28

Contents Established in 1902 as The Graduate Magazine

FEATURES

Globe Plotter 28 Jerome Dobson says geography classes are getting to be endangered species at some of the nation’s finest universities. His own career illustrates why writing off the spatial science is a bad idea.

BY TOM EBLEN

Warrior Scholars 32 A new collaboration between KU and the U.S. Army aims to help soldiers wounded in combat reclaim their careers—and their peace of mind—on Mount Oread.

BY CHRIS LAZZARINO

COVER Back Story 22 Sara Paretsky rooted her innovative female private eye, V. I. Warshawski, on Chicago’s South Side, where she thrived. She looks for inspiration a little closer to home in her latest novel, Bleeding Kansas. Why? It’s no mystery.

BY STEVEN HILL Cover photograph by Steve Puppe 32

Volume 106, No. 2, 2008 Life Beyond the Hill HALF PRICE OFFER FOR THE CLASS OF 2008!

Membership in the KU Alumni Association is the best way for graduates to connect with the powerful alumni network—generations of loyal Jayhawks who share the KU experience. Through June 30, 2008, we are offering half-price life memberships for new graduates. For only $500, Class of 2008 alumni can receive a lifetime membership.

MEMBER BENEFITS INCLUDE: MEMBERSHIP ENABLES JAYHAWKS TO: • Online directory allows members to search more • Increase the value of their KU degrees than 290,000 records by profession, class year, location • Connect to a powerful network of more than 290,000 and name. KU alumni worldwide • Six issues of award-winning Kansas Alumni magazine • Uphold and preserve KU’s distinctive and nationally provide the latest University news. known traditions • Chapters host events such as young alumni networking, • Help KU identify and recruit the best students watch parties, golf tournaments, wine tastings and more. • Support KU’s legislative agenda through Jayhawks • Discounts offer savings at the KU Bookstore, for Higher Education tailgating and pre-game events, Alumni Association merchandise and reunions. • Free e-mail forwarding @kualumni.org is the only e-mail address a graduate will ever need. • Additional benefits available at www.kualumni.org

Join Today! LifeKU memberships ALUMNI areASSOCIATIONhalf-price for the Class of 2008! Visit www.kualumni.org or call 800-584-2957. March 2008

Publisher Kevin J. Corbett, c’88 8 Editor Jennifer Jackson Sanner, j’81 Creative Director Susan Younger, f’91 DEPARTMENTS Associate Editors Chris Lazzarino, j’86 Steven Hill 5 FIRST WORD The editor’s turn Staff Writer Katie Moyer, j’06 6 ON THE BOULEVARD Editorial Assistants KU & Alumni Association events Karen Goodell Erika Bentson, j’07 8 JAYHAWK WALK Photographer Ambler’s rec room, Rhino’s big run, Missouri’s Steve Puppe, j’98 open season on the Jayhawk and more Graphic Designer Valerie Spicher, j’94 10 HILLTOPICS Advertising Sales Representative News and notes: Astronaut Steve Hawley comes Whitney Eriksen, ’08 home; Seymour Hersh wins White award. Editorial and Advertising Office KU Alumni Association 16 SPORTS 1266 Oread Ave., Lawrence, KS 66045-3169 Big men share hoops load—and love of mom; 785-864-4760 • 800-584-2957 three-time champ eyes school pole-vault record. www.kualumni.org e-mail: [email protected] 36 ASSOCIATION NEWS KANSAS ALUMNI MAGAZINE (ISSN 0745-3345) is published by The 2008 Distinguished Service Citations the KU Alumni Association six times a year in January, March, May, July, September and November. $50 annual subscription includes membership in the Alumni Association. Office of Publi- 40 CLASS NOTES cation: 1266 Oread Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045-3169. Period- Profiles of a Super Bowl chaplain, a Ugandan icals postage paid at Lawrence, KS. entrepreneur, a high-flying executive and more POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Kansas Alumni Magazine, 1266 Oread Avenue, Lawrence, KS IN MEMORY 66045-3169 © 2008 by Kansas Alumni Magazine. Non- 62 member issue price: $7 Deaths in the KU family 64 ROCK CHALK REVIEW A thank-you gift for writing! A field guide touts Douglas County’s wild side; If we publish your letter, we’ll colleagues continue Narayan’s AIDS research. send you a KU cap ($15 value). Kansas Alumni welcomes letters to the editor—let us know what you think! Our 68 OREAD ENCORE address is Kansas Alumni magazine, 1266 Oread Avenue, A Field House clock that never stops Lawrence, KS 66045-3169. E-mail responses may be sent to [email protected]. Letters may be edited for space and clarity.

ISSUE 2, 2008 | 3

BY JENNIFER JACKSON SANNER First Word

■ Steve Hawley, c’73, like Paretsky and Hawley, whose auto- autographs Salina graphs are prized by total strangers. Central High School Through the years, I’ve watched Paretsky STEVE PUPPE (2) student Tyler Walker’s sit amiably through book signings, space-themed water- besieged by readers clamoring for her sig- nature. When Hawley returned to color painting during Kansas in February to announce that he a tour of the state. would join the KU faculty (see story, Hawley returns to page 10), children of all ages gazed at KU to teach this fall. him in wonder, and a few shyly asked for his autograph. At Hawley’s high school was one of 100 or in Salina, one student proudly showed more named for the astronaut his creation—a watercolor famous Chicago painting of planets and stars—and asked women and exhib- Hawley to sign it. ited in the city. But But true accomplishment isn’t only in the display was the eye of the autograph-seeker. Count- temporary. The less Jayhawks have made names for rocks ultimately themselves in their own professional were crushed and and personal arenas. Many, like Paretsky teve Hawley likes to joke about used to pave the walkways of the Jane and Hawley, have returned to KU time his friendly rivalry with fellow KU Addams Memorial Park near Navy Pier. and again, giving back to their alma astronaut Joe Engle: They tease Though her monument is now gravel, mater by sharing their knowledge with each other about highway signs Paretsky need not bemoan its fate. As younger members of the KU family. Salong a certain stretch of I-70. Steve Hill’s cover story attests, she Still others whose names may never be Engle, e’55, grew up in Chapman. doesn’t need a rock—or road sign or famous have used their skills to benefit Two exit signs near the town proclaim it grain elevator—when millions of books others: Two such alumni, a scholar and a as “Hometown of Astronaut Joe Engle.” bear her name. Since 1982, physician, are winners of Hawley, c’73, spent his formative years Paretsky, c’67, has written 18 this year’s Distinguished about 40 miles farther west, in Salina, books, many of which star the Service Citation (see story, which gives him an edge in the rivalry, he incomparable V. I. Warshawski, page 36). says: “Salina is at the junction of 1-70 a gutsy, brilliant woman who Dozens more names and highway 135, so I’ve got four signs has foiled criminals while her and stories of accom- to Joe’s two.” creator has forged a new direc- plished Jayhawks clog a But Engle, whom Hawley includes tion in mystery writing. file drawer in my office; among the astronauts who inspired him, Paretsky, Hawley and Engle they could easily fill every recently upped the ante. “He sent me a are among the Jayhawks whose issue of Kansas Alumni for picture of a grain elevator in Chapman names I utter first when I’m years to come. As we plan with a space shuttle painted on it,” Haw- asked to list KU’s famous future issues, we often fret ley reports. “Salina has a bigger grain ele- alumni. The question comes up that there are never vator, so I need to find the city manager.” often—when broadcast net- Paretsky enough pages for all the Best-selling author Sara Paretsky’s works are searching for trivia that talking stories we could tell. roadside monument was less enduring, heads can spout when KU teams are on With frustration, however, comes but like the grain elevator, it possessed TV, or when a lone Jayhawk calls, seek- sweet satisfaction. When we view the undeniable local charm. In Chicago, her ing the famous grad whose name will procession of our fellow Jayhawks who home for the past 40 years, a “Paretsky trump those cited by a co-worker brag- have walked down the Hill and found rock,” about 2 feet tall, briefly resided ging about another university. success, one thing is certain: near a curb on Wabash Avenue. The rock True, there are plenty of Jayhawks, We’re in good company. 

ISSUE 2, 2008 | 5 On the Boulevard

■ Lied Center Events

STEVE PUPPE (3) MARCH 26 Urban Bush Women/Compagnie JANT-BI 31 Miss Nelson Has a Field Day

APRIL 2 Elena Urioste, violin, Edwards Campus 8 “HMS Pinafore” 10 Gabriela Montero 12 East Village Opera Co. 29 Symphonic Band

MAY 1 “Movin’ Out” 6 Bales Chorale Concert, Bales Organ ■ Fine arts student Daniel Scannell drew artistic inspiration from the evolution of the Jayhawk. Recital Hall Scannell’s plastic-cup sculptures were originally displayed in the Art and Design Gallery as part of 6 University Band his senior project, then went on display at the Grad Fair in the Kansas Union ballroom (above and right); the interesting adaptations of KU’s mascot have found a permanent perch in the KU Book- ■ stores. Scannell’s version of the 1929 Jayhawk (bottom right) is based on the design that served Special events as the University’s mascot for 12 years. KU student Eugene “Yogi” Williams, then a cartoonist APRIL for the University Daily Kansan, designed the 1941 mascot (top right), which became known as the “Fighting Jayhawk.” 12 Rock Chalk Ball, New Grand Ballroom of Bartle Hall, ■ Exhibitions “Make a Mark: Art of the 1960s,” Kansas City through June 1, Spencer Museum “El Lissitzky: Futurist Portfolios,” 19 Gold Medal of Art through May 18, Spencer Museum Club Reunion, of Art “Re-imagined: Memory and Nostalgia Adams Alumni in Postwar Japanese Art,” through “Reframing Society: Russian Construc- Center June 1, Spencer Museum of Art tivist Photography,” through May 18, Spencer Museum of Art “Resounding Spirit: Japanese Contem- ■ University Theatre porary Art of the 1960s,” through May 18, Spencer Museum of Art APRIL “Betty Austin Hensley’s Flutes of the 3-6, 8-12 “The Bald Soprano” by World,” April 5-May 25, Spencer Eugene Ionesco and “Linguish” Museum of Art by Edward Einhorn “Stop Look Listen,” through May 31, 25, 27, May 1-3 “The Shape of Spencer Museum of Art Things,” by Neil LaBute

6 | KANSAS ALUMNI MAY 29 Wichita Chapter: A Night with 4 Class Ring Ceremony, Adams the Arts Alumni Center 30 Pittsburg: ’Hawk Talk 8 Grad Grill, Adams Alumni Center MAY 12 Tradition Keepers Finals Dinner, Adams Alumni Center 5 Wichita Chapter: KU Debate Experience 18 Commencement Lunch, The Outlook 6 Salina: North Central Chapter Hall Center Lecture 9 Wichita: Sundown Parade ■ Lectures 17 Denver: Grill Out APRIL 20 Goodland: Northwest Chapter Alumni Banquet 2 Ian Buruma, Humanities Lecture Series, Kansas Union 7 Sean Donahue, Hallmark Sympo- ■ Kansas Honors sium, 3140 Wescoe Hall ■ Alumni events Program 21 Ann Willoughby, Hallmark Symposium, 3140 Wescoe Hall MARCH MARCH 24 Carol Ann Carter, Humanities 24 Atwood: ’Hawk Talk 26 Atchison Lecture Series, Kansas Union 25 Manhattan: ’Hawk Talk 28 Jerry Bleem, Hallmark Sympo- 26 Lawrence: ’Hawk Talk APRIL sium, 3140 Wescoe Hall 29 West Palm Beach Club: 2 Oakley Wine Tasting 3 Pratt ■ Murphy Hall 9 Neodesha APRIL 10 Logan 50th Anniversary events 2 Winfield: South Chapter Meet and 16 Scott City at the Lied Center Greet with Chancellor Hemenway 21 Greensburg Honor Roll 10 Lansing: ’Hawk Talk APRIL 13 Paris: Alumni Happy Hour 1 Joy of Singing Concert 13 Topeka: Shawnee County Chapter For more information about 6 KU Choirs Wine Tasting Association events, call 17-18 University Dance Company 15 Hays: ’Hawk Talk 800-584-2957 or see the 22 KU Jazz presents John Williams’ 15 Topeka: ’Hawk Talk Association’s Web site, “My Fair Lady” 16 Great Bend: ’Hawk Talk www.kualumni.org. 26 KU Symphony Orchestra 17 McPherson: ’Hawk Talk 27 KU Wind Ensemble 17 Hutchinson: Reno County Lied Center ...... 864-ARTS Wine Tasting University Theatre tickets ...... 864-3982 ■ Academic calendar 21 Topeka: Shawnee County Chapter Spencer Museum of Art ...... 864-4710 KU Debate Experience Natural History Museum ...... 864-4540 MAY 22 Wichita Chapter: Baseball Tailgate Hall Center for Humanities ...... 864-4798 8 Last day of spring classes 26 Garden City: Great Plains Chapter Kansas Union ...... 864-4596 9 Stop day Golf Tournament and Dinner KU Info ...... 864-3506 Adams Alumni Center ...... 864-4760 12-16 Final exams 26 Hong Kong: Chapter Kickoff KU main number ...... 864-2700 18 Commencement 29 Emporia: ’Hawk Talk Athletics ...... 1-800-34-HAWKS 29 Arlington: KU Alumni Night with Booth Hall of Athletics ...... 864-7050 the Rangers Dole Institute of Politics ...... 864-4900

ISSUE 2, 2008 | 7 Jayhawk Walk

The last frontier

“ ee the world” is sage advice that Robert Pine, d’41, c’46, took to heart. The 88-year- S old resident of Boulder, Colo., and his wife, Dorothy, c’42, are recognized by the Travelers’ Century Club—a networking group for those who’ve visited at least 100 countries—as the world’s only couple to have visited all 315 of the club’s recognized countries and territories. In a recent essay for International Travel News, Pine wrote, “The next great advance will be space travel. ... Perhaps in a few years the moon will be added to the Travelers’ Century Club’s lists of places to visit!” After we saw his article, we had to check in on a couple

LARRY LEROY PEARSON LEROY LARRY with whom we had not spoken since our profile in issue No. 4, 2006. He reports that their last trip, to Afghanistan, occurred that fall; as for the moon, Pine suggests anything is possible. “I grew up in horse-and-buggy days. My family had a Model T Ford,” Pine recalls. “So if we go as far in the next 50 years as we did in the last 50, who knows?” The Pines aren’t as footloose as they once were, but, thanks to youthful imaginations, they’ll always be fancy free. Which is the sagest advice of all.

Rhino on a rampage alfway through his rookie season on Page is virtually a lock for exempt status Hthe Professional Bowlers Associa- next year. Meanwhile, he hopes to finish tion tour, Ryan “Rhino” Page had in the top 16 (no nonexempt bowler has charged past dozens of veteran tenpin- ever finished in the top 40), earning a ners to claim the No. 10 spot in the PBA spot in next year’s Japan Cup. No matter points ranking. The former KU bowling what happens, though, he’ll always have team member placed second in two Spartanburg. And Wauwatosa. And Ver- tourneys and chalked up more than non Hills. All are stops on the big-league $40,000 in winnings. tour he’s dreamed of since taking up Page, ’07, is also rewriting PBA bowling at age 4. PHOTO COURTESY PROFESSIONAL BOWLERS ASSOCIATION BOWLERS PROFESSIONAL COURTESY PHOTO record books: At December’s Spar- “It’s kind of surreal, bowling against tanburg Classic (where he missed guys I watched as a kid,” he says. first place by 10 pins) he became “We’re not competing for a ton of the first bowler in PBA history to money, that’s not what it’s about. advance to the finals twice via It’s about chasing the dream.” the qualifying rounds. Enjoy the ride, Rhino. Widely considered the top nonexempt bowler on the tour,

8 | KANSAS ALUMNI Heard “Jeeze, I really don’t know what to say by the Bird to that. I don’t know whether to be proud, afraid or outraged.” —Associate Athletics Director Jim Marchiony, in the Lawrence Journal-World, when told in January that a Missouri state senator had introduced legislation to make the Jayhawk the “official game bird” of the state of Missouri.

This dedication goes out to ...

ometime around Thanksgiving, David after a similar proposal had been soundly SAmbler, retired vice chancellor for stu- rejected. The $17 million, student-funded dent affairs, returned home to a message recreation center opened in 2003, a year that Gay Clock, assistant to Chancellor after Ambler’s retirement. Robert E. Hemenway, hoped to schedule a Now it is undergoing a $6.3 million short visit by the chancellor. “What do you addition, and next fall will be rededicated as suppose I’ve done?” Ambler asked his wife, the David A. Ambler Student Recreation Mary Kate. Fitness Center. Before that meeting could be arranged, Deserving though it is as recognition for PHOTO COURTESY WATSON FAMILY WATSON COURTESY PHOTO the Amblers saw Hemenway at his holiday Ambler’s dedication to student life at KU, Hunter in the house reception in the Adams Alumni Center, so Mary Chappell, director of recreation that’s where they heard the news: The Stu- services, notes that the honor is shared by tough year for 9-year-old Hunter dent Recreation Fitness Center, a building all staff members who, like Ambler, put in AWatson got a little sweeter with “for students, about students and by stu- early mornings, late nights, long weekends a surprise phone call in December dents,” would be renamed in his honor. and entire careers to help make KU a from Bill Self. Says Ambler: “I about fell in the punch university for and about students. Watson lost his 7-year-old sister, bowl.” “For 25 years Dr. Ambler was the cham- Chloe, to a brain tumor in October. Under Ambler’s guidance, then-student pion of the student experience,” Chappell Self encouraged the Salina fourth- body president Kevin Yoder, c’99, l’02, in says. “I could go on for days about why this grader to stay strong and offered April 1999 convinced students they should is the right thing to do.” him seats in Allen Field House for raise their fees to pay for a building they As could we, so take a bow, Dr. Ambler. KU’s Jan. 8 game against Loyola. would never use—and only three years Just watch that punch bowl. Hunter shot baskets with the Jayhawks during the pregame shoot- STEVE PUPPE around and visited the postgame locker room. “It meant a whole lot to Hunter, because he’s a big KU fan,” says mother Heidi Feyerherm. “To meet those guys and hear words of encour- agement from people you really look up to, for a fourth-grader that means a lot more than it does coming from your mom.” Feyerherm videotaped the call that started it all and posted it online at youtube.com/watch?v=Po299 lksR6M. Awestruck Hunter says little, but the smile on his face speaks a thousand words.

