hall last summer. Now the Retention and Graduation Task Force has come up with steps the University can take. Task force recommends ways Recommendation No. 1 calls for a fundamen- tal change in culture at KU. to improve retention, graduation rates “The current culture says that since we have an open-door policy toward students from Kansas,” n August 2009 more than 5,400 freshmen Haufler says, “one of the things we’re supposed started college on Mount Oread, but this fall to do is figure out who belongs here and who fewer than 4,400 of them can be expected should be shown that they’re not capable of meet- to return. ing the challenges of the University.” ICall it KU’s sophomore slump: 20 percent of Rather than weeding students out, first-year students leave the University after their first year. courses should concentrate on helping students The resulting 80-percent retention rate is below make the difficult transition to college life. That average for public schools in the Association of means more oversight, more intervention, more American Universities (87 percent) and ranks one-on-one advice and counseling. near the bottom (tied for 10th) in the Big 12. “Instead of simply raising a wall they crash In fact, by the time you read this many of the into, we ought to be helping them find the doors 2010 freshmen destined to be one-and-dones through the wall—the doors that are unique to likely already know who they are. The first three each of them,” Haufler says. “What do they need? weeks on campus are when many students sink Why are they struggling?” or swim, says Christopher Haufler, chair of the To make that happen, the task force report task force appointed by Chancellor Bernadette calls for a “broad reconfiguration of the first-year Gray-Little to look into ways KU can improve its experience,” an overhaul of the University’s Gen- retention and graduation rates. eral Education requirements (which call for 30 “The first three weeks are critical, yet in the percent to 50 percent more credit hours than first three weeks usually nothing happens aca- comparable schools), and an increase in under-
10 graduate research and service learning opportuni- NNN ties. KU will also reduce credit hours required for graduation from 124 to 120 to match peer schools. In addition to these culture changes, the task force wants to see improvement in the systems Emergency medicine residency KU uses to advise, track and enroll students. Rec- arrives just in time ommendations include better enrollment man- agement technology to help students understand he University of Southern California course sequences and prerequisites, stronger sup- introduced the country’s first emergency port systems that identify those who are strug- medicine residency program in 1972, gling early on, targeted fellowships and other and more than a decade passed before means to help students facing financial problems, Tthe American Board of Medical Specialties recog- and more systematic tracking of student learning nized emergency medicine. By 2010, however, the to document progress toward a degree. field is not just merely recognized, but embraced, The goal is not only to keep students from and by the most promising future physicians. dropping out during freshman year, but also to At KU, which launched an emergency medi- raise the numbers who graduate while shrinking cine residency program this summer, about one the time it takes them to earn degrees. Nationally, quarter of the new doctors who left for residency 72 percent of students graduate within six years. programs elsewhere were from the top 10 percent At KU, 59.6 percent do. Of the 5,400 members of of their class. The only emergency medicine train- the Class of 2013 enrolled in 2009, about 3,200 ing available to them here had been an elective —Dennis Allin will earn degrees by 2015. rotation. Among KU’s peer institutions, a handful of “We have a medical school that understands schools of similar size with freshman classes of the importance of having students come here similar academic backgrounds, only one had a who are from Kansas lower six-year graduation rate than KU. Michigan and have an interest in State posted the best six-year rate (77.1 percent); serving Kansans,” says Big 12 compatriots Iowa State (67.4 percent) and Dennis Allin, m’83, chair Missouri (68.9 percent) had significantly higher of the department of graduation rates. KU MEDICAL CENTER emergency medicine. Haufler says first-year losses are putting KU in “But in the field of emer- a hole that’s hard to escape. gency medicine, even if “We’re not doing a lot of the things at the front students had that inten- end that other schools are doing,” he says. “Other tion we didn’t offer that schools are having first-year experiences and we opportunity. We would aren’t. Other schools are doing a better job Allin have anywhere from accessing students and helping them before they flunk out.” A redesigned first-year student experience, for example, might require all freshman to read and STEVE PUPPE discuss the same book, or it could redesign large survey courses into small-group seminars. A cam- puswide conversation involving faculty members, staff and students will generate specifics, Haufler says. What’s important is the conversation is beginning, led by Chancellor Little-Gray and by Provost and Executive Vice-Chancellor Jeff Vitter. “Often task force reports are written, put into a three-ring binder and put on the shelf,” Haufler says. “That’s not happening this time. Both the chancellor and provost are out there with the binders wide open, saying here’s the road map I Physician and lecturer Jonathan Wilcher with KU’s first class of emergency for the future.” medicine residents.
11 Hilltopics
seven to 12 students a year match in the specialty grams on the campus. of emergency medicine, all leaving the state to do “What we used to try to do in a one- or two- it, and in all likelihood they are going to practice month rotation was just get the students familiar in some proximity to where they train.” with the basics of evaluating patients who come KU’s emergency medicine residency program into the emergency department, how to decide on July 1 welcomed its first class of six. Eventu- who to admit and who to send home,” Allin says. ally the program will accept eight residents in “This program now will actually take students each of three classes, for a total enrollment of 24. who have graduated from medical school and Allin emphasizes that successful emergency- take them through 36 months of learning emer- care physicians must be nonjudgmental: “We do gency medicine, so that we can watch them a ton of bailing people out of some very bad deci- progress in knowledge and skill and graduate sions, so it doesn’t do any good to judge how with the capability of functioning independently Beaucoups books they ended up there. We just have to help where as emergency physicians.” we can.” —Chris Lazzarino 4,235,542—the total Emergency specialists must also be multi- number of cataloged taskers, excellent at triage and diagnosis, have the NNN items available to interpersonal skills to instantly interract with patients they’ve never met, and also cultivate patrons of KU expertise in such diverse specialties as neurology, libraries—ranks the surgery and pediatrics. University’s system 25th KU’s emergency-medicine residents will com- Fulbright grants fund travel and among the country’s plete required rotations in “rural medicine” at exchange for student scholars Lawrence Memorial Hospital. Allins says LMH public universities and has an excellent emergency department whose ight KU students will pack their bags 47th among all U.S. staff will help train the KU residents. And while for research and study trips abroad after libraries, according to LMH is respected for its emergency medicine, the winning Fulbright grants for 2010-’11 a recent report from hospital does not have every medical specialty, academic year. meaning emergency-room doctors must deter- EA list of their projects testifies to the scope of a the American Library mine which patients need to go to a larger hospi- major research university: grassland restoration in Association. Last year tal and also know how to stabilize and transport Mongolia, solid waste management in Mexico, KU Libraries logged 1.7 those patients. environmental enforcement in the Amazon. million visits, checked “That’s what rural medicine is all about,” Allin “It certainly speaks well to the caliber of says. “And another reason Lawrence works very research our graduate students do, but I find also out 256,242 items well for this is that our review committee also what floors me every year is how creative and and answered more pays attention to how far away we are sending innovative are the projects some undergraduates than 8,000 research them. They want us to keep the res- queries through its Ask idents close enough to home to come in for the core lecture series.”
a Librarian service. KU’s emergency medicine resi- STEVE PUPPE dency was years in the planning, but gained urgency with a recent report by the American College of Emergency Physicians, which issued a “D” grade to Kansas for its lack of emergency specialists. The report specifically decried the state’s rural trauma shortage, which has reached an “epidemic stage.” University of Kansas Hospital agreed to fund the residencies and invest in staffing and infrastructure. KU Medical Center will provide the specialized training, as it does for I all graduate medical education pro-
12 come up with,” says Hodgie Bricke, assistant vice provost in international programs. “These are incredible projects that would befit a graduate student. That speaks very well for undergraduate education here at KU.” Visitor But academics are only part of the reason the scholars receive funding. The U.S. Student Ful- American voices bright program, which is sponsored by the Department of State, encourages mutual under- standing between people of the United States and Heath other countries. Students are expected to fully Anthology engage in the day-to-day life of their host coun- tries, and it is often the daily round that delivers CHRIS LAZZARINO the program’s most lasting impact. “I think people come back changed,” says Bricke, PhD’72. “That happens in any study abroad, but this is a long stay—nine or 10 months—and the students are not with a group but living on their own, integrated with the place. They come back pretty much imbued with some of the idealism of the Fulbright program. WHEN: is “It touches people who participate in it. It WHERE: public diplomacy.” KU’s student Fulbright scholars are: Emelia Brooke, b’10, c’10, Lawrence master’s student in marketing, will attend the Instituto Tecnologico Autonomo de Mexico and intern BACKGROUND: with a restaurant company in Mexico City to study Mexican consumer values. Philip Fox, g’09, Lawrence doctoral student in history, will travel to Madrid to research civil Heath Anthology administration in Spain. Andrew Hilburn, Hattiesburg, Miss., doctoral student in geography, will conduct fieldwork in Mexico on municipal solid waste management and its effect on the environment. Kuo-Ray Mao, g’09, Lawrence doctoral student in sociology, will travel to Xi’an, China, to ANECDOTE: research migration, desertification and environ- —Paul Lauter mental degradation in northwestern China. Lisa Rausch, g’06, Lawrence doctoral student in geography, will study how municipal govern- ments promote economic development and com- QUOTES: pliance with environmental laws in the Amazon. Kristen Lea Reinert, c’04, j’04, g’10, Overland Park master’s student in German, will attend Heath Anthol- classes and assist with English-language instruc- ogy tion at the University of Luxembourg. Alina Scalora, c’10, will travel to China to research grassland restoration in Inner Mongolia. Baiba Zvaigznite Sedriks, c’95, Lawrence mas- ter’s student in curriculum and instruction, will —Chris Lazzarino serve as an English language consultant for uni- versity faculty in Quarzazate, Morocco.
13 Hilltops
Academic calendar tweaks shorten spring semester
The Kansas Board of Regents approved changes to the academic calendar that will extend winter break and shorten the academic year by four days. Beginning with the 2011-’12 school year, winter break will run five full weeks, with the spring semester always Chapin Levy Nalbandian starting the day after Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The change equalizes adjustment in their base salaries. codes and has testified before state leg- the number of class days for fall and Honorees for 2010 are: islative committees on issues including spring semester at 73. Rosemary Kennedy Chapin, professor flag burning, campaign finance and reor- Fall semester will always begin on a of social welfare, who directs the Office ganization of state boards. Monday, and fall break will shift from a of Aging and Long Term Care, which she John Nalbandian, professor of public Thursday-Friday to a Monday-Tuesday founded at KU to improve social service administration, who served on the schedule to balance class time lost to practice and policy for older adults. She Lawrence City Council from 1991 to Thanksgiving break. has been widely recognized for her social 1999 and was twice elected mayor. He A University panel that put together policy research and advocacy. has spoken to elected officials, profes- the plan considered but ultimately Richard Levy, c’78, g’80, the J.B. Smith sional staff and academics across the rejected a proposal to extend Thanksgiv- Distinguished Professor of Constitutional United States, Australia, Canada and the ing break into a full week by eliminating Law, who has played an active role in the United Kingdom about council-staff rela- Stop Day, the day off on Friday before review and revision of several state law tions and trends in local government. finals week. “Students felt very strongly about Stop Day, and instructors felt other issues were more important,” says John Strat- ton, business and economics librarian Class credit STEVE PUPPE and then-president of University Senate, which approved the change. “I think this is an adequate and reasonable compro- mise for all involved.” Steeples awards honor three for service to Kansas Faculty members in law, public administration and social welfare received the Steeples Service to Kansas Awards for their outstanding service to the state. Don Steeples, the Dean A. McGee Dis- tinguished Professor of Applied Geo- physics, and his wife, Tammy, g’00, established the award to honor Don’s parents and recognize KU faculty mem- bers’ service to Kansans. Recipients earn a $1,000 honorarium and a $1,000
14 Heart-care center expands Milestones, money and other matters to meet patient demand I A $17.9 MILLION GRANT Only four years after it opened, Uni-
JILL HUMMELS versity of Kansas Hospital’s Center for Advanced Heart Care is set to add three new patient-care floors. The $50 million project, approved by the Kansas Hospital Authority Board this summer, will add 123,000 square feet to the six-floor building, which was built in 2006 at a cost of $73 million. Construction will expand the existing I THE WALK BEGINS AT 10:30 sixth floor to add mechanical capacity and conference space. A new seventh floor will house a 32-bed telemetry unit. New eighth and ninth floors, shelled in for now in anticipation of future needs, could accommodate 32-bed and 24-bed units respectively. The expansion is a response to I A $2 MILLION, FOUR-YEAR GRANT increasing patient demand. In-patient volume at the hospital rose by 8 percent in fiscal 2010. “This plan allows us to accommodate the significant demand for inpatient serv- ices, but does so in a way that helps hold I A $100,000 GIFT down costs for the patients and for us,” STEVE PUPPE says Robert Honse, chair of the KU Hos- pital Authority Board. The Center for Advanced Heart Care also houses the Richard and Annette Bloch Heart Rhythm Center, established in 2005 with a $1 million gift from the Blochs. KU Hospital recently completed Nancy and Archie Dykes a fund drive that will match another I MADHAV GHANTA, $500,000 gift from Annette Bloch. The money will be used to purchase advanced technology, provide for patient education and patients in need, and for clinical research.
I UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS HOSPITAL KU HOSPITAL
I AN $8.9 MILLION U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION GRANT
15 Sports BY CHRIS LAZZARINO
got a start.” And, “We’ve got to keep the right perspective. It’s one game.
STEVE PUPPE You can turn your season around as you move forward.” His coaches and players mir- rored the boss. “We’re going to have some grow- ing pains,” said offensive coordina- tor Chuck Long. “We knew that going in, and the most important thing is to be consistent. Keep pushing through, keep working. I know that on the other side of this it’s going to be really good.” Fans wailed, venting their fury on Internet chat boards and radio shows. Where was the intensity? Where was the despair? I Jordan Webb (2) won Turns out the other side was the starting quarterback only a week away. After losing what job from game-one starter was quite possibly the worst game Kale Pick. If game two in the country in week one, the Jay- offers hints about coaches’ hawks turned right around and plans, Pick will still take stunned 15th-ranked Georgia Tech some snaps, depending on in a 28-25 thriller that might have been the best game in the country game situations. in week two. Gill’s reaction? “Like I said,” he began, with a bit of a satisfied grin, “it’s one game. ... Just one (really big) game We’re here to be successful over a long period of time. A year. Many KU upsets Georgia Tech for Gill’s first win, years. So one game doesn’t define rebounding one week after bad loss our program. Two games don’t define our program.” hortly after losing his first game as KU’s No, two games won’t define the young Jay- football coach—a shocking, 6-3 deflation hawks, who still have much to prove not only to versus North Dakota State—Turner Gill their fans but also to themselves. But in the wake faced reporters and TV cameras assem- of the humbling loss to North Dakota State, a bad Sbled in Mrkonic Auditorium and said, “It’s one showing against the heavily favored Yellow Jack- game. That’s how you’ve got to take it and move ets could have soured the season. on from there.” When Georgia Tech marched 51 yards in six Pressed for more, Gill wouldn’t budge. plays to score a touchdown on its opening drive, “It’s one game. It’s the first game, too. And it seemed a blowout might be in the works. But until you play a football game you don’t know the ’Hawks responded on the following drive, where you’re at as a football team. ... You’re really capped by a 15-yard touchdown pass from red- not going to get a sense of a fooball team until shirt freshman quarterback Jordan Webb to soph- you’ve played several games, but today we at least omore receiver Bradley McDougald, who was
16 wide open in the back of the end zone. True freshman running back James Sims was the featured performer on the next KU drive, rushing for 20 yards on three carries and immediately flashing —football coach Turner Gill signs of pure talent and high energy that, by the end of the game, had established NNN Sims (101 yards and a TD on 17 carries) “Intercollegiate athletics is an integral as a sudden KU star. Equally important part of the University of Kansas,” Gray- as Sims’ debut was the re-emergence of Perkins announces Little said, “and we will conduct a nation- junior tight end Tim Biere, a sure-handed wide search to find the best individual to go-to receiver who had lost two fumbles sudden retirement lead Kansas Athletics.” a week earlier. Chancellor promises to find Men’s basketball coach Bill Self said On the first play of the second quar- the next AD needs to be a high-energy ter, with the ’Hawks on the Tech 2-yard replacement by spring person who will “love this place as much line, Biere released from the line and, like as we love it and also be able to sell it McDougald, was wide open for an easy thletics Director Lew Perkins, and have a passion about it. I think there TD reception from Webb. who in June said he would would be a lot of people out there very Tech took the halftime lead, 17-14, retire in September 2011, interested in doing that.” with a 28-yard field goal. KU scored a instead announced his immedi- When Perkins arrived at KU from the touchdown with its opening drive of Aate retirement on Sept. 7. Perkins has so University of Connecticut, in 2003, KU’s the third quarter, and early in the fourth far commented only in a news release athletics budget was $27 million; it is widened its lead to 11 on a thrilling issued by the University, in which he now more than $55 million. TIME maga- 32-yard catch-and-run by junior expressed his appreciation for seven zine in 2008 named Perkins the top receiver Daymond Patterson, who years at KU and a desire, shared by his sports executive in the world, and he was darted and bounced past at least six wife, Gwen, to remain active Georgia Tech defenders on his way to in Lawrence while also the end zone. exploring “other professional
The Yellow Jackets countered with a opportunities.” JEFF JACOBSEN 40-yard touchdown pass with 7:48 Chancellor Bernadette remaining, followed by a two-point con- Gray-Little praised Perkins version that brought them to within for academics and athletics three, but KU held tight from there. successes, as well as facilities When Tech’s final, fourth-down pass by improvements and expan- All-ACC senior quarterback Joshua sions. Nesbitt soared past a streaking receiver “There is no question that and fell harmlessly onto the end zone, a Kansas Athletics has bene- most improbable victory had been fited from Lew Perkins’ lead- secured. Students rushed the field, play- ership,” Gray-Little said. “I ers beamed, and even Gill conceded that appreciate his service and it was “great for our players, great for our understand his decision.” alumni, great for our student body, great Gray-Little named Senior I for our fans.” Associate Athletics Director Sean Lester said he was “shocked” to hear of Perkins’ Just as quickly, his attention turned Sean Lester, 43, who came to retirement and his immediate promotion to interim athletics to the next challenge, a Friday night KU with Perkins in 2003, director. “I had no idea it would be today,” Lester said Sept. 7, game at Southern Mississippi. Though interim athletics director. “so I’m very surprised.” the outcome of the Sept. 17 game will Gray-Little has said she be known by the time Kansas Alumni intends to appoint a five- or six-person the only collegiate administrator reaches mailboxes, the week to come search committee, with a goal of included among the poll’s top 35. was still very much a mystery for Gill. announcing a hire by the “middle or The honor came in the midst of a ban- “They’ve shown me how they can latter part of the spring semester, if not ner year in the history of KU athletics. handle a loss,” the coach said. “Now sooner.” As Kansas Alumni went to press, The football team on Jan. 3, 2008, I need to know how they can handle committee members had not yet been capped its 12-1 season with an Orange a win.” announced. Bowl victory over Virginia Tech, and on
17 Sports
April 7 the men’s basketball team won a his salary through Sept. 4, 2011, which had not been scheduled to come due thrilling NCAA title game over Memphis. had been the date he’d most recently until June 30, Perkins received approxi- The giddiness of 2008 did not last. A announced for retirement. Before opting mately $2 million—paid by Kansas Athlet- seven-game losing streak to close the for a 2011 retirement, Perkins had been ics with no taxpayer or tuition 2009 football season—as well as an inves- under contract through June 2015. dollars—following his Sept. 7 tigation into allegations of mistreatment Including a retention payment that departure. of players—led Perkins to fire coach Mark Mangino, who only two years earlier had been named national Coach of the Year. Spurred by a federal investigation, the University last spring launched an inter- Updates nal investigation of the ticket office, even- tually concluding that six former employees had stolen up to $3 million in basketball and football tickets. The troubles seemed to especially inflame a vocal segment of fans and alumni who had never forgiven Perkins for installing a donations-based points system for tickets to men’s basketball Ray Bechard games in Allen Field House. “Lew’s done an awful lot for a lot of people around here,” Self said. “He came in at a time when some very unpopular decisions had to be made. He certainly Karina Garlington had the backbone and the guts to do a Tayler Tolefree Garlington lot of things that maybe a lot of people Caroline Jarmoc would have not had the backbone or guts to do, which have [since proven] to be very positive.” Had the ticket scandal not swamped Emily Cressy the athletics department, 2010 likely Mark Francis would have been remembered for Donny Wasinger Perkins’ significant role in helping the Big 12 survive defections of Nebraska, to the Big 10, and Colorado, to the Pac-12, and the Pac-12’s courting of most of the Amanda Miller Big 12 South schools. Rebeka Stowe “While there have been serious issues, (2) JEFF JACOBSEN it is important for people to keep a Allie Marquis healthy perspective,” said Gary Sherrer, Kyra Kilwein chairman of the Kansas Board of Bob Timmons Regents. “The history of KU, both aca- Tessa Turcotte demically and in athletics, is a proud one and it will continue to be so in the Al Kelley future.” Said Alumni Association Kevin Cor- bett, c’88, “There is little question that Lew brought back the ‘KU swagger’ he promised when he was hired. He was a Justin Springer tremendous partner with the KU Alumni Association on every level.” Under terms of his retirement agree- Wasinger ment, Perkins, 65, received payment for
18
PHOTOGRAPHS BY STEVE PUPPE
I After Turner Gill rallied his Jayhawks on a glorious September morning in Memorial Stadium, they upset Georgia Tech for his first KU win. Highlights (above, l to r) included Angus Quigley diving for the end zone, Daymond Patterson breaking free for a 32-yard TD, and Drew Dudley recovering a fumble caused by sensational freshman safety Keeston Terry (not pictured), son of former KU standout Doug Terry, ’93. Recognized on the field between the first and second quar- ters were Hilltop Honors VIPs (see p. 38) Gretchen Budig and Monte Johnson (second and third from left) and Anderson Chandler and Ben Hall (first and second from right), escorted by Association president Kevin Corbett, Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little and Association chair Jay Howard.
