The Magazine of Memphis University School • March 2007 From the Editor I’m sure it was just a coincidence. My husband and I traveled to Miami in January in search of some sun and relaxation. I made an appointment in the spa and arrived promptly for my assigned time. An attractive young woman was there waiting for her appointment, too. “Ms. Neal, Ms. Lazarov, we’re ready for you.” Ms. Neal and I were MEMPHIS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL then whisked away on a tour of the facilities and ended up sitting in Founded 1893 the sauna together. MISSION STATEMENT MS. NEAL: This is the most amazing sauna I’ve ever seen. The lights Memphis University school is a are so cool. And that piece of rock in the middle of the room looks college-preparatory school dedicated to like kryptonite. academic excellence and the development ME (thinking Ms. Neal is very friendly and hip): Yep. Is this the first time you’ve been to this hotel? of well-rounded young men of strong MS. NEal: Yes, I work on a TV show in New York. The whole cast was invited, but I was the only moral character, consistent with the school’s Christian tradition. one who could get off work. ME (thinking she must work for the local morning news show): What show? HEADMASTER MS. NEal (answering coolly): Law & Order: SVU. Ellis L. Haguewood ME (recognizing who she really is): Oh my God, you’re the woman attorney! I can’t believe it! What’s your BOARD OF TRUSTEES name? P. Trowbridge Gillespie, Jr. ’65, Chairman MS. NEal: Well, I’m Diane Neal, but I play ADA Casey Novak. Musette s. Morgan, Vice Chairman And then we head to the steam room. Richard L. Fisher ’72, Treasurer Well, I’m thinking, here I am, making friends with Casey Novak, both of us wrapped in towels, W. Thomas Hutton ’61, Secretary Ben C. Adams ’74 while I’m wrapping up the next issue of MUS Today in which the cover story is none other than our R. Louis Adams ’70 own version of Law & Order. A coincidence? Russell e. Bloodworth, Jr. ’63 Just as ADA Casey Novak prosecutes criminals on TV, Kirby May ’94, Dean Decandia ’93, Susan B. Faber Paul Hagerman ’92, Emmett Hall ’67, Cavett Ostner ’93, David Pritchard ’85, Rob Ratton ’96, Samuel N. Graham II ’80 and Bo Summers ’94 serve the citizens here in the Mid-South as ADAs in the Shelby County Mark J. Halperin ’67 District Attorneys Office. On the other side of the courtroom are the public defenders: Eric Elms Harry Hill III ’66 Joseph R. Hyde III ’61 ’91, Rob Gowen ’90, and Sanjeev Memula ’92. And behind the bench is Judge Chris Craft ’69; E. Carl Krausnick, Jr. ’79 or the recently retired Judge D. J. Alissandratos ’66; or Dan Michael ’72, who serves as a juvenile Robert e. Loeb ’73 court referee. We even have a cop or two in the mix. Read Law & Order: MUS on page 3 – maybe Andrew R. McCarroll ’86 I’ll send Ms. Neal a copy to share with her co-workers. Richard C. Moore, Jr. ’63 But of course there’s more…not the least of which is Coach Jerry Peters’ first state champion- D. stephen Morrow ’71 ship and a celebration of 900+ wins coaching the MUS Basketball Owls. How did he achieve these C. Barham Ray ’64 Wiley T. Robinson ’75 milestones? The short answer: he genuinely cares about the young men he coaches. He teaches boys Michael D. Rose that teamwork trumps personal triumph and to always “do what’s right” in life – then success will Charles F. smith, Jr. ’66 come naturally. Coach Peters is the perfect role model for what he teaches. Just ask the hundreds S. Alexander Thompson III of fans – students, parents, and especially alumni – who traveled to Nashville to cheer the Owls to James C. Varner ’73 victory. This overwhelming support was a tribute to Peters who was in the hospital in Memphis Alexander W. Wellford, Jr. ’60 Kent Wunderlich ’66 recovering from a minor stroke. His fans and his team were not going to let him down. I think Dick Fisher ’72 got it right in his “Viewpoint” column: people at MUS care about ALUMNI ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE BOARD other people. MUS Today pays tribute to those who care about MUS: the men and women at MUs John R. Pitts ’76, President who care about being positive role models to our students; and those who graduate from these halls Robert B. Wade ’84, President-Elect to become leaders, good men who care about others, our communities, and our world. Scott E. Anderson ’92 Jonathan A. Ballinger ’87 David C. Bradford, Jr. ’95 Debbie B. Lazarov Joel W. Brown ’61 Director of Communications Craig A. Christenbury ’83 Phone: (901) 260-1416 Marshall A. Clark ’77 E-mail: [email protected] CORRECTIONS: Andrew K. Crosby ’89 After last issue’s story, “Traveling through Time,” John