FALL 2006 Angelo State University Alumni Magazine Angelo State University

AlumniMagazine Fall 2006 Vol. 5, No. 3 contents 15

Angelo State University A member of The Texas State University System Cover Story President: Dr. James Hindman Painting the Town 15 Provost and Vice President Four ASU alumnae are using their art talents for Academic and (and humor) to bring some color to downtown Student Affairs: Dr. Donald V. Coers and to draw tourists to San Angelo. Vice President for Finance and Administration: Sharon Meyer Features Director of 18 Alumni Relations: Lynsey Flage Alumni Association Honorees 10 Barry Cooper … Phil George … Lt. Col. Bobby Vance … Bryan Vincent … Bettie and Clovis Olsak … ASU Alumni Magazine Betty Alldredge … and more. The Angelo State University Alumni Magazine is published three times a year Breaking the Color Barrier Again 18 by the ASU Office of Alumni Relations in As San Angelo College’s first black athlete, Benjamin conjunction with the university News and Publications Office. Kelly influenced a community and made integration easier for San Angelo. ASU Alumni Association ASU Station #11049 San Angelo, TX 76909-1049 Sections (325) 942-2122; Fax: (325) 942-2737 [email protected] Director’s Message 4 25 News and Publications Office Letters 6 Angelo State University ASU Station #11021 Campus News 7 San Angelo, TX 76909-1021 (325) 942-2248; Fax: (325) 942-2238 Congressional Hearing … Chancellor Speaks … Presidential Search … Systems Check … Briefs Publisher: Lynsey Flage Editor: Preston Lewis Athletics 22 Fall Sports Previews … Vandergriff Retires … Director of Graphics: Michael Martin Sports Highlights Design Assistant: Carrie Whitesell Writers: Jason Hunter Alumni News 25 Dave Wester Campus Traditions … Last Call … Last Kiss … 26 Contributors: Julia Valles Class Notes … In Memoriam … Lambs & Lambelles Jenny Walthall

On the cover: Julie Raymond, ’90, is helping put art © 2006 Angelo State University in unconventional places, such as this whimsical window All Rights Reserved in San Angelo’s Paintbrush Alley. (Photo by Jim Bean)

Angelo State University Alumni Magazine FALL 2006 letter from the director

Dear Alumni, Homecoming is always my favorite time of year. Some of my fondest memories associated with Angelo State are directly related to this week of fun and spirit. I remember staying up all night (or at least attempting to) for guard duty at the bonfire. One of the many times it was burned early was during my freshman year so we took our guarding duties very seri- ously. I also remember going down from the High Rises to the tennis courts for the student carnival. It was always sparse, but a lot of fun. Homecoming 1995 was probably my favorite. I had the great fortune of participating in activities as a member of the Homecoming court. I may not have won the crown, but I will never forget the bright lights of the stadium, Lynsey Hargrave Flage the booming voice over the loud speaker and the nervous butterflies in my stomach. That was the year the first Homecoming King was named, and I thought it was so appropriate that Roscoe the Ram was the official winner. As I participate in these same activities many years later as an adult, I cannot help but notice how many things have stayed the same. Angelo State has many traditions associated with Homecoming, and it is so nice to see current students involved in the same activities we our- selves were doing years before. ROTC cadets are still in charge of constructing the bonfire, and student organizations still spend hours and hours collecting and stacking wooden pallets in an effort to earn points for the coveted spirit stick. The homecoming parade is still an exercise in creativity, and the carnival still gets rained-out every other year or so. Students continue to exhaust themselves in the name of school spirit, but I must admit that they sure seem to have much more energy than I remember having during the hectic week. Of course Homecoming means something different as an alumnus. It’s still about school spirit and constant activity, but it’s also so much more. It’s about coming back to campus, revisiting memories that we thought were long forgotten, reconnecting with classmates and completely upstaging current students at the football game by showing that old-fashioned ASU Ram Pride! I truly hope you make plans to attend this year’s Homecoming. It is scheduled for the third week in October, and Angelo State University and the ASU Alumni Association have many activities planned for alumni. Take a look at the schedule inside this issue of the magazine and plan to attend the Wells Fargo Homecoming Dinner. This annual event, recognizing outstanding SAC and ASU alumni and faculty for their career and life achievements, is a truly inspiring evening. Then plan on enjoying our new fun event the next morning. It is the Bingo and Bellini Brunch, where bingo will be played for cash and prizes. There will be plenty of food, drink and fast-moving games to guarantee a good time. We look forward to seeing you and your family for Homecoming on October 21, but don’t forget to come early so you may once again enjoy all of what Homecoming has to offer. After all, this time you can enjoy the activities without worrying about getting caught skipping class. Sharing your pride in Angelo State,

Lynsey Hargrave Flage (’97)

FALL 2006 Angelo State University Alumni Magazine Angelo State University Alumni Chapter Contacts

2006-07 Texas Tennessee ASU Alumni Association Abilene Nashville Board of Directors Donald L. Plumley (’94) Kirk Banfield (’89) [email protected] [email protected] Barbara Barnhart (’77) Austin Virginia Jason Adams (’94, ’99) Scott Blanton (’88) [email protected] Southside Kyle Box (’81) Tim Gette (’68) Dallas/Ft Worth [email protected] Dudra D’Ann Butler (’79) Katie Manning (’01 ) Alex Decuir (’67) [email protected] Washington D.C. Steve Eustis (’73) El Paso Kevin Schwalb (’97) Lynsey Hargrave Flage (’97) Dr. Ernesto Escobedo (’89) [email protected] Kent Flanagan (’68) [email protected] Washington Brad Fly (’00) Houston Ryan Pelzel (’99) Arnold Garcia, Jr. (’73) Tacoma/Seattle [email protected] Marty Wooten (’84) Louis Gomez (’84) Laredo [email protected] Oscar Gomez (’68) Raj Gandhi (’96) Sandra Hawkins Gray (’74, ’84) [email protected] Thailand Jeff Hamilton (’85) Lubbock Adisak Laosirirat (’86) [email protected] Delilah Harper (’78, ’84) Jeff (’85) & Mindy (’86) Hamilton David Harrison (’72) [email protected] Joey Henderson (’83) Midland Stacia Hughes (’00) Brandon Pinson (’92) If you are interested in Vance Jones (’79) [email protected] being an ASU contact Lawrence Kennedy (’83) Odessa Lance Lacy (’81, ’91) James L. Seaton (’02) in your area, please call Joe Lee (’80) [email protected] ASU Alumni Relations at Jean Ann LeGrand (’72) San Antonio Gregory Metz (’99) (325) 942-2122 or e-mail Kathy Muñoz (’89) [email protected] Bill David Nikolauk (’84) [email protected] for Lloyd Norris (’73) Arizona more information. Faron Pfeiffer (’79, ’82) Anna Kinsey Nickell (’67) Rob Rainey (’96) [email protected] Tom Ridgway (’79) Georgia Steve Jay Todd, Jr. (’94) Atlanta Ronnie Willmann (’78) Cindy Wright (’91) [email protected] New York Ray Vohra (’95) [email protected]

Angelo State University Alumni Magazine FALL 2006 yousaid... Dear ASU Alumni Association: Ag Committee Letter to ASU I read with interest the article about Ben Dear Dr. Hindman: Kelly in your Alumni Magazine, which my Thank you for your generous hospitality husband brought home from the Black- Write to us: for the Committee’s hearing in San Ange- shear School Reunion. When is the second lo. The efforts of you and your staff helped part of the article coming out? I would like ASU Alumni Association make the hearing a great success. very much to receive your magazine so ASU Station #11049 I would also especially like to thank that we can finish reading about Benjamin San Angelo, TX 76909-1049 you for hosting the delegation for dinner. I Kelly and his time at San Angelo College. [email protected] appreciate the time you took to speak with My husband, as did a lot of people at us, and we enjoyed the evening. On behalf the reunion, knew Ben, and I think that of all the Members, thank you again. this was history in the making and am very proud to read about how gracious everyone Sincerely, was in allowing Ben to attend school with- Bob Goodlatte out a lot of the problems that several other Chairman, Committee on Agriculture students throughout the south encountered U.S. House of Representatives while trying to pursue continuing education. Thank you. (P.S.) Jim, you have a beautiful campus, great facility and wonderful people to work Cleo Owens with. I hope I can visit you again sometime. Killeen

(Editor’s Note: Please see Page 18 for AG HEARING – Angelo State University on May 9 hosted one of six hearings conducted more on Benjamin Kelly and his impact on nationally by the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture for input on the the community.) 2007 Farm Bill. Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte of Virginia headed the committee delegation that included Texas Congressmen Mike Conaway of Odessa, Henry Cuellar of Laredo and Randy Neugebauer of Lubbock.

FALL 2006 Angelo State University Alumni Magazine Newscampus

Chancellor Matthews Inspires May Grads

Charles Matthews, chancellor of The Texas ger” and to “understand that in our rapidly State University System, addressed Angelo changing economic environment, learning State’s May graduates with a prescription will be for you, as it has been for me, a for future success. lifetime event.” He encouraged students “to discover Finally, he encouraged graduates to what it is that you enjoy doing and do it “remember the small things … and to keep with all your heart” and to “trust that you a balance in life” by not getting so focused will find the right place to invest yourself.” on their careers that they forget family, He praised graduates for their widespread friends and health. service during their college years and urged “As you begin this new chapter in your them to “continue your work in community life,” Matthews concluded, “remember that and public service” upon graduation. you are a part of a proud heritage. You are Matthews told them to “remember that not leaving us completely; Angelo State change is inevitable and makes us stron- will always be a part of you and your life.”

Presidential Search Committee Announced

Texas State University System Board Alex Yarbrough, 2006-07 student body Chairman Kent Adams has named 14 indi- president and a junior government major viduals and an alternate to serve on the An- from Amherst, will serve as alternate. Charles Matthews gelo State University Presidential Search Community representatives will be Committee to recommend a successor to Mario Castillo, Class of 1970, president, Dr. James Hindman. The Aegis Group, Washington, D.C.; Rev. Regent John E. Dudley of Comanche Nathaniel “Hank” Hankins, associate pas- will serve as chair of the committee. Re- tor, First United Methodist Church, San gents Dionicio “Don” Flores of El Paso Angelo; Sandra Hawkins Gray, Class of and Pollyanna A. Stephens of San Angelo 1974, San Angelo businesswoman and will join Dudley on the committee as rep- board member, ASU Alumni Association; resentatives of the TSUS Board. and Fred Hernandez, manager of custom- Campus representatives will be Dr. er affairs, American Electric Power Texas, Nancy G. Allen, head, English Depart- San Angelo, and member, ASU Founda- ment; Dr. Mandy A. Carr, associate profes- tion Board. sor of animal science and research scien- The ASU Presidential Search Commit- tist; Dr. Maurice G. Fortin, director, Porter tee will draft the job description, advertise Henderson Library; Dr. S. Murat Kara, the position, review applications and inter- associate professor of economics; Flor L. view applicants before making its recom- Madero, coordinator, Educational Oppor- mendation to TSUS Chancellor Charles R. tunity Services; Dr. John J. Miazga, dean, Matthews and the Board of Regents. College of Education; and Alicia Henry, Dr. Hindman has announced his retire- senior government major and former ASU ment to return to teaching full-time in the student body president from San Angelo. fall of 2007.

Angelo State University Alumni Magazine FALL 2006 Newscampus

Leroy Hood

Systems Check For Angelo State students and faculty who putational power mean that scientists will listened to Leroy Hood speak on campus ultimately have the analytical capabilities for Biology last spring, the experience could be com- to understand this hierarchal integration of pared to hearing a lecture by Darwin on information. Once this information is un- natural selection or Mendel on genetics. derstood, science will be able to fully use Dr. Hood, who helped initiate and shape blood analysis as “a window into health the human genome project, spent two days and disease.” on campus lecturing on the emerging field of Hood, who is president of the Institute systems biology, which marks a “paradigm for Systems Biology in Seattle, has helped shift” in the life sciences and, ultimately, in make significant strides in analyzing that how we are treated for illness and disease. life data through development of DNA gene Hood, who presented the 2006 West and protein sequencers and synthesizers. Texas Medical Associates Distinguished The implications of systems biology are Lectureship in Science Honoring Dr. Roy profound upon our individual health, Hood Moon, said systems biology looks at or- said. Ultimately, systems biology will be ganisms in their totality rather than just able to both identify disease in its earliest isolating certain components, such as cells and most treatable stages and to predict the or proteins. As an illustration, he said you most effective drug or treatment regimens cannot understand how a radio works just to address the problem. by looking at individual parts. Instead, As a result, medicine will become more you must look at the system in totality. “predictive, preventive, personalized and “If you had to fix a radio one part at a participatory,” Hood said. Treatment regi- time,” said Hood, “you would never get it mens will be determined by our individual done. It’s the same way with disease.” “molecular fingerprints.” Tomorrow’s life scientists, he said, will Hood predicted the science for such mir- need strong backgrounds in math and com- acles will be available within the next two puters because “systems biology will be decades. The question is not whether the the direction of biology in the future.” science can achieve this success but rather In essence, Hood said life science is if institutions such as the pharmaceutical in- now comparable to information science dustry, health care agencies, hospitals, gov- because “data” is stored in human genes ernment and medical schools will be able and proteins. Advances in nanotechnol- and willing to adjust to its implications for ogy, medical instrumentation and com- our health and for their bottom lines.