ISSUE 2, 2008 | 9 Hilltopics BY STEVEN HILL

The astronaut was in no hurry to leave. In fact, the man who has logged

STEVE PUPPE 32 days in space seemed to feel right at home. Soon Hawley will be home for good. After three decades at NASA, he will return to KU this fall as a professor of physics and astronomy, teaching in the department where he earned his degree with highest distinction 35 years ago. The Dole Institute reception was the fourth and final stop on a daylong tour for Hawley and Chancellor Robert E. ■ Befitting Hawley’s Hemenway, who first announced Haw- rock-star status, his swing ley’s return to Kansas at his hometown through Kansas Feb. 27 high school, Salina Central, before trav- included souvenir T-shirts eling to the Kansas Cosmosphere and for students and other Space Center in Hutchinson and the admirers. Hawley was Statehouse in Topeka, where Kansas Kansan of the Year in 1992 senators welcomed Hawley back with and in 1998 received the a standing ovation. Along the way, the astronaut con- Distinguished Service nected easily with students of all ages, Citation, the highest honor sharing his insights on the future of bestowed by KU and the space exploration, whether life exists on Alumni Association. other planets (he suspects it does), and the importance of critical thinking. After a career that constantly demanded that Hawley lands on the Hill he “challenge an assertion and ask the next level of questions,” he says, he After earning fame during his NASA career, wants to help the next generation develop such skills. Jayhawk astronaut begins new adventure: When he is not teaching in KU teaching at his alma mater classrooms, he will travel the state, encouraging young people to study aura Stiles, a senior engineering physics his favorite subjects and pursue careers that will major, beams as she describes the day help boost the nation’s standing worldwide. two years ago when one of her professors “Steve has always made it a point to share his surprised his class by introducing a spe- love of science,” Hemenway says. “He’s a frequent cialL guest, Steve Hawley, c’73. “We all gasped,” guest in Kansas schools, talking about the she says. “There he was—a real astronaut.” importance of science and math. There is nothing On Feb. 27, Stiles and other young scientists more important to the schools of Kansas than got another chance to hear Hawley, a veteran of having good teachers of science and math, and five NASA shuttle missions, speak at KU. As a as a nation, we must increase our knowledge of reception wound down at the Dole Institute of science, math and technology if we are going Politics, the students surrounded him, launching to compete in a global economy.” question after question and hanging on Hawley’s Hawley flew his last mission in 1999, and dur- every word. ing his career helped launch and fine-tune the

10 | KANSAS ALUMNI Hubble Space Telescope and deployed the Chan- Lori Messinger, associate professor and direc- dra X-ray Observatory. Most recently he has tor of undergraduate social welfare programs, worked as NASA’s director of astromaterials says 2+2 grew out of a realization that the school research and exploration science, overseeing was not reaching many people who could have a research in planetary and space science. He big impact on the field. presides over NASA’s collection of moon rocks, “There were lots of people we think would be comet dust, Martian meteorites and solar wind wonderful social workers who were not going to particles. In May 2007, he was inducted into the come to the main campus,” Messinger says. “They Astronaut Hall of Fame at the Kennedy Space are intimidated, they feel out of place, or it just “Lots of people Center in Florida, following in the footsteps of doesn’t work for them as a working adult; it’s just fellow KU astronauts Ron Evans, e’55, and not who they are. We wanted to provide some we think would Joe Engle, e’55. support and access for those students to get the be wonderful In 1978, NASA evaluated 10,000 applicants for training they need to be successful.” social workers the position of astronaut and selected only 35, The program also boosts diversity in the including Hawley, who had just finished his PhD school. On the Lawrence campus, only about 12 were not going at the University of California. As an astronomer, percent of social welfare majors are students of to come to the he says, he thought the odds were against him color, according to Messinger. About 40 percent because he was not a pilot. Still, he had to try. of 2+2 students are students of color, she says, main campus.” After five shuttle missions, Hawley says he won’t and half are older than 30. —Lori Messinger miss the adventure, and he’s thrilled that his life’s “We knew the numbers, in terms of racial and voyage has come full circle. ethnic diversity, were not as high on our main “Anybody who gets to live his dream is pretty campus as we wanted them to be. So for us this is lucky,” he says. “I’m very, very lucky to get to live a way to get more diversity in our program, to my dream twice: I’ve had a chance to be an astro- serve a community we think is important and cre- naut, and a chance to be a professor at KU.” ate social workers who are going to work in that —Jennifer Jackson Sanner community and make a difference.” Kerr and other 2+2 students enroll at KU ◆ ◆ ◆ through the Edwards Campus, and all classes are taught by KU professors at Kansas City Kansas 2 + 2 equals Community College. The goal is for each student four-year success

Community college program helps STEVE PUPPE (2) KC students earn social work degree

orna Kerr always wanted to be a Jayhawk, and she wanted to make a career as a social worker. But the 33-year-old first- generation college student from Overland ParkL felt she had too much on her plate as a working mother and wife to make daily trips to Lawrence for classes on KU’s main campus. Plus there was the problem of fitting in. “What do I say when someone invites me to a party?” she laughs. “‘OK, can I bring my husband and kids, too?’” So Kerr signed up for 2+2, a program in the School of Social Welfare that’s trying to broaden the school’s scope by partnering with KU’s ■ Stephanie Elliott and Michael Fletcher (front row) and Rebecca Hamlin, Tammy Edwards Campus and Kansas City Kansas Com- Rita and Susila Gabbert (back row) are enrolled in 2+2, a School of Social munity College to attract students who would not Welfare program that reaches out to nontraditional students with classes on otherwise study at KU. the Kansas City Kansas Community College campus.

ISSUE 2, 2008 | 11 Hilltopics

to earn an associate’s degree from the community “We have parents with kids in the schools, college after two years and a bachelor’s degree in people who were teenage mothers, parents with social welfare from KU after four years. special-needs children. They understand those “I know that for me, it would not have been experiences and know firsthand how important it feasible to graduate from college if it weren’t set is to have social workers who know what they’re up like this,” says Kerr, who will be in the pro- doing.” gram’s first graduating class of 16 in May. Like a While Kansas City students like the smaller lot of 2+2 students, she finds the one-night-a- classes, familiar environment and proximity to week classes perfect for her full schedule. Now a home and to the community they’ll work in, family support specialist at Healthy Families Messinger must work to make them feel part of Counseling and Support, she plans to use her the KU community. The many Jayhawk alumni degree to move up in her profession. who serve as mentors help that cause. So does a For others, like Susila Gabbert, a Roeland Park full-time KU adviser, Maxine Elmore, who works GAP broadens senior who worked 10 years in the health care at KCKCC. field, the degree is an entrée to the social work Signs are the effort is paying off: Messinger Sixty-eight students profession—and to further study in graduate recently polled students to find out how many from 25 departments school. After she graduates in May she hopes to would walk down the Hill in May. received certification start working on a master’s in social welfare. “Every single one said they would. That says to this fall from KU’s Global That’s music to Messinger’s ears. me they want to be part of the tradition, and I “That’s really our hope, that we’ll not just see find that very exciting.” Awareness Program. them through the bachelor’s degree but see them “I get annoyed when people don’t refer to us GAP recognizes stu- through the master’s as well,” she says. as KU students,” says Gabbert. “We’re definitely dents for study abroad, Messinger notes that a fair number of students Jayhawks.” foreign language study in the program have been on the receiving end of social services. ◆ ◆ ◆ and classes or extracur- ricular activities with an international focus. Since Watchdog bites back its founding, in 2004, the New Yorker’s Hersh uses KU speech program has certified to bluntly criticize Iraq war more than 450 students. eymour M. Hersh, a revered investigative

R. STEVE DICK/UNIVERSITY RELATIONS R. reporter, did as much as anyone to expose the Abu Ghraib torture scandal of 2004. Yet even Hersh concedes that he and his Scolleagues were trumped a year earlier by ama- teur commentators when President George Bush, then-Secretary of State Colin Powell and others justified war against Iraq. “We failed totally,” Hersh said Feb. 8 in Stauf- fer-Flint Hall, shortly before accepting the William Allen White Foundation’s National Cita- tion. “You didn’t have to go very deep into the blogs to find a lot of criticism about what was being said, but the straight press did a very bad job on it.” Instead of maintaining the neutrality demanded by his day job, Hersh used his speech in Woodruff Auditorium to attack with a fusillade of commentary that would never be allowed to ■ Under the vigilant gaze of William Allen White, appear under his reporter’s byline. After referring Seymour Hersh met with journalism students in to the Bush administration as “the reign of King Stauffer-Flint Hall. George II,” Hersh said of the Iraq war, “It’s a

12 | KANSAS ALUMNI mess, it’s intractable, and it’s going to go on for years. How we get out of it, we don’t know.” Hersh, a 70-year-old Chicago native, has won every significant prize in American print journal- ism, including a Pulitzer for exposing the My Lai Visitor massacre in 1969. Though praised for reporting fatal breakdowns within the U.S. military, Hersh Well versed also has been accused throughout his career of giving comfort to America’s enemies. ulitzer Prize-winning “Mr. Hersh’s stories did have a negative impact Ppoet and critic Paul STEVE PUPPE on the U.S. image abroad, but they told us what Muldoon spoke on “The we needed to know about our own government Eternity of the Poem.” and how its own policies made casualties of our Muldoon’s appearance, own soldiers,” Professor Ted Frederickson said. co-sponsored by the “In my opinion, today we honor the reporter Hall Center for the who has been the most effective watchdog of Humanities and Kansas our time.” Public Radio, was part of Hersh’s three lengthy Abu Ghraib articles of the Hall Center’s May 2004 pulled the scandal into full public Humanity Lecture scrutiny and affirmed his watchdog reputation. Series. He explained that the torture photographs he acquired for The New Yorker were given to him WHEN: Feb. 27 by the mother of a young woman who had returned from her guard duties at the Baghdad WHERE: Woodruff Auditorium prison a shell of her former self; she left her hus- band and young child, moved to another town BACKGROUND: Born in Northern Ire- and began heavily tattooing her arms and torso. land in 1951, Muldoon was educated at Queen’s The soldier’s shaken mother—whom Hersh University in Belfast and moved to the United said had reached out to him after government States in 1987. His 10 books of poetry include “One reason officials ignored her pleas for help—told him, “It Moy Sand and Gravel, which won the 2003 why I do myself was as if she was trying to change her skin.” Pulitzer Prize, and Horse Latitudes, published in look up words Hersh said he’d encountered the same heart- 2006. He is the Howard G.B. Clark Professor at breaking distress 25 years earlier, when the Princeton, Chair of the University Center for constantly is that mother of one of the My Lai soldiers growled, the Creative and Performing Arts and poetry I often find that I “I gave them a good boy, and they sent me back editor at The New Yorker. a murderer.” think I know Continued Hersh: “What we come away with ANECDOTE: Noting poetry’s reputation what a word is this horrible notion that we haven’t begun to as a difficult art form to understand, Muldoon means and in understand what’s going on with these young argued that our appreciation of more popular people who are coming back. ... The numbers are arts—film and music, for example—is not as fact it turns out staggering. A whole generation of young men and effortless as we may think. In fact, we enjoy a that I don’t.” women is not going to be functioning.” blockbuster movie or top 40 hit because we As for U.S. journalism’s failures at the dawn of have been educated and prepared to do so. —Paul Muldoon war against Iraq, Hersh encouraged students to avoid similar mistakes by emulating the feisty QUOTE: “I think this happens because we spirit of their school’s namesake, Pulitzer Prize- have been assailed by [movies and music], we’ve winning editor and commentator William Allen been surrounded by it, the culture is full of it. It White, 1890. has happened to us unwittingly. And what has “I hope you young journalists understand that not happened to us, frankly, is we have not been there’s nothing quite like what we can do if we do soaked in and subsumed by poetry. Our experi- it right. We have an amazing ability to change ence of poetry is generally very limited.” things,” Hersh said. “Mr. White would know what I’m talking about.” —Chris Lazzarino

ISSUE 2, 2008 | 13 Hilltopics

neers who wrote the first ver- sion of the PowerPoint soft- ware program. He serves on KU’s International Programs advisory board, and with his wife, Jann, c’73, on the advi- sory board for the KU Natural History Museum and Biodi- versity Institute. Rudkin earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. Dawson Gunn Rudkin Sheldon George Sheldon, c’57, m’61, longtime chair of sur- gery and professor of surgery LIBERAL ARTS for research conducted around the and social medicine at the University of world, with an emphasis on Arctic North Carolina-Chapel Hill. The Salina Four alumni earn CLAS award regions and eastern Asia. She earned her native graduated from KU with degrees for distinguished achievement doctorate degree in zoology. in history and medicine. James Gunn, j’47, g’51, an influential The College of Liberal Arts and Sci- science fiction writer who has written 28 ences will recognize four alumni in April books and published more than 100 INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE with the Alumni Distinguished Achieve- short stories. He is professor emeritus of ment Award, the highest honor the col- English and director of the Center for the Faculty-student exchange lege gives to graduates. Study of Science Fiction at KU. He com- with China on tap The honorees are: pleted a bachelor’s degree in journalism Mary Dawson, PhD’57, a paleontolo- and a graduate degree in English on the Chancellor Robert E. Hemenway has GEORGE SHELDON COURTESY STEVE PUPPE; EARL RICHARDSON; DAWSON; MARY COURTESY R: TO L ALUMNI PHOTOS, CLAS gist at the Carnegie Museum of Natural Hill. signed an agreement with Peking Univer- History in Pittsburgh, who is acclaimed Thomas Rudkin, c’73, one of two engi- sity that sets the stage for KU to exchange faculty and students with one of the most prestigious universities in China. Jianhua Lin, executive vice president and provost of Peking University, will Update visit Lawrence this spring to discuss establishing new study abroad programs,

U Medical Center and KU EARL RICHARDSON KHospital finalized a new affilia- sending Chinese graduate students to tion agreement in December. The KU and developing an exchange pro- long-sought deal will produce a gram for faculty and scholars at the two new building for doctors’ offices schools. The trip follows Hemenway’s on the Kansas City campus, visit to China last summer. increase financial support from the “I am very excited about what lies hospital to the University from $31 ahead for our faculty and students who million annually to $46 million gain access to one of the world’s great annually and strengthen the Uni- universities,” Hemenway said, “and for versity’s quest for NCI Cancer Center designation. the many students who will come and The agreement follows an affiliation signed in October between the Medical Center enrich KU through their studies here.” and St. Luke’s Hospital (“New Partnership,” Hilltopics, issue No. 6, 2007) that’s also seen A 2007 ranking by the Times of Lon- as a key component in the proposed cancer center designation. In January KU Hospital don rated the Beijing school fifth in Asia became one of five founding partners in the new Midwest Cancer Alliance, which and among the top 40 universities in the strengthens the link between KU Cancer Center researchers and community-based world. oncologists by making clinical trials and advanced screening available across Kansas. The KU has exchange programs with three four other partners are Goodland Regional Medical Center; Hutchinson Hospital; Mt. other Chinese schools—Nanjing Univer- Carmel Regional Medical Center, in Pittsburg; and Stormont-Vail HealthCare, in Topeka. sity, Nankai University and Zhengzhou University

14 | KANSAS ALUMNI ADMINISTRATION Warren is choice to lead Milestones, money and other matters research and graduate studies ■ BUDGET PRIORITIES that Chancellor After a nationwide search, KU’s own Robert E. Hemenway outlined for the current leg- Steve Warren will serve as vice provost islative session include a proposal to expand the for research and graduate studies. School of Pharmacy, renewal of funding for KU’s bid

Warren, c’74, g’75, PhD’77, had been EARL RICHARDSON to earn a National Cancer Institute designation for interim provost of the unit since since its cancer center, and support for UKan Teach, a Jim Roberts, e’66, stepped down to program that expedites teacher certification for return to teaching last summer. Warren math and science majors. In addition, KU seeks fund- came back to Mount Oread in 1999 from ing for deferred maintenance projects and for Vanderbilt University, where he was a expanding programs in health sciences, accounting professor of special education and and engineering. Though the Kansas Board of deputy director of the John F. Kennedy Regents and Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, g’80, have Center for Human Development; in 2001 expressed support, the outlook at the Statehouse is he became director of KU’s Schiefelbusch less certain. “There are a lot of contentious issues in Institute for Life Span Studies. the Legislature this year, and people are very aware In his new role, Warren oversees an of the fact that the entire Legislature is up for re- academic unit recently reorganized to election, Senate as well as House,” Hemenway says. bolster the connection between research “That has a considerable impact on how smoothly and graduate studies. It includes seven things move and how contentious issues are. But I’m designated research centers on the always hopeful.” Lawrence campus, two state surveys, four affiliated centers and 10 research service ■ U.S. NAVY CAPT. C. LADD WHEELER, e’82, took command of the USS Theodore laboratories. Roosevelt in January. Wheeler becomes the 11th person to captain the Roosevelt, a 97,000- Directing the Life Span Institute was ton nuclear-powered aircraft carrier based in Norfolk, Va. “enormously satisfying,” Warren says, but he couldn’t pass up the chance to ■ FORMER SEN. BOB DOLE, ’45, has donated $500,000 to the institute that bears his work with researchers Universitywide. name. Dole’s gift boosts the endowment of the Dole Institute of Politics to $8.5 million. The “KU has made enormous strides as a institute plans to build a $20 million endowment, with interest earned on the funds support- research university in recent years,” he ing the annual Dole Lecture, Dole Leadership Prize and Presidential Lecture Series. “I hope notes, “yet our impact on many levels my contribution will underscore my commitment to bipartisanship and will encourage oth- can be so much greater in the years ers to participate,” Dole says. ahead.” ■ CURTIS KLAASSEN, University Distinguished Professor and chair of the department of pharmacology, toxicology and therapeutics, will receive the Bernard B. Brodie Award in Drug Metabolism this April from the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental STEVE PUPPE Therapeutics. The award recognizes Klaassen's contributions to drug development and his research on environmental concerns such as human exposure to pesticides.

■ KATHLEEN MCCLUSKEY-FAWCETT, g’73, g’77, will step down as senior vice provost in June to become an honors faculty fellow. McCluskey-Fawcett, who has served at the dean and vice provost levels for nearly 20 years, will teach courses and advise students in the University Honors Program. An internal search is underway for her replacement.

