FALL 2020 FALL THE ALUMNI MAGAZINE OF MEMPHIS UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE SCHOOL l THE ALUMNI MUS TODAY
CRUMP’S LEGACY INSPIRING ARCHITECTURE
THAT ENDURES 1
105909_MUS today magazine.indd 1 12/7/20 2:28 PM Senior Class President Will Woodmansee led the Class of 2020 procession onto Hull-Dobbs Field for a combined Baccalaureate and Commencement ceremony in Stokes Stadium June 20 to the accompaniment of the Wolf River Pipes and Drums corps. The open-air ceremony – approved by the Shelby County Health Department – provided an opportunity to celebrate the class amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
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105909_MUS today magazine.indd 2 12/7/20 2:28 PM Photo by Wendy Adams
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105909_MUS today magazine.indd 1 12/7/20 2:28 PM MUS TODAY THE ALUMNI MAGAZINE OF MEMPHIS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL l FALL 2020
FEATURED THIS ISSUE
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5 Met Crump ’60 has made his architectural mark on Memphis – and MUS
12 Scooter Taylor ’11 launches virtual network to connect young professionals
14 Introducing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee Chair Curtis Johnson
19 Class of 2020 graduates in Stokes Stadium, with pipes, drums, and fireworks
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105909_MUS today magazine.indd 2 12/7/20 2:28 PM musowls.org/media
IN EVERY ISSUE ON THE COVER HEADMASTER Peter D. Sanders 18 Student Lauds Since 1988 Met Crump ’60 has made his mark architecturally on BOARD OF TRUSTEES 29 Faculty News MUS as his Crump Firm Architects James F. Burnett ’83, Chairman Glenn A. Crosby II ’77, Vice Chairman has designed seven campus 38 Board News Chris R. Sanders, Secretary buildings. Ever the creative 44 Class News & Milestones D. Stephen Morrow ’71, Treasurer director, Crump suggested James H. Barton, Jr. ’85 61 Gifts in Memory and Honor this photo be taken under the R. Earl Blankenship archway of the Sue H. Hyde Sports Andrew F. Cates ’89 and Physical Education Center Edward J. Dobbs ’89 overlooking Stokes Stadium – both Crump designs. William B. Dunavant III ’78 Photo by Donny Granger of Creation Studios Robert M. Fockler ’77 P. Trowbridge Gillespie, Jr. ’65 Samuel N. Graham II ’80 J. Brett Grinder ’91 Director of Advancement Editor Mark J. Halperin ’67 Robert J. Hussey III ’81 Perry Dement Liz Copeland Margaret C. McLean [email protected] [email protected] Jeffrey B. Meskin Johnny B. Moore, Jr. Director of Alumni and Inside MUS Managing Editor Richard C. Moore III ’98 Parent Programs Rebecca Greer Joseph M. Morrison ’78 Ann Laughlin William E. Orgel ’81 [email protected] Creative Director Wiley T. Robinson ’75 LeeAnn Christopherson Frederick C. Schaeffer, Jr. ’88 William V. Thompson III ’95 Philip S. Wunderlich ’90
Contributors ALUMNI ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE BOARD Andrew A. McArtor ‘86, President Wendy Adams, freelance photographer based in Memphis Edward L. Simpson ‘85, President-Elect Shanon Bell and Jamila Lisbon, freelance photographers based in Atlanta Scott S. Adams ’02 W. Preston Battle IV ’07 Daniel Black ’18, Mississippi State student and freelance writer Christopher P. Beard ‘84 Christopher Blank, WKNO-FM news director and freelance writer Jeffrey Block ‘94 Grant Burke, Chair of the Arts Department Albert B. Carruthers II ‘78 Horace L. Carter ‘89 Greg Cravens, freelance illustrator based in Memphis Derek M. Clenin ‘03 Donny Granger, photographer, owner of Creation Studios, Memphis George R. Coors II ‘09 Donald D. Drinkard, Jr. ‘98 Jack Kenner, freelance photographer based in Memphis J. Elliot Embry ‘04 Kathy Daniel Patterson, freelance photographer based in Memphis Emmel B. Golden III ‘97 Gaye Swan, freelance writer based in Memphis J. Wesley Grace ‘86 Robert G. Heard III ‘76 Kristopher C. Horne ‘92 W. Ben James ‘99 Lucius D. Jordan III ‘83 Edward D. Lake ’13 W. Neely Mallory IV ‘07 Founded 1893 Jay P. McDonald, Jr. ‘00 William M. McDonald Jr. ‘97 MISSION STATEMENT Gregory P. McGowan ‘86 Memphis University School is a college-preparatory school dedicated to academic excellence, cultivation of Kelly L. McGuire ‘70 service and leadership, and the development of well-rounded young men of strong moral character, consistent Robert B. Preston ‘78 with the school’s Christian tradition. M. Shannon Rhodes ‘90 Gideon L. Scoggin ‘95 © 2020 Memphis University School. All rights reserved. The name, seal, and logos of Memphis University School, as well as MUS Today, James E. Sexton III ’14 Inside MUS, The MUSe, The Owl’s Hoot, The Owl, and Beg To Differ, are registered marks of Memphis University School and use in any manner is prohibited unless prior written approval is obtained from Memphis University School. Jasmail Singh ‘12 Alexander H. Snyder ‘06 George J. Sousoulas ‘78 George V. Steffens IV ’98 Reid W. Wesson ‘06 3
105909_MUS today magazine.indd 3 12/7/20 2:28 PM FROM THE HEADMASTER
Gaming the Pandemic
One brilliant fall day on our beautiful 94-acre campus, that way this year and wanted you to know this event is a real several groups of masked students gathered on Webb Field winner.” armed with oversized slingshots and water balloons. Stretching I could not agree more with the observations of Mr. the launchers back, they hurdled the balloons toward pairs Abrahams and Mr. Stalls. From March through May, when of classmates attempting to catch the missiles in slings. I did school was all-online, our boys had limited, in-person contact not see any caught, but that was not the point. The guys were with school peers and with mentor adults outside their having fun … together, with their coach cheering them on. immediate family members. Watching the organized fun Over on Rogers Field, students were playing Spikeball. On around campus this semester is proof positive of the value this Thorn Field, a hot game of Wiffle ball was in play. And there portion of the day provides. There is also great worth in the was kickball, Pickleball, cornhole, archery, Family Feud, and downtime the “Student Lounge” rotation facilitates for our even Civic Service Organization sandwich-making going on, as boys. I have seen students in the Dining Hall “Lounge” – spaced the campus was given over to X-Games, a collection of faculty- apart – talking about classwork or the previous weekend’s and staff-supervised activities organized several times each games or getting in some last-minute study time before a test. week. The purpose is to give boys a break from the classroom I give great credit to the teachers and administrators who and time interacting, while observing precautions these times foresaw, during those jam-packed planning weeks of summer, dictate. (See page 16.) the need for scheduled diversions in the COVID era. It is time Since we cannot gather en masse, X-Block, which precedes well spent. the games, has taken the place of traditional chapel assemblies. As I write this, we are preparing to welcome nearly all Boys stay in their classrooms and watch videotaped our students back on campus (October 26) after conducting announcements and speaker presentations created by a half- the first 10 weeks in a concurrent/hybrid model, with half our dozen students under the direction of Technical Director of students on campus and half learning online in rotating two- Theater Robert Fudge. There have been some great ones, day shifts. We made the decision to fully open campus because including Instructor in English Norman Thompson’s interviews we know in-person interaction – as much as it can be safely with TIME Editor/CEO Edward Felsenthal ’84 and bestselling provided – is the best way for our boys to learn and develop author Hampton Sides ’80. A series of faculty presentations into men of character. examining the year 1963 and Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter We do not know what tomorrow will bring, if COVID-19 from Birmingham Jail” and the “I Have a Dream Speech” – conditions will dictate a return to concurrent learning or to our all-school read selections – has been compelling and all-online learning. We continue to offer the online option for enlightening. families with health concerns (about 9 percent at this point), Director of Counseling Joe Abrahams ’96, the recipient of and we are committed to giving their boys the best experience this year’s Hale Award for Outstanding Service (see page 29), possible through our robust virtual teaching platforms. We helped develop and organize X-Block and X-Games, along with remain diligent in following safety measures on campus while a contingent of dedicated faculty and staff members. carefully monitoring the health of the community. Whatever Why interrupt the school day with these activities? With happens, we are ready. boys wearing masks and staying socially distanced, even in And as much as possible, our faculty and staff will provide classrooms, they can feel disconnected. opportunities for positive interaction inside and outside the “Our boys need interaction with one another and classroom, in person and virtually. Because, as we hear over with teachers and coaches to get the most out of life,” Mr. and over from our alumni, the relationships they formed at Abrahams says. He cites the landmark Harvard Study of Adult 6191 Park Avenue bring them happiness and fulfillment Development, begun in 1938 and still ongoing, that has shown to this day. the key to happiness and fulfillment is community – healthy Go, Owls … together! relationships. Instructor in Math Phillip Stalls observed his students the first time they tackled the water balloon slingshot game: PETER D. SANDERS “Before the event, they were not looking forward to any activity, HEADMASTER wanting to just hang out and study. They returned very excited [email protected] and worked up from the fun they’d had. I haven’t seen them
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105909_MUS today magazine.indd 4 12/7/20 2:28 PM LAND MARK ARCHITECT Designing for some of Memphis’s largest institutions for 50 years has made Met Crump’s firm an institution itself
By Christopher Blank
5 Photo by Donny Granger/Creation Studios
105909_MUS today magazine.indd 5 12/7/20 2:29 PM isneyland had just opened to the public. Elvis was at Sun Studio inventing rock ‘n’ roll. And “The Boys of Summer,” the Brooklyn Dodgers, were Dheaded for a fabled World Series win. In the minds of nearly a hundred teenage boys from across Memphis, however, the groundbreaking summer of 1955 would best be remembered for another culminating moment. On an early September morning, they traveled out past the old city limits to a cluster of new buildings, on what just six months earlier had been 94 acres of vacant pasture. The smell of fresh paint greeted them. The Crump Firm leadership team, from left: Scott Hatley, senior project manager; Sue Mad- For eighth grader Met Crump ’60, den, CFO; Walt Reed, VP architecture; Jennifer Campbell, senior interior designer; Met Crump, that first day of school – and in fact, the chairman/CEO; ReJohn Lartigue, senior architect; Virginia Norman, VP interior design; David first day of the school itself – made such Hoback, president an impression that, 65 years later, it’s hard to tell who benefited more from the present and energizes boys who already a modest bronze plaque notes the introduction: the boy or the institution. have incredible energy.” headquarters of The Crump Firm. Given Crump’s fingerprints – and blueprints For Crump, design is inherently the ubiquity of that name in Memphis – are all over the campus as the architect about interaction – creating places history, the marker might be assumed who brought Memphis University School where people can meet, think, and work. to have originated with the century-old into the 21st century. He’s a strong adherent of architectural facade. “The space is designed to inspire mise-en-scène. students to learn and teachers to teach,” The distinguished barrel-vaulted says Crump, whose master plan has ceiling and elegant chandeliers in guided and unified the last three decades the Dining Hall, he says, elevate the of growth. “The spirit of the campus conversations (and possibly the table reflects the quality of the education.” manners) of diners. A Greco-Roman The seven buildings The Crump Firm amphitheater outside gives al fresco has designed for MUS since 1988, along lectures and performances classical with renovations to original structures, import. The Upper School’s Morrison add up to no less than a total revival of Courtyard, inspired by Italian piazzas, the campus. encourages socializing during an “We had to do something,” says academic intermezzo. Headmaster Emeritus Ellis Haguewood. Astride the entrance to the Sue H. “Our buildings were literally falling down.” Hyde Sports and Physical Education Haguewood says Crump’s deep Center, the massive Romanesque arch affection for his alma mater made him invites gladiatorial comparisons. the right person for the job. The alumnus “It’s both welcoming and also understood the language of the authoritative,” Crump says. “If you’re on project, or the statement it would be an opposing team, you pass through this making. arch and feel the might of it. To me, it “We wanted to tell outsiders that says: ‘MUS is here to stay.’” important things are going on here,” Haguewood says. “And if you look at the ARCHITECTURE THAT ENDURES campus now, it harks back to the past, Near the entrance of a Beaux-Arts to the best of what humanity has written style building on Monroe Avenue, and achieved. But it’s also alive to the halfway between Front and Main,
Crump, a drummer in the MUS Jazz Band, was
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105909_MUS today magazine.indd 6 12/7/20 2:29 PM IT’S HARD TO TELL WHO BENEFITED MORE FROM THE INTRODUCTION: the boy or the institution.
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105909_MUS today magazine.indd 7 12/7/20 2:29 PM in 1955. two ears and one mouth, so you always Neither law nor politics appealed to have to do twice as much listening as Met, who spent his childhood summers t a l ki n g .” on shady Tuckahoe Lane in East Memphis Call it Lesson No. 1 of the architecture assembling models out of cardboard and business; it’s also the starting point for treehouses out of scrap wood gathered any new project at The Crump Firm, from around his growing neighborhood. incorporated in September 1970 – 50 years “There was never a structural failure,” ago this fall. he asserts, reflecting on those early Since its founding, the firm has engineering experiments. designed more than 400 buildings in The Campus Center Dining Hall elevates the dining experience with a vaulted ceiling One of his first “clients” was his Boy 37 states. With a staff of 31, including and chandeliers. Scout troop. During one camping trip, the 10 licensed architects, it has drafted adults floated the idea of building a cabin. blueprints for corporate headquarters, Charles Metcalf Crump, Jr. is a sixth- “Well, if you’re going to build a cabin, theaters, churches, government buildings, generation Memphian and the great- shouldn’t it be big enough for a patrol of, and of course, schools. grandson of Charles Metcalf, originator say, 12 of us, to sleep in?” he remembers of what is the city’s oldest continuously interrogating the leaders. “And shouldn’t operating law firm, Apperson Crump. there be room for storage? A place to cook Met’s third cousin was E.H. “Boss” Crump, a meal? A porch to sit on when it rains?” the city’s influential mayor and political After assessing his troop’s needs, the kingmaker. tenderfoot sketched out a plan. They built Met’s father, Charles M. Crump ’30, it the next weekend. a well-known Memphis attorney who “The basic approach is the same practiced law into his mid-90s, graduated today,” he says. “You have to understand Above, Stokes Stadium, overlooking Hull- from the old campus of MUS, and was a co- what the client needs, and you do that by Dobbs Field; below, the Sue H. Hyde Sports founder of the re-established school asking questions. The good Lord gave us and Physical Education Center
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105909_MUS today magazine.indd 8 12/7/20 2:29 PM “In a way, you’re always defined by your last project,” Crump says. “Which means you are constantly learning something new; every project is unique.” Helping Owls Crump’s office is well-suited to both his aesthetic and organizational philosophies. Everyone, including himself, works in high-walled cubicles that take Take Flight advantage of natural light pouring in through large, he new MUS was only three ground-floor windows. years old when Instructor The openness of the space is conducive to in English Bill Hatchett teamwork, and teamwork is the most essential factor in decided to cross the Atlantic designing the complex, multipurpose facilities that have Twith a group of students for summer changed the topography of a city. travel and study. The 1958 excursion Tens of thousands of Memphians visit Crump Firm via ocean liner would become the buildings every day. first of 15 trips Hatchett would lead Their occupants include students and faculty at to Europe. Met Crump ’60 was one MUS, Lausanne Collegiate School, St. Mary’s Episcopal of 15 students on that inaugural eight- School, Rhodes College, St. Benedict at Auburndale week adventure, which was conceived High School, Craigmont Middle, and the University of as a classical expedition to Troy; Memphis’ FedEx Institute of Technology, among others. Hatchett formulated the idea during They range from executives of FedEx, International his sophomore English students’ Paper, ALSAC, and Smith & Nephew to denizens of the extensive study of The Iliad (MUS Shelby County Jail Annex next to 201 Poplar. Century Book, page 119). But the Each year, thousands more take in shows and trip ended up encompassing travel in concerts at the Halloran Centre and the Bartlett England, France, and Italy as well. An Performing Arts Center. Owl’s Hoot article on the trip noted, “Certainly after the whole affair, MUS [was able to claim] 15 more educated young men.” The adventure would prove unforgettable for Crump. “The tour introduced me to hundreds of important, historic buildings,” he said. “It galvanized my decision to become an architect.” Forever grateful for that formative and inspirational experience, Crump decided in 2019 to establish an endowment fund in memory of Mr. Hatchett to provide scholarships for students to participate in similar study/travel programs offered by the school. Earnings from the endowment will provide grants for students to participate in study abroad led by an MUS teacher or otherwise sanctioned by the school. Students must apply for the travel grants, which are awarded with the approval of the school administration. Whether they end up becoming architects, artists, or something else entirely, future Owl adventurers are sure to be inspired.
– Marci Woodmansee
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105909_MUS today magazine.indd 9 12/7/20 2:29 PM In 2021 the firm’s architects will the implementation has been really endeavors. He wrote articles for The complete the $412 million Advanced successful.” Owl’s Hoot newspaper and played football Research Center at St. Jude Children’s Crump says the theme of alongside his younger teammate and Research Hospital – the firm’s third major collaboration is built into the future FedEx founder Fred Smith ’62. design for the campus and its largest. architecture. An avid Dixieland jazz fan, Met also The state-of-the-art hub for scientists “The building is designed to be a played drums in a band with classmates from around the world will bring enough big community space, where the world’s and would later be voted “Most Talented” new jobs to St. Jude to warrant a major greatest biomedical researchers can come by his peers. increase in faculty and staff. together and solve difficult challenges,” He capped his sophomore year French “Met is a really, really good Crump says. “I guess if you were going class with an eight-week school trip to collaborator,” says John Curran, St. Jude’s to ask me our mission statement, it Europe and returned a true Francophile. director of design and construction. “We would be five words: Creating Inspiring That experience led to a degree in French put a lot of faith in the firm’s ability to Architecture that Endures.” at The University of the South at Sewanee. work with engineers and consultants to He was later appointed Honorary get everything right. This is a building APPLIED TALENT Consul of France in Tennessee by the that is really big, but also staggeringly There were just six classrooms the French government and performed State beautiful, with an eight-story-tall day Met Crump started at MUS. But the Department duties out of his office for atrium. From a design perspective, tiny prep school propelled his creative three decades. While working on his master’s in architecture degree at Harvard University in 1964, he won a Rotary fellowship to study for a year in Paris at the famed Ecole des Beaux-Arts. CRUMP’S “Harvard professors were very analytical,” Crump says. “But at the Beaux-Arts, it was all about architecture as art. As a bonus, the Beaux-Arts taught FINGERPRINTS us to conceptualize designs and to draw quickly. So returning to Harvard, I found I had more free time and was able to gain additional practical experience by working – and blueprints – part-time for local architects.” During the 1960s, concrete, brutalist structures were en vogue with academics, and while Crump had written scholarly ARE ALL OVER papers on the form, he returned to Memphis with the knowledge that success in architecture here would likely rely more on the aesthetic principles he had learned during his year in Paris. THE CAMPUS Recalling how artists and architects have long prized the mild, north-facing light to illuminate interiors, he designed his first solo commission, the former Holy Apostles Episcopal Church in Hickory Hill, with enormous clerestory windows offering congregants a wide view of the heavens. The church won an Honor Award from the American Institutes of Architects, Gulf States Region. During Rhodes College’s 1980s expansion, Crump’s firm was asked to
Dramatic Georgian architecture frames the Campus Center.
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105909_MUS today magazine.indd 10 12/7/20 2:29 PM St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Advanced Research Center, set to open in April 2021, will have eight floors of laboratories for up to 1,500 biomedical research scientists.
submit two proposals for a new music “The founders of this school building. One would be a budget-minded understood that even before you start to contemporary brick and glass structure. build a building, something important The other, a pricey stone-clad, slate- has to justify it,” Haguewood says. “The roofed building that blended seamlessly architecture of a school doesn’t need to be with the school’s timeless Collegiate … a form of propaganda. Something great Gothic style. was already here, and Met was able to The college’s board not only chose capture that and expand on it.” the latter, it permanently settled on the These days, Crump leaves most of theme. the actual design work to his team, whom “It was right after Hassell Hall was he considers the most essential asset in an built that the Rhodes College board industry tethered, for better or worse, to passed a formal resolution to keep the economy. the entire campus in the same style,” But wherever he travels, Met still Crump said. “And today you can see the carries a sketchbook. Collaborative areas in the Advanced Research importance of that decision.” “Nothing gives you a deeper Center overlook an eight-story atrium. Crump’s firm would eventually appreciation for something, whether design seven new Rhodes buildings, it’s a medieval cathedral or a beautiful including the dramatic Buckman Hall on courtyard, than just sitting and drawing to learn, travel, explore, and create, North Parkway, and renovate 12 others. what you see,” he says. Crump says his firm’s body of work, built Headmaster Emeritus Haguewood Crump hopes the campus will inspire to stand the test of time, represents one of says that by the time Crump’s firm was and motivate MUS students for years to his life’s guiding principles. asked to help create a master plan for come. His grandson, Charles M. Crump “Talent is useless unless it’s applied,” the MUS campus in the 1990s, Met’s III ’25, – a fourth-generation Owl – is he says. “And for me, that’s about figuring reputation for absorbing institutional one of them. out what you love to do, and then doing values was well-established. For someone with a natural impulse what you love.”