FALL 2006 Angelo State University Alumni Magazine Newscampusbriefs

Where’s the beef? tions covering all aspects of Best of the Best Award for significant scholar- At ASU! meat production. The trophy Dr. Terry C. Maxwell, an ASU ly contributions to the field. Angelo State’s Agriculture will be housed in the Depart- biology professor for the past Quiz Bowl team went head- ment of Agriculture until next 30 years, earned the universi- Top Grads to-head with some of the summer. ty’s 2006 Teaching Excellence During May commence- largest agriculture programs Award. ment Eddie Frank “Trey” in the nation and came away New Sciences Dean He and fellow award fi- Holik, III, and Holly Elsbeth with a national champion- Dr. Grady Price Blount has nalists Dr. John Wegner of Scott shared ASU’s 2006 ship. assumed responsibilities as English and Jana Barnard of Presidential Award while four The team, coached by dean of ASU’s College of mathematics were honored other ASU students received Dr. Mandy Carr of the ag Sciences. He came to ASU in the spring during the gen- 2006 Distinguished Student faculty, earned the trophy in from Texas A&M University- eral faculty meeting of the Awards from their respective June at the Reciprocal Meats Corpus Christi where he was Faculty Senate. colleges. Conference at the Univer- assistant vice president for Maxwell was recognized Holik, a double major in sity of Illinois. Heather Rog- research and associate grad- for his “unique teaching applied physics and math- ers of Grapevine, Matthew uate dean. style that mixes a relaxed ematics from Veribest, is en- Menchaca of Helotes and Blount has a varied back- lecture approach with rigor- tering Texas A&M’s graduate Darci Owens of Big Lake won ground, including a decade ous expectations from his program in physics. Scott, a all of their matches to reach in broadcast journalism with students” and for giving stu- biology major and chemistry the final against Colorado Texas radio and television sta- dents “every opportunity to minor from Ranger, will at- State. tions. He began his full-time take the most possible from tend the University of Texas The win came in ASU’s teaching career in 1988 with his courses.” Medical Branch in Galveston. inaugural appearance in the the University of North Dako- The award is offered an- The Distinguished Student contest and marked the first ta. Blount joined A&M-CC in nually to recognize and en- Award recipients, by college, time in the event’s five-year 1993 and served 11 years as courage teaching excellence. were: David Allen Watson of history that a school other the chair of the Department San Angelo, Business; Sherry than Texas A&M or Texas of Physical and Life Sciences Nurse in Land Gail Gardner of San Angelo, Tech had won. where he was a professor of Down Under Education; Calinda C. Shely “It’s really important be- environmental science and The concept that nursing ed- of San Angelo, Liberal and cause there are undergradu- geology. ucators in the design of on- Fine Arts; and Lori Nicole Loo- ate and graduate students Trained as a planetary line courses should utilize the mis of Eldorado, Sciences. there, and they see us as a geologist, he is the author same caring philosophy that strong program,” Carr said. or co-author of more than nurses use with their patients “It was good for our stu- 40 academic publications or has earned an international dents to realize the education presentations. Through his award for Wrennah Gabbert, they’re getting is as good or research, Blount has gener- a professional specialist in better than that offered at ated more than $22 million the ASU Nursing Department those other schools. We’re in external funding since 1997. competing with large, land- “We’re in the business of During the June annual grant institutions with a lot creating new knowledge,” meeting of the International of money and facilities, and Blount said. “The most im- Association for Human Car- we’re just getting started.” portant thing we have to ing in Fremantle, Australia, The ASU squad won the share with our students is a Gabbert received the organi- event by answering ques- passion for learning.” zation’s 2006 Watson Scholar

Angelo State University Alumni Magazine FALL 2006 2006 Association Honorees Distinguished Alumnus An alumnus enrolled at SAC, ASC or ASU and a former student for at least 10 years who has shown outstanding achievement in his/her business, profession, lifework or worthy endeavor. Stories by Jason Hunter

From Barbecue to Agribusiness

Barry Cooper was an extension and you enjoy it, then you look up and realize you’ve been in agent in 1988 in Coleman when he nine positions in 18 years.” heard from a friend of a job open- He financed his ASU education through scholarships and ing with the agricultural corpora- part-time jobs, earning the John C. Coleman Ag Scholarship tion Cargill. Cooper applied, got three times and the Kate Adele Hill Scholarship twice. the job and began a successful 18- Cooper’s hard work helped him earn his degree, but he also year career with one of the world’s contributed to campus social life. One of his most visible po- largest food producers. sitions was as pledge trainer and later president of the Block The job took him all over the and Bridle club, then the largest organization on campus. He country, from large cities such as also was a member of the livestock judging and wool judging Fort Worth and Minneapolis to teams. Barry Cooper small towns such as West Branch, After earning his bachelor’s degree in 1984, Cooper started Iowa. After a whirlwind career that on his master’s. He finished his coursework but in 1986 took allowed Cooper to climb the ladder the job as an extension agent in Coleman before completing to the position of district general his thesis. manager in Cargill’s Oklahoma After applying and interviewing for the Cargill post, Coo- City district office, Cooper is now per got a job as a manager in the Dallas-Forth Worth market. pursuing other business ventures. He quickly moved up the ladder, overseeing larger and larger His accomplishments have operations. He kept busy outside the office, too, finishing his earned him recognition as this year’s master’s degree from ASU in 1992, judging livestock shows and Distinguished Alumnus. serving as a superintendent at livestock shows in San Angelo and Agricultural products – beef in other cities. He also served a term on the West Branch, Iowa, particular – were familiar to Coo- City Council. per, whose grandfather George After almost 18 years with Cargill, Cooper left the com- Cooper and father, Tommy Coo- pany in late 2005, opting to spend time with his family. He, his per, opened the renowned Cooper’s wife, Karla (B.S. ’83, M.A. ’85), and his daughter, Kylie, had barbecue restaurants in Mason and moved several times during his career, and with his daughter in Llano, respectively. Barry Cooper high school, Cooper decided to remain in suburban Oklahoma entered ASU after graduating from City. Llano High School in 1980 to major Though Cooper left the corporate world, he is still a busi- in animal science and agribusiness. nessman. His current venture is franchising the name of his “Growing up in Llano, I never family’s business, Cooper’s Old Time Pit Bar B Q. thought I would be in a corporate en- Horses have also been a pastime of Cooper’s. He spent two vironment,” Cooper said. “I thought, years hosting a horse-focused show on the specialty network when I go work for Cargill, they’ll RFD TV, and he managed the corporate relationship between teach me a bunch, they’ll train me, Cargill and the National Quarter Horse Association and the and I’ll learn a bunch. Then you National Reined Cow Horse Association. start climbing that corporate ladder, Cooper is an owner of quarter horses that race in California and New Mexico. One of his horses, Teller Cartel, won the 2005 All-American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs. Cooper sits on the racing committee of the American Quarter Horse As- sociation. A point of pride for Cooper is having had the opportunity to hire numerous Angelo State graduates to work for Cargill.

10 FALL 2006 Angelo State University Alumni Magazine 2006 Association Honorees Honorary Alumnus A special friend and supporter of ASU who has made a significant impact on the university or the Alumni Association through support, recognition or career.

Winning Smile, Winning Ways

When Phil George joined the San Angelo College coaching in NCAA Division II. After retire- staff in 1949, the Board of Directors guaranteed him a job for ment he was named to the Lone Star only six months. He wound up staying his entire professional Conference Hall of Honor and the career with the institution. NJCAA Hall of Fame. Along the way, George tickled everyone with his self-depre- His players in all sports thrived cating sense of humor, won a basketball national championship as well. Seven basketball players in 1957, became Angelo State University’s first full-time athletic received All-American recognition director, hired a bevy of winning coaches and became the first in- under him. Seven linemen earned ductee into the ASU Athletic Hall of Fame. Not bad for a temp. All-American honors under his George, whose first recognition came at 15 months of age tutelage. Another lineman, Grant when his perpetual smile earned him top prize in a baby picture Teaff, went on to become a legend- Phil George contest, will add another honor to his list of accomplishments ary Southwest Conference coach at during Homecoming when the Alumni Association recognizes Baylor. One of his baseball players, him as ASU’s 2006 Honorary Alumnus. Norm Cash, became the 1961 Amer- Responding to the award in typical tongue-in-cheek fash- ican League Batting Champion. ion, George said, “It’s unfortunate the Alumni Association has Though he had multiple oppor- had to lower its standards.” Such down-to-earth humor earned tunities over the course of his ca- George the admiration not only of the university but also the reer to leave ASU, George always San Angelo community. chose to stay. “I enjoyed the players and the opportunity to work with them,” “San Angelo was a great place George said. “I had a great relationship with fellow faculty mem- to raise a family,” George said. bers. It was just fun to get up every day and go to work.” “And, I was flying airplanes out at An Austin native, he attended the University of Texas, help- Goodfellow and at Webb Air Force ing the Longhorn basketball team to two Southwest Confer- Base in Big Spring and I loved that. ence championships and a third-place finish in the 1947 NCAA There was just something that was basketball tournament. He served in the China-Burma-India magnetic about staying here.” Theater with the Army Air Corps in World War II and stayed And in San Angelo, he and his in the U.S. Air Force Reserves until 1970, ultimately serving wife, Toddy, raised their three chil- in Vietnam and retiring as a lieutenant colonel with more than dren, Jennifer, Judy and Mike. To- 6,500 pilot hours to his credit. day the Georges have eight grand- He first came to SAC as head basketball coach and line children and one great grandson. coach for the football team. He would later coach track, base- When he retired in 1986, George ball and golf. Over the years, he taught physical education to indicated a desire to pursue some a generation of SAC and ASU students. new life’s adventures. Even so, he As a basketball coach between 1949 and 1978, George was said, “I still have strong feelings at his best, compiling a cumulative 512-274 record and .651 and enthusiasm for athletics and its winning percentage. As SAC coach he won eight Pioneer Con- place in education.” ference Championships and shared two others. He claimed five His latest honor demonstrates regional titles as well as the 1957 National Junior College Ath- that alumni and friends of ASU still letic Association (NJCAA) Championship with a 31-2 record. have strong feelings for George and He was named NJCAA National Coach of the Year in 1957 great enthusiasm for his place in and conference or regional coach of the year a dozen times. As ASU history. athletic director, he helped SAC make the transition from a junior college to a four-year university, first in the NAIA and later

Angelo State University Alumni Magazine FALL 2006 11 2006 Association Honorees Distinguished ROTC Alumnus Distinguished Carr Alumnus An alumnus who attended ASU as part of the Air Force ROTC An alumnus who attended ASU on a Carr Scholarship and Detachment 847 and has made a significant impact in has received significant recognition through career and/or his/her career or lifework. community service and leadership.

Bobby Vance Bryan Vincent Flying High, Saving Lives You Can Go Home Again Lt. Col. Bobby Vance’s leadership skills have allowed him Bryan Vincent’s career has taken him across the country to advance through the highest ranks of the Air Force, and since he graduated with a chemistry degree in 1994, but he has likely helped save lives in Afghanistan during the summer returned to San Angelo to launch his latest business venture. of 2005. Vincent co-founded AgiLight Inc. with Bill Ratcliffe in Vance, working with the fledgling Afghan Air Corps in 2003. The company manufactures low-energy, low-cost light- Operation Enduring Freedom, helped find a cache of prohib- ing products such as LED lighting for signs and backlights for ited weapons. Vance’s quick thinking helped defuse the situ- mobile phones. ation, allowing United Nations forces to peacefully seize the Vincent is this year’s Distinguished Carr Alumnus honoree. arms and prevent them from falling into the wrong hands. After receiving his bachelor’s degree from ASU and a Vance, Class of 1987, is this year’s Distinguished ROTC doctorate from Texas A&M in 1998, Vincent went to work as Alumnus. a research chemist for Dow Chemical in Lake Jackson, Texas. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in computer sci- He moved to Midland, Mich., in 2000 to work as a product ence, Vance studied to become a navigator. He was assigned development manager. to the C-141B Starlifter, which is used mainly in equipment In 2003 Vincent and Ratcliffe became independent busi- and airdrop operations. nessmen when they founded AgiLight. Since its inception One of his first missions was supporting the 1989 Opera- almost three years ago, the company has expanded to include tion Just Cause in Panama. He also participated in Operations 20 employees. Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 1990-91 in the Middle East AgiLight has 1,000 customers worldwide with distribu- and in Operation Restore Democracy in 1994 in Haiti. tion centers on three continents and manufacturing plants in Most recently, he went to Afghanistan as part of Opera- Mexico, China and Taiwan. tion Enduring Freedom. While there, he helped develop the While at ASU, Vincent was a Texaco Academic Scholar air corps for the Afghan National Army and devised a plan for for all four years. He also received the first Carr Undergradu- transporting Afghan president Hamid Karzai. ate Research Fellowship. He currently is stationed at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. At Texas A&M, he received several awards for his research Vance is married to Deborah, ASU Class of 1986. They and academic achievements. He also received awards for his have five children, Allysen, Courtney, Megan, Jack and Erin. accomplishments and leadership while with Dow. Vincent lives in San Angelo with his wife of 12 years, Brandi, and his three children, Paige, J. Bryan and Jenna. They are active members of Glen Meadows Baptist Church in San Angelo.

12 FALL 2006 Angelo State University Alumni Magazine 2006 Association Honorees Golden Ex of the Year Outstanding Retired Faculty An individual enrolled at SAC or ASC at least 50 years ago A former ASU faculty or staff member who had a distin- who has continued a lasting relationship with ASU and/or guished career at ASU and has continued his/her support and the Alumni Association. involvement after retirement.