■ A $5 MILLION EMINENT SCHOLAR GRANT from the Kansas Bioscience Authority will help support the research of Blake Peterson, who joined the faculty this spring as a Regents Distinguished Professor in medicinal chemistry. While at Penn State, Peterson made important discoveries in delivering drugs across membrane barriers and other novel drug delivery techniques. KU will match the KBA grant, which is intended to invest in scholars who demonstrate professional distinction and a high level of activity in research that has commercial potential. Warren

ISSUE 2, 2008 | 15 Sports STEVE PUPPE (4)

Cole Aldrich Darrell Arthur Darnell Jackson

game, he’s had four or more rebounds 12 times; Mama’s boys during the March 3 rout of Texas Tech (109-51, the most lopsided game in Big 12 history), he had Don’t let the title fool you: 11 points and 11 rebounds in 17 minutes. KU’s frontcourt is four strong “Whether I get two minutes or 15 minutes or 25 minutes, I just try to get out there, run the and tough enough floor, have some fun and grab every rebound I can,” Aldrich says. “Any amount of playing time is reshman center Cole Aldrich laughed as good for me.” he recalled his high school playing days Aldrich is one weapon in a four-man arsenal of in Minnesota. With a hint of Northern post players on this season’s roster. Joining him inflection, he fondly described his mother in his supporting role is senior center Sasha Fclamoring from the stands to convince officials Kaun, who hit nearly 65 percent of his free that “they’re beating up on her little baby.” throws in 22 games after starting the year at less “She’d yell, ‘Ref, he’s pushing! Cole, push than 40 percent. First off the bench with sopho- back!’ Her voice always stood out to me,” he says. more guard Sherron Collins, Kaun is climbing the At 6-11, 240 pounds, the McDonald’s All- KU charts in blocked shots, having moved ahead American came to KU equipped with the stature of Raef LaFrentz to eighth place. and potential to become a big-time inside contrib- The two centers have been instrumental in fill- utor off the bench, and Aldrich has proven, ing the void for a team that tends toward foul despite the absence of his maternal protector, trouble. Sophomore forward Darrell Arthur that he has no trouble holding his own in the racked up at least four fouls in half of KU’s league paint. Even averaging fewer than 10 minutes a contests. Nonetheless, he leads the team in scor-

16 | KANSAS ALUMNI Jackson replied, “Just to have a great sea- “Who on our team is not tough? ... We didn’t play tough on the son, and when it’s all over, come back glass one night. That doesn’t mean we have soft guys.” and hang the banner up in Allen Field House.” —coach Bill Self That would certainly make Mom proud.  coach Bill Self found himself answering —Katie Moyer media questions about whether the KU bigs would be tough enough to handle a ◆ ◆ ◆ higher level of competition. “Who on our team is not tough? That should be the question. We didn’t play Up and away tough on the glass one night,” Self says. “That does not mean we have soft guys.” Vaulter Jordan Scott soars Though Self doesn’t doubt their toward rarefied KU company toughness on the court, off the court is a different story: The KU big men have a atching up over lunch one soft spot for Mom. Jackson and Arthur recent afternoon, pole vaulting display their affection with tattoos, while legend Jeff Buckingham, ’84, a Arthur and Aldrich both attribute their former U.S. record holder, basketball beginnings to Mom’s guid- Casked friend and former teammate Tom ance. Kaun is enjoying some long- Hays whether his KU-record outdoor awaited time with his mother, Olga, vault—18 feet, 10.75 inches, set in 1983— since she arrived in the United States might fall soon to Jordan Scott, a three- from Russia in early January. Jackson’s time Big 12 champion and the latest in mother, Shawn, has supported the sen- the long line of Jayhawk vaulting stars. ior through a tough couple of years at STEVE PUPPE KU despite her own struggles. “She’s been a great motivation for me Sasha Kaun just because of everything that she’s been through,” Jackson says. “As long as ing after posting consecutive 20-point I’m here for her, she’ll be there for me.” games against Baylor and Texas. He Somewhat of a family unit in itself, the recorded his fourth double-double of the four-man frontcourt has come up big for season with 18 points and 10 rebounds KU this season, averaging 35 points per at Iowa State. game and nearly doubling opponents’ Fellow starting forward Darnell Jack- points in the paint each game. According son is making the most of his final sea- to Self, though, the four have yet to real- son with the Jayhawks. He leads the ize their full potential. team in rebounding, is second in scoring, “I’ve been real pleased with our big- and has become a source of motivation men production, but I don’t remember for his teammates. very many times this year that we’ve had “He’s a fun, high-energy guy,” Arthur all our big guys really hitting on all cylin- says of Jackson. “He keeps the team ders in the same game,” Self says. “We’re going.” just scratching the surface of what they Jackson’s encouraging disposition was could be as a collective unit.” much in need as players struggled to The KU frontcourt will need to be in regain their composure after road losses top form for the NCAA Tournament. ■ Three-time Big 12 champ Jordan Scott is a to Kansas State, Texas and Oklahoma After a 20-0 start (a record that’s third- State. Their troubles were amplified after best in school history), thoughts of win- proven winner, but not at all costs: “I love the tragic deaths of Jackson’s cousin and ning a tournament championship trying to be the best sportsman I can be. senior guard Rodrick Stewart’s brother. endure, especially for those anticipating a There’s a different camaraderie in pole vaulting Although the Jayhawks were out- grand finale to their KU careers. than most sports. We all go out there and have rebounded just once (as of press time), When asked about his expectations, a lot of fun.”

ISSUE 2, 2008 | 17 Sports

tion. We’re working on that, too.”

EARL RICHARDSON Scott came to track and field in his freshman year of high school in Watkinsville, Ga., after he and his bud- Updates dies had grown weary of soccer. Since his father, Richard, had been a track athlete enior Crystal Manning won the Big 12 indoor in school, Jordan was eager to try. Slong jump and triple jump, senior Kate Sul- “I was horrible in every event,” Scott tanova won the pole vault and junior Nickesha says. “I wasn’t fast, I wasn’t strong, I was Anderson won the 60-meter dash, leading the just little and scrawny. But it was fun.” women’s team to a third-place finish. Senior Egor A few weeks into his initiation, Scott Agafonov, defending NCAA champion, won his tried the pole vault: “I was still horrible, third conference weight throw. ... but it was the most fun horrible event.” Former defensive back Clint Bowen, d’96, co- After his three state titles, colleges defensive coordinator the past two seasons, from across the country (including Geor- replaces Bill Young, who left for the University of Sultanova gia) flooded Scott with brochures; when Miami, as defensive coordinator. ... Student-athletes earned a combined 2.93 GPA, a he read about coach Hays and the KU fall-semester record. Led by women’s golf (3.37), 18 teams posted 3.0 or better. ... vaulting program, and visited campus, Construction is underway for the rowing team’s boathouse on the south bank of the Scott chose Kansas. For his part, Hays Kansas River. The $6 million facility, funded in large part by a student activities fee, says he was sold when he saw that Scott should be ready by fall. ... After last season’s football success, fans might want to note had the prototype physique he prefers in that tickets are on sale for the Big 12 championship game, Dec. 6 in Arrowhead Sta- vaulters: tall, lean, strong. dium. Contact Ticketmaster or Arrowhead’s ticket office. ... Among the opponents “Some people are fast but don’t have added to football’s 2009 and ’10 schedules is Duke: the Jayhawks and Blue Devils, bas- the horsepower. Jordan is in the upper ketball rivals who have never faced each other in football, will play in Durham in ’09 third in the country in terms of speed, then here the following season. ... Former KU and NFL guard Keith Loneker, ’94, has and he also has the horsepower. He’s a a starring role in George Clooney’s upcoming football movie, “Leatherheads.” very physical kid. It’s taken us a year and Loneker made his acting debut alongside Clooney in 1998’s “Out of Sight.” a half just to get him on the right pole, because when he really hits it, the pole becomes too little. “I told Jeff that it was my job to do Huffman, j’88; Huffman, a 1996 “When I trained with Buckingham, he what I could to see that it happens,” Olympian and three-time U.S. champion, would set out a plan, and he’d be two recalls Hays, d’90, assistant track and and Pat Manson, e’91, who has cleared weeks into it and suddenly he’d try to field coach for vertical jumps. “I also told 18 feet for a world-record 22 straight fast-forward. Jordan is in the same mold. him I didn’t think Jordan had looked at years and counting, were both ranked My task as coach is to get him to stay the the records yet.” among the top five U.S. vaulters from course. If he does that, it’s going to be If Scott is unaware of the school 1993-’98, and one or the other was No. 1 awesome.” marks awaiting his assault, he won’t be in four of those six years.) As instructed by his coach, Scott for long. Until Scott, no freshman had Pole vaulting, it might be said, is akin resists talking about certain heights won a Big 12 pole vault title; he did it to golf: While some elite competitors (beyond immediately achievable marks both indoor and outdoor. He won the endlessly fuss with the minutia of tech- that are short-term goals); instead, he’s first conference title up for grabs in this, nique, someone who’s concerned only about the meets. He wants NCAA indoor his sophomore year, jumping 18 feet, with victory blows past them. As evi- and outdoor championships to go with one-half inch in the conference indoor denced by his string of titles at every his conference titles; and from there, he meet in Lincoln, Neb. level, Scott is a winner, not a fusser. wants to emulate his idol, the great He won three consecutive Georgia “Technique and strength go so far,” he Ukrainian world-record holder, Sergei high school titles and last June set the says, “but when there are a lot of people Bubka. meet record at the USA Junior Champi- around the same height and it’s really “He was fast, strong and had the most onships, topping by a quarter-inch the anybody’s game, then it comes down to guts. I want to be up there like that. Just 18-1 mark set in 1993 by Lawrence John- who is willing to try harder.” fearless. I want to win the Olympics and son, who three years later went on to set Says Hays: “If it’s between you and break the world record. Everybody has the U.S. record at 19-7. him to make a bar, he usually makes that those goals, but nothing that I’ve seen so (The national record that Johnson bar. Now, sometimes he may not jump as far has told me I can’t do it.” broke was set in 1994 by KU’s Scott high when there’s not as much competi- —Chris Lazzarino

18 | KANSAS ALUMNI

Sports Calendar JEFF JACOBSEN

■ Softball MAY 2-4 Oklahoma MARCH 7 Oral Roberts 14-16 vs. Buffalo and Louisiana 9-11 Missouri Tech, Kansas Invitational 16 Kansas State 18 Bradley 17-18 at Kansas State 21-22 at Oklahoma 21-25 at Big 12, Oklahoma City 26 Missouri State 29-30 Texas Tech ■ Track & field ■ Heading into the Jayhawk Classic (March 3-8) and APRIL MARCH Kansas Invitational (March 14-16), junior outfielder 2 at Creighton Dougie McCaulley (2) and her softball teammates had 5-6 at Baylor 21 at Wake Forest Invitational opened their spring season 15-5. 10 at Arkansas APRIL 12-13 Texas 2-5 at Texas Relays 16 at Missouri ■ Tennis 19-20 at Texas A&M 12 at Oklahoma 16-19 Kansas Relays 22 at UMKC MARCH 24 Wichita State 24-26 at Drake Relays 20 Iowa 26-27 Oklahoma State MAY 28 Oklahoma 30 at Nebraska 2 at Arkansas Invitational 30 Oklahoma State MAY 3 at Jordan Invitational, Palo Alto, APRIL 3-4 Iowa State Calif. 5 Baylor 9 at Big 12, Oklahoma City 16-18 at Big 12, Boulder, Colo. 7 Texas Tech 11 at Texas ■ Baseball ■ Men’s golf 13 at Texas A&M 18 Nebraska MARCH APRIL 20 Iowa State 24-27 19-23 vs. Illinois, Dartmouth, Cen- 11 at North Carolina State at Big 12, College Station, tral Connecticut, Northwestern, at Invitational Texas Florida Spring Classic, Bradenton 25 at Big 12, Trinity, Texas 25-26 Chicago State ■ Rowing 28-30 Texas A&M ■ Women’s golf MARCH APRIL MARCH 22 at Tulsa 1 Wichita State 17-18 at Betsy Rawls Invitational, 29 at Texas 4-6 at Baylor Austin, Texas 8-9 Northern Colorado 29-30 at Mountain View Collegiate, APRIL 11-13 Texas Tech Tucson, Ariz. 12 vs. Kansas State, at Kansas City 15 Baker 19-20 at SIRA’s, Oak Ridge, Tenn. 16 Missouri State APRIL 26 at Minnesota 18-20 at Nebraska 6-8 at Maxwell Berning Classic, 22 at Wichita State Norman, Okla. MAY 25-27 at Oklahoma State 25-27 at Big 12, Stillwater, Okla. 4 at Big 12, Austin, Texas 29 vs. Missouri, at Kansas City

ISSUE 2, 2008 | 21 Back Story A new novel and a book of essays from V. I. Warshawski-creator Sara Paretsky show you can go home again

ara Paretsky has a problem. The Lawrence celebrated its centennial, and with writer who created hard-hitting, her Cordley grade-school class she re-enacted quick-witted private investigator scenes from the town’s pre-Civil War found- V. I. Warshawski has just been ing, when women smuggling ammo past ambushed, point-blank, poleaxed pro-slavery forces sewed bullets into their byS a question so thorny that a woman who’s crinolines. The drama of that time stayed written 14 novels, a short story collection with her, and it lends both historical context and a book of essays in a wildly successful and a title to her new novel, Bleeding Kansas. 25-year career is momentarily—stunningly, Published in January, the novel is only her uncharacteristically—at a loss for words. second outside the V. I. series and the first She’s laughing too hard. set in her home state. The story of three If it came down to it, who would you root families who’ve farmed the Kaw River Valley for in the World Series, Ms. Paretsky: the since the 1850s is set against a backdrop of Kansas City Royals or the Chicago Cubs? divisive social issues—the sort that lately have You see, this silver-haired maven of the landed Kansas in the national headlines. hardboiled detective novel, who almost “I’m an expatriate; I read about it from single-handedly upended the genre of Sam far away,” says Paretsky, c’67, of reports of Spade and Philip Marlowe to make room for funeral protests and evolution debates and a female detective, is as Chicago as Studs subpoenaed health records. “I’m like those Terkel, Wrigley Field and hot dogs crowned Americans in Harry’s Bar in Paris, looking up with tomatoes and sweet pickle relish. Her the baseball scores.” V. I. is the quintessential urban woman, a So, how does a lifelong fan, a long-suffer- product of the city’s working class South Side ing Cubs supporter who loves to cite her who is equally at home in high-rise offices grade-school batting average when discussing and dark back alleys. Paretsky herself—out- her devotion to the game, square Kansas spoken, confident, elegantly put together—is roots with Chicago loyalty? the picture of big city urbanity. She’s been to “I don’t know,” she says at last, clearly cappuccino school, for Pete’s sake. delighted by the prospect of such an improb- And yet, there’s more than a little Kansas able matchup of underdog vs. underdog. “I in this Chicago icon. She was 7 when suppose I’d go insane.”

By Steven Hill

Photograph by Steve Puppe

22 | KANSAS ALUMNI

“When we got back to Kansas, and the wheat harvest was coming in, I felt such a sense of Diamond Dagger for lifetime achieve- relief. ... The prairie feels open; it’s a ment, an honor she shares with John le Carré, P.D. James and Elmore Leonard. landscape that inspires in you a sense As the pile of prizes and honorary of freedom.” —Sara Paretsky degrees grew, so did her reputation as an advocate for women writers. In 1986 she founded Sisters In Crime to aid and abet aretsky was in her 30s, working Warshawski was a new breed: a women mystery writers. It started with at a Chicago insurance company, woman P. I. who was not afraid to use 40 women and grew to 3,400, with 48 when she sat down to write her fists when circumstances demanded. chapters in the United States, Canada, PIndemnity Only, the hardboiled The daughter of a cop who grew up in an Germany and England. The group offers detective novel that introduced V. I. War- ethnic Polish enclave near the city’s steel newsletters and guidebooks for authors shawski to the world. mills, she could talk tough and did not (Shameless Promotion for Brazen Hussies 2 At the time, she was a bit of an under- back down when bullied by thugs, cor- and Breaking and Entering in the New Mil- dog herself. Private-eye novels were con- rupt union bosses and white collar crimi- lennium among them). Its first effort sidered a man’s world. nals. She also was a staunch feminist remains one of its most important: moni- “Marsha Muller’s Sharon McCone who, like Paretsky herself, earned an toring book reviews in newspapers and came just a touch earlier than V. I., but advanced degree from the University of magazines to ensure women get a fair not much,” says Pat Kehde, g’80, former Chicago. She was the thinking woman’s shake. co-owner of The Raven Bookstore, a gumshoe. “At that time, a third of the members Lawrence shop that caters to mystery With each of the 12 V. I. books that of the Mystery Writers of America were readers. Paretsky, Muller and Sue followed, the pop-culture status of the women, so we thought a third of the Grafton are considered the top three character and her creator grew. “V. I. reviews should be books by women,” writers in the genre, she says. “They Warshawski,” a movie starring Kathleen says Mary Lou Wright, charter member started the trend to have female private Turner, appeared in 1991; in 1995 BBC of SIC and former co-owner of the Raven. eyes and they are still the gold standard.” radio aired adaptations of two novels. “We could barely scrounge up 10 per- Indemnity Only appeared in 1982, to Paretsky has turned up as a New York cent.” strong reviews, and Paretsky went on to Times Crossword answer—prompting a Sisters In Crime data proved that write another pair of V. I. books before handwritten letter from puzzler and V. I. women were underrepresented, and they quitting her job. Word has it her boss fan Bill Clinton. She has won numerous used it to persuade editors and reviewers was none too pleased—because she made awards, most recently a Gold Dagger to do a better job. the Wall Street Journal before he did. from the Crime Writers Association of Now the Mystery Writers of America, Great Britain for her 2003 novel, which is open only to published authors, Blacklist. In 2002 the associa- is half female, according to Wright, and The Paretsky file tion gave Paretsky the Cartier women regularly outnumber men in the

Indemnity Only, 1982: Deadlock, 1984:The Killing Orders, 1985: Bitter Medicine, 1987: Blood Shot, 1988: Publishers Weekly says murder of V. I.’s beloved Vatican politics, organized Health care inequities Corporate America is V. I.’s debut “looks like cousin Boom-Boom crime, a front-page inter- form the backdrop of the bad guy as V. I. comes the start of a very win- prompts an investigation view in the New York the fourth V. I. mystery. home to her old Chicago ning new mystery series.” of shipping corruption. Times Book Review: neighborhood. Paretsky hits the big time.

24 | KANSAS ALUMNI New York Times Book Review’s crime column. “A lot of that is due to Sara,” Kehde says. “She’s very brave, and very thoughtful about stuff like that. She SARA PARETSKY COURTESY doesn’t just fly off the handle and then let it subside. She’s dogged.”

◆ ◆ ◆

leeding Kansas debuted at No. 1 on the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association best- Bseller list, even though it’s not a mystery. Yet hardcore V. I. fans, who expect a certain type of story from Paret- sky (“Mystery readers are not all that dif- ferent from soap opera fans in that way,” Wright giggles), will find much in the ■ Warshawski may be a fictional character, but that hasn’t stopped Paretsky from giving her novel that rings familiar. a detailed back story. This 1989 photograph shows V. I.’s childhood home on Houston Avenue “The multigenerational narrative bris- in South Chicago. See more photos at saraparetsky.com. tles with the kind of prickly social issues that give substance to Paretsky’s detec- tive stories,” Marilyn Stasio writes in the tive novels traditionally demand, enjoy- Havoc is plentiful in Bleeding Kansas. New York Times Book Review. “But the ing greater freedom to play with lan- Things are tense between the Grelliers pointed absence of her Chicago private guage, explore new characters and write and Schapens, whose families have lived eye may indicate that some of the social about the beautiful Kansas prairie she on neighboring farms for 150 years. Jim conflicts currently polarizing the Ameri- loves. Grellier is a hard-working farmer who can heartland can’t be resolved in the “This book is a departure for me, and cautions his family against gossip. “You fair-and-square manner of genre tradi- yet it feels as though it also is a part of can’t farm in the valley if you’re on bad tion.” Publishers Weekly calls the book a my work,” she says. “I think what possi- terms with your neighbors,” he says, so “timely tale of fear and conflict in heart- bly characterizes my work is what hap- often that his wife and kids complete the land America,” saying “Paretsky taps a pens to ordinary people who aren’t refrain for him. Susan Grellier is what the different vein and strikes gold.” decision-makers or power players when Victorians called an “ardent spirit.” Her Paretsky steps away from the taut events outside their control wreak havoc passions are fierce, but fleeting. She starts plotting and terse vernacular that detec- in their lives.” a co-op and adds organic sunflowers to

Burn Marks, 1990: Guardian Angel, 1992: Tunnel Vision, 1994: Windy City Blues, Ghost Country, 1998: Sparks fly as arson This time it’s gentrifica- V. I. discovers a homeless 1995: A collection of Paretsky’s first non-V. I. and real-estate tion and union fraud. Will family living in her office V. I.-themed short novel explores homeless- development mix. the bad guys never learn? building basement and stories. ness and miracles in takes on her most per- Chicago’s underground. sonal case yet.