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105909_MUS today magazine.indd 11 12/7/20 2:29 PM n March 13, 2020, Scooter Taylor ’11 boarded a plane for Memphis to surprise his mother for her birthday and spend a few relaxing days with Ofamily. He had recently made the difficult decision to step down as CEO of the start-up company he had launched with high hopes four years earlier. Connecting After working nonstop to build Looklive into a thriving e-commerce and culture platform, Taylor was acting as a marketing consultant to media companies in Los Angeles while he explored new opportunities. As he flew back to his hometown, he had no idea that his next opportunity would come just a few the Dots days later. After learning all flights from Memphis had been cancelled indefinitely Scooter Taylor turns a pandemic because of COVID-19, Taylor began making plans to consult with clients into a worldwide portal to virtually when he heard from close friend Tre’von Hill. A fellow Morehouse College graduate with a successful career in technology, Hill invited Taylor connect young professionals to join him in an online conference. After the event, the two friends had a conversation that would change the course of their careers. By Gaye Swan 12 l MUS TODAY FALL 2020
105909_MUS today magazine.indd 12 12/7/20 2:29 PM “We realized we could pull together revenue from YouTube – his first step into working day and night,” Taylor said. “I our own virtual conferences, and for the the world of entrepreneurship. used the muscles I’d built from MUS, next four days we worked around the After graduation he chose Morehouse Morehouse, my YouTube channel, and clock to plan it,” Taylor said. “Our goal was College because it shared an important Water Wars. I loved it, but after four years, a digital conference for Black creatives characteristic with his alma mater: I was ready to step away. I’ll admit, I was and entrepreneurs to hear from experts “I was not just a number at MUS or scared to death! I had no idea what I and build connections. We figured we’d at Morehouse. The smaller campuses would do next.” get 500 people if we were lucky.” fostered real relationships and a After considering several possibilities, Taylor and Hill began planning on community.” Taylor opted for consulting and made Tuesday, March 17. Three days later, A marketing major, Taylor embarked the move to from Atlanta to Los Angeles they announced a lineup of impressive on his next entrepreneurial enterprise in January 2020. Although he says he speakers, including Jason Geter from while still in college. With his college enjoyed the work and the improved salary, Grand Hustle Records, Jewel Burks roommate, Jarrad Lawson, and Hill, he he felt like something was missing. In Solomon from Google Startups, and founded Water Wars Atlanta, a student- QuarantineCon, he found his passion and Bea Dixon from The Honey Pot. And on led nonprofit dedicated to ending the had no second thoughts about quitting Sunday, March 22, they welcomed more world’s water crisis. consulting to give it his all, including than 4,400 professionals from around the “The first goal for Water Wars was making the move back to Atlanta at the world to the online presentation. to raise money to provide clean water to end of August. From this germ of an idea, areas in sub-Saharan Africa,” he said. “But “It ties back to what I learned at MUS, QuarantineCon was born. In the past six I also wanted to have fun bringing people walking the halls and seeing the names months, the virtual portal for network together.” of alumni who had built value and taken building and career development has To that end, Taylor set a second ownership of something important,” offered 70 events to young professionals goal for his nonprofit: to break the world Taylor said. “What am I going to own? struggling with the effects of a pandemic record for largest water balloon fight. What am I going to do that will inspire on their careers. He envisioned 12,000 students throwing future MUS students?” No easy feat, but for Taylor, building 300,000 water balloons, paying $5 each for Taylor was among the Owl Black QuarantineCon in such a short period of the privilege. Water Wars reached out to alumni who agreed to participate in time is a testament to the experience he other colleges and universities in Georgia a June 2 videoconference with school has gained over the years, starting with and partnered with The Water Project, leaders to discuss issues of race. his time at MUS. Inc., a nonprofit that provides access to Afterward, the Diversity, Equity, and His experience at 6191 Park Avenue clean water in sub-Saharan Africa. Inclusion Committee was established and began as he was supporting his sister, On one hand, Taylor says he considers began regular meetings to address DEI Sequoia, when she was a Hutchison Water Wars to be a failure, as the water objectives. (See related story, page 14.) School student (Class of 2004) and Owl balloon fight did not get off the ground “MUS will continue to be a leader cheerleader. “I never met a stranger, so and the nonprofit fell far short of his goal. in the city if it focuses on inclusion at a I talked to everyone at those basketball He is proud, however, that money raised deeper level,” he said. “The school has an games. I first met Mr. [Lin] Askew there, through various crowdfunding efforts important role in fostering respect and and when I walked into his office during over the next three years helped over accepting diversity. When I went to MUS, my admissions process for seventh grade, 3,000 people to gain access to clean water. the only Black women there were the I felt like I was coming full circle.” Equally important, he says, are the lessons cafeteria workers. The names of the men Taylor, who was the Student Council he learned about starting and running a that had buildings named after them were president his senior year, said he business – and about himself. all white. That needs to keep changing.” discovered his love of technology while “It was hard, but I knew I had to be QuarantineCon will need to change in at MUS. Fascinated by the concept of able to get back up and start over,” he said. the coming years, too, he added. Taylor is connecting marketing and technology, “And the experience opened a lot of doors eager for the other side of the pandemic, Taylor built a YouTube channel called for my next project, Looklive.” but he is happy to be a part of making MacintoshTipz, a series of videos Taylor conceived Looklive as a connections that will allow professional reviewing the latest tech gadgets. He blend of culture and technology. Begun networks to become stronger. ended up with over 20,000 subscribers and as a platform for shopping the look of “Whatever happens next in the world, a favorite celebrity, it has grown into I will look for the best opportunity, the Pictured left, Scooter Taylor and fellow a channel to give subscribers tools to best path forward, whether it is remote or Morehouse College alumnus Tre’von Hill. monetize their social media influence. in person,” he said. “QuarantineCon is Photo by Shanon Bell and Jamila Lisbon “Working your own start-up means just getting started.”
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105909_MUS today magazine.indd 13 12/7/20 2:29 PM Introducing DEI Committee Chair Q. Describe your high school experience. Curtis Johnson A. Holy Spirit Prep is a small Catholic high school that bears similarities to MUS. I was a member of several nationally recognized honor societies, a multisport athlete with fair participation in local service projects, and I held a part-time job to assume some responsibility for the increase in my mom’s car insurance. Of the 56 graduates from my high school’s Class of 2010, I am one of eight Black students. I am grateful for my education and the social experiences it afforded me. My “Go, Owls” is “C-Pride” (short for Cougar Pride), and through my teenage years, I absorbed every bit of it. I want to qualify my experience by saying there is danger in generalizing from a single story. Q. What do you mean? By Liz Copeland A. Accounts by alumni at independent schools across the country have shone a bright light on incidents that reveal negative urtis Johnson, chair of the newly initiated Diversity, Equity, aspects of school cultures – issues that and Inclusion Committee, brings to his role both personal and cannot be resolved in an instant. Each one professional experience in DEI initiatives. Serving as assistant of my peers at Holy Spirit has his or her C own story to tell. I discovered this over the director of College Counseling since July 2019, Johnson graduated from Holy summer when I visited with them and joined Spirit Preparatory School in Atlanta. He earned a bachelor’s degree in art discussions about their experiences – some at the University of the South at Sewanee, and he was the were very different from mine. The reality school’s first Black quarterback. of differing experiences has been amplified Before coming to Memphis University in conversations this summer and fall with MUS Black alumni as well as with people School, he was senior assistant director of who identify with other ethnicities. While admission at University of the South, where he expressing gratitude for the education worked on DEI recruitment and training and they received, many have shared stories of cultivated partnerships with community- challenges they faced – along with a desire to make the situation better for current and based organizations focused on diversity, future students. equity, and inclusion. He also served as an advisor to the first historically Black Greek Q. You mention that alumni of organization on campus. other ethnicities and cultures Johnson was among the faculty members have spoken to you about present on a June 2 Zoom call in which nearly 50 Black alumni gave voice to past experiences difficulties they faced as at MUS. He has since been networking with students. How do DEI efforts alumni, students, and members of apply to them? the committee working on DEI A. There’s a particular emphasis on Black life objectives. We spoke with him at this moment, and we must recognize that. about his perspectives and Because of recent events, the burden experiences. of inclusion is falling overwhelming on Black people now to raise awareness on
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105909_MUS today magazine.indd 14 12/7/20 2:29 PM the importance of diversity, equity, and halls, and multiple advisory groups inclusion; and to increase representation in comprising students, parents, alumni, Q. Describe your family’s the job market, on governing boards, and in and faculty. By providing time and space involvement with civil rights policy-setting. If we are working for equity for all stakeholders, we can assure that issues. and inclusion, other marginalized groups a wide variety of experiences within our must be part of the conversation, as well. community are included. Shared voice is A. My grandfather, Curtis Thomas, Sr., was shared power. the president of the NAACP Q. Why are diversity, equity, in Thomasville, GA. He was invited to Q. What curricular and faculty the White House for Lyndon Johnson’s and inclusion important for a signing of the Civil Rights Act in 1964, school? professional development and he corresponded with U.S. Rep. John opportunities have been Lewis about voting rights in the ’70s – a A. We all benefit from diversity of thought, subject that’s still relevant today. My great- culture, interests, and backgrounds. The initiated? uncle, Ozell Sutton, was an escort for the ethnic diversity of MUS continues to A. A curricular opportunity that has been Little Rock Nine when they integrated grow, and this year 29 percent of students in the works since fall 2019 is the Owls Little Rock Central High School in 1957, self-identify as members of a minority Read selection of Dr. Martin Luther King’s and he was in the room adjacent to or multiracial. We want a place where “Letter from Birmingham Jail” and the Martin Luther King when the civil rights all students feel accepted socially, where “I Have a Dream” speech. Highlighting leader was assassinated. He received the everyone is performing to the best of these works read by the entire school is Congressional Gold Medal from President their ability. We as a community must a series of X-Block presentations – the Barack Obama in 2012 for being among the acknowledge and recognize difference. digital version of chapel talks – that focus first Black Americans to serve in the U.S. From there we can embrace and ultimately on the year 1963, when King wrote these Marine Corps. celebrate it. works. Classroom discussions after the talks help students process the material Q. How does the group plan to presented. During In-Service Week in engage the larger community August, the faculty and staff participated in a videoconference focused on “Teaching in this work? for Equity and Justice,” presented by A. We are doing our best to hear from Facing History and Ourselves, and we have everyone. We are planning surveys, town another session planned for February.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
The school’s DEI Committee was launched this summer. The group meets biweekly to address the following goals relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion:
• Identify current strengths and needs at MUS • Seek input from the school community, which began with the June 2 Zoom call with Black alumni • Seek advice from the greater Memphis community; establish relationships • Develop units for faculty professional development • Develop programming for students • Identify curricular opportunities • Make recommendations to the Strategic Plan Steering Committee
COMMITTEE MEMBERS Director of Counseling Joe Abrahams ’96, Lower School Athletic Director Matt Bakke, Director of Communications Liz Copeland, English Department Chair Elizabeth Crosby, Assistant Director of College Counseling Curtis Johnson, History Department Chair Jonathan Jones, Social Studies Instructor/Coach Orlando McKay, Counselor Amy Poag, Assistant Headmaster Barry Ray, Assistant Director of Admissions Glenn Rogers, Assistant Director of Annual Fund and Alumni and Parent Programs Karen Skahan, Science Department Chair Analice Sowell, Maintenance Director Fred Taylor, Basketball Head Coach David Willson ’99
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105909_MUS today magazine.indd 15 12/7/20 2:29 PM OWL GAMES In these days of masks and social distancing, boys need time and space to be boys. X-Games, initiated during the 2020-21 school year, provide a welcome break for Owls several times a week.
Photos by Wendy Adams
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105909_MUS today magazine.indd 16 12/7/20 2:29 PM 17
105909_MUS today magazine.indd 17 12/7/20 2:30 PM
THE LAUDS
HOME
BRINGING
BRINGING HOME THE LAUDS Puri’s Research Published in Journal Arjun Puri ’20 analyzed an ancient board game called Goose, and his article was published in the Spring 2020 issue of UMAP, The Journal of Undergraduate Mathematics and Its Applications. Using probability theory, Markov chains, and the transition matrix (obtained with the help of Owl Ethan Lam ’19), Puri was able to determine average number of moves to finish from any square for one player and the average length of the game with multiple players. His article made the cover of the journal; all additional articles were by professional mathematicians and doctoral students.
15 Owls Earn National Merit Honors Fifteen Owls from the Class of 2021 have been recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Ten semifinalists are among 16,000 students nationwide honored for outstanding academic promise. Warren Barry Wesley Butler Leo Campbell Dutch Hansen Braxton Hart The semifinalists are Warren Barry, Wesley Butler, Leo Campbell, Dutch Hansen, Braxton Hart, Cullen Lonergan, Samy Paul, Ryan Peng, Will Schuessler, and Max Shackelford. Selected for their scores on the PSAT, these scholars rank among the top 1 percent of students Cullen Will Max taking the test their junior year. Semifinalists will compete Lonergan Samy Paul Ryan Peng Schuessler Shackelford for some 7,500 scholarships worth more than $32 million that will be offered next spring. Five seniors – Hart Gowen, Cooper Grinspun, Colin McCown, Edwin Shy, and Tamaz Young – were recognized as National Merit Commended Scholars. The PSAT scores for these young men ranked in the top 3-4 Cooper percent nationwide. Hart Gowen Grinspun Colin McCown Edwin Shy Tamaz Young
Huang Awarded Morehead-Cain Hart Chosen for National Jonathan Huang ’20 earned a place in Jazz Ensemble the Morehead-Cain Scholarship program Trombonist Braxton Hart ’21 has at the University of North Carolina - Chapel been selected for the 2020 National Association for Hill. The scholarship covers all expenses Music Education All-National Jazz Ensemble. for four years of undergraduate study plus He has been invited to the All-National Honor summer enrichment experiences, including Ensembles program November 5-8 at the Gaylord travel abroad, in which students are Palms Resort & Convention Center in Orlando, FL. encouraged to explore their interests. Earlier this year, the musician was named 1st Chair Huang joins a select group of scholars chosen for Trombone for the Tennessee All-State Jazz Band. their leadership, character, academic achievement, “Braxton is easily one of the most naturally talented young and physical fitness. A National Commended Scholar, musicians I’ve ever come across,” Director of Music Matt Tutor ’91 he served as a Student Ambassador, Peer Tutor, and said. “His making the All-National Jazz Ensemble is an impressive percussionist in the orchestra (earning placement in achievement, and one that I expect Braxton will eclipse again the 2020 All-State Concert Band). and again.”
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105909_MUS today magazine.indd 18 12/7/20 2:30 PM Photos by Wendy Adams
Graduation Class of 2020 accepted to Alfresco Accepted to BY LIZ COPELAND 148
Despite the cloud of a pandemic, colleges and universities the Class of 2020 celebrated in 33 states, the District of in style – and in person Columbia, Canada, and the UK
Jalen Gunter
105909_MUS today magazine.indd 19 12/7/20 2:30 PM Thomas Pitts
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105909_MUS today magazine.indd 20 12/7/20 2:30 PM n ominous cloud threatened Stokes Stadium a few minutes before a combined Baccalaureate 48 A and Commencement ceremony was set to begin the evening of June 20. Colleges of Matriculation But as the bagpipe strains of e Rowan Tree reached the ear and banner-carrying Senior Class President Will Woodmansee caught the eye, the shadowy cloud had delivered only a slight coolness to the masked and socially distanced family 15 members in the stands and on the track. Recognized by National e celebration – planned with Shelby County Health Department approval Merit Scholarship Corp. to allow for health protocols in this age of COVID-19 – remained dry. With the exception, surely, of a few bittersweet The seniors, including Charlie Gilbert, tears. got temperature checks before entering. Seven pipers and two drummers marched in step past a double row of 30 robed and masked teachers. Woodmansee, righteousness, sharing grace and mercy Average ACT and two followed by Headmaster Pete Sanders with others.” perfect scores and Board Chairman Sam Graham ’80, Headmaster Pete Sanders led the procession of candidates as they encouraged the class to remember their (58% scored 30 or higher) led past their parents and into rows of teachers, their friends, and the school chairs spaced 8 feet apart on Hull-Dobbs motto: Veritas Honorque. “May those Field. And their graduation exercises – at two words inspire you to walk the high long last –began. ground,” he said. e ceremony was one month later “Remember that God promises to be than originally scheduled, and it was a with you always … in your joyful moments 83% good ve miles from Second Presbyterian and in those anxious moments when Scored 4 or 5 on AP Exams you feel alone, and perhaps lost. Always, Church, but the break in tradition paved (through 2019) the way for the Class of 2020 to celebrate always know that you are not alone. an in-person graduation during the “And remember that this campus pandemic. is your home for life. We will always remember you and you will always be part HOPE-FILLED BACCALAUREATE of this special school community.” Student Council Chaplain Knox Instructor in Religion Clay Smythe 12 McQuillen led the Baccalaureate portion ’85 o ered a prayer for a class “born with the Invocation. “Dear Heavenly amid the domestic terror of 911 and Athletes signed to play Father, we thank you for this beautiful now leaving home for college – we hope at the college level day and the opportunity we have to be – within the international pandemic of here together,” he said. “We are eternally COVID-19 and our national fury tearing grateful for the blessing that it was to go to the already frayed social fabric of our school here. I pray that each of us continue dynamic, imperfect, but striving American to be men of truth and honor and pursue experiment.” He nished, in part, with this supplication: “Establish the works of their 36 Wolf River Pipes and Drums accompanied hands as you soon scatter them to the four Seniors lent their talents the Class of 2020 as they processed into corners of the country. Give them eyes to Stokes Stadium and took their properly see and ears to hear what is true, what is to stage Noises Off and distanced seats on Hull-Dobbs Field. beautiful, and what is good.” Guys and Dolls
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Second Presbyterian Church Youth HISTORY-MAKING COMMENCEMENT of you today.” Director Kevin McQuillen urged the class Beginning the Commencement Valedictorian Rob McFadden spoke to be beacons of hope. “May the God of portion of the evening, Arjun Puri about the work ethic and perseverance he hope fill you with all joy and peace as you delivered the Salutatory Address. “As I learned at MUS, and he encouraged his trust in him, so that you may overflow sat to compose this message, I realized classmates to apply these characteristics with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” that one feeling kept bursting to the fore, to their future endeavors, especially in (Romans 15:13) amplified by the chaos and suffering helping others. that engulfs the world around us today: “There are so many people battling gratitude. Gratitude toward our mentors, so many struggles; there are so many teachers, and coaches. … You gave us the tragedies and challenges facing our city, resources to dream, to dare, and to strive.” our country, and our world,” McFadden Puri acknowledged Class of 2020 said. “You all are going to have many honorary member Bill Taylor, retiring opportunities to improve people’s lives, after 44 years as instructor in science and to change things for the better. But you head tennis coach. “His inclusion among have to be determined, be focused, and our ranks makes us, objectively, the best be relentless. You have to get up and fight class ever.” to accomplish your goals every single day. Puri extended his gratitude to his … MUS has certainly prepared us to do classmates, saying their accomplishments just that. Never let anyone out-tough you, and talents were a source of motivation never let anyone out-work you, and never for him, and he thanked his family: “I am let anything stop you as you work to help grateful for all their hard work and passion other people.” Marcus Henderson waits with his fellow and for their emphasis on my education, a For the presentation of diplomas, seniors to process into the stadium. sine qua non for my speaking here in front Assistant Headmaster Barry Ray
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105909_MUS today magazine.indd 22 12/7/20 2:31 PM Outstanding Teaching Award to Davis we face in society. In fact, I take comfort in Smith, instructor in history (see story page knowing the future will be driven by you.” 32). Honor Council President Ben Sanders delivered closing remarks, Spiegelman delivered the Benediction, thanking all who had worked to plan imploring, “As we begin this new chapter in and execute the ceremony, especially the our lives, may we be men who build up, not graduation committee – Lower School tear down; repair not damage; men who Principal Loyal Murphy ’86, Science are generous and strong in our convictions. Department Chair Analice Sowell, and Am e n .” Classical and Modern Languages Chair After a socially distanced throwing of Ryan Sellers. “It was a supreme logistical caps, the east stadium lights dimmed, and challenge, as you might imagine,” he said, the crowd enjoyed a surprise – a six-minute Max Sabin strides back to his seat after “and you pulled it off beautifully.” fireworks show over Thorn Field. receiving his diploma. Sanders acknowledged the many It was a dramatic finale for a history- accomplishments of the Class of 2020 and making graduation, a celebration that the announced the names as students walked their perseverance through a tough last Owl community will long remember. across the stage and picked up their semester working online. diplomas from a stand. Headmaster “You have been in a fast-forward Sanders and Board Chair Graham vault into adulthood these last three congratulated the graduates, foregoing months. You have had to navigate a global handshakes this year. pandemic and deep-running issues of Following the conferring of diplomas social justice and inequity that have Above left, the Class of 2020 throw their caps and individual awards (see page 25), marked our time. … I have great confidence skyward. Above right, Harry White models the Woodmansee presented the John M. Nail in your abilities to further address what proper mask.
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105909_MUS today magazine.indd 23 12/7/20 2:31 PM Senior Academic Awards
WILLIAM D. FRENCH AWARD JEMISON III AWARD Churchill Akhigbe FOR EXCELLENCE IN Spencer Gooch DRAMATICS Churchill Akhigbe Robert Ayotte Reid Chandler Vijdan Gill, James Smythe WAYNE E. DUFF LATIN AWARD BRESCIA AWARD FOR Arjun Puri UNSELFISH SERVICE IN DRAMATICS Reid Chandler, Carson Lakin SPANISH AWARD Rob McFadden Ben Cramer Harrison Finks Michael Gayoso CHORAL MUSIC AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE H. JERRY PETERS Ben Cramer, David Wassef HISTORY AWARD Kyle Koester INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC AWARD FOR MARGARET OWEN EXCELLENCE CATMUR SCIENCE Vijdan Gill Spencer Gooch Jake Klepper Harrison Finks AWARD Michael Gayoso ART AWARD Jake Klepper CHRISTA GREEN Sean-Marc Taylor WARNER MATHEMATICS AWARD ENGLISH AWARD Arjun Puri Kyle Koester Carson Lakin Rob McFadden Ben Cramer RELIGION AWARD RUSSELL JOHNSON McKee Whittemore CREATIVE WRITING AWARD AWARD FOR Tom Monaghan DISTINGUISHED COMMUNITY SERVICE Robert Ayotte Tom Monaghan Arjun Puri James Smythe Spencer Gooch
DEWITT M. SHY, JR. MOCK TRIAL AWARD James Smythe
Sean-Marc Taylor David Wassef McKee Whittemore Photos by Kathy Daniel Patterson
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105909_MUS today magazine.indd 24 12/7/20 2:31 PM Senior Academic Awards Commencement Awards and Honors VALEDICTORIAN AWARD SALUTATORIAN AWARD FACULTY CUP FOR ROSS MCCAIN Rob McFadden Arjun Puri GENERAL EXCELLENCE LYNN AWARD This award is presented to the This award is presented to the Duncan McLean Gregory Guo, J.D. Huber, senior with the highest average senior with the second highest This is the highest honor given Knox McQuillen, James over eight semesters of work at average over eight semesters of to a member of the graduating Smythe, Ben Spiegelman, MUS. work at MUS. class. With outstanding leader- McKee Whittemore ship and strength of character, This award is given in memory the recipient of the Faculty Cup of Ross McCain Lynn, the has earned the highest respect school’s headmaster from of his peers and teachers for 1955 to 1978. It recognizes the generous contributions of distinction in the areas of his time, talent, and energy to school citizenship, leadership, the school and its ideals. service, and character.