21 22 | Kansas alumni obert Day’s “Parts of Their book, The Committee to Save the World, he Night,” an elegy for Professor Ed shaped the lives of thousands of KU stu- Ruhe, appeared in Kansas dents across the decades. “They did so,” Alumni in September 2009. The Day writes, “because those of us who Ressay was written for a Gedenkschrift: enrolled in their courses saw in them a The German term describes a volume of commitment to a life of the mind that tributes honoring a respected academic was theirs with pleasure and grace. that’s presented posthumously. (The term They were superb scholars and writers for such a work presented during a pro- and teachers because they had discovered fessor’s life is“Festschrift”—literally, in their studies of literature what “celebration publication.”) Vladimir Nabokov called ‘aesthetic bliss’: After Carroll Edwards’ death, in 2009 of craft, of language, of character, of plot, at the age of 99, Day’s classmate and of design—plus the delight and instruc- longtime friend Fred Whitehead, c’65, tion by the literary cultures of previous began organizing a Gedenkschrift to centuries—and it was not possible for honor the professor emeritus’ remarkable them to keep their affections for what career as a teacher and scholar of modern they had learned to themselves. They drama, Shakespeare and Chaucer. had to tell someone. So they told us, their “Solempne” is Day’s contribution. students.” Edwards joined the faculty in 1947 Day, like many of his fellow Jayhawks, and retired in 1985. Like Ruhe, and like has been passing the word on ever since. Edgar Wolfe, c’28, g’50, whose Festschrift Now he passes it to you. tribute appears in Day’s most recent —The Editors
issue 5, 2010 | 23 bove all Carroll Edwards liked language and stories, which meant that he was an especially gifted professor of Chaucer. “Think of words in The Canterbury Tales that you like better than the words we use today,” he’d say to his students. AThis was usually followed by more than a moment of silence in the classroom. “Can’t think of any? How about drugge? Or miswent. Or rewde.” More silence. “Still none of your own?
“Well,” he would say, “then as you read Our the edge of a Kansas wheat field, and King Arthur Chaucer”—Chaucer was always “Our Chaucer” to decided to behead you for your transgression. But Professor Edwards, as if the great English poet Guinevere took a liking to our Knight and sug- were writing away in the back of John Fowler’s gested to Arthur that he send you on a mission to Abington Book Shop or at a table in the Gaslight find out what women most desire. King Arthur Tavern next door, or perhaps at the Jayhawk Café thought that he might like to know that himself down the street—“as you read Our Chaucer find and so a deal was cut: If you found the answer to for yourself his words that you like better than what women most desire, your life would be your words. Rewde instead of ignorant. Drugge for spared. If not, not. In any case, you were honor labor. Keep a list. I have mine.” And here Professor bound to return to face your fate. You had a year Edwards would tap his head and then note that and a day.” as a boy in Colorado he had been a catcher for a And here Professor Edwards would pause and local baseball team, but because his family was look around the room as if to say, Should anyone too poor to buy him a glove he caught fastball know the answer to what it is women most desire pitchers barehanded: “Hond” he would say, hold- we can stop the story here and now. In the class I ing up his ungloved hand. “And isn’t miswent just attended, no one said a thing. the right word for what it means?” “So off you went the world over and heard The first word I chose was Aprille because I many ideas about what women most desire (flat- had in those days a girlfriend named April who tery, diamonds as big as the Ritz, Mercedes con- from then on—and much to her amusement— vertibles) but none of the answers seem right, and became Aprille. You stress the rille. It was later so it was with your ‘wagon dragging’ [we thought that I learned solempne meant “special dignity.” this might be an expression from Professor As to the stories from “Our Chaucer,” Professor Edwards’ youth in rural Colorado] you started Edward’s favorite was probably “The Wife of back to have your head lopped off.” Bath’s Tale,” which he would narrate in class, Again a pause. All the men—now absorbed into complete with a moral of his own for a coda. If the tale—were deeply curious. As were the women, the literary students in those days got wind of the some of them no doubt dating the men who were telling, they would crowd into Edwards’ class- about to either get the answer right or lose their room and stand along the sides or sit in the win- heads. dow ledges in back (there were never any empty “As fate would have it, on the day before our seats in Carroll Edwards’ courses) to hear it. Knight is to return, he passes a Witch of a Hag in After everyone settled down, and after Profes- the woods stirring her pot. She sees him and won- sor Edwards closed his Chaucer book and put his ders why he is so gloomy. He tells her his tale— elbows on the table and—via some medieval form that tomorrow he will lose his life because he has of magical realism—began to acquire the physiog- not discovered what women most desire. The Hag nomy of Our Chaucer, he would commence his says she will tell him the answer if he will marry version of the story complete with personal her; you agree, and another deal is cut. She is very embellishments along the way—as well as nods to ugly and very old. We must remember this. Very the men in attendance. By my memory it went ugly.” like this: Again a pause. Silence. “A young Knight of the round table—not unlike “At court the next day Guinevere asks the some of you handsome fraternity boys in this Knight what it is that women most desire, and he class—was a bit too rapacious with a woman on cocks his ear toward the wizen Hag and she tells
24 him something at which he smiles, and “Now it is evening and the Knight and to be.’ And with that the Hag turns her- he in turn says, ‘It is sovereignty that the Hag are in bed and he’s sleeping on self into a beautiful and eternally young women most desire.’ Guinevere smiles. his stomach, not wanting to be bothered. woman who will remain forever faithful.” Arthur smiles. The Knight smiles. The However, the Hag pokes him and wants Silence. Somehow we sense Professor Hag smiles broadly.” to know the problem, because she is Edwards is not finished even though Our And here Professor Edwards would ready for a night of carnal pleasure, and Chaucer is. Then: look around the room to see if any of us the Knight says, ‘Well, you’re old and “The moral is that such women exist are smiling. I don’t know what he saw, ugly and being in bed with you—much only by magic.” but before he continued, Professor less married to you—is not what I had in Edwards smiled. Broadly. mind for a night of carnal pleasure.’” NNN “Well, a great celebration is about to —OK, she says, how about we cut a begin because the Knight’s life will be deal? hen Fred Whitehead told spared, but the old Hag says, ‘Wait a —What kind of deal? me Carroll Edwards had moment! That young fraternity man you —I will change myself into a beautiful died I said I’d fly back for sent on the quest to find out what young woman with firm breasts and long the parade. women most desire promised he’d marry legs, but as such I might be unfaithful to W—What parade? Fred said. me if I got the answer right.’ Guinevere you. Or I can stay as I am, and always be —Won’t there be a parade in his wants to know if this is true, and the true. honor? Literary students and English Knight confesses it is, but protests that —How can you change yourself into a department faculty dressed up as charac- the Hag is … well, a hag and very old and beautiful young woman? asks the Knight. ters of The Canterbury Tales: The Miller. ugly. Very ugly. The protest is overruled —By magic, says the Witch of a Hag of The Knight. The Merchant. The Par- and the marriage takes place, and you a Wife. doner. The Wife of Bath. I can see it now. and your Witch of a Hag of a Wife head “After a moment it occurs to our We’ll assemble at the Chi Omega foun- back to her pad for your wedding night.” Knight that he has learned something at tain: The Cook with his open sore. There is a long silence in the class- court earlier that day, and so he says to Aprille as Alisoun. The Chaucer Professor room while we contemplate this. his wife: ‘You may be whatever you want will be the Narrator and read from the “Prologue” as we march through campus making stops along the way. Snow Hall. Strong Hall. Green Hall. The Gaslight Tavern. The Abington Book Shop. At each stop one of the characters will read a passage from his or her tale until we assemble at the Rock Chalk Café as if it were the Cathedral at Canterbury. Then we’ll recite our words: Queme, Digne, Auctour, Solempne. And more. All in honor of Carroll Edwards. I want to be Nicholas. Who do you want to be? Fred is silent. Finally. —Bob, the Gaslight Tavern and the Abington Book Shop are now parking lots; the Rock Chalk Cathedral is a con- dominium/hotel. And such parades exist only by magic. —Day, c’64, g’66, lives on the Eastern Shore of Marylandandin western Kansas. He is the author of several books of fiction, including The Last Cattle Drive. “Solempne” is part of the chapbook Make Their Presence Known Wherever You Go: Tributes to Carroll Edwards, Edward SPENCER RESEARCH LIBRARY Ruhe, Edgar Wolfe by Robert Day and I Woodcut from The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer, now newly imprinted, William Morris edition, 1896. Fred Whitehead, Chester River Press. Designed by Sir Edward Burne-Jones and engraved on wood by W.H. Hooper.
25 n a sunny late-June morning, uniformed children make their way to school. In their village of Jacmel, Haiti, they Opass fallen buildings and step carefully over rubble. Some awoke in tents that morning. Five months after a 7.0-magni- tude earthquake shook the town, this has become part of the students’ daily Aftershock routine. The disaster changed things, but they have learned that life, including In the wake of a harrowing escape, school, must go on. That afternoon, the same students alumna continues aid work rejoice when their language lessons are interrupted. Ann Varghese hands out with new resolve hygiene kits with her colleagues from IMA World Health. She smiles at the joy- ful faces examining new bars of soap, by Whitney Eriksen toothbrushes and combs. “The school was just having their nor- mal school day and we came in and caused a bit of a ruckus,” Varghese says. “But it was good.”
26 After earning her KU bachelor’s United Methodist Committee on Relief. and were crying out in pain. Varghese, degree, Varghese, c’01, joined the Peace They had adjourned the day’s meetings Santos and the Rev. Jim Gulley, also of Corps and began her career in global at the Hotel Montana, the premier resort the Methodist Church, evaluated the air- health and development. Now based out- in Port-au-Prince. Twice a year, represen- flow as aftershocks trembled. Varghese side Baltimore, she oversees drug admin- tatives from IMA meet with partner and these men would share their tiny cell istration to prevent and control two organizations to discuss its Haitian dis- for more than 55 hours. neglected tropical diseases and improve ease prevention program. Every other Wearing the business dress she had health care in Haiti. IMA, a non-profit meeting is held in the United States. worn for meetings, Varghese remained in organization that focuses on long-term At 4:53 p.m., Varghese started to ask a sleepless crouch as the hours passed. health system strengthening in impover- the front desk clerk for directions when At one point she heard helicopters over- ished countries, has worked in the coun- the shaking interrupted her. “I turned to head; at another, Haitian voices. Each try for more than a decade. face the rest of our group and it hap- missed opportunity for salvation only This is the second trip Varghese has pened in seconds,” she says. “Everything decreased the hope for it. Two long made to Haiti this year. The first, in Janu- just came down.” nights passed without food, water or ary, involved a ruckus, completely out of Five floors collapsed and the group sleep. her control, that would further was thrown to the floor and left in com- Around 7 on Thursday night, just as strengthen her compassion and relation- plete darkness, inhaling cement dust. As Varghese began to lose hope of ever ship with the country and its people. they began to call out to each other, being rescued, Chand heard voices again. She is one of the survivors, and her Varghese was relieved to hear Santos, Thinking they were other hotel guests, work must go on. who was close enough to grab her arm, she called out: “Are you hurt? Do you and Chand, who was separated from her need help?” They answered her, “No, NNN co-workers but unharmed. we’re here to help you.” When she gained her bearings, Vargh- French firefighters spent the next five n Tuesday, Jan. 12, Ann Vargh- ese illuminated the space with her cell hours digging through rubble and ese discussed dinner plans phone screen. Santos later estimated that pulling out the weary survivors. At one with Rick Santos, the presi- the area was 5 feet by 8 feet, with a 3-foot point, a French medic came into the tiny dent and C.E.O. of IMA; Sarla ceiling held up by the front desk. The space to treat the wounded clergy. “The OChand, the vice president of interna- Rev. Sam Dixon and the Rev. Clint Rabb team was absolutely amazing,” says tional programs; and three men from the had been pinned under blocks of cement Varghese, who translated as they worked. PHOTOS: p. 22, ADAM BUHLER; p. 23, CHRIS GLASS (2) 23, p. BUHLER; ADAM 22, p. PHOTOS:
I Hygiene kits supply Jacmel students with basic necessities and a reason to smile. A fellow survivor of the January earthquake, Ann Varghese (left) manages the IMA World Health medical program in Haiti and works to expand the organization’s reach to the countless people living amid the rubble.
27 “The medic came in and assessed what The group rode to the American some of us made it and some of us didn’t. was going on with no fear for himself.” Embassy and witnessed more of Port-au- It’s unbelievable still.” Once Santos and Gulley were out, Prince and its residents sleeping in open Varghese laid on her back and eased air. When they reached the building NNN through the narrow opening the rescue where they had held meetings three days team had created. On the other side, she earlier, American and Haitian citizens arghese now spends the major- found the space where Chand had spent with suitcases stood ready to evacuate ity of her time on the Haiti her captivity and another tight door, the country. Varghese and her col- health program. Local opera- before finally encountering fresh air and leagues, still covered in cement dust, tions and the medical procure- the night sky. were told they would board the first mentV system halted until mid-February, Lying on a stretcher, Varghese was flight out in the morning. and Varghese worked tirelessly from her surprised how long it took to cross the After a few quiet, sleepless hours, Baltimore office to re-establish the staff in rubble. “They carried me for another two Varghese received a clean change of Haiti and provide needed supplies. or three minutes over all this debris, and clothes, pulled from a sympathetic trav- “It has been wonderful because I feel I realized how far they had to dig in to eler’s suitcase, and prepared to re-enter very strongly and closely connected to the get to us,” she says. “I lifted my head to the real world, which included a surreal situation,” she says, “but it also has been look at the hotel, and it was completely request from ABC’s Diane Sawyer for an very difficult at times. Walking away from destroyed.” interview. a crisis, most people don’t have to contin- Even more disorienting were the “I think we were the first Americans ually revisit it. But I’m talking about the media and medical personnel lining the pulled out of a destroyed building,” says earthquake every day.” street. After receiving an IV to treat dehy- Varghese, who declined Sawyer’s offer On June 13, Varghese and Santos dration, Varghese quickly found her but watched her co-workers film a seg- landed in Haiti again to officially re-launch uninjured friends in a makeshift waiting ment for “Good Morning America.” the program. They delivered medication area that had been set up during the They boarded a military cargo plane, and hygiene kits, and Varghese traveled days she had lived underground. Then, a unsure of their destination until they north to evaluate a potential new interven- blessing: a satellite phone. reached Homestead Air Reserve Base out- tion site. Each medicine box IMA sends “The only number I could remember side of Miami. Miraculously, Varghese, contains enough supplies to treat 1,000 was my sister’s house phone,” says Santos and Chand had their passports people for two months. Varghese, whose family lives in Wichita. and were able to proceed quickly. They “Some people are in really bad situa- “The call was only about 20 seconds returned to Baltimore that night on their tions right now, exposed to all the ele- long, and I don’t quite remember originally scheduled flight from Miami ments and health issues,” she says. “It’s what was said, but she was crying and International Airport. really important that the work continue.” I was crying.” At the terminal gate with Chand, Returning six months later, she was Varghese was finally able to relax and struck by how much destruction comprehend the scope of the disaster remained. In visits to Port-au-Prince and she survived. “We were watching CNN Jacmel, the team witnessed scenes similar and were both kind of numb,” she says. to what they had left in January.