Betty & Clovis Olsak Betty Alldredge Blue and Gold Couple Beneficial Change of Climate As a San Angelo College student playing for the San Angelo Dr. Betty Alldredge had been teaching at the University Junior Sheepherders baseball team, Clovis Olsak first met of Pittsburgh for two years when a shining sun and blooming San Angelo High School senior Bettie Morris at a team par- flowers welcomed her to campus for a job interview in the ty on Easter weekend of 1946. spring of 1978. The pair hit it off that evening, and the SAC alumni mar- She found the ASU climate – both meteorologically and ried in 1948, beginning a family tradition of supporting and professionally – to be welcoming, and she took a position in attending what eventually became Angelo State University. the English Department. Their devotion to ASU earned the Olsaks recognition as this Eighteen years later, Alldredge retired as a member of the year’s Golden Exes. ASU English faculty and this year was named the Alumni Clovis was an accomplished athlete for the Rams, earning Association’s Outstanding Retired Faculty member. all-Pioneer Conference honors in football and the shot put. As a new ASU English professor, she brought expertise He also was the sports reporter for the Ram Page. Bettie ac- in 20th-Century American literature. Shortly after her arrival, companied Clovis to College Station, where he received a de- she developed a course on women in literature, which she gree in animal husbandry from Texas A&M. taught almost every year until she retired. After Clovis earned his degree, the couple returned to the Since retiring a decade ago, Alldredge has stayed busy by San Angelo area, where Clovis took up farming and ranch- volunteering with the ASU Alumni Association and at San ing. Bettie worked at City Savings & Loan as vice president/ Angelo Community Medical Center. She is an avid traveler, marketing and later was a marketing officer for Tom Green having visited Oceania, the Mediterranean and Japan, among National Bank. other locales. They have been active in the San Angelo community. Bet- Alldredge holds a bachelor’s degree from Oregon State tie has been an Alumni Association director, member of the University plus master’s and doctoral degrees from the Uni- Santa Rita PTA, Girl Scout leader, and volunteer with the San versity of Oregon. She has a son, David, and two daughters, Angelo Convention and Visitors Bureau. ASU graduate Dr. Karen Alldredge and Denise Williams. Clovis has been president of the West Texas A&M Club, San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo, Tom Green County Farm Bureau and San Angelo College Ex-Students Association. He also was a director of Tom Green National Bank. The couple has served as a host family for ASU international students. The Olsaks keep busy with a pecan orchard on their ranch in Schleicher County. Clovis still ranches, maintaining small herds of sheep, cattle and goats. The lifelong San Angeloans sent their three daughters to ASU – Cindy Hanks, B.A., ’71, M.A.T. ’80; Stephanie Sayers, ’70-’71; and Connie Langlais, B.A. ’77.

Angelo State University Alumni Magazine FALL 2006 13 2006 Association Honorees Distinguished Faculty A current ASU faculty member selected from each ASU college who has had a profound effect on the lives and careers of ASU students. Fender Smith Tarver Moreland

Johnny Fender, Business Dr. June Smith, Liberal and Fine Arts Johnny Fender has led Goodfellow Air Force Base as base com- Dr. June Smith came to Angelo State University as a fresh- mander and San Angelo as mayor. Now, he leads business cours- man drama major in 1972 and has spent most of her life since es as a business and computer information systems instructor in on campus. the Department of Accounting, Economics and Finance. Today, she heads the Communication, Drama and Jour- Fender is this year’s Distinguished Faculty Achievement nalism Department and is this year’s Distinguished Faculty honoree from the College of Business. Achievement recipient from the College of Liberal and Fender entered teaching in 1988 on the heels of a 30-year Fine Arts. Air Force career that ended in 1986. Fender, a decorated Viet- Smith graduated from ASU in 1975 with a bachelor of arts nam War combat veteran, held a variety of command and staff in drama. She earned her doctorate from the University of Tex- positions before coming to Goodfellow. as in 1980 and returned to ASU in 1991 to teach. After his retirement as a colonel, Fender earned a master’s While a student, Smith spent more time on campus outside of business administration in management from ASU and then the classroom than in it. She was in numerous theater produc- became a business lecturer shortly thereafter. tions, was the fine arts editor for the Ram Page, and was active Fender offers his students real-life experience from his 1997- in United Campus Ministries. 2001 tenure as mayor and as president of Fender Consulting. His ex- During her ASU career, Smith has taught numerous courses perience and his military background earned him an appointment by in communication, including the practical, such as communica- Gov. Rick Perry to the Texas Military Preparedness Commission. tion layout and design, and the theoretical, such as communica- In addition to his ASU degree, he holds a bachelor’s degree tion diffusion. She has led the CDJ Department since 2004. in engineering from Virginia Tech and a master’s degree in po- Smith is married to ASU graduate and San Angelo Standard- litical science from Auburn University. He and his late wife had Times columnist Rick Smith. They have two teenage daughters, two daughters. Anne and Katherine.

Dr. David J. Tarver, Education Ellen D. Moreland, Sciences Dr. David J. Tarver has varied interests both inside and outside Angelo State University math instructor Ellen D. Moreland has the classroom, and his students reap the benefits. a love for teaching, and her tireless efforts in the classroom are Tarver teaches undergraduate educational psychology and ensuring that the next generation of secondary math teachers heads the school counseling master’s degree program, but his will be well-prepared upon graduation. commitment to students doesn’t stop in San Angelo. He also On the ASU faculty since 1988, Moreland has made math spends four weeks every other summer in Lüneburg, Germany, accessible and interesting not only to prospective educators, but leading ASU’s study abroad program there. also to those intimidated by the subject. His dedication has earned him the Distinguished Faculty For her impact on her students and on those who take Achievement award for the College of Education. math under them, Moreland earned the Distinguished Faculty Under Tarver’s guidance since 2000, ASU counseling grad- Achievement award for the College of Sciences. uates have continued to pass the state school counseling certifi- She regularly teaches courses for students whose standard- cation exam at a 100 percent rate, all on their first try. Though ized test scores indicate they need supplemental instruction prior 30 years since Tarver started teaching, he is always finding a to college-level math. She also directs a statistics course for stu- way to integrate new technology into the classroom. dents in majors such as nursing and psychology, plus the final Outside the classroom, he is an avid birdwatcher and an ac- course for senior math majors pursuing teacher certification. complished amateur photographer, with one of his works pub- Moreland holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from lished in Texas Monthly. Clarkson College of Technology in Potsdam, N.Y. Her previ- Tarver, who grew up in Odessa, holds a doctorate in coun- ous experience has been in actuarial science, accounting and seling from East Texas State (now Texas A&M-Commerce) and college-level instruction in Germany. is a licensed professional counselor. He and his wife, Debbie She is married to Patrick Moreland, and they have a daugh- live in San Angelo. ter, Kimberly.

14 FALL 2006 Angelo State University Alumni Magazine Painting the Town band of elementary school art teachers headed by Julie Raymond, ’90, is helping turn alleys into art galleries and San Angelo into an Aart Mecca. From Paintbrush Alley to a 1967 VW Bug tiled and grouted like the flat walls of your shower, the artists, most with ASU ties, are also turning heads on the streets of San Angelo with their art and their whimsy. And, they are helping San Angelo gain statewide attention like a Texas Monthly spread in the April spring flowers issue that stated “San Angelo is fast gaining a reputation for having a vibrant arts scene.” Raymond’s ASU cohorts in art are Sue Rainey, ’89, Ellen Lassetter, ’92, and Melodie McDonald, who earned her teacher certification from ASU in 1990. They along with Gwen Woodward, a Texas Tech graduate, make up the entire art faculty for the San Angelo Independent School District’s 17 elementary schools. Outside the elementary classroom, the five have banded together to form Art in Uncommon Places, a group committed to advancing the arts in San Angelo and beyond. And, they are succeeding. In 2005 Downtown San Angelo, Inc., (DSAI) a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the heart of the city as a hub for business, residential and cultural activities, turned to Art in Uncommon Places. While most DSAI efforts focused on long-term projects, Joyce Wilde, a DSAI board member and owner of the eclectic Concho Avenue boutique J. Wilde’s, insisted on something that would make an immediate splash, in this case a splash of paint.

Angelo State University Alumni Magazine FALL 2006 15 Melodie McDonald Sue Rainey Ellen Lassetter

Wilde’s idea was to turn an alley, typi- Raymond said, “Joyce had a vision how while he was a SAC student, he helped cally a downtown detriment, into a drive- the alley could be utilized and then Sue and plant many of the trees that now shade the through art gallery. With DSAI support, I recruited the talent.” ASU campus from the West Texas heat. she turned to Julie Raymond to pull to- Gathering the artists was easy. “We In addition to the window in Paintbrush gether some 30 local artists to paint the 18 have an incredible art community that was Alley, McDonald designed the mosaic Volk- windows and numerous murals that line not being recognized,” Raymond said. swagen Bug parked in front of a former fill- the alley behind the Texas Theater between “Artists would rather spend time painting ing station, now owned by the San Angelo Twohig and Concho Avenues. than completing forms, but they will vol- Museum of Fine Arts, on Oakes Street just “Julie contacted all of them,” Wilde unteer if they have a space. So, we had lots northeast of the museum proper. said. “Without her and her art connections, of volunteers.” “People kept telling us that you can’t I don’t know if it would have happened at Wilde helped with the alley preparation, mosaic a car,” McDonald said, “but we all much less as quickly as it did.” painting alley walls and allocating spaces to just answered yes you can.” And, she did, artists. Once that was done, the artists were though not before learning about tile, grout instructed to illustrate street scenes from the and the characteristics necessary for both middle years of the 20th century and turned to withstand the West Texas weather. Now loose to paint on plywood cutouts that would McDonald is working on a ’48 Ford pickup be installed in many alley windows and on with a Texas wildflower mosaic designed the various walls along the alleyway. by Central High art teacher Joe Morgan, a Melodie McDonald went back to her 1987 ASU grad. family roots and San Angelo history for For her window in Paintbrush Alley, her window. “I wanted it to be of a his- Sue Rainey looked for inspiration from torical landmark around San Angelo,” she American artist Norman Rockwell, whose said. In the style of noted Americana art- popular paintings of Americana graced ist Edward Hopper, she painted her grand- more than 300 covers of The Saturday mother, Lucille Camp, and her great aunt, Evening Post. Her window features a boy Anna Laura Camp, as flappers having tea and his beagle looking down over the alley in the St. Angelus Hotel. from his second-floor post. For McDonald, the project was espe- Besides the window, Rainey helped cially personal as her mother and father with several of the murals during mornings had their first date in the Texas Theater, of the summer of 2005. While the plywood just down the alley from her window piece. cutouts for the windows could be done at Her father, Fred McDonald, graduated home or in the studio, the murals had to from San Angelo College before going to be painted on-site and early in the morn- the University of Texas and Texas Tech ing. “It takes a lot more effort than people San Angelo flappers by Melodie McDonald to get his degree in architecture. In fact, realize,” Rainey said, “because in the heat

16 FALL 2006 Angelo State University Alumni Magazine something back to the community.” Lassetter said the various art projects demonstrate to their elementary students that the arts have benefits far beyond the classroom. Thus, Lassetter and her fellow SAISD elemen- Paintbrush Alley quintet overlooks San Angelo’s arts scene. tary art teachers three years ago started a sidewalk art festival in She completed it and her other Paint- March, inviting local artists to draw chalk brush Alley pieces with the assistance of artworks on downtown sidewalks. her daughter, Amanda, an elementary art “These types of activities are impor- teacher in Dallas. They did the work in the tant,” Lassetter said, “to show the value of dining room at home. Boy with beagle by Sue Rainey art. Whenever there’s a budget crisis in any Once visitors enter the alley from Ir- level of government, the arts always take a ving, they will see over their right shoulder paint sticks before it gets where it needs blow so the more visible art is, the better another of Raymond’s artworks. This is her to be. We spent all our summer mornings the chance for its continued support.” interpretation of an image captured by an down there on scaffolding and ladders.” As for the visibility of art in Paintbrush unknown photographer of steelworkers sit- In addition to the artists, Rainey said a Alley, ringleader Julie Raymond’s works ting on a girder high above New York City unit of Marines from Goodfellow helped are the most numerous. for lunch during the 1930s. Raymond’s with some of the painting and much of the According to Rainey, the reason is sim- workers are perched upon a rusty steel beam cleanup. “They were great and we couldn’t ple: “Julie is fast and very prolific.” of their own, overlooking San Angelo. have done it without them.” While her colleagues have looked to oth- “There’s a story behind each painting For Rainey a light moment came when er artists for inspiration, Raymond is more in the alley,” Raymond said. “The steel- an employee of one of the stores backing apt to use historic photos from the 1930s workers, for instance, represent five lead- up onto the alley stepped outside to see the and 1940s for hers. Visitors turning into the ers in town who are very powerful in the progress, then jumped and screamed at the alley from Irving Street are most likely to arts. It is appropriate that they look out sight of a painted rat one of the artists had first see a painting of Alfred Eisenstaedt’s over the town and see what just completed. LIFE photograph of a sailor kissing a nurse needs to be done for Ellen Lassetter is now working on a in Times Square on Aug. 14, 1945, the San Angelo.” piece for a new alley project, based on the day World War II ended. – continued on theme “Art Opens Doors.” For this proj- This is Raymond’s. page 33 ect, doors are being painted with scenes for mounting on the side of a building on the corner of Concho and Irving. Previously, Lassetter and her fellow elementary art teachers did the mural for the City Parks Department’s Kids’ Kingdom in the 300 block of West River Drive, across the Concho River from the San Angelo Visitors Center. “I think the five of us are real close,” Lassetter said of her Art in Uncommon Places colleagues. “We enjoy bouncing ideas off one another and feeling a sense of accomplishment when we struggle through a project before we succeed. Besides that, Julie Raymond shares her artistic the art is a way for us to give talents with the community.