ISSUE 2, 2008 | 25 the farm’s traditional crops, and her questions,” she says, “I couldn’t do it library. She was asked to change her pro- interest in the Grelliers’ pioneer roots— anywhere but here.” posed remarks, she says, because the including journals from the Bleeding library felt that, with war imminent, criti- Kansas era—provides historical context. ◆ ◆ ◆ cism of the Bush administration would The Schapens, on the other hand, are insult local military families. This was fundamentalist Christians with a mean “ ara has always been interested in days after the Dixie Chicks roused a streak. The family’s elderly matriarch, political issues, and all her books firestorm of condemnation for criticizing Myra, blogs about the sins and misfor- have at their core a political idea the war, and Paretsky, who received e- tunes of her neighbors, and the Grelliers Sthat she wants to talk about,” says mails accusing her of hating America are frequent targets. The Schapens’ intol- Pat Kehde. “She’s not just telling a good after V. I. tangled with the Patriot Act in erance is whipped to fever pitch when story; she’s trying to wrap that story Blacklist, was leery of inciting further dis- Gina Haring, a New York lesbian and around a political idea or social cause avowals from fans. But she decided that New Age Wiccan, moves into a nearby and explore that.” she could not let her voice be quieted— farmhouse and starts dancing naked In Indemnity Only, the murders stem especially when the topic of her speech around bonfires. from an insurance scam. In Deadlock, the was censorship and silence. When Susan decides to join Gina in scheme is shipping fraud; in Burn Marks, She gave the talk, “shaking so badly protesting the Iraq war, her teenage son, unscrupulous developers commit arson. that I had to clutch the podium,” and Chip Grellier, rebels against his mother’s “From the get-go she’s been all over the when she finished the 500 people who’d latest passion and joins the Army. He’s idea that just because a guy has a suit on come out in a driving rainstorm to hear killed in action in Iraq, and Jim struggles doesn’t mean he’s not a criminal,” Kehde her responded with a standing ovation. to hold the family together as it spins out says. Paretsky’s first glimmering of social of control. Even more bluntly political is Paret- consciousness came in Lawrence, where To pioneer history and contemporary sky’s Writing In An Age of Silence, a collec- her father, David, was the only Jewish social issues, Paretsky adds the tumult of tion of essays published in 2007 by tenure-track professor at KU when he the early 1970s, when war protests and British publisher Verso Books. Many of was hired in the 1950s. Her mother, race riots roiled Lawrence. She casts the essays started as public talks criticiz- Mary, children’s librarian at the Kansas as a mirror of the larger country, ing the U.S. Patriot Act and the erosion of Lawrence Public Library, got involved in a place where tensions arise when oppos- civil liberties after 9/11. The book, which social action after the family experienced ing cultures—free state and slave, liberal also takes an unstinting look at Paret- housing discrimination in the city. They and conservative, hippie and square— sky’s often difficult Kansas childhood, later moved to a farm south of town, the exist side by side. For Paretsky, it’s not is a finalist for the National Book Critic setting of Bleeding Kansas. that Kansas is the only place such social Circle’s autobiography prize. “My mother had been very active in issues play out; it’s just the most visible. On March 20, 2003, the night the the move for open housing in Lawrence,” And the closest to her heart. United States invaded Iraq, Paretsky was Paretsky says. “She was a courageous “To me, to write about these kinds of to speak at the Toledo, Ohio, public woman in that way, standing up, speak-

Hard Time, 1999: Total Recall, 2001: A Blacklist, 2003: Patriot Fire Sale, 2005: Inner Writing In An Age of Consolidation in the Nazi death camp survivor Act abuses and city economics and big Silence, 2007: Essays entertainment industry spurs an investigation McCarthy-era blacklisting business collide in V. I.’s examine the author’s is the backdrop for that rattles longtime V. I. frame Paretsky’s first 12th adventure. journey from childhood intrigue. friend Lotty Herschel. post-9/11 novel. to the writing life.

26 | KANSAS ALUMNI ing out.” Another strong role model was racial equality. Paretsky helped put out Emily Taylor, longtime dean of women at the fire. “That summer changed my life KU. Paretsky recalls a dinner with Taylor forever,” she writes in Writing In An Age of and other women students; the dean Silence. She had always sided with the asked each what they planned to do with underdog, and “my Chicago summer their lives. Paretsky says it was the first made the raw neediness of underdogs time anyone had posed her the question. palpable to me.”

“I suppose she looked conservative as Paretsky was born in 1947, two years KENNETH SPENCER RESEARCH LIBRARY feminism got more radical, but she had a after the end of World War II, while her steadfast vision for women’s equality and father was learning that his entire Euro- human equality that she really tried to pean family had been wiped out in the make happen in the lives of students she Holocaust. That horror cast a long worked with,” Paretsky says. “She was a shadow on her childhood. very bracing influence on a lot of women “Growing up it was a constant terror,” like me who came to school very con- she recalls. “I was named for two great- fused at not having a destiny outside a grandmothers who were murdered, and domestic one. She was like a bucket of I’m thinking, ‘It could happen to me. I cold water poured on our heads.” could disappear and no one would ever Further sparking her interest in social know who I was.’” issues was a visit to Chicago, during the That summer in Chicago was the first summer between her junior and senior time she realized that others shared her ■ Paretsky showed her Jayhawk spirit years at KU, when she worked for the fear of never being heard from. while promoting her 1982 novel, Indemnity Presbyterian Church of Chicago at a day And Sara Paretsky decided she’d never Only, the first in the highly successful camp for city youths. It was 1966, the be muzzled again. V. I. Warshawski series. height of the Civil Rights movement. During a march by Martin Luther King ◆ ◆ ◆ Jr., she saw the depth of white outrage at the changes King was trying to bring: hicago is the city where she’s that she began thinking of a Kansas Riots tore through her neighborhood, made her name, and it’s there novel. She was a frequent visitor to KU where parishioners tried to burn down a she’s at home. She enjoys libraries and the farm of John and Karen rectory because the pastor preached Cwalks along the lakefront with Pendleton while researching the book. her dog, loves “playing Grannie” to In 1976, after she married Courtenay grandaughter Maia. And though there’s a Wright, a particle physicist and former bit of Susan Grellier in Paretsky (“I’m like protégé of Enrico Fermi, the two drove Susan; I’d love to have a vision. But I’m from Chicago to visit his family in British not willing to fast for 40 days to induce Columbia. The route took them through one,” she says with a laugh), there’s also some of North America’s most stunning more than a little Gina Haring—the sharp scenery. “When we got back to Kansas, tongue and strong opinions, the eye for and the wheat harvest was coming in, I stylish clothes and, yes, the cafe-quality felt such a sense of relief,” Paretsky cappuccino maker that’s a prized posses- recalls. “All the magnificent places, sion. Paretsky even took classes with a oceans, mountains, felt oppressive to me. Chicago barista to learn how to get the The prairie feels open; it’s a landscape most out of the gleaming machine that that inspires in you a sense of freedom.” enjoys pride of place in her kitchen. Chicago is where she lives, “it’s where She’s been gone from Kansas 40 years I know my life,” she says. “But when (twice as long as she lived here), but the you’re in a big city, the urban landscape state stays with her. “It’s still in my doesn’t permit you ever to step back and Bleeding Kansas, 2008: Paretsky’s first bones,” she writes in the intro to Bleeding have that sense of who you are as an Kansas novel delves contemporary social Kansas. individual and what it is you have to issues against a backdrop of history. She has come back often, to visit her measure up to in order to be true to your —S.H. parents, family and friends. Her mother deepest held beliefs.” died in 1998, her father in 2000, and it For that, Paretsky says, she looks to was during a trip home to care for them Kansas.

ISSUE 2, 2008 | 27 28 STEVE PUPPE | KANSAS ALUMNI is acollectionofcomputerhardware, displaying allforms ofgeographically capturing, managing, analyzing and software andgeographic datafor (Geographic Information System) referenced information. GIS —GIS.com THE MAN WHO LEADS THE NATION’S GEOGRAPHERS SAYS THE SCIENCE IS ABOUT MUCH MORE THAN CAPITALS AND CONTINENTS

he G in GIS stands for is more than willing to mount his bully geographic, root word pulpit to preach the benefits of geography–and don’t geographical knowledge. you forget it! Why on earth is the sermon neces- So says Jerry sary? Dobson offered the answer last Dobson, professor of fall during a presentation at KU’s Dole geography and a man Institute of Politics. He stunned much of doing battle on behalf of his discipline. his audience when he explained that HeT has much to say. after World War II many esteemed Start with the fact that many of the universities—including such Ivy League so-called elite private universities in the icons as Harvard and Yale—had United States no longer teach geogra- expunged the discipline of geography, phy. In Dobson’s opinion, the dearth of even as universities were enjoying an programs isn’t just a shame. It verges on era of unprecedented expansion. criminally negligent. “Of the top 20 private universities, In his view, “The United States is only two currently have geography now a mighty global power crippled by departments, though 15 of the top abysmal ignorance of its vast global 20 public universities do,” Dobson says. domain. Intelligence failures are all too KU does have a thriving common. Diplomatic blunders alienate department of geography, based in allies and enrage foes. Ignorance of for- Lindley Hall. Terry Slocum, department eign places and people guides U.S. chair and associate professor, says policies toward them and their policies that about 1,000 students take toward us. It’s manifested in politicians geography courses every semester. of both parties, diplomats, government Those who earn bachelor’s degrees in analysts, scholars, journalists and geographic science can choose from voters alike.” plenty of jobs that pay well. The Dobson is not merely a KU professor department also includes an active sounding off. He is president of the graduate program for both master’s American Geographical Society, and he and doctoral students.

BY TOM EBLEN

ISSUE 2, 2008 | 29 was one of two KU faculty members Google Earth. GPS named fellows of the prestigious Ameri- The population database so integral to The Global Positioning System can Association for the Advancement such tools didn’t just suddenly appear. is a U.S. space-based radio-navigation of Science. Adrian L. Melott, professor From 1997 through 2001, Dobson led system that provides reliable positioning, of physics and astronomy, also was the team that developed the LandScan navigation and timing services to civilian honored. Global Population Database at the Oak users on a continuous basis— The AAAS credited Dobson for his Ridge laboratory. After moving to KU, he free and available to all. “diverse work on geographic information continued to refine population data —U.S. government Web site systems, advanced remote sensing and down to building and block level. In large-area change analysis, as well as for daily life, such precision helps us get exemplary editorial and administrative where we’re going. In the heat of battle, it work in geography.” replaces indiscriminate bombing, signifi- Dobson often shares his analysis in cantly reducing casualties. Dobson was a relatively recent addi- prominent publications. For Directions The editors of Geospatial Matters: tion to the roster of KU geography Magazine in 2005, he described the Exploring the Implications of a Digital faculty. “It worked out pretty well for us,” bombing of Baghdad: Earth describe Dobson as “a leading geo- Slocum says with a smile. “On the night of March 21, 2003, and graphical pundit.” The volume includes But it wasn’t easy. Dobson had for two weeks thereafter, the largest bar- 29 of his reprinted columns, in which he worked at the Oak Ridge National Labo- rage in history rained down on Baghdad, asks not what but why. Geographers ratory in Oak Ridge, Tenn., from 1975 to Iraq, with such precision that the lights must not only see the trees, he says, but 2001, rising to the rank of distinguished stayed on. also understand the forest. research and development staff member. “… Today’s geographically savvy In a 2006 issue of the magazine Arc- He was a prolific researcher and writer, weapons … brought a quantum leap in News, Dobson again jabs at geographic and his work was widely known in the the precision with which selective ignorance. “Geography is to space what geographic community. His career path, destruction can be administered any- history is to time,” he writes. “It is a however, was not the usual route to aca- where on Earth. … The implications, both spatial way of thinking, a science with demia, despite the fact that Dobson had good and bad, for foreign policy, interna- distinctive methods and tools, a body of both master’s and doctoral degrees in tional relations and global ethics are stag- knowledge about places, and a set of geography. gering.” information technologies that have been But when Dobson spoke at KU in the late 1990s, he was mightily tempted. Robert McColl, then department chair of geography, heard his speech and posed a “Geography is to space what history is to time.” question: “What would it take to get you to come to KU?” – Jerry Dobson It took three years for McColl to man- age the magic of that transition. The provost at that time, David Shulenburger, Dobson refers to the firepower that hit around for centuries. Geography is about had developed a plan to bring in out- Baghdad as the geographic bomb—or understanding people and places and standing scholars, McColl remembers. G-Bomb. In his words, “The G-Bomb how real-world places function in a And KU badly needed a geographer who demands GIS, a digital model of the viscerally organic sense. It’s about under- specialized in GIS because KU’s GIS earth that makes sense of all geographic standing spatial distributions and inter- expert had been recruited away. information.” GIS adds the precise three- preting what they mean …” So Dobson moved first to the Kansas dimensional geometry and descriptive Dobson doesn’t hesitate to take on Biological Survey, where he conducted attributes of all features such as eleva- those who are geographically challenged. research and taught. Two years later he tion, buildings, land cover, population, Responding to a college president who joined the geography faculty when satellite imagery, and boundaries. It also defended the exclusion of geography McColl greased the skids by taking early includes GPS-derived latitude and longi- from the curriculum, he says, “The vast retirement on the condition that his tude coordinates of troops in the field majority of geography-deprived Yale place on the faculty and his salary could and missiles in flight. graduates, for instance, can muddle on be allocated to Dobson. McColl says he This is geography at work—the same for years without hampering their knew “Jerry had the depth as well as the geography that has led to a surge in con- chosen careers until they accidentally breadth of knowledge.” sumer-friendly GPS and Internet access declare war on the wrong country or Boy, was he right. Last fall, Dobson to maps of all sorts, especially through misjudge the nature of hurricanes and

30 | KANSAS ALUMNI tsunamis or alienate longstanding allies STEVE EGBERT or commit some other geographic blun- der that wreaks havoc on major world regions.” Vintage Dobson. Viewed through the lens of a former student, John Kostelnick, now an assis- tant professor of geography at Illinois State University, Dobson leaves an indeli- ble impression. Kostelnick, PhD’07, was a student in a graduate seminar in fall 2001, Dobson’s first semester at KU. “I was immediately impressed with the magnitude of the projects he was working on, such as LandScan, the most detailed global population database ever developed,” Kostelnick says. “I will always remember going to the seminar on the morning of September 11. We had all heard of the attack on the World Trade Center, but the details were still sketchy. Jerry demonstrated a 3-D simu- lation of a terrorist attack on Israel with ■ a chemical weapon, and the projected In 2004, Dobson, right, and fellow KU geographer Steve Egbert, not pictured, traveled to the impact that the attack would have on the border of Ecuador and Peru, where landmines remain from the 1995 Cenepa War between those population.” two countries. Working with military officers from six nations, they tested new technology for A project Dobson already had been mapping minefields without walking on them. working on became the perfect theme for that fateful day. KU doctoral student Matt Dunbar, was to spend my tour,” he says. “I bought were ‘road trips.’ We traveled and c’00, g’05, recalls a phone call from a map, a book on Middle Eastern history, camped across the U.S. with the boys in Dobson, who asked Dunbar whether he an English translation of the Koran and tow,” she recalls. had a passport and could travel within a language tapes for Arabic. As we drove in “Jerry always wanted to see over the week. He did, and he could. Dunbar convoys across the countryside, I next hill or around the next curve. He accompanied Dobson to the Balkans to thought about how the distribution of would always trick me into moving on conduct population research as part of water, arable land and oil led to different when he had promised that we could refining the resolution of LandScan. population centers and resulted in con- stay in one place for two or three days. Another trip also sticks in Dunbar’s flicts.” “Jerry would say, ‘If we get up early mind. After a long, exhausting flight Craig’s geographer brother, Eric Dob- and drive all day, we can stay four days from the United States over the North son of Knoxville, Tenn., says “I always in the next town.’ I always fell for it and Pole to Hong Kong, “Jerry wanted to tell my friends that I am the way I am then when we had seen the next town take another four- to five-hour flight into because when I asked my father why the he would announce that ‘If we got up the interior of China.” They did. Who sky is blue, he replied, ‘Rayleigh scatter- early … .’” needs rest when travel opportunities ing,’ and proceeded to describe the For Jerry Dobson, the path to a career arise? physics behind our perception of color.” in geography started when, as a college One of Jerry Dobson’s sons, Maj. Did he think he would become a geog- journalism major, he took Introduction Craig Dobson, is a physician who served rapher? “I had no intention of becoming to Geography. One day his roommate a tour in Iraq. Although his brother, a geographer until I found that I had a mentioned that he was going to transfer uncle and father are geographers, Craig natural aptitude for computer-based to geography. “A light went off,” Dobson Dobson somehow escaped that gravita- geography. From that point forward, recalls, and he transferred the next day. tional pull. But he remembers his which was not in small part due to my Journalism’s loss was geography’s father’s lessons. father, I was hooked.” gain. “When I was deployed in 2003 to Fal- If the brothers share a thirst for dis- —Eblen is the retired lujah, Iraq, I used the concepts my father covery, their mother, Gwen, knows why. general manager and news adviser taught me to analyze the area where I “Jerry loves to travel. All of our vacations of the University Daily Kansan.

ISSUE 2, 2008 | 31 hree years ago, in April 2005, U.S. Army platoon leader Wesley Fine was serv- ing at a combat outpost in Iraq’s Al Anbar Province. Just as he and other officers Twere gathering for a briefing, a rocket- propelled grenade landed within their camp’s perimeter, followed by an 82 mm mortar shell that dropped close to Fine. “When that blast blew into my face, I was shocked at first, and I thought, ‘Oh my gosh.’ Then the pain started kicking in,” Fine recalls. “I wish I had been knocked unconscious, but I wasn’t.” His unprotected face was seared by the mortar’s shock wave, and his face, chest and shoulders were lacerated by shrapnel. By the time he was littered to a first-aid station, the evacuation helicopter was already on its way. It wasn’t long before he was being treated by doctors at a larger base, beginning a long journey that eventually took Fine home to Hawaii, where he thought he was needed to help tend his ailing father. Fine had lost an eye, and he chose to retire from the Army. But he found few opportunities and struggled with ongo- ing strife within a tradition-bound family and community. “If I’d been planning on leaving [his platoon during a combat deployment], emotionally I would have been able to slowly move away from the lifestyle,” Fine says from Hawaii, and suddenly the memories overtake him. Choking on tears, Fine continues: “Everyone in my platoon treated everyone with the same respect. They were like my younger brothers. The connection we had was like a family. And the next thing you know, you’re gone.” Fine forces his thoughts away from the pain of losing his platoon (he never mentions the pain of losing his left eye in combat), and instead he discusses his next adventure: graduate studies in inter- national relations on Mount Oread. “Once I leave Hawaii,” he says, “I don’t think I’m coming back. The only person I’m going to miss is my mom.