CHRIS LAZZARINO “I had tears rolling down my eyes, and Varghese and Santos returned to the suddenly they showed footage of Sarla site of the Hotel Montana to find it barri- being pulled out. I think that’s when it caded to the public. really hit me what had happened.” “I realized that it is going to take When the three travelers landed in so many years to rebuild, and even to Baltimore, IMA co-workers, family, start the work in some of those places,” friends and media were there to greet she says. them. Varghese hugged her loved ones Fortunately IMA and other organiza- and escaped to avoid interviews. All she tions are able to sustain programs already wanted was a shower and a good night’s in place to help the people of Haiti as they sleep. attempt to regain normalcy. Working In the days following her return, alongside the Ministry of Health and the Varghese received news that her Ministry of Education, IMA benefits from wounded colleagues from the Methodist greater reach and also supports the insti- Church had not survived. “That was a tutions as the government recovers. whole separate thing to deal with,” she Countless non-governmental organiza- Varghese says. “The people who were with us, tions remain stationed in Haiti to assist
28 ‘Miracle machine’ makes life-saving water from thin air
hile Scott Morris and his Aqua Sciences water machine were stationed at Port-au-Prince’s University
WHospital, every waking minute was MORRIS SCOTT COURTESY PHOTO reduced to its simplest elements: Make water. Bag water. Deliver water. can Republic supply depot, the miracles I Its life-saving output delivered in Mylar bags “I had seen destruction before,” says seemingly began as soon as Morris and by Scott Morris, the Aqua Sciences water har- Morris, j’93, who from 2005 to 2008 the water rig made it ashore in Port-au- vester proved its worth in the most desperate oversaw $14 billion in aid distribution Prince harbor. Morris quickly found a conditions possible. “Before we got there, the for 13 disaster declarations as director of truck to deliver the 40-foot container to outcome for those people was only one thing,” FEMA’s Florida operations. “What I had University Hospital, as well as 100 gal- Morris says. “They weren’t going to make it.” not seen was the death, the extent of lons of diesel fuel, and within hours he injuries. Seeing what we could do in that was toting bags of precious water. The Aqua Sciences machine manufac- type of a situation was incredible, some- Patients, and their exhausted caregivers, tures clean, safe drinking water on site thing I’ll never forget. But at the same went from having no clean water to con- for less than 20 cents a gallon. time, you can’t focus on that while you suming 12 to 15 liters a day. “It can save the taxpayers millions are there. You’ll lock up. “The minute we started passing water upon millions of dollars,” Morris says. “Even when you’re totally exhausted, around you could see improvement, like “There is no other technology like it out you focus on the little things, and you they flipped a light switch,” Morris says. there on the market today. It’s a para- just keep going.” “I started seeing big smiles. They were digm shift, truly an off-the-grid solution.” Morris was sent to Haiti as caretaker glowing. I’ll never forget those faces.” Physician Tom Kirsch, co-director of and operator of a self-contained, portable Using a proprietary technology the Johns Hopkins Center for Refugee water manufacturing device built by a invented by a former Israeli navy captain, and Disaster Response, cites clean water Miami company called Aqua Sciences, the machine harvests water from air, as “the most important public health which Morris joined last year as execu- even in bone-dry deserts. Each rig function following a disaster.” He and tive vice president. houses eight “water harvesting” modules, other caregivers watched with admira- Shortly after the Jan. 12 earthquake, two diesel generators and a 1,000-gallon tion as Morris, always clad in dark sun- the Tampa-based U.S. Central Command diesel tank within one standard shipping glasses and a battered straw hat, quietly reached out to Aqua Sciences, which less container. went about his endless rounds, toting 5- than a month earlier had been certified When bottled water is delivered by liter bags from bedside to bedside, deliv- for secure operations by the Department helicopter or truck during a U.S. disaster, ering not just water, but also hope. of Homeland Security. Rescuers at Haiti’s its true cost can exceed $35 a gallon. The “He never seemed tired or bothered University Hospital desperately needed actual cost for the military to deliver by the relentless heat and sorrow,” water, the American commanders water in a combat zone can be $300 a Kirsch says. “His work probably saved explained, and a water machine was gallon; including food, laundry and hos- more lives than anything I did as a needed there pronto. pitals, 16 gallons of water are needed per physician.” After an unexpectedly winding jour- soldier per day, a load that can occupy Morris says he and his Aqua Sciences ney that included a layover at a Domini- 40 percent of battlefield trucks. colleagues had no doubt their “miracle machine,” as it was dubbed by its Haitian with clean-up, rebuilding and improving has reconfirmed my commitment and admirers, would work as promised. the quality of life. passion for it,” she says. “I have a strong While it was reassuring to see the rig In the meantime, residents of Port-au- faith and I know I have a lot left to do in perform flawlessly 15 hours a day for Prince will step over the rubble and con- my career and my life. That’s why I was three weeks, he insists the trip was not tinue their lives, and Varghese will spared.” a marketing tool. continue her work. For more information “We went down there with one thing “Haiti was my country before, in on IMA’s work in Haiti, visit in mind,” Morris says. “To save terms of this project, and this experience www.imaworldhealth.org. lives.” —Chris Lazzarino
29 30 | Kansas alumni illiam Allen White’s edito- Attacked by critics, besieged by economic forces rial “To an Anxious Friend,” cast in bronze, and transformed by technology, journalism stands sentry between two Wwindows outside The University Daily is a field in flux. What’s a J-school to do? Kansan newsroom in Stauffer-Flint Hall. Nearby, William Randolph Hearst Foun- dation student journalism awards from BY JULIE METTENBURG two decades line the shelves of a display case, along with framed front pages of notable Kansan editions: those from the Kansan.com, Jayplay magazine and society, as they are the people who will 1952, 1988 and 2008 NCAA national KUJH television. Students in this news- choose, analyze and manage information. championships and the 2008 Orange room try to cover each story in print, on The managers of the future are the peo- Bowl victory. the Web and on TV. ple we’re training.” But the massive oak doors of the Campus media’s move—some 10 years newsroom are closed, the limestone in the making—into a single converged arched windows darkened. Upended newsroom signals one of many changes he McClatchy newspaper chain chairs, old computers, disconnected the William Allen White School of Jour- in 2009 suffered the worst cables and packed boxes litter the vacant nalism and Mass Communications is financial results in its 153-year space. A tiny slip of paper taped to the making to meet the demands of a career history, which includes the Civil window reads, “Tours: PLEASE don’t tap field that is continually blurring old TWar and the Great Depression. Nation- on the glass. It scares the fish.” boundaries. The changes are forcing the wide, the news was no better as papers Campus tours no longer stop here. field to abandon some long-cherished coped with declining revenue by cutting This summer the Kansan moved 94 tenets even as it clings tightly to others costs: More than 14,000 newspaper jobs steps down the hill, into a sleek new and scrambles to adapt to new demands disappeared in 2009, on top of nearly space on the second floor of the Dole and opportunities. 16,000 lost in 2008, according to Human Development Center known to KU journalism faculty are working to newspaperlayoffs.com, which tracks J-school faculty and students as “down- understand these changes and ensure the losses. stairs.” A large arched window again that the curriculum prepares students to Nor was the carnage limited to news- frames the campus view, but this new adapt to a field in transition. papers. According to the New York newsroom is a carpeted, lower-ceilinged “Even though there’s a lot of uncer- Times, last year the New York publishing place. Rows of shiny white Macs await tainty in the field, one of our strengths is industry workforce (including magazines reporters, copy editors and assignment that we teach transferrable skills,” says and books) shrank by 10 percent. editors; in the center of the room ceiling Ann Brill, dean of the school. “So what- As cost-cutting moves begin to bite, tiles have been removed and television ever students want to go into, they have organizations ask employees to do more. studio lighting installed. strong critical analysis, writing and pres- Mike Williams, associate professor and The Stan and Madeline Stauffer Multi- entation skills. And we’re looking at jour- chair of the news and information track media Newsroom houses the Kansan, nalists as being even more important in at KU, tells of a Kansas City TV station
31 accused J-schools of fraud, believing, according to an Inside Higher Education report, that “journalism schools are exploiting students by maintaining high enrollment levels despite the contraction of the market for professional journal- ists—a system that guarantees a large that recently cut production staff and because of a lack of supervision or sim- population of out-of-work, debt-addled delved into “backpack” journalism. ply because the Internet is a new graduates.” Reporters who once went into the field medium with standards still developing, with a crew and producer now must mistakes are tolerated online that would hese dire warnings of journal- handle camera and sound duties them- never be allowed in print. “It’s like the ism’s demise overlook opportu- selves—which raises new challenges. Wild West out there,” writes one analyst nities that are sprouting. Devices “It’s physically hard to conduct an of the anything-goes ethos of Internet like the iPad and Kindle are reju- interview when you’re standing behind publishing. venatingT print magazines like Sports the video camera, because if nothing else And then there’s Google. By granting Illustrated and creating platforms to it picks up the sound of your breathing,” fast access to unlimited information, the launch new ventures: Media mogul Williams says. “But teaching students search company and others like it feed Rupert Murdoch this summer how to deal with that kind of situation so the notion that “information wants to be announced plans to start the first news- they break up jobs into chunks and do free.” But this expectation erodes the paper produced exclusively for tablet them piece by piece is clearly what we ability of news organizations to conduct computers and mobile phones. have to teach, because media companies original reporting, which costs money. The Internet is indeed a disruptive are going to this.” One blogger notes that search engines force in journalism, but it’s hardly the Slashing jobs can threaten quality in can help by bringing a wider audience first: Television long ago supplanted any field, especially when cuts come in a to his site, but they also undermine newspapers as Americans’ No. 1 source time of transformation, when rules are profits because these new viewers won’t of news, yet print endures. still being written. A Columbia Journal- pay for what they read. He calls Google Malcolm Gibson, the Kansan’s general ism Review survey of magazine websites his “frenemy.” manager and news adviser, says the revealed a disturbing erosion of tradi- This upheaval in journalism fuels a paper edition earns far more revenue tional journalistic standards, from fact- widespread impression that the industry than Kansan.com. McClatchy reports checking to proofreading. Whether is in free fall. Bloggers and critics have that 31 percent of Americans between 18
32 and 34 read a printed product every day. job cuts, is a positive sign nonetheless, ournalism jobs may not be a sure As the company’s CEO notes, “MTV according to a Nieman Journalism Lab thing, but they do exist, Brill says. would kill for those numbers.” Newsonomics report. Plus, journalism has always been a Readership and news consumption As publishers learn to exploit niches, feeder school for graduate programs across the board have grown, according the opportunity to make money—and Jsuch as law, and that continues. to a Pew Internet Survey, which showed hire—returns. As with the Wild West, law “The fact is, this degree is a liberal six in 10 Americans consult a combina- and order will prevail: Civilization will arts degree that comes with a skill set,” tion of online and traditional news tame the culture and upgrade quality. she says. “I think the opportunities in sources on a typical day. An early sign of that came this spring this field are more exciting than ever. In the long run, growth of the con- when The National Magazine Awards— We are seeing an evolution of journalism, tent-hungry Internet can only be good long recognized as the pre-eminent not a collapse.” news for journalists, Brill says. awards for magazine journalism—handed Critiques of journalism schools tend “The bottom line is, the content will out their first Digital Ellies, recognizing to focus on the news side, overlooking still be valuable. This will be a huge beast excellence in online journalism. mass communications areas, such as that will constantly need feeding. ... I think we will see more creative financing and good models coming forward, because information is valuable.” While it’s true that hefty debt loads, STEVE PUPPE (2) high overhead and stockholder pressure for maximum profits make it harder for so-called legacy news companies to experiment with new ways to make money, many observers, including Gibson, point out that smart minds are working on the problem. Among them are the wunderkinds at Google. “Having helped break the news business, the company wants to fix it,” reports The Atlantic. Recognizing that a lack of solid journalism erodes its ability to link users to good information, the company is “working with publishers and peering ahead to see what the future of journal- ism looks like. Guess what? It’s bright.” In the meantime, newspapers remain a profitable enterprise, Gibson says. “The bigger problem is the whole economy.” Indeed, although 2009 was a historic low for the newspaper industry, 2010 is on a better trajectory. Newspaper job losses tallied 1,500 as of July, a dramatic drop in the bloodletting. Nonprofit and syndicate reporting organizations show promise. News organizations with leaner operations are posting mild profits; this uptick, although partially due to massive
I Journalism dean Ann Brill (left) has overseen curriculum changes and a long-awaited transi- tion to a “converged” newsroom that unites print, online and TV facilities under one roof.
33 STEVE PUPPE (2)
public relations and corporate communi- spend a portion of their careers finding cations, that are doing well. their own way. “You’re likely to have to “Newspapers are representative of be entrepreneurial at some point in your one part of journalism, but journalism is path,” says Brill. bigger than that,” says Tim Bengtson, he new environment is challenging “Innovation” instruction emphasizes associate professor and chair of the strate- Tnews tenets, most notably the prem- flexibility in problem solving, Williams gic communication track. “For every ise of objectivity. “I much prefer honesty says, with faculty helping students newspaper that is going out, there are and truthfulness,” Mike Williams says. break down problems rather than other operations moving in.” “If a person can be honest or truthful in assuming they know how to do so. Clearly, given the scope and speed of how they report something, that’s proba- Coursework will include business topics, this evolution, journalism graduates need bly a more credible stance than always such as reading spreadsheets and con- to master new skills while embracing wearing this badge of objectivity.” tracts, retaining control of your work, some of the old. Adds Brill: “The thing is that objectiv- and conducting research on companies, Recognizing the changing landscape ity doesn’t exist; information is not neu- particularly those for whom you might 10 years ago, the School of Journalism tral. We don’t talk about objectivity, so work. Electives encourage entrepreneur- altered its curriculum to meet the needs much as approaching the information ship as students develop entirely new of media “convergence,” the idea that old from an audience’s perspective. What media platforms. boundaries between print, TV and radio you put out there will bring focus to that are disappearing. The degree’s old thing. So you need to know about your “emphases,” which required students to community, and what’s happening in it.” major in a specific area such as newspa- nn Jesse, j’89, g’93, central region pers, magazines or public relations, were A sales director for NetShelter Technol- folded into two major “tracks”: news and ogy Media, a company that represents information and strategic communica- 180 leading tech websites, says their suc- tion. cess is a testament to the power of New changes further tweak the ournalists can no longer operate with- extremely narrow content focus online. curriculum to address evolving realities of Jout business sense. For one, the wall “Our publications become successful by the field. Here are eight trends for jour- ..between the business and editorial sides being passionate in their niche,” she says. nalism, and the school’s response has fallen. It’s also widely accepted that Laura Bronson, j’89, works on Simon to prepare students. journalists entering the market today will & Schuster’s digital promotion team,
34 SUSAN YOUNGER (2) YOUNGER SUSAN
where she promotes book content on development coordinator, advises KU niche websites. “We try to find topics students to beware of these traps, and that have a lot of content we can go deep n an age of information overload, the she checks them out carefully before pro- on—deep content on a narrow topic,” she Icorollary to opportunity is exploita- moting them. “Sometimes they call them says. As readers search these topics, they tion. Some “opportunities” for journalists internships, but they really aren’t,” pull up the sites her company wants require freelancers to churn out copy in Noland says. “For an internship, there them to see. Drawing search engine hits an anonymous factory model for needs to be a mentoring piece, someone boosts exposure and, hopefully, revenue. extremely low pay. In the worst cases, giving you feedback, so the student can To help students narrow their focus employers offer exposure or experience get better. Unpaid and unsupervised is on areas of interest, the school offers instead of money. a red flag.” coursework in specialties such as health Patty Noland, g’87, the school’s career and medical reporting, environmental journalism and sports reporting. bright spot in the digital revolution, A oddly, is long-form journalism, which is enjoying a reprieve from the assumption it was all but dead. An editor
SUSAN YOUNGER SUSAN with The New York Times Magazine notes, “It’s our longest pieces that attract the most online traffic.” “Narrative isn’t merely a technique for communicating; it’s how we make I Students in the multimedia newsroom build sense of the world,” an analysis of this skills on both sides of the camera and write phenomenon in The Washington Post and edit stories for Kansan online and print theorizes. “The storytellers know this. editions. Under the guidance of Daily Kansan They know that the story is the original General Manager and News Adviser Malcolm killer app.” Gibson and Kansan Editor-in-Chief Alex Says Brill, “We have been training our Garrison, students strive to cover each story students to look at the story first, and in print, on the Web and on TV. that’s been going on for years. They look
35 at the story first, how to find sources and just to marketers but to journalists as check facts, and then how to deliver that well. Whether or not you enjoy it, it’s story. Society will always need its story- important to understand it.” tellers, because we need information to In the past, individual professors make decisions.” addressed social media in their courses; now the school incorporates the topic across the curriculum for all students. “We are looking at it as a method and delivery platform as well as an informa- tion gathering platform,” Williams says. three-minute YouTube demo of Time A Inc.’s new SI Tablet illustrates how the iPad and similar devices transform media and take convergence to new lev- n this new environment, trust is critical. els. Gorgeous video from the featured IOld-school skills such as basic reporting game on Sports Illustrated’s cover drives and ethics become a lifeboat for trained readers to a table-of-contents link to the journalists. “If you ever fail at that—trust— n addition to curriculum changes, story. Touching one photo in the layout you’ll quickly wish you hadn’t,” says Ithe School of Journalism is planning opens a whole roll from the game. A grill Williams. “There are a lot of other people program changes and additions: ad reveals a pop-up video on barbecuing out there ready and willing to take your Freshman admission. The school the perfect chicken. place as an information provider, so you now accepts freshmen. The change To help students use multiple tools, have to be very attentive to how good and brings students into the J-school the school will require a visual communi- accurate your content is.” advising system from the start and gets cations class, Williams says, and report- Though she works with technology them excited about participating as ing classes will use a team approach, that didn’t even exist when she was in soon as they arrive on campus, says combining storytelling with Internet school, Laura Bronson says her job is still Mike Williams, associate professor and tools like infographics, video, photogra- basic journalism. “Figuring out what the chair of the news and information track. phy, and of course, writing. story is, writing Web-friendly headlines It also removes barriers (raised by The capstone course in strategic com- that people want to click, getting the con- budget cuts and scheduling elsewhere munications, “Strategic Campaigns,” tent right. There’s still the whole thing of on campus) that delayed students com- requires students to synthesize their making sure you can tell the tale in the pleting prerequisites for admission. learning in final projects. A capstone format you’re working in.” New minor: The journalism minor challenge for news and information stu- Williams and Brill say the school is allows students from other fields to dents is in the works: Faculty are survey- committed to the basics at the core-course take coursework such as media ethics ing 900 graduates from 2006 to 2010; level: Information-gathering and analysis, and law, plus other basic classes in news and information alumni are asked including work with databases and media theory. “It’s basically an exposure to share their ideas for a course that original sources of information, plus to journalism,” says Brill. The first minor could culminate in prototypes and busi- writing and learning story forms for students began this fall. ness plans for new media projects.. various media. PhD in Journalism: In fall 2011, The strategic communication track the school expects to begin offering a doctorate for students who want to continues to emphasize research’s role in solving problems. New elective courses pursue research or academic careers. ompanies are hiring new grads to will include case studies of real media The school has been the only one at Chelp figure out Twitter, Facebook, examples. “No matter what side of the KU without a PhD program, and as a StumbleUpon, LinkedIn, Flickr and aisle you’re on, many of the skills remain top-10 program nationwide, was missing other social networks, Noland says. constant, such as good research, writing, an opportunity, Brill says. The master’s Even established journalists need to thinking, creativity,” Bengtson says. “All of program likely will become research update their skills by signing up for those things have not gone out of style intensive. Master’s candidates will accounts on several platforms to under- and probably never will.” “explore in-depth some of the more stand how they work, says NetShelter’s Mettenburg, j’91, has taught news andmaga- pressing issues of media management Ann Jesse. “Even if you don’t really feel zine courses in the School of Journalism and and technology development, and come you have much to say, understanding the has workedandwritten for Ladies’Home out ready to move into management logistics of how these work and how Journal, Parenting, Working Mother, More roles in media companies,” Williams influence is generated is important not andother publications. says. —J.M.