Angelo State University Alumni Magazine FALL 2006 17 BREAKING the Color Barrier

obody ever played a more important game for San againAngelo College than did Benjamin Kelly when in Nthe fall of 1953 he likely became the first African American to enter a football game for a previously segregated team in Texas. The 26-0 victory over an out-of-state Phoenix College cracked the color barrier in Texas collegiate football and started Kelly’s two-year SAC gridiron career that had implications far beyond the bounds of Bobcat Stadium where the historic contest occurred. In spite of the persistent insults and epithets, regardless of the hard hits he took during play and the sucker punches he endured after the whistle had blown, Kelly maintained a standard of conduct both on and off the field that eased the way for desegregation in San Angelo and the Concho Valley. “My guess would be,” said Paul K. “Buddy” Horne, who played in the same SAC backfield as Kelly, “that he probably had more of an impact on this community and the surround- ing area than any other guy that you would ever think about in integrating a community. I would think no other person has done for the community what he did for San Angelo at that point in time.” By the social standards of today, 1953 stands as an inno- cent, almost quaint period in American history when prosper- ity abounded, optimism seemed limitless and opportunities were infinite – unless you were black. For African Americans the end of Reconstruction in 1877 had short-circuited their American dreams as a variety of le- gal barriers evolved to limit black access and opportunities. Called “Jim Crow laws,” the sobriquet supposedly coming from the name of a 19th century minstrel character, the rules tended to isolate blacks from mainstream society, especially in the South. The 1896 Supreme Court decision in Plessy vs. Ferguson institutionalized a Jim Crow mentality by allowing “separate but equal” accommodations and treatment of blacks. Thus, African Americans were relegated to the back of the bus, both figuratively and literally. In the South, they were forced to attend separate schools, to drink out of “colored” water foun- tains, to avoid whites-only restaurants and hotels, and to live Stories by Preston Lewis in segregated neighborhoods, often without full city services. Photos by Tina Miller Though sunrays of change had appeared on the horizon by Historical Photos Courtesy of 1953, Plessy remained the law of the land when Kelly suited out the West Texas Collection for SAC that fall. As it turned out, the law in many cases would and Ben Kelly be easier to change than the racist attitudes it had engendered.

18 FALL 2006 Angelo State University Alumni Magazine Those beliefs spilled out onto the field and targeted No. 36 in the Ram uniform with both verbal and physical assaults. Former Angelo State Athletic Direc- tor Phil George, who was the Rams’ line coach during the Kelly years, remembered opposing players and fans calling him the worst names imaginable. Yet, Kelly never responded. He played as if he were immune or oblivious to the catcalls, the taunts, the slurs. “Maybe he had some issues down inside him,” said Jimmy Gafford, who was a freshman tackle in 1953, “but we never saw them.” While any emotional scars may have Paul Horne recalls playing with Ben Kelly. been invisible, the physical toll was appar- ent to the eye. “He was, early on,” said Horne, “so man than I was. I would have been fighting were after Ben Kelly.” bruised and battered after each game that all the time for what he went through.” Vindictive as the game had been, an it was kind of hard to believe, but he never The 1953 season began with the home amazing gesture occurred afterwards when reacted to anything….His face after games victory against Phoenix College, a school the captain of the Victoria team asked if he would just be bruised all over, and it wasn’t from a state without a Confederate past. The could address the SAC players. “He came because he had gotten tackled, it was because second game, again a home contest, came in,” George said, “and openly apologized to he was being hit after he got tackled.” against Wharton Junior College. Though ra- Ben and our team for the behavior of him- John A. Blocker, who shared fullback du- cial emotions ran higher on the field than in self and some of his teammates….I thought ties with Kelly, said opposing players would the first game, the 20-18 Ram victory played that took a very brave action to do that, but “bite him and kick him and scratch him.” out before a relatively friendly home crowd. above all, it shows how quickly a guy like Recalling that Kelly received multi- The third game of the season, however, Ben was earning respect.” ple broken noses, gashes and contusions, was SAC’s first road trip, a Thursday night The next week, the Rams hosted Ranger George said, “In those days we didn’t have contest at Victoria Junior College. Kelly’s Junior College, taking a 20-0 victory. At that face masks and we had Bakelite cleats presence on the Ram team offended Victoria. point SAC was 4-0 going into what proved which screw on to metal posts, very hard.” “When we hit town,” Bumgardner said to be the pivotal game of the season against Gafford said he never played a San An- in the 1983 newspaper interview, “they had Compton College, a junior college power- gelo College “game that wasn’t rough.” signs strung up across the road, calling us house from California. Compton was a big “Some people thought of junior col- every name in the book. They had cancelled team, the Tartars averaging 202 pounds per lege as junior high,” Gafford said, “but our meals, cancelled our motel rooms. The lineman in an era where any player over 200 you’d get a lot of fabulous athletes that had abuse to me and my boys was horrible.” was huge. The SAC line, by contrast, tipped dropped out of four-year schools or been in Blocker remembered the night as so the scales at 182 per man. the military and were older. It was tough foggy players could barely see each other. Compton’s traveling squad, which in- on us, but tougher on Ben.” Gafford recalled a night filled with flies as cluded six blacks, arrived by train at the George said opposing players would “step thick as the humidity. Horne recollected a Santa Fe Station the morning before the on his hands or pile on. They’d do little things difficult game. All remembered the insults game and stayed overnight in sleeper cars. after the play had stopped and in pileups. Ben and dirty play the Victoria squad heaped Tickets for the intersectional rivalry went never showed any emotion to this. I tell you, upon Kelly, who competed virtually the en- for $1.50 apiece and were available not this guy was tough. He suffered verbal abuse tire game, either as running back or a de- only in the SAC business office but also at and … a lot of derogatory names. He had the fensive end. Kelly finished the game, but Golightly-Pratt Man’s Shop, Angelo Sport- maturity and character never to show any re- sustained ankle and hand injuries. ing Goods and Cactus Service Station. action to it. That was tough, too.” Bumgardner, who later admitted that An overflow West Texas crowd of In a story published in the San Angelo Victoria probably had the better team, told 6,500 came out to see the game, hoping for Standard-Times 30 years after Kelly’s inau- of Kelly sacking the quarterback and then a SAC win after three previous losses to gural season, Max Bumgardner, head coach the referee looking away as the quarterback the West Coast juggernaut. It was the first of the Rams in 1953, reflected on his black punched him in the face. SAC triumphed, game in which Kelly would play against fullback’s accomplishments. “I couldn’t have 20-13, against the Victoria players “pri- other African Americans. Lineman Gaf- done it,” Bumgardner said. “He was a better marily,” Bumgardner said, “because they ford remembered Kelly seeing one of the

Angelo State University Alumni Magazine FALL 2006 19 Compton blacks warming up. “Let’s get As late as 1969 in a game that became him,” Kelly called out, breaking up his 1953 SAC Football Roster known as “the Great Shootout,” neither teammates with his sense of humor, espe- Bill Banta C 59 San Angelo undefeated Texas nor Arkansas played cially after what he had been through. Jube Belcher E 83 Dallas an African American in UT’s 15-14 win, That, though, would be the last laugh Bill Belcher G 60 Biloxi, Miss. though Texas did have a black on its fresh- of the night for the Rams. “They beat our John Blocker FB 48 Lubbock man team that year. The 1969 Texas team butts,” Horne recalled a half century later. George Bookout E 82 Wichita Falls would become the last all-white squad to Ralph Brooks QB 35 Midland While the eight-point deficit was respect- Jeff Buis T 76 Sinton win a national championship in football. able in the 22-14 defeat, the 28-member Dick Burnett T 78 Iraan While society was slowly changing, team sustained more than a dozen injuries. Dalton Byerly T 75 Midland Ben Kelly remained the same: friendly, The Rams lost the next four games be- Clyde Clemmer T 77 Taylor optimistic and athletically talented. His fore tiptoeing to a 21-20 victory over Paris Jimmy Gafford T 74 Lubbock outlook helped him endure trips where he Gene Henderson QB 14 Sonora Junior College in the final game and salvag- was not allowed to stay in the hotel with Jerry Hopkins RH 45 San Saba ing a 5-5 season. Even if the Rams had only Buddy Horne LH 33 Lohn the team. On at least one occasion, Gaf- broken even on the year, their season was Loman Jones E 80 Brownfield ford remembers coach Bumgardner giving about more than just wins and losses. They Benjamin Kelly FB 36 San Angelo him $10 to find lodging for the night. had broken the color barrier and taken a Charlie Lewis G 72 San Saba On many occasions restaurants refused small step toward righting years of wrongs. Jack Lucas C 58 Brownfield to serve Kelly. In most cases his team Bill Madden G 68 Iraan “I don’t ever remember Ben being nega- Sherwood McNeeley RH 38 Melvin members then declined to dine in those es- tive about anything...,” Gafford said. “I think Lynwood Pitts FB 56 Highland Park tablishments, but in some cases they had he knew he had to be positive. He knew he Jerry Sessoms QB 11 Brady no choice if they wanted a meal. In those couldn’t be offended easily. He knew that, Leon Simmons G 67 Wichita Falls instances, Kelly was forced to eat in the but his personality made it a lot easier for him Shannon Suarez LH 35 Biloxi, Miss. kitchen, out of sight from the public. A.C. Talley G 65 Taylor to be that way. And then, when he got into Ram halfback Horne learned that eating Bobby Tobin RH 46 Austin that football uniform and he started down Buck Turk E 87 Carrizo Springs in the kitchen had its perks because most of the field, it didn’t matter if you were white, Wade Turner LH 44 Brady the cooks were black. “Maybe we’d have black, pink or yellow. He was going to knock Arlie Wolfenbarger E 85 San Angelo chicken-fried steak and Ben would be hav- you to the ground if he could.” (Sources: San Angelo Standard-Times ing steak. They’d cook him one….I volun- Kelly’s talent and demeanor, both on the and the 1954 Rambouillet) teered every time I could to be with Ben.” field and off, earned him the respect that his The 1954 season was an up-and-down mere skin color had initially denied him. campaign of solid wins, close losses and a Even teams that treated him so maliciously “separate but equal” precedent from Plessy rare 0-0 tie against Tarleton. The team fin- on the field recognized his accomplishments vs. Ferguson. That decision sent reverbera- ished with a 5-3-1 record, including a 26-7 after the season and chose him first-team tions throughout the South and gave momen- homecoming win over Schreiner Institute All-Pioneer Conference. On the campus, tum to the burgeoning civil rights movement on Nov. 13, 1954, in Kelly’s last SAC game. his easy going manner and quick smile got of the late 1950s and early 1960s. After the season he received the Nathan’s him elected freshman class favorite. Though mandated by law to admit Jeweler Ram football award and again At season’s end Darnell Peacock, a blacks and to allow them to play on athlet- earned first-team All-Pioneer Conference sports columnist for the San Angelo Stan- ic teams, universities throughout the South accolades at fullback. dard-Times, praised Kelly for “the best and Southwest moved slowly to respond. The following spring, Kelly received a sportsmanship of any player on the field.” Only two years after the Supreme Court letter from the San Francisco 49ers, invit- Wrote Peacock, “He set an example that decision did University of Oklahoma coach ing him to try out. He left San Angelo for would be difficult for anyone to follow, car- Bud Wilkinson sign halfback Prentice the National Football League on July 9, rying the sportsmanship beyond the call of Gautt as the first African-American player 1955, just three days after the San Angelo duty. There have been several times when he for a four-year university in the region. School Board unanimously voted to end was deliberately kicked, kneed, or slugged in It took the Southwest Conference a desegregation in San Angelo schools. the face. He surely must have objected, but cade after Brown before Southern Method- Some residents said then and many you could never tell it from the stands. He ist University signed a black football play- believe today that Kelly’s successful SAC somehow managed a smile in return, and kept er, speedy receiver Jerry LeVias. Baylor career not only hastened the fall of segre- playing his jarring, clean brand of football.” University’s John Hill Westbrook became gation in San Angelo but also eased the Between the 1953 and 1954 football the first African American to actually play transition to integration. seasons, the Supreme Court changed how in a varsity game for a SWC school when Speaking before the school that July, the nation would deal with racial issues. On on Sept. 10, 1966, he became a fourth- Larkin A. Raibon, African-American pro- May 17, 1954, the Court in Brown vs. Board quarter substitution in the Bears’ 35-12 prietor of the Modernistic Barber Shop and of Education overturned the 58-year-old victory over nationally ranked Syracuse. a representative of the local NAACP, said

