FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS OF FLORIDA SOUTHERN COLLEGE OUTHERNNEWS S VOLUME 63 ISSUE 1 SPRING 2018 A letter from the president Art is an important component of human culture. Through the ages, artists have used their talents to express profound emotions and ideas. Indeed, museums oer us images of beauty, mystery, life commentary, and oen challenge us to change the way we look at the world. Therefore, I am enthusiastic about the new aliation between Florida Southern and the Polk Museum of Art. The museum has a long history of oering important exhibitions to Polk County residents and beyond, and now through this agreement, it will join the ranks of notable academic art museums in the nation. The success of the aliation has been supported greatly by J. William Meek III ’72, director emeritus of the Harmon-Meek Gallery in Naples. Mr. Meek and his wife, Barbara ’76, not only arranged for a significant collection of American figurative art to be donated to the permanent collection of the museum, but also contributed works from their own private collection. Their support and advocacy of this initiative create the foundation for a successful artistic venture for FSC. This edition of Southernnews will tell you about this valuable aliation and how it will strengthen both the College and the museum, which has been renamed the Polk Museum of Art at Florida Southern College. I hope you share the excitement and that you will add a visit to the museum to your schedule the next time you visit the campus. We continue to add dynamic new leadership to the College, including Dr. James Fenton, Dean of the Barney Barnett School of Business and Free Enterprise, whom you will meet in this edition. The Barnett School is soaring under his leadership. You will also read about the significant damage the campus suered during September’s Hurricane Irma and how in its wake, the faculty, sta, and students worked together to recover from the eects of the storm. I am proud of the way our campus community exhibited true “Moc Spirit,” and I hope you are as proud as I am to be part of this great College. Sincerely, Anne B. Kerr, Ph.D. President On the cover: A Cartographer at his Studies by Kneller Gottfried (1646 – 1723) VOLUME 63 ISSUE 1 SPRING 2018 Publisher FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS OF FLORIDA SOUTHERN COLLEGE Anne B. Kerr, Ph.D. President 27 Dr. Gerry Getman ’69 Honors the Memory of Editor-in-Chief Professor Tom Willard with an Endowed Scholarship Robert H. Tate, Ph.D. 28 U.K. “Brexit” Politician Nigel Farage Describes “Democratic Vice President for Advancement Revolution” in Lecture Managing Editor 29 Spotlight on Scholarship Donors: The Beulah Kahler College Trust Rebecca Paul-Martin 29 Barnett School Students Have Private Lunch with Publishing Director, Marketing Public CEO Steve Forbes Relations 30 On the Danube: Dr. Kira Omelchenko and Olivia Smith Editor Participate in Music Festival Cary McMullen 31 Noted Psychologist Presents Troubling Trends Among Super- Publications Editor Connected “iGen” Design 34 32 Professors Ross and Slate Bid Farewell Tamara Blyth 33 New Army Ocers Told “We Will Need Your Leadership” Photography 2 NEWS 34 FEATURES Matt Nassif Cindy Skop 2 Citrus Executive Bill Becker ’65 Awarded Prize For 34 A Portrait of Partnership: FSC and Polk Museum of Art Joni Finkbeiner-Tyler Economic Freedom Launch Joint Initiative Calvin Knight 3 The Home Depot CEO Craig Menear Delivers 37 Dr. Alex Rich Oversees Exhibitions for Polk Museum of Art at FSC David Mills CEO100 Lecture 38 The Classicist: Jessica Artman ’06 Sarah Brewington Andy Meng 4 No Status Quo: New Dean James Fenton Intends to 39 Big, Colorful, and Bold: Beth Darby Haizlip ’80 Take Barnett School Full Speed Ahead Cary McMullen 40 The Opera Stage Beckons for Joshua Mazur ’13 and 6 Bob Black ’51 Inducted into Department of Wesley Morgan ’02 Communication Hall of Fame 42 For the Defense: Steve Wellslager ’88 and His Team at Publix 7 Queen Noor of Jordan Praises Roberts Academy as Help FSC Create Cyber-Security Courses “Academic Jewel” 8 New Academic Year Begins With Largest First-Year Class 43 SPORTS Southernnews is published 9 At Legacy Luncheon, Generations Continue to Grow 43 Five Inducted into FSC Athletics Hall of Fame twice a year and mailed 10 Moc Spirit Rules in the Wake of Hurricane Irma 43 Mocs Win Sunshine State Conference Men’s Cross Country Title at no charge by Florida 12 Happy 150th Birthday, Mr. Wright! 44 MOCS Volleyball Finishes as No.2 Southern College, 111 Lake Hollingsworth Drive, Lakeland, 14 Moc Dock Benefits Water Ski and Recreation Programs 44 Allan Gutierrrez ’15 Donates Olympic Medallions Florida, 33801-5698. 