36
Association
Hilltop Honors neurial instinct during a road trip to the 1948 KU Orange Bowl game. A failing car- KU celebrates achievement and service of alumni buretor threatened to halt the trip, so Chandler stopped at the bus station in he second weekend of Septem- cellor Bernadette Gray-Little also greeted Tupelo, Miss. A former Air Force ber on the Hill was momentous the audience of KU faithful and honored mechanic and future banker, Chandler even before the football team the recipients. offered a cab driver $20 to trade carbure- took the field on Saturday. The 2010 DSC recipients (featured in tors. With the replacement installed, the TThe night before, nearly 200 Jayhawks issue 2, 2010, of Kansas Alumni) are KU crew made it to Miami for the Orange converged at The Oread hotel for the Anderson Chandler, b’48, Topeka, and Bowl. But, as Chandler reminded the Alumni Association’s first Hilltop Honors Benjamin Hall, c’54, Bellevue, Wash. This Sept. 10 crowd as he accepted his award, celebration, featuring the recipients of year’s Ellsworth recipients (announced the 1948 story did not end happily: KU KU’s highest honor, the Distinguished in issue 3, 2010) are Gretchen Van lost to Georgia Tech. “So let’s go out Service Citation for service to humanity, Bloom Budig, assoc., Isle of Palms, S.C., tomorrow and beat Georgia Tech this and the Fred Ellsworth Medallion for and Monte Johnson, c’59, g’67, time!” Chandler cheered. service to KU. Lawrence. Chandler is the chairman, president Kevin Corbett, c’88, Alumni Associa- Video tributes to the honorees high- and director of Fidelity State Bank and tion president, welcomed guests to the lighted their accomplishments and serv- Trust Company in Topeka. He has served occasion, the first time in the 69-year his- ice as well as heartwarming memories on the Jayhawk Area Council of Boy tory of the DSC and the 35-year history and humor. In fact, if positive vibes can Scouts of America for 50 years and has of the Ellsworth Medallion that the two foretell perfect victory, Chandler deserves served on the national board of directors prestigious honors had been combined a share of the credit for the next day’s since 1993. His philanthropic work also in one ceremony. Jay Howard, b’79, the football marvel. As he recounted via includes service to the YMCA, Topeka Association’s national chair, and Chan- video, Chandler showed his entrepre- schools, Washburn University and the
38 STEVE PUPPE (6)
I
Topeka and Shawnee County Public researcher who has helped cure dreaded Johnson, a former member of the Library. For KU, he established a profes- disease humbly described his KU begin- men’s basketball team, said he benefited sorship and lecture series in the School ning. “I was young and foolish,” he from fortunate timing as a Jayhawk. “I of Business and served on the school’s recalled. “Luckily, I met the right young was lucky to walk on the campus when Board of Advisors. In addition, he is a woman and married her,” referring to his an athlete of the caliber of Wilt Chamber- KU Endowment trustee and has volun- wife and fellow Jayhawk, Margaret Black lain was in the same class. ... They didn’t teered on the board of the KU Memorial Hall, c’54. recruit me quite as hard as they did Wilt, Union Corp. He and his wife, Edith Budig is the wife of longtime KU and for good reason.” Johnson began his Lessenden Chandler, c’44, g’52, are Life Chancellor Gene A. Budig. From 1981 to career in the KU athletics department in Members of the Association. 1994, she hosted events at the chancel- 1961 as director of public relations, busi- Hall spent much of his career at the lor’s residence and around the country, ness manager and assistant athletics University of Washington, where he is representing KU during a major fund director. He helped guide the KU Athlet- professor emeritus of biology and drive, Campaign Kansas (“I’m the ics Corp. board as an alumni representa- genome studies, rhododendron and outgoing one in the family–what can I tive from 1978 to 1982. After an 11-year azalea evolution, and biogeography. His tell you?” she quipped in her video.) In banking career in Wichita, he returned discoveries have led to vaccines for hepa- 1988, she published a book for spouses to KU as athletics director from 1982 titis B and cervical cancer and insulin of university presidents and chancellors to 1987. He belongs to the Chancellors used by millions of diabetic patients. He called How in the WorldDo You Do It? Club for KU Endowment and served on retired from the UW faculty in 2007, The Budigs have supported the schools the Alumni Association’s national board when the university named a new of Education, Fine Arts, Journalism of directors from 1971 to 1974. He and research building in his honor. At KU, he and Social Welfare; the College of Liberal his wife, Kay Rathbone Johnson, are created the Mary Harkey Hall Award in Arts and Sciences; the Lied Center; and Life Members of the Association. Plant Biology to assist graduate students KU Libraries. They are Life Members Visit www.kualumni.org for more event studying botany. In his video, the of the Association. coverage and to view the videos.
39 Association
s’77, MSW’78, Kansas City, Kan. Corder has taught for 18 years at KU ambassadors • Tom Throne, j’72, Bentonville, Ark. Spring Hill High School, where she also The Barrows began assisting the serves as an instructional resource Longtime local volunteers earn Alumni Association shortly after walking teacher and literacy coach. ‘Millie’ distinction down the Hill. The couple volunteered The Eriksens, both Life Members of with Kansas Honors Program banquets the Alumni Association, have actively vol- ayhawks who tell the KU story in in Hays and Great Bend, leading more unteered in Reno County since 1996. As their home communities took center than 35 years of local recognition for the the Reno County representatives for the stage in Lawrence during Volunteer state’s top high school seniors. Richard Association, they annually host the Jay- Recognition Weekend Sept. 3-4. also has assisted various committees at hawk Generations picnic, a gathering of JRecipients of the Mildred “Millie” the School of Pharmacy, and welcomes area incoming KU freshmen, and speak Clodfelter Alumni Award for “sustained current KU students into his own phar- at student recruitment events in the area. service to the University at the local macy. Mary remained a loyal KU sup- They represent KU at the Kansas State level,” and the Dick Wintermote Chapter porter until her untimely death in 2009. Fair and have hosted University leaders Volunteer of the Year Award were recog- After receiving a pharmacy degree in who visit Hutchinson and Reno County. nized during a dinner at the Kansas 1973, Richard moved with Mary to La They also are the Reno County coordina- Union. Crosse to open Barrows Pharmacy, serv- tors for the Reno County/Harvey County The master of ceremonies for the ing the community for 34 years. After Kansas Honors Program. evening was Gary Bender, g’64, former selling the store to Walgreens in 2008, Jeff, a third-generation Jayhawk, is voice of the Jayhawks and current broad- Richard has continued as the pharmacy’s sales manager of Gregory Inc., and Marla caster for the Phoenix Suns. Jayhawk manager. is human resources and marketing man- football legend John Riggins was the For 12 years, Corder has coordinated ager at Luminous Neon Art & Sign Sys- guest speaker. the Southern Johnson County Kansas tems. Biographies of the Wintermote award Honors Program. With her husband, Lagerstrom joined the Kansas City winners were published in issue 4. The Mark, d’70, g’72, she also supports the Chapter Board of Directors in 2001, and 2010 Millie award recipients are: University as a legislative advocate served as president from 2004 to 2007. • Richard, p’73, and the late Mary through Jayhawks for Higher Education. As a board member, he has worked Barrows, La Crosse. closely with the annual • Elaine Goldsmith Rock Chalk Ball. In 2005, Corder, d’72, g’91, he and his wife, Julianne Olathe Leeland Lagerstrom, b’98, • Jeff, b’79, and Marla co-chaired the Ball. Lager- Mugler Eriksen, b’79, strom also serves on the Hutchinson Chancellors Club Advisory •CoryLagerstrom, Board. In 2007, he co- c’94, g’98, l’98, Mission founded Frontier Wealth Hills Management with four • Allyn Risley e’72, partners. Houston As a member of the • Bernice Thomas, Houston Chapter Steering Richard and Mary Barrows Corder
Jeff and Marla Eriksen Lagerstrom Risley Thomas Throne
40 Team, Risley helps coordinate events and he is working on his 4-year-old grandson. mobilize alumni in the area. He also After receiving his journalism degree, served on the Alumni Association’s Throne joined the staff at the Junction
National Board of Directors. City Daily Union and worked his way STEVE PUPPE The petroleum engineering degree from photojournalist to managing editor. Allyn received in 1972 launched an He also led the newspapers in McPher- adventurous 30-plus-year career in the son and Leavenworth as editor and pub- international energy business. His early lisher. He eventually returned to Junction years with Phillips Petroleum were spent City as the general manager of the news- traveling the world exploring for and paper, and he served as president of the producing oil in the North Sea and off- Kansas Press Association from 2009 to shore Indonesia and the Philippines. He 2010. He retired in April 2010. Tom and retired from ConocoPhillips in 2004 only his wife, Pam, both Life Members of the to return to the energy industry, leading Alumni Association, now live in Ben- the global shipping unit at BG Group. tonville, Ark. Thomas became involved with the KU Black Alumni Chapter in the late 1990s. NNN She served as the chapter’s treasurer and has helped organize Homecoming Week Bronze medal activities throughout the years. As part of the recruitment committee, she partici- Alumni programs among tefani Gerson was named national pates in community networking sessions best in the nation Sadviser of the year for student and other efforts to increase Association advancement programs by the Council membership and minority student readth and depth in programs for Advancement and Support of Educa- enrollment at KU. In 2006, the chapter and a vibrant volunteer corps tion. As coordinator of student programs, honored her for “outstanding leadership earned the Association a national Gerson, c’06, g’08, advises the Student and dedicated support of the KU Black bronze medal from the Council Alumni Leadership Board, Homecoming Alumni Chapter.” Bfor Advancement and Support of Educa- Steering Committee and Rock Chalk A 1977 social welfare graduate, tion. Sixteen universities participated in Revue Advisory Board. She also oversees Thomas spent time as a child protection the competition. Student Alumni Association membership worker for Johnson County. Since 1981, Mike Davis, senior vice president for and plans events and programs on she has served as a medical social worker alumni, student and membership pro- campus. Gerson was selected from 324 for the Department of Veteran Affairs, grams, credits the honor to a 2006 universities represented at CASE. where she co-chairs the Social Work Pro- alumni survey, which led to the introduc- fessional Standards Board. She recently tion of new programs, as well as out- received the Hands and Heart Award, a standing national board and volunteer national honor presented to an employee involvement. “who does the most to exercise profes- The Association has revitalized pro- sional expertise, to provide emotional grams that focus on student recruitment, support, help and guidance to patients.” legislative advocacy, career enhancement, Bernice also volunteers with Kansas City academics and athletics. Currently, 80 Hospice and Palliative Care. percent of alumni events are centered on Throne first volunteered with the academics. Volunteers and staff members Alumni Association for a Geary County hosted a record 500 events during the Kansas Honors Program banquet in the 2009-’10 fiscal year. mid-1970s. He eventually became pro- “People are always excited about KU gram chair in the area, went on to lead athletics, but the one common element the Kansas Honors Program in McPher- we share is that we have a degree from son and Leavenworth and then again in here,” says Davis, d’84, g’91. “People feel Junction City. Throne represented KU at very strongly about being tied academi- the installation of John Martin as presi- I The 2010 KU Symphony Orchestra five-city cally, and our programs give them that dent of Central Christian College in tour provided an opportunity for alumni in opportunity.” McPherson and continues to assist with Kansas to see a performance and meet students Led by Davis and Heath Peterson, KU student recruitment efforts--currently from the School of Music. assistant vice president of alumni pro-
41 Association we care most about whatouralumniand dent, says the medal is gratifying: “While medalisgratifying: dent, saysthe atKU.” andstudenttalents grams top-notch nationto pro- highlight the the events and Kansas throughout of these to opportunity givesWichita alumnithe alumni. TheHallCenterlecture seriesin programs accessibletomake these national championship debateteam,to is among the elite.” is amongthe KUAlumniAssociation the factthat the says Peterson, d’04,g’09.“We many take demic-based events for our chapters,” topics. hear from KUprofessors onavarietyof TeamMotorsports Race 2009 andthe Choir andSymphony, Jayhawk the our programs, nationalawards confirm qualityof aboutthe friends sayandthink oncampuspartnerships to create aca- strongof isourprogress inestablishing side University KU entities,includingthe works along- Associationstaff the grams, 42 T w.ulmiogo al800-584-2957. call or www.kualumni.org Jeffery W. &Catherine Charlotte Hardy Robert W. & Teresa David C. &Priscilla A. All Laura S. Albert Diane E. Bratton M.Robert &Linda Kathi J. Bender Betty J. Beil Tom A. Barrow Donis Bailey Emelia C.Emelia Brooke Jack H. Brier Kevin Corbett,c’88,Associationpresi- “One of the areas we“One ofthe are mostproud Pilliard Bickel Neal Armstrong Andrezik McDonald Allen eAscaintak hs Jayhawks, these thanks Association he uy1truhAg 1 o oeinfor- more For 31. Aug. through 1 July beginning Members Life became who aino ieMmesi,pes visit please Membership, Life on mation Life members Carolyn Hoffman David M. &DonnaBuck Donald C. ClarkJr. & Jack I. Donham&Jenny Richard L. Cooper Joel A. Colbert Teresa L. Clark G. Gordon &Susan W. Roger W. Davis Michael F. Dalgety Shelli Crow-Johnson Gerald L. Cross Jr. & Carlesimo E. McKee Nancy L. Clark Docking Jennifer KnightCross I Sonya A. Hess E.Mary Hertach Harrison A. Hems Teresa Hemmen-Davis Steven A. Hawley Jason T. Hatfield Dana M. &Kimberly H. David A. Hanson Edmund T. Hamann C. Jeff Goodell Joel K. Goldman Gloria Raw Giles Chad J. Gerber Wayne C. Gaul Zachary T. Gale Douglas R. Freeman Donald H. Franklin Je Jacquelyn K. Ferguson Steven G. Emerson& Amy Boyer Elzea& Paige G. Elliott nnifer R. Floerke & BrianDavis Harris Lucinda S. Kemper Patrick W. Elzea Jon K. &Pat A. Jones Raymond Lee &Mary Beau B. Hudson Daphne H. Hiatt David C. Meredith Jessica M. McNickle Megan D. McMullen Traci N. McMaster Rev. McClean Robert Molly F. McCann J.Robert Lewis III Richard L. &SusanBick Dirk W. &Leigh A. Leas Michael W. Mahaffey Carol D. Lowman Matthew S. Linzer Leighton J. LaPierre Ken Krehbiel James W. Kleoppel Michael F. &SarahJ. David J. Lutz&Ellen Cameron M. Karlin Higgins Hummert LeClaire Lytle Scott McLean Ashley P. Peterson MillsPetersen Patricia Roger D. &Zoann Sarah E. Merriman William E. Pfeiffer Jr. Craig A. &CindyEmig Loretta Pendergraft Sheldon Parmer B.Harry Parker Angela R. Palacioz Neil H. Phillips Bethany C. Pace-Danley E.Larry Nokes Andrew E. Neubauer Julie Widener Nash Kevin M. &Catherine Lawrence F. &BarbaraJ. Jon T. Mohatt Susan E. Mitchell Hugh A. MinerIV Dale E. Milton Penzler Banker Merryfield Veach Moyer Montague
TERRY ROMBECK R. Mitchell & Lorraine Alyssa L. Steffen A. Poell Eric D. & Deborah Ling Michael C. Priddy & Stucky The KU Alumni Association exists to strengthen the Fangjie Liu Pamela A. Sturm University of Kansas by informing, engaging and Joyce Davis Pulley John H. Sweet mobilizing the KU community. Clifton Railsback Kathryne R. Tatum Your membership in the Association is the single most Kevin M. Riedel Josh S. Taylor powerful way to make all of KU stronger, including Catherine L. Reinbeck Trenton O. Tillitson the value of your own degree. Colin R. Rork William B. Trower Corinn L. Rotter David P. Valenti Emily A. Russell Paul A. & Lisa Bessinger Board of Directors DIRECTORS TO JULY 2013 Nikki Epley Ryan N. Savage Voiles Sheri Welter Hauck, b’81, Director of Reunion Charles S. & Elizabeth J. William B. Vollbracht CHAIR Arroyo Grande, California Programs Jeff Kennedy, j’81, Heath Peterson, d’04, Schasteen Kurt W. & Rebecca L. Jay Howard, b’79, Austin, Texas Wichita g’09, Assistant Vice Chris J. Schloesser Vollertsen Henry Menghini, c’87, President for Alumni Jon P. Schrage & KimV. Raymond L. Voskamp Jr. CHAIR-ELECT Pittsburg and Student Programs Schrage Victoria L. Vossler Jeffrey P. Briley, d’74, Ben Palen Jr., c’75, Dominique C. Schulte Sara R. Wagner Overland Park Denver, Colorado COMMUNICATIONS Mark D. Schwartz James Lee Walker Jr. & David Johnston, j’94, g’06, Sandra L. Scott Kaely Jackson Walker EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE DIRECTORS TO JULY 2014 Director of Internet Jeffrey P. Briley, d’74, Douglas C. Miller, b’71, Services and Marketing Hazel Hoskinson Andrew Wank l’74, Mission Hills Chris Lazzarino, j’86, Shoemaker Scott & Robin Harnden Overland Park Howard E. Cohen, b’79, Debbie Foltz Nordling, Associate Editor, Arthur M. Shook Ward Leawood d’79, Hugoton Kansas Alumni magazine Cory M. Sims Kent E. Williams Ray D. Evans, b’82, g’84, Camille Bribiesca Platz, Jennifer Sanner, j’81, Melissa A. Sindt Jamie L. Winkelman Leawood c’96, g’98, Dallas, Texas Sr VP for Communications Rebecca A. Smedlund Blake W.Wood Sheri Welter Hauck, b’81, Richard Putnam, c’77, and Corporate Secretary Alice Forssberg Dana G. Wreath Arroyo Grande, California l’80, Omaha, Nebraska Susan Younger, f ’91, Larry D. Stoppel, c’73, Creative Director Snodgrass Mark Yeokum Jay Howard, b’79, Austin, Texas Washington Dennis P. & Melissa John L. Yost Bradley G. Korell, l’97, DONOR RELATIONS Beeman Spratt Austin, Texas DIRECTORS TO JULY 2015 Ellen Chindamo, f ’92, Sue Shields Watson, d’75, Paul Carttar, c’76, Senior Development Wichita Lawrence Director Scott Seyfarth, b’83, DIRECTORS UNTIL 2011 Hinsdale, Illinois FINANCE Jeffrey P. Briley, d’74, Brenda Marzett Vann, Jodi Nachtigal Overland Park c’71, g’72, Kansas City Controller SUSAN YOUNGER SUSAN Howard E. Cohen, b’79, Jeff Wolfe, b’83, Dwight Parman Leawood Meridian, Idaho Sr VP for Finance and Jay Howard, b’79, Human Resources and Austin, Texas Treasurer Bradley G. Korell, l’97, Austin, Texas Administrative Staff HOSPITALITY SERVICES Curtis R. McClinton Jr., Kevin J. Corbett, c’88, Bryan Greve d’62, Kansas City, Missouri President Sr VP for Hospitality Winifred S. Pinet, c’80, g’82, Plymouth, Michigan ALUMNI CENTER RECORDS Timothy E. Brandt, Bill Green DIRECTORS TO JULY 2012 b’74,Director of Adams Sr VP for Information Paul “Bud” Burke, b’56, Alumni Center Services Lawrence Stefanie Shackelford Ray D. Evans, b’82, g’84, ALUMNI, STUDENT & Vice President for Leawood MEMBERSHIP PROGRAMS Alumni Records Karen M. Humphreys, Michael Davis, d’84, g’91, Sr VP for Alumni, I c’70, l’73, Wichita Student and Membership James A. Trower, b’77, Salina Programs
43 Class Notes BY KAREN GOODELL
1949 where he’s retired from a career with 1963 Robert, c’49, m’53, and Ellen Patter- Hallmark. Alvin Feinstein, a’63, wrote America son Long, c’49, live in Olathe, where Lost? What We Learned By Living In Mex- they moved after Robert recently retired 1960 ico, which recently was published by from his surgical practice in Norton. Robert Marshall, e’60, was inducted Publish America. He and his wife, Biljana, into the Fort Scott Community College live in Colorado Springs. 1950 Hall of Fame. Bob, a Kansas state sena- Eben Porch III,b’63, is retired from a Rosemary Hall Stafford, c’50, took a tor, lives in Fort Scott with Judy Woods career with Boeing. He makes his home cruise earlier this year from Mombasa, Marshall, d’65. in Green Valley, Ariz. Kenya, to Istanbul, Turkey. She lives in Susan Suhler, j’63, received a second- Pleasant Hill, Calif. 1962 place award in KU International Pro- Robert Gollier, c’62, m’66, recently grams’ 2010 Picture the World photo 1952 retired after 40 years of practicing medi- contest. Sue is a technical editor and pro- Donald Overend, g’52, m’54, a retired cine. He and Mary Lynn Cooper Goll- posal writer in Lawrence. pediatrician, works as an IT manager for lier, d’64, make their home in Ottawa. the Travel Group in Springfield, Mo. Robert Williams Jr., c’62, works as a 1964 certified petroleum geologist consultant Robert Smith, g’64, PhD’70, received 1955 for Pathway Petroleum in Wichita. a Distinguished Engineering Service Sir Robert Worcester, b’55, recently became president of the Institute of Busi- ness Ethics in London, where he’s founder of Market & Opinion Research International.