Valedictorian Rob McFadden and family Salutatorian Arjun Puri and parents
LEIGH W. MACQUEEN MARK COOPER POWELL DEAN’S CUP FOR MEMORIAL AWARD ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE Ben Merriman, Lynn Award recipients Ben Faculty Cup recipient Duncan Spiegelman, McKee Whittemore, Arjun Puri Jerry Peters McLean and family Gregory Guo, Knox McQuillen, Named in 1998 in honor of the This award is given in memory James Smythe, J.D. Huber first academic dean of MUS, Leigh of Mark Cooper Powell ’80 Windsor MacQueen, this award by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. was originally donated by Mr. Edward L. Powell. It is given D. EUGENE THORN SCOTT MILLER REMBERT and Mrs. MacQueen in 1967. The to the graduates who, through AWARD SENIOR SERVICE AWARD award is given to a graduate who, persistence and courage Vaught Benge, Ben Reid Chandler based on his academic record during their careers at MUS, Cramer, Robert Dickinson, This award, established by and his performance on both a have shown the greatest Kyle Koester, Ben Lindy, family and friends, is made in written and an oral examination, development of character and Will Portera memory of Scott Miller Rembert has demonstrated a high level of scholarship. This award is given in mem- ’70. It goes to those seniors who academic achievement along with ory of D. Eugene Thorn, the have shown the most unselfish a marked depth of intellectual school’s headmaster from 1978 service to the school. maturity and curiosity and who, to 1992. It is presented to those in the minds of the examining members of the senior class committee, has indicated sound who best demonstrate the dignity, integrity, humility, and intellectual attainment. sincerity that characterized Mr. Thorn’s years as coach, teacher, and headmaster at MUS. Powell recipients Ben Merriman and Jerry Peters
Rembert Service Award recipient Reid Chandler
Dean’s Cup recipient Arjun Puri Thorn Award recipients Will Portera, Kyle Koester, Ben Lindy, Vaught Benge, Ben Cramer, Robert Dickinson 25
105909_MUS today magazine.indd 25 12/7/20 2:32 PM Bo Abbay Wasif Abdullah Churchill Akhigbe Alan Applewhite Graham Arkle Robert Ayotte Stratton Barousse Vaught Benge The University of Arizona The University Rhodes College University Yale of Memphis The University Rhodes College University Forest Wake University Christian Texas of Mississippi University
Jacob Curlin Parth Dahima Arnab Das Robert Dickinson Jackson Dyson Charlie Eason Edward Erb Thomas Eubank University of Tennessee, Knoxville Tennessee, of University University Boston Rhodes College University Auburn University Belmont of Arkansas University of Mississippi University Knoxville Tennessee, of University
Jack Gorman Cooper Grace Jalen Gunter Gregory Guo Fox Harris Marcus Henderson John Henley Sterling Hollabaugh University of South Carolina University University Howard University Northeastern University Auburn of Arkansas University Boulder of Colorado University University Samford University of Hartford University
Hunter Kendall Samuel Kilgore Jake Klepper Jake Knaff Kyle Koester Carson Lakin Daniel Lim Ben Lindy University of Tennessee at Martin Tennessee of University University of Mississippi University Knoxville Tennessee, of University Louis in St. University Washington University Marymount Loyola University Tulane of Michigan University The University of Memphis The University
Daniel Meskin Jacob Messer Tom Monaghan Devonte Nelson John Paik Riley Palmer Jerry Peters Land Phillips University of Michigan University Volunteer State Community College State Volunteer of Memphis The University Community College State Volunteer University DePaul University of Tennessee, Knoxville Tennessee, of University of Arkansas University The University of Memphis The University Congratulations Class of
Thomas Rogers Lucio Rosa Kemen Rosario Council Rowland Max Sabin Cole Saenz Hewes Scull Blake Sexton University of Mississippi University of Memphis The University University of Tennessee, Knoxville Tennessee, of University University Auburn Bloomington Indiana University of Southern California University of Arkansas University Knoxville Tennessee, of University
26 l MUS TODAY FALL 2020 Charlie Street Sean-Marc Taylor Harris Tennyson Jim Thomas Loi Vuong Alex Warr Tra Warren University of Mississippi University University Southern Methodist Institute Military Virginia University of Tennessee, Knoxville Tennessee, of University University of Tennessee, Knoxville Tennessee, of University Knoxville Tennessee, of University Knoxville Tennessee, of University
105909_MUS today magazine.indd 26 12/7/20 2:32 PM Hugh Bourland Andrew Bragorgos Henry Bridgforth Caleb Brock Tucker Caldwell Matt Camp Gus Carter Reid Chandler Ben Cramer Texas Christian University Christian Texas Knoxville Tennessee, of University University Auburn of Memphis The University of Arkansas University of Arkansas University Boulder of Colorado University University Northeastern University State Truman
Cameron Evans Jack Fernandez Harrison Finks Landon Ford Sam Gallop Michael Gayoso Charlie Gilbert Vijdan Gill Spencer Gooch University of Chicago University Andrews of St University Berklee College of Music Tampa of The University University Mississippi State Knoxville Tennessee, of University of Alabama The University University Fordham of Arkansas University
Cody Hopkins Keithran Hopson Jesse Houston Jonathan Huang J.D. Huber Cannon Hurdle Yousef Husein Tré Johnson Jonathan Johnson Stetson University Stetson Knoxville Tennessee, of University of South Carolina University of North Carolina The University at Chapel Hill of Oregon University Boulder of Colorado University of Memphis The University Knoxville Tennessee, of University of Memphis The University
Charles Long Devin Malone Hooper Mattis Cole McDonald Will McEwan Rob McFadden Duncan McLean Knox McQuillen Ben Merriman University of Mississippi University University Vanderbilt Indiana University Bloomington Indiana University Academy Phillips Exeter The University of North Carolina of North Carolina The University at Chapel Hill The University of Memphis The University Knoxville Tennessee, of University University of Mississippi University of Memphis The University
Thomas Pitts Will Portera Connor Price Arjun Puri Drew Rakers Edwin Rawson Seth Richey Reilly Ring Collins Robinson The University of Alabama The University of Alabama The University LIU Post College Harvard (Ohio) - Oxford Miami University of Alabama The University Wake Forest University Forest Wake of Mississippi University Mississippi State University University Mississippi State
Jonathan Shepherd William Shepherd Jeffrey Shulkin Ben Skahan Benjamin Sklar Edward Smith James Smythe Zane Snead Ben Spiegelman University of Tennessee, Knoxville Tennessee, of University University Belmont Knoxville Tennessee, of University University Tulane University Fordham of Alabama The University of Memphis The University University of Michigan University of Mississippi University
27 David Wassef Jack Wellford Graham West Jonah Wexler Benjamin White Harry White McKee Whittemore Spence Wilson Will Woodmansee University University of Wisconsin–Madison University Mississippi State College of Charleston University Syracuse Bloomington Indiana University The University of Arizona The University The University of Tampa Tampa of The University of Alabama The University of Mississippi University
105909_MUS today magazine.indd 27 12/7/20 2:33 PM Continuing an Owl Tradition Although we could not gather our legacy families together this year, we celebrate our 2020 alumni sons, fathers, and grandfathers.
Bo Abbay ’20 Rob Abbay ’92 Graham Arkle ’20 Jay Arkle ’84 Andrew Rick Moore ’63 Gus Carter ’20 Horace Carter ’89 Bragorgos ’20
Charlie Eason ’20 Brian Eason ’90 Edward Erb ’20 Fargason Erb ’90 Fargason Erb ’70 Cooper Grace ’20 Wesley Grace ’86
Sterling Robert Ben Lindy ’20 Jay Lindy ’80 Will McEwan ’20 Dan McEwan ’88 Tom Peter Hollabaugh ’20 Hollabaugh ’84 Monaghan ’20 Monaghan ’89
Jerry Peters ’20 Jon Peters ’84 Thomas Pitts ’20 John T. Pitts ’86 Collins Bert Bert Robinson ’20 Robinson ’90 Robinson ’68
Hewes Scull ’20 Trent Scull ’86 William Cash Benjamin Joel Sklar ’85 Edward Smith ’20 Kyle Smith ’89 Shepherd ’20 King ’58 Sklar ’20
James Smythe ’20 Clay Smythe ’85 Jack Wellford ’20 Buck Wellford ’74 McKee James Whittemore ’20 Haygood ’60
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105909_MUS today magazine.indd 28 12/7/20 2:34 PM FACULTY NEWS
Abrahams Receives Hale Award
s an Owl basketball standout, Joe Abrahams ’96 was known for his quickness and A shooting prowess, helping guide his senior team to a 28-5 record, the best in 10 years. This outstanding team went on to win the District Championship, and Abrahams was recognized as the MVP. Fast-forward 14 years, and Abrahams was once again recognized as an MVP. At a virtual faculty meeting May 20, Headmaster Pete Sanders presented the director of counseling with the Jean Barbee Hale Award for Outstanding Service. “Joe is a quiet, thoughtful leader for the boys – always willing to step in where needed, with both kindness and discretion, and with their well-being top of mind,” Sanders said. “This is a well-deserved honor.” Director of Counseling Joe Abrahams puts the needs of others first, his colleagues say. As director of counseling, Abrahams works with students to provide academic and social-emotional support, and he not uncommon to see him reaching out to Abrahams was a Student Council leads the Heartbeat, Peer Mentors, and students and families after school hours. representative and a MUSe contributor, Peer Tutors program with the help of his Combined with his tact and caring, Joe’s in addition to playing varsity basketball. two team members. He also oversees the willingness to listen deeply makes him a Later, he kept his hoops skills sharp playing Advanced Placement testing program and marvelous school counselor.” in the Alumni Basketball League, and he lends support to faculty and staff. This Counselor Amy Poag also praised coached the ninth-grade team for three year Abrahams led the effort to create Abrahams’ singular focus: “Joe has a way years. His ability to hit 3-pointers has made programming for X-Block – the COVID- of treating others’ needs – whether a small him a valued player in the annual Students era equivalent of chapel assemblies. In issue or a true crisis – like they are his vs. Faculty Basketball Game. (Don’t ask addition to speakers presented via video, top priority. He has a calming, rational about the February 14 game, however, the sessions include X-Games, fun activities presence and is a patient listener, which is referred to by some faculty members as the that get students out of the classroom. (See why he is a trusted source of support for Valentine’s Day Massacre.) page 16.) As usual he deflects credit: “It has so many at MUS – students, parents, and In accepting the Hale Award during been a team effort, with Robert Fudge, colleagues alike.” the virtual meeting, Abrahams expressed Grant Burke, Ted Fockler ’10, Matt A graduate of Auburn University, he his surprise and thanked the Hale family Bakke, and David Willson ’99 helping A earned a master’s degree in education for their generosity. Ben Hale endowed the LO T.” and teaching (2011) and an education award in honor of his wife, Jean Barbee Fellow counselor Eddie Batey specialist degree in counseling (2017) from Hale – a valued member of the staff for described Abrahams as a man of high the University of Memphis. He previously 24 years – upon her retirement in 1998. It ideals who is “profoundly concerned” worked as director of education at Fournier is presented annually to a member of the about the health and well-being of Learning Strategies in Memphis. staff. The Hales sent three sons to MUS, members of the MUS community. “It is In his days as an MUS student, Scott ’78, Dennis ’80, and Steve ’84.
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105909_MUS today magazine.indd 29 12/7/20 2:34 PM FACULTY NEWS
Sellers Named Distinguished Teaching Honoree
ith Ryan Sellers’ systematic, Since coming to Memphis University students to create a Latin motto for the well-reasoned approach School in 2007, Sellers has endeavored state of Tennessee. Gov. Bill Haslam to any task, it is hard to to make Latin relevant to his students. It accepted Musica e montibus fluit (Music W believe he ever struggled in is among the reasons he was chosen as flows from the mountains) as the an academic subject. But the recipient of the 2020 Distinguished motto and declared April 2014 as Latin the instructor in Latin and chair of the Teaching Award. Appreciation Month (reissued 2015-2020). Department of Classical and Modern Sellers’ affinity for teaching Latin That same year Sellers helped resurrect Languages did encounter difficulty … stems from the subject’s many facets. “I the annual Latin Veterani dinner, a in Latin. have a wide variety of interests, and I’ve banquet for advanced Latin students from He did not take his first class in always liked how Latin encompasses so throughout Memphis, now hosted by MUS. the language until his freshman year many different academic areas – language, In addition, he shares his abiding interest at Louisiana State University, upon the literature, history, politics, religion, in Latin through engaging, witty chapel suggestion of a student ambassador during geography, philosophy, archaeology, and presentations, most recently on “Martin orientation. “That brief conversation ended legal and medical terminology. As a Latin Luther King and the Classical Tradition.” up changing the trajectory of my life,” teacher, I get to teach all of these subjects.” Sellers’ teaching influences students he says. In his quest to bring the ancient by providing organization and language First, however, there was the challenge language and its culture to life, Sellers skills that serve them well in college and of catching up to students who had been founded Fall Festivus (2008), an annual career. Advanced Placement Latin, which studying the subject since eighth or ninth Latin competition event drawing students he teaches collaboratively with Trey grade. “I was at a serious disadvantage. from throughout the Memphis area; and Suddarth, reflects the program’s level I always felt like I had to work 10 times the MUS Trigon Tournament (2013), of excellence. Since 2013, 100 percent of as hard as everyone else. Therefore, I can an ancient Roman ball-toss game that students taking the exam (110) have earned certainly relate to the students who have has become an annual event played to at least a 3, and 92 percent have received a to “grit and grind” their way through Latin. roaring crowds in the school’s Thomas 4 or 5. After all, I was once one of those students.” Amphitheater. In 2014 he worked with Rahul Mehra ’17, a senior at the University of North Carolina majoring in global studies and minoring in chemistry and biology, speaks to the preparation he received in Latin. “Mr. Sellers instilled in me the passion and work ethic that inspired me to take a 300-level Latin course in my first semester of college. While I was the only freshman in the class surrounded by third- and fourth-year students, translating passages that I had already seen in my Latin V Advanced Readings made the class a breeze.” His current students in Latin V appreciate their teacher’s methodology. “Mr. Sellers’s well-planned, structured approach allows for clear, big-picture comprehension of the content while at the same time making sure that there are never unwelcome surprises,” says Ryan Peng ’21. Max Shackelford ’21 agrees. “There’s never any uncertainty because Mr. Sellers does an excellent job teaching the material MUS Instructor in Latin Ryan Sellers officiates at the first Trigon Tournament in 2013. in a clear and understandable way.”
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After earning a bachelor’s in English state co-chair of the Tennessee Junior making students better through their and Latin at LSU, Sellers achieved a Classical League, regional vice president common experience with Latin. “Ryan is master’s degree in instruction and of the Classical Association of the Middle not a grandstander,” Suddarth says. “But curriculum design from the University of West and South, as well as co-chair of once students have been with him for a Memphis (1999) and a master’s in Latin the CAMWS Latin Translation Contest. season, they have a high level of respect from the University of Georgia (2012). At He has presented on a variety of topics at for him. He is a tremendous role model for MUS he teaches Latin I, Latin III, Latin conferences for the American Classical our boys because he is a living example of IV/V, and Advanced Placement Latin and League and the International Boys’ professionalism and scholarship for them has been instrumental in the success of School Coalition, and he has published to observe.” the school’s program, which claimed its articles in the academic journals Classical 12th straight Tennessee Junior Classical World, Teaching Classical Languages, The Distinguished Teaching Award League (TJCL) Championship in 2019. and others. In 2016 he presented on the endowment fund was established in 1990 Last year his exacting nature informed value of studying Latin at the second through a generous bequest by John Murry two challenging jobs he took on at MUS: TEDxMemphis conference. He was Springfield. Springfield joined the Memphis serving as yearbook advisor and helping to the 2018 Recipient of the Tennessee University School faculty in 1958 and served plan and execute 2020 graduation exercises Association of Independent Schools’ as an instructor in English and mathematics in Stokes Stadium. Hubert Smothers Award, which recognizes until 1971. From 1971 until his death in Sellers’ influence on Latin education teachers who have evidenced a deep August 1989, Springfield served as principal reaches beyond the MUS campus. commitment to the teaching profession of the Hull Lower School. The monetary President of the Tennessee Classical and who have demonstrated excellence in award is given annually to an MUS faculty Association and on the board of the all they do. member who demonstrates excellence in Tennessee Foreign Language Teaching Fellow Instructor in Latin Suddarth both the classroom and extracurricular Association, Sellers also has served as says Sellers is intensely committed to activities.
Burditt’s Book Teaches Computer Programming Skills nstructor in Technology Raina Burditt has “My own passion for computers published Scratch Programming for Beginners: A Kid’s eventually led me to decide to Guide to Coding Fundamentals, designed to help kids become a technology teacher.” I build their troubleshooting skills and sharpen their Burditt graduated from ability to think about problems in a logical way. Rhodes College in 2003 with a B.A. The book teaches programming basics by using Scratch, a in English literature and received block-based language developed at Massachusetts Institute of her master’s in English literature Technology. from the University of Memphis “This visual language may look simple, but children can use it in 2007. She completed a master’s to create algorithms using underlying concepts such as variables, degree in instructional design and lists, conditions, and loops – fundamentals that apply to all technology at U of M in 2016 and programming languages,” Burditt says. “Each chapter of the book began teaching technology at St. teaches a different aspect of coding, with students creating fun George’s Independent School as games that become increasingly challenging.” the critical thinking, innovation, Burditt started coding for fun eight years ago after and communication teacher. She participating in an Hour of Code activity. (Hour of Code is a came to MUS in 2018 and has nonprofit organization that promotes computer science.) An Raina Burditt with her newly been instrumental in the school’s English teacher at the time, she worked programming into her published book, Scratch concurrent in-person and online class, directing her seventh graders to use Scratch coding to Programming for Beginners: learning efforts, providing training animate important scenes from the novel they were studying. A Kid’s Guide to Coding and resources for teachers “I was inspired by their enthusiasm and creativity,” she says. Fundamentals and students.
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Seniors Choose Smith for Nail Award
hen Senior Class President a gap year, working for Quadrangle Group, and co-advisor for the Government Club Will Woodmansee an investment firm in New York City. alongside Instructor in Modern Languages W announced Davis Smith as Smith’s dedication to teaching history Jenny Pratt. the recipient of the John M. and his ability to connect with his students “Davis Smith is a great chaperone Nail Outstanding Teaching Award during are two of the reasons the senior class and invaluable resource for the boys as graduation, Ben Lindy ’20 knew well the chose him for the honor. they prepare for conferences and plot out reasons for his history teacher’s selection. History Department Chair Jonathan winning debate strategies and campaigns Lindy, now a biomolecular sciences Jones said the award had special meaning for Youth in Government offices,” Pratt major at University of Michigan, says Smith this year, given that the last quarter says. is one of his favorite teachers. “He greatly was conducted online under trying Smith puts it another way: “Jenny Pratt shaped what I’m doing now because he circumstances. “Davis is a favorite with the is really good organizing the trips, and I students because of his sports knowledge, come along to help out,” he says. “I’m the especially UVA athletics, but also because grumpy dad figure.” of his sense of humor.” He appreciates being able to teach Growing up in Charlottesville, VA – classes on topics of special interest, home to Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello and including Political History of the U.S. Since his University of Virginia – “history was 1964, a semester course that explores the hard to avoid,” Smith says. evolution of conservatism and liberalism in He was surrounded by history buffs the United States and how the Democratic in his family, and they frequently visited and Republican Parties have responded to museums in Richmond and Washington, these ideological shifts. DC. His Uncle Marty, according to family His favorite part of his job, however, is lore, discovered a Civil War cannon with the camaraderie among the students and a metal detector when he was a teen. teachers. “The guys are fun to work with – Striving for historical accuracy, Smith adds, I enjoy the give and take.” “My cousin couldn’t verify if his dad found Lindy says he and fellow Owls also a canon – it might be a slight exaggeration.” enjoyed the give and take, especially After graduating from Woodberry hanging out with Smith and other teachers Forest, an all-boys boarding school north of during free periods and after school. “That’s Charlottesville, he matriculated to Rhodes a great thing about MUS – you get to know Davis Smith with Parth Dahima ’20 and Arjun College. There, he earned a bachelor’s teachers as people, not just authority Puri ’20 at a Youth in Government Conference. degree in history – and met fellow figures at the front of the classroom. I Instructor in History Jonathan Large – got to know Mr. Smith as a person, and I taught me how to study and how to take before heading back to Virginia to get his appreciated his sense of humor. That made notes. It’s a habit I have kept up with, and teaching certification at Mary Baldwin it fu n .” it has greatly improved my grades. AP College. Memphis beckoned, and Smith European History was one of the toughest secured a job at Ridgeway High School courses I took, and one of the most where he taught history for eight years and Nominations for the John M. Nail enjoyable.” served as Social Studies Department chair. Outstanding Teaching Award are made For J.D. Huber ’20 European history In 2012 Smith headed down Ridgeway each year by a selection committee of became relevant in Smith’s Advanced Road to MUS, joining the History student leaders from the senior class, and Placement class. Department. He has taught a variety the recipient of the Outstanding Teaching “I felt as though the events and people of courses, including Honors and AP Award is determined by a majority vote he described in his lectures weren’t just European History, Honors U.S. History, and of the class. The recipient receives a long-ago people in faraway places, but History of the Cold War. He has also served handsome salary stipend, and money is rather integral parts in shaping the world as MUS coordinator for SAT and ACT made available for professional development we live in today,” says Huber, who is taking testing, a Quiz Bowl Team assistant coach, and departmental resources.