20 FALL 2006 Angelo State University Alumni Magazine “At the time of the U.S. Supreme Court The ‘Reluctant Champion’ ruling (on Brown vs. Board of Education), I thought the school board liberal enough Benjamin Kelly never intended to be a pioneer. to work the problem out and I still do.” All he wanted to do was play football at San Angelo College, but in the process he Raibon based his opinion upon the suc- became a racial pioneer as likely the first African American to start a collegiate football cessful integration at San Angelo College game for a previously segregated Texas institution of higher learning. where, as the Standard-Times phrased it, After his two seasons at SAC, he was signed by the San Francisco 49ers and tried “Negroes have been admitted.” out on the West Coast before moving to New York for a short stay with the Giants under By the standards of the day, the San An- an assistant coach named Vince Lombardi and a player-coach named Tom Landry. gelo school board was indeed liberal, becom- When his brief National Football League career ended, he returned to San Angelo ing only the third school district in the state to and ultimately began working for the local Boys and Girls Club. After 29 years with de-segregate. Just the Panhandle community the organization, he retired as its executive director in 1996. of Friona and the far West Texas city of El Just as he had influenced the attitudes of his SAC teammates and his community in Paso ended school segregation sooner. 1953 and 1954, he helped shape the lives of hundreds of San Angelo youth through the By his talent and sportsmanship on the Boys and Girls Club. His contributions to so many San Angelo kids were recognized field and by his demeanor and understand- in 1993 with the naming of a new $500,000 gymnasium in his honor at the Boys and ing off, Benjamin Kelly helped change the Girls Club in north San Angelo. attitudes of a community. Over the years his many honors have included the Bronze Keystone Award from “I think no one else did as much to ease the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, the Liberty Bell Award from the Tom Green that integration as he did,” observed team- County Bar Association and the Outstanding Achievement Award from the San Angelo mate Horne. Chapter of the NAACP. Fellow fullback Blocker agreed. “You Joe Muñoz, who served for many years on the board of directors for the San Ange- couldn’t have picked a better person to inte- lo Boys and Girls Club, calls Kelly the “Reluctant Champion” because of his humility grate with. And, he set a standard that prob- and his genuine compassion for others. Muñoz, Class of ’78 and current assistant to the ably couldn’t be matched today because not president at ASU, said Kelly was a rare athlete but an even rarer human being. only was he not a hot dog, he was an excellent Today Kelly still lives in San Angelo with his wife of 52 years, the former Alvetta human being. His work ethics were wonder- Spurlock, like her husband a graduate of San Angelo’s segregated Blackshear High ful, and, you know, I think everybody on the School. They are parents of daughters Sharon Rivers of Houston and Patricia Thomp- team considered him to be their friend.” son of San Angelo and son Michael Kelly, also of San Angelo. Blocker, who went on to coach at sev- Though slowed by diabetes and glaucoma, he maintains an inspiring and optimistic eral Texas high schools, including some in demeanor, frequently punctuated by a booming laugh. While ever friendly and helpful, East Texas, said, “It was probably the easi- he downplays his role in SAC or Texas sports history. est transition for integration that I’ve ever “That was 50 years ago,” he said, “and it’s time to move on.” been around. I’ve been in several (other) His life’s regret is that his mother died before he could fully repay her for the values schools that have integrated while I was she instilled in him about life and about discrimination. She taught him compassion there and none of them was easy.” for others, humility for himself and understanding of everyone. If people hate you, she Lineman Gafford added, “Ben was a neat told him, that’s their problem, not yours. guy. He always had a smile on his face, good “We didn’t have racial problems,” Kelly said of his two years at San Angelo attitude, just one of the guys. That’s all I can College. “Any problems we had were just people problems.” say. He wasn’t any more or any less than any A skeptic once asked New York sportswriter Jimmy of the rest of us. He just fit in.” Cannon if another racial pioneer, heavyweight champion Perhaps Phil George, who was there Joe Louis, should be considered a credit to his race. that summer day in 1953 when Benjamin “Yes,” Cannon replied, “the human race.” Kelly walked into the athletic offices and The same should be said about Ben Kelly. first asked for a chance to play football at

San Angelo College, stated it best. Phil George, Ben Kelly and Paul Horne today. “He’s special in my life, and I think he’s special to all of us who got to walk those few small steps with him that turned out to be gi- ant steps,” George said. “I think what I love about the facts of the story so much is that it was not something that was orchestrated. It was living a real person’s real life and getting to share part of it. You just think now how far he took us, which is unlimited.” .

Angelo State University Alumni Magazine FALL 2006 21 New Look Volleyball This year’s Rambelle volleyball team will Rams Ready to Do It Again have a host of new faces as head coach Carr will look to returning quar- Ruth Lawanson settles into her second year terback Trey Weishuhn to be a leader at the helm. this fall. The senior from Wall threw With a talented class of seven fresh- for a school-record 2,615 yards in 2005 men added to a core group of five returning while tossing 17 touchdowns and com- players, the Belles are shooting to make pleting 52.6 percent of his passes. He the LSC Tournament. enters his final season ranked sixth on “The freshmen and the transfers are the program’s all-time passing list with competing for playing time,” Lawanson 4,373 yards and should finish his ca- said. “The returners will have the edge, reer second only to the great Ned Cox because they know the system. Once the (7,833 yards, 1983-86). freshmen learn the system, it’s going to be “Trey gained a lot of confidence last a lot of fun. My motto is, the best six get to season and was a major reason for our play – I don’t care who you are.” success late in the game,” Carr said. Several top performers from last sea- “We’re going to look to him to take over son will take the court, including right-side more of a leadership role this season.” hitter and lone senior Amber Smith, junior Weishuhn will have the luxury of re- middle hitter Mallory Honeycutt and junior turning three starting offensive lineman, libero Natalie Crow. including senior Chris Hoppe. A second- The season will see the Belles open at Trey Weishuhn team All-Lone Star Conference South Di- the Florida Southern tournament where vision pick as a junior, Hoppe will move they will play Grand Valley State, the de- from guard to tackle this fall and will be fending NCAA Division II national cham- By Dave Wester called upon to be a leader up front. pions. The Belles open at home Aug. 31 “Our strength this season will be then host the ASU tournament Sept. 1. ast fall the Angelo State football our offensive line,” Carr said. “We will Lteam took the Lone Star Confer- bring back three solid starters from last Soccer Ready to Kick Grass ence and the country by surprise with a year and will add a pair of key newcom- The Belle soccer team will shoot for a first- 9-3 record, but this season second-year ers up front to solidify the line. Much ever Lone Star Conference title this season, head coach Dale Carr and his Rams of our success last year came from be- and a nucleus of eight returning starters won’t be sneaking up on anyone. ing able to move the pocket, allowing might have what it takes to hit that goal. “Last year our opponents probably Trey time to pass.” After two 10-win seasons, the Belles’ did not know what to expect from us Defensively, the Rams return just fortunes fell last season with a disappointing and may have underestimated our team,” five starters from last year’s squad and 7-12-2 overall record and a 4-5-0 confer- Carr said. “I doubt anyone will take us will need to reload in the middle. ence mark. But this year’s team has a stable lightly, and they are certainly more fa- “We lost both our defensive tackles, of talent with potential to be a winner. miliar with our offense and defense.” our middle linebacker and both of our “I am very excited about this season,” The 2006 Ram squad is younger but safeties,” said Carr. “We are definitely said Belles head coach Tom Brown. “Last just may be more athletic than the team going to be young up front.” year was rough, but those players who that made its first NCAA Division II play- Returning defensive starters are line- returned are determined to make this one off appearance in eight years last season. backers Tyrell McCrea and Daniel Smith, memorable.” Success in 2006 will depend on the defensive ends Kelsey Hite and Kyle Two forwards – Casey Halamicek and Rams getting a balanced offensive at- Green and cornerback Kevin Lenford. Brittany Tollison – will pace the scoring. tack and replacing key losses on the de- “If we can get out of the blocks the “One of the biggest problems we had fensive side of the ball. first two or three games and hold our last season was scoring goals,” Brown said. “Offensively, our core up the mid- own, I think we’ve got a chance to have “I think between our recruiting class and dle is solid with quarterback, offensive a pretty good season,” Carr said. “We the hard work our returning players put in line and running backs,” Carr said, “but have a better schedule this year with during the spring, we should improve our we’ll have to be able to throw and catch six home games. That sets up better for goals scored this season.” the ball better. We’ll be looking for our our younger team. We had a very good The Rambelles open on the road at the receivers to step up and make us a more spring and our players’ confidence is UT-Permian Basin. Their home opener is well-rounded offense.” higher than it was at this time last year.” Aug. 27 against College of the Southwest.

22 FALL 2006 Angelo State University Alumni Magazine Vandergriff Retires Jerry Vandergriff, who has worn a variety ship and became head coach in 1982, mak- of head gear for Ram athletics over the last ing ASU the winningest program in Texas 40 years, hung up his hat for good May 31 for the decade. when he retired from Angelo State. By the time he stepped down in 2004, “I’m not sure anyone ever hired me,” he was the winningest football coach in ASU Vandergriff said, “I just kept staying be- history with a 143-101-2 record and stood in cause I really wanted to be here. It has the top 10 in victories among active Division been a great place to be.” II coaches. During the latter part of his coach- Vandergriff came to campus in 1960 ing career he also wore the hat as men’s athletic to wear a helmet for San Angelo College. director. Since 2004, he served ASU as director He quarterbacked the Rams to a 7-3 re- of development for athletics. cord and a Hospitality Bowl bid that year, “It’s just been storybook for me to stay 35 years the last season before the college dropped here rather than the typical three-to-five-year ten- football for a while. That season he also ure among coaches,” Vandergriff said. lost a close game to New Mexico Military Though retiring from ASU and planning on Institute and a then unknown quarterback traveling more, Vandergriff will remain named Roger Staubach, who would go on active in the Angelo Football Clinic to win the Heisman Trophy at the Naval and in the Cactus Bowl, home of Academy and some Super Bowls for the the Division II All-Star Game Dallas Cowboys. each year in Kingsville. Vandergriff returned to San Angelo in And, he will stay in San 1971 wearing the cap of an assistant coach Angelo. “Nobody,” he said, under Grant Teaff. He was offensive co- “thinks more of this uni- ordinator under Jim Hess when the Rams versity and this commu- won the 1978 NAIA National Champion- nity than I do.”

The 9th Annual TITLE SPONSOR TEAM SPONSORS PRIZE DONORS West Central Wireless AEP Texas Academy Sports & Outdoors Agilight ASU Agriculture Department West Central CART SPONSOR Armstrong Backus & Co, LLP Balfour Town & Country Food Stores Gandy Ink Bath Junkie Wireless Golf Trashaway Blue Moon PUTTING CONTEST SPONSOR Collegiate Funding Services Trashaway PLAYER SPONSORS Dillards Tournament Bank & Trust Dusty Trails HOLE SPONSORS Bank of San Angelo Fairfield Inn was held June 23, 2006 1st Community Federal Credit Union Donaldson Architecture Golf ETC A-B Distributing Kid Smiles - Rudy Izzard DDS Green Meadow Veterinary Hospital and was a great AEP Texas Mr. Boots Hawthorn Inn success. Alvie Cole Land & Mineral Co. Packsaddle Bar-B-Q In Vino Veritas Armstrong Backus Co. LLP Qualtrust Federal Credit Union J Wilde Eighty-one B&W Trailer Sunset Chiropractic Porter Henderson Implement golfers helped Blaine’s Pub Rattle Dazzle raise more than Busker’s Body Shop IN-KIND SPONSORS Ridgway Florist raise more than C&W One Stop A-B Distributing Southwest Flowers $14,500 for the Coca Cola Bottling Co. Bill Neil Specialty Advertising Total Sports ASU Alumni Dreher Company, Inc. Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Tractor Supply Foster Communications Frito-Lay West Central Wireless Association. Gandy Ink Liberty Mutual Thank you to George Michaels & Assoc. Dean McInturff - AG Edwards Green Meadow Veterinary Hospital Mejor Que Nada all players, Housley Communications sponsors & Johnson’s Funeral Home KLST/KSAN-TV supporters. Knox Oilfield Supply Mitchell Auto Group Porter Henderson Implement San Angelo National Bank San Angelo Standard Times Texas State Bank Webb, Stokes, & Sparks West Texas Steel & Supply / PAK Quality Foods