32 | KANSAS ALUMNI Warrior Scholars THANKS TO A NEW KU-ARMY INITIATIVE, WOUNDED SOLDIERS RENEW MILITARY CAREERS AS JAYHAWK GRADUATE STUDENTS

Everyone else has been a drain on me. BY CHRIS LAZZARINO stage. “It’s an exciting day for the Army. “I couldn’t have asked for anything It’s an exciting program for our nation. better than this transition to Kansas. I’m And it’s an exciting day for these sol- looking for something new. I really need home, the Lewis & Clark Center. diers, as they anticipate a future with an to be there, in Lawrence, in that campus When told by Pete Geren, secretary of opportunity that didn’t exist until a very atmosphere. I just can’t wait.” the Army, that the program being short time ago.” launched that day had first been pro- The eight soldiers chosen by the Army ★ ★ ★ posed four months earlier, hundreds of will have their tuition paid and receive assembled Army majors gasped. Army salaries (or, for those who’ve cho- ine and seven Army comrades “This is a new journey that we in the sen to retire due to their injuries, a compose the inaugural class of a Army and the University of Kansas are Department of Defense civilian employee unique graduate program, the taking together, in partnership with salary). Once they have earned their Wounded Warrior Education these outstanding Americans who have degrees, they will continue their Army or FInitiative, created and sponsored by both given so much in service to our country,” Defense Department civilian careers for the University and the U.S. Army. Geren said, indicating the wounded sol- at least two years for each year of subsi- The program builds upon the KU-Fort diers selected for the program, who were dized school. Leavenworth Program—a 2004 agree- seated behind him on the auditorium “It seems to me self-evident that the ment that formalized a long history of mutual support between KU and the Army’s Command and General Staff Col- lege, based within Fort Leavenworth’s Combined Arms Center. In late Septem- ber, Chancellor Robert E. Hemenway and other KU officials flew to Washing- ton, D.C., to meet with Robert Gates, sec- retary of defense, and other high-ranking leaders. There Hemenway proposed an initiative to help soldiers wounded in combat continue their careers by com- pleting graduate studies in fields useful to the Army. Gates, a former Big 12 colleague as president of Texas A&M University, enthusiastically supported Hemenway’s proposal. So, with remarkable agility for two institutions of such girth, the Army and KU announced the Wounded War- ■ Among the wounded warriors that Chancellor Robert E. Hemenway (above) and hundreds rior Education Initiative in a February of Army officers honored Feb. 6 at Fort Leavenworth was Capt. Gates Brown (opposite page), ceremony in Eisenhower Auditorium, in who will study military history at KU before teaching his fellow officers at the Command and the CGSC’s new Fort Leavenworth General Staff College.

ISSUE 2, 2008 | 33 saved his right eye. As for the left, “no “After I was injured, I wondered how I would fit one aside from God himself could do in. Now with this opportunity to study at KU, anything with that one, because the opti- cal nerve was severed.” I can see the road ahead so much more clearly Hornik now serves as an operations than I could six months ago.” —Capt. Gates Brown officer at Fort Hood, in central Texas. He spent the past couple of years preparing for graduate school, to be ready to pur- country owes these men and women a to Baghdad in September 2004, was sue a master’s in social welfare and a new debt,” Hemenway says, “and that it’s given responsibility for a platoon of career as an Army counselor. Hornik and appropriate for the University to reach about two dozen soldiers, equipped with his wife, Capt. Cate Smith, a quartermas- out in some small way to recognize their two Bradley fighting vehicles and a special status and tell them what an Humvee. They were assigned to Victory honor it will be to have them here.” North’s Route Irish. David Lambertson, a former U.S. Or, in more common parlance, the ambassador to Thailand who came to notorious road between Baghdad Inter- KU in 1996 as director of international national Airport and the International development, came out of retirement at Zone. Hemenway’s request to serve as interim On Nov. 11, 2004—Veterans Day, and director of the KU-Fort Leavenworth Pro- the day before Hornik’s birthday—his pla- gram. Although the grad-school initiative toon came under fire from an unseen is not the only exchange being planned, sniper. He scolds himself now, but it certainly carries the heaviest burdens Hornik, ever the courageous and vigilant and greatest opportunities. officer, stuck his torso out the top of the “We do have a responsibility to follow bulletproof Bradley to scan the area with their progress closely, not just enroll his binoculars. them and forget them,” Lambertson says. The sniper shot him in the head. “The transition back into academic life Six blocks later, Hornik’s troops deliv- isn’t going to be real easy for some of ered their gravely wounded lieutenant to them after 10 years away. the biggest hospital in the International “A substantial benefit for KU is that Zone; Hornik says the first Army surgeon we are going to have a minimum of eight to treat him did marvelous work and soldiers who paid a heavy price for their service. They are going to have unique perspectives on those conflicts, on the role of military in society, on all kinds of things that thoughtful KU students think about in the abstract and will now have someone real to speak with about.”

★ ★ ★

apt. Tim Hornik, a Chicago native, trained as an air-defense artillery officer. In our current wars, enemy airpower is about Cthe only thing U.S. and allied troops need not worry about. “In the Army, everyone is ultimately infantry,” Hornik says. “We all basically went through the same training; the only ■ Capt. Tim Hornik and Capt. Kristin Facer (both holding KU caps) accepted congratulations difference is, I know how to use a differ- from their colleagues after the Fort Leavenworth ceremony announcing the education initiative. ent missile.” David Lambertson (top), former U.S. ambassador to Thailand, came out of retirement to accept Hornik, a lieutenant when he was sent Chancellor Hemenway’s request that he temporarily lead the KU-Fort Leavenworth Program.

34 | KANSAS ALUMNI PHOTOGRAPHS BY STEVE PUPPE ter officer, are particularly eager to move says. “I realized that was obviously not to Lawrence. what happened, and once I understood it Class No. 1 “We were in one of the coffee shops was an explosion, I told my driver that downtown, and it was just wonderful to we needed to get out of the area, we ombat-wounded soldiers accepted hear some of the open conversations,” needed to continue through the site, Cfor the Wounded Warrior Education Hornik says. “Though they may differ because an [improvised explosive device] Initiative, intended field of study and from our belief system, it’s great to hear is an ambush. You don’t know whether Army commendations: all sides of a topic. It’s what’s so special the explosion is the end of the attack or about a university setting. I love engaging the beginning of the attack.” Capt. Gates Brown, military history: in open forums and conversations about The crippled truck made it only 600 Purple Heart, Bronze Star; any situation, and I have absolutely no more meters, but that was enough, and Staff Sgt. Thomas Davis, information problem explaining what is happening to as Brown began assessing the damage, he technology or history: Purple Heart, two me. If they want, I’ll even bring pictures was somewhat surprised to realize that Army Commendation Medals, Combat in and give them a nice little slide presen- he was the only injured soldier: the Infantry Badge; tation.” blast’s shock wave rocked the truck so Capt. Kristin Facer, cultural anthropol- ferociously that he sustained seven frac- ogy or supply-chain management: Purple ★ ★ ★ tures below his right knee. Heart, Bronze Star; “It didn’t really hit me until I was in fter graduating from Pittsburg the recovery room, in Iraq, when they Capt. Wesley Fine (ret.), international State University’s Army ROTC gave me a satellite phone to call my mom studies: Purple Heart, Bronze Star; program in May 2004, Capt. in Kansas,” he says. “The minute I started 1st. Lt. Jason Gladney (ret.), education: Gates Brown spent a year in talking to her, I lost it. Until that time, I Purple Heart; AKorea. The Army then sent him to Fort didn’t really understand what had hap- Spc. Michael Hogg (ret.), history: Pur- Bragg, in North Carolina, where Brown pened. When they told me I was going to ple Heart, Army Commendation Medal; helped create a reconnaissance squadron Germany, and I wasn’t coming back, attached to one of the Army’s famed everything hit home. The platoon I had Capt. Tim Hornik, social welfare: Pur- fighting forces, the 82nd Airborne Divi- trained pretty much since the platoon ple Heart, Army Commendation Medal; sion’s 3rd Brigade Combat Team. was created ... I wasn’t going to be with Capt. Michael Reynolds (ret.), history Brown and his platoon arrived in the them anymore. or anthropology: two Purple Hearts, provincial capital Baquba, 30 miles “Quickly I had to make the transition Bronze Star. —C.L. northeast of Baghdad, in August 2006. from being a leader, making sure every- Trained as a tank officer, Brown says body is OK before you’re OK, worrying he never thought he’d get to interact with about how your decisions will impact could six months ago.” locals. It’s too awkward, and dangerous, others, to all of a sudden realizing you Brown says he is “anxious” about to dismount. With a changed mission, have to worry about yourself. That was returning to a college campus, but prom- however, Brown found himself circulat- not an easy thing to do.” ises to gladly discuss his combat experi- ing among the citizenry of two towns he Brown and his wife, Marty, a physical ences with any interested student, as long was assigned to patrol. therapist, live in Shawnee, and will move as information exchanges go both ways. “In Iraq, the essence of counterinsur- to Lawrence this summer. Here he will “Very few generations have been gency is that you become a person study military history, with emphases on exposed to military operations as much instead of being looked on as a faceless counterinsurgency, armies in occupation as today’s college students have,” Brown occupier,” he says. “It’s a different mind- and armies in transformation. “All of says. “When I was little, Desert Storm set than we’ve had in the past. It’s a very them,” Brown says, “have kind of defined was the big thing, and that was 99 hours exciting time.” my short military career. It’s going to be and then parades for a couple of days. In January 2007, Brown’s team was very interesting to look back at how peo- These students have seen years of front- sent to assist a convoy of supply trucks ple dealt with these changes in their own page coverage. that had come under attack near his sec- time periods.” “What do they think of military opera- tor. On the way, Brown’s Humvee, the Once he has his master’s degree, tions, and what do they think about mili- lead vehicle, rolled over a 120 mm pres- Brown will teach at Fort Leavenworth tary people?” sure-detonated mortar shell. The while working on his PhD. Whatever it is they think now, it’s armored truck was pierced by only one “After I was injured, I wondered how I likely a lot of student and faculty perspec- piece of shrapnel, which didn’t strike would fit in,” he says. “Now with this tives are about to broaden and deepen: anyone inside. opportunity to study at KU, I can see the Heroes in our midst will tend to do “It felt like we fell off a cliff,” Brown road ahead so much more clearly than I that.

ISSUE 2, 2008 | 35 Association

erature at the Univer- sity of California, Los Angeles, Sundquist has written or edited nine books and has won a senior fellowship from the National Endow- ment for the Humani- ties. He was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a rare honor for a literary scholar. In 1993, his book, To Wake the Nations: Race in the Making of American Literature, won the James Russell Lowell Prize from the Sundquist Youmans Modern Language Association as the best book published that Devotion to duty year. His most recent Since 1941, the work, Strangers in the Jayhawks to march in Commencement May 18 Land: Blacks, Jews, Post- Alumni Association Holocaust America, won and the University as winners of KU’s highest honor the Weinberg Judaic have bestowed Studies Institute Book wo alumni who have helped improve Award. He received the prestigious Mellon Foun- the Distinguished understanding of diverse cultures will dation Distinguished Achievement Award in Service Citation receive the 2008 Distinguished Service 2006; the $1.5 million award over three years Citation, the highest honor bestowed by helps fund his ongoing research and teaching upon individuals TKU and the Alumni Association for humanitarian related to the Holocaust’s role in American and whose lives and service. They are Eric Sundquist, c’74, Sherman modern culture. He is currently writing a book careers have Oaks, Calif., and Roger Youmans, c’55, m’58, for Yale University Press titled King’s Dream, m’65, Princeton, N.J. a study of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a benefited humanity. Each year the Association invites nominations Dream” speech. for the DSC until Sept. 30; representatives from Sundquist came to KU from McPherson, and the chancellor’s office and the Alumni and KU he credits his study of music in high school and Endowment associations review all nominations at KU with introducing him to diverse cultures. and make their selections. Sundquist and He earned master’s and doctoral degrees from Youmans will be the guests of honor at the All- Johns Hopkins University. There he began teach- University Supper May 16. ing English and humanities courses before mov- As a teacher and author, Sundquist has high- ing on to the University of California, Berkeley, lighted the voices of racial and ethnic minorities where he became a full professor in six years. He in American literature and has been a driving later held a named professorship at Vanderbilt force behind the study of multicultural literature. University and taught at Northwestern University Currently the UCLA Foundation Professor of Lit- as a professor of English and African-American

36 | KANSAS ALUMNI Studies before joining the UCLA faculty. ings International, both based in Like Sundquist, Youmans through his Tulsa. career has sought to heal racial differ- ences and other inequities. During his ◆ ◆ ◆ undergraduate years at KU, Youmans did his part for integration years before the Civil Rights movement gained momen- New groups unite tum. As a Summerfield Scholar and var- sity tennis player, he joined the Alpha Phi far-flung Jayhawks Alpha fraternity—the first intercollegiate greek fraternity for African-Americans. Alumni chapters take hold When news of his membership in Alpha in international outposts Phi Alpha spread, a burning cross appeared on the lawn of the fraternity. ollowing a successful event Dec. Later, as a first-year medical student, he 13 to launch a new KU alumni traveled across the South with his frater- chapter in London, the Associa- nity brothers and experienced racism tion will host an inaugural event and discrimination firsthand. FApril 13 for the Paris chapter, then head In 1961, he took a leave of absence to Hong Kong to officially organize a from his KU surgical residency and trav- chapter at an event April 26. eled to Africa, where he worked as the Jamie Winkelman, assistant director medical director of the Sona Bata Hospi- of alumni programs, says the new tal in the Democratic Republic of Congo chapters are a response to growing shortly after the nation gained its inde- interest expressed in recent years by ■ pendence. After receiving a diploma in alumni who live abroad. Though various Participants at a college fair at Pui Ching tropical medicine from the Princess groups of alumni have met occasionally school in Macau last July included, l to r, Lik Astrid School of Tropical Medicine in through the years, Winkelman and Mike Hang Choi, c’04; Bell Wong, c’04; Fei Lok, b’97, Belgium, he returned to Congo, working Davis, senior vice president for alumni, g’01; Danny Wing Kin Li; Josie Ho, now a KU 10 years in bush hospitals. He braved student and membership programs, freshman; and Ben Au, f’04. desperate conditions to deliver surgical wanted to organize official chapters that care, improve the medical infrastructure could expand the Jayhawk network, and for its national chapters to meet the and establish surgical training programs they set a goal to create three groups this needs of international alumni. “We want for Congolese physicians. He also year. Following extensive research, to foster more involvement and generate worked in Ghana and Nigeria as a visit- Winkelman began conversations with alumni presence internationally,” ing professor of surgery and as a medical key volunteers to determine how the Winkelman says. missionary in South American nations. Association should adapt the model The Association’s efforts dovetail with In the United States, Youmans was a those of the University, surgeon at California hospitals before he which in recent years has returned to the Midwest. He taught sur- increased its international gery at the University of Oklahoma recruitment of students. School of Medicine and the Oral Roberts Daphne Johnston, associ- University School of Medicine, where he ate director in the Office of received awards for outstanding teaching International Student and each year from 1983 to 1987. Scholar Services, coordi- His experiences led him to write nates international under- numerous articles and books, including graduate admission and When Bull Elephants Fight: An American travels often to Asia, where Surgeon’s Chronicle of Congo in 2006. Jayhawk networks exist in Youmans currently serves on the Korea, Japan and China. board of the United Front Against More than 2,200 KU Riverblindness—a disease prevalent in alumni live in Asia. Africa’s tropical areas—and the boards of ■ Bryan Tyrell, left, hosted Jayhawks in December at his “Our most effective Health Teams International and Bless- Bodean’s restaurant in London. form of recruitment is the

ISSUE 2, 2008 | 37 Association

communication among successful, happy hours, community activities that promote alumni, current KU students, faculty and KU and mentoring programs. staff and their family and friends,” John- The London chapter has already

ston says. “Over time, we have developed established a meeting place, at Bodean’s SPICHER VALERIE a larger number of overseas alumni in BBQ Smoke House restaurant. Bryan certain Asian countries.” Tyrell, c’84, works as the catering man- In Macau, on the southern coast of ager there and tunes the establishment’s China, Johnston returns often to Pui TVs to KU basketball and football games. Ching high school, which has regularly Christine Stinson, j’75, London chap- sent students to Mount Oread. Two of ter leader, hopes the group will continue the school’s counselors are KU alumni, to grow. Working with Winkelman, she and other Jayhawks are eager to visit is planning wine tastings, pub walks their high school for college fairs and along the Thames, London theatre out- share their KU experiences, Johnston ings, “and of course this year’s Big 12 says. and NCAA tournament watch parties at In nearby Hong Kong, Jayhawks Bodean’s,” she says. already have created a chapter board and International chapters also will pro- committees in preparation for the chap- vide opportunities for U.S. alumni travel- ter’s first event in April. Gia Jolita Sun ing with the Association’s Flying leads the chapter. Jayhawks program to connect with ■ “KU is known for being a quality insti- alumni abroad. Winkelman hopes to join Erika Bentson, j’07, joined the Association tution that celebrates diversity.” says Sun, receptions with itineraries for trips that staff in January as editorial assistant. She b’02, g’03. “Many of us, born and bred in include visits to chapter cities. The Asso- writes for print and online communications, Hong Kong, have returned to this part of ciation has researched opportunities to including the Association’s Web site. the world and hope to carry on with the start chapters in Canada, Germany, KU traditions and spirit.” India, Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan and Chapter events will include happy Thailand in the near future.

◆ ◆ ◆

SUSAN YOUNGER Jayhawk reunions

he Association is hosting reunions for several KU groups in the months ahead. Details will be mailed soon, but please mark theseT dates:

• April 19 Gold Medal Club

• Oct. 3-4 Summerfield and Watkins-Berger Scholars, Class of 1979 and earlier

• Oct. 9-12 Class of 1958

• Oct. 24-25 Class of 1988

■ Campus blooms will welcome Gold Medal Club members back to the Hill April 19.

