Hall of Fame Edition
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THE MURPHY ALUMNUS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, Inc. July 2012 HALL OF FAME EDITION 2012 Inductees are: Julian D. Sawyer, Col. USAF, Class of 1946. Charles E. ―Buddy‖ Davis, Class of 1950 New Kathryn Calogrides Coumanis, Class of 1955 Murphy Alumni Association Executive Committee Todd Strange, Class of 1962 Officers Posthumous Inductees: Carmen Kearley ‗82, President George R. Harris, Jr., 1942, deceased Janice Thames Wiseman, 1945, deceased Ryan McKee ‗03, 1st Vice President This year‘s Hall of Fame event was held on Sonya Sullivan ‗93, 2nd Vice President April 29, 2012 at the Murphy High School Cafeteria. The Murphy Jazz Band performed as Diane Miller ‗59, Secretary alums gathered, viewed the student art, scrapbooks, and displays of the new inductees. After the Theodore Kearley ‗80, Treasurer Murphy Chorus performed choreographed selections from their spring concert, guests enjoyed Mike McNair ‗70, Past President the reception of hors d‘ oeuvres prepared by the Members At Large Murphy Culinary Class. Paulette Saffold ‗73 Brenda Howell ‗68 The Murphy Alumni Association began in 1995 and in 2001 Hall of Fame was established to Irvin Grodsky ‗64 recognize graduates and those associated with Murphy High School whose accomplishments, Marion Stille ‗64 while at Murphy and since, are such to bring great honor to Murphy High School. This year there were Monetta Noland ‗60 many qualified nominations, but the policy is to limit the number to no more than six inductees. It is Barbara Harris ‘60 not easy to become a member of the Hall of Fame since a person must be nominated to be considered, Marian Jackson ‗59 and many factors must be taken into account. Ellie Foster ‗58 Considering the past inductees, it is obvious that the 2012 inductees will indeed be in good company. JULIAN D. SAWYER, COL., USAF Class of 1946 Julian D. Sawyer was born in Mobile September 2, 1928 and educated in the Mobile public schools, attending Barton Academy in 1941, then enrolling at Murphy as a midterm student, attending from 1942 to 1946. While at Murphy Julian was a Student Government representative his Junior Year. He worked in the welfare store and was a member of the Football Team his Sophomore and Junior Years. He was also Vice President of the Junior Class. He is remembered by his high school friends as a fun loving kid who wasn't afraid of hard work. Like many students in those years just following the Great Depression, he left school at mid-day in the work-study program. His was not a life of high school clubs and community service activities, but of work and family. He enjoyed sports but family obligations cut his football career short. He may not have been a hero of the gridiron but the ladies remember him as a very good dancer, so he was never short of partners when the music began. After graduation, Julian heeded the call to serve his country. He began primary flight training in June 1948 as an aviation cadet in the United States Air Force. At that time, signs of victory in World War II were not yet evident. In 1959, early in his career, then Captain Sawyer was awarded the Soldier's Medal in recognition of his actions saving crewmen from a burning aircraft following a crash at Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, S.C. Julian Sawyer graduated from the National War College in 1969 and achieved the rank of Colonel in the United States Air Force. Serving in 3 Tours of Duty in the Vietnam War, he flew 463 close-cover missions for soldiers on the ground as Tactical Fighter and Wing Commander of the 615th Tactical Fighter Wing. For his service, bravery and leadership he was awarded the Silver Star, 5 Flying Crosses and 23 Distinguished Flying Medals. During his 26 year military career, he served in many capacities including Air Training Command as a flight instructor, flight commander in the F-86 Sabre Jet, F-84 Thunder Jet and F-100 Super Sabre fighter aircraft, Commander of the 615th Tactical Fighter Squadron and Wing Commander of the 366th Tactical Fighter Wing. He retired as Deputy Director for Operational Command and Control in the Pentagon. Following retirement, Sawyer relocated to Demopolis, Alabama to begin a second aviation career as an airport manager, fixed based operator and flight instructor. Under his leadership the Demopolis Airport was transformed from a neglected facility facing closure into a major economic resource for Marengo County. He continued to promote the growth of general aviation as a flight instructor by providing basic and advanced flight training to pilots in the area. His personal achievements and awards include Alabama Aviation Hall of Fame Class of 2011. Col. Sawyer dedicated his time to his family and to his work, limiting other activities though some of his professional activities are community centered, such as his board service on the Alabama Council of Aviation. He also served on the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, and Experimental Aviation Association, War Birds Group. Julian Sawyer's military service, evidence of his bravery, and his love of country and his fellow man, is his outstanding achievement making him worthy of the Murphy High School Alumni Hall of Fame. CHARLES E. 