H. Dobbs, Jr. ’85 Bob Heller ’65 called to say that Bo Olswanger, pictured Paul F. T. Edwards ’79 on the MUS BOMB Tour, attended Whitehaven High Joel A. Fulmer ’67 Cecil A. Godman III ’78 School. Norman Blake ’74 received several calls from Charles D. Hamlett ’92 former classmates pointing out that it was he on the far Louis C. Jehl, Jr. ’80 left of the Switzerland photo, not Lee R. Marshall ’75 Nathan Hightower. He called Stephen J. Maroda ’75 G. Kirby May ’94 us to confirm, "Hey, that’s me John R. Malmo, Jr. ’85 waving." Apologies to Norman, Loyal W. Murphy IV ’86 whom we understand was the William E. Orgel ’81 impetus for the 1974 trip with Robert B. Preston ’78 Mr. Hatchett. M. Paul Reaves ’84 R. Scott Rose ’84 We also heard from Adam Dudley P. Schaefer ’76 Brinkley-Svanberg ’99, who is Gideon L. Scoggin ’95 living in Moscow, Russia, and Gwin C. Scott, Jr. ’83 working in investments. The John W. Stokes III ’79 Camp information and application Brian S. Sullivan ’83 are available on our website, article, “Where in the World is MUS?” touched on many alumni living abroad but surely there are others. Please Philip S. Wunderlich ’90 www.musowls.org, or call let us know where you are and what you’re doing! DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI 260-1300 for a brochure. AND PARENT PROGRAMS Finally, we apologize for putting golfer David Tashie Claire K. Farmer in the wrong class; he actually graduated in 2004. MUSTODAY c o n t e n t s f e a t u r e s Law & Order: MUS 3 A Front-Row seat to History 12 How the 2006-07 Basketball Owls Became state Winners 15 “Do Things Right” Resonates on Many Courts 22 Carving Out a Niche 32 Banking on Charlotte 37 ON THE COVER Representing law and order: Coveted Morehead scholarship Pays Off Kirby May, Dean Decandia, 40 Chris Craft, and eric elms – story starts on page 3. Photo So You Wanna be a Rock star? 48 by Jack Kenner. On the Cutting edge of Medical Research 50 EDItoR Debbie Lazarov ASSIStaNT EDItoR Julia Chesney d e p a r t m e n t s ALUMNI NEWS Claire Farmer 48 From the Archives 11 StaFF WRITERS Julia Chesney, Kate Metcalf, Faculty Profile 18 Dax Torrey Memorials 29 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Philip Blackett, Chuck Day, Dick Fisher, Caitlin Goodrich, Covers 42 Ellis Haguewood, John Harkins, Louis Jehl, Griff Jenkins, Adam Remember When Lazarov, Melanie Threlkeld 43 McConnell, steve O’Dell, Gaye swan Alumni News 44 GRAPHIC DESIGNER Viewpoint Denise Hunt 54 PHotoGRAPHY Action Photo service, Julia Counce, Jennifer Donnals, 40 FOX News, Jerry Gallik, Jack Kenner, Linda Mello, University of Memphis, David Minkin, John Russell/Associated Press, MUs Archives, and various MUs constituents PROOFREADING Jean saunders 56 12 Headmaster’s Message by Ellis Haguewood “…the corrections of discipline are the way to live.” (Proverbs 6:23) MUS is unashamedly a school of What may seem unimportant, even oppressive to a ninth- “law and order,” a place where adults grader, can pay dividends later in a man’s life, as Thomas create a just environment that does not Mann wrote, “Order and simplification are the first steps allow the strong to take advantage of the weak, a place where toward mastery of a subject.” For example, the study of tradi- ideas can be communicated without being shouted down, a tional grammar can make one a better writer. A recent letter place where rules are respected and enforced for the good of to English teacher Norman Thompson from one of his long- all. Of course, as Thoreau says at the beginning of his essay on since-graduated ninth-grade students, now finishing a Ph.D. Civil Disobedience, “I heartily accept the motto ‘That govern- in economics, illuminates the thesis: “Mr. Thompson, I owe ment is best which governs least.’” At MUS, we too want the you my appreciation. I now find myself in graduate school fewest rules possible because we believe that the fewer rules a with a rare skill that I am constantly using to help my students school is forced to make, the better the possibility for cultiva- and colleagues who, while very intelligent and capable, have tion of self-discipline and self-control in our students. Thoreau received almost no formal grammar instruction. At the age of takes this premise to its logical conclusion when he continues, 13, I had no idea how important the skill was that I was learn- “That government is best which governs not at all: and when ing; had I known, I am sure that I would have taken it more men are prepared for it, that will be the kind of government seriously, but I am very thankful for the advantage that I have which they will have.” The key phrase, of course, is when men in my current profession...