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Arts / Story Booth from 2012-17 and most since 2008. During his playing career, Teachers Join Science Faculty recently worked as a freelance writer, he won the Australian National Team Dr. Kyle Summers has editor, and book project manager. Akin Championships as a junior and played No. joined the faculty as earned a bachelor’s degree in English and 1 singles and doubles for the University of a science instructor history from the University of Tennessee Memphis from 1973-76, while achieving a specializing in and a master’s in American and Southern bachelor’s degree in human movement and biology. He did his literature from the University of Mississippi biology. Chamberlain served as the tennis undergraduate work where he completed a thesis in creative director of the Racquet Club of Memphis at Christian Brothers writing under novelist Barry Hannah. for 30 years; assistant tournament director University, where he of the Regions Morgan Keegan pro received the Biology tournament for 20 years, and director for Award at graduation, and he went on to Music Faculty three years; and he was head coach of the complete his doctoral degree in biomedical Welcomes Piecuch University of Memphis men’s tennis team sciences (neuroscience) from the University Chris Piecuch from 1999 to 2005. He has been inducted of Tennessee Health Science Center. has joined the Arts into the Tennessee Tennis Hall of Fame, Summers has experience teaching at both Department as full- Memphis Open Hall of Fame, Memphis City the university and high school level, most time instrumental Amateur Hall of Fame, and University of recently serving as the upper and lower music instructor. His Memphis Hall of Fame. school STEM teacher at Margolin Hebrew career has included Academy for the past four years. He has several high school Bledsoe Joins Facilities Staff also coached cross country and served as a director-of-bands National Science Olympiad judge. posts in the Mid- Lawrence Bledsoe South, most notably at Overton High has joined the Nick Blackwell has School for the Creative and Performing Memphis University joined the faculty as Arts. Piecuch has been an instructor for School community a science instructor, many summer programs, including the as a member of teaching Lower International Music Camp of Dunseith, ND, the facilities staff. School Life Science for the past decade. Since 1994 Piecuch Bledsoe has nearly 22 and Physical Science. has been involved with the Memphis Youth years of experience Blackwell graduated Symphony, and he is an accomplished in maintenance, cum laude from the musician, serving as contrabassoonist for most recently at Methodist Hospital University of Memphis the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. His North, where he was a member of their with a degree in middle school education. education includes a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Services group. He had He has worked at Lausanne from 2015- music education and a master’s in clarinet previously worked for SpringHill Suites and 20, first as a seventh-grade math teacher performance with a minor in bassoon Hampton Inn. and more recently as a fifth-grade science performance from the University of teacher. An Eagle Scout, he has tutored Mississippi. Foster Joins Security Staff students, helped build sets, coached Fred Foster had joined middle school and varsity football, and led the security staff full- students on international study trips to Chamberlain Named Head Tennis Coach time. A familiar face Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Iceland. around campus, he Phil Chamberlain had been a member Akin Returns to Teach English steps in as head of the school’s Clarion Nat Akin has returned tennis coach upon the Security detail for to the English retirement of Head nine years. In addition Department. He Coach Bill Taylor. to safeguarding the taught English at (Taylor will be featured campus, he lends his roundball skills to the MUS from 2003-12, in the next MUS faculty team in the annual Faculty-Student returning in 2018-19 Today.) Chamberlain Basketball Game. Foster joins Kevin to oversee the writing has been head coach Brown and Don Dennis in leading the lab. He previously at Hutchison and an MUS varsity coach for school’s security efforts. served as director of 12 years. He has served as director of the outreach and education for Crosstown school’s Dunavant-Wellford Tennis Center
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John E. Harkins, Ph.D., 1938 - 2020
Headmaster Emeritus Ellis Haguewood wife of noble character who can find? She States National Archives Institute. delivered this stirring eulogy at the memorial is worth far more than rubies. Her husband He taught an impressive breadth and service for John Harkins June 23. Dr. Harkins has full confidence in her and lacks nothing depth of history courses at MUS over the died June 5 at the age of 81. of value. She brings him good, not harm, years: the required courses in American all the days of her life.” (31:10-11) Georgia, history and European history and their ohn Harkins’ intellectual we salute you today, and we convey our Advanced Placement counterparts, the honesty and objectivity, his deepest condolences. All of us who knew elective courses he created when the commitment to honor and John feel a great loss. schedule allowed: Recent American J fairness, his loyalty to the Georgia and Johnny were married History, History of the Civil War, History school and his willingness 54 years, 54 good years, but they endured of Memphis, Mexican History, Russian to put the school ahead of any personal great heartache 24 years ago when their History. gain, his wealth of knowledge and his beloved son, Billy, died at age 21. I know And he was recognized for his insatiable desire to learn, his wry sense of that only the strength that came from their excellence as a teacher. He held the humor and his pleasant collegiality – such extraordinary love made it possible to face endowed Ross McCain Lynn Chair of characteristics made him an ideal faculty such an unbearable loss. History, acknowledging his scholarship member, scholar, and teacher. He was John and his brothers – Charlie, and erudition. He earned the Distinguished a gentle raconteur and a man of strong Tommy, and Jerry – were graduates of Teaching Award in 1996. He chaired the integrity in his life and in his writing. He Christian Brothers High School. As a young Department of History. The Daughters always saw the big picture. Nothing was man, John spent two stints in the United of the American Revolution named him ever just about him. States Navy, and like any sailor worth his Outstanding American History Teacher for salt, he was a repository of stories about his Tennessee in 1997. Christian Brothers High time in the service, some of them perhaps School named John to its Hall of Fame. a bit embellished, stories with which he MUS made him an honorary alumnus. sometimes regaled captive students and When he retired from teaching, he faculty assembled in Hyde Chapel. His talks stayed on at MUS as writer-in-residence more often dealt with aspects of the history for a year and then school archivist and of the school, or the history of Memphis, or historian until just three years ago. In 2014 national concerns. When visiting lecturers the Alumni Executive Board commissioned spoke to our boys and asked for questions, a portrait of Dr. Harkins to hang at the Dr. Harkins could always be counted on school alongside paintings of other to break the ice with a pungent query. legendary teachers whose portraits dot the In John Harkins’ faculty portrait, In his laid-back, self-deprecating way, walls of the Dining Hall. As the boys eat he is depicted holding a copy of his he often described himself as a classic lunch, these portraits look over them like MUS Century Book. underachiever or a slacker. Of course, he Olympian guardians, timeless trustees of was anything but. His was a prodigiously truth and honor, ageless arbiters of custom John said that there were three productive life! and tradition, present in spirit even today. passions in his life: his wife, Georgia; John Harkins spent 26 years at Outside the school John encouraged history; and MUS. In a lifetime of Memphis University School at three community awareness of our local history. significant accomplishments, Georgia, different times: from 1968-70, leaving Between his second and third tours of duty was the No. 1 accomplishment of his life. to work on his doctorate; from 1974-75, at MUS, he had worked for the Memphis “I asked her to marry me two years before covering for a teacher on leave to work and Shelby County Library System, she did,” he said, “and I’ve never quite on his doctorate; then returning in 1986 which produced his history talk show, forgiven her for the delay.” Georgia, also a to stay for another 23 years until his “Historically Speaking,” on its cable TV teacher, critiqued and edited almost all of retirement in 2009. He held a B.S. from the station. In addition, he was Memphis and John’s published works. She was a devoted University of Memphis, an M.A. in history Shelby County archivist for six years. encourager, unfailingly by his side, ever from Louisiana State University, and a John was a president of the West radiating the “unfading beauty of a gentle Ph.D. in history from the University of Tennessee Historical Society numerous and quiet spirit.” The words of Proverbs 31 Memphis. He also studied at the University terms, and he served eight years each could easily have been written of her: “A of Guadalajara, Mexico, and at the United on the Tennessee Public Records
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Commission, the Shelby County Historical them, there could be no school. Their Commission, and the board of the Davies combination of ability, work ethic, curiosity, Manor Association. For two years he was and earnestness make it possible to hold president of the Descendants of Early on to superior teachers.” I was always Settlers of Shelby County and Adjoining touched by his dedication to his students, Counties, and he served the Tennessee and I will never forget that he came to Historical Commission for four years. He school the morning after his son had died was a frequent speaker for historical and to review his students for their upcoming genealogical groups in the community. Advanced Placement exam. A good friend of John’s, Ed Frank, Perhaps his most winsome quality retired curator of Special Collections for was his genuine humility. He once said, Dr. Harkins and his wife, Georgia, at the the McWherter Library at the University “There is no such thing as an indispensable dedication of Hyde Library’s Harkins of Memphis, a historian himself, and a person,” and he meant it. He had strong Archives in 2013 former president of the West Tennessee convictions, and he had no use for the Historical Society, wrote, “John was a giant historian who mishandled the truth. “He by student. Dr. Harkins was one of those in local and regional history, a scholar, was a consistent voice for the accurate builders and a pillar himself of our society.” a gentleman, a mentor, and above all an retelling of history,” said Mark Fleischer, Just last week I received my copy of the educator of young and old. Few have done with whom John was a teammate on the West Tennessee Historical Society Papers, an as much as John did to encourage and website Our Memphis History. annual journal of the year’s best scholarly stimulate the study of our extraordinary As a student David Sacks ’90, like all submissions. This issue, volume 73, city and region, and none have done more.” of Harkins’ students, came to appreciate celebrates the bicentennials of Memphis A real historian, John wrote dozens and respect John as a history teacher. And and Shelby County with articles selected of scholarly articles on the history of for a short time while John was the advisor from previously published volumes. As the Mid-South in historical journals to the school yearbook, he worked closely I thumbed through the journal, I saw an and encyclopedias, as well as the highly with David, who was the editor-in-chief essay, “The Creation of Shelby County,” regarded books Metropolis of the American of the 1989-90 annual. Years later, David (first published in 1983) by John E. Harkins, Nile: An Illustrated History of Memphis wanted to honor John appropriately at the Ph.D. And I thought, “Though his physical and Shelby County; The MUS Century school so that “Dr. Harkins’ name could be voice is now silent, he still speaks.” Book, an illustrated history of Memphis permanently attached to the school at a I will always have the very highest University School; Historic Shelby County: location that would reflect John’s love for personal and professional regard for John. An Illustrated History; and The New Orleans history.” David’s generous gift established No one encouraged and supported me Cabildo, a reworking of his doctoral the Harkins Archives in the school more over the years that I was headmaster dissertation about colonial Louisiana’s library in May 2013. For the dedication at MUS. He was a mentor and friend and first city government. He also wrote a David wrote, “His unwavering support, one of the few faculty members who was lively monthly essay for The Best Times encouragement, and guidance gave me the honest with me when he felt I had erred. called “The Best of Memphis History.” (A confidence to lead not just the yearbook I would hear from him face to face but in collection of those articles is available in endeavor but also large creative enterprises a kind way, and I would recall the biblical paperback as Memphis Chronicles.) Over in the future. Maybe that’s why they call it a proverb “Faithful are the wounds of a the years, his work outside the classroom preparatory school.” friend, profuse are the kisses of an enemy” in the local history community and his William James wrote, “The great (Proverbs 27:6). scholarly writing brought considerable use of a life is to spend it for something For me, he is one of only a handful of prestige to the school because it is rare that that outlasts it.” John Harkins’ scholarly people who define “the MUS experience” a secondary school has within its history writing, his beneficial contributions to the – one of the great faculty members in the department a real historian. Memphis community, and his influence on history of the school. Clearly his firstlove was teaching. the lives of his students and colleagues will As Alexander Pope said of his friend, Knowledgeable and thorough in his long outlast his life. Joseph Addison, we can say of John: “In lectures, he exhibited great care and Again, David put it well: “The work of action faithful, and in honor clear, who respect for his students. “To me, the improving lives is done by those who are broke no promise, served no private end.” students come first,” he said. “Without willing to build, brick by brick, student John, well done! We miss you.
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Leslie C. “Skip” Daniel, Jr., 1932 - 2020
Skip Daniel’s portrait in the Dining Hall is training, and supervising employees an ever-present reminder of his 33 years of in sales and collections (especially dedicated service to Memphis University collections), training that would serve School. He died May 21. Then-Headmaster him well later at MUS. [Instructor in Ellis Haguewood delivered a tribute at History] Whit Tenent ’00 remembers at Mr. Daniel’s portrait unveiling September 16, his graduation, receiving the Mark Cooper 2010. Following is an excerpt. Powell Award from Skip who, Whit said, had the same twinkle in his eye that he kip, the portrait was very had during the school year when he would expensive, but we were able remind Whit, “Tell your daddy to come up to save money on the frame: to MUS and get that monthly tuition check S we got it at the dollar store. to me.” [The late Basketball Coach] Jerry Skip Daniel grew up in Peters attributes some of Skip’s efficiency Germantown during the Great Depression, to his telephone company background: As which, I think, helps explain his legendary Jerry remembered it, “Skip was so efficient thrift and frugality or as [the late that he had the entire school working on Instructor in English] Terry Shelton once three telephones: one for Skip, one for called his “tireless pursuit of economy.” [then-Headmaster] Col. Lynn, and one for But economy in the best sense of that word everyone else. The assistant coaches had to – faithful stewardship of the MUS family. use a pay phone.” [Former Graphic Designer] Denise Hunt When he left Southern Bell, he sold commented, “Skip never met a dollar he insurance for a couple of years and then didn’t like … and want to keep. I knew our came to MUS in 1967. In those first three Skip Daniel taught many students financial tuition dollars were being wisely spent.” years he taught economics and geography fundamentals – saving, sticking to a budget, During Skip’s childhood, Germantown and coached eighth-grade football and and navigating the stock market. was a very small, laid-back community, basketball. By that time, there were where everyone knew everyone else. Skip four women in his life: his wife, Faye, and sticking to it, and knowing the dangers graduated from Germantown High School and daughters, Leslie, Anne, and Gwen. of credit cards. Each year he rewarded in 1950, senior class president, top 10 Now there are six with the addition of that economics student who had earned percent of the class. granddaughters Georgia and Leigh. In the most imaginary money in the stock After a semester at Southwestern 1970 Skip became the business manager of market. [now Rhodes College], he was called from the school, a post he would hold for three Very few people know that Skip held reserve status to active naval duty for two decades through five expansion projects the Chair of Economics at MUS. As best years. When he returned, he enrolled at Ole and a doubling of the school’s enrollment [former Director of Student Life] John Miss and earned his bachelor’s in business during those years. He finished his master’s Cady ’69 could remember the story, it was administration. Once again, he was top degree in administration and supervision the spring of John’s senior year. At the time 10 percent of his class, with A’s, as you in 1971. MUS had two endowed chairs (English would expect, in business purchasing and Though his duties as business and history), and one day Skip casually corporation finance. He was inducted into manager were many, he would continue remarked to the seniors in his economics the school’s honorary scholastic fraternity to teach his legendary economics class class that it would be nice to have a Chair and the honorary business fraternity. He for seniors until his retirement. He was an of Economics and the recognition and was president of the Wesley Foundation, a excellent teacher: theoretical but also very stipend that went with it. They should go dorm manager, and chaplain for his social practical. He taught students to fill out off to college and a career, make some fraternity, Phi Delta Theta. tax forms and how to read the financial money, and then endow a chair for him. After graduation, he went to work for section of the newspaper, and how to Several of those seniors decided to make Southern Bell Telephone Company for 8½ invest in the stock market. He lectured Skip’s dream come true right away, and years, ultimately serving as group manager the boys on the necessity of working hard, as they drove home that day, they spied for several counties in Mississippi – hiring, saving money, making a personal budget a toilet on the side of the road, used and
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nasty – complete with seat and top. They and he managed the bookstore – no air- brought it to school, crafted a sign that conditioning, one box fan, and long lines read “Chair of Economics, Mr. Skip Daniel,” each August for parents who came to buy and snuck the toilet into the classroom a textbooks for the new school year. His few minutes before class. When Skip came approach was, as Terry Shelton described in, he looked at the toilet, thanked the boys it, “no nonsense.” profusely, closed the lid, and sat on it to When the new Dining Hall was teach the rest of the period. Faye said he planned, Skip wanted nothing to do with kept the toilet for years; she couldn’t get carpet. He suggested facetiously, perhaps him to get rid of it. only half so, that the Dining Hall floor Skip was a world traveler – and he should be concrete, sloping toward a huge hiked a good bit on his travels – he hiked drain in the center so that the floor could At Skip Daniel’s portrait unveiling in 2010: his across England, he hiked across part of be quickly and easily hosed down. [Former wife, Faye Daniel; daughter Anne Daniel; Skip; the Alps, he hiked up to Machu Picchu, College Admissions Secretary] Marge daughter Leslie Daniel; daughter Gwen Bruno he hiked around Iceland. He visited Roosa told of the time when we had and husband, Mike; and granddaughters Leigh Antarctica, Mexico, Switzerland, Germany, termites in the administration building. and Georgia Bruno Italy, Austria, France, Japan, China, and Skip didn’t want to call a professional many other places. And whenever he company, too much money, so when he traveled, students and faculty always got saw the termites, he’d spray them an interesting and informative slide show with Raid. Jean Barbee Hale Award for “outstanding in chapel when he returned, accompanied He had no sympathy for those who loyalty, responsibility, dedication, and by the same anecdote that Skip would could work but didn’t. He had great commitment to excellence in service to the tell in ways that fit the place he had been. compassion for those who were truly s c h o o l .” During his travel, he would always discover disadvantaged. All of us have admired The Park Avenue gate at the circle a little-known cure for chapped lips. A little his benevolent work through the years: drive bears his name. sheep manure, yak manure, goat manure tutoring children, teaching adults to read, For his work over many years with – the animal would fit the country he had sharing meals with the homeless, always the English Speaking Union, of which he visited – put on the lips will keep one from eager to help those truly in need, often had been president, he was given the Hugo licking his lips and thus cure chapped lips. behind the scenes. Dixon Founder’s Award for his outstanding Skip loved to learn: He raised beautiful He carried the same warm and service to that organization. roses, he kept bees, he loved photography, generous, caring attitude to work. He The inscription on the plaque and he was always learning more about the was always the gentleman. He served as Skip received when he retired, written stock market. unofficial financial advisor for [former by [Instructor in English] Norman His great love, however, was tennis. Registrar] Mary Nell Easum and Marge Thompson, reads in part: “Longtime Owl, He played a lot of tennis with Col. Lynn Roosa. A smile and a small vase of Rebel, colleague, mentor, friend, raconteur, and [former Headmaster] Mr. Thorn beautiful miniature roses from his garden and tennis player par excellence. Others in the early days. [Athletic Director] brightened the day for many of the staff. may assume your position, but no one can Bobby Alston remembers that Skip [Former Financial Secretary] Paula take your place.” Norman said it well. Those would invite one of his daughters to Schmitt commented, “I don’t believe he of us who have had the good fortune to be his doubles partner and then take ever missed a day of work. He was always work with you, Skip, remember you very pleasure in embarrassing [Upper School somehow in a good mood, always willing fondly. You are a memorable character, and Principal] Barry Ray and him. Skip played to listen to others’ ideas and opinions, and you deserve this portrait. We will never tennis anytime and anywhere, but his was always ready and willing to help out. forget you. membership was at the Racquet Club. “I mean really – how could you not Mr. Skip Daniel is survived by his Management of the school’s money, love Skip?” wife, Faye, daughters Leslie Daniel, Anne to Skip, was a sacred trust, and he was Over the years Skip has received a Daniel, and Gwen Bruno (Mike), and the consummate steward. He oversaw the number of prestigious awards and honors: granddaughters Leigh and Georgia Bruno. custodial staff and the maintenance staff, Here at school, he was given the He is also survived by his sister, Tish Davis.
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Graham Lauded for Wisdom and Leadership
uring Sam Graham’s ’80 last quoted Ecclesiastes: “A wise heart will faculty and offered his outlook on the state Board of Trustees meeting know the proper time.” of the school and its future. as chair, incoming chair Graham has led the board through “In many ways, our school has never D Jim Burnett ’83 referenced an eventful seven years in which, most been stronger,” Graham wrote. “Enrollment learning from his friend and notably, he chaired the Headmaster Search is at an eight-year high with waiting mentor over the previous year – and over Committee and welcomed Pete Sanders lists for several grades. Our endowment the previous several months, supporting as headmaster in 2017. continues to grow with generous seeds the school through the pandemic. The May Sanders expressed gratitude for planted today promising substantial 11 meeting was a virtual one, necessitated Graham’s support. “Sam’s longstanding ties growth in the years ahead. We are facing by COVID-19 restrictions. to the school and his leadership experience the challenges of these unique days with “Sam may not remember his first have been invaluable to me in my role as excellent leadership, imagination, and the meeting, but I suspect he will always headmaster. I still reach out to him for ability to adapt where needed. Our board remember his last,” Burnett said. “I can’t counsel, and he always makes himself is in the midst of strategic planning with think of anyone better from whom to glean available.” a dedicated focus on ensuring the young information about this board than Sam. Burnett said the former board chair men who walk the halls of MUS in the We have all benefited from his integrity is known for his thoughtfulness, often decades ahead will receive an even greater expressed through notes, education than those of us who came phone calls, and emails before.” to many in the school Praising the faculty as “the very soul community. of our school,” he said he is continually Graham has a long inspired by the portraits of MUS heroes Photo by Jack Kenner by Photo record of service to MUS, that line the Dining Hall and Humphreys including lending his Hall. “Several of them had an outsized insight and expertise to impact on my life for the better. They the Board of Trustees since believed in me more often than I did 2004. He also served as myself. Most of them are no longer with us, Thorn Society president but their legacy lives on in generations of from 2004-06 and as an alumni.” Alumni Executive Board Addressing the faculty directly, he member from 1998-2003. continued, “You are not thanked nearly Graham is president, enough for your tireless dedication to the CEO, and co-founder boys of MUS. We will always be grateful of Diversified Trust, a to you. I have great confidence that the Memphis-based wealth- best days for this extraordinary school lie management company a h e a d .” with over $7 billion in client In his email, Graham quoted from assets. He is married to the Headmaster Emeritus Haguewood’s former Margaret Stone, farewell letter: “The purpose of education an alumna of St. Mary’s is to produce virtuous people – men and Episcopal School’s class of women of courage, integrity, compassion, and honesty, all wrapped up in his wisdom. 1980. Sam and Margaret are the parents of perseverance, generosity, and selflessness.” He always puts the school first.” Nelson ’08 and Garrott ’12. Burnett observed that the school was Graham replied by repeating what In a July 31 exit email to the faculty, successful in Graham’s case. “Sam simply Ellis Haguewood had told him four years staff, and administration, Graham personifies the characteristics that make before when the headmaster made the expressed gratitude for the privilege of the MUS family proud, and our school is decision to submit his resignation. He serving as board chair as he lauded the better because of his leadership.”
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Board Chair Yields to Thompson Instruction
Mr. Graham, As a fellow partaker of “that timeless, ineffable elixir that preserves the MUS mystique from generation to generation,” be assured that it would not occur to me “to yield to the urge to exercise” my red pen in a futile attempt to correct that which nears perfection. But you are in error when you aver that you are “certain” that I “winced at least once” concerning your elegant letter of resignation.
Illustration by Greg Cravens In the fell clutch of circumstance Sam Graham ’80 sent an email to the faculty on I have not winced nor cried aloud. August 27, 2019, announcing his seventh and final year as Under the bludgeonings of chance chair of the Board of Trustees and expressing his gratitude My head is bloody but unbowed.
for the positive influence MUS teachers have had on I, like the poet W.E. Henley, am resigned to your resignation, his sons’ lives – and his own. His message prompted a though I regret it deeply. But I know, as did Tennyson when he wrote in response from 48-year Instructor in English Norman Le Morte d’Arthur Thompson that provides a window on the enduring connections alumni form with faculty. Following are The old order changeth, yielding place to new, excerpts from the messages. And God fulfils himself in many ways, “My son Nelson ’08 became a high school math Lest one good custom should corrupt the world. teacher in large part due to the fervor for advanced math instilled in him by Nancy Gates and others at MUS,” Like Arthur, as you sail placidly to the Avalon of Board (“bored”?) Graham wrote to faculty and staff. “Just last week, I asked retirement, having accomplished the daunting task that destiny set my son Garrott ’12 to review an important piece I had before you, know that we still stranded on the shore thank you for your written. I hoped to get some return on my investment herculean efforts on our behalf and wish you well in a Board-free land of milk and honey. for his four years as an English major at Vanderbilt. His response: ‘I see two obvious locations to which Mr. All the best, Shelton would have applied his instructive red pen.’ I Norman smiled because I knew he was right. It occurred to me that many of my MUS friends, who went on to attend some of (The first sentence in your third paragraph employs the solecism the finest institutions of higher education in the country, “very pleased.” The most exacting grammarian might point out that still cite an MUS teacher or coach as a principal source “very,” an adverb, can modify a pure adjective, but not an adjective in of authority on some subject or on the formation of their the form of a participle. According to these pettifoggers, the phrase character. must then be “very much pleased.” One can be “very happy,” but he is “I wish we could bottle that timeless, ineffable elixir “very much amused,” not “very amused.”) that preserves the MUS mystique from generation to Graham responded to Mr. Thompson with the following: generation. But it defies definition or capture.” “Lest there be any doubt, I will treasure your response for many Graham added this postscript: “Mr. Thompson, I years to come. I have very few regrets from my days as a student at invite you to yield to the urge to exercise your red pen on MUS, but one of the biggest is not having you as one of my classroom this letter. I’m certain you winced at least once concerning teachers. I was blessed to have Russell, Haguewood, Boelte, my syntax, punctuation, etc. As always, I look forward to Hatchett, and even Pettigrew. However, somehow, I missed having receiving the benefits of your incisive, correcting quill.” you. Even after graduation, you have taught me and many others an Mr. Thompson responded in his own inimitable style increased love and appreciation for poetry. Your classroom extends under the subject line My quill is sheathed. well beyond the physical corridors of the Upper School.”
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Burnett Begins Tenure as Board Chair Photo by Jack Kenner hen Jim Burnett board gavel over to Burnett ’83 ascended to the after seven years as chair, chairmanship of the Board praised his successor. “We W of Trustees August 1, it are fortunate to have in Jim represented yet another a leader of such character, role in a long history of service to his one who has given decades alma mater. A board member since 2010, of unselfish service to our Burnett has served on the Headmaster beloved school. … Jim enjoys Search Committee, Parents’ Association an excellent reputation Board, and as a class representative. across the community and His longest volunteer position, is known for his balanced however, was Lower School football coach. wisdom and service- In 1990, along with Drew Harris ’83 and oriented leadership. He is Craig Christenbury ’83, he founded an MUS man to his core and the seventh-grade program with the will lead our board well in encouragement of Coach Bobby Alston. the years ahead.” Over the next 25 years, he coached about Headmaster Pete 1,000 Lower School boys, including sons Sanders described the James ’13, Scott ’19, and Drew ’21. transition from Graham to (Daughter, Gracey is a 2015 Hutchison Burnett as seamless. “Both grad.) His wife, Dee, was ever-present at are deeply talented and those games as well as at activities from insightful men who are fully Parents’ Association events to Schaeffer devoted to MUS while being Bookstore shifts. discerning and forward- Sam Graham ’80, who turned the looking as the school moves ahead with its Burnett is managing director for strategic planning and vision for Raymond James in Memphis. He graduated the future,” Sanders said. from the University of Mississippi “Jim is a wise counsel whose with a bachelor’s degree in business respect in the community and administration and earned a graduate deep understanding of the school degree from the Louisiana State University makes him a wonderful advisor School of Banking. After working in and resource,” Sanders said. “He banking for 13 years, he joined Morgan took up the reins of board chair in Keegan (now Raymond James) in 2000. He a challenging year for everyone as has served as a deacon at Independent the global pandemic and issues of Presbyterian Church and on the executive social justice have occupied our board of Young Life Ministries. attention, on top of moving the Burnett often has said that his service school forward. I cannot think of to Memphis University School is in a better person to be chairing our payment of a debt. “However much I give multitalented Board of Trustees back to the school, I could never repay The Burnett family – Drew, Scott, James, and Jim in back; and school community at this them. It’s not an overstatement to say that Gracey (with Lucy) and Dee in front. extraordinary time.” MUS helped get me to where I am.”