1957 George Sheldon, c’57, m’61, pub- lished a profile of Hugh Williamson in the Carolina Alumni Review. He is pro- fessor of surgery and social medicine at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, where where he lives with his wife, Ruth Guy Sheldon, d’58.
1958 William Benson, e’58, was honored last spring with a Distinguished Engi- neering Service Award from the KU School of Engineering. He lives in Lawrence, where he is retired from Lock- heed Martin. Dean Grimm, e’58, received a Distin- guished Engineering Service Award last spring from the KU School of Enginer- ing. He lives in Parker, Colo., and is retired from a career with NASA.
1959 Richard Stilley, b’59, lives in Lenexa,
44 Award last spring from the KU School of hameha Schools in Honolulu. e’71, live in Olathe. Engineering. He lives in Overland Park, Charles Frickey, d’66, l’69, practices Steven Cady, c’68, works as a librarian where he is retired executive vice presi- law in Oberlin, where he and his wife, for the city of San Francisco. He lives in dent and chief operations officer for Diane, make their home. Burlingame. Black & Veatch. Christopher Pinet, c’66, was desig- William Dobbs, e’68, is a test pilot for nated Officier in the French Order of Gulf Stream Aerospace in Savannah, Ga. 1965 Academic Palms, honoring his career William Ellis, g’68, makes his home in Robert Jones, j’65, teaches at Colegio researching French culture. He’s a profes- Mesquite, Nev. He’s retired regional Americano de Quito in Quito, Ecuador. sor of French at Montana State Univer- director of small-business development His home is in Houston. sity in Bozeman. at the University of Wyoming in Rock Donald Miller, b’65, retired and moved Springs. from San Diego to Bend, Ore., where he 1967 keeps busy with fly fishing and golf. Cleveland Harrison, PhD’67, wrote A 1969 Barbara Long Quirk, n’65, g’72, a Little Rock Boyhood: Growing Up in the Philip Davis, c’69, is a psychologist in retired nursing administrator at Truman Great Depression, which was published by Lubbock, Texas. Medical Center East, makes her home in Butler Center Books. He makes his home Michael Delaney, c’69, l’76, was Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. in Auburn, Ala. named one of the nation’s top 10 George Zuorick, g’65, manages global Steve Renko Jr., ’67, was inducted into employment attorneys for labor law by quality control for Rhodia. He lives in the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame. He lives Human Resource Executive Online. He’s Teaneck, N.J. in Leawood and is retired from a 15-year a parter in Spencer Fane Britt & Browne career playing Major League Baseball. in Overland Park. 1966 James Falkner, j’69, is Middle Ten- Michael Chun, e’66, PhD’70, received 1968 nessee executive director for AseraCare a Distinguished Engineering Service Micheline Zacharias Burger, c’68, Hospice. He and his wife, Jo Lynn, live in Award last spring from the KU School of g’70, l’77, co-owns Cafe Augusta in Heritage. Engineering. He’s president of Kame- Lenexa. She and her husband, Philip, Judith Henry, d’69, g’74, teaches at
45 Class Notes
Blue Valley North High School. She lives professor emeritus at Virginia Polytech- became assistant superintendent for ele- in Overland Park. nic and State University. Thomas makes mentary instruction in Troy, Mich. She his home in Radford, Va. lives in Bloomfield Hills. 1970 Terry Colbert, b’70, owns Terry Col- 1971 1973 bert CLU Insurance in Lenexa. Lynn Mouden, c’71, directs the office William Herpin Jr., e’73, is a senior David Hitzeman, c’70, was named of oral health at the Arkansas Depart- information management analyst at 2010 Doctor of the Year by the Okla- ment of Health in Little Rock. He lives in Lockheed Martin in Colorado Springs, homa Osteopathic Association. He is a Maumelle. Colo. professor of internal medicine at Okla- Michael Shonka, g’71, has been David King, c’73, g’75, is technology homa State University in Tulsa. elected to the board of directors at the program manager for J.P. Morgan Chase John Lungstrum, l’70, received the Nordam Group in Tulsa, Okla. He is for- & Co. in Columbus, Ohio. He and Distinguished Alumni Award from the mer executive vice president and chief Audrey Browning King, ’69, live in Wor- KU School of Law. He is chief U.S. Dis- financial officer at Cessna Aircraft in thington. trict Court judge in Kansas City. John Wichita. Christine Stewart Power, c’73, works and Linda Ewing Lungstrum, c’69, c’79, as a registered nurse paralegal at Epper- live in Lawrence. 1972 son & Owens in Salt Lake City. She lives Rachel Ochs Manweiler, d’70, retired Esward Coulter, f’72, is an administra- in Taylorsville. earlier this year after 16 years of teaching tor at Ottawa Family Physicians. He lives Barbara Beeson Stuber, f’73, wrote at Duneland School. She and her hus- in Lenexa. Crossing the Tracks, which recently was band, Robert, c’67, live in Valparaiso, Betty Furgerson, s’72, serves on the published by Simon and Schuster. She Ind. boards of directors for Iowa Public and her husband, Jack, c’62, m’66, live in Thomas Murray, PhD’70, received the Broadcasting and KBBG-FM 88.1, an Mission Hills. Geerhard Haaijer Award for Excellence in African-American owned and operated Education from the American Institute of radio station. She lives in Waterloo. 1974 Steel Construction last spring. He’s a Janet Lee Keeling, d’72, recently Bruce Hedrick, c’74, practices law in
46 Overland Park. cer of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Ala- ciation of Developmental Disabilities in Robert Marsh, b’74, is an associate bama. He lives in Birmingham. Waltham, Mass. broker with Solutions Real Estate in Susan Pohl Merryfield, f’75, g’93, is Saralyn Reece Hardy, c’76, g’94, Gilbert, Ariz. He and his wife, Norma, vice president of Peninsula operations for recently became treasurer of the board of live in Mesa. Eggleston Services in Hampton, Va. She trustees of the Association of Art Tom, b’74, and Jillene WahlVan Hoy, and her husband, David, p’76, live in Vir- Museum Directors. She is director of c’92, make their home in Greenville, S.C. ginia Beach. KU’s Spencer Museum of Art. He’s a freelance sportscaster, and she’s Marilyn Harp, s’76, l’79, received the an educator at the Children’s Museum. 1976 Distinguished Alumni Award from the Gary Blumenthal, d’76, was nomi- KU School of Law. She’s executive direc- 1975 nated by President Barack Obama to tor of Kansas Legal Services in Topeka. Terry Kellogg, c’75, recently was serve on the National Council on Disabil- Marilyn and her husband, Marc Quillen, named president and chief executive offi- ity. He is president and CEO of the Asso- c’74, g’78, PhD’79, live in Lawrence.
Profile BY STEVEN HILL
Alumnus finds inspiration, Now 85, Prakash is opening a new OM PRAKASH COURTESY career in Gandhi’s cause chapter, with meditation again a key ele- ment. He is phasing out his therapy m Prakash was a 19-year-old practice to become a life coach. engineering student in India Life coaching draws on the same when he joined Mahatma skills therapists use, Prakash notes, to Gandhi’s nonviolent move- help clients set goals and make lasting Oment to free the country from British changes in their life. His aim is to help rule. He attended several meetings others make the kind of transformation where Gandhi was present. he underwent. “He had an aura of calm and peace, “Psychology looks backward to see and you could feel that presence all what went wrong so we can help people around him,” says Prakash. “I was lucky make it right,” he says. “Coaching uses to be living at that time in his shadow. the same skills to look at the present and He inspired me to help people.” project to the future. It’s mostly done Police arrested Prakash at a rally and with perfectly normal people who know he spent six months in prison, a twist of where they want to go but don’t know fate that proved “a blessing,” he says. In how to get there.” jail he underwent a transformation and He practices “oneness coaching,” I decided to switch his field of study from which adapts the spiritual concept of engineering to psychology. “oneness” (alignment between one’s He would go on to earn a master’s inner and outer capabilities, as Prakash degree in India before coming to the describes it) to remove psychological United States to study. Doctoral work led barriers that hold people back. Tackling him to KU, where in 1972 he completed stress management, career development, when many are content to stop working a fellowship in clinical psychology on the personal happiness and other everyday entirely, he clearly relishes a new chal- Medical Center and Lawrence campuses concerns, he counsels clients on the lenge. before earning a PhD at the University of phone, helping them to set goals and fol- “Retirement is not about slowing Minnesota. low through. “A life coach can be a down; it’s about doing what you really During his imprisonment Prakash sounding board, a critic, a guardian want to do. This is what my passion is, to also discovered meditation. He would angel—whatever we need to be.” help people.” use it to maintain balance in his life and Prakash is also completing a book No wonder Prakash believes in the to stabilize patients during a 35-year- about the oneness concept, which he power of personal transformation—his long therapy practice in Texas. hopes to publish later this year. At an age own lasted a lifetime.
47 Class Notes
George Hudson, c’76, g’79, practices 1977 as a master site trainer for Vangent in medicine at Avalon Park Family Medicine David Edds, c’77, is a professor of bio- Lawrence. She and her husband, James, in Orlando, Fla. logical sciences at Emporia State Univer- live in Lenexa. Garold Minns, m’76, received the KU sity. He recently was named the Robert Angela Noto, c’77, m’81, was inducted School of Medicine’s Rainbow Award. L. Packard Outstanding Educator by the as a Fellow in the American College of He’s associate dean for academic and stu- Southwestern Association of Naturalists. Radiology. She’s a diagnostic radiologist dent affairs and an internal medicine Yoichi Fukunaga, f’77, g’80, g’84, and treasurer of Diagnostic Imaging Cen- professor at the KU School of Medicine- works as a marketing research consultant ters in Kansas City. Wichita. for Directions Research in Cincinnati. Russell Smith, c’77, b’77, is a senior Susan Walker, c’76, works as a librar- Cindy Sanders Irwin, b’77, is a site vice president and managing director at ian for Fire Protection Publications at manager for Savanna Army Depot in UMB Bank in Kansas City. He and his Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. Savanna, Ill. She lives in Galena. wife, Martha, live in Overland Park. She lives in Perkins. Jodie Newbold McMahon, c’77, works MaryTanner, b’77, makes her home in
Profile BY TERRY ROMBECK
French government “That really lit my fire,” he says, “and honors KU alumnus they could pronounce my name over there.” hristopher Pinet’s long, Pinet later received master’s and doc- esteemed career in French liter- toral degrees from Brown University. CHRIS PINET COURTESY ature started with some simple After stints teaching at Indiana State and childhood teasing. Marquette universites, he joined the fac- C“People had trouble pronouncing my ulty at Montana State University in 1981, name,” Pinet recalls. “They would say retiring in May. ‘pine-nut’ and worse things you can His eclectic research interests often imagine.” focused on the interaction of French lit- For the record, it’s “pee-NAY.” erature and society. His thesis examined Such chidings sparked a career that how common people, such as cobblers, culiminated this spring, when Pinet was were represented in comedic literature named an “officier” in the French Order and how those works affected their daily of Academic Palms. The order, estab- lives. lished by Napoleon in the 19th century, He’s also studied and written about I Christopher Pinet recently was named an honors those both inside and outside comic books, popular singers, TV com- officier in the French Order of Academic Palms. France who contribute to French culture. mercials and political discussions, At the ceremony, the deputy consul general for Pinet, c’66, is the son of longtime KU including the debate over Islamic veils in France told him he “made a wonderful and effec- business professor Frank Pinet, b’42, France. tive contribution to our country with your real g’47, PhD’55. (The family’s home, at 704 Pinet recently ended a 12-year stint as ability to understand its culture and history.” W. 12th St. in Lawrence, now hosts inter- editor of The French Review, official national scholars visiting KU.) journal of the American Association of The son’s interest in France was Teachers of French, which has the largest a missionary, really. I always say the best developed as a teenager, when his father circulation of any journal examining conversation stopper at a cocktail party spent six months teaching in Italy. The France. is to say you teach French.” stay included a trip to France. In retirement, Pinet plans to continue He also recalls this story from the His interest was solidified during a writing articles and has a book in the preparations for his “officier” ceremony, study abroad trip as a junior at KU. Dur- works. which was held April 22 at the MSU ing his time in France, Pinet met several Pinet admits it was sometimes diffi- campus: “My dean said, ‘Would it be OK distant family members. One relative, he cult to be a French scholar at a school if we served American wine?’ I said, learned, has been involved in the French that includes a College of Agriculture. ‘Would anyone mind? There would be a resistance. “It’s a calling,” he says. “You’re kind of revolution!”
48 Gary Hoel, p’80, g’91, PhD’94, is exec- utive director of clinical research at Wat- son Laboratories in Salt Lake City. Jeffery Mason, c’80, l’83, practices law and is a partner at Vignery & Mason in Goodland, where he and Nona Duerk- sen Mason, d’81, g’83, make their home. Patrick McCoy, e’80, g’82, is president of Oxgate Partners in Hudson, Ohio. Elaine Smokewood, g’80, received the Outstanding Faculty Award last spring from Oklahoma State University, where she’s a professor of English. Elaine, who lost the ability to speak due to Amy- otrophic Lateral Sclerosis, delivers her lectures using computer technology. Patty McCarthyYeardi, j’80, manages accounts for Pat Riha Productions in Kansas City. She and her husband, John, f’76, live in Overland Park.
1981 Gretchen Holt, c’81, works as a con- sultant for Holt Human Resources Con- sulting in Scottsdale, Ariz.
1982 Susan Sellers Buttram, j’82, is a con- sulting nutritionist with Midwest Feedlot Nutrition in Hutchinson. Kansas City, where she’s a senior the University of Southern California’s Douglas Edmonds, e’79, l’82, directs accountant for Winstead’s. school of music in Los Angeles. He lives administration and is general counsel for in Woodland Hills. KPS Technology & Engineering. He lives 1978 Steven South, j’79, works as chief in Overland Park. Richard Duncan, c’78, is a captain operations officer for the Bott Radio Net- Wayne Feltman, c’82, is senior soft- with US Airways. He and his wife, Benita, work. He lives in Lenexa. ware manager for Lockheed Martin in live in Tulsa, Okla. Vicki FarrarThompson, f’79, is an San Antonio. He lives in Helotes. Ray Martin, e’78, works as a senior occupational therapist at North Kansas Victoria Hastings, c’82, works as a engineer with XTO Energy in Aztec, N.M. City Hospital. She lives in Smithville, Mo. paralegal at Sarofeen & Arbon in Syra- He lives in Farmington. cuse, N.Y. David Scholler, g’78, is a senior proj- 1980 Kristian Hedine, l’82, own Virtual In- ect manager at Brown & Gay Engineers Randy Adams, g’80, received a Tony House Counsel, a law firm in Walla in Houston. Award last summer for “Memphis,” Walla, Wash. ThomasThomas, g’78, PhD’87, which was originated and produced by John Kealing, b’82, is a senior sales recently was appointed senior vice presi- his company, Junkyard Dog Productions. executive for Fiserv Output Solutions in dent for student success at Berkeley Col- The play was named Best Musical for Hazelwood, Mo. lege in New York City. 2010. Randy lives in New York City. Michael Smith, c’82, works as a learn- Wesley Basel, c’80, is a team leader for ing resource specialist with American 1979 the U.S. Census Bureau. She lives in Century Companies in Kansas City. He Grace Linn, s’79, is a medical social Springfield, Va. lives in Blue Springs, Mo. worker at Bothwell Regional Health Cen- Steven Hamilton, g’80, directs the ter in Sedalia, Mo. Center of Excellence in Field Biology at 1983 Brian Shepard, f’79, is an assistant Austin Peay State University in Michael Atkins, e’83, g’89, is chief professor of pedagogical technology for Clarksville, Tenn. executive officer of Open Technology
49 Class Notes
Solutions in Englewood, Colo. He lives in president of CoreFirst Bank & Trust in Mary Struthers Whited, b’90, works Niwot. Topeka. as a program specialist for the County Thomas Boogher, c’83, is executive Office of Education in Atwater, Calif. vice president and chief marketing officer 1988 at Professional Service Industries in Oak- Janet Holliday, j’88, g’00, recently 1991 brook Terrace, Ill. became garrison commander for the U.S. Col. Jon Mohatt, b’91, g’97, serves as a Liz Day Cook, ’83, works as an IT Army’s Carlisle Barracks in Carlisle, Pa. commander and administrator for the change analyst for Centurylink in New William Mar, c’88, directs engineering U.S. Air Force in San Antonio. Century. She and her husband, David, services at Smith Micro in Mountain ThomasThompson, c’91, g’93, is exec- j’83, g’89, live in Olathe. View, Calif. He lives in San Francisco. utive director of Bloomfield Knoble in Susan Knittel Spradley, c’83, recently Irving, Texas. He lives in Rockwall. joined Nokia Siemens Networks as head 1989 of North America Region. She lives in Mark Adams, c’89, won an Emmy for MARRIED Dallas. his documentary “Carolina Caught” at Greggory Miller, e’91, and Angela the 36th-annual Southeast Emmy Miller, c’91, g’96, March 13 in KU’s Dan- 1984 Awards in Atlanta in June. Produced for forth Chapel. They live in Lawrence, Ralf Hetzel, g’84, is vice president of South Carolina’s PBS affiliate, the docu- where he is an aerospace engineer at Commerzbank AG-Germany. He lives in mentary examines the challenges faced Kohlman Systems Research, and she is a Frankfurt. by the state’s shrimping industry. research assistant professor at KU’s Jill Mitchell Langan, j’84, lives in Schiefelbusch Life Span Institute. Clarendon Hills, Ill., and is a senior part- 1990 ner at Mediacom Advertising in Chicago. Mitchell Watt, a’90, has been 1992 Gregory Martin, l’84, practices law in appointed president of Triangle Associ- Paul Fein, b’92, is assistant vice presi- Keene, N.H., and serves on the New ates in Grand Rapids, Mich. dent of JP Morgan Chase in Chicago. Hampshire Ballot Commission. TomTalkington, e’84, works as a financial consultant for RBC Wealth Management in Leawood.