'BUDDY' DAVIS – Class of 1950 While at Murphy, Buddy Davis was active in student government all four years and ran for Student Body President his Junior year. He represented Murphy at the University of Alabama for Student Government week. Buddy served on the newspaper staff, the stage production crew, participated in the music department and received academic honors all four years. Following high school graduation, he worked full time for a while and in 1951 enlisted in the United States Air Force. While on duty in England, he began taking correspondence courses in physics and math, as well as in technical schools for two years. In 1955, he was honorably discharged and enrolled in the School of Engineering at Auburn University, graduating in 1959 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. After receiving his degree, he was employed by Douglas Aircraft Company which later merged with McDonnell Aircraft to form McDonnell Douglas (now known as Boeing) and began his long and outstanding career in the aerospace industry. During that time he earned a Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering from UCLA. While his academic degree was electrical engineering, he spent his more than four-decades-long career primarily in the aerospace industry. Buddy and his wife, Charlotte, lived most of their married life in California where their three sons grew up, one choosing a career in Aerospace Engineering and a graduate of Auburn. The other sons are West Point graduates. Some of Buddy's more notable career activities are: 1960 Launch Team for Thor Rocket at Vandenburg, California 1962 Designer of launch facility for Apollo Moon Rocket at Cape Canaveral 1963 Designer of fire control system for static firing of Apollo 3rd stage 1964 Manually fired Apollo third stage 100 times 1965-1969 Fired third stage in an altitude chamber 500 times 1968 Member of launch team for Apollo II, first man on the moon 1969 Designer, Saturn Electronics 1970 Group Engineer, Saturn Failure Analysis 1973 Designer, Delta Mission checkout 1978 Director, Delta Foreign Operations 1979 Team Member Advanced Design 1980 Member of Delta Rocket launch team 1982 Designer/Manager for the Air Force KC-10 aerial refueling tanker design 1985 Plant Manager, Kollsman Instrument Company 1986 Designer/Manager Mast Mounted Sites for helicopters 2004 Listed as Member in National Register's Who's Who in Executives & Professionals 2004 Recognized by George Petrie Society at Auburn for interest, support and promotion of excellence at Auburn. After retirement, Buddy was a student of the stock market and gradually became a stock market analyst and investment expert. He and his wife have generously supported many charities and educational organizations. In 2007 Davis made the third largest donation in the history of Auburn to the College of Engineering and the Aerospace Engineering Building was named the Charles E. ―Buddy‖ Davis Hall. In 2008 he was the largest single contributor and donor to his fraternity at Auburn, which was dedicated in his honor. In 2010, he and his wife contributed a sizable donation to Murphy High School in support of MHS Athletics and the Culinary Arts Program. Buddy is a member of Institute of Aerospace Sciences, Aerospace Electrical Society, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Auburn Engineering Keystone Society, a core group of alumni who share a vision for exceptional engineering instruction, hands-on experience, and an environment conducive to the discovery of new technology and innovation, and the George Petrie Society. In 2012, Buddy was inducted into the State of Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame. Other memberships are Rotary Club International, Chairman, Newport Harbor Yacht Club, and Airport Commission in Greenville, Texas. He is President of Home Owners Association of Republic Homes, President of WBCCI, Region XII, President of West Point Parents Club, and a Member of the Auburn Alumni Association. He is also a member of the Southern California Professional Engineers Association. Buddy's nomination included more than twenty letters of recommendation from prominent citizens across the country. A letter from Astronaut Jim Voss, a veteran of 5 space flights, states in part:… ―Congratulations to Buddy for being recognized by the school where he formed the character that served him well through his distinguished career. … I appreciate his tremendous knowledge of space systems and the engineering work he has done ... but respect him most for his support of education and his help for young people. He is well deserving of the recognition you have given him....‖ KATHRYN CALOGRIDES COUMANIS – Class of 1955 While at Murphy, Kathryn served on the Hi-Times staff for 3 years and was the manager 2 years.