CadenceCARDINAL VOL. 35 NO. 1 | JANUARY 2007 Design by Mike Rhodes From the President Cover illustration by Bill Anderson CadenceCARDINAL DEPARTMENTS As we welcome students for the spring semester, we look forward 4 On campus 36 Athletics The Staff to many exciting changes on our campus. Foremost is the opening Ancient crocs . Advanced research . Conference win precedes NCAA appearance Measuring gravity . Hotel Rwanda of the magnificent Sheila Umphrey Recreational Sports Center. Cardinal Cadence is published by the Division of University Arts & Culture Advancement, Lamar University, a member of The Texas 38 This state-of-the-art facility is destined to become a centerpiece of 10 Dreambuilders A Cappella choir . KVLU . Jazz Band . State University System and an affirmative action, equal Surviving Rita . Literary Lamar . ArtsNotesBaseball student life on campus, much as the venerable McDonald opportunity educational institution. Class notes Gymnasium — now a part of the greatly expanded facility — played 25 A report on giving Brian Sattler, Executive Editor, Director of Public Relations Homecoming . Regional clubs . Reunions 41 in Lamar’s past. Annual giving . Good news from Washington Cynthia Hicks ’89, ’93, Editor, Publication Specialist This February, we celebrate as the Mary and John Gray Library marks 50 years as a federal Larry Acker, Assistant Director, Writer depository library, an important designation indicative of the breadth and depth of information Chris Castillo, Marketing Specialist, Writer FEATURES available there. Louise Wood, Media Specialist, Writer You are encouraged to join us in celebrating the relationship between Lamar University and Contributors: 12 New ways to teach the communities of Southeast Texas in “Red, White & You” events throughout the week of Feb. Daucy Crizer, Drew Lacey, writing McDonald ’58 saddles up with the Duke 26 – March 4. Don’t forget to show your Cardinal pride and wear red on “Get Your Red On!” Doug Boggs, Michelle Cate, Michael Stravato, day Friday, March 2. Rohn Wenner, photography 14 Tapping the unseen Red, White & You will be a great kick-off to Homecoming 2007, March 2-3, when Lamar’s Oil not elusive for Dyer ’57 Circulation includes 54,000 copies distributed to alumni, music alumni, Earth and Space Science (Geology) alumni, Sigma Phi Epsilon alumni, and the faculty, staff and friends of Lamar University. If you have 14 Class of 1957 reunite on campus. received more than one copy of this publication, please 16 From private to president let us know. Stevens ’74 donates to collection of In December, the Beaumont Foundation of America announced a $1,150,000 grant to LU namesake Lamar University, adding $250,000 to the Judge Joe J. Fisher Lecture Series endowment and Changes of address may be sent to: establishing nine Southeast Texas Legends Scholarships at the $100,000 level. These honorees University Advancement, P.O. Box 10011, Beaumont, Texas 77710, or by 18 Watering seeds bears fruit will be announced monthly. The much appreciated gift comes from the generous support of email: [email protected] Mazzola ’00 removes challenges for athletes foundation directors Wayne Reaud and Gilbert “Buddy” Low and will benefit students from underserved populations. Division of University Advancement 20 One of the trusted Camille Mouton, Vice President Flying Club founder makes final flight The pages of this issue of Cardinal Cadence chronicle another manifestation of the relation- Janice Trammell ’85, ’93, Director of Development ship between Lamar’s alumni and their alma mater — their tangible support. These gifts, large Mona Halvorsen ’95, Director of Advancement Services Dishman gift makes history Loraine Thibodeaux, Director of University Reception Centers 22 16 and small, speak volumes about the faith, hope and trust given to Lamar University. Each gift Generosity paves way for healthy growth enables us to bring new opportunities through education to the next generation. As always, thank P.O. Box 10011 Beaumont, Texas 77710 12 you for your continued support! (409) 880-8419 or fax (409) 880-8409 34 Courting success email: [email protected] Heckler proves ace for USPTA With Cardinal Pride, LAGNIAPPE Lamar University Alumni Office When visiting campus, you’re invited to stop by the 11 Cardinal Views Alumni Office at the John Gray Center, Building B, 855 Florida, Suite 102. 