1985 Randal Baker, c’85, is a senior meteor- ologist at United Parcel Service in Louisville, Ky. Scott Roulier, d’85, president of BG Marketing, lives in Ramona, Calif., with his wife, Leasa.
1986 Helen Spektor Basov, n’86, owns Uni- forms & More in Kansas City. Jill Peters Grube, b’86, is assistant finance director for the City of Lenexa. She and her husband, Michael, c’90, g’92, live in Shawnee. Matthew Werner, a’86, is vice presi- dent of architectural and design services at Batis Development Company in Topeka, where he and Julia Sauder Werner, f’89, make their home. Jeffrey Wheat, c’86, lives in Shawnee and is principal of the Laconia Group.
1987 Raymond Remp Jr., c’87, is senior vice
50 51 Class Notes
1993 systems engineer for Honeywell in Tor- aging director of marketing for Build-A- Amy Wolf Jones, b’93, directs finance rance, Calif. Bear Workshop in St. Louis. for Assurant in Atlanta. She and her hus- David Stearns, c’94, works in global Cathy O’Hara Weiss, a’95, works as band, Wade, c’97, live in Marietta. content management for NAVTEQ in an architect and strategic planner for Linda RigneyVerPlanck, c’93, is sen- Overland Park. He lives in Olathe. Mancini Duffy in New York City. ior vice president at Kantar Health. She BradleyTice, p’94, p’96, recently was Marc Wilson, c’95, is securities com- lives in Tampa, Fla. appointed speaker-elect of the American missioner for the State of Kansas. He and Lonnie Worthington, e’93, is chief Pharmacists Association House of Dele- Rebecca Gernon Wilson, c’95, m’01, live operating officer at Kansa gates. He is chief clinical officer for Phar- in Overland Park. Technology/Paragon Laser Systems in mMD in Brentwood, Tenn. Emporia. BORN TO: Michelle Parsons Zahm, h’93, directs 1995 Kevin, c’95, and Susan Witt Stephens, health information management at Land- Amy McMillan Kavalec, c’95, is chief f’96, son, Cooper Daniel, July 3 mark Hospital. She lives in Columbus. operating officer of MCN Healthcare in in Williston, Vt. Kevin is co-owner of Denver. She lives in Highlands Ranch. Outdooroutlet.com and works as a BORN TO: Matthew Michaelis, b’95, has computer programmer for Berkeley Bradley, c’93, and Heather Harris Sil- launched his own investment firm, Perla Communications. ver, c’93, son, Benjamin William, Nov. 4, Capital Partners, which specializes in 2009, in Overland Park, where he joins a telecommunications acquisitions. He 1996 brother, Noah, 3. lives in New York City. Thomas Erickson, j’96, is a Web con- Ashley Ace Ray, c’95, works as a case tent specialist for Texas Health Resources 1994 administrator for Teva Neuroscience in in Arlington, Texas. Rick Armstrong, g’94, is deputy chief Kansas City. She and her husband, Scott, of police in Kansas City, Kan. live in Lenexa. BORN TO: Shaun Merritt, e’94, works as a CAD Laurie BoyerThompson, b’95, is man- Christine McMahon Malchow, d’96,
52 and Thomas, daughter, Shannon Sydney, officer for Northwestern Mutual Finan- agement for Nicholson Kovac in Kansas May 3 in Kirkland, Wash. Christine is a cial Network in Birmingham, Ala. He and City. product marketing manager for Den- his wife, Jill, live in Hoover. Michael Kennedy, j’98, is associate dreon. director of media relations for the Uni- 1998 versity of Denver’s athletics department. 1997 Gina Danison, c’98, manages environ- Erin Fox Klein, d’98, g’00, works as a Justin Angeles, j’97, does graphic illus- mental programs for the Raleigh-Durham physical therapist for Rehabilitation Pro- trating for Duty First Magazine in Fort Airport Authority in Raleigh, N.C. fessionals. She and her husband, Riley. He lives in Junction City. Andrew George, b’98, manages part- Andrew, b’99, live in University City, Mo. Kimberly Schlie Grunewald, c’97, nerships and business development for Nichole Jeter Wheeler, b’98, is a works in the Attorney General’s Office in Bass Pro Shops. He and his wife, Jennifer, financial systems administrator for HMT Topeka. She lives in Lenexa. live in Springfield, Mo. Inc. in Tulsa, Okla. She and her husband, Joshua Meyer, b’97, is chief financial James Johnson, j’98, supervises man- Jonathan, c’96, live in Owasso.
Profile BY JOE MILLER JOHN HUEY ‘Smallville’ reflects Mack truck. I had to learn how to deal Souders’ Kansas charm with them. And that’s what this job is, a series of Mack trucks hitting you. You hat’s the secret to being need to have a thick skin.” a success in Hollywood? After graduation, Souders moved to For Kelly Souders, it’s California, where she teamed up with being what she calls Brian Peterson, an aspiring screenwriter W“anti-Hollywood.” with a similar middle-America ethos. “Everyone has a stereotype of what They worked day jobs 40 hours a week Hollywood is like,” she says. “Slick, fast- and wrote every night and on weekends. talking, a joke for all occasions. People It was two years before the producers of who scream and yell a lot.” But on the “Smallville” got hold of an unsold script set of “Smallville,” the long-running hit the two had written for “West Wing.” It TV show about Superman’s Kansas was so good, the “Smallville” team called hometown on which Souders is the exec- the duo to work for them. Within a few utive producer, you’ll find a Tinseltown years, Souders and Peterson were run- heavy hitter who’s down to earth and ning the show. respectful. “The fact that I was from Kansas was I “The culture of ‘Smallville’ is very a big plus,” she says. “I was the Kansas similar to the culture I grew up in,” expert. [Peterson and I] would always says Souders, c’94, who lived in Kansas know the right farm equipment. We City, Mo., before moving to Lawrence. “I would be the ones who talked about the think there’s something about Kansas. back 40.” There’s a strong work ethic as opposed Growing up, she spent weekends on a to egotism.” ranch in Belton, Mo., and at KU she ven- She credits KU with giving her the tured to Clinton Lake and into the coun- view each other and respect each other.” tools to build her career. Her professors try. “Those images are seared into my The same is true on the other side of stressed writing is “a profession, not just mind,” she says. “That’s what I think of the camera. Souders’ anti-Hollywood a hobby.” More important, they taught as home.” ways make the crew feel more at home her how to give and take criticism. “We Her knowledge provides more than on the set. were polite and thoughtful, but we were just accurate details; it gives “Smallville” “We have a reputation of being one hard on each other,” she says of her a real Midwestern personality. “My expe- of the best places to work in TV,” she undergraduate writing workshops. “A riences growing up influence my take on says. tough critique is like getting hit by a the show,” she explains, “how people —Miller is a Kansas City freelance writer.
53 Class Notes
1999 Rachel Kesselman, j’99, works as a BORN TO: Danielle Christiano, c’99, m’05, is an senior marketing specialist at FedEx in Stephanie Strycker Crisci, d’99, g’04, assistant professor of medicine at the Memphis, Tenn. and Louis, son, Jacob Donald, Jan. 6 in University of Florida and practices emer- Scott McNichol, c’99, is a supervisory Glenville, N.Y., where he joins a sister, gency medicine at Winter Haven Hospi- senior policy analyst for the U.S. Depart- Madalena, 3. tal. She lives in Haines City. ment of Justice in Washington, D.C. He Megan Shank Harp, s’99, coordinates lives in Frederick, Md. 2000 care at Wesley Medical Center in Aaron Sauder, c’99, works as a sales Rebecca Lang, b’00, is an assistant Wichita. representative for Woodtools of Texas in vice president at UMB Bank in Kansas John Katzer, b’99, g’00, is senior man- San Antonio. City. ager at Deloitte in Denver, where he and Ward Strahan, d’99, g’01, is a physical Emilee Hermreck Katzer, j’03, make therapist for the Athletic and Rehabilita- BORN TO: their home. tion Center in Kansas City. Molly Schimmels Carella, c’00, l’04,
Profile BY CURTIS FLOWERS CLAUDIA HEHR CLAUDIA Keenan is the cat with actually crafted in Ecuador. New York’s coolest hats “Unfortunately it’s a dying craft,” Keenan says of his straw suppliers. “The n a cloudless afternoon, sun- younger people don’t look at straw mak- light pours through the win- ing as something they want to do.” dows of Rod Keenan’s Keenan moved to New York after leav- garden-level millinery show- ing KU, then studied at the Parsons Oroom/studio/headquarters on West School of Design’s Paris outpost before 121st in Harlem, New York City. Stacked, returning to New York’s Fashion Insti- boxed or hanging precariously from the tute of Technology. He took an interest ceiling are dozens of men’s hats and in millinery along the way, making hats each is amazing: sweet, cool, colorful for himself and friends. and impeccably handmade fedoras, tril- He’s been making hats full time now bies, porkpies, boaters and bowlers. This for the past 17 years, and his celebrity is some serious hat candy. client list includes such A-list aficiona- Keenan, ’90, strikingly tall and a Great dos as Brad Pitt. Bend native with a shock of hair that “After we sent the hat he wanted, my I even David Lynch would envy, works business manager sent him 20 more,” handily on six or so hats of varying sizes Keenan says. “He ended up keeping for his Rod Keenan New York line. This about 10 of them and ordering several particular batch is part of a larger order more.” destined for the venerable Barneys New In his studio, just around the corner York, and others will find themselves from his four-story brownstone, Keenan flung far and for sale at exclusive retail- shapes the wetted pieces of fabric over ers in Los Angeles, London, Tokyo, and vintage and custom-made wooden hat seasons past have taken names and Antwerp, Belgium. blocks, stretching, pulling and sculpting inspirations from islands, international Each year Keenan presents a collec- them into shape. After they’ve dried and cities, cocktails, vintage cigarettes, even tion of 20 hats for both spring and fall set, Keenan tricks them out with leather the counties of Kansas. seasons. Those from the fall collection bands, ribbons, feathers, beads, crystals, Chapeaus start at around $600, but are made of felt pressed in the Czech the occasional fishing lure and various there’s also the lower-priced Rod Keenan Republic from rabbit pelts by way of the other accoutrements. Some are subdued, NYC line, designed by him and made in French culinary industry. Spring collec- while others are decidedly not. This a family-run factory. Start saving up. His tions offer up a wildly stylish assortment year’s spring collection centered on lids are wicked. of “Panama straw,” though the straw is Native American and Western themes; —Flowers, j’88, is a New York writer.
54 and Franklyn, l’04, daughter, Olivia directs student athlete services for Geor- the world’s top supercomputers. Rose, June 25 in Olathe. gia Southern University. She lives in Kara Walters, c’03, works as an Statesboro. account administrator for Lockton Bene- MARRIED Travis Roth, b’02, manages finance fit Co. in Kansas City. Michelle Hammer, c’00, g’03, to and is a vice president at UMB Bank in Corey Iken, Oct. 17, 2009, in Kansas City. Kansas City. MARRIED They live in St. Louis. Timothy Bredehoft, p’03, and Debo- BORN TO: rah Finger, e’04, Oct. 17, 2009, in 2001 Jason, b’02, and Sarah BeaverYork, Lawrence, where he is a staff pharmacist c’02, daughter, Harper Patricia, March 8 at Medical Arts Pharmacy. Deborah com- BORN TO: in Dallas. mutes to Kansas City, where she’s an Marcy Robards Hoppes, c’01, and environmental scientist with the Envi- Joshua, daughter, Isabelle, June 30 in 2003 ronmental Protection Agency. Leavenworth, where she joins two sis- Laura Adriance, d’03, manages mar- ters, Sophia, 5, and Kaelyn, 8. Marcy is a keting alliances at FIFA in Zurich, BORN TO: nurse with St. Luke’s Health System. Switzerland. Eva Davis Chevreux, n’03, and Michael, e’01, and Angela Randall, Ryan Cole, d’03, is an outside sales Shawn, g’07, daughter, Scarlett Grace, c’01, daughter, Leona Isabelle, May 25 in representative for the G.W. Van Keppel May 13 in Tucson, Ariz. Lawrence, where she joins two sisters, Co. He lives in Mission. Savannah, 6, and Breahna, 3. Mike is a Lindsay Osborne, c’03, works as a 2004 software developer and project manager physician assistant for Entegrity ENT. Jason Hardy, c’04, serves as a U.S. Air for Computerized Assessments and She lives in Phoenix. Force operations officer in Sembach, Ger- Learning. Mohammad Sindi, e’03, a high-per- many. formance computing specialist at Saudi Jacob Smith, c’04, works as a resource 2002 Aramco in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, devel- planning scheduling analyst for Farmers Jacqueline Irwin, f’02, g’04, PhD’07, oped a tool that estimates the ranks of Insurance Group in Olathe.
55 Class Notes
Shelby Gigous Uhernik, b’04, is a ter- Jeda Hays, d’06, works as a sales asso- 2007 ritory manager for Apex Medical. She ciate in KU’s athletics department. She Nicole Leiker, e’07, is an operations lives in Aurora, Colo. lives in Pratt. manager for SandRidge Energy in Okla- Stacey Nafizger Woolington, g’04, Aimee Luett, n’06, is a registered homa City, Okla. heads the Shawnee County financial nurse at Paradise Valley Hospital in Cortney McKay, c’07, g’09, lives in department. She lives in Topeka with her Phoenix. She lives in Peoria. Lawrence, where she’s a graduation husband, Brad. Amanda Walters Scheufler, c’06, adviser at KU. manages EHS for Abengoa Bioenergy. Amy Simms, b’07, is a financial ana- 2005 She lives in Newton. lyst for General Mills in Minneapolis, Jennifer Polk, c’05, is a VRBO.com Emily Huffhines Webster, j’06, is Minn. sales representative for HomeAway in brand manager for Sullivan Higdon & Austin, Texas. Sink in Kansas City. She and her hus- 2008 band, Mark, c’06, live in Leawood. Diane Basore Borys, e’08, designs BORN TO: Jeff Whelan, b’06, is staff accountant lighting for Sparling/ILA Zammit in San Jennifer Ziskal Williams, d’05, g’08, at Lockton Companies LLC in Kansas Diego. and Jess, son, Emmett Dalan, March 9 in City. He lives in Prairie Village. Elizabeth Cohen, c’08, is a registered Lawrence. Jennifer is a public-school nurse at the KU Medical Center in teacher, and Jess works as a sales repre- Born to: Kansas City. sentative for Crown Distribution in Katie Moyer Coffman, j’06, g’10, and Cameron Manuel, b’08, g’08, works as Topeka. Jake Coffman, c’06, girl, Jovie Luna, July a federal tax associate and CPA at KPMG 17 in Topeka. Katie is editor and team in Kansas City. 2006 leader for Web and social media at KU Lynsay Montour, j’08, is an account Lela Fung, p’06, is a clinical pharmacy Endowment Association, and Jacob is an executive for Edelman in New York City. specialist at Via Christi Regional Medical information specialist at KU. They live in Alex Pouppirt, j’08, works as an Center in Wichita. Lawrence. admissions counselor for KU’s Office of
56
Class Notes
Admissions and Scholarships. She lives in Lawrence. Diana Jennings Schwien, b’08, is an accountant for Johnson County Public Health. She lives in Overland Park. Meghan Sullivan, c’08, j’08, coordi- nates interactive projects for MMG Worldwide in Kansas City. Jennifer McLeod Uhart, c’08, is a compensation analyst for Newmont Min- ing in Greenwood Village, Colo. She and her husband, Mathieu, ’96, live in Castle Rock. Jennifer Wolter, b’08, manages assets for Premiere Asset Services. She lives in Urbandale, Iowa.
MARRIED Marc Hess, e’08, and Kimberly Sed- berry, e’08, Sept. 19, 2009, in Leawood. He is an electrical engineer for Wilson & Co., and she’s a mechanical engineer for Black & Veatch. Their home is in Over- land Park.
School Codes Letters that follow names indicate the school from which alumni earned degrees. Numbers show their class years. a School of Architecture, Design and Planning b School of Business c College of Liberal Arts and Sciences d School of Education e School of Engineering f School of Fine Arts g Master’s Degree h School of Allied Health j School of Journalism l School of Law m School of Medicine n School of Nursing p School of Pharmacy PharmD School of Pharmacy s School of Social Welfare u School of Music DE Doctor of Engineering DMA Doctor of Musical Arts EdD Doctor of Education PhD Doctor of Philosophy (no letter) Former student assoc. Associate member of the Alumni Association
58 BORN TO: lives in Carrollton, Texas. Kyle Martin, d’10, is a PCI compliance John Miller, e’08, and Amanda, son, BlairThornton, PhD’09, is an assistant specialist for Marathon Processing Sys- Michael John, June 9 in Olathe. John is a professor of health and human perform- tems in Lenexa. He lives in Lawrence. design engineer for Dimensional Innova- ance at Austin Peay State University in Thomas Moody, c’10, works as a grad- tions in Overland Park. Clarksville, Tenn. uate teaching assistant at the University Levi Wedel, c’09, is a financial adviser of Iowa. He lives in Coralville. 2009 at Waddell and Reed. He lives in Robby Price, ’10, was drafted in June Walter Koelbel, b’09, is a financial Lawrence. by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 14th adviser for the Renaissance Festival in round of the Major League Baseball first- Bonner Springs. He lives in Kansas City. MARRIED year player draft. The KU second base- Traci McMaster, j’09, c’09, owns Heather Hawkins, s’09, to Jeffrey man was the 401st overall pick. Scheme Events and coordinates sales Jones, Nov. 21 in Ottawa. They live in VictoriaVossler, EdD’10, is assistant and events for Minus5 Ice Lounge. She Shawnee, and she’s an in-home therapist special education director for the Holton lives in Las Vegas. at Crittenton Children’s Center. Jeff Special Education Cooperative. She lives Nathan Pirie, b’09, works as an IT works as a senior developer for a Kansas in Topeka. financial analyst for Blue Cross and Blue City finance company. Shield of Kansas City. He and Sally Associate Doyen Pirie, c’09, live in Olathe. 2010 Matthew Roberson, j’09, is an account Samantha Danna, j’10, is banquet David Shulenburger, assoc., will retire executive for Command Transportation. manager at the Oread Hotel in Lawrence. from his post as vice president of the He lives in Vail, Colo. John Elias, g’10, recently was Association of Public and Land-Grant Sara Sidebottom, b’09, works as an appointed a Presidential Management Universities on Dec. 31. Shulenburger information specialist for Kansas Athlet- Fellow by the U.S. Office of Personnel served more than 13 years as KU provost ics. She lives in Lawrence. Management. He works in the Washing- and executive vice chancellor. He plans Justin Stucky, d’09, is a college scout- ton, D.C., office of the U.S. Secretary of to stay in the Washington, D.C., area and ing intern for the Dallas Cowboys. He Transportation. remain active in higher education policy.