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M.M. “Jack” Gordon, 1921 - 2020 M. M. “Jack” Gordon, national trucking role until retiring in 1978. During this industry leader, civic leader, and retired period, Gordons Transports grew into one president of Gordons Transports, died on of the largest family-held trucking concerns April 9. He was 98 years old. in the nation. Mr. Gordon lent his leadership and He was extensively involved in the wisdom to the Memphis University School city’s economic and political life during Board of Trustees for 23 years, from his business career. He enjoyed working in 1959-82. leadership positions to marshal resources Born September 28, 1921, in Parkin, and talent and to address the various AR, he graduated from Central High challenges faced by the City of Memphis. He School in Memphis and earned a degree was also active working with legislatures in transportation from Northwestern across the South representing the trucking University. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy industry. Church for 35 years. during World War II and served aboard the In addition to his role on the MUS Mr. Gordon is survived by his wife destroyer Escort with the rank of lieutenant, Board of Trustees, Mr. Gordon served as of 18 years, Mary Alice Semmes Gordon, seeing action during the campaigns to chairman of the Shelby County Industrial and sons McClain Gordon ’67, Wakefield capture Saipan, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. Development Board and president of the Gordon ’70 (Lia), daughter Jane Gordon Upon discharge from the Navy in 1946, Memphis Area Chamber of Commerce, Simmons, and stepdaughter Missy he returned to Memphis and the next year United Way of Memphis, and the Tennessee Fuehrer (David). He is also survived by married Betty Jane Hall. They were married Motor Transport Association. He was a past six grandchildren, including Kat Gordon 53 years, until her death in 2000. board member of First Tennessee Bank (Thomas Robinson ’00) and A.W. (Kip) He was named president of Gordons and First Tennessee National Corporation. Gordon ’01; two step-grandchildren; and Transports in 1947 and continued in that He was a member of Second Presbyterian 12 great-grandchildren.
James Connell Rainer III, 1933 - 2020 James Connell “Jim” Rainer III died before starting his own farm mortgage August 6, 2020, at the age of 87. He served company, Rainer and Co. on the MUS Board of Trustees from 1971-90 In addition to his 19 years of service and saw two of his sons, a son-in-law, and to the MUS Board of Trustees, he served four of his grandsons become MUS alumni. on the boards of Hutchison School and St. A native Memphian, Mr. Rainer George’s Independent School. A lifelong attended high school at The Lawrenceville member of St. John’s Episcopal Church, he School in New Jersey, where he was served on numerous committees and as president of his class. He graduated Phi senior warden of the vestry. Beta Kappa from the University of Virginia, Passionate about aviation, he earned where he was a member of the Raven his pilot’s license at the age of 20, and Honorary Society and Sigma Alpha Epsilon he was involved in many local aviation predeceased by his parents, James Connell Fraternity. Following college, he joined the endeavors. Known to be an excellent and Gwyn Rainer and his sister, Gwyn U.S. Army and was stationed in Mannheim, pilot, he shared those resources through Rainer Foote. He is survived by his sister Germany, where he served as a radio the Angel Flight program by providing Nell Levy and his children Lesley Dillon operator. air transportation for those who needed (John Dillon ’74), Jim Rainer IV ’77 In 1956 he married Lawrence Cook, to travel to receive lifesaving medical (Missy), Stephen Rainer (Debra), Andy the mother of his four children; she died treatment but lacked the means. Rainer ’87 (Keith); 13 grandchildren, in 1995. He was married to Virginia Self He is described in his obituary as loyal, including Johnny Dillon ’09 (Megan), from 1998 until her death in 2016. Mr. caring, and humble, a man who loved his Jimbo Rainer V ’05 (Faye), Alex Rainer ’06 Rainer developed homes in West Memphis family and loved spending time with them. (fiancée, Grace), Peter Rainer ’10 and Wil and worked for Northwestern Mutual In addition to Mrs. Lawrence Rainer ’13; four great-grandchildren and Life Insurance and Dunavant Enterprises Rainer and Mrs. Virginia Rainer, he was another on the way.
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Ruth McCaughan Morrison, 1928 - 2020
Ruth McCaughan At Mrs. Morrison’s funeral, Price was her love. … She expressed her love by Morrison died August Morrison took family and friends on a doing small acts for others, one at a time.” 24 at age 92. She was beautiful journey through his mother’s life, Headmaster Emeritus Ellis the widow of Board of tracing her appearance at special family Haguewood remembers not Mrs. Trustees Chair Buddy events by noting her dress – literally, a Morrison’s frugality but, together with her Morrison; mother of single dress: a yellow long-sleeved dotted- husband, her generosity. “The generosity John Morrison, Price swiss gown with a ruffle at the sleeves and and leadership of Ruth and Buddy Morrison, Jr. ’75, and neckline. She first wore the dress at a party Morrison remain legendary,” he said. “They Joe Morrison ’78; celebrating her 25th wedding anniversary made the lead gift in the ’70s to provide the and grandmother on June 13, 1975. Through the years she school with a much-needed science facility, of 12, including Buddy Morrison ’09, Joe donned the dotted-swiss for the weddings the J. J. McCaughan Science Center, named Morrison ’12, Murray Morrison ’16, Jenny of her children and 12 grandchildren. for Ruth’s dad. They led the campaign in Miller (Trip ’95), Dial Abernathy (Sloan In between, there were family Sunday the ’80s for endowment to support faculty ’05), and Gray Byrd (Brandon ’07). lunches and summer beach trips with salaries, at that time endowing the Ruth Grand Roosh McCaughan Morrison Chair of Science. and Bubba. “The They provided a transformational gift in grandchildren the ’90s to the Doors to New Opportunities remember how Campaign, which enhanced and improved happy Grand our campus with new classrooms, teacher Roosh always offices, athletic fields, the Dining Hall, and was to see them meeting rooms. Morrison Courtyard, the – smiles and hugs large and beautiful quadrangle encircled by abounded,” Price the Upper School classrooms, is named for said. “Her smile, in Buddy, who was a trustee from 1976-95 and itself, was affirming chaired the board from 1983-87. – communicating a “Nothing they did would have been deep, sincere love.” possible without Ruth. She and Buddy were She wore the inseparable. They were a beautiful love yellow dress at story. They were a team. (A picture on the her 91st birthday cover of the Winter 1999-2000 MUS Today dinner on March says it all: Buddy may be kicking the extra 16, 2019. She lived point, but Ruth is holding the football.) I to see 10 great- have never known a woman kinder or more grandchildren gracious or more encouraging to my wife, born. Peggy, and me than Ruth Morrison. She “Some might embodied the ‘unfading beauty of a gentle think it ridiculously and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in frugal to wear God’s sight.’ (I Peter 3:4) She loved God, she the same dress to loved her family, and she loved MUS. She special occasions was a great lady.” over a period At the funeral Price concluded his spanning 45 years,” eulogy by saying his mother had lived a Price said. “It is beautiful life. “We’ll miss Mama. Although true that Mama our eyes may temporarily fill with tears, our The caption for this cover image on the Winter 1999-2000 issue of was generally a hearts are overflowing with thanksgiving. MUS Today reads, “MUS fans Ruth and Buddy Morrison prove once frugal person, but “And, oh yes, she’s wearing her yellow again they are always in the spirit.” They were generous benefactors one thing that she dress today – awaiting her Savior.” and cheerleaders for the school. was not frugal with
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105909_MUS today magazine.indd 42 12/7/20 2:35 PM Where Tradition Surrounds U
For more than 125 years, Memphis University School has educated young men to become the future leaders of our community, our nation, and the world. Our legacy of scholarship and leadership is perpetuated by caring individuals who name the school as a beneficiary in their estate plans. There are generations of students yet to enroll, all deserving the best education possible in order to become future leaders. Leave your legacy of scholarship and leadership.
For more information and estate planning tools, visit plannedgiving.musowls.org.
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our four grandchildren, during Jere and Gene Stansel’s three That’s Jim in the photo with ’59 their visit to Memphis in June.” children provide good places Leigh MacQueen and David to visit: St. Louis, Philadelphia, Morelock. and Durham. Gene recently ’60 rotated off the Greenville Lee McCormick wrote that Utilities Board. At his property he will always be grateful to Jimmy Allen has moved in Ruleville, MS, he is in the Jim for “probably the greatest from his condo in Memphis, midst of a solar energy project impact on my life. One day where he lived for years, to a with several partners. He while we were in the 11th condo in Olive Branch, MS, fondly recalls attending the last grade he called me and asked which he shares with his son, wine auction held by Archie if I took pictures. I did, and Harwell. Besides work at McLaren. my father was teaching me Supply Technologies, he enjoys how to develop them. He Allen Malone reports: “I retired frequenting the golf course. Alex Wellford recently caught asked me to take pictures (to from the practice of law in 2018 up with Laura and Robert be the photographer might Mitch Legler is splitting his after approximately 50 years. Dillard as they were driving be too strong) for the paper time between Jacksonville and My son, Battle, lives in Memphis to Winston-Salem, NC, from a and annual. Of course, I said Destin, FL, still practicing law, and has been taking care of us four-day trout fishing vacation yes. From there I continued and focusing a good bit on work during the pandemic. My oldest at Ft. Lewis Lodge, VA. at Millsaps. Taking pictures for a development company. daughter, Kim Scott, lives in is a great way to meet His wife died a year and a half Silicon Valley and has worked people, not only students but ago, but he has five children as a CEO coach at Twitter and teachers. I was lucky to have and seven grandchildren who ’62 other tech companies after the opportunity, thanks to stay in touch. stints at Google and Apple. She Jim. Even today people ask is the author of the NYTimes Every morning, George Owen me to take pictures of their bestseller Radical Candor and takes a 5.3-mile walk from his events. I took the picture of is finishing up her next book, home in Beaufort, SC, and then the school on the inside of Dan Copp Just Work, which will come out goes fishing most afternoons our senior annual. in 2021. somehow had somebody fly for a couple of hours. Jerry Bradfield reports: My second daughter, us over. It was the first time Unfortunately, we lost one Margaret Scott, lives in Chevy Todd Slaughter is still in a small plane. I was scared. of our best, Jim Garner, this Chase, MD, and is director teaching art at Ohio State. For a I still have the negatives. The May. Or as Stewart Austin of communications at Sandy glimpse of his work go to www. picture of Coach Gene Thorn described, “One of our more Spring Friends School. This toddslaughter.net. on page 15 I vividly remember. responsible classmates.” photo is of Mary and me with He would not let me take the
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picture until he put the triangle Bradfield adds: “If a picture’s as the class rep, he was always Howie’s history since leaving on the board. He got out a big worth 1000 words, then that there to lend his support and MUS will appear in the next ruler and went to work. Very one says a lot! Personally, encouragement.” installment of Class News. detailed. Check out the picture, I will be forever grateful bottom left, on page 7. The for the support Jim always Bradfield reports another student in the second row looks offered. I had annual uplifting interesting development from like he is getting ready to jump conversations due to his gathering Class News – hearing Remember to back via email from Howie out of his desk and strangle the unwavering support for submit photos teacher. And I do remember MUS through the years. He Mallory, who is remembered taking the picture of the owl in developed that devotion while fondly by many who played on whenever possible the front of the book.” in school, holding many offices, teams with him: “I think that with your Class the last time we saw each other and it never faltered. He was News items! In another reference to such a great guy and totally was the end of school, spring the annual, Nat Ellis wrote, devoted to MUS, and its 1959. Although I was only at Email ann.laughlin@ “There is a great picture of Jim mission. That was important to MUS (taking the MUS bus every musowls.org. on page 72 of our senior annual me, not because of any special morning) for three years, I have showing him making a great memories in high school, but always felt a strong allegiance layup shot.” to the class of 1962.” More of
’65 We called for classic car photos for the last issue of MUS Today. This one just missed our deadline, so we saved it for this issue: Henry Klyce is pictured here in a recent photo near his home in San Francisco with a customized and restored 1954 Studebaker Champion, which he first purchased in the 1970s. Studebaker never actually made a convertible, and so, in restoring the car, Henry did a full frame-off restoration. He then presented the restored vehicle (with interiors identical to the Studebaker original) to his wife, Carole, as a surprise gift on the 25th anniversary of their wedding. Photo and details courtesy of Walter Klyce ’06.
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Entrepreneurs Induct Kent Wunderlich ’62 inancial Federal He views entrepreneurship from the vantage Pete Shearon reports: “My Bank Chairman of point of a smaller company: “It’s very satisfying daughter Elizabeth is back Fthe Board and CEO to see small businesses start in our community. in Memphis after graduating Kent Wunderlich ’66 was Even though they are often undercapitalized, from Tulane Law School. She recently inducted into the it is exciting to work with businesses that are started interning remotely with Society of Entrepreneurs. beginning and trying to grow and to see them the Public Defender’s office succeed. Entrepreneurs are the reason for this and will start going into the His son and fellow type of growth and without their efforts the office and presumably to court SOE member Gary community would not see the growth of certain now. We had a little stress for a while since the Tennessee Wunderlich ’88 introduced businesses and job growth.” him in the induction Bar Association’s solution video (soememphis. Read more about Kent in the April 2020 issue to doing social distancing in com/videos/): “I have of Inside Memphis Business - tinyurl.com/ seating for the July bar exam witnessed firsthand over kwunderlich. was to only allow graduates of Tennessee law schools to take 50 years, a man that in every instance has done it in July, meaning she has to what he believes was the right thing to do, not take it at end of September. the easiest thing to do, not the thing that might Alumni in The Society But they weren’t taking anyone make him the most money, not the thing that of Entrepreneurs to intern until after the July gives him the most recognition, but always the bar. However, they made an right thing to do,” Gary said. “He is a man of his Hall of Honor: Pitt Hyde ’61, AutoZone exception for her because of the word, even though they might be few.” Founder; Fred Smith ’62, FedEx Founder, bar exam situation, and let her Chairman, and CEO intern June-August, then take Kent joined Financial Federal Bank in 1987, and off to study for the bar. She’ll the business has grown under his leadership Master Entrepreneurs: Allen Morgan ’60, intern or clerk again until the to $650 million in assets, acquiring a solid Morgan Keegan Inc. Chairman Emeritus; bar results come in. My older reputation for quality customer service along Henry Turley ’59, Henry Turley Co. President daughter, Laura, a criminal the way. court judge in Miami, is dealing Members: Staley Cates ’82, Southeastern with the ongoing Florida In addition to his business accomplishments, Asset Management Vice-Chairman; Scott ‘hotspot’ pandemic in court Kent has worked diligently to improve his Ledbetter ’60, SPL Corporation Chairman; and with my 5- and 7-year-old community. He served on the Memphis University Bob Loeb ’73, LPI Memphis President; Henry granddaughters at home. Her School Board of Trustees from 1983-2008 and Morgan ’61, Boyle Investment Company husband is a criminal defense as chair from 1988-97. Under his leadership MUS Co-Chairman; Billy Orgel ’81, Tower Ventures lawyer there. I’m doing fine. adopted its mission statement, appointed Ellis President and Chief Executive Officer; Kent Running, working hard at it, Haguewood headmaster, formulated a long-term Wunderlich ’66, Financial Federal Bank and slowly moving back toward strategic plan, and saw the endowment and Chief Executive Officer and Chairman normal. It will take a while scholarship funds grow significantly. He served of the Board; Gary Wunderlich ’88, Live (understatement) to get back on the Steering Committee of the Doors to New Oak Merchant Partners Co-Founder and where I left off.” Opportunities Campaign and co-chaired its Managing Member FedEx’s Fred Smith spoke Financial Plan Committee. about the Memphis climate In Memoriam: Jimmy Thomas ’58, for innovation in Crusonia Wunderlich has lent his wisdom and insight to Co-Founder of Southeastern Asset on the Delta, an agricultural the boards of Shelby Farms Park Conservancy, Management and NewSouth Capital technology conference – the Boys and Girls Club of Memphis, Management formerly Davos on the Delta Neighborhood Housing Opportunities Inc., and – that went virtual this year on the Nature Conservancy of Tennessee. September 30.
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’64 ’68 Headmaster Pete Sanders Memphis River Parks enjoyed a good conversation Partnership board member this spring with Scott Heppel, Bruce Hopkins contributed whom he ran into on a walk a guest editorial to the Daily during the pandemic. Heppel Memphian in May encouraging was kind enough to share this Memphians to support the photo he took of a Mississippi new design unveiled for Kite. Sanders says: “Scott has Tom Lee Park - tinyurl.com/ some great nature photos with TomLeePark. many taken on campus or nearby. One of the interesting byproducts of the closure of ’69 campus was the visibility and preponderance of wildlife. Wylie McLallen contributed Harvey Kay ’75, front right, is board chair for PURE Youth Athletics (They knew the boys were to After the Pandemic: Visions Alliance, a school that empowers at-risk youth through academics, gone.)” You can see more of of Life Post COVID-19. Available mentoring, and athletics. Kay and his wife, Emily, helped establish Scott’s photos at tinyurl.com/ through Sunbury Press. The the Pizza Garden outdoor classroom. Also pictured are, back row, HeppelBirds. book features 25 authors; McLallen’s chapter discusses Tevin Carter (student), Executive Director Melvin Cole, Terry Carter the pandemic of 1918. (student), and Chairman Emeritus John Golwen. PURE played the gridiron Owls Nov. 6.
’70 MUS, Caleb ’25 – have helped and has been responsible distribute. Visit amos524.net to for the development of 12 John Catmur is serving order your own. commercially available as president of the West products that have obtained Tennessee Home Builders appropriate regulatory Association, and his son, approvals. Michael obtained Eric ’10, is a member of the his ACS-certified Bachelor of executive committee. Science degree in chemistry ’66 from Washington College in Living up to his academic Chestertown, MD. reputation, John Romeiser ’74 recently co-authored a book Frank Crawford is now pastor with Jack H. McCall, Jr., titled of Millfield Baptist Church in ’77 The East Tennessee Veterans Ivor, located in the southeast ’76 The Community Foundation Memorial: A Pictorial History corner of Virginia. of Greater Memphis, led of the Names on the Wall – Michael Valentine, principal by President Bob Fockler, Their Lives, Their Service, Their Two MUS families have shared of Frogmore Consulting LLC, recently awarded LeMoyne- Sacrifice. yard signs that offer a faith- has over 18 years of product- Owen College a $40 million based response to the racial development experience Chuck Smith ’66 was elected endowment, the largest in the injustices that have challenged in biotechnology-driven 1st vice president of Ducks school’s history. our nation. The friends were diagnostic companies. Unlimited in May. His two-year featured in June on WMC-TV5. He has guided research Briarcrest President Mark term as president for DU, “the John Wepfer and wife, Lucy, and development projects Merrill retired in July. In an world’s leader in wetlands and created the signs. Their friends from concept through article on the transition in waterfowl conservation,” will the Ellises –who have a son at manufacturing transfer March, the Memphis Business begin in May 2022.
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Journal reported that as scrub sets to the Tennessee Fong still on front lines in president emeritus, Merrill Emergency Management will continue to serve the Agency to help them battle chess - and medicine school in an advisory role, COVID-19. helping with strategy and r. Fun Fong ’75 from Smyrna, special projects. Bobby Eason and Bryan GA, was recently elected to Darr (father of Jackson ’12 Dthe executive board of the Bobby Tribble has joined and Austin ’15) are two of US Chess Federation. President the Apperson Crump firm the co-founders of LynxRx, of the MUS Chess Club in 1974- with his residential and a start-up company that 75, he served as president of the commercial real estate law aims to track prescribed Georgia Chess Association Board practice. medications and samples from 2011-17. In his capacity as an using a digital app. The name hearkens to their days as emergency room physician, he Rhodes College students. recently received lauds for his ’78 actions after a Georgia woman Bill Townsend reports: I posted on Facebook that she was feeling ill and asked for advice. have been super busy the According to a report on kellyforsenate.com, Fun sent the woman last few years. In November, ’80 a private message asking about her symptoms, set her up for a I ended a five-year stint Jimmy Allen shares that COVID-19 test (she was positive), and helped her find a hospital. on the Rhodes College while the COVID season has “Dr. Fong continued to check on her every single day. … According alumni board (the last two been tough in many ways to as president). I bought a to this grateful Georgian, ‘He was always so encouraging while he many folks, it has brought house in Midtown and have new blessings to the Allen was also working on the front lines at his own hospital!’ After she been expanding that the last household: “We celebrated was released from the hospital with double viral pneumonia Dr. Fong year. My regenerative grass- the wedding of my daughter continued to check in on her. In fact, she told us, for 14 days while fed beef cattle company is in March, making the third she was in isolation and quarantine, he was the ONLY physician who (slowly) progressing along. daughter in three years to checked on her every day. As she wrote, ‘He never got paid for this And I bought the old Paris be married. And my wife service. I don’t know how else to give back to him except to honor Adult Theater on Summer and I became grandparents him!’ There’s no doubt that Dr. Fong, who previously worked for the Avenue near Rhodes – have in May. We have a couple CDC and is a physician in the Atlanta area, is an above-and-beyond been “cleaning” that out with of kids in college (UTK and COVID Community Hero!” Suzannah Fisher (Ragen) Bama) and have a son who Hutchinson Class of 1980 is a junior in high school in and Rhodes Class of 1984. Franklin.” Next year will be crazy as my older twin girls will be Hampton Sides reports: high school seniors at two “I have been buried deep schools in Los Angeles and in a cave working on my my younger boy/girl twins next book for Doubleday, will be at boarding schools which is growing dreadfully in Massachusetts and New late. Tentatively titled The Hampshire respectively. Resolution, it’s about the third and final voyage of Captain James Cook.” Fun Fong was president of the 1974-75 Chess Club, from left, kneeling, David Harris, Lane Williams; first row, John Atwood, Aaron Miller, John ’79 Paulo Aur ’81 and Jason Edwards, Fong, Frank Collins, Bruce Wynn, Tim Tatum, John Wrenn, Bruce Landau and brother Lewin ’98 helped employer, Charles Payne, Dirk Walker; second row, Vic Guess, John Hines, Roy Gregg Landau ’84 guided American Paper Optics, to Scott, Ken Taylor, Dan Johnson, Jack Leachman, Joe Garrett, Mac their company Landau pivot during the pandemic Oliver, Mike Threlkeld, David Hooper, Arthur Oliver, and Don Hawkes. Uniforms to donate 30,000 from making specialty
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glasses to manufacturing he looks forward to its growth Led by President Bill Proctor, plastic face masks, as reported and impact on Memphis youth. nexAir had a role in retrofitting ’86 in the Daily Memphian - tinyurl. the former Commercial Appeal com/APOshields. Robert Shy shares that he is building to become the city’s Grattan Brown’s family happily married to his wife, alternate care facility for moved from Charlotte, NC, to Natalie Bell Shy, and they are COVID-19 patients in the Fairfax, VA, when his wife, Julie, ’81 living in Memphis. Daughter Memphis area. took a position with Deloitte Charlotte is graduating from Consulting. He continues to Karen and Lance Fair’s three physician assistant school and help establish a new liberal children have all been getting will be looking for a job in the ’83 arts and business school, married lately. Their daughter, ENT field. Daughter Genevieve Thales College, set to open in Courtney, married Jake Thomas is moving to Nashville from David Moore moved his fall 2021. He has really enjoyed in Birmingham, AL, last August. Bend, OR, to finish her practice to join Andrews Sports developing a college from Their son, Fletcher, married undergraduate degree. Medicine & Orthopaedic scratch and putting business Mary Grace Smith in Nashville, Center in Birmingham, AL. His together with the liberal arts. TN, this May. Now they are busy oldest son, Wellford, married planning a third wedding for ’82 Rachel Shah in February 2020. Bartlett Durand is the director their daughter, Lauren (living of water quality partnerships in Dallas) who was recently Andrew Shainberg lives in for the Sand County engaged to Michael Kraft of Short Hills, NJ, with his family Foundation based in Madison, San Antonio, TX. They will have and two dogs. He is the chief WI. His work develops celebrated three weddings in 18 compliance officer of Global watershed-scale solutions to months. Lance is still working Atlantic Financial Group. Since water quality issues. He also at Estein USA as COO/CIO, and March 10 the entire work force started the Middleton Good they now have been in Orlando, of this insurance company has Neighbor Hub, a neighbor-to- FL, over 13 years. They really been working from their homes neighbor community resource, enjoy living the Florida life. with hopes of reopening and during the pandemic. He was gradually returning to their recently named to the Public Eddie Murphey continues offices in One World Trade Safety Committee of Middleton, to be involved with the Center in small numbers. His which oversees police policies Ed Murphey Classic wife, Robin, is retired and and programming. (edmurpheymemphismile. Doug Carpenter helped volunteers for a variety of com), a local nonprofit launch the Discover Memphis nonprofits. Their oldest son, Cliff Goldmacher’s new organization whose mission Naturally initiative, a website Jake, recently graduated from book, The Reason for the is to encourage and support featuring the area’s outdoor college; their younger son, Rhymes connects creativity Memphis youth. This annual resources. Check out the Bike It, Scott, attends the University of and innovation with the track event began as a way Paddle It, Climb It, Park It, and Miami (FL). songwriting process. He has to recognize his father, Ed View It sections at given multiple TEDx talks on Murphey, an All-American, memphisadventures.com. “I see songwriting, and his workshops SEC Champion, and Tennessee our outdoor assets as helping ’84 and courses continue to Sports Hall of Fame inductee, to provide an answer to educate and inspire. economic and health issues Kevin Parker, environment who for years beginning in 1965 of care director at Lakeside returned to Knoxville to present created by COVID,” he told The Lee Harkavy was named Commercial Appeal. “This is not Behavioral Health System, the managing partner of the the Ed Murphey Award to a was recognized in a Memphis University of Tennessee athlete a campaign that goes away Memphis office of Wyatt, when COVID goes away but a Business Journal feature this Tarrant & Combs law firm. for the most outstanding men’s spring for his work ethic and track and field performance. campaign that remains a part leadership during COVID-19. Trip Robertson lives in Although his father passed of our city’s marketing and Charleston, SC, and serves as away in 2014, Eddie’s work goes communication landscape.” donor relations manager for on with this organization and, the Dee Norton Child Advocacy
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Center, a nonprofit whose to “connecting the dots” and Studios and Searchlight mission is to prevent abuse, modernizing the seafood Pictures new release features ’97 protect children, and heal industry by implementing end- and some Disney content. families. He has three kids – to-end, full-chain traceability, Sean Alpert has been two in college and one in high dynamic consumer marketing, Paul Novarese is working as promoted to senior vice school. At least the beach is business intelligence, and a senior solutions engineer at president of marketing at only 15 minutes away! packaging innovations. Anchore. Salesforce.