Angelo State University Alumni Magazine FALL 2006 23 Rams Take Honors, Track and Field Champion- Miss NCAA Tourney ships in Emporia, Kan., as All- The division champion Angelo SportsHIGHLIGHTS Americans, including two who State Rams placed 11 players finished national runners-up. on the All-Lone Star Confer- All-American Gaines, a LSC Track & Field Honors Justin Boyd closed out a ence South Division baseball Temple native, led the Lone Ram junior Spencer Tyler won stellar sophomore season as team but fell short of the Star Conference in runs with a the Oscar Strahan Award as national runner-up in the 400- NCAA National Tournament school-record 66 and hit .417 the outstanding male field meter hurdles. On the wom- in spite of finishing the regu- on the season. He ended his athlete of the year and Ram- en’s side, Culley Jo Dawson lar season No. 3 in the South senior campaign with nine belle freshman Adree Lakey placed second nationally in the Central Regional Rankings. home runs and 59 runs batted took honors as co-winner discus throw. Ranked No. 13 nationally in, both school records. of the David Noble Award Anthony Boyd, Richard going into the postseason, the Both Gaines and Vacek as outstanding female field Covington and Josh Davis Rams placed seven players on signed professional contracts athlete after the Lone Star joined Boyd for All-American the LSC South Division first after the season, Gaines with Conference Track and Field honors after a fifth-place finish team. Honorees were senior the New York Mets and Vacek Championships in April. in the 4x400 relay. Jason Sim- pitchers J. W. Nastoupil and with the Kansas City Royals. Tyler and Lakey were mons and Ryan McWilliams Chace Vacek, junior catcher Both were assigned to minor among six men and three placed seventh and eighth, Bucky Strickland, junior first league squads for the summer. women to garner All-Lone respectively, in the decathlon baseman Nate Hemm, senior Star Conference honors at the and also brought home All- second baseman John Beal, Belles Ring Up Honors championships that saw both America certificates. senior shortstop Derek Bock- Eight Rambelle softball players the men’s and women’s team Freshman Adree Lakey horn and senior outfielder received All-Lone Star Confer- finish second. earned All-American honors Ronnie Gaines, who also was ence South Division honors at Tyler won the discus throw, with a sixth-place throw in named a third-team Division II the end of a 31-26 season that placed second in the shot put the discus. All-American by the American took the squad to the Lone and finished sixth in the ham- In the team competition Baseball Coaches Association. Star Conference Tournament mer throw. Lakey triumphed the Rams placed 18th and The second team included for the fourth straight time. in both the shot put and jav- the Rambelles finished 21st junior pitchers Elliott Love and Junior centerfielder Kan- elin throw, finished third in nationally. Tommy Rafferty, senior out- dace Kubat earned first-team the hammer throw and took fielder Brad Hough and des- recognition and was tabbed fourth in the discus toss. Academic Laurels ignated hitter Clay Calfee, a the division’s Newcomer of the Other men’s championships Senior Trent Joseph, one of 10 redshirt freshman. Year as well as a second-team went to senior Dustin Hafern- ASU spring athletes to earn Nastoupil was named Co- All-American by the National ick (steeplechase), sophomore All-Academic honors at the Pitcher of the Year after a stel- Fastpitch Coaches Association. Ryan McWilliams (decathlon) end of the school year, was lar season with a 9-1 record She finished the season with a and sophomore Justin Boyd named Men’s Track and Field and 81 strikeouts. Calfee was .405 batting average and led (400-meter hurdles). Seniors Academic Athlete of the Year selected as Freshman of the the conference in stolen bases Andrew Roemisch and Jason by the Lone Star Conference. Year after hitting .392 with six with 54 and in runs scored Simmons also garnered all- Senior Andrew Roemisch, home runs and 38 RBI. with 59. conference honors. senior Marcus Dunn, sopho- In spite of their 41-16 sea- Senior catcher Jessica On the women’s squad more Steven Barraza and son record, the Rams were Stroud, freshman shortstop junior Kandra Lakey won the sophomore Chad Schaertl snubbed for the post-season Macy Baker, sophomore first discus title, finished second joined Joseph on the All-Aca- NCAA tournament after being baseman Brittney Cargill and in the javelin and took third demic squad. Women’s team eliminated in their third game sophomore third baseman in the shot put. Sophomore honorees were senior Ra- of the LSC Tournament. ASU Brittany Welch took second- Melina Garcia rounded out chel Williams, junior Daniela had the best record of any team honors. Baker was also the Rambelles’ all-conference Swearingen and sophomore team nationally not to make named Co-Freshman of the selections with second-place Trista McIntyre. the 48-squad NCAA playoffs. Year in the South Division. finishes in both the 5,000- and Senior outfielder Brad The Rams’ .719 winning per- Junior second baseman 10,000-meter runs. Hough of the baseball team centage bettered that of five Dionne Lopez, sophomore and sophomore outfielder of the six teams that qualified leftfielder Whitney Meeks and All-Americans Whitney Meeks of the soft- in ASU’s region as well as that freshman pitcher Rachel Walck in Track & Field ball squad also were named of 28 teams that did make the were named to the league’s Eight ASU athletes returned to the All-Academic squads national tournament. honorable mention squad. from the NCAA Division II in their sports.

24 FALL 2006 Angelo State University Alumni Magazine CampusThe rituals that haveTraditions become a part of Angelo State University life and lore.

cided to guard the 50-foot-high tinder box through the night, likely giving rise to the guarding tradition. Where Guards or no guards, though, the timber tower burned the Tuesday before home- There’s coming in 1964. A decade later, the stack of studs succumbed to spontaneous com- Smoke, bustion, causing the Ram Page editor to speculate that it was an inside job because There’s the “sabotage was simply too fast and well done to be performed by some rank ama- Fire teur from Texas A&I,” ASU’s opponent in the homecoming game. In 1975 the wooden stack had to be rebuilt the day of the pep rally because of another successful attack. Though ASU’s Air Force ROTC detachment took over spon- sorship of the bonfire in 1975, the military presence failed to save it from another gue- rilla raid in 1976. The ROTC cadets made amends in 1977, building a 65-foot-tall tower, likely the tallest in ASU history, and taking over full control of bonfire management and security. The bonfire appears to have made it unscathed through the 1980s, but not so in Research by the Staff the 1990s. The annual torch parade was of the West Texas Collection born in 1991 to spark the bonfire after the and Alumni Association homecoming pep rally, but the torch parade was too late to start the 1993 bonfire, thanks to arsonists. ome campus traditions last forever the U.S. into World War II a few months The next year, two pickup loads of Tar- Swhile others just go up in smoke. later. The drain on male enrollment and the leton State students were arrested at 4:30 Welcome to the tradition of the home- need to conserve all resources, including in the morning with what campus police coming bonfire. Few rituals at Angelo wood, made a bonfire impractical in the and the fire marshal described as “Molotov State University or on any campus require ensuing years. cocktails,” saving the 1994 pyre. as much work or result in more mischief The bonfire appeared to return to cam- Barely had the university made it into than the homecoming bonfire. pus by 1949 and has been both a regular the new century and millennia than the Traditionally, homecoming and bon- homecoming fixture and an ongoing target 2000 bonfire pile was burned. A Herculean fires go together like Moses and the burn- for pranksters ever since. And in each of effort by ROTC cadets, other students and ing bush, campfires and marshmallows, those years, the wood pile has gone up in local business, however, rebuilt the stack in arson and the fire marshal. smoke, most times as scheduled but often time for the homecoming celebration. While bonfires have been a staple of prematurely, wounding campus pride and Over the years, ASU’s homecoming bon- homecoming celebrations as early as the creating a run on wooden pallets locally fire has undoubtedly left a lot of memories late 1800s at some American universities, for a Phoenix-like rebirth. for those who built it, guarded it and saw it 1941 appears to be the first year one blazed In 1958 pranksters managed to burn burst into flames, either as planned or seren- on the campus of San Angelo College, down a third of the wood stack. A year dipitously. Even so, the homecoming bonfire ASU’s predecessor. However, the ritual later fireflies struck again. Once the flames is one campus tradition more often remem- was short-lived as Pearl Harbor plunged were doused more than 40 college boys de- bered for its failures than its successes. .

Angelo State University Alumni Magazine FALL 2006 25 had the hit “House of the Rising Sun” in the summer of 1964. He also shared the stage with acts such as the girl group The Royalettes and Brian Highland, vocalist for the 1960 hit novelty tune “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Pol- Last Call ka Dot Bikini” and the 1962 Gold Record “Sealed With A Kiss.” “It was a magical time for us,” Elliott for said. The magic, however, failed to last. Just prior to leaving for his second tour, the group’s manager died in a car accident, ironically, and band members drifted apart before Elliott re-formed The Cavaliers in San Angelo in 1966. After that their venues included everything from high school dances to “beer Stories by Preston Lewis joints with chicken wire” to protect the band from thrown objects. After leaving the band, Elliott worked for five years with Goodyear, then went into real estate. Today, he is the owner of Elliott Realty. Though he joined the band two years after “Last Kiss” peaked on the national Billboard Top 40 charts at No. 2, nobody locally has been more closely linked to The Cavaliers than James Thomas, Class of ’68, who kept the group together for almost 40 years. And while “Last Kiss” is the lasting Accurate Sound Recording Studio, 15 N. Tyler, San Angelo, Texas, 1964 contribution of The Cavaliers to popular The Cavailers left to right: Lewis Elliott, band leader, bass guitar; Eugene “Buddy” Croyle, lead guitar; Roland “Snake” Atkinson, drums; culture, Thomas thinks the band’s most Mike Hodges, keyboard; J. Frank Wilson, vocals. important legacy, at least during his tenure,

1964 Band photo courtesy of Lewis Elliott and American Classifieds. 2006 photos by Jim Bean. was the number of band members it helped attend Angelo State over the years. ormed in the mid-1950s and named Lewis Elliott stands at the top of former “I don’t know how many graduates we for a cigarette brand, the San Ange- ASU students and The Cavaliers as he was put through, but it’s been a bunch,” Thom- Flo musical group The Cavaliers hit the leader of the group when “Last Kiss” as said. “We encouraged them to get their the charts big-time in 1964 with the tragic was recorded and became a hit. He played degree and help themselves out.” teenage lament “Last Kiss.” bass guitar on the teenage classic, which The band’s philosophy of playing a va- But unlike a lot of one-hit wonders was recorded in San Angelo at Accurate riety of musical styles made The Cavaliers that earn a Gold Record and then disap- Sound then located in a building that today the most popular group in the area, perform- pear forever, The Cavaliers rolled on for serves as the offices for American Classi- ing during its heyday at everything from almost 40 years, adding new members as fieds at 15 N. Tyler. school dances to ranch socials in the 1960s earlier musicians moved on and continuing With the band between 1962 and 1966, and 1970s. The band’s repertoire ranged to play music in West Texas well into the Elliott cut “Last Kiss” with Buddy Cro- from rock ’n’ roll to country and western new millennium. yle, Roland “Snake” Atkinson, vocalist J. to crossover. Their most successful song During that time The Cavaliers always Frank Wilson and a studio musician. After after “Last Kiss” became “You Just Need seemed to have an Angelo State University the song became a hit, Elliott toured the to Love Somebody,” which became a Cash connection. Former ASU students who played country with the Dick Clark’s Caravan of Box pick-hit of the week in 1976. in the band over the years included Lewis El- Stars, sharing the bus with such musicians After graduation from ASU Thomas liott, James Thomas, Ronny Harrison, James as future Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame Mem- worked 23 years for San Angelo National Patterson, W. Mike Jones and Janice Burke. bers Eric Burdon and The Animals, who Bank and during that time remembers play-

26 FALL 2006 Angelo State University Alumni Magazine Williams Jr., Mel Tillis, Ray Price and Johnny Bush, among others. “That’s kind of neat for a band of local guys.” During his tenure, the band had a TV show on the local CBS affiliate. Harri- son also acknowledged that The Cavaliers played for the first ASU frat party ever raided by the police. The Cavaliers were performing for Kappa Xi, which he and Thomas helped found and which eventually evolved into Lambda Chi, when they got a little too loud and rambunctious. The police persuaded them to turn the volume down. In Harrison’s mind the raid was not nearly as embarrassing as being commis- sioned by a Fort Worth producer to record James Thomas a song about the U.S. Space Program. Re- leased at the time of the first manned mis- ing the Christmas parties for banking com- of-town guests up to meet Thomas and in- sion to orbit the moon, the song was titled petitors. “I’d sit on the steps and eavesdrop troduce him as the vocalist on “Last Kiss.” “A Mighty Big Moon Mouse!” about a ro- during our break to hear their propaganda.” Thomas said, “I wouldn’t correct them or dent that ate a quarter of the moon. “We played for the people, a big variety say anything because it would’ve belittled “No more need be said about this of music, and we had fun,” Thomas said. them in front of their friends. Some of that song!” Harrison noted. And, they made money. Some months, got started that way, but certainly not in- If “A Mighty Big Moon Mouse” was performing a couple nights a week, he made tentionally.” the low point of his Cavaliers career, “the more money singing than he did at his $475 The band continued to perform under best thing for me being involved in music a month job with the bank. “It was a pretty Thomas’s direction until three years ago and The Cavaliers was meeting my wife, lucrative little hobby. I actually made mon- when his motivations changed. Carol,” Harrison said. ey at a hobby rather than going out and los- “When I was young, I would have Today he is the partner and president of ing golf balls at a dollar apiece.” played for free,” Thomas said, “but now I’d Harrison Roofing in San Angelo. Because of his longevity with the rather be home on a Friday and sitting in an James Patterson played with the band band, many came to assume he was the easy chair than playing music.” between 1967 and 1973. During that time, original vocalist on “Last Kiss.” During In his spare time, he still writes mu- he earned his bachelor’s degree in 1971 performances, fans would bring their out- sic, including a final verse to “Last Kiss.” and master’s degree from ASU. In fact, in When he is not sitting in his 1972 he became the first person to receive easy chair or composing an ASU master’s degree. songs, Thomas operates San Patterson played bass and performed Angelo Real Estate with his some lead vocals. “James Thomas had the wife, Janie. pretty voice and handled most of the bal- Ronny Harrison, Class of lads and smoother songs,” Patterson said, ’71, joined the Cavaliers in “and I took the edgy songs, like Rod Stew- 1965 and stayed with the band art’s ‘Maggie Mae.’” During his tenure, for 24 years. He started out as the post-“Last Kiss” Cavaliers also record- drummer and later switched ed “It’s Up to You Girl,” “A Little Bit of to keyboard. He also handled Soap,” “Turntable,” “Wine, Wine, Wine” backup on vocals. and “Somebody Help Me.” “We had a lot of good He recalled the monthly dances at Ro- times,” Harrison said. His wena as being especially fun because of favorite memories are of per- the family atmosphere. “It was a big com- forming at Rowena where the munity center with people from all of the band was a regular at the lo- small towns,” Patterson said. “Four gen- cal ODHS hall on family night erations might be out there, everyone from and of backing up or opening old grandma to grandbaby. It was just a for a variety of country-and- nice wholesome family get together and Ronny Harrison western stars, including Hank that place would really get packed.”