15 FSC Dedicates Judy and Joe P. Ruthven Beach 45 Lucky Number 13! Men’s Golf Team Wins Division II Volleyball Courts National Championship Class notes may be submitted to 16 The Roberts Academy Adds Classrooms and 45 Women’s Lacrosse On the Move the Oce of Alumni Relations Middle School Grades at alumni@flsouthern.edu. The 46 KUDOS 17 Zoe Trout Receives Fulbright Teaching Award College reserves the right to edit all copy. Items for Southernnews 18 FSC Graduates Largest Class in History at Spring 48 CLASS NOTES Commencement should include names and class years (if applicable). Photos 20 Founders Day Convocation: Dr. Glenn 62 WHY I GIVE must be high resolution to Lowry, Museum of Modern Art Director, Installed Going the Distance: John Wilson ’62 Travels a Long Way to be considered for publication as Honorary Chancellor Founders Day (minimum of 2”x2” at 300 dpi) 22 Distinguished Alumni Recipients 63 FAMILY and all people pictured must be 25 Grace Beggs ’15 and Dr. Jennifer Hilmer ’12 Deliver identified. Lectures at the Spencer Symposium 64 IN MEMORIAM 26 Anatomage Table Gives High-tech Look into Direct comments or questions Anatomy & Physiology 69 HISTORY to: rpaul@flsouthern.edu or The Hurricane of 1944 863.680.4735 2 | SOUTHERNNEWS CITRUS EXECUTIVE BILL BECKER ’65 AWARDED PRIZE FOR ECONOMIC FREEDOM years on the commission. During his tenure, he worked to maintain domestic markets while advocating expansion to foreign markets, helped shi the commission’s focus to promotional marketing, and was an advocate for enhanced quality standards. He is also a former president of the National Juice Products Association and the Florida Citrus Processors Association. Dr. Becker was inducted into the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame in 2011 and recognized by Florida Southern with an honorary doctor of business degree that same year. In his keynote address, Commissioner Putnam called free enterprise “the arsenal of democracy,” which brings prosperity to cities and small towns alike, and “the friend of freedom-loving men and women all over the world and the natural-born enemy of tyrants.” He called Dr. Becker “a champion of free enterprise, of economic freedom.” “He has shaped public policy and molded global trade policy as chairman of the Florida Citrus Commission. He is a philanthropist, an innovator, a deep thinker, and a tireless leader. Bill Becker has proved that Florida is more than just a prize for a life well-lived someplace else. It’s a launching pad for the American dream,” Commissioner Putnam Dr. R. William “Bill” Becker ’65 Praised as a champion of free enterprise, a leader in the state and one said. receives the Prize for Economic of its most important industries, Dr. R. William “Bill” Becker ’65 was Freedom from Dean Robert Holmes of the Barney Barnett named the recipient of the third annual Prize for Economic Freedom The award was presented by Ed Crenshaw, chairman of the board of School of Business and Free from the Center for Free Enterprise at FSC. Dr. Becker was presented Publix who accepted the 2015–2016 Prize for Economic Freedom on Enterprise. President Anne the 2017 award at a luncheon last spring, attended by hundreds of behalf of his company. Dr. Becker called the award “an incredible honor” Kerr and Publix Super Markets Chairman Ed Crenshaw (right) dignitaries from around the state, including Florida Commissioner of and said his employees over the years helped make his businesses express their congratulations. Agriculture Adam Putnam, who delivered the keynote address. successful. The Center for Free Enterprise, part of the Barney Barnett School of “Free enterprise is what enabled me to build the companies I’ve had, but Business and Free Enterprise, awards the Prize for Economic Freedom to the real thank-you goes to the people who have worked with me and an individual or organization which exemplifies the highest commitment made it all possible. At the end of the day, it’s not bricks and mortar that to the principles that allow for human prosperity. Previous honorees are makes a company, but people. I’ve had people who for 40 years have Publix Super Markets, Inc., and Dr. H. Fisk Johnson III, Chairman and dedicated themselves to hard work, conscientiousness, integrity, and all CEO of household products manufacturer S.C. Johnson & Son. the things that contribute to making a business successful,” he said. Dr. Becker, president of Becker Trading Company and founder and owner Peace River Citrus Products, has spent more than 50 years in the citrus industry. Upon graduating from FSC, he went to work for his family’s company, Becker Groves, as general manager. He went on to become vice president of Becker Holding Company, which owned or managed 12,000 acres of citrus groves. He founded Becker Trading Company, which processed nearly 18 million boxes of fruit per year, and in 1994, he founded Peace River Citrus Products, which manufactures and distributes citrus-based packaged goods for retail, food service, agricultural and industrial customers.