38 | KANSAS ALUMNI ◆ ◆ ◆ Thank you, The KU Alumni Association exists to strengthen the life members University of Kansas by informing, engaging and mobilizing the KU community. he following Jayhawks have committed to Your membership in the Association is the single most the KU Alumni Association as new life powerful way to make all of KU stronger, including the members. This list includes those who value of your own degree. became life members beginning Jan. 1 Tthrough Feb. 29, 2008. Life membership dues Board of Directors DIRECTORS UNTIL 2011 Michael W. Davis, d’84, are $1,000 single and $1,500 joint; 12-month Jeffrey P. Briley, d’74, g’91, Sr VP for Alumni, Overland Park Student and Membership installment plans are available. For more CHAIR Howard E. Cohen, b’79, Programs information, please visit www.kualumni.org or Joe C. Morris, b’61, Leawood Heath Peterson, d’04 call 800-584-2957. Leawood Jay Howard, b’79, Director of Kansas Austin, Texas Programs CHAIR-ELECT Bradley G. Korell, l’97, Jill Simpson Miller, d’01 Michael E. Aplin Bradley W. Looney Tedde Tasheff, c’78, Austin, Texas Director of Kansas City Ronald D. & Lisa J. Aul Robert E. Markwell & New York, New York Curtis R. McClinton Jr., Programs Debrah L. & Paul D. Barr Kathleen B. Markwell d’62, Kansas City, Missouri EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Matthew T. & Marina Michael M. Meier Winifred S. Pinet, COMMUNICATIONS Jay Howard, b’79, Lamkey Bell Henry C. & Julie M. c’80, g’82, Plymouth, David Johnston, j’94, g’06 Austin, Texas Michigan Director of Internet Jeanne L. Berg Menghini Joe C. Morris, b’61, Services and Marketing Charles H. Bill II Scott E. & Eve Wilson Leawood DIRECTORS TO JULY 2012 Chris Lazzarino, j’86 Charlotte Hall Burkhart Messick Marvin R. Motley, c’77, Bud” Burke, b’56, Paul “ Associate Editor, Scott A. Cady Adam S. Murray l’80, g’81, Leawood Lawrence Kansas Alumni Magazine Walter F. Riker III, c’70, Ray D. Evans, b’82, g’84, James T. Chastain Charles R. Newton Jennifer Sanner, j’81 j’78, Aurora, Illinois Prairie Village Chandra S. Chaterji Jeffrey S. Nichols Sr VP for Communications Tedde Tasheff, c’78, Karen M. Humphreys, Blish Mize Connor Rhonda Newcomer and Corporate Secretary New York, New York c’70, l’73, Wichita Dusten D. & Kelly Percival Susan Younger, f ’91 Becky VanWyhe Thomas, James A. Trower, b’76, Creative Director Richardson Crichton Michael R. & Lisa Ibenthal e’86, Baldwin City Salina Todd W. & Mindi M. Peterson Sue Shields Watson, d’75, FINANCE Davidson Larry J. Putnam Wichita HONORARY MEMBERS Dwight Parman Charles W. Dillon Brady D. Rodgers Gene A. Budig, EdD, Sr VP for Finance and DIRECTORS TO JULY 2008 Haley N. Estes Scott R. Seyfarth Princeton, New Jersey Human Resources and Carol Ann Adams Brown, Patrick M. Gray John M. & Kelli Springs E. Laurence Chalmers Jr., Treasurer c’72, Alexandria, Virginia PhD, San Antonio,Texas Nicole M. Hall Shoemaker Tom H. Collinson, Archie R. Dykes, EdD, HOSPITALITY SERVICES William P. Hambright Steven Q. Simpson & c’00, Pittsburg Leawood Bryan Greve A. Suzanne Hamilton Pamela J. Nicklaus Tedde Tasheff, c’78, Delbert M. Shankel, PhD, Sr VP for Hospitality James W. Hanke Tommie L. Smith New York, New York Lawrence RECORDS Douglas M. Hiemstra William C. Spradling DIRECTORS TO JULY 2009 Bill Green Harrison P. Hill Chris Stamets Robert T. Stephan, ’54, Administrative Staff Sr VP for Information D. Leonard Hope Christine S. Stinson Lenexa Services Dallas D. Hughes Marie Parker Strahan & Becky VanWyhe Thomas, Kevin J. Corbett, c’88 Stefanie Shackelford Christi Morgan Johnson Dennis W. Strahan e’86, Baldwin City President Vice President for Alumni Sue Shields Watson, d’75, Records Jeffery W. & Peggy D. Paul L. VanCompernolle ALUMNI CENTER Wichita Johnson Thomas F. Veale Timothy E. Brandt, b’74 SPECIAL EVENTS Director of Adams Alumni Laura Meriwether Kirk & Timothy V. Votapka DIRECTORS TO JULY 2010 Lora Stoppel Center Don Kirk Kelley Thompson Walker E. Grant Larkin, c’78, Vice President for Joseph V. Kulbiski David R. Wanek & Garden City ALUMNI, STUDENT Special Events Maleia Rome Lake Maribeth Portz Melissa Rodgers Padgett, & MEMBERSHIP PROGRAMS Fredric W. & Marcia L. Sean A. Wilson c’83, Lawrence Jennifer Alderdice, g’99 LaMar Jason M. & Sarah Beaver Walter F. Riker III, c’70, Assistant Vice President j’78, Aurora, Illinois Charles D. Livingston York of Student Programs

ISSUE 2, 2008 | 39 Class Notes BY KAREN GOODELL

1929 graduate business school at Nanyang University. He lives in Fort Collins. Dorothy Decker Anderson, c’29, Technological University in Singapore. George Schluter, b’60, recently lives in Lawrence, where she recently Lee Manney Nelson, c’57, c’58, is became president of the Home Builders celebrated her 100th birthday. founding director of the travel program Association of Greater Kansas City. He for the University of Texas Alumni Asso- and Mary Ellen Fowler Schluter, b’63, 1937 ciation. She lives in El Paso. live in Kansas City. Jane Shwartz Axel, f’37, makes her Gary, b’60, f’68, and Sandra Collins home in Huntington Beach, Calif., where 1960 Thompson, ’91, recently moved to she was named 2005 Artist of the Year. Charles Bowlus, c’60, m’70, is a pro- Tualatin, Ore., to be closer to their grand- Carolyn Bailey Berneking, f’37, con- fessor of history at the University of children. tinues to perform piano duets with a Arkansas, where Barbara Frey Bowlus, partner at music events in Lawrence, ’61, teaches German. They live in Little 1961 where she lives. Rock. Edward Reilly, c’61, recently was Saundra Hayn, c’60, teaches at Milpi- inducted into the KU Army ROTC Jay- 1948 tas High School in Milpitas, Calif. hawk’s Battalion Wall of Fame. He chairs Kenneth Danneberg, b’48, retired Robert Klamm, e’60, does consulting the U.S. Parole Commission and makes from Danneberg Energy Companies. He for Precision Nameplate in St. Charles, his home in Bethesda, Md. lives in Denver. Mo. He and his wife, Barbara, live in Lake St. Louis. 1962 1949 Kenneth Rock, c’60, is a professor Delbert, b’62, and Avonne Lewis Sara Weitzer Shaw, g’49, serves on emeritus of history at Colorado State Harkness, ’63, live in Lewisville, the board of Charlestown Community Inc. She lives in Catonsville, Md.

1950 Gomer Stukesbary, p’50, and his wife, Becky, celebrated their 60th anniversary last fall. They live in Ness City, and he’s a pharmacist consultant for B&G Consult- ing.

1951 John Bannigan, j’51, lectures about world affairs to community groups and civic associations. He and his wife, Rose, live in Arlington, Va.

1955 Geraldine Walterscheid Liebert, p’55, was recognized recently by the Kansas Board of Pharmacy for 50 years of service to the profession. She lives in Coffeyville. James Moorhead, a’55, is a semi- retired architect in Lone Tree, Colo.

1957 Robert Boyd, e’57, is a professor in the

40 | KANSAS ALUMNI Remember the season all year! Commemorative Orange Bowl KU Football Commemorative Newspaper Edition Stadium Blanket Own a piece of history with this commemora- This limited-edition stadium blanket pays tive framed copy of KU’s Orange Bowl homage to KU’s attendance at eleven victory coverage by the Lawrence bowl games, including the 2008 Journal-World. This front page Orange Bowl. of the Sports section has “Orange Bowl Edition,” the Made of thick, 100% virgin date and the final score. wool, this blanket is custom This is sure to be a collec- woven for the Association tor’s favorite and is limited by Routt County Woolens to just 50 copies, so don’t of Colorado. The blanket delay! Frame measures 16” measures 48” x 52” plus a x 25 3/4”, with UV glass. stylish 3” fringe. Comes with a Available in gold tone or blue protective clear vinyl bag and metal frame. carrying handle.

$170 Non-member $150 Non-member $153 Association Member $135 Association Member $136 Jayhawk Society or Life Member $120 Jayhawk Society or Life Member

To order, visit www.kualumni.org or call 800-584-2957

Prices and availability subject to change. No C.O.D. or P.O. box deliveries. Merchandise may be returned or exchanged within 30 days of receipt. Kansas residents add sales tax. Shipping and handling added to all orders. Class Notes

Texas, where he works for NADA.

1963 Richard Currie, c’63, retired as profes- sor of English after 40 years at the Col- lege of Staten Island. He continues to live in Staten Island, N.Y. Janey Shipley Hawks, f’63, wrote Sculpted Threads, a book about fiberart, which was published recently by Martin- gale & Co. She lives in Tulsa, Okla. William Lampton, b’63, g’67, retired last year from a 31-year career as a CPA. He lives in Lincoln, Calif.

1965 Larry Armel, b’65, l’68, serves as an independent director for the Marshall Funds in Milwaukee. He lives in Lea- wood. Michael Hubbard, c’65, makes his home in Rhinelander, Wis., where he’s a retired U.S. Air Force pilot and a United Methodist minister. Stephen Shade, b’65, and his wife, Dale, live in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., where he’s retired. John Yarnell, e’65, is senior associate at Volkert & Associates in Jefferson City, Mo.

1966 Daniel Green, e’66, directs projects for Kaiser Permanente in Honolulu. Patricia Cram Nelson, n’66, retired last year from the New Mexico Depart- ment of Health. She lives in Albuquerque and does consulting work for state agencies. Stephen Shaffer, e’66, is president of SRSconsulting in Bartlesville, Okla.

1967 Sandy Buda, d’67, g’75, works as a fac- tory representative for Riddell Sports in Omaha, Neb. He and Nancy Schroll Buda, d’68, g’69, make their home in Bellevue. Virginia Bliesner Colburn, d’67, and her husband, Larry, d’67, g’73, recently retired from teaching in the Shawnee Mission school district. They live in Prairie Village. Beatrice Osgood Krauss, g’67, serves

42 | KANSAS ALUMNI as executive director of research and grant support for Hunter College’s school of health professions in New York City. Charles Thayer, b’67, recently was named chairman of the American Associ- ation of Bank Directors. He’s chairman and managing director of Chartwell Capi- tal Ltd. in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

1968 Loneta Wilson Schmollinger, d’68, retired recently after teaching social stud- ies for 37 years in Smithville, Mo. She lives in Platte City. Michael Sweatman, d’68, g’75, has retired from the New York Giants, where he was a special teams coordinator. He and his wife, Teri, live in Mashpee, Mass. Dennis Taylor, c’68, moved recently to Helena, Mont., after retiring as city man- ager of Eugene, Ore. Frank Viscek, b’68, and his wife, Mari- lyn, live in Kansas City, where he’s retired.

1969 Marilyn Asklund, d’69, continues to make her home in Topeka, where she retired recently after a 38-year career teaching social studies. munity College. He and Gayle Watson George Dugger, c’71, is a health care Jeanette Cool, f’69, g’73, is executive Jackson, ’82, live in Lawrence. data analyst for the Kansas Department director of the Sam Mazza Foundation. Gerald Koellsted, c’70, continues to of Aging in Topeka. He lives in Lawrence. She lives in San Francisco. make his home in Auburn, Ala. Ruth Grothusen Obadal, f’71, is chief Timothy Vocke, c’70, serves as district of the Puyallup Fire Department in 1970 chairman of the Boy Scouts of America’s Puyallup, Wash. Sandra Arbuthnot, c’70, and her hus- Crystal Lake Division. He practices law John Regier, c’71, practices law and is band, Michael Michaud, recently moved and is a reserve judge in Rhinelander, a partner in the Boston firm of Mintz to Lawrence. For the past 18 years, she Wis. Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky & Popeo. has worked at U.S. embassies in France, Carla Rupp, j’71, works as a freelance Japan, Switerland and Austria. 1971 travel writer in New York City. Robert, e’70, g’72, PhD’74, and Te r r y David Andersen, j’71, is a principal at Charles Toomey, c’71, recently became Ryan Axline, d’70, g’73, make their DCA Management Consulting in Atlanta. president of Toomey Technology. He home in Albuquerque, N.M. He’s retired David Colgan, c’71, recently received lives in Coatesville, Pa. from Sandia Labs. the Gwen Rosebeary Award from the Franklin Dunn, c’70, is vice president Building Industry Association of Orange MARRIED for administration at Tidewater Commu- County, Calif. He’s a partner in the Irvine Christina Broderson, c’71, g’76, and nity College in Norfolk, Va. He lives in law firm of Nossaman Guthner Knox & Thomas Cotter, c’72, Dec. 22 in Virginia Beach. Elliott. Golden, Colo. They live in Littleton. Ronald Everly, a’70, is a senior M.E. Langel Dickerson, d’71, g’77, associate at FaithfulGould in Seal EdD’85, a retired professor of English at 1972 Beach, Calif. Johnson County Community College in Janet Ghilino Bates, f’72, lives in New- Marshall Jackson, s’70, g’89, works as Overland Park, makes her home in ton, where she’s a quilt artist. a counselor for Kansas City Kansas Com- Eureka Springs, Ark. Ronald Darcey, b’72, a retired con-

ISSUE 2, 2008 | 43 Class Notes troller with Tyson Foods, makes his home in Nashville, Ark. Kathy Collins Reilly, d’72, a retired teacher and lawyer, lives in Des Moines. Steven Vickers, j’72, recently was inducted into the Drum Corps Interna- tional Hall of Fame. He’s owner and pub- lisher of Drum Corps World in Madison, Wis.

1973 Cribbs Altman, a’73, a’76, owns the Lauck Group in Dallas. Robert Chudy, g’73, is interim director of international services at the University of Connecticut in Storrs. Stephen Kirk, a’73, g’75, serves as president of Kirk Associates in Grosse Pointe Park, Mich. David Meredith, f’73, is senior graphic designer at Gill Studios in Lenexa. Leslie Kurtenbach Mills, j’73, works as a patent and trademark secretary at Janah & Associates. She lives in Corte Madera, Calif.

1974 Steven Averbuch, p’74, is executive director of oncology for Bristol-Myers Squibb in Princeton, N.J. He lives in North Wales, Pa. Bernard Becker, c’74, lives in Topeka, where he’s vice president and chief of human resources at Stormont-Vail HealthCare. He also serves as a public member of the Kansas State Board of Nursing. William Brown, j’74, is a regional video engineer for Mediacom Communi- cations in Des Moines. Laura Bea Stevens, c’74, m’76, CEO and CFO of Bea Medical Group in Sun- nyvale, Calif., makes her home in Los Altos with her husband, Grover Bryan, a’71.

1976 Kansas. She lives in Topeka and is presi- audiologist at Heartland Area Education Ken Krehbiel, j’76, is associate execu- dent of Connections Unlimited. Agency 11 in Ankeny, Iowa. tive director for communications for the John O’Connor, j’77, works as a U.S. National Council of Teachers of Mathe- 1977 Postal Service letter carrier in Gardner. matics in Reston, Va. He lives in Wash- Deborah Butler, j’77, works as a con- ington, D.C. tract administrator for Black & Veatch in 1978 Melissa Ness, d’76, s’81, chairs the Overland Park. Laurie James Dack, b’78, manages Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund in Deborah Reid Mountsier, d’77, is an accounts for SKC in Lenexa. She and her

44 | KANSAS ALUMNI husband, Randy, d’78, g’85, live in Over- land Park. Griffin Macy, e’78, is chief operations officer at CASE in Norfolk, Va. He lives in Virginia Beach.

1980 Mick Haugen, j’80, owns DigitalWorks Consulting in Wichita. Susan Heuchert, p’80, works as a pharmacist at Bi-Wise Pharmacy & Com- pounding Shop in Clearwater, Fla. Robin Smith Kollman, j’80, is public- relations facilitator for Libertyville Ele- mentary Schools District 7 in Libertyville, Ill.

1981 Edward Fensholt, j’81, l’84, is senior vice president and director of compliance services for Lockton Benefit Group in Kansas City. Greg Mosier, l’81, recently was named the Puterbaugh professor of ethics and legal studies at Oklahoma State Univer- sity in Stillwater. Caroline Bilderback Sosin, n’81, is clinical manager at Banner Thunderbird

ISSUE 2, 2008 | 45 Class Notes

Medical Center in Glendale, Ariz. Anthony Tilson, j’81, directs loss con- trol for Total Risk Management in Kansas THEN City. AGAIN 1982 1957 YEARBOOK JAYHAWKER ind the right path: Greg Shaw, e’82, is a staff test solution FJust think how easy specialist at CertTech in Overland Park. life would be if signs Mary Snyder, b’82, lives in Kansas directed you through City, where she’s vice president at BNY every milestone. At ori- Mellon. entation in the 1950s, directors ensured stu- 1983 dents remained on Kent Foerster, ’83, is an environmen- track as they made tal protection specialist for the U.S. Envi- their way through dif- ronmental Protection Agency in ferent activities. Washington, D.C. He and Beth Regier Foerster, g’80, live in Topeka. Clayton Hunter, j’83, directs resource development for United Way of Wyan- sion Medical Center. She lives in Over- U.S. Marine Corps in Tampa, Fla. dotte County. He lives in Kansas City. land Park. Earl Richardson, j’83, recently Barbara Costello Loehr, p’83, p’07, Col. Joseph Moore, c’83, serves as received the Paul E. Wilson Advocacy manages the pharmacy at Shawnee Mis- chief of resource and sustainment for the Award from the Kansas Association for

46 | KANSAS ALUMNI Dear KU... Fill out a class note at www.kualumni.org and tell us what you have been up to!

Justice. Earl studies law at KU. applications for Chevron Phillips e’85, live in Gladstone, Mo. Richard Woodward Jr., ’83, is an Chemical Co. He and his wife, Brenee, Edward Hubert, c’84, g’02, is an advertising account executive with the live in Bartlesville, Okla., with their environmental services manager for Tetra Kansas City Star. children, Melissa, 17, and Tyler, 13. Tech in Kansas City. Karen Finch, c’84, works as principal MARRIED consultant for Knowledge Infusion in 1985 Karen Farrar, b’83, to Bradford Eng- Los Gatos, Calif. Todd Thompson, b’85, is general lish, Dec. 29 in Kansas City, where they Steve Ghormley, j’84, is a subcontract manager for International Paper in live. Karen directs alumni relations for administrator for Gulfstream Aerospace Portland, Ore. He lives in Vancouver, the college of arts and sciences at UMKC. in Savannah, Ga. Wash. Daniel Grelinger, e’84, manages engi- Sousa Taylor Williams, c’85, g’93, 1984 neering for Cerner Corp. in Kansas City. works as Web manager for KEYE-TV in Lee Carvell, e’84, develops polymer He and Deanna Sanderson Grelinger, Austin, Texas.