Angelo State University Alumni Magazine FALL 2006 27 with the band from 1969-71 while taking Photo courtesy of James Patterson. a minimum of 15 hours a semester at ASU and working at Landers Automotive for $1.15 an hour. “My time was so crazy with working, night classes and playing,” Jones said. “I’d say it was lots of fun and lots of long drives. For two years we played once a month in Del Rio.” He played “Last Kiss” enough to grow sick of it. “Yes, yes! Same old four chords over and over again.” The group performed at a lot of parties, school functions and fraternity socials, including the one that drew the police raid. “It was a wild fraternity party, but nothing serious,” he recalled. “Back then about the worst thing anyone did was drink.” The band also played some seamier venues as well. “I got so burnt out on James Patterson bars and beer joints, I haven’t been in one since,” Jones said. “It was fun at the time,” Jones said. “It During his tenure the band bought faculty member at both the University of always starts out fun and then it turns into matching custom equipment including Houston and Houston Baptist University. a job. What started out as a hobby, as fun, amplifiers and speakers with rolled-and- He is also active musically with the Cross- became a hard-core job.” pleated upholstery highlights in cascade, a Tronic Christian Techno Project, in which After leaving the band with his gen- blue-green color. “We were quite a sight up he combines electronic music with Chris- eral business degree and a psychology mi- there, looked like a ’57 Chevy,” he said. tian evangelistic themes. The first album nor from ASU, Jones went into real estate Patterson remembered sharing a gig was “Put on the Armor of God” followed briefly before getting into electrical- con with The Cowsills, a 1960s group that had by a second, “Eternity.” Information on tracting. Today he owns Bullock & Taylor such hits as “Hair,” “The Rain, The Park the albums is available at his website, Electric Co. and Other Things,” “Indian Park,” and “We http://cdbaby.com/cd/crosstronic2. Except for a three-year break between Can Fly.” W. Mike Jones, Class of ’71, might be 1975 and 1978, Janice Burke played drums “They were the more popular act at the considered one of the original multi-task- for The Cavaliers from 1974 to 1999. Like time,” Patterson said, “but they played first ers. He played lead guitar and did vocals several other band members, some of her and we came on second, still living on a little reflected glory from ‘Last Kiss.’” After graduating from ASU, he left The Cavaliers and traveled with another band out of Abilene for a few months before starting his own group, Supreme Court De- cision, which spent six years on the road and still plays several gigs per month in the Houston area. He followed The Cavaliers’ musical format by incorporating a variety of styles in his band’s repertoire, ranging from country to baby boomer rock to big band swing to Latin. Summing up his years with the Cavaliers, he said, “Oh, I had a ball.” Patterson later earned his doctorate in history from the University of Houston and today serves as a history professor at Hous- W. Mike Jones ton Community College and an adjunct

28 FALL 2006 Angelo State University Alumni Magazine fondest memories with The Cavaliers are of playing at Rowena. “It was so laid back, family-oriented,” she said. “Everybody could bring their family with babies over in the corner on little pallets, just real casual. It wasn’t the bar Last Kiss scene and having to contend with that.” Even when they did play the bars, Burke remembered “the guys were real answered protective of me.” Burke, who earned her associate de- Anyone who ever hears the opening of “Last Kiss” is bound to remember it. gree in nursing in 1972 and her bachelor of science in nursing in 1983, both from Oh, where oh where can my baby be, ASU, remembers playing a lot of hospital The Lord took her away from me functions. She’s gone to heaven so I got to be good She recalls her first hospital perfor- So I can see my baby when I leave this ol’ world. mance when Dr. Ralph Chase and Dr. From there the song details the tragic tale in the era before mandatory seat Sterling Gillis couldn’t believe “their baby belts of a teen driver who crashes into a stalled car, then watches helplessly as nurse was up there beating on the drums.” his date dies in his arms. Highlights of her musical career in- Recorded by The Cavaliers in San Angelo in 1964, “Last Kiss” rose higher cluded playing both at her sister’s wedding on the charts than all but a handful of songs that year and the tunes that topped and at the 40th anniversary performance at it were by such recognizable names as The Beach Boys, The Beatles, The Su- Rowena. Her last performance with The premes, Bobby Vinton and Dean Martin. Cavaliers, appropriately enough, was at the The song was sung by J. Frank Wilson, a Lufkin native who joined The Cava- wedding of the son of a friend in medical liers while stationed at Goodfellow Air Force Base. Other performers on the records where she worked. Today Burke is recording were Cavaliers leader Lewis Elliott on bass guitar, Roland “Snake” a neonatal nurse with San Angelo Commu- Atkinson on drums, Buddy Croyle on lead guitar and a studio musician. nity Hospital, her employer for 34 years. Written in 1962 by Georgia rhythm and blues singer Wayne Cochran and “I wouldn’t take for all the years I based on an actual car-tractor trailer accident near his home, “Last Kiss” was played with The Cavaliers,” Burke said. the last of a string of teen tragedies that captured the public’s imagination in the “It was a good stress reliever. It was a lot early 1960s. of good memories and a lot of fun playing The tune was popular enough in 1964 to draw the attention of New York with a lot of good musicians.” . Times columnist Russell Baker, who wrote that it and another accident tune “are basically hillbilly ballads done in the slick and commercial rock ’n’ roll style with the monotonous cacophony the children love.” Baker pontificated that unrequited love had long been the staple of song and literature but lamented that “the instrument of romantic tragedy is not battle or wasting malady but a miserable automobile.” The song was introduced to a new generation in 1999 when Pearl Jam re- released it and the tune climbed to the top of the charts three decades after its original release. James Thomas, who assumed duties as lead vocalist for The Cavaliers two years after the release of “Last Kiss,” has sung the song hundreds of times since he joined the band. A few years ago, Thomas decided to add a final stanza to the sad song. He included “Last Kiss Answered” on one of the promotional CDs he recorded with The Cavaliers for his realty company. After the original lyrics, a female vocalist responds with these words:

Well, hello darling, I can see you from here Don’t you worry, don’t shed a tear The Lord knows I miss you, He can see My love will last forever for all eternity Janice Burke

Angelo State University Alumni Magazine FALL 2006 29 30 FALL 2006 Angelo State University Alumni Magazine 1976 Health and Human Services Commission in San Angelo. William Gray, married to Wendy, is the defense con- Bill Nikolauk, married to tractor for Science Applica- Debbie, is the president of tions International Corp. in 1st Community Federal Credit CLASS Manassas, Virginia. Union in San Angelo and a new member on the ASU Steve Litton, married to Alumni Association Board Corinne (’76), is employed of Directors. as an apparel manufac- turer at D’Clase Apparel in 1986 Weston, Fla. Jim D. Jones, married to Jose P. Sosa, married to Kim, is the vice president at notes Delia Gutierrez Sosa AAA Company in San Angelo. and director of admissions 1947 (’76), is a colonel in the U.S. at the University of Iowa in J. Hudson Russell, married Air Force in College Station. 1987 Iowa City. to Elosie, is a retired realtor in Jefrey Butcher, married to Mike E. Newlin, married 1977 San Angelo. They are having Wendy, is the vice-president to Sandra (’74), is a realtor the time of their lives at Rio Gene “Eddie” Bates is of Kaiser, Inc. in Artesia, N.M. Concho West. at ERA Newlin and Vincent president of G&I Oil Co., Inc., Realty in San Angelo. in Beaumont. 1988 1952 1971 Joni Dusek Stewart, Dr. Scott Blanton, married Dr. W. Bonham Magness, married to John, is the senior to Shelley Bitner Blan- Gary Bowen, married to married to Marcille, has program manager for AT&T ton (’88), is a veterinarian at Leslee Waterhouse Bow- received the prestigious Dale in Dallas. Green Meadow Veterinary en (’99), is chief operating B. Wade Award of Excellence Hospital in San Angelo. from the American Associa- officer at Shannon Clinic in 1981 Joe Payne, married to tion of Orthodontics. The San Angelo. John Casimir, married to Tracey, is the senior vice award honors an exemplary 1972 Sandra, is a geologist for president and trust manager senior clinician who demon- Quality Logging in Midland. at Texas State Bank in strates exceptional dedication Richard Daniel, married to Rev. Frank J. Coniglio, San Angelo. to orthodontics through clini- Sandy, is a pharmacist at Trin- married to Jeannette, is a cler- cal excellence and/or devoted ity Pharmacy in Carrollton. gy at Mount Calvary Lutheran 1990 teaching. Dr. Magness is 1973 Church in Bayard, Neb. Jerrie Corases Smith- a 1960 graduate of the wick, married to Joe, is Orthodontic Department of Sande V. Harrison, married 1982 CCO at Triumph Hospital the University of Texas Dental to George, is the director of Molly Williams Criner, in San Angelo. Branch at Houston. He has marketing for Shannon Health married to Terry (’82), is a taught in the department Systems in San Angelo. teacher in Mertzon. 1995 for 46 years and maintains a 1974 Benge Bushong, married private practice with his son, 1984 to Christina, is a registered Marc, in Houston. Philip Neighbors, married to Susan (nd), is the Alfonzo Celaya, married professional land surveyor for 1953 president of the San Marcos to Patsy, served 21 years and Bushong Land Surveying in 7 months in the U. S. Air Ingram. They have two sons, Wayne “Tinker” Clift, Chamber of Commerce in Force as the director of the Bridger and Carson. married to Janie, is a retired San Marcos. Office for Civil Rights and is teacher from Texas State Tech- Hubert Phillips, married Regina Gies is a teacher now retired and enjoying life nical College-Waco and cur- to Lola Canterbury Phil- at Spring I.S.D. in Pinehurst. in San Angelo. His son Al rently resides in San Angelo. lips (’77), is an author in Regina has a wonderful six- Celaya Jr. was a member of Warner Robins, Ga. Hubert year-old son named Austin. the 1978 National Champi- 1969 recently published his first onship Ram Football Team. 1996 Michael K. Barron, mar- novel The Saga of Black Jim ried to Kay Arledge Bar- MacCrimmons. Fernando T. Martinez, Angela Norris is a flight ron (nd), is an assistant pro- married to Lupe, is a retired attendant for Southwest vost for enrollment services Texas Works Advisor from Airlines in Fort Myers, Fla.

Angelo State University Alumni Magazine FALL 2006 31 research analyst at the Depart- 2005 Mark Aylor, who played ment of Defense in El Paso. club rugby at ASU from Codi Graves is a gradu- 1999-2002, has made the ate student working on 2000 USA Rugby national team as her master’s in counseling CLASS Dana Magill Cooper, a forward. Mark was part psychology; her fiancé gradu- married to Noel, is a doctoral of the ASU club team that ated from ASU and is now student at Texas Christian earned third place in the working on his law degree at University. They live in Grand Western Territorial Champi- notesCONTINUED Texas Tech. Prairie. onships in 2002. He played 2006 for the Austin Blacks club for James Waterbury, mar- 2003 Amy Bishop is an educa- two years before joining the ried to Kadee, is the manage- Robert Alexander is a tion assistant with the City national squad. ment intern for Army Mate- teacher and coach at Grape of Corpus Christi-Museum in rial Command in Bel Air, Md. Creek I.S.D. in San Angelo. In Memoriam Corpus Christi. Dr. Terry G. Lehmann, 1999 2004 Tara Fuller Wiley, married ASU history professor since David Erickson, married to Jennifer Ruff is a regis- to Shawn, is a nurse at Out- 1977, San Angelo, May 5, Linda Castaneda Erick- tered nurse at Baylor Medical reach Health Service in San 2006. A scholarship fund son (nd), is the director of Center in Dallas. Angelo. Tara and Shawn have in his memory has been es- a daughter name Breanna. the Small Business Develop- Jean Ann Schofield tablished by the ASU History ment Center and manage- Yarbrough, married to Earl, Attended ASU Department. ment lecturer at Angelo State is an administrative assistant Nancy Hemphill, married Dr. James R. Ward, ASU University. Linda is employed and trustee at Shannon to John, is a teacher for San history professor since 1970, as the office manager for Health System in San Angelo. San Angelo, July 4, 2006. Agilight, Inc., in San Angelo. Angelo I.S.D. John is a self- Cydnie J. Worley is a kin- employed attorney in Mary Ann Bain Belcheff, Brandon McElhinny, mar- dergarten teacher at Ozona San Angelo. ‘80, San Angelo, July 16, 2006. ried to Ana, is an operations I.S.D. in Ozona.

32 FALL 2006 Angelo State University Alumni Magazine Painting the Town Flying Flag – continued from page 17 “Our kids ask us every day if there are real artists out there and we can show them Then, there’s her whimsical second- that there are,” Raymond said. “So, we floor WWII window scene (see cover) of wanted the alley visual so they could see a boy dangling his legs over the window for themselves.” ledge while a kitten hangs precariously Raymond summarized her love for art from his right pajama’s leg. Behind the simply: “Art opens doors. Art connects.” boy hangs a blue-star banner, letting the Not coincidentally, those two ideas will world know that three of the boys’ brothers be the themes for the next two alleys that are in service to their country. the elementary school teachers are helping It is appropriate that Raymond is an transform into public art galleries. elementary school art teacher because her “Art speaks to me and everything in my love for art was first nurtured by her own soul,” Raymond said, “and it’s meant to be fourth-grade art teacher, who took her shared, like Paintbrush Alley.” class to the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts Within months of its debut, Paintbrush on a school field trip. Young Julie was so Alley earned Downtown San Angelo, Inc., enthralled by a Vincent van Gogh on dis- a 2005-06 Keep Texas Beautiful Award for play at the museum, that she walked up civic organization leadership. ASU alums Capt. Monyca Byrne, and touched the canvas. Pamela Miller, vice president for the San ’98, and Capt. Aaron C. Milner, “I was led out by an armed guard,” she Angelo Convention and Visitors Bureau, said ’00, show their school pride aboard said. “I was so appalled, as was my teach- the beautification project has had an impact an Air Force C-17 before it flew er. Today when I go to a museum, I put my far beyond the city limits of San Angelo. from Kuwait to Iraq to Qatar earlier hands in my pocket.” “Paintbrush Alley,” said Miller, “has this year. The art, though, in Paintbrush Alley is really opened up people’s eyes to San An- very touchable, if you can reach it, and that’s gelo and made them start thinking of us as the way Julie and her artist friends want it. an ‘arts community.’” .