Mike Patterson’s surgery Marc MacMillan has been Pravi Thakkar and brother Ron Ansley is the general sales center was shut down during named head baseball coach at Jay ’97 donated 2,500 KN95 manager at Jim Keras Subaru quarantine, so he got to pass Charleston Southern University. masks to the Memphis Police and says, “There’s a commercial some time with granddaughter, Department during the out there with my ugly face on Ava, 3, rather than working: The #dontletmedownmem pandemic. it ... how’s that for news?!” “Here we are enjoying some initiative was launched by MUS time together that we wouldn’t parents Matt Wilson and Justin Starting in March of this year, ordinarily have.” Miller in March to bring great ’95 Dave Hwang has been on the Memphis live music to homes front lines of the pandemic in virtually, while also supporting At 12:30 am on June 23, David New Haven, CT. A physician the local entertainment Bradford and 12 other Shelby working in the neuroscience industry and Memphis Country commissioners intensive care unit at Yale nonprofit Slingshot Memphis wrapped up discussions New Haven Hospital, Dave (promoting results-driven and put a bow on Shelby was a part of his institution’s poverty solutions). Visit County’s 2021 fiscal budget. management of the initial surge dontletmedown.org for info. In The 9-hour meeting was one in the Northeast. He reports, May Wilson also started Shelby of five that the commission “It’s been a bit scary being Farms Market by Cheffie’s Café, held to settle the budget. involved in hospital discussions a contactless temporary market Bradford was happy to see about what we would do if at the park’s visitor’s center that the budget wrapped up with we ran out of ventilators for offers curbside pickup for no increases in property tax patients, but luckily our initial grocery staples and prepared or vehicle registration fees. numbers of hospital cases ’88 food items. In other news, David has came down before hitting the Max Painter has taken been promoted to principal/ inconceivable point.” Dave a new position as global Memphis MEP operations says he and his family have vice president of sales and director at Smith Seckman been doing well despite the marketing for Camber Spine. Reid Inc. initial high number of cases in Connecticut. Jason Dunn was named to Colorado’s Top 100 CEOs and Anil Rajendra is a cardiologist ’91 C-Level Executives list for his in Birmingham with the Trevor Benitone is now the work as president of DACS Alabama Cardiovascular executive vice president/ Asphalt and Concrete. Group. chief revenue officer at Adams Keegan. ’94 Paul Engelberg has been ’96 ’98 working since 2001 for 20th Braden Kimball is a Jason Bradford is a ’92 Century Fox, which was biomedical flight controller performance-enhancement Oliver Luckett is the founder recently acquired by the and instructor for NASA in coach at Penn State University and chairman of DigiFresh. Walt Disney Company. He Houston, TX. where he works with the DigiFresh is described as an now focuses primarily on the baseball, men’s golf, and men’s interdisciplinary approach mastering of 20th Century and women’s gymnastics programs.
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BIRTHS Ethel and Stephen Schadt Emily and Cash McCracken ’92, a son, Ryan, born ’04, a son, Finn, born October 2, 2020 August 14, 2020 Christina and Kip Gordon’01, Brenna and Blake Wiedman a daughter, Marion Eloise, ’04, a son, Jack, born born August 21, 2020 December 18, 2019 Andrea and Ben West ’02, a Joy and Matt Johnson ’06, a son, William Steven II, born daughter, Poppy Moon, born January 30, 2020 May 28, 2020 Amanda and Winfield Caroline and Mike Montesi Clifford ’04, a daughter, Olive ’06, a son, Maxwell “Max” Alexander, born June 9, 2020 Francis, born February 5, 2020 Sarah and Matt Ganier ’04, a Sarah and Owen Mercer ’08, a Class of 1998 friends Jason Lewin, Courtney Carson, Don Drinkard, son, Davis, born August 2019 son, John Owen, Jr. “Jack,” born and Matt Saenger broke away from their children to celebrate their December 6, 2019 Lindsay and Mikell 40th birthdays together in Sand Valley, WI. According to Lewin, Hazlehurst ’04, a son, Waring Emily and Jordan Keesee ’11, everything else to note would be super boring. Mikell IV, born February 2020 a son, Conrad Hull, born March 2, 2020 Daniel McDonell, and Chris Lam are part of a developer ’99 MARRIAGES group that is renovating the Will Levy had his store, Oak old Ambassador Hotel in South Joseph Robinson ’04 to Lauren Williams on April 16, 2020 Hall, start making masks Main into the original SOB’s Worth Morgan ’05 to Bonner Williams on April 18, 2020 during the pandemic and new space with apartments donated one to Church Health on the second and third floors. Michael Sousoulas ’08 to Megan Lee on October 26, 2019 for every mask sold. SOB opened this fall, and the Shea Gabrielleschi ’11 to Tennison Humphreys on May 2, 2020 apartments should be finished Jerry B. Martin ’11 to Madison Cowherd on September 18, 2020 by the end of 2020. ’01 Tripp Crews ’13 to Ashley Varner on May 2, 2020 Paul Gillespie and his wife,
Logan Abrahams is still in Paige, are living in Memphis Memphis at International with their three children, Bailey Paper. He has been there for (2), Trow (2), and Grace (1). 12 years now and is currently Paul works in Memphis for for special operations training to the upcoming general a national account manager. Nuance Investments, a money at Hurlburt Field. He is dating conference of the United He’s pleased to share that he management firm based in a wonderful woman from Methodist Church. and Rachel have a 10-month- Kansas City, MO. Brooklyn named Carrie who is old daughter, Reagan, who is a therapist in the city. They plan Battle Williford and his wife, keeping them busy. Austin Hulbert works for to marry in 2021. Ann, live in Nashville with the New York consulting their two children, Battle (4) Ed Cabigao is expanding firm McKinsey & Company, Dalton Rushing serves as the and Sophie (2). He’s a vice the SOB brand to East specializing in manufacturing senior pastor of Decatur First president at Financial Federal Memphis, taking over the operations and strategy. He is United Methodist Church in Bank, where he originates Interim Restaurant space and on active duty orders for a few Decatur, GA. Last summer he commercial real estate loans rebranding it SOBEast. Cabigao, months in Ft. Walton Beach was elected as a clergy delegate nationwide. For the fourth
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time, he’s training for the Lucy Ben West has been promoted Tyler Beard is settled down hour, weighing in at 6 lbs., 14 oz. 115, an annual 115-mile bike to member in the law firm with his family in Germantown Winfield couldn’t be happier. ride from Nashville to Sewanee, Harris Shelton Hanover Walsh at their new home after Congratulations! in memory of his niece, Lucy. PLLC. completing “lots of projects Last year he rode alongside and such.” He continues to Gordon Conaway says, Skipper Seabold in the race. work at West Cancer Center “Nothing new to report from ’03 where he’s been since moving me – still in Nashville with Samuel Wilson and his back to Memphis and is looking Metropolitan Properties and wife, Jen, live in Atlanta with Nathan Haynes is an account forward to the pandemic being it’s going well. I’ll try to concoct their daughter, Poppy (5). coordinator with Cornerstone behind us. some more exciting plans He is vice president at Voya Systems, a Memphis-based and/or life changes later this Investment Management, logistics company. Brent Boswell and his wife, summer for the next issue!” where he manages fixed income Nydia, moved their family from Keep us posted Gordon, always portfolios. Ryves Moore lives in Oxford, Boston back to Memphis in looking for a good story. MS, where he is an orthopedic June. They have a 1-year-old surgeon with Specialty son, Hunter, and are excited Jonathan Cooper and Delta ’02 Orthopedic Group about their growing family. Foremost Chemical Corp. have of Mississippi. After being a full-time dad for been cranking out the sanitizers Brett Meeks has taken the a year, Brent is looking to start and disinfectants, obviously position of vice president for a business here in Memphis. “based on an overwhelming Horizon Government Affairs. ’04 Welcome back to the 901, Brent! demand across the country.” Jonathan and his wife, Elliott, Will Saxton has relocated from Brandon Arrindell is on the Winfield Clifford reported that are here in Memphis and NYC to Birmingham, AL, where board of directors of STAR Olive Alexander Clifford arrived couldn’t be happier. he is a partner at Arlington Academy Charter School. June 9, 2020, around happy Capital Advisors. Photo by Mark Weber for
’03 Thanks to Philip Blackett, Orlando McKay is teaching Daily Memphian Dave Ramsey’s course Foundations in Personal Finance to MUS juniors and seniors in his Economics: Finance and Theory class. Blackett, president and owner of Boston-based Cemetery Services, is sponsoring the course for 12 schools in the Boston area in addition to MUS. “When I heard Dave Ramsey on the radio talking about Foundations, I thought it would be a great way to positively impact kids,” Blackett told the Daily Memphian. “I can’t think of a more critical time than right now to teach kids to make smart decisions with money.” Read more at bit.ly/2FC45c2.
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Christian Freeman is in Chicago with his wife, Erica, and Chu Honored for 20 Years at NJCL 2-year old daughter Clover. At the time of writing the city had ustin Chu ’04 began attending National Junior Classical League conventions during his MUS just reopened Lake Michigan for days, and it became a habit. At the virtual convention this summer, he was awarded the lakeside beachgoers. Christian is ANJCL Silver Bowl for 20 years of attendance, and he was honored for his volunteer service. senior vice president, portfolio In a tribute presentation, former Tennessee JCL Chair Shannon Sloan described Chu’s quiet manager at First Midwest selflessness. “As one example, in 2003, he filed to run for an NJCL office but voluntarily withdrew Bank. I think the last time I saw when he learned that another Tennessean had filed for a different office.” Christian was at the St. Jude Races, when Erica was just past His service to the organization began in 2001-02 the finish line. when he was Tennessee Junior Classical League 1st vice-president. In 2002-03 he was elected president. Matt Ganier and his wife, Sarah, are still in Dallas. They have While an MUS sophomore, he helped organize a three kids – Anna Grace, James, faltering Swimming Olympika at Smyrna High School. and Davis. Davis joined them Instructor in Latin Ryan Sellers said although Chu in August 2019; Anna Grace is had not been assigned to the event and had no real about to turn 5 and James is 2. authority, he stepped in to help. From a professional standpoint, “Austin has continued to show this spirit of service to Matt is still working for Swingle JCL for the past 20 years, and I applaud him for being Collins & Associates as a such a wonderful ambassador,” Sellers said. commercial insurance broker and risk manager. He was named As an MIT student and Senior Classical League a shareholder of the firm in member, Chu continued to help with the JCL. Over the March. years he has organized academic testing sessions and taken on any job, Sloan says – moving boxes Photo by Mark Weber for of tests, reviewing Scantrons, sharpening pencils, setting up rooms, training scorekeepers, and more.
Instructor in Latin Marilyn Reinhart, who has led student delegations to the national convention almost 20 times, said Chu nearly always joined the
Daily Memphian group. “Austin, in addition to being extremely smart, Stuart Gillespie is currently is very friendly,” she said. “He came to most of living in southwest Colorado and these conventions on his own and made an effort is in the process of renovating to participate and help out with events, always the old Columbus Hotel in supporting MUS.” downtown Ouray, CO, and adding a rooftop bar. The hotel A software engineer at New York City-based Yext, will be renamed The Imogene Austin Chu ‘04, left, and 2012 NJCL partic- Chu lent his expertise to this year’s convention, held and will have its grand opening ipants Jeffrey Zheng ‘15, William Lamb ‘14, in July, by setting up and running virtual certamen sometime this year. Stuart has Richard Ouyang ‘15, and Yunhua Zhao ‘15. competitions. had several MUS alumni come Sloan said Chu may have summarized his attitude about volunteerism best in his MUS valedictory visit over the past couple of years speech when he said, “May we hope that we have left you as changed for the better as you have and he looks forward to hosting left us.” many more once the hotel opens. “You have certainly changed the JCL for the better, Austin,” she said. “We are proud to award this Mikell Hazlehurst and his wife, silver bowl to you for all you do and have done over the last 20 years, and we are grateful for your Lindsay, welcomed their first service.” child in February.
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Andrew Hoff is in Tunica, MS, wheat mills across the country. IN MEMORY teaching ACT test prep. Great to hear from you, Cotter. Hope you can get back to the Andrew Hooser recently took fishing lines and duck blinds a new job as vice president, soon, buddy! strategic customers with a logistics technology company Joseph Robinson reports called RateLinx. He is still based that he was “promoted to in Memphis with his wife and general manager of Robinson three kids. Toyota last fall and got married James O. Garner, Stephen Walter William Parks Jr. ’62 Keltner ’65 Fri ’71 to Lauren Robinson in my May 25, 2020 September 28, 2020 April 4, 2020 Lee Hoyle is still in Richmond, backyard on April 16 for a VA, working for a civil defense quarantine wedding. We plan firm. He and his wife had their to go on a honeymoon when second daughter last year, and the pandemic is behind us.” more to come, he says. Lee is Congratulations, Joseph! We all always looking for visitors need a serious vacation after if anyone is ever in the this one! Richmond area. In Nashville, Blake Wiedman Harris Jordan is a portfolio Kirkpatrick Wood Louis Howard William Allen reports that “life has been crazy Frederick ’71 Haglund, Jr. ’75 Whitsitt ’76 manager at Reliant Investment and boring all at once. We had September 20, 2020 July 7, 2020 August 21, 2020 Management in Memphis. our son, Jack, on December 18. He’s been an awesome baby and Cash McCracken reporting in fortunately has been healthy from the Eastern Hemisphere through all of this. My daughter, and just north of the equator Caroline, is almost 3. She keeps had the following update: “All us on our toes every day.” Blake is great with me. A few pieces became a partner and principal of news – my wife, Emily, and I at The Crichton Group in 2016, had our second child, Finn, in and they recently sold the August, and I have relocated Charles Brenham W. Trent Scull, Thomas Clark business to HUB International from Singapore to Kuala Allen IV ’77 Sr. ’86 Flanagan ’87 “and love being a part of the July 18, 2020 June 19, 2020 October 11, 2020 Lumpur, Malaysia (though organization.” Blake is getting COVID border lockdowns mid- back and forth to the lake some move interrupted my relocation and trying his best to work in and resulted in living in hotels/ some time hunting, fishing, Airbnbs for four months). I and golfing. was recently promoted to lead the global government Overall, a great update from our relations function for Seagate class. Babies abound, and so Technology.” does our class’s willingness to Benjamin Emrich Douglas Harwell stay in touch. If anyone needs Perry ’89 McClew ’14 Cotter Norris was named a connect or assist in anything September 16, 2020 August 16, 2020 commercial director of Bunge personally, professionally, or Mexico last year. He trades peripherally, don’t hesitate primarily wheat now. In Mexico to reach out. As for me, Kyle his company owns about 30 Slatery, I remain here in percent of the wheat milling Memphis. I wrapped up my 8th capacity, and Cotter leads a year teaching Religious Studies, team of wheat traders and flour Philosophy, and Ethics at St. salespeople operating seven
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George’s Independent School, Max Prokell’s company, Venta Miles Tamboli, who continues and next year, I am adding ’06 Marketing, has been ranked No. to reinvent the services at AP Psychology to the lineup! 212 on Inc. Magazine’s inaugural Tamboli’s Pasta and Pizza, Lacrosse season ended abruptly, Entrepreneur Sam Coates list of successful companies in is maintaining momentum but leaves a lot of anticipation started a podcast to share the Midwest. despite COVID challenges. In for 2021, so I am looking authentic conversations a recent article in the Daily forward to getting back on the with business leaders Peter Zanca has taken a job Memphian, he mentioned field with the boys. For summer as they navigate change as manager with Accenture, that his original career path 2020, I’m looking forward to the and the unexpected a leading global professional in medicine and then public beach at Pawleys Island, SC, during the pandemic: services company, providing health has been extremely and a backpacking trip to the drivenbypodcast.com. a broad range of services beneficial during the pandemic Maroon Bells in Colorado. in strategy and consulting, as he uses his background to Adrian Doggrell has taken interactive, technology, create a safe work environment a new position at iVelocity as and operations, with digital for his employees and a safe ’05 director of new partnerships. capabilities across all these dining experience for his services. customers. Charles Askew and his fellow Thomas Harvell is the multimedia manager of the alumni from the Clef Hangers Steven Thompson has taken a Communications Department at UNC put together this Stevie new position as vice president at Vericast. He lives in Atlanta ’07 Wonder song to express their at Truist Securities. support for those struggling with his wife, Brittany. Caught on Instagram: for social justice - tinyurl.com/ Second-year resident Miles McCauley Williams, president Joy and Matt Johnson, and ClefHangers. DeBardeleben ’07, second from and CEO of B.R. Distilling, son, River, welcomed baby girl, right, teaches at the University guided the distillery known Cooper Hopkins has taken the Poppy Moon, in May. of Mississippi Medical Center. for its Blue Note Bourbon and position of general manager at #ResidentsAsTeachers Riverset Rye to make hand Acura of Memphis, Lincoln of Patrick Kimberlin opened #HeMayBeGivingFlyFishingTips sanitizer for the public as a Memphis, and Umansky Alfa up his family farm in Olive response to the pandemic. His Romeo/Maserati at Umansky Branch, MS, as an event venue company turned to laid-off local Automotive Group. for weddings and corporate outings. The website is restaurant workers to staff that kimberlinfarms.com. effort.
Lance Minor joined Juniper Square, a software platform ’08 for private equity real estate investment managers: “I’m Michael Cross has accepted helping them start their a new job on the faculty at enterprise sales team.” He University of Arkansas for and his wife, Margot, lived in Medical Sciences as a clinical Steamboat, CO, for the summer. instructor and chief resident in internal medicine; he plans to Mike Montesi lives in Austin, pursue a career in cardiology Stewart Gray has been From Jimbo Rainer: What do TX, with his wife, Caroline, next year. promoted to manager of you do with a Class of 2005 a native Austinite. He is a strategy and deal advisory at laundry bag? Recycle to use CPA and currently works Nelson Graham is pursuing KPMG US. as beach toy bag for the kids! as the director of financial his MBA from Vanderbilt and reporting at American Campus spending the summer interning Daniel Williams has taken Lee Moore and his wife, Becky, Communities. They welcomed with Amazon as a senior a new position as corporate are now living in Madison, MS, a baby named Max (Maxwell product manager. sales representative at E.A. and he is working at The Eye Francis) on February 5, 2020. Langenfeld. Group of Mississippi.
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Ben Khouri and his wife, real estate investment, Paul Stephens is on the board Amanda, have relocated to development, and management of directors of STAR Academy Nashville where he has taken firm. Brian concentrates Charter School. a job with Amazon. He will be on new developments and working in communications for acquisitions of commercial real John Straton is working for their North American delivery estate across the Midwest. software company VMware as a operations and logistics teams. senior financial analyst. Andrew Gardella is pursuing Joel Moss has taken a global his MBA at the University of sales position with Grifols Virginia’s Darden School of ’11 pharmaceutical company. Business. J.P. DeVincenzo has started Jack Steffner has taken Brad Ringel has moved from a new position as director his industry experience to the Big Apple to the Windy City of strategic initiatives at International Paper as a real where he is senior manager of Radiology Associates of North Barrett Huggins is currently estate manager. corporate finance for Heniff Texas P.A. officer-in-charge of Okinawa Transportation Systems LLC. Rob Dickinson has taken Veterinary Clinic at Kadena a new position as senior Air Base, Japan. He’s pictured Reid Sanders is now the chief ’10 associate with The Stephens here with one of his more financial officer at AnthymTV, Group LLC. photogenic working dogs. Brian Davidoff graduated which is taking the work out of from The University of Chicago streaming TV by curating free, Vance Montgomery argued Booth School of Business in next-day shows from favorite Ben Roberts reports from and won the very first remote June 2020. He is working in cable networks into 24/7 Birmingham that he was oral argument conducted by Chicago for Hines, a global television channels. recently promoted to client the Tennessee Supreme Court. The historic argument was held via videoconference in April Coming Soon! due to the coronavirus. This event offers alumni opportunities to connect with their classmates, to contribute to MUS, and to compete ’09 for March Madness bragging rights Mathew Jehl is an attorney against their peers from other classes. at Burch, Porter & Johnson All proceeds will be applied as Annual where he practices in the areas Fund donations from each participant of personal injury litigation, and will be listed in the Annual Report. commercial and business litigation, white collar and WATCH YOUR EMAIL criminal investigations, FOR DETAILS! government relations and municipal law, and labor and FOR MORE INFO employment law. Before joining David Willson (901) 504-3260 OR the firm, Mathew served as [email protected] judicial law clerk to The Hon. Bernice B. Donald, United Karen Skahan (901) 260-1412 OR States Court of Appeals for the [email protected] Sixth Circuit.