59 in Coldwater. She is survived by three sons; two daughters, one of whom is In Memory Pamela Herd Brink, c’67, g’68; 15 grand- children; and 10 great-grandchildren. Elizabeth Kester Holmer, c’40, 90, Dec. 12 in Wichita. She is survived by 1920s tin Aldis, n’45; three grandchildren; and three sons, Martin, c’67, Chris, ’73, and HelenTrotter, c’29, 101, April 7 in two great-granddaughters. Bruce, c’79; and four grandchildren. Fort Scott, where she was a retired Samuel Alexander Jr., b’47, 86, April Patricia Neal Marquardt, c’40, 91, teacher. Several cousins survive. 23 in Topeka, where he was president April 24 in Wichita. A son and a daugh- and owner of Alexander Brothers Baking. ter survive. 1930s Surviving are two sons, Kenneth III, g’72, Phyllis Collier Matchette, c’43, 88, Barbara Pendleton Gilfillan, c’37, 93, and Kevin, b’74; and three grandsons. April 9 in Prairie Village, where she was April 7 in Rushford, Minn. She is sur- Wayne Anderson, e’42, 90, April 16 in director of communications at Village vived by two sons; two brothers, Al Englewood, Colo. He is survived by three Church. She is survived by her husband, Pendleton, ’49, and William Pendleton, daughters, one of whom is Patricia Robert, ’47; a daughter, Marta Sue c’47, l’57; three grandchildren; and seven Anderson Fanning, d’64. Matchette Hedgecorth, ’87; three grand- great-grandchildren. Juanita Sheridan Boylan, c’44, 87, children; and three great-grandchildren. Edmonda Mercer Logue, d’39, 91, March 20 in Ames, Iowa. She is survived John Meek, c’48, 86, Dec. 24 in Plano, Dec. 19 in Little Rock, Ark. She is sur- by her husband, David, e’43; three Texas, where he was a retired geophysi- vived by two daughters; a son; a brother; daughters; and five grandchildren. cist. Survivors include his wife, Roberta, asister, Evelyn Mercer Etzel, b’45; five Wolcott “Bill” Brock, b’49, 85, April 2 two sons, a daughter and six grandchil- grandchildren; and two great-grandchil- in Sun City, Ariz. He is survived by his dren. dren. wife, Virginia; a son, Bob, ’73; a daughter; Ellen Irwin Minor, c’41, 89, March 29 Harriett Harriss O’Donnell, c’35, 96, three grandsons; two stepgrandchildren; in Irvine, Calif. Three daughters and June 19 in Olathe. She lived in Kansas and four stepgreat-grandchildren. three grandchildren survive. City, where she was a legal secretary and Kenneth Brown, e’49, 84, April 7 in Robert Mize, g’47, 98, April 21 in St. later a pollster for the Democratic Party. Wichita, where he was university archi- Louis. He co-founded Mize, Houser and Charles Razak, e’39, g’43, 91, June 14 tect at Wichita State University. A son Company in Topeka, where he practiced in Wichita, where he was dean emeritus and a sister survive. accounting for many years. Two sons, of engineering at Wichita State Univer- Dorothy Hathway Clasen, c’42, 88, two grandchildren and two great-grand- sity. He is survived by two daughters, one June 25, 2009, in Cincinnati. She is sur- children survive. of whom is Nancy Razak Symes, c’66; vived by her husband, Robert, a son, a Robert S. Mueller, b’42, 89, May 27 two brothers; two sisters; two grandchil- daughter and five granddchildren. in Lawrence. He was a certified public dren; and two great-grandchildren. Billie Jarboe Davis, b’42, 90, April 20 accountant for more than 30 years, Theodore Sharp, c’31, 100, April 24 in in Kansas City. She was one of the first including managing partner of Sinder- Wichita, where he was a retired attorney. two female cheerleaders at KU, and her son, Henning and Mueller in Kansas He is survived by four daughters, one of original sweater is on display at Allen City and later as senior partner of whom is Madeline Sharp Tollefson, Field House. Survivors include two sons, Arthur Young in Kansas City, Mo. He assoc.; four grandchildren; seven great- one of whom is Larry, ’66; a daughter, served as a trustee of KU Endowment grandchildren; and two stepgrandchil- Debbie Davis LeGrotte, ’82; seven grand- and as national president of the Alumni dren. children; and seven great-grandchildren. Association. He also was a member of Betty Gayle SimsVoorhees, c’36, Francis Followell, b’48, 87, June 14 in the Adams Alumni Center Planning g’65, 95, April 13 in Leawood, where she Leawood, where he was a retired stock- and Building Committee and the center’s was a former teacher. Surviving are two broker. Surviving are his wife, Natalie; Board of Governors. He received the daughters, Linda Voorhees Snodgrass, and a son, Christopher, j’86. Fred Ellsworth Medallion in 1981 for d’67, and Gayle Voorhees Stuber, d’82; Joe Gregory, b’42, l’49, 89, Feb. 13 in his service to KU. A memorial has been six grandchildren; nine great-grandchil- Fort Scott, where he was retired from established with KU Endowment. He is dren; and two great-great-grandchildren. Western Insurance. He is survived by his survived by his wife, Charlotte, assoc.; wife, Janet; three sons, Jeffrey, p’78, Gor- two daughters, Martha Jane Mueller 1940s don, c’79, and Gilbert, c’83, b’86, l’86; Gentry, c’75, d’76, and Mary Beth William Aldis, c’42, m’44, 89, April 17 several grandchildren; and two great- Mueller Doughty, j’79; four grandsons; in Mission, here he was a retired surgeon. grandsons. a granddaughter; and a great-grand- He is survived by his wife, Kathryn Mar- Margaret Rich Herd, ’43, 89, April 19 daughter.
60 George Owens Sr., c’47, 84, April 5 in 1950s wife, Ruth, assoc.; two sons; a daughter; Lake Lotawana, Mo., where he was a Wade Arthur, c’51, 83, June 23 in two sisters; and five grandchildren. retired businessman. He is survived by Overland Park, where he was an under- Edward Fizpatrick Jr., b’50, 81, May 2 his wife, Lorraine, three sons, a daughter, writer for Farmers Insurance. He is sur- in St. Joseph, Mo., where he owned IHP six grandchildren and a great-grand- vived by two brothers, Charles Jr., b’39, Industrial. He is survived by his wife, daughter. l’47, and James, e’54. Matilda Poe Fitzpatrick, assoc.; four sons, Eileen O’Connor Piller, f’48, 84, April Myron Bernitz, e’59, 72, Dec. 25 in one of whom is Michael, ’79; two daugh- 28 in Olathe. She is survived by her hus- Tupelo, Miss., where he was retired plant ters; two stepdaughters; a stepson; three band, Bob, b’49; two sons, Lynn, c’72, engineer for Dyno Nobel and later had sisters; and 14 grandchildren. and Thomas, a’74; two daughters, Helen worked for Home Depot. Surviving are William Fuqua, e’55, 85, April 18 in Piller Seymour, c’76, g’93, and Judith his wife, Virginia, four sons, two daugh- Torrance, Calif., where he was a retired Piller Feldner, ’82; and eight grandchil- ters and three grandchildren. engineer. Two sons and six grandchildren dren. Boyd Burns, c’50, 82, May 7 in survive. Benjamin Shore, b’49, 88, April 6 in Chanute, where he had been a real-estate Robert Guenter, a’56, g’62, 81, Feb. 23 Lawrence, where he was retired from a and insurance agent. He is survived by in Lincoln, Neb., where he was a retired career with several chambers of com- his wife, Jane; a son; and two daughters; professor of architecture at the University merce. Three sons, nine grandchildren one of whom is Stephanie Burns of Nebraska. He is survived by his wife, and eight great-grandchildren survive. Choplick, ’87. Barbara, three sons and several grandchil- Hazel Konantz Stapleton, c’43, 87, Robert Carl, j’50, 82, June 19 in Dal- dren and great-grandchildren. April 7 in Olathe. She is survived by two las, where he was a sales and marketing Bernard Hausherr, b’50, l’53, 97, March sons, Bruder, c’68, m’72, and Jack, m’80; executive. He is survived by his wife, 27 in Evergreen, Colo. He had been an three daughters, Susan Stapleton Foster, Linda, a son, two daughters, a sister and attorney for the state of Kansas. Survivors ’71, Rebecca Stapleton Sandhaus, d’74, seven grandchildren. include a son, Bernard, e’71; a daughter; s’81, and Mary Stapleton Lauber, c’86; a Patricia Jansen Doyle, j’51, 80, Jan. 18 three grandchildren; and a great-grand- sister, Marilyn Konantz Miller, d’41; nine in Richmond, Va. She had been educa- daughter. grandchildren; and seven great-grand- tion editor of the Kansas City Star and Art Kaaz Jr., b’52, 79, April 17 in children. Times and director of programming for Lawrence. He had lived in Leavenworth Gregg Stock, c’48, 85, June 14 in Kansas City Public Television. She later and was founder and president of Kaaz Kansas City, where he ran Stock Equip- became active in the arts in Cleveland, Holding Company. Survivors include his ment Co. He is survived by his wife, where she helped launch the rebirth of wife, Martha; a daughter, Nancy Kaaz Sarah Smart Stock, ’49; two daughters; a PlayhouseSquare and raised money for Shagoury, d’95; two sons; two sisters, Mar- son; five grandchildren; and a great- several performing arts organizations. jorie Kaaz Dunn, d’57, and Mary Ann grandson. Two nephews and two nieces survive. Kaaz Conklin, b’55; and two grandchil- PaulThayer, ’42, 90, May 6 in Dallas, George Edberg, PhD’59, 84, June 29, dren. where he was former chairman and CEO 2009, in Oreland, Pa., where he was pro- Priscilla Schartz Kannarr, e’59, 73, of LTV Corp. He earlier had been a test fessor emeritus at Temple University. A April 18 in Napa, Calif., where she was pilot, becoming the first pilot to barrel sister survives. retired from a career with H&R Block. She roll a Boeing 737, and later served as U.S. Claude Ellison, f’56, 79, Sept. 19 in is survived by three sons, one of whom is deputy secretary of defense under Presi- Rapid City, S.D. He was a retired arts and Wiley, c’90, l’95; four grandchildren; and a dent Ronald Reagan. He received KU’s crafts director with the U.S. Air Force. great-granddaughter. Distinguished Service Citation in 1979. Surviving are his wife, Carol Jean Daehler Maxine Moody Kirmeyer, f’51, 82, Sept. Survivors include his wife, Margery, and Ellison, assoc.; two daughters; a sister; 2 in Redding, Calif., where she founded a a daughter. and two grandsons. school for fiber studies. She had taught Keith Wilson Jr., c’49, l’51, 82, June 23 Otto Elser, m’53, 82, June 21 in Fair- basket making and fiber arts at universi- in Denver. He was a partner in New- way, where he was a retired physician. ties and workshops across the country. house, Shaffer & Wilson in Independ- He is survived by two sons; a sister, Ruth Three daughters, two sons, two step- ence, Mo., and served as city manager of Elser Harold, n’56; and a grandson. daughters, two stepsons and six grand- Independence and as Missouri assistant Donald Endacott, c’55, 76, April 26 in children survive. attorney general. Survivors include a Lincoln, Neb., where he was a retired Robert Lindenmeyer, p’50, 92, April 3 daughter, Leslie, c’82, and a sister. judge. He is survived by three daughters; in Crown Point, Ind., where he was a Vivian Catts Woolpert, c’42, 88, April a son; a brother, Richard, c’60; and six retired pharmacist and former minister. 19 in Kansas City, where she had worked grandchildren. Surviving are his wife, Hazel, a daughter for Hallmark Cards and for IBM. A son Dorsey Evans Jr., f’52, 79, Feb. 17 in and a brother. and a daughter survive. Washington, D.C. He is survived by his John Luttrell, e’52, 81, May 25 in
61 In Memory
Darien, Conn., where he was retired vice daughter; 12 grandchildren; and four Loris Ober Keady, d’66, 75, June 19 in president of Mobil worldwide explo- great-grandchildren. Kansas City. She taught special educa- ration and producing. A memorial has Betty Clair FosterYohe, d’51, 80, tion in Pittsburg for more than 20 years. been established with KU Endowment. June 28 in Villa Park, Calif., where she Survivors include her husband, Charles, Surviving are his wife, Thelma, two sons, was a homemaker. She is survived by her two stepdaughters and a stepson. a daughter and five grandchildren. husband, Spencer, b’50, l’54; three sons, Gary Reed, b’60, 77, June 20 in Bon- Leonard Morti, e’56, 76, April 14 in El Thomas, e’73, John, b’77, and Robert, ner Springs. He lived in Concordia, Mo. Dorado, where he was a retired petro- b’82; two brothers, Richard, c’55, l’58, Survivors include two sons, two daugh- leum engineer. He is survived by his wife, and Robert, ’60; five grandchildren; and ters, a stepson, a stepdaughter, a brother, Marilyn, assoc.; two sons; a sister; and a three great-grandchildren. 24 grandchildren and four great-grand- grandchild. children. Clay “Bud” Roberts Jr., b’53, 78, April 1960s Edward Richards, PhD’63, 81, Oct. 17, 17 in Kansas City, where he was active in James Bray, m’61, 79, Dec. 3, in Salem, 2009, in Jonesboro, where he was retired civic and philanthropic causes. He was a Ore., where he worked for the Oregon after teaching at Arkansas State Univer- 2005 inductee into the Mid America Division of Mental Health and had sity for 31 years. Survivors include his Education Hall of Fame and had served served two terms as president of the wife, Beverley Cobb Richards, c’59, g’62; on the Kansas City Board of Utilities and National Association for Mental Health a son; two daughters; and four grandchil- the Kansas City Area Chamber of Com- Program Directors. He is survived by a dren. merce. Surviving are his wife, Judy; two stepdaughter, a stepson, 19 grandchil- Edwin Sanders, d’66, 65, March 30 in sons, one of whom is Reid, ’86; a daugh- dren, four stepgrandchildren and two Lancaster, Calif. He had been a product ter; two brothers, Donald, d’50, and great-grandchildren. manager for Nouvag USA. A daughter, Ronald, d’50; a sister, Barbara, c’47, c’48; James Brooks, d’62, g’68, 69, May 3 in three sisters, a brother and four grand- and two grandsons. Cumming, Ga. He lived in Marietta and children survive. Kent Sanborn, b’54, 77, Jan. 17 in worked in the turf-grass industry. Sur- Thomas Scanlin, c’66, l’69, 65, May 11 Rolla, Mo., where he owned Sanborn vivors include his wife, Marilyn Mueller in Stafford, Va., where he practiced law Equipment. He is survived by his wife, Brooks, d’63, g’68; two sons; two broth- and was a real-estate broker. He is sur- Carolyn; two sons; a daughter, Dana San- ers, one of whom is Jeff, ’70; and two vived by his wife, Bonnie; a daughter, born D’Arcy, ’85; a stepson; a sister, grandchildren. Christine Scanlin Dobson, c’93; a son; Linda Sanborn Spangler, ’53; and eight Jean Danielson, PhD’65, 77, in New his father; two sisters, one of whom is grandchildren. Orleans, where she was a professor of Barbara Scanlin Armbrister, d’69, g’82; Marilyn More Smith, d’53, 78, July 4 political science and director of the hon- and four grandchildren. in Glen Ellen, Calif., where she was active ors programs at Tulane University. She PaulYancy, c’63, 70, Jan. 6 in Kansas in small-theatre productions. She is sur- was the first woman to received a doctor- City. He had worked for Honeywell, Pills- vived by her husband, Robert, m’56; four ate in political science at KU. A brother bury and Xerox. Survivors include his daughters; a son; and 10 grandchildren. survives. wife, Therryl Holland Yancy, ’67; two Richard Spreitzer, c’54, 77, March 3 in Larry Fritter, c’67, 64, April 10 in sons; a daughter; and two grandchildren. Cordova, Tenn., where he was retired Prairie Village, where he co-owned SOS from the U.S. Marines. He also had Printing and had worked at United 1970s taught small-business administration at Office Products. He is survived by his Margery Baustian Bakalar, g’71, 83, State Tech. He is survived by his wife, wife, Cookie; a daughter, Trisha Fritter April 19 in Overland Park. She taught Betty, three sons and two grandchildren. Meyer, c’92; his mother; a sister; and two school for 38 years and tutored students Richard “Dick” Wilson, b’55, 78, July grandchildren. for 20 years after retiring. She is survived 17 in Lawrence, where he was retired Louise Few Henderson, d’61, 70, May by two sons; two daughters, one of after a 35-year career with Travelers 8 in Evergreen, Colo., where she was a whom is Jane Roberts, assoc.; a sister; Insurance. He competed in track and retired clinical psychologist. She is sur- a brother; 10 grandchildren; and two field and cross country at KU and was a vived by her husband, James, e’60, g’62; great-grandchildren. member of the 1953 national champion two sons; and three grandchildren. Frank Bibb, g’78, 61, April 6 in cross country team and the four-mile James Hodgkinson, e’60, 78, April 6 in Topeka. He had been director of bands at relay team that set a U.S. record. In 2003, Bartlesville, Okla., where he was retired Northern Illinois University, California he was ranked second in the nation and from Phillips Petroleum Co. He is sur- State University, Nebraska Wesleyan fourth in the world in his age group. A vived by his wife, LaVerne, assoc.; two University and Bethany College.Sister memorial has been established with KU daughters, one of whom is Nancy Marie Coleman, g’71, 89, July 3 in Con- Endowment. Survivors include his wife, Hodgkinson Dowe, d’76; a sister; and cordia. She became a Sister of St. Joseph Joan Fink Wilson, d’53; two sons; a four grandchildren. in 1939 and was given the name Sister
62 Mary Natalie. She later returned to her Phoenix, where he had practiced interim provost and dean emeritus of arts baptismal name, Marie. She taught nephrology. He is survived by his wife, and sciences at New Mexico State Univer- school for 30 years and later became a Anita, m’85; a daughter; his parents; a sity. He earlier had taught Latin American prison chaplain and counselor. brother, Jay, b’82; and three sisters, one history and been associate dean of arts Larry Hahs, a’77, 62, May 25 in of whom is Karin Chang-Rios, PhD’07. and sciences at KU. Surviving are his Phoenix. He is survived by his wife, Kris Kahnert, e’83, 53, March 8 in wife, Mary Margaret Hardman Gale, c’46; Melody; three sons, one of whom is Wichita, where he had been an engineer two sons; and three grandsons. Matthew, c’05; two daughters; two step- with Cessna and Spirit Air. He is survived Mark Hirschey, 58, July 18 in Pequot, daughters; four stepsons; and 11 grand- by his wife, Yu Hong, a son, a daughter, Minn. He was a professor of business at children. two brothers and a sister. KU, where he had taught since 1988. A Jeffrey Kolchinsky, a’75, a’78, g’87, 56, memorial has been established with KU April 3 in Prairie Village. He owned 1990s Endowment. He is survived by his wife, Kolchinsky Architects in Olathe and is Brenda Klemp Hanly, f’92, 44, April Christine, a son, two daughters, his survived by his wife, Melinda Merrill 30 in Overland Park. She is survived by father, six brothers, and five sisters. Kolchinsky, s’76, s’84; a daughter; his her husband, Carl, c’90, b’90; two daugh- Jerry Lewis, b’53, g’58, 78, June 1 in mother; and a sister. ters; her parents; and two sisters. Lawrence, where he had been associate Ann Marshall Levine, PhD’77, 78, Karl Savage, g’97, 40, April 7 in Silver dean of arts and sciences, directed the March 27 in Lawrence. She was the first Spring, Md. He taught English at Walter KU Alumni Association’s Kansas female superintendent of the Kansas Johnson High School in Bethesda. Sur- Honors Program and been an assistant Neurological Institute. She is survived by vivors include his wife, Julie, a son, two professor of business. He is survived by her husband, Bruce, four daughters, daughters, his parents, two sisters and his wife, Janice Lamme Lewis, ’78; a son, three of whom are Ruth Baer, c’80, six brothers. Jeff, ’80; two daughters, one of whom is Miriam Baer, c’81, and Deborah Baer Scott Woodard, s’91, 59, Sept. 18, Jacqueline Lewis Kieffer, c’89; and four Sevart, j’84; a brother; and two grand- 2009, in Clearwater, Fla., where he was a grandchildren. sons. social worker specializing in drug and Robert Nelson, ’44, 88, April 9 in Lois Ruhl Miller, s’72, s’90, 60, April alcohol rehabilitation. A brother and sis- Lawrence, where he was program 25 in Mission, where she was a social ter survive. coordinator for KU’s continuing educa- worker. She is survived by a daughter; tion department for many years. He is her mother; and three sisters, two of 2000s survived by his wife, Eleanor Womack whom are Mary Ruhl, h’75, and Martha Marc Hough, ’10, 24, April 11. His Nelson, assoc.; three stepdaughters, two Ruhl Vyhanek, d’81, g’97. home was in Olathe, and he was a KU of whom are Linda Womack Johnson, Pamela Castor Roberts, j’70, 62, April senior studying business IT. Survivors ’77, and Constance Womack Simon, ’73; 22 in Wichita, where she owned Nou- include a daughter, his father, his three sisters, Elizabeth Nelson Talbert, veau. She is survived by her husband, mother, a half-sister, a stepsister and his ’46, Laura Nelson Savage, c’50, and Roger; two sons; her father, Robert Cas- grandparents. Clara Nelson Hagerman, c’53; and five tor, b’47, l’49; a brother, Robert Castor, Tad Melichar, g’01, 34, April 7 in Den- grandchildren. ’73; a sister, Melinda Castor Korte, ’80; ver, where he was an occupational physi- Robert Sudlow, f’42, 90, March 25 and four grandchildren. cal therapist. He is survived by his in Lawrence, where he was a professor James Selzer, l’77, 61, May 23 in Lee’s parents and a sister, Amy Melichar Scav- emeritus of drawing and painting at Summit, Mo. He had been managing uzzo, d’95, g’99. KU. His paintings are included in the partner at Stinson, Morrison and Hecker. Simeon Weltmer, m’07, 29, April 14 collections of numerous museums, and He is survived by his wife, Barbara Selzer, in Smith Center, where he was a pedi- two books, Landscapes in Kansas and ’81; two sons, one of whom is Kevin, l’08; atric intern. Survivors include his wife, Spiritual Journeys: The Art ofRobert two brothers, one of whom is David, Jennifer, a son, his parents and a brother. Sudlow, have been published about his g’75; and a grandson. work. He received the Kansas Governor’s Jenifer BaldridgeThackery, s’79, 60, The University Community Artist Award in 1974 and was named April 21 in Galesburg, Mich., where she Marie Zepplin Cross, 89, June 21 in Kansan of the Year by the Native Sons had been a social worker. She is survived Lawrence, where she was a professor and Daughters of Kansas in 1997. Sur- by her husband, Ray; a daughter; two emerita of nutrition at KU. She is sur- vivors include his wife, Barbara Keeler sons; a brother, Richard Baldridge, c’77, vived by a son, Frank, c’77; two daugh- Sudlow, d’57; a son; three daughters, c’84; and four grandchildren. ters, Betty, c’79, m’83, and Julie Cross one of whom is Amy, ’97; a stepson; Hoko, ’87; and three grandchildren. two stepdaughters; a sister, Alice Sudlow 1980s Thomas Gale, 84, July l, in Las Ash, ’46; two grandchildren; and 10 Douglas Chang, m’85, 50, March 23 in Cruces, N.M., where he was former stepgrandchildren.