Angelo State University Alumni Magazine FALL 2006 33 Lambs & Lambelles

Proud parents Raelye Taylor (’05) and Joe Self (’02) welcomed their baby girl Taelye Joe Self, 7 lbs., 2.5 oz., on March 24, 2006. David Andrew, born on April 19, 2006, was welcomed by his older sister, Michaella Elayne, and his parents Korina and Andy Baker (’93). Hope Papay Veiga (’97) celebrated the birth of her son Joshua on April 30, 2006. Erika Guzman (’01) and Rudy Munoz (’06) welcomed Ryan Anthony on May 27, 2006. Lt. Col. Robert (’87) and Deborah (nd) Vance are the proud parents of Erin Michelle, born on June 6, 2006, at 7 lbs., 13 oz.

Please let us know of your new arrival and receive a “Future ASU Graduate” beanie plush Ram.

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34 FALL 2006 Angelo State University Alumni Magazine ASU Centuryas of July 20, 2006 Club

DIAMOND CENTURY CLUB Laurin and Sharon Prather, Lubbock Jerry and Nida Casillas, Katy Oscar and Corine Gomez, Irving Alison and Brad Romike, Tomball Stephen and Kay Castle, Midland J. Milton and Terri Swift, Montgomery Hudson and Eloise Russell, Lana Choate-Pierce, Englewood, CO Robert Williamson III, Dallas San Angelo Frank Coniglio, Bayard, NE Jay and Michelle Young, Dallas Michael and Besty Ryan, San Angelo Robert Condry, Del Rio Oron Schuch, San Angelo Donald and Pat Cox, San Angelo PLATINUM CENTURY CLUB Cyndi Seger, Ft. Worth Kim Cox, San Angelo Jeffrey and Debbie Brennan, Carlton and Betty Lou Smith, X B Cox, Jr., San Angelo Mill Creek, WA San Angelo Marie Crumly, Corpus Christi Randy Russell, Frisco Kitty So, Hermosa Beach, CA Danny Daniels, Lake Jackson Joel and Suzanne Sugg, San Angelo David Stinnett, San Angelo Alex and Kay Decuir, San Angelo Terry and Beverley Stokes, Denver, CO Sharla Denton, Eola GOLDEN CENTURY CLUB Delbert G. and Margaret Tarter, Darryl DeSeve, Manassas, VA Marsha and Steve Arvedson, Houston San Angelo Marvin and Janis Dierschke, Andy and Korina Baker, Coppell Larry Thorp, Santa Fe, NM San Angelo Larry Clark, Richmond Pamela Venable, San Angelo Robert and Paula Dowler, San Angelo C. Randy and Debbie Dews, Dallas Tommy and LaJan Walter, Jim and Diana Dyer, San Angelo Robert and Jenny Eubank, San Angelo Jacksonville, FL Van and Angela Echols, Lubbock Jim Kramer, San Antonio Richard Way, San Angelo Steve and Julie Eustis, San Angelo Kent and Nevie Lacy, San Angelo Melody McDonald Wilkinson, Robbie Faught, San Angelo Dr. Robert and Jean Ann LeGrand, Ft. Worth Ernest and Sharon Felts, San Angelo San Angelo J. Nelson and Beth Word, San Angelo Diane Fischer, Knoxville, TN John Norman, Houston Donnie and Francis Young, Bruce and Lynsey Flage, San Angelo Jim Ratcliff, Georgetown Somerset, NJ Gary and Marilyn Flage, San Angelo Mrs. Lloyd D. Vincent, San Angelo Lupita Zermeno, Cedar Hill Dean and Janice Fox, Kaneohe, HI Mike and Ruth Wheeler, San Angelo George and Joanne Gamache, ACCESS-SILVER CENTURY CLUB Bloomington, IL SILVER CENTURY CLUB Dr. Scott and Shelley Blanton, Jessica Garcia and Nathan Alexander, Garland San Angelo Eric Seidenberger, Coppell T. Dean and Lisa McInturff, San Angelo Guy Smith, Newark, DE Dr. Ross Alexander, San Angelo Luke Burnett, San Angelo Richard T. Gerth, Jr., Flint Richard McKinney, San Angelo Shivraj Sohur, Arlington, MA Craig and Kim Bagley, Weatherford Coy and Linda Byrd, San Angelo Pete and Patricia Gomez, Sonora Ruberta McMillan, Rowlett Gary and Patty Stokes, San Angelo Eddie Bates, Beaumont Hector and Rebecca Cantu, Candyce Gregston, Corpus Christi Carole and Steve McNabb, Brownwood George and Evelyn Strebeck, Thelma Bennett, San Angelo San Angelo Gary and Frances Grogan, San Angelo Dee Michalewicz, Buda San Angelo Betty Blakely, Georgetown Molly Criner, San Angelo Rhonda Halfmann, San Angelo Jesse and Laura Montez, San Angelo Frank and Brenda Sturzl, Lakeway Nathaniel Booker, Austin Evans Croad, San Angelo Charleston Hall, Georgetown Ewell Murphy, Jr., Houston Verna Pruitt Taylor, Austin Lane Bowen, San Antonio Lee and Connie Dressler, San Angelo Dan and Anne Hamilton, San Angelo Ed Nalepka, Midlothian Michael Vallandingham, Austin Kyle and Pamela Box, San Angelo Duane Fisher and Mary Ornelas, Jeff and Mindy Hamilton, Lubbock Bill Neil, San Angelo Jerry and Rose Vandergriff, David and Kelly Bryant, San Angelo San Angelo Syble Haney, San Angelo Patricia and Alvin New, San Angelo San Angelo Bobby Bunyard, San Angelo Peter and Marian Grace, San Angelo Randy Harbin, San Angelo Lisa Nichols, San Angelo James Waterbury, Bel Air, MD J. Brent Burney, San Angelo Jim Jones, San Angelo David and JoNell Harlow, San Angelo Linda Norris, San Angelo Marianne White, San Angelo R. Danny Daniel, Carrollton Frank and Rose Martinez, San Angelo David and Katie Harrison, San Angelo Darrell O’Neal, Victoria Troyce and Rebecca Wilcox, Troy and Lisa Deubler, Irving Rick and Renea McGee, San Angelo Sande Vincent Harrison, San Angelo Dean Parnell, Universal City San Angelo Norman and Linda Dierschke, Enola and Tom Nurre, San Angelo Don Harvey, Houston James and Blossom Parry, San Angelo Carolyn Williams, Plano San Angelo Ken and Renee Peel, San Angelo Jeb and Genny Henderson, San Angelo Linda Patrick, Plano Dr. Kelly and Lesa Wilson, San Angelo Gary and Stacy Erwin, San Angelo James and Alysa Powers, San Angelo Joe and Su Henderson, San Angelo John Perry, San Angelo Ralph and Elene Wilson, San Angelo Becky Fitch, Flower Mound Tonya Quain, San Angelo Joey and Lezlye Henderson, Hal and Marshell Peter, San Angelo Milburn Wink, Robert Lee Bradford and Mercyla Fly, San Angelo Alicia and Mark Raley, San Angelo San Angelo Eric Peterson, San Angelo Rodney and Betty Winn, San Angelo Charles “Skip” Foote, Chantilly, VA Willie Ruiz, San Angelo Carlynn Hicks, Boerne Faron and Barbi Pfeiffer, San Angelo Jane Wurtenberg, San Angelo Donna Fowler, San Angelo David and Elvia Saborio, San Angelo Jean Hierholzer, Kerrville Michael and Lisa Phillips, Spring Wayne T. Franke, Austin Stanley and Jeanie Slate, San Angelo H. Lee and Michelle Higdon, Cindy Pond, San Angelo ACCESS ASU-CENTURY CLUB Jim and Dana Glossbrenner, David and Elizabeth Starnes, Central, SC Richard and Jill Preston, Eldorado Robert Alexander, San Angelo San Angelo San Angelo Jeff and Diane Holbrook, Universal City Victor and Trish Probandt, San Angelo Mary Jean Anderson, San Angelo Homer and Annetta Gray, San Angelo Ronnie and Pauline Willmann, E. James and Bobbie Holland, Kerry and Jamie Skiles Rainey, Michelle DeRusso, San Angelo Marjorie Hamilton, El Paso San Angelo San Angelo San Angelo Guy Choate, San Angelo Ray and Delilah Harper, San Angelo Erick Ybarra, San Angelo Summer Holubec, Brighton, MA Rob and Tara Rainey, San Angelo Roger Collins, San Angelo Ronny L. and Carol Harrison, R. Kevin Housley, Christoval Tom and Janet Ridgway, San Angelo Angel Flores, Jr., San Angelo San Angelo CENTURY CLUB Roy Ivey and Sarah Logan, San Angelo C.A. and Shirley Roberson, Fort Worth Lacy Foster, San Angelo G. Bryan Heflin,Monahans Robert Aguilar, San Angelo Sherri Jones, San Angelo Dick Robertson, San Angelo Enoch Garcia, San Angelo David and Carol Herreman, Lewisville Gus Alexander, San Angelo Peggy Jordan, San Angelo Gary and Patricia Rodgers, Austin Lauren Green, San Angelo Dan and Terri Herrington, Boerne Barbara and Maurice Archer, Lamesa Kathryn Kelly, Austin David and Candace Samuelson, Charles Guenat, San Angelo Joe and Jennifer Hoelle, San Angelo Nita Archer, San Angelo LeeRoy and Betty Kiesling, San Angelo Abilene Larry Guevara, San Angelo Tommy Howard, Waco MV Armour, Midland Patrick and Diana Kimbrell, Norm and Diane Schaule, Canyon Lake Grady Harlow, San Angelo Mickey and Linda Jones, Sanger Bob O. Ballentine, San Angelo San Antonio Phillip Schneemann, San Angelo John Hemphill, San Angelo Lawrence and Nancy Kennedy, Eugene and Ethel Berger, San Angelo Donald Klein, Fort Worth Doyle and Lynn Schniers, San Angelo Alejandro Herandez, San Angelo San Angelo Jaynell Bodine, Sterling City Keely Kolar, Austin Gordon and Yvonne Schrank, Cecil Leach, Llano Jerry Lee, Bedford Rhonda Bolton, San Angelo Jack and Betty Lieber, San Angelo St. Cloud, MN Fernando Martinez, San Angelo W. Bonham and Marcille Magness, David and Ann Boswell, Austin R. Kyle Longley, Gilbert, AZ Oron and Dorothy Schuch, San Angelo Capt. Michael McGill, San Angelo Houston Gary and Leslee Bowen, San Angelo Valerie Lopez, Uvalde Gene Schweizer, Orlando, FL Robert L. McGraw, San Angelo Jeff and Amy McCormick, San Angelo Bo Brannon, Granbury T. Justin MacDonald, Kerrville Kenny Scudder, Odessa Mark Murphy, San Angelo Mark McNiel, San Antonio Kathleen Brasfield,San Angelo Gary and Gretchen Book Massingill, James and Melissa Seaton, Odessa Chad Reel, San Angelo Mike and Brenda Morris, San Angelo Mike Brest, Greenville, RI Plainview Jeff and Sherry Sefcik, San Angelo Matthew Sage, San Angelo Shirley and Chuck Morton, San Angelo Tim and Bonnie Brewster, Eden H. Dan Mathews, Houston J. Keith and Debra Shahan, San Saba Gwendolyn Smith, San Angelo Bill Nikolauk, San Angelo Mike and Debby Brown, San Angelo Brian and Patti May, San Angelo Brian and Jeannie Shannon, Lubbock W. Truett Smith, San Angelo Lloyd and Sheri Norris, San Angelo Dean Buchanan, Cedar Park Harold and Doris May, Spur Jacqueline Shannon, San Angelo David Starnes, San Angelo Russell Nyman, Houston Jef and Wendy Butcher, Artesia, NM Martha May, San Angelo Lisa Shoemaker, Lebanon, MO Michael P. Taylor, San Angelo Morgan O’Donnell and Erick Galindo, Steve Calvert, San Angelo John E. Mayer, San Angelo Paula Simon, Colorado Springs, CO Enrique Vasquez, San Angelo Denton Scott and DeAnna Campbell, Mary Mays, San Angelo Bill and Sue Sims, San Angelo Pamela Wakefield, San Angelo Ace and Billie Phinney, Mereta San Angelo Mack McCoulskey, San Angelo Bobby Sims, Santee, CA Sarah Yancey, San Angelo James Plagens, Big Spring Glen and Marcie Carter, Midland Dale and Ellen McDonald, San Angelo Spencer and Julie Sincleair, Salado

Angelo State University Alumni Magazine FALL 2006 35 ASU Alumni Association ASU Station #11049 San Angelo, TX 76909-1049