50 Regents honor Wooster James M. Simmons Juan Zabala, Director of Alumni Affairs President 52 Homecoming 2007 schedule Lamar University LU Alumni Office P.O. Box 10005 18 Beaumont, Texas 77710 (409) 880-8921, or (800) 298-4839 22 Email: [email protected] www.lamar.edu/alumni Lamar University Foundation Janice Trammell, Executive Director Lamar University Foundation THE TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM P.O. Box 11500 BOARD OF REGENTS Beaumont, Texas 77710 (409) 880-2117 Email: [email protected] Charles Matthews, Chancellor • Austin Kent M. Adams, Chairman • Beaumont Bernard C. Francis, Vice Chairman • Addison Dionicio “Don” Flores • El Paso Cardinal Cadence (USPS 017-254) is published triannually by Lamar University, Division of University Advancement, Dora G. Alcalá • Del Rio Ken Luce • Irving 855 E. Florida, Beaumont, Texas 77705. Periodicals postage Alan W. Dreeben • San Antonio Pollyanna A. Stephens • San Angelo paid at Beaumont, TX, and additional mailing offices. John E. Dudley • Comanche Greg Wilkinson • Plano 34 20 2 | CARDINAL CADENCE 35:1 JANUARY 2007 JANUARY 2007 35:1 CARDINAL CADENCE | 3 on campus on campus World history course commended Westgate and Pittman in national study Grants lead to advanced research DOD funds hydrogen cell research . In a national study of world history courses by the Center for The fis- mental unsolved problems in surface chem- reimbursed by FEMA or other agencies, said share croc discovery Educational Policy Research, history professor Rebecca Boone’s cal year 2007 Department of Defense istry and physics,” said Rabalais. Mike Ferguson, vice president for finance course, “Issues in World History,” was identified as a top example of Appropriations bill includes $2.6 million “Semiconductor manufacturers use a trial- and operations. The grant funds will be used best practices. Fifty-seven courses taught in colleges and universities secured by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, for and-error approach to manufacturing semi- to reimburse Hurricane Rita costs not cov- across the nation were reviewed as part of a program to improve hydrogen fuel cell research at Lamar. “Lamar conductors. This is groundbreaking research ered by FEMA or other sources. • Major advanced placement courses offered in the nation’s high schools. University is a key institution in the develop- not being performed anywhere else in the research instrumentation grant received . Specific elements of Boone’s course were designated as exemplary. ment of practical hydrogen fuel cells,” world” • Lamar receives $3.15 million from The College of Engineering has received a Hutchison said. “This funding will support DOE . Lamar will receive a $3.15 million $169,270 grant from the National Science research into clean and reliable energy federal Department of Education grant to Foundation to acquire a Scanning Electron sources for military and potentially civilian help in the recovery from damages sustained Microscopy–Energy Dispersive X-ray uses.” The bill provides funding to develop from Hurricane Rita, Sen. John Cornyn’s Spectroscopy (SEM/EDX) system for educa- lightweight, power-efficient and environ- office said in a September release. The uni- tion and research projects in the Colleges of mentally clean hydrogen cells to produce versity sustained damage to 96 buildings, Engineering and Arts and Sciences. The Deinosuchus skull electric power for space and missile defense including loss of more than 20 roofs, water high-magnification microscope uses a compared to salt- applications • Atomic billiards anyone? . damage, blown-out glass and debris strewn focused scanned electron beam to produce water crocodile’s The National Science Foundation has grant- across campus, which forced the university both top-down and cross-section images of skull. American ed $330,000 for research regarding a subject to close for 24 days. Based on estimates by samples. “The university has received sup- Museum of Natural Kathleen Jackson of ExxonMobil, makes presentation to Presidents akin to atomic billiards. Department of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, port from NSF for several major research JIM WESTGATE History Sam Monroe, Paul Szuch, James Simmons and Michael Shahan. Chemistry and Physics faculty members Lamar’s direct damages exceeded $25 instruments that have contributed signifi- Geology professor Jim Westgate and lecturer Jeff Pittman traveled to Wayne Rabalais, distinguished professor, and million. The university estimated its total cantly to enhancing our capabilities to per- Canada to present the recent discovery of a 40-foot long crocodile in ExxonMobil provides Bogdana Bahrim, assistant professor, are hurricane loss at more than $50 million, of form advanced research as reflected in a sub- Mexico to the world’s leading researchers, professors and museum hurricane relief funds studying the microscopic theory of ion-sur- which about $4.3 million was tuition and fee stantial increase in our research funding in curators during the 66th annual meeting of the Society of Vertebrate ExxonMobil Corp. gifts to Lamar University exceeded $270,000 in face interactions. The grant is shared with revenue lost when students did not