63 Rock Chalk Review
“Outsiders who will tell you the truth—play- wrights need that.”
STEVE PUPPE When Lim retired in May to devote more time to his own writing, a pair of faculty members suggested founding a scholarship for KU stu- dents in his name. He had another idea: Make it a national award supported by the KU Endow- ment Association but administered by the Kennedy Center. The Paul Stephen Lim Asian-American Playwriting Award honors an outstanding play written on any subject by an Asian-American student. The playwright receives $2,500 fora full-length play or $1,000 for a one-act, a fellow- ship to attend the KCACTF Summer Playwriting Intensive, membership in the Dramatists Guild, and the possibility of contracting with Dramatic Publishing to publish, license and market the winning play. Lim is supporting the award while KU Endow- ment works to raise $50,000 to endow the fund, Act II and he traveled to Washington in April to present the inaugural award to Edgar Mendoza of Retiring EAT founder leaves a gift Carnegie Mellon University. Mendoza hails from for young playwrights the Philippines, where Lim grew up before mov- ing to the United States in 1969. “It was really quite wonderful,” Lim says. I A new award for aul Lim knows what winning an award “Obviously it touched me very deeply. It was just student playwrights at the from the Kennedy Center American fortuitous the fellow turned out to be from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) can Philippines, and it was subject matter I was some- College Theatre Festival mean to a developing playwright. what familiar with.” PSince founding the English Alternative Gregg Henry, co-manager and artistic director honors Paul Lim, longtime director of KU’s English Theatre at KU in 1989, the year he joined the of KCACTF, says Lim had a “profound impact” on Alternative Theatre. faculty full time, the English professor and noted college theatre. “EAT certainly has been the tent playwright has helped students submit their pole for new writing in the Great Plains region. plays to the annual festival, which holds competi- It’s an inspiration to other universities because of tions for student dramatists in eight regions. Paul’s commitment to new writing and taking his Regional winners advance to a national contest students’ work further. For someone to step up at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing with the kind of advocacy he has for his students’ Arts in Washington, D.C. playwriting is a rare thing—not just at KU or that Lim himself won a national award in 1976 for region, but nationwide.” his play “Conpersonas.” Through the years, 27 of Lim founded English Alternative Theatre to his KU students won regional honors and three give students something more than class readings took national prizes from the festival. to help them improve their work. ”What’s really good about this festival is we “I knew, from my experience as a working get people from outside the University who playwright, that it’s necessary to get trained know theatre telling us what we’re doing right actors in a performance space in front of some and what we can improve,” says Lim, c’70, g’74. kind of audience,” he says. “Student playwrights
64 can learn by working with the actors and role in interpersonal communication directors and from watching the people since 1991, draws on her own research Personal Connections watching their plays.” and that of fellow social scientists. Her in the Digital Age When he became a full-time faculty goal: To pull together in one book the member, Lim had been writing a play a large body of research she and her col- by Nancy K. Baym year. But the demands of teaching and leagues have gathered on the Internet’s Polity Press, running a theatre cut his productivity. role in our lives—research that too often, $19.95 paperback “Teaching is all consuming, and there she says, gets left out of the debate. was very little time left for me to be cre- “There’s so much popular discussion ative,” says Lim, whom KU named a and speculation and strong statements Chancellors Club Teaching Professor in made about how technology is affecting 2005. “Even the act of helping somebody our relationships for better or worse,” on by all the new technology, Baym again edit a work, that too is creative. At the she says. “A lot of research evidence has sees a mix of good and bad: Social net- end of the day part of those creative been gathered, but it doesn’t enter the working allows people to maintain more urges have been satisfied, and there’s not discussion because the media tend to relationships than in the past, making it as much incentive to do fresh work.” focus on extremes that make interesting easier to reconnect with old friends and Lim hopes retirement will change stories.” keep up friendships with friends who’ve that: He is currently researching two Instead of examining sensational sto- moved. Texting has led to a change in the plays, one focusing on issues raised by a ries that grab headlines, Baym looks at way people manage their schedules. sexual harassment case at KU in the the mundane effects communication “People can organize on the go instead of early 1980s. technology has on our everyday routine. planning ahead,” Baym says. But that —Steven Hill Research shows that some popular freedom comes with a price. “There’s beliefs—that you can’t trust people you more pressure to be available all the NNN meet online, for example, or that people time, which leads to the boundaries who spend a lot of time on sites like between work and private life breaking Facebook have no social life offline— down.” Everyday digital aren’t backed up by data. Baym (whose research has included In fact, studies show that people find analyzing New Yorker cartoons to see Professor’s book examines it easier to be honest via e-mail than face how the popular media portray the Inter- tech effect on communication to face, and those who engage in virtual net’s impact on personal relationships) communities tend to socialize even more tries to synthesize the current scholar- acebook, Twitter and instant in the real world. ship on technology and interpersonal messages are the best things that In terms of larger social shifts brought communication. Making the research ever happened to personal com- accessible to a nonacademic audience, munication—or the worst, she hopes to present a case for a more Fdepending on whom you ask. nuanced debate of technology’s role in
New technologies bring change, and STEVE PUPPE our lives. change tends to cause great fear or great “The point is not to answer every- hope: So it was with the telegraph and thing, because we don’t have all the the telephone, and so it is now with cell answers,” Baym says, “but to give people phones and the Internet. a way to think about this in terms of Nancy Baym, associate professor of what we actually know instead of what communication studies, offers another we are afraid of or what we hope for.” view in Personal Connections in the Digital In that she succeeds. Baym engages Age: Digital media are both good and general readers while staying firmly bad, but mostly in-between. grounded in research, bolstering her “We expect technology to be very argument by mixing anecdotes and pop- influential, and make things better or culture references with citations. Personal worse,” Baym says. “In fact technology is Connections in the Digital Age is a worthy just one of many influences. It makes —and highly readable—source for anyone some things better and some things wanting a comprehensive overview of the worse, but mostly it just makes things a I Nancy Baym’s comprehensive survey of issues, challenges and opportunities of little different.” Internet scholarship disproves cherished myths the digital revolution. Baym, who has studied the Internet’s about social media’s role in our lives. —Steven Hill
65 Rock Chalk Review
I Rex Buchanan and University Press of Kansas released updated editions of his classic guide-
STEVE PUPPE books to the geology, culture and history sur- rounding Kansas highways and byways.
edition, is a mile-by-mile “geologic log” of Interstate 70. As is the case with Roadside Kansas, Kansas Geology is meant to accompany its owner on all manner of statewide adventure. And the adventurer can rest assured that the author has put in the miles required to make both books authoritative classics, even if he’s grumpy about it now. “If there was an easier way to do this other than drive the thing, I would have around the state, especially excellent done it,” Buchanan says. “I tried all the Roads more traveled Mexican and Vietnamese fare now found tricks. I tried Google Earth; I tried any- in what was once the meat-and-potatoes thing I could think of. I suppose it Updated classics help heartland of southwestern and far west- should be my idea of a good time, since I Kansans explore home ern Kansas. obviously like to travel, but drive it by “In some respects the eating is better, yourself in the middle of winter and the f your copy of the 1987 first edition which is all I care about, and all anybody thrill wears off pretty fast.” of Roadside Kansas remains perched cares about, really,” Buchanan says, Or, savor it mile by mile, in the glories pristinely on a tidy bookshelf, then flashing the wit that invariably animates of spring and fall, with a pair of excellent there’s little reason to spring for its his conversations. “Jim and I did this guidebooks riding shotgun, and the Ilatest edition. But for those who treated book originally for ourselves, or for thrill would never fade—especially know- Roadside Kansas as intended—“dog-eared, people like us. What we were interested ing an enticing new diner awaits in the stuffed in a cubbyhole and taken every- in, we thought other people would be next town down roadside Kansas. where,” in the words of co-author Rex interested in, too. When you look off in —Chris Lazzarino Buchanan—then it’s time to get hold of a the distance and see an elevator, long-awaited second edition, published you want to know what town it is. in March by University Press of Kansas. Plants. Animals. Some history. For the new edition, Buchanan, “We thought all this stuff was Roadside Kansas, interim director of Kansas Geological maybe not important, but mildly second edition Survey, based in Moore Hall on KU’s interesting.” West Campus, retraced—milemarker by Roadside Kansas has proven to By Rex Buchanan milemarker—all 2,600 miles of Kansas be a perennial seller, as has and James McCauley highways that the book explores. One Buchanan’s Kansas Geology, origi- University Press of Kansas, example of updates in the new edition is nally published in 1984. As he did wind farms; they didn’t exist when with Roadside Kansas, Buchanan $14.95 Buchanan and co-author Jim McCauley, updated the entire book, and the c’70, g’73, PhD’77, now retired from revised edition was published in Kansas Geology, KGS, first traveled the long roads May by UPK. second edition together. Both are intended for general Buchanan also updated statistics such audiences, though Kansas Geology, Edited by Rex Buchanan as population shifts, oil and gas produc- lacking commentary on diners University Press of Kansas, tion, new ethanol plants and industrial and community museums, is also centers. Typical of his broad interests, he suitable as a reference for working $19.95 also notes with personal satisfaction the geologists. A notable section of growth in high-quality ethnic restaurants Kansas Geology, updated for this
66 long on a tabloid do you?” From Sterling to Fleeson became known for finding stories first, including the feud between national stardom U.S. Supreme Court justices Hugo Black and Robert Jackson, both vying for chief Biography traces saga of Kansas justice (and both snubbed by President journalist who thrived Harry Truman). She also got the inside in Washington D.C. track on the nomination of Thomas Dewey in 1946. Her minute-by-minute f you’re known by the company you account of the scene at Truman’s elec- keep, then Doris Fleeson earned a tion headquarters captured the drama of biography. Confidante of Eleanor I University Archives at the Kenneth Spencer that fateful first Tuesday in November: Roosevelt, H.L. Mencken and politi- “Very quietly, the small chat, the busy Research Library houses the collection of Icians for nearly four decades, Fleeson, pencils, the radio bulletins, the news photos and personal papers from Fleeson, ’23, exchanged vivid letters with news- flashes, ate the hours as the cool Manhat- makers. Her correspondence shares including this photo of the columnist with tan dawn crept through the windows. equal billing with her newspaper President John F. Kennedy. Coffee was served; someone passed out columns in Carolyn Sayler’s book. tablets guaranteed to keep you awake And, as the title declares, Fleeson until the final answer came. There were earned a biography in her own right—as reporter Frank Dolan, the episode no latecomers; the news was apparently a brave (sometimes brazen) professional. helped her win her own byline. still untrue to the world at large.” Refusing to be put in her place, she Flamboyance became Fleeson’s trade- In her foreword, biographer Sayler staked out a new place for women in mark in her personal life as well. After quotes KU professor of journalism journalism. covering New York’s colorful mayors Calder Pickett, who in 1978 wrote glow- She began her career as a reporter Jimmy Walker and Fiorello LaGuardia, ingly of Fleeson for Kansas Alumni: “If with the New York Daily News and Fleeson later led the Daily News’ bureau there is any 20th-century journalist later wrote 5,500 columns for national in Washington, D.C., teaming with her whose identity I want in the possession syndicates. husband and colleague John O’Donnell, of my students it is Doris Fleeson. The youngest of six children, Fleeson whom she later divorced and fought bit- “For Doris Fleeson was—and is—my grew up in Sterling and followed a terly in court over custody of their brother and sister to KU, where good for- daughter, Doris. tune placed her in the company of fellow Though Sayler cannot confirm or Doris Fleeson: Incomparably students and University Daily Kansan deny that Fleeson and feisty journal- the First Political Journalist staffers Ben Hibbs, c’23, future editor of ist H.L. Mencken were romanticaly the Saturday Evening Post; future KU involved, Sayler’s sampling of their of Her Time chancellor Deane Malott, c’21; and Fred correspondence provides insight by Carolyn Sayler Ellsworth, c’22, who went on to lead the into two journalists known for KU Alumni Association. Fleeson idolized preening in print as well as in Sunstone Press, legendary economics professor John Ise, person. After seeming to flirt with $24.95 c1908, c1910, but even he could not per- Mencken for years, Fleeson, who suade her to remain in Kansas. covered World War II in England, Fleeson followed her beloved older announced her plans to marry William journalistic passion. ... Her column sister, Elizabeth, c’13, g’15, to New Clark, a New Jersey judge serving with a ranked with any of them—not as ivory Haven, Conn., and later found work with British army unit. Then she abruptly told tower as that of Lippmann, maybe, but small papers in the suburbs of Chicago Mencken of a change: oh, how she could write, and how she and New York and, by November 1927, “It transpires that Mrs. Clark didn’t could dig.” she was reporting for the Daily News. get the divorce she wrote two years ago Sayler chronicles not only Fleeson’s She first gained notice as a “stunt girl,” to say she was getting so that is in a state career but also the stories of leading jour- posing as a Smith College student, com- of suspended animation, so to speak. ... I nalists of her era. The tales will trigger plete with rented raccoon coat, to investi- understand the gossip columnists at smiles and nods of recognition for any- gate the disappearance of a student, home are having a field day with me and one who sat in Flint Hall, enthralled by Frances Smith, who later was found that has brought out all the Kansas in Pickett’s “History of American Journal- dead. Though the results of Fleeson’s me. I hate it! You don’t suppose God is ism” lectures. sleuthing were published by senior getting back at me for having worked so —Jennifer Jackson Sanner
67 Glorious to View
I Thanks to a green canopy courtesy of its many majestic hardwood trees, Marvin Grove offers shady sanctuary from the late summer sun.
Photograph by Earl Richardson
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