Rahul Kumar was part of St. Jude’s initial graduate school class completing Ph.D.’s.
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solutions leader at Syntropy fighting tribal knowledge as Group, a digital marketing much as possible!” Check out and advertising firm, and his this link for more information: wife, Shelby, was admitted tinyurl.com/Terralanes. to University of Alabama at Birmingham’s nurse anesthesia Tunkie Saunders is working as doctoral program. an associate chemical engineer at Redwood Materials. Quay Stallworth has taken a position as regional director, Jace Watkins is a new accounts public-sector Midsouth at associate with Raymond James Gallagher, a global insurance in Memphis. brokerage, risk management, Nate Utkov is a pricing analyst and consulting firm that serves at Chewy. communities around the globe, helping clients address Mac Treadwell is working in operations for Raymond James in risk, protecting assets, and Memphis. At the end of June, he raced in the Mid-East Amateur recovering from losses. ’13 Regional Motocross Championship at Ironman Raceway in Derrick Baber has been Crawfordsville, IN. Mac reports: “While I fell short this year, my goal Scooter Taylor co-founded promoted to account executive is to finish top six at a regional and earn a spot on the gate at the QuarantineCon, a virtual portal at POOLHOUSE advertising Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch to help people network and agency. in Hurricane Mills, TN.” connect during the pandemic. (See story, page 12). Tripp Crews has been promoted to senior financial Tate Solberg is a revenue industry. Check out this link for analyst at Mercer Capital. auditor with Vail Resorts in more information: tinyurl.com/ ’12 Broomfield, CO. Terralanes. Ryan Mayzell is an investment Spencer Gruber was promoted banking associate with Anthony Walton’s work as to director of business Deutsche Bank in New York a basketball hype man was ’16 development at Bridge Capital City. featured in the Knoxville News Thrift and Loan. Sentinel in May. Sam Bartz graduated magna Alec Ossorio has been cum laude with a Bachelor of John Oates reports from promoted to underwriter at Arts in history from Samford Nashville that he, along with Burns and Wilcox. ’15 University. He will begin law brother Jerry Oates ’15 school this fall at the University and another co-founder, is Jake Woodman was promoted Alex Carruthers is in Atlanta of Tennessee. building a start-up business to vice president for fixed where he is a financial lines called Terralanes. “It’s a income sales at FHN Financial. underwriter for Starr Insurance Chandler Clayton graduated knowledge management Companies. from University of Southern system specifically for freight California in May with a brokerages in the logistics ’14 Keegan Jones works in bachelor’s degree in industrial industry. Our goal is to help business development for and systems engineering. He brokerages increase their Bobby Lewis is a member of Adams Keegan in Memphis. will be working as a consultant consistency of customer the National Guard. for West Monroe Partners in Jerry Oates, along with brother service on a rep-by-rep level Los Angeles. Samuel Ostrow is a member of John Oates ’12 and another by creating a system that the inaugural class of National co-founder, is building a start- visualizes data in an entirely Terrell Jackson is working for Space Society Legal Fellows, a up business called Terralanes, new way and houses nuanced Juice Plus+ in Collierville. program for exceptional law a knowledge management customer information where students with a passion for system specifically for freight it’s accessible to all. Basically, space and international law. brokerages in the logistics
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Gatewood gets Giant Opportunity BY DANIEL BLACK ’18
coach at my alma mater.” After Gatewood’s first two years as a graduate assistant, some of the Volunteers’ coaches left to join new Giants Head Coach Joe Judge, including Head Strength Coach Craig Fitzgerald. For one of his last classes at UT, Gatewood had an internship with Fitzgerald’s strength staff. It was Fitzgerald who contacted him about the Giants opening in strength and conditioning. “He asked me if I wanted it, and I said, ‘yeah, let’s ride, Coach. I’m with it.’” Now working under Fitzgerald and Judge, Gatewood is excited about the future of the New York Giants. “I believe in what Coach Judge and his staff are doing; it’s one of the reasons why I decided to take this job,” Gatewood said about a week before leaving Memphis. MaLeik Gatewood is at home in MetLife Stadium, also home to the New York Giants “I know Coach Judge will do a great job. I know what life is like when a new coach February 3, 2008. Super Bowl XLII. Gatewood accepted a position with the New comes in, and it’ll be a lot of hard work. I’m York Giants coaching staff. just excited to get there and grind and try The New England Patriots lead the New “It’s really exciting, something that I’ve to help them get back to winning football York Giants, 14-10, with 1:15 remaining. The really been waiting for,” Gatewood said. games and Super Bowls.” Giants face a 3rd and 5. “More than anything, I’m ready to get to While his career is advancing steadily, Eli Manning gets the snap and is work and keep proving myself. Keep proving Gatewood still appreciates his past, immediately under heavy pressure, that I belong in this business and try to help including his time as an Owl. seemingly about to go down, but he evades inspire other people.” “Being at MUS taught me how to be the tacklers. He scrambles, looks downfield, A standout player at MUS, Gatewood prepared and how to manage my time,” and throws it into the leaping hands of went on to the University of Tennessee Gatewood said. “The way Coach Alston David Tyree, who lodges the ball against his at Knoxville to play football under Coach and his staff had things organized helped helmet, keeping possession while hitting the Butch Jones, and his senior year, Coach me get a jump-start on college, both with ground for a Giants 1st down. Jeremy Pruitt. While playing at Tennessee, football and in the classroom. MUS taught The Giants would score with 35 Gatewood got his first experience in me a lot, and I still use some of those things seconds remaining to take a 17-14 lead, and coaching when he volunteered to coach to this day as I make the next steps in my ultimately, a Super Bowl victory. inner-city kids in Knoxville. career.” MaLeik Gatewood ’15 remembers it well. “I knew I wasn’t going to make it into the Twelve years after watching the “I remember when the Giants played NFL as a player, so I thought why not follow New York Giants hoist the Lombardi the undefeated Patriots and the “Helmet my dream, get into coaching, and be able to Trophy, MaLeik Gatewood is a part of the Catch,” one of the greatest catches of all- impact many more people?” organization. time. When Eli beat Brady. That sticks out Gatewood told Pruitt about his desire to “I’ve seen this growing up, and now, I to me.” coach, and after he got his degree in sport get to be on this stage with these guys and Twelve years later, Gatewood not only management, the Tennessee coach invited on this coaching staff. It’s really the most gets to watch the Giants play, but he also him to join the staff. exciting thing to me.” gets to work alongside them. On August 24, “It was a great opportunity to be able to
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Winn Medlock is pursuing Rhodes College, is among people’s lives aren’t as regulated “Realizing the social impact a master’s degree in finance 396 college sophomores and as they normally would be, I could make with the Civic at Vanderbilt University in juniors nationwide selected and for various reasons, many Service Organization is still the Owen Graduate School of as a 2020 Goldwater Scholar. people are not able to function driving my career choices,” Management. “I hope to pursue an M.D./ as well as they had pre- he adds. “I want to use what I Ph.D. degree after graduation COVID.” He started an online learn to have a positive social Henry T. Stratton is an affiliate and, ultimately, become a petition that accumulated 950 impact on others.” commercial real estate broker physician-scientist exploring signatures over several months, with Colliers International, the biological and chemical but as of mid-October, the Memphis. determinants of disease at request had not been granted. the cellular level. I would love Upon graduation from The Wharton School at Penn, to end up working at a very Daniel Tancredi joined mission-driven institution such Susquehanna International as a as St. Jude,” says Somjee. quantitative trader. Somjee was also inducted into Connor Whitson graduated Phi Beta Kappa at Rhodes, magna cum laude from The along with fellow Rhodes classmate Linhao Zheng, AJ Varner, a student at University of Alabama with a UT-Austin majoring in bachelor’s degree in finance. He who graduated from MUS after undergoing treatment for neuroscience, is a winner is working for Lockheed Martin with his team of the 2020 cancer at St. Jude. Nick Rezaee just graduated Missiles and Fire Control in Thermo Fisher Scientific with a bachelor’s degree in Grand Prairie, TX, as a financial Award for Excellence in financial mathematics from analyst. In addition, he is Biological Sciences for the the University of California, enrolled in Auburn University’s project “Determining the Santa Cruz and is working full- online MBA program through Individual Recognition Ability time as a software engineer the Harbert College of Business. of the Western Mosquitofish for Citibank and part-time Gambusia affinis.” He also as a technical advisor for a received the 2020 U.S. Air Force research lab at UCSC called ’17 Inventors Choice Award for the Braingeneers. Frederick Danielson is the team project “Improving working as a fixed income Military Health and Wellbeing.” research intern at Raymond ’18 See more here: tinyurl.com/ James. AJVarner. In September Josiah Joey Rodriguez has been Crutchfield asked the promoted to executive director University of Memphis to ’19 at GW College Republicans offer students the option of USC journalism student and is also the vice chairman choosing pass/fail grading Reagan Griffinwas at DC Federation of College instead of the traditional interviewed on NPR’s Morning Republicans. format. The school had given Edition in July for a story about students the credit/no-credit He has been accepted to the Sloan Schneiter spent colleges planning for fall amid option in Spring 2020. (Josiah, University of California, Irvine’s the summer working as an the pandemic. a mechanical engineering master’s program in statistics investment banking summer major, did not opt for pass- and ultimately plans to analyst with Deutsche Bank. fail.) “I was pushing for pass/ pursue a Ph.D. in biostatistics focused on building statistical Ramiz Somjee, a junior fail to level the playing field and computational models majoring in biochemistry because of the unprecedented applied to medical technology. and molecular biology at circumstances. Unfortunately,
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105909_MUS today magazine.indd 59 12/7/20 2:35 PM Send news to your class representative listed below or to Ann Laughlin at [email protected].
’58 Claude Crawford: [email protected] ‘89 Scott Sherman: [email protected] ’07 Neely Mallory: [email protected] ‘59 Bryan Nearn: [email protected] ‘90 Brian Eason: [email protected] ’07 Buck Towner: [email protected] ‘60 Metcalf Crump: [email protected] ’90 Hootan Hidaji: [email protected] ‘08 Michael Cross: [email protected] ‘60 Alex Wellford: [email protected] ’90 Jeff Kerlan: [email protected] ‘08 Connell Hall: [email protected] ‘61 Scott May: [email protected] ‘91 Trevor Benitone: [email protected] ‘09 Rhobb Hunter: [email protected] ‘62 Jerry Bradfield: [email protected] ‘91 Ellis Haddad: [email protected] ‘09 Robert Counce: [email protected] ‘63 Doug Ferris: [email protected] ‘92 Chuck Hamlett: [email protected] ‘09 Jim Moore: [email protected] ‘64 Bill Quinlen: [email protected] ‘92 Brandon Westbrook: [email protected] ‘10 Stephond Allmond: [email protected] ‘65 Bob Heller: [email protected] ‘93 Thomas Quinlen: [email protected] ‘10 Hank Hill: [email protected] ‘65 Rick Miller: [email protected] ‘93 Gil Uhlhorn: [email protected] ‘10 Jake Rudolph: [email protected] ‘66 Chuck Smith: [email protected] ‘94 Ben Clanton: [email protected] ‘10 Paul Stephens: [email protected] ‘67 John Pettey: [email protected] ‘94 Kirby May: [email protected] ‘11 Blake Hennessy: [email protected] ‘68 Bill Ferguson: ‘95 David Bradford: [email protected] ‘11 Chase Schoelkopf: [email protected] ‘68 Terry Wilson: [email protected] ‘95 Gideon Scoggin: [email protected] ‘11 Scooter Taylor: [email protected] ‘70 Kelly McGuire: [email protected] ‘95 Will Thompson: [email protected] ‘12 Edward Francis: [email protected] ‘70 Jimmy Ogle: [email protected] ‘96 Nelson Cannon: [email protected] ‘12 Anthony Hodges: [email protected] ‘71 Barlow Mann: [email protected] ‘96 Rusty Shappley: [email protected] ‘12 Lee Marshall: [email protected] ‘71 Phil Wiygul: [email protected] ‘96 Spike Treadwell: [email protected] ‘13 Tripp Crews: [email protected] ‘72 Joel Hobson: [email protected] ‘97 Justin Grinder: [email protected] ‘13 Sam Moore: [email protected] ‘73 Cecil Humphreys: [email protected] ‘97 Trey Jones: [email protected] ‘13 Hurston Reed: [email protected] ‘73 Wise Jones: [email protected] ‘97 Michael Thompson: [email protected] ‘13 Jake Woodman: [email protected] ‘74 Mark Ruleman: [email protected] ‘98 Erick Clifford: [email protected] ‘14 Hayden Combs: [email protected] ‘74 Walker Sims: [email protected] ‘98 Don Drinkard: [email protected] ‘14 Cal Edge: [email protected] ‘75 Lee Marshall: [email protected] ‘98 Justin Lohman: [email protected] ‘14 Chris Galvin: [email protected] ‘76 Gib Wilson: [email protected] ‘99 Richard Burt: [email protected] ‘14 Anthony Walton: [email protected] ‘77 Bruce Moore: [email protected] ‘99 Chip Campbell: [email protected] ‘15 Tom Garrott: [email protected] ‘78 Cecil Godman: [email protected] ‘99 Norfleet Thompson: [email protected] ‘15 Kamar Mack: [email protected] ‘78: Rob Preston: [email protected] ‘99 Josh Winters: [email protected] ‘15 Joseph Preston: [email protected] ‘79 Arthur Fulmer: [email protected] ‘00 Chris Hamilton: [email protected] ‘15 Connor Wright: [email protected] ‘79 Greg Meyer: [email protected] ‘00 Jay McDonald: [email protected] ‘16 Nathan Dinh: [email protected] ‘80 Louis Jehl: [email protected] ‘00 Ryan Miller: [email protected] ‘16 Tim Hart: [email protected] ‘80 Bryan Jones: [email protected] ‘01 Paul Gillespie: [email protected] ‘16 Mac McArtor: [email protected] ‘80 Mel Payne: [email protected] ‘01 Daniel McDonell: [email protected] ‘16 Trammel Robinson: [email protected] ‘81 Jeff Harris: [email protected] ‘01 Battle Williford: [email protected] ‘17 Josh Gray: [email protected] ‘81 Boyd Wade: [email protected] ‘02 Scott Adams: [email protected] ‘17 Marcus Gronauer: [email protected] ‘82 John Dunavant: [email protected] ‘02 John Adrian: [email protected] ‘17 Alex Hyde: [email protected] ‘82 Ron Helmhout: [email protected] ‘02 Frank Langston: [email protected] ‘17 Evan Smith: [email protected] ‘83 Craig Christenbury: [email protected] ‘02 Joe Pegram: [email protected] ‘18 Barry Klug: [email protected] ‘83 Jimmy Harwood: [email protected] ‘03 Jamie Drinan: [email protected] ‘18 Mathon Parker: [email protected] ‘84 Bob McEwan: [email protected] ‘03 Edward Nenon: [email protected] ‘18 Daniel Shumake: [email protected] ‘85 Ted Simpson: [email protected] ‘03 Henry Talbot: [email protected] ’19 Scott Burnett: [email protected] ‘85 Owen Tabor: [email protected] ’04 Kyle Slatery: [email protected] ’19 Stephen Christenbury: ‘86 Brad Conder: [email protected] ‘04 Brad Spicer: [email protected] [email protected] ‘86 Andy McArtor: [email protected] ‘05 Kane Alber: [email protected] ’19 William Quinlen: [email protected] ‘87 Jeff Blumberg: [email protected] ’05 Warner Russell: [email protected] ‘20 Robert Dickinson: [email protected] ‘87 Kyle King: [email protected] ‘05 Sam Sawyer: [email protected] ‘20 Hunter Kendall: [email protected] ‘87 Bill White: [email protected] ‘06 Hunter Adams: [email protected] ‘20 Will McEwan: [email protected] ‘88 Max Painter: [email protected] ‘06 Chad Hazlehurst: [email protected] ‘20 Will Portera: [email protected] ‘88 Fred Schaeffer: ’06 Reid Wesson: [email protected] [email protected]
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Your gifts in memory of loved ones or in honor of special friends enable young men at MUS to receive a world-class education. Memorials to Memphis University School support the Annual Fund program. Families of those whose memories are honored will be notified by an appropriate card with an acknowledgment to the donor. We gratefully acknowledge the following gifts to the school:
In Memory Of ______LARRY B. CRESON III ’83 Mr. and Mrs. Ronald J. Lazarov Dr. and Mrs. K. David Moore ’83 Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Loeb ’73 CHARLES B. ALLEN IV ’77 Dr. and Mrs. Stephen J. Maroda, Jr. ’75 Mr. and Mrs. C. Whitney Brown, Jr. ’77 ALFREDO DALAO Mr. J. W. McAllister Ms. Jenifer Shockley Mr. and Mrs. Wallace B. Haney Mr. and Mrs. J. Stillman McFadden ’75 Mr. and Mrs. S. Clay Smythe ’85 Mr. and Mrs. M. Vincent Mutzi Ms. Murrey M. Watkins SKIP DANIEL Mr. and Mrs. Walter Nance Mr. Christopher Thomas Whitman Mr. and Mrs. Ben C. Adams ’74 Mr. and Mrs. Larry Papasan Dr. and Mrs. R. Louis Adams ’70 Dr. Patti P. Ray and Mr. W. Barry Ray EDWARD ATKINSON III ’73 Mr. and Mrs. Bobby A. Alston Mr. and Mrs. Richard L. Reinhardt Dr. and Mrs. David L. George ’75 Mr. Donald G. Austin, Jr. ’59 Dr. and Mrs. W. Webster Riggs Mr. and Mrs. James H. Barton, Sr. ’61 Mr. and Mrs. James D. Russell JIM AND PATRICIA BEARD Mr. and Mrs. Richard E. Batey Mrs. Joan F. Ryan Dr. F. Gwen Beard Mr. and Mrs. Nathaniel W. Bowe, Jr. Mrs. Lucy May Thompson and Mr. Christopher P. Beard ’84 Mr. and Mrs. Richard C. Broer Mr. and Mrs. Norman S. Thompson, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. E. Hope Brooks III ’80 Ms. Bettye Ulmer Weathersby PETER M. BOWMAN Mr. and Mrs. Thornton W. Brooksbank ’82 Mr. and Mrs. Alexander W. Mr. and Mrs. Michael F. Montesi, Jr. ’06 Mr. and Mrs. Byron N. Brown IV ’97 Wellford, Jr. ’60 Mr. and Mrs. James F. Burnett ’83 Ms. Sue Willliams MATTHEW R. “BUDDY” BRESCIA ’64 Mr. and Mrs. Philip M. Chamberlain Ms. Marian L. Wood Dr. and Mrs. Andrew Michta Mr. and Mrs. Mark S. Counce ’77 Mr. and Mrs. Bill Woodmansee Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin J. Cousins, Jr. ’95 Mr. and Mrs. Kent Wunderlich ’66 GLENDA RUTH BROOKS Mr. Junius E. Davidson Mr. Perry D. Dement Mrs. Patricia D. Davis MARTHA JEAN HILL DESKIN Scott Davis Mrs. Claire K. Farmer MAVI GALLARDO CAPOTE Mr. Perry D. Dement Mrs. Claire K. Farmer Mrs. Barbara B. Dillon WILLIAM P. FRI ‘71 Dr. and Mrs. Jonathan M. Jones Emily and Mike Eaton Mr. and Mrs. Ben C. Adams ’74 Mr. and Mrs. Richard L. Reinhardt Miss Mary Nell Easum Mr. W. Martin Clough, Jr. ’71 Mr. and Mrs. Joe Edmondson JAMES T. CARNEY ’96 Mr. and Mrs. Nat B. Ellis ’62 JAMES O. GARNER, JR. ’62 Mr. and Mrs. H. Nelson Cannon, Jr. ’96 Dr. William W. Ellis Mr. and Mrs. Frederick W. Smith ’62 Mr. and Mrs. Cameron A. Mann ’96 Mrs. Claire K. Farmer Ms. Elizabeth Farrar DONALD FRANCIS GARVEY MURRAY J. CARD Mr. and Mrs. Richard L. Fisher ’72 Mrs. Linda Garvey Meisler Mr. and Mrs. Alexander W. Mr. and Mrs. Miles S. Fortas ’89 Wellford, Jr. ’60 Mr. and Mrs. Samuel N. Graham II ’80 M. M. GORDON Mr. and Mrs. Ellis L. Haguewood Dr. and Mrs. R. Louis Adams ’70 ROBERT ALLEN COOK Mr. and Mrs. Bruce B. Hopkins, Sr. ’68 Mr. and Mrs. Ellis L. Haguewood Mr. Perry D. Dement Mr. and Mrs. Frank Inman, Jr. Mrs. Claire K. Farmer Dr. and Mrs. Jonathan M. Jones LOUIS H. HAGLUND, JR. ’75 Mr. and Mrs. Ellis L. Haguewood Mr. and Mrs. Harvey L. Kay III ’75 Mr. Robert C. Winfield ’75 Mr. John H. Keesee ’69 MARTHA FOLK DRENNON CRABTREE Mr. and Mrs. E. Carl Krausnick, Jr. ’79 BETTY AND KEN HAMSLEY Mrs. Claire K. Farmer Mrs. Katherine Lammons Dr. and Mrs. Jeffrey L. Hamsley, Sr. 61
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VERA UZELLA HARGROW R. CHRISTOPHER LASTER ’91 SCOTT D. PATTERSON ’81 Mr. and Mrs. Ellis L. Haguewood Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy G. Alpert ’91 Mr. and Mrs. Brett Patterson
JOHN E. HARKINS ELIZABETH LEIGH MAREK J. BONDURANT PHILLIPS, JR. ’95 Mr. and Mrs. Bobby A. Alston Mr. and Mrs. Ellis L. Haguewood Mr. and Mrs. Lee A. Hyde IV ’96 Mr. and Mrs. Richard E. Batey Mr. and Mrs. Richard C. Broer DOUGLAS H. MCCLEW ’14 THOMAS B. PRESTION Mr. and Mrs. Byron N. Brown IV ’97 Mr. Hayden P. Combs ’14 Mr. and Mrs. Joseph M. Morrison ’78 Mr. and Mrs. Mark S. Counce ’77 Mr. and Mrs. Paul T. Combs Mr. Perry D. Dement Mr. Perry D. Dement MR. AND MRS. HENRY QUON Mrs. Claire K. Farmer Mrs. Claire K. Farmer Mr. Christopher M. Joe ’87 Mr. and Mrs. Ellis L. Haguewood Mr. Paul R. Stevenson ’14 Dr. and Mrs. Jonathan M. Jones MARY ANN RAHE Dr. and Mrs. Dean A. Klug, Mr. P. Barry EUGENE A. MCDERMOTT, JR. Mr. and Mrs. Richard E. Batey Klug ’18, Mr. Jackson M. Klug ’11, Mr. and Mrs. Ellis L. Haguewood Mr. and Mrs. Eric Christopherson and Mr. Theodore D. Klug ’08 Mrs. Frederick C. Schaeffer, Sr. Mr. Perry D. Dement Mr. and Mrs. Ronald J. Lazarov Mrs. Claire K. Farmer Mr. and Mrs. M. Vincent Mutzi JAMES MCFADDEN Mr. and Mrs. Ellis L. Haguewood Mr. C. Barham Ray, Jr. ’99 Ms. Anna Marie McFadden Dr. and Mrs. Jonathan M. Jones Dr. Patti P. Ray and Mr. W. Barry Ray Mrs. Marci Woodmansee Mr. and Mrs. Norman S. Thompson, Jr. ARCHIE C. MCLAREN, JR. ’60 Mr. and Mrs. Treadwell B. Thompson ’01 Dr. and Mrs. Phillip L. Patterson, Sr. ’60 JAMES C. RAINER III Mr. and Mrs. Michael G.C. Webster ’71 Mr. Perry D. Dement Mr. and Mrs. Alexander W. CHALLACE J. MCMILLIN Mrs. Claire K. Farmer Wellford, Jr. ’60 Mr. John R. Cady ’69 Mr. and Mrs. Samuel N. Graham II ’80 Mr. and Mrs. Ellis L. Haguewood WILLIAM R. HATCHETT CHARLES A. MONTAGUE, JR. Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence K. Jensen Mr. and Mrs. Norman S. Thompson, Jr. Mr. Perry D. Dement STEPHEN H. RHEA, JR. ’68 RUSSELL HENSLEY RUTH M. MORRISON Mr. Terry A. Wilson ’68 Mr. Perry D. Dement Mr. and Mrs. Ben C. Adams ’74 Mrs. Claire K. Farmer Mr. and Mrs. Bobby A. Alston JACKSON J. ROBERTS ’14 Mr. and Mrs. Mark S. Counce ’77 Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey A. Breazeale ’84 JOHN F. HILTONSMITH Class of ’74 Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey A. Fick Mr. Jeffrey W. Posson ’03 Mr. Perry D. Dement Mr. J. Edward Francis ’12 Mrs. Claire K. Farmer LOUISE MORGAN HOMAN Mr. and Mrs. David L. George ’75 WILLIAM JACKSON ROBERTS Mr. and Mrs. Michael E. Homan Mr. and Mrs. Samuel N. Graham II ’80 Mr. Perry D. Dement Mr. and Mrs. Ellis L. Haguewood Mr. and Mrs. L. Clayton Templeton III ALYS JOY HURLEY Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Hussey, Jr. Dr. Mary Margaret Hurley and Dr. and Mrs. Dean A. Klug DR. AND MRS. JAMES T. ROBERTSON Mr. Gregory J. Hurley Mr. Arif Hasyim Dr. Daniel P. Robertson ’80 and Mr. John E. Marcom, Jr. ’75 MR. AND MRS. JACK JOE Mr. and Mrs. J. Stillman McFadden ’75 JOHN PHILLIP TURPIN RUSSELL, JR. ’09 Mr. Christopher M. Joe ’87 Mrs. Frederick C. Schaeffer, Sr. Mr. and Mrs. Steven T. Rutledge Mrs. Nancy W. Smith CAROL L. JONES Mr. and Mrs. William S. Taylor SUZANNE SATTERFIELD Mrs. Claire K. Farmer Dr. John H. Pickens GENE L. NEUSES LAWRENCE H. KEESEE ’69 Mrs. Claire K. Farmer AARON R. SCHARFF, JR. Mr. Mark L. Frederick ’69 Mr. and Mrs. E. Hope Brooks III ’80 GERALDEAN PERSON Mr. Perry D. Dement Mrs. Claire K. Farmer