Profile BY TAMMY DODDERIDGE

Exec’s career soars himself, he conducted with aircraft company extensive market research and started a any young boys dream of fractional sales divi- flying airplanes when they sion for Executive Air- grow up, but Bob Taylor craft. The division COURTESY EXECUTIVE AIRSHARE wasn’t one of them. For him continued to grow theM dream came later in life, and he’s still until he purchased living it. that part of the com- Taylor, of Mission Hills, is chairman pany and established and CEO of Executive AirShare Corpora- Executive AirShare. tion, a fractional-ownership aircraft The company oper- company headquartered in Kansas City. ates out of four hubs— The regional company lets businesses Kansas City; Wichita; ■ Bob Taylor put his longtime finance expertise to work building a and individuals reap the benefits of pri- Tulsa, Okla.; and Dal- company that allows him to focus on his newfound love of flying. vate aircraft ownership while sharing the las/Fort Worth—with a cost with other owners. Owners get a staff of 50, including certain number of days and flight hours 30 pilots and six mechanics. three public boards.” per share. Taylor grew up in a family of finance The boards are Inergy L.P., Elecsys “We provide a specialized service to majors. His oldest brother and twin Corporation and Bank of Blue Valley. our clients,” says Taylor, c’69. “We’re the brother have degrees in math or econom- He also serves as a trustee for the KU seventh-largest fractional operator com- ics. Taylor followed suit, earning a bache- Endowment Association and on the pany in the U.S. There aren’t very many lor’s degree in math and economics from board of advisers for the School of companies that do what we do.” KU and an MBA from Michigan. Business. A licensed pilot since 1999, Taylor A CPA, Taylor was chairman and CEO Though his daily work keeps him started the company in 2001 after a pros- of Railroad Savings Bank, and senior vice busy, he and his family fly to KU’s post- perous 30-year career in finance. He was president and chief financial officer of season football and basketball games. He working as president of Executive Air- Rent-A-Center. His financial expertise doesn’t plan to retire anytime soon, but craft, an airplane sales and maintenance remains an important asset to his work, he often teases that he’d like to spend company, in 1998 when his idea took and to other organizations in the Kansas more time in the back of the airplanes flight. City area. instead of selling them. “I just fell in love with the business,” “I have two lives, really,” says the Dodderidge, j’83, is a Lenexa he says. “I fell in love with airplanes.” 61-year-old. “One is my AirShare busi- freelance writer. Determined to carve out a niche for ness and the other is my work on

ISSUE 2, 2008 | 47 Class Notes

1986 president of the Kansas Association of 1989 Timothy McGrath, b’86, is an account Insurance Agents. He’s vice president of Jeffrey Amen, g’89, is vice president executive with National Bank of Kansas Fee Insurance and makes his home in at Western Union in Englewood, Colo. City. He lives in Overland Park. Hutchinson. Harlan Harper, s’89, serves as John Sippel, ’86, lives in St. Louis. He’s youth pastor at Presbyterian Church president of Sippel Technologies in 1988 of Stanley in Overland Park. He lives Bridgeton. Mary Padilla, j’88, directs marketing in Olathe. for Movida Communications. She lives in David McGrath, c’89, is regional man- 1987 Overland Park. ager for IHI Environmental. He lives in Rochelle Collier Brown, c’87, is an Waden Weinzirl, b’88, is regional Oakland, Calif. organizational development process director of corporate retail operations for leader for Honeywell in Folsom, Calif. SuperValu/Save-Alot in Earth City, Mo. BORN TO: Robert Fee, c’87, recently was elected He lives in St. Charles. Steven, a’89, and Emily Roberts

Profile BY DAVID GARFIELD STEVE PUPPE

Life lessons inform or white,” Juneau says, Juneau’s work for students “these are truly places that give kids opportu- rowing up as a Japanese-born nities.” kid in the small town of Her- His career has been ington in the late 1950s and defined by helping dis- ’60s, Ted Juneau knew what it advantaged kids from Gwas like to be “a little bit of an outsider.” diverse backgrounds. His experiences helped shape his philos- Early work with spe- ophy as an educator: Respect everybody cial-ed students at for who they are. Topeka High influ- After more than 30 years in public enced him later in the education championing diversity and classroom and on the ■ During a long career in public education, Ted Juneau has devoted “underdogs,” Juneau, g’93, now creates court. As principal at energy at every stop to working with disadvantaged kids. He is now opportunities for minority students as Lawrence’s Central basketball coach and athletic director at Haskell Indian Nations basketball coach and athletic director at Junior High, he devel- University. Haskell Indian Nations University. He oped invaluable after- was hired in July to evaluate the athletic school programs on a department and began his current duties shoestring budget and made it a point to life is and how important it is to give in October. talk with every student. your best every time you do something.” “It’s an incredible and exciting place After leaving Central in 2005 to work As basketball coach, Juneau could use to help the [Native American] cause,” two years as project director for the Insti- the hoops talents of his close friend and says Juneau. “The work kind of caps off tute for Educational Research and Public former player at Lawrence High, Danny everything I’ve done and everything I Service at KU, Juneau moved to Haskell, Manning, c’92. Juneau has been indelibly believe.” where the athletics programs have strug- linked to the KU great since 1984, when Inspired by his fifth-grade teacher, gled to compete since transitioning from Juneau’s Manning-led Lions played in Juneau chose a teaching and coaching a junior college to a four-year NAIA the state championship game. career after graduating from Fort Hays school in 2000. “I feel very privileged that people State in 1972 with a psychology degree Juneau shares with Haskell’s student- would connect me with being Danny’s (emphasis on mental retardation). He athletes a story from his own college coach,” Juneau says. “I’ve also coached a was proud to be a teacher, assistant prin- days. A year after he transferred from lot of great kids. I’m proud of them cipal and principal at Topeka High, Wichita State, his former Shocker foot- all.” Lawrence High and Central Junior High. ball teammates died in a plane crash. Garfield, c’88, is a Lawrence “No matter if you’re rich, poor, black The lesson, says Juneau, “is how fragile freelance writer

48 | KANSAS ALUMNI

ment relations at KU, recently was Brian Perott, c’92, recently was named to the advisory board of the named managing director of Financial National Association of State Universities Counselors Inc. He and his wife, Abbi- and Land Grant Colleges. He lives in gail Park, c’94, make their home in Lawrence. Tulsa, Okla.

1957 YEARBOOK JAYHAWKER Brad Ramsey, e’92, is vice president of 1991 engineering for NuStar Engineering in Tari Malmgren, p’91, p’06, is scientific San Antonio. affairs liaison for Ortho-McNeil Janssen Scientific Affairs in Addison, Texas. 1993 Thomas Van Benschoten, b’91, lives Corey McCarthy, b’93, g’98, works in Wilmette, Ill., where he’s a pilot for as controller for the National Cable NetJets. Television Cooperative. He and Paige Yarbrough McCarthy, b’92, live in BORN TO: Overland Park. Rebecca Ackerman-McCorry, c’91, John Noltensmeyer, c’93, is operating and Evan, daughter, Avery Lynn, Oct. 9 manager of Digital Phalanx. He lives in in Wichita, where she joins a sister, Ash- Dallas. ton, 8. Robert Phelps, l’93, recently was appointed a clerk for the U.S. District 1992 Court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Jadi Dlugosh Miller, d’92, serves as Stephen Six, l’93, was appointed by THEN AGAIN principal of Everett Elementary School in Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, g’80, to serve as Lincoln, Neb. Kansas attorney general. He lives in ead news: Old newspapers found Dtheir way to the “morgue” after shelf lives had passed. As the crypt’s keeper, librarian Jean McKnight made sure issues of the University Daily Kansan stayed organized and easily accessible to those who wanted to dig into the past.

Malin, g’96, daughter, Joy Elenor, Dec. 27 in Baldwin City, where she joins a sister, Grace.

1990 Sunni Alford, h’90, works as a certified hand therapist for Select Physical Ther- apy in Olathe. Marisa Chandley, j’90, works as a sen- ior marketing manager for Viega in Wichita. She lives in McPherson. Richard Knubley, c’90, is branch man- ager at Brenntag Southwest. He lives in Wichita with Leigh Borden Knubley, c’90. Hans Nettelblad, a’90, recently was appointed to the Kansas Energy Council. He works as an associate with BNIM Architects in Kansas City. Keith Yehle, c’90, director of govern-

ISSUE 2, 2008 | 51 Class Notes

Lawrence with his wife, Betsy, assoc., 1995 and their four children. LaRisa Chambers-Lochner, c’95, Kevin Toal, c’93, makes his home in recently became a development officer at Maryland Heights, Mo. He’s an assistant the KU Endowment Association. She and professor at St. Louis Community her husband, Brian, ’95, live in

1972 YEARBOOK JAYHAWKER College. Lawrence, where he owns Lochner Con- struction. BORN TO: Monica DeVreese, b’95, is brand man- Jason, c’93, m’97, and Shannon ager for Simple Shoes in Goleta, Calif. Peterson Kimball, c’96, son, Logan She lives in Santa Barbara. Kenneth, Oct. 1 in Atlanta, where he David, c’95, l’99, g’99, and Heather joins a brother, Ian, 2. Jason is a hospital- Siegel Stras, c’95, s’99, make their home ist at St. Joseph’s Hospital, and Shannon in Plymouth, Minn., with their sons, is a research specialist with the Georgia Brandon, 7, and Benjamin, 1. THEN AGAIN Department of Education. Bradley, c’93, and Heather Harris BORN TO: orget football: Foosball became a Silver, c’93, son, Noah Jacob, Sept. 6 Sarah Smith Graff, c’95, d’96, and trendy recreation alternative in 1972. F in Overland Park. Brad is a property Stephen, son, Seth Alexander, Sept. 22 in The “sport” was different at the time inspector for Kaw Valley Field Services, Frisco, Texas. because it allowed both male and female and Heather is office manager at Weston Hyter, b’95, and Yami, daugh- players to compete against each other on Datamax. ter, Zandra Marie, Aug. 9 in Mill Valley, equal terms. Local bars and Student Union Calif., where she joins a sister, Zara, 3. Activities hosted tournaments for foosball 1994 Kendell Warren, c’95, and Angelina, aficionados. Larry Kleeman, b’94, c’94, l’97, is daughter, Abigail Marie, Nov. 27 in president of Citycode in Wichita. Petersburg, Va. Kendell teaches history at

52 | KANSAS ALUMNI Prince George County School, and Tarzana, Calif. Lindsay, e’94, make their home with Angelina teaches third grade. Matthew Miller, a’96, manages their children, Isabella, 6, and Alexandra, regional sales for Dentsply International. 2. Lindsay is an engineer with W.L. Cas- 1996 He lives in St. Louis. sell & Associates. Cara Exley Bray, n’96, h’02, works for Darryl Monroe, c’96, is an area scout Johnson County Anesthesiologists in for the New York Yankees. His home is in BORN TO: Olathe. She and her husband, Jack, Decatur, Ga. Irene Prilutsky Shnayder, j’96, and m’83, live in Prairie Village. John Price, a’96, works as an architect Rolan, a son, Samuel, Jan. 3, 2007. She is Casondra Reiter Campbell, s’96, for Hartshorne & Plunkard Architecture a national account executive with Clear manages human resources for R.R. Don- in Chicago. Channel Outdoor in New York City. nelley. She lives in Kearney, Mo. Elizabeth Swed Robertson, j’96, prac- David Dodson, ’96, directs Salem tices veterinary medicine in Lee’s Sum- 1997 Partners Wealth Management in mit, Mo., where she and her husband, Michelle Blair, d’97, works as a finan-

Profile BY STEVEN HILL STEVE PUPPE Alumna helps women want jobs, they want work, but it’s not build worldwide trade available.” She is one of three U.S. women who n her first trip to Uganda, run One Mango Tree. As field coordina- during her undergraduate tor, von Achen does most of the ground days at KU, Kate von Achen work in Uganda. The company employs fell in love with the war-torn five women in the northern town of OAfrican country. Gulu, an area dominated by Indigenous “Almost immediately after crossing Displaced Persons camps. Von Achen the border I had the feeling of being supplies them with colorful Congolese home,” von Achen says. “The feeling got waxprint fabric to make purses, aprons, stronger and stronger, and when I left I yoga mat bags and other products wondered how I’d ever get back.” designed for Western consumers. According to World Vision, a non- In December, von Achen hosted a sale profit Christian relief and development of One Mango Tree merchandise at group, a civil war that began in the early Lawrence’s Bourgeois Pig. The vivid 1980s has left 1.6 million Ugandans goods, priced from $6 to $30, sold out. homeless; 80 percent of the population “One $30 peace purse equals about ■ Kate von Achen is helping Ugandan women live in crowded camps, cut off from farm- 65 dozen Ugandan shillings, which is create a global market for their handmade lands that are their traditional means more than most people make in a month accessories, which meld traditional African of support. in Kampala,” von Achen says. “So it fabrics with Western style. Her company, After finishing her political science makes a huge difference. The money I One Mango Tree, sells the products online degree at KU, von Achen, c’06, returned gave to the tailors was a lot even to me, at onemangotree.com. to Uganda to pursue a master’s in peace but to them—they are on the verge of and conflict studies at Makerere Univer- being rich by Gulu standards.” sity in Kampala. She co-founded One Von Achen and her partners take no their marketplace from a dusty market Mango Tree, a company that aims to salary, though they eventually hope to stall to the World Wide Web. help Ugandan women improve their make their enterprise profitable—and Money isn’t the only benefit, von lives by creating a Western market for thus sustainable. They follow a fair trade Achen stresses. “Giving these women their tailoring skills. model that passes as much money as sustainable work, having them feel a “We’re trying to empower women possible to the tailors, who are already sense of self worth, safety and security, is affected by the war, which has been reinvesting in their business by buying huge,” she says. “They haven’t had that going on more than 20 years,” von fabric and an additional treadle sewing for 20 years. It’s the most fulfilling thing Achen says. “Most of the people I’ve met machine. Onemangotree.com expands I’ve ever done.”

ISSUE 2, 2008 | 53 Class Notes cial services representative for Principal Valley Unified School District in Over- sister, Jane, 2. Financial Group in Overland Park. land Park. Whitney Ace Orr, c’97, and Kendel, Kay Lytle Jenista, ’97, is a nurse educa- son, Max Henry, Oct. 27 in Tyler, Texas, tor at the KU Medical Center in Kansas BORN TO: where he joins a sister, Caroline, 3. Whit- City. She commutes from Lawrence. Jill Newport Helmle, c’97, and ney is a physical therapist with Hallmark Chad, son, Jude Martin, July 27 in Rehab. MARRIED Santa Barbara, Calif., where he joins a Brian, d’97, g’03, and Kristen Koplik John Stockham, c’97, and Melia brother, Beck, 4. Jill is a doctoral candi- Williams, c’97, g’00, daughter, Madeline Johnson, d’04, g’06, Dec. 1 in Lawrence, date at the University of California- Jane, Sept. 15 in Lawrence, where they where they live. He’s an information Santa Barbara. live. Brian teaches at Shawnee Heights technology analyst at KU’s LAN Support Jennifer Joseph Johnson, j’97, and High School in Tecumseh, and Kristen is Services, and she is an educational Scott, daughter, Caroline Simons, a psychologist with the Auburn Wash- technology specialist for the Blue July 27 in Denver, where she joins a burn School District.

Profile BY PAMELA BABCOCK

Davis finds and delivers starter for KU, Davis was thrust into the DON DAVIS COURTESY spirituality in NFL career NFL and all the temptation a high-pro- file sports career offers. s team chaplain to the New Eng- “The behavior, with drinking and par- land Patriots, Don Davis, c’99, tying, they just increase. It’s easy to get knows about miracles. He caught up in it,” Davis recalls. The low preaches and sometimes prays point came one Monday in 1998. In Afor them. But on Super Bowl Sunday in week 10 of the season, he was released February, he had to run from one. from the New Orleans Saints because of After most games, Davis gathers play- an injury. ers to pray on the field. But when the “I was three years into my career and New York Giants pulled off a miracle was thinking, ‘Well, that dream is over,’” upset of the unbeaten Patriots, the scene Davis recalls. The following Thursday, was too chaotic. He and the Pats fled to he signed with the the locker room. Tampa Bay Bucca- What do you say after a stunning loss neers. It was a move ■ Don Davis, who won two Super Bowls with that deprived your team of the second that altered his life. the New England Patriots during his playing perfect season in NFL history? You say One major salva- days, now offers spiritual guidance as the team’s thanks, Davis says. tion was then-coach chaplain. “We just prayed, thanking Him for no Tony Dungy, a injuries and for a good game, and for hav- devout Christian ing the ability to go out and compete,” and former pro message that will resonate with all play- recalls Davis, also an assistant strength player. Davis says Dungy helped him get ers. Some are devout. Some skeptical. and conditioning coach for the team. back to “where my roots were and the Some searching in between. “We feel God is still good, and God is church, disciplined eating habits, and Married with two daughters, he says still God, no matter whether you win everything else. It was almost like look- that in his wild days, he could act “one or you lose.” ing in a mirror and seeing the person I way in one group” and completely oppo- Davis didn’t acquire such serenity wanted to be.” site someplace else. That’s all changed. easily. Failure and injury nearly cut short As chaplain, Davis plans weekly Bible “What you see is what you get,” Davis his 11-year NFL career. But he also felt studies, speakers for chapel services the says. “Life is about consistency. And that’s the euphoria of winning two Super Bowls night before games and one-on-one disci- my message to kids and all kinds of folks, with the Patriots—a team he retired from pleship “with certain guys—because whether they’re religious or not.” in 2007. sometimes, we all need help.” —Babcock is a freelance writer in the New Born in Kansas City and a four-year Davis admits it’s not easy to craft a York City area.

54 | KANSAS ALUMNI 1998 Michele Costanza, g’98, PhD’06, is a research scientist for Northrop Grum- man Technical Services in Leavenworth. She lives in Basehor. Corey Evans, c’98, works as center director for the Boston Arts Academy. Blythe Ridenour Jones, c’98, l’02, and Christopher, b’99, l’02, make their home in Westwood with their son, Walt, 1. Blythe and Chris are both associates at the law firm of Stinson Morrison Hecker in Kansas City.

BORN TO: Jill Williams Casas, f’98, and Douglas, son, Ian Jack, April 26 in Albuquerque, N.M. Matthew, c’98, m’03, and Shelly Meseraull Stumpe, b’99, daughter, Amanda Grace, Aug. 3 in Memphis, Tenn., where she joins a brother, Joel, 3. Matthew, b’98, g’03, and Allison Arbuckle Taylor, j’98, and son, Luke Charles, Oct. 17 in Prairie Village. Matt is a financial adviser at Merrill Lynch, and Allison is an associate director at AT&T.

1999 Theresa Baumgartner, s’99, works as Dusten is a resident director at Creighton Francis Health Center in Topeka. a paraeducator for Interlocal 615 in University. Sarah Penny, j’00, to Wyatt Smith, Hiawatha. David Pfeuffer, d’99, g’03, and Brooke, Oct. 27 in Lawrence. They live in Arling- Amy Schmidt Lewis, c’99, is program son, Thomas Seth, Sept. 29 in Lawrence. ton, Va., and Sarah works in the White director for The Harmony School in David is a consultant for The Scooter House. Princeton, N.J. She lives in Three Bridges. Store in Overland Park. Lindsay Puett, b’00, and Seth Peattie, Jeffrey Morrison, b’99, g’05, and Mary, Michael, b’99, and Miranda Schuster ’00, Oct. 12 in Kansas City, where they live in Lawrence with their sons, Asa, 5, Wilhelm, p’02, daughter, Aurora, Dec. live. Lindsay manages membership pro- Shepherd, 3, and their twin daughters, 26 in Shawnee. Michael is a program grams for Bluetooth SIG. Neely and Eden, 1. Jeffrey owns campus- manager for Sprint Nextel, and Miranda Jill Sullivan, c’00, and Charles cloth.com. is a pharmacist at Hen House Pharmacy. Drucker, c’01, Dec. 15 in Chicago. They Nicholas Walker, b’99, works as a site live in El Paso, Texas, where Charles IT manager for Flint Hills Resources in 2000 serves in the U.S. Army. Odessa, Texas. Robert Easterling, c’00, supervises intake for the Kansas Human Rights BORN TO: MARRIED Commission in Topeka. Aaron Williams, c’00, and Kiersten, Patrick Hosty, b’99, to Whitney Gee, son, Braden Tyler, Sept. 7 in Lawrence, Dec. 1 in Kansas City. They live in Prairie MARRIED where Aaron is an optometrist. Village. James Bridwell, c’00, to Alicia Church- well, Nov. 24 in Guthrie, Okla. They live 2001 BORN TO: in Alexandria, Va., and Jay serves in the Kelly Bock, h’01, is a contract coder for Kelly Richardson Crichton, d’99, g’01, U.S. Air Force. KForce in Wichita. and Dusten, d’02, son, Kade Thomas, Jana Gruver, c’00, to Terry Rombeck, Paul Gottesburen, c’01, is a formula- Dec. 17 in Omaha, Neb. Kelly is a staff Sept. 29 in Lawrence, where they live. tion chemist for ITW Dymon in Olathe. physical therapist at Allgent Health, and She’s an occupational therapist at St. David Mitchell, c’01, g’03, works as a

ISSUE 2, 2008 | 55 Class Notes management analyst for the city of High- land Park, Ill. Nancy Smith-Blair, PhD’01, works as an associate professor of nursing at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.