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HELEN H. “HONEY” SCHEIDT DOROTHY SCHAEFFER VAWTER LAURA R. BECK Mr. and Mrs. Paul T. Combs Mrs. Claire K. Farmer Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. Gooch III Mr. and Mrs. Ellis L. Haguewood SUZANNE B. WARREN VINCENT W. BECK HONEY AND RUDI SCHEIDT Dr. Donna M. Dabov and Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. Gooch III Mr. Perry D. Dement Dr. Gregory D. Dabov JOHN G. BILLIONS ’23 RUDI E. SCHEIDT, SR. LAWSON G. WHERRY Dr. and Mrs. Gerald F. Billions Mr. and Mrs. Ellis L. Haguewood Mr. and Mrs. Joseph M. Morrison ’78 Mr. and Mrs. Paul T. Combs MARK G. BILLIONS, JR. ’26 F. GAINES WHITINGTON ’15 Dr. and Mrs. Gerald F. Billions WALTER SCOTT III ’87 Mr. S. Pierce Jones ’15 Mr. and Mrs. J. Sidney Evans, Jr. ’87 C. JOHN BLACKWELL ’23 WILLIAM A. WHITSITT ’76 Mr. and Mrs. Ceylon B. Blackwell, Jr. W. TRENT SCULL, SR. ’86 Mr. and Mrs. Bruce H. Henderson ’76 Mr. and Mrs. Donald M. Kilgore, Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Hussey III ’81, EVAN F. BOSWELL ’21 Mr. Samuel D. Kilgore ’20 Mr. Edwin T. Hussey ’16, Mrs. June C. Boswell Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey S. Schlosberg ’86 Mr. Jones Hussey Mr. and Mrs. S. Clay Smythe ’85 DEE AND JIM BURNETT ’83 Marci, Ken, Mary, and MALCOLM BARBORO WOOD ’71 Mr. John T. Fisher III ’82 Will Woodmansee ’20 Dr. and Mrs. David L. George ’75 Mr. and Mrs. Robert F. Sharpe, Jr. ’71 J. WESLEY BUTLER III ’21 TERRY N. SHELTON Mr. and Mrs. Sam T. Lewis Mr. Sean A. Alpert ’97 LEYTON L. WRIGHT Mr. Alan S. Wright ’93 LEWIS A. BUTLER ’23 DAVID FRANKLIN SHY ’80 Mr. and Mrs. Sam T. Lewis Mr. and Mrs. L. Donelson Miller ’80 In Honor Of ______THOMAS C. BYRNES, JR. ’25 DEWITT M. SHY, JR. ’69 Mr. and Mrs. Thomas C. Byrnes Mr. and Mrs. W. Parks Dixon, Jr. ’69 ROBERT I. ABBAY V ’20 Mr. and Mrs. Scott P. Wellford ’60 Mr. and Mrs. James L. Westbrook JOHN J. COLCOLOUGH III Mr. and Mrs. Donald D. Batchelor ’72 PAMELA WILLIAMS SOUSOULAS VAN M. ABBAY ’23 Mr. Perry D. Dement Mr. and Mrs. James L. Westbrook KENNETH O. COOPER II ’24 Mrs. Claire K. Farmer Mr. and Mrs. James A. Cooper, Jr. GRIFFIN H. ALLEN ’24 GEORGE M. STRATTON ’66 Mr. and Mrs. Richard Middlecoff R. KEMP CONRAD, JR. ’23 Ms. Ellen Cooper Klyce Mr. and Mrs. R. Kemp Conrad, Sr. JAMES A. ALLEN ’22 WILLIAM S. STRATTON ’60 Mr. and Mrs. Richard Middlecoff WILLIAM C. CRAFT ’25 Mr. and Mrs. Samuel S. Rembert III ’60 The Honorable and Mrs. Christopher B. LOUIS F. ALLEN III ’19 Craft ’69 R. PARRISH TAYLOR III ’96 Mr. and Mrs. Richard Middlecoff Mr. and Mrs. Lee A. Hyde IV ’96 ELIZABETH M. CROSBY Mr. and Mrs. Cory A. Prewitt ’96 SALLY A. ASKEW Mr. and Mrs. Michael F. Montesi, Jr. ’06 Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. Gooch III SARAH S. TAYLOR R. DOUGLASS CURTIS ’21 Mr. and Mrs. George V. Steffens III MATTHEW D. BAKKE Mr. and Mrs. William W. Curtis Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. Gooch III D. EUGENE THORN G. WEBB DANIEL ’22 Mr. and Mrs. Howard K. Tayloe, Jr. ’64 JACKSON C. BEARD ’21 Mrs. Kay N. Daniel Mr. and Mrs. James G. Beard
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HEATHER L. DAVIS MR. AND MRS. ELLIS L. HAGUEWOOD JAMES H. LINDY ’17 Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. Gooch III Mr. Brandan J. Roachell ’19 Mr. and Mrs. Jay H. Lindy ’80 Mr. and Mrs. Brian S. Roachell JULIA M. DEBARDELEBEN Mr. Jianyin Roachell ’11 CALEB S. LITTLEJOHN ’21 Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. Gooch III Ms. Barbara J. Steed WILLIAM D. HALLIDAY ’22 PERRY D. DEMENT Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Danner, Jr. GEORGE C. LUTON ’26 Dr. and Mrs. Charles W. Parrott ’79 Mr. and Mrs. E. Eugene Horner, Jr. W. CLAYTON HARRIS III ’01 PHILLIP B. EIKNER ’77 Mrs. Ann Clark Harris N. GATES LUTON ’24 Mr. Brandan J. Roachell ’19 Mr. and Mrs. E. Eugene Horner, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Brian S. Roachell ROBB A. HARRISON ’09 Mr. Jianyin Roachell ’11 Mr. and Mrs. Bruce A. Harrison JUSTIN P. MARTIN ’23 Mr. and Mrs. Fred C. Martin, Sr. JOHN R. ESTES ’14 J. WILLIAM JARRATT, JR. ’21 Mr. and Mrs. Leslie K. Estes Mr. and Mrs. Joseph W. Jarratt, Sr. BENJAMIN T. MCBRIDE ’23 Mr. and Mrs. Steven P. McBride CLAIRE K. FARMER JOHN C. JARRATT ’24 Mr. Kenneth S. Farmer, Jr. ’03 Mr. and Mrs. Joseph W. Jarratt, Sr. JOHN M. MCBRIDE ’18 Mr. and Mrs. Steven P. McBride GEORGE S. FLINN IV ’23 WILLIAM T. JENKS ’22 Mr. and Mrs. Leslie K. Estes Dr. and Mrs. Joseph R. Thornton III WILLIAM S. MCBRIDE Mr. and Mrs. Steven P. McBride DAVID A. GAGLIANO R. MCKNIGHT JOHNSTON III ’21 Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. Gooch III Mrs. Warren A. Jennings REID A. MCGOWAN ’21 Mr. and Mrs. Nic Thomas ELIJAH H. GRAHAM ’21 WARREN A. JOHNSTON ’21 Mr. Sam P. Gardner, Jr. Mrs. Warren A. Jennings J. EVERETT MILLER ’21 Ms. Linda K. Miller SAMUEL N. GRAHAM II ’80 JOHNNY E. JONES, JR. Mr. Perry D. Dement Mr. J. Edward Francis ’12 HENRY L. MILLS ’25 Mr. and Mrs. Peter D. Sanders Mr. and Mrs. H. Paul Mills Mr. and Mrs. Robert Smithwick III ’80 JONATHAN M. LARGE Mr. Jack G. Fernandez ’20 HENRY A. MOAK ’26 J. WELLFORD GOULD ’13 Mr. J. Edward Francis ’12 Mr. and Mrs. Edward A. Moak Dr. and Mrs. Richard H. Gould LAURA T. LAWRENCE D. STEPHEN MORROW ’71 MILLER H. GRIESBECK ’26 Mr. Perry D. Dement Ms. Brooke A. Morrow Ms. Maureen Griesbeck Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. Gooch III Miss Kimberly F. McAmis EDWARD B. MORROW, JR. WALKER L. GRIESBECK ’24 Mr. and Mrs. D. Stephen Morrow ’71 Ms. Maureen Griesbeck JOHN C. LEE ’23 Mr. and Mrs. Frank Camp, Jr. R. WAYNE MULLINS MICHAEL E. GUNN Mr. and Mrs. J. Wesley Butler, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy G. Alpert ’91 CHRISTOPHER M. LEWIS Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. Gooch III LOYAL W. MURPHY IV ’86 ELLIS L. HAGUEWOOD Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. Gooch III Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy G. Alpert ’91 ELI J. LEWIS ’23 Mrs. Kathryn Murphy Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. Gooch III Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey D. Lewis ’88 Mrs. Georgia Harkins J. MCGEHEE OWEN ’22 Mr. Francis B. Langston ’02 BENJAMIN A. LINDY ’20 Mrs. C. Penn Owen, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Michael F. Montesi, Jr. ’06 Mr. and Mrs. Jay H. Lindy ’80 Mr. and Mrs. Richard M. Scharff ’80
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OWEN M. PARKER ’25 Mr. Perry D. Dement Mrs. Judith G. Parker Mr. and Mrs. Ellis L. Haguewood Mr. and Mrs. Jon K. Hampton ’01 WILLIAM B. PATTESON ’21 Dr. Frances K. Lawhead and Mr. and Mrs. Michael E. Homan Mr. Jacob G. Lawhead ’95 Miss Kimberly F. McAmis TAYLOR G. PATTESON ’23 Dr. and Mrs. Paul K. McClure, Jr. ’01 Mr. and Mrs. Michael E. Homan Mr. and Mrs. George V. Steffens III Ms. Murrey M. Watkins AMY R. POAG Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. Gooch III MORGAN P. TEMME ’23 Mrs. Joan R. Morgan A. DOTY RAWSON ’23 Mrs. Mary C. Rawson RHODES W. TEMME ’23 Mrs. Joan R. Morgan W. BARRY RAY Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy G. Alpert ’91 JAMES A. THOMAS ’20 Ms. Margie R. Farese COLLINS B. ROBINSON ’20 Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert A. Robinson IV ’90 DAX A. TORREY ’94 Mr. and Mrs. William J. Aldridge, Jr. ’07 R. MCCADDEN ROBINSON ’18 Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert A. Robinson IV ’90 JUSTIN D. TOWNER V ’07 Ms. Virginia D. Cochran C. THOMAS ROGERS ’20 Get Your Mr. and Mrs. Donald Pritchard CHARLES S. TREADWELL IV ’24 Mr. and Mrs. David F. Leake Owl Gear Here: JAMES D. RUSSELL Mr. and Mrs. Michael F. Montesi, Jr. ’06 J. HENRY WEEKS ’22 store.musowls.org Mrs. Judy K. Weeks PETER D. SANDERS Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. Gooch III EDWARD J. WILSON ’23 Mr. and Mrs. Paul D. Griffin FREDERICK C. SCHAEFFER III ’22 Mr. and Mrs. Bob Covington SAMUEL G. WILSON ’24 Mr. and Mrs. Matthew T. Wilson ’92 KAREN M. SKAHAN Mr. and Mrs. Bryan E. Nearn, Jr. ’59 JACOB P. YARBROUGH ’22 Mr. and Mrs. John E. Yarbrough D. CARSON SMITH ’25 Mr. and Mrs. Jay Smith SETH T. YARBROUGH ’24 Mr. and Mrs. John E. Yarbrough CARRIGAN C. SULCER ’21 Mr. and Mrs. Bill Woodmansee
R. BARRETT SUMMERS ’23 Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Halter
WILLIAM S. TAYLOR Mr. and Mrs. Richard C. Broer Mr. J. Durham Bryce, Jr. ’12 Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin J. Cousins, Jr. ’95
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105909_MUS today magazine.indd 65 12/7/20 2:35 PM THE LAST WORD ‘I am part of all that I have met’ by Norman Thompson
Illustration by Greg Cravens conceive ourselves to be. The first of these concerns, inconvenience, is more trivial. We are a species that enjoys complaining. We imagine that carping solves the problem. It certainly reduces our impulse to take any constructive action. We know that inconvenience is a part of life and that many inconveniences go away after a while or that we will eventually get used to them. The equanimity with which famished young people faced the daily massive inconvenience of the Clack Dining Experience of old is testimony to their ability to turn inconvenience into a joke, a target for their many daily frustrations. But the other of the reactions to change is more fundamental and more problematic. We fear change so keenly that some of us become pathologically nostalgic, like E.A. Robinson’s Miniver Cheevy, a pitiable creature so enamored of the past that he missed the opportunity to live in the present. Here’s a bit of what Robinson wrote of him:
ong ago, in the dawning of a to the upheaval of my sedentary life as I Miniver loved the days of old new millennium (seems like the sat ensconced in my office, in my hand a When swords were bright and twinkling of an eye to me), I spoke hot cup of joe, the drug of choice of the steeds were prancing; in chapel one morning early in seasoned teacher, reflecting that soon The vision of a warrior bold LDecember but late in 1999. I began snarkily familiar classrooms would be scattered far Would set him dancing. with, “The more percipient among you and wide across campus as old comforting have no doubt noticed the gargantuan buildings came down and new ones Miniver loved the Medici, earth-moving machines roving the campus burgeoned. Albeit he had never seen one; for what seems like eons already. These While the discombobulation we feel He would have sinned incessantly have systematically laid waste to sylvan today, the result of constant electronic Could he have been one. glens and ancient trees, sending innocent bombardment of news – fake or otherwise, Miniver Cheevy, born too late, wildlife scurrying in search of new homes. exacerbated by the appalling coronavirus Scratched his head and kept Landmark buildings and limpid bathing pandemic – calculated to remind us of on thinking; pools have been reduced to rubble. the imminent demise of civilization as we Miniver coughed, and called it fate, Accompanying these monsters is a horde know it, is far greater than my discomfiture And kept on drinking. of toolbelt-wearing, hard-hatted vandals. back in the halcyon days of the physical They have been knocking down beloved rebirth of Memphis University School, we Now, lest you leap to the conclusion structures, stirring up dust storms of still perform the time-honored ritual that that I consider the past irrelevant, that biblical proportions, and noisily driving we have always resorted to when change I lack the poignant sense of place that steel with evident glee for some time now. threatens us: We grouse, grumble, and characterizes the literature and sentiment Jackhammers at the ready, they vow that whine. of the South, let me hasten to tell you that their depredations have only just begun; Our consternation before the I understand and to a degree sympathize the pillaging promises to go on unabated onslaught of change is, I think, the with Miniver Cheevy – except for the part for the foreseeable future. Chaos and the result of two things: our abhorrence of about the drinking, of course, which, now strangers walking among us have become inconvenience and our fear that change that I think of it, is also a conspicuous a way of life.” Here, of course, I was reacting will destroy our past and thus what we element in Southern literature.
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105909_MUS today magazine.indd 66 12/7/20 2:35 PM Few places on this campus lack the opening lines: “Dear MUS how weird the daughter, a tiny 6-year-old at the time, charm and are unaccompanied by the fate/That brought us to Room 8.” became Gretl, the youngest Von Trapp memories that define me and provide I remember that one day during child in The Sound of Music. A few years a haven for me in times of personal that first year or two so long ago, as I later, wearing a black wig, she became uncertainty or turbulence. I suspect that was endeavoring futilely to describe Shprintze in Fiddler on the Roof. Still later, others share my sentiments as they, too, the attributes of medieval art – general she became an urchin boy, an orphan have chosen to devote their careers to MUS knowledge necessary to understand one member of Fagin’s gang in Oliver. She was and to fulfill their lives here at 6191 Park. of Robert Browning’s great dramatic changed for the better in so many ways for We are in a very real sense where we monologues – a hand grasping just the her experiences here – development of the come from, where we’ve been. We are our visual aids that I needed thrust itself work ethic, expansion of the imagination, pasts – not the real past, whatever that is, through a crack in the door. I felt like and cultivation of friendships are only a few but the past that exists in our memory, as young King Arthur being offered Excalibur of these. I am grateful to Flip Eikner ’77 it has been modified by our imagination. by the Lady of the Lake. Hearing my and Andy Saunders, who afforded her the Tennyson, in his great poem “Ulysses” has pathetic efforts through the ductwork, Bill opportunity to become better than she was his hero say, “I am part of all that I have Hatchett, highly respected elder statesman and me the opportunity to witness it. What met,” and he goes on to boast that he has of the English department, rode to my was true for my daughter was equally true made a difference, that he has affected rescue unsolicited. From him I learned that for all the other young people in the casts those around him. And, of course, he sharing knowledge is not only noble but of all the plays performed in Hyde Chapel means that all that he has met is now part mind-expanding. through the years. of him – that he is what he has met, has I remember the day that the school Love of place gives our memories experienced. was evacuated because MLGW, while “a local habitation and a name,” as But memories are intensely personal working on Park Avenue, had accidentally Shakespeare has Theseus say in A and eccentrically selective. Two of us in cut a natural gas line. I learned two things Midsummer Night’s Dream, a comedy the same place at the same time will not about students that exciting day. One was recently appearing on the MUS stage. have the same experience. Each of us may the bestial nature of man (a concept that A beloved place is a magical backdrop remember very different things – what is aided my teaching of Lord of the Flies, against which we may conjure our dreams insignificant to one may seem cosmically a novel still in the curriculum today). and become our futures. But our love of important to another. For example, I As an inadvertent spark caused several place usually depends on the people who remember when I was younger, so much large trucks to ignite and burn, the tires inhabit that place. When I think about it, younger than today, walking into the MUS periodically exploding, students sent all the places on this campus that I visit foyer for the first time and falling in love up loud cheers of jubilation. The other in my mind are memorable because of with the place. I remember the shabby thing that I remember is the ingenuity something somebody said or did. In my gentility of the place and the overgrown, and spontaneity of youth. Students were mind’s eye, I see the shadows of long- gone-to-seed Southern Gothic courtyard evacuated to the safety of the bleachers departed students, some now 50-year-old beyond. I remember on that day meeting of the football field. A television news men and more, walking the hallways. I see, Col. Ross Lynn, a founder of the school, helicopter appeared over the campus. too, the ghosts of colleagues who now walk and Mr. Gene Thorn, subsequent revered Presently students began pouring from corridors a good deal farther off. Those headmaster. The portraits of these giants the stands and lying on the football field. young men will be forever freshmen to me, did not hang in the foyer then, but already Before we clueless teachers realized what and my departed colleagues will never age these illustrious men seemed to me as was going on and could stop it, a vulgar more. And I will always remember them much a part of the ambience as later their two-word invitation to the people of even more vividly than I do the hallways portraits would be. It was in this foyer Memphis had already partially been we walked together. that I learned from patient students how spelled out. to play chess and developed the character But I also never forget that Hull-Dobbs The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam that comes from constant, inevitable Athletic Field (now surrounded by the heartbreakingly observes that defeat. I set records for consecutive losses, impressive Stokes Stadium) was and is a The Bird of Time has but a little way sometimes stubbornly persevering until place where young men routinely become To flutter – and the Bird is on 5:30 p.m. better than they are. Having seen all home the Wing. I remember my first classroom, the games since 1985 and many before that, I Perhaps, then, we would all do well massively timbered Room 8. So clearly remember a great many heroic and selfless to observe this evolving place and these do I remember my first freshman classes acts, so many instances of young athletes transient people as we would a passing that when they graduated four years later, playing beyond their ability, accomplishing parade in which we are all participants my separation anxiety was so great that the seemingly impossible. as well as spectators, no less important I thought my relationship with students Another place that I remember so than any other marcher and no more would never be the same. My fears were, many young people being better than they permanent. of course, unfounded, but those first are is the stage in Hyde Chapel, a cramped, classes still live in my memory. I remember confining space where when the curtain Norman Thompson has been an MUS that some wags of that class rewrote the goes up, young actors sing, dance, and act school hymn in my “honor.” That hymn better than they can. It is not so much a instructor in English since 1972, and he has washed away in the tide of times, physical place as it is an enchanted land holds the L. Edwin Eleazer III Chair of leaving on the shoal of my memory only the of the imagination. I remember when my Excellence in Teaching.
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105909_MUS today magazine.indd 67 12/7/20 2:35 PM Photo68 by l MUSGrant TODAYBurke FALL 2020
105909_MUS today magazine.indd 68 12/7/20 2:35 PM The Memphis University School seal has been recreated and supersized in the carpet of the Upper School rotundas and Dining Hall, renewing the age-old question: Should students walk on the seal or not? One thing is for sure – it’s now a longer walk either around the seal or through it!
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105909_MUS today magazine.indd 69 12/7/20 2:35 PM NON-PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE
PAIDMEMPHIS, TN THE ALUMNI MAGAZINE OF MEMPHIS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL PERMIT NO. 631 6191 Park Avenue, Memphis, TN 38119 Address Service Requested
Parents Only: If this issue is addressed to your son who no longer maintains his permanent address at your home, please notify the MUS Development Office (901-260-1350) of the new mailing address. Because college addresses change so frequently, we are unable to use them for general mailing.
Photo by Wendy Adams
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