MARRIED Keith Van Horn, c’01, to Melissa Wenger, Nov. 17 in Lawrence, where Keith owns a dental practice.

BORN TO: Noel, j’01, and Misha Smith Ander- son, c’01, son, Connor Lee, April 25 in Bel Aire, where they live. Noel is cam- paign account manager for United Way of the Plains in Wichita, and Misha is an optometrist with Grene Vision Group. Jeremi Smith Jacquinot, h’01, and Michael, daughter, Elise Renee, April 29 in Erie, where they live. Jeremi is a med- ical coder at Labette County Medical Center in Parsons.

2002 Wendy Bruch, j’02, manages market- ing for DaVinci Roofscapes in Kansas City. Aidan Loveland Koster, c’02, g’06, l’06, is administrative manager for gradu- ate medical education at the KU Medical attorney with Sanders Conkright & War- pational therapist at Rehab Care and Center in Kansas City, where she and her ren, and Kimberly works as a nurse. Wade studies law at Washington Univer- husband, Christopher, c’02, m’06, live sity. with their daughter, Emma, 3. 2003 Scott Lowe, g’02, works as a public- Matthew Braaten, c’03, is an applica- 2004 relations specialist for Old Dominion tions specialist for Meditech in West- Torsten Bassell, c’04, practices law University. He lives in Virginia Beach, Va. wood, Mass. with Stoll, Nussbum & Polakov in Los Brandee Smith Stephens, j’02, is a Allison Butler, b’03, manages business Angeles. communications specialist for Black & development for Pepsi Bottling Group. Tony Bombardier, p’04, owns Cross- Veatch in Kansas City. She lives in Bon- She lives in Mission. roads Pharmacy in Belleville. ner Springs. Natalia Reynolds, a’03, designs Old Sarah Brenner, f’04, works for Child Navy stores for Gap Inc. in San Fran- Health Corporation of America. She lives MARRIED cisco. in Kansas City. Jennifer Cornelius, c’02, and Brian Rebecca Roemeling, b’03, is a sales Richard Crandall, c’04, is a corporate Herder, c’03, Dec. 15 in Lawrence, planning analyst for CBS in New York internal auditor for Dickinson Financial where they make their home. City. Corp. in Kansas City. Russell Pine, c’02, and Julie Bunn, Tara Southwick, c’03, g’08, teaches in Ramie Doran, b’04, recently was pro- c’04, l’07, Oct. 20 in Overland Park, the Park Hill School District. She lives in moted to vice president and private where they live. Kansas City. banking relationship manager for Bank of the West in Kansas City. BORN TO: MARRIED Jamalee Huntley, p’04, is a pediatric Michael, b’02, l’05, and Kimberly Alyson Pleviak, h’03, g’05, and Wade clinical pharmacy specialist at St. Johns Grollmes Smith, d’04, daughter, Emma Carr, c’04, b’05, Dec. 22 in Topeka. They Regional Health Care Center in Spring- Marie, Oct. 14 in Olathe. Michael is an live in St. Louis, where Alyson is an occu- field, Mo.

56 | KANSAS ALUMNI ISSUE 2, 2008 | 57 Class Notes

Nicole Knopick, b’04, works as a com- mercial real-estate associate for McRoberts & Co. in Dallas. Amanda McDowell, c’04, practices at Gifts for grads the McDowell Chiropractic/Acupuncture Clinic in Broken Arrow, Okla. take a piece of the Hill with you wherever you go Nikki Overfelt, j’04, edits copy for the Topeka Capital-Journal. She lives in Olathe. Jay Quickel, g’04, manages retail mer- chandise and marketing for Hallmark ▼ Fossil Watches Cards in Kansas City. Comes with Jacob Smith, c’04, works for Farmers limited-edition Insurance Group in Olathe. collector’s tin. Tarrah Speer, j’04, is a senior $72–$100 meeting planner with Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Companies in

Englewood, Colo. ▼ Zachary Zillner, c’04, lives in Chicago and is general manager of Kona Grill in Diploma Frames Oak Brook. feature the KU campus $91–$240 MARRIED Heidi Fischer, p’04, to Matthew Heck- man, Sept. 22 in Lawrence, where they live. Heidi is a pharmacist at St. Francis ▼ Campus Skyline print Health Center in Topeka. by artist Jim Hamil $56–$70 BORN TO: Tony Bombardier, p’04, and Kim,

daughter, Ally Rae, Sept. 26 in Belleville, ▼ where Tony owns Crossroads Pharmacy. Brass Jayhawks Lindsey Smith Hoover, c’04, and perfect for any desk $28–$95 Jason, daughter, Payton Christine, July 10 in Eudora. Lindsey is a communications specialist at KU.

2005 Cathy Boswell, g’05, is an advanced registered nurse practitioner for Over-

KU License Plate ▼ land Park Cardiovascular. Leave the Hill in style with a Michelle Burhenn, j’05, works as Jayhawk on your bumper. a reporter for the Morning News of Northwest Arkansas. She and her hus- band, Ryan Malashock, j’03, live in Lowell. Christine Davidson, j’05, makes her home in Bucyrus. She’s assistant media manager for VML Inc. Benjamin “Bear” Goodell, d’05, works in baseball operations for the FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO ORDER, Kansas City Royals. His home is in VISIT www.kualumni.org OR CALL 800-584-2957 Kansas City. Hannah Houlik, c’05, is a project

58 | KANSAS ALUMNI assistant for Pepper Construction in Chicago. Jeffrey Hrabe, d’05, works as a prod- ucts and services sales support specialist for Waddell & Reed in Mission. Adam Irwin, c’05, is a senior eco- nomic consultant for Deloitte & Touche in Boston. Lauren Morrell, j’05, makes her home in New York City, where she’s a senior sales representative for Anthropologie. Margaret Perkins-McGuinness, s’05, is development director for KU’s Spencer Art Museum. She lives in Lawrence. Raymundo Rojas, l’05, works as exec- utive director of the Las Americas Immi- grant Advocacy Center in El Paso, Texas. Tara Schupner, c’05, j’06, edits copy for the Steamboat Pilot & Today in Steamboat Springs, Colo. Erica Stein, j’05, works as an assistant media planner and buyer for Cramer- Krasselt in Chicago.

MARRIED James Ingraham, c’05, and Lindsey Bynum, c’06, May 26 in Shawnee. They make their home in Prairie Village. Christopher Veit, e’05, and Jessica Virtue, c’06, j’06, Dec. 20 in Lawrence, where they live. He’s an engineer with Kennedy/Jenks Consultants, and she works in the operations excellence department of Applebee’s International.

BORN TO: Crystal Jackman Dunbar, n’05, and Andrew, son, Aydan, Sept. 1 in Colony. Crystal is a nurse at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

2006 Christopher Beal, c’06, directs global corporate affairs for the Elanco division of Eli Lilly and Company in Greenfield, Ind. Stephanie Frost, c’06, manages events for Loose Mansion in Kansas City. Katherine Ibsen, j’06, is an editor with Sunflower Publishing in Lawrence. Daniel Madrid, b’06, recently was pro- moted to team coordinator with Cerner in Kansas City. Joseph Monaco, g’06, is a public-infor-

ISSUE 2, 2008 | 59 Class Notes mation officer with the Kansas Depart- ment of Commerce. He lives in Lawrence. William Moore, l’06, manages mid- stream development for Inergy LP in Kansas City. Erin Nied, j’06, directs membership for Robstan Group in Kansas City.

MARRIED Megan Cartwright, a’06, and Jordan Stobaugh, c’07, July 14 in Lawrence. They live in Durham, N.C., where she’s an intern architect with Finely Design and he’s pursuing a doctorate in chem- istry at the University of North Carolina. Molly Mackey, c’06, to Matthew Calorich, Oct. 27. They make their home in Denver.

2007 Sarah Glatfelder, d’07, coordinates marketing for Eurosport in Hillsborough, N.C. She lives in Chapel Hill. Lesley Rhine, g’07, works as a physical therapist with Athletico in Chicago.

School Codes Letters that follow names indicate the school from which alumni earned degrees. Numbers show their class years. a School of Architecture and Urban Design b School of Business c College of Liberal Arts and Sciences d School of Education e School of Engineering f School of Fine Arts g Master’s Degree h School of Allied Health j School of Journalism l School of Law m School of Medicine n School of Nursing p School of Pharmacy PharmD School of Pharmacy s School of Social Welfare DE Doctor of Engineering DMA Doctor of Musical Arts EdD Doctor of Education PhD Doctor of Philosophy (no letter) Former student assoc. Associate member of the Alumni Association

60 | KANSAS ALUMNI Travel the world with the Flying Jayhawks

Provence and the Davos, Switzerland 2008 French Riviera and Salzburg, Austria Italy’s Mountains & Lakes June 9–18 Sept. 26–Oct. 4 April 9–17 Cruise the Passage Mandarin China Treasures of Japan of Peter the Great Sept. 29–Oct.11 June 15–27 April 10–20 Italy’s Magnificent Paris The Great Lake District April 12–20 Journey Sept. 30–Oct. 8 through Saxony Cruise Europe Islands of New April 18–26 Andalucia June 23–July 3 England Tour May 4–13 Oct.3–10 Holland & Belgium Ukraine April 22–30 Ireland: Dublin and Belfast July 2–15 Village Life Along May 9–17 the Seine River Cruising the Canary Islands Alpine Mountains Oct. 3–11 April 23–May 1 Chianti and Lakes May 11–19 July 14–22 Village Life in Burgundy South Africa and Provence Island Life in Sicily and Malta Village Life in the Dordogne April 26–May 5 Oct. 3–11 May 14–22 July 31–Aug. 8 Danube River Cruise Italian Riviera and Tuscany Celtic Lands 2008 Kansas Basketball April 28–May 6 Oct. 4–12 May 24–June 4 Canada Tour Copenhagen, Denmark and Aug. 29–Sept. 1 Tuscany Village Life along the Stockholm, Sweden Oct. 15–23 April 29–May 7 Dalmatian Coast Cruise the Face of Europe May 27–June 4 Sept. 9–25 Normandy and Brittany Voyage of the Western with Paris Cruising the Baltic Sea and 2008 Kansas Football vs. Mediterranean Oct.21–Nov. 1 May 1–8 Norwegian Fjords South Florida June 4–16 Sept. 12–14 South American Tapestry Oct. 22–Nov. 5 Islands and Wildlife of the Pacific Northwest: New York Theatre A Kayaking Adventure Thanksgiving Tour Sept. 17–23 Nov. 25–29 Croatia & Venetian Treasures Holiday Markets of Vienna Sept. 18–26 and Salzburg Nov. 28–Dec. 6 Prague, Vienna and Budapest Sept. 20–30 Village Life in Switzerland Dates are subject to change. Sept. 25–Oct. 3

To book a trip with the Flying Jayhawks, go to www.kualumni.org or call 864-4760 or 800-584-2957 In Memory

1930s sister; and five grandchildren. She is survived by her husband, Robert, Helen Lockhart Egy, c’37, 92, Dec. 23 Mary Morris Boyd, c’48, 81, Dec. 15 in c’48, EdD’61; a son; a daughter; and two in Topeka. She is survived by her daugh- Wichita, where she worked in real estate. grandchildren. ter, Nancy Egy Jacobs, c’65; two grand- She is survived by her husband, James, Margaret Logan McCarthy, ’48, 83, sons; and two great-grandsons. b’42, l’48; two sons; a daughter, Martha Sept. 20 in Wichita. She is survived by Keith Frazier, b’39, 90, Nov. 17 in Boyd Gregg, ’76; and six grandchildren. four daughters, Diane McCarthy Tenny Roseville, Calif., where he was retired William Conroy, c’49, l’52, 82, Oct. 29 Knowles, p’75, Sharon McCarthy Uhlig, from William Volker and Company. He is in Houston, where he was retired from b’77, Tama McCarthy Davies, b’81, and survived by his wife, Marguerite Jones Gulf Oil. Survivors include a son; a Janice McCarthy Fischer, ’78; two broth- Frazier, b’40; three daughters; and eight daughter; two brothers, one of whom is ers, one of whom is Neal Logan, c’59, grandchildren. Richard, c’51; two sisters and four grand- m’63; and nine grandchildren. Stella Cutlip Kern Fry, c’35, 93, Jan. 7 children. Frank McGrath, g’49, 87, Nov. 11 in in Topeka. She is survived by a son; two Arthur Cook, c’42, g’47, PhD’57, 92, Lawrence. He was president of the Cap- daughters; a stepson; two stepdaughters, Jan. 6 in Signal Mountain, Tenn., where per Foundation and is survived by three one of whom is Elizabeth Fry Schoeni, he was a retired professor and a former sons, Barry, c’65, Roland, m’72, and ’62; seven grandchildren; six stepgrand- labor arbitrator. He is survived by his Randy, g’80; six grandchildren; and children; and 24 great-grandchildren. wife, Jean Francisco Cook, c’48, g’54; a seven great-grandchildren. M. Wren Gabel, e’31, 98, Nov. 23 in daughter, Elizabeth Cook Cayce, ’79; a Jeanette Coons Nigg, c’44, 86, Oct. 25 Rochester, N.Y., where he was retired son; and three grandsons. in Helena, Mont. She is survived by her from Eastman Kodak. He is survived by Norman Edmonds, b’40, 90, Jan. 6 in husband, Donald, e’43; a son, David, his wife, Esther Conger Gabel, c’32; two Lawrence, where he was retired from e’72, g’77; a daughter, Nancy Nigg Rude, daughters; a son; six grandchildren; and Edmonds Grocery and Frozen Food h’76; and five grandchildren. three great-grandchildren. Lockers. He is survived by three sons, Betty Wright Smith, c’43, 87, Oct. 6 Robert Pearson, c’38, 90, Jan. 1 in Stephen, b’65, Joe, p’63, and Mark, c’69; in Arkansas City. She is survived by a Bellevue, Idaho, where he was retired. five grandchildren; and five great-grand- son; a daughter; two brothers, one of Surviving are his wife, Betsy Dodge Pear- children. whom is Morgan Wright, c’49, l’50; three son, f’43; a daughter; and two sons, one William Francis, c’47, 84, April 2 in grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. of whom is Ridley, ’76. Houston, where he was retired from Gulf Doris Dockstader Rooney, ’30, 98, Oil. He is survived by his wife, Margaret; 1950s Jan. 6 in Dodge City. She is survived by a son; a daughter; a brother, Richard, ’49; Emmett “Marty” Duncan Jr., b’50, 81, two sons, Noel, b’56, and Bernard III, and five grandchildren. Nov. 18 in Naples, Fla., where he was ’55; seven grandchildren; two stepgrand- Carl Gibson, b’49, 83, Nov. 14 in Jew- retired from Owens Corning Fiberglass. children; four great-grandchildren; and ell. Surviving are his wife, Beverly “Boo” He is survived by his wife, Joann Pendle- five stepgrandchildren. Gaines Gibson, ’45; three sons, two of ton Bowman Duncan, ’56; two sons; a whom are Douglas, c’71, and John, c’78; daughter; two stepdaughters, one of 1940s a daughter; a brother, Desmond, p’48, whom is Cynthia Baldwin Luchtefeld, William Allen Jr., ’43, 86, Nov. 11 in g’50; a sister, Marilyn Gibson Blincoe, ’89; a stepson; two grandchildren; and Stuart, Fla., where he lived. He had ’51; 10 grandchildren; and eight great- six stepgrandchilden. owned Bill Allen Chevrolet in North grandchildren. Beulah Baum Franks, g’57, 88, Nov. Kansas City for 35 years before retiring in Eunice Lovett Kelley, b’41, 87, Sept. 21 in Lenexa, where she was a retired 1988. Surviving are his wife, Karin; two 25 in Junction City, where she had been teacher. She is survived by her husband, sons, one of whom is William III, c’69; a mayor and ran a clothing store. She is Charles, ’46; a son; a daughter, H. Tia daughter, Martina Allen Lang, b’85; six survived by a daughter; two sons; a step- Franks, d’70; two grandchildren; and grandchildren; and two great-grandchil- daughter; two stepsons; a brother, Roger four great-grandchildren. dren. Lovett, c’50, l’51; eight grandchildren; Guy Goodwin, c’51, l’53, 79, Dec. 10 Merle Bailey, ’43, 86, Dec. 19 in and 13 great-grandchildren. in Washington, D.C., where he was chief Wichita, where he was a retired Boeing Mary Anne Martin Marshall, ’48, 82, of the U.S. Justice Department’s special engineer. He is survived by two daugh- Nov. 12 in Kansas City, where she was a litigation section during the Nixon ters; a son, Steven, c’80, b’81; a brother; a retired librarian and chemistry teacher. administration. Surviving are his wife,

62 | KANSAS ALUMNI Frances McDonald Goodwin, g’53; a Beverly Lingenfelter Imler, ’68, 61, Robert O’Keefe, c’87, 43, Dec. 5 in daughter; and three grandchildren. Dec. 1 in St. Louis. She is survived by her Mishawaka, Ind. He worked for AM Gen- Charles Kassinger, d’50, 84, Dec. 6 in husband, David, assoc.; a daughter, eral Corporate. A memorial has been Boulder, Colo, where he was a retired Leslie Imler Wobbe, b’90; a son; her established with the KU Endowment music teacher. He is survived by his wife, mother; a sister; and two grandchildren. Association. Surviving are a son; his Shirley Sloan Kassinger, f’49; two sons; James McKean, ’60, 69, Nov. 12 in mother, Prudence Sieg, s’84; his father, four grandchildren; and a great-grand- Colorado Springs. He is survived by his Michael, g’77, g’79; and a brother. son. wife, Mary Avison McKean, c’57; two Jerry Kuehnle, e’50, 86, Nov. 22 in sons; four daughters; and 14 grandchil- 2000s Overland Park, where he was retired dren. Travis Dowdy, c’02, 30, Nov. 18 in from Bendix. He is survived by his wife, Kelman Miller, e’63, 67, Oct. 20 in San Worland, Colo. He served in the U.S. Nancy McGraw Kuehnle, c’53; a son; a Diego, where he was retired from the Marine Corps and is survived by his wife, daughter; and a brother. aerospace industry. He is survived by his Lindsay, two daughters, his parents, a Clifford Malone, c’50, l’52, 81, Nov. 15 wife, Dee; three daughters; a son; a sister, brother, a sister and his grandparents. in Wichita, where he was a retired lawyer. Karen Miller Jordan, d’59; and eight He is survived by his wife, Eleanor Brown grandchildren. The University Community Malone, c’49; six sons, five of whom are Judith Sims Turentine, c’64, 65, Dec. 7 Ralph Byers, 52, Dec. 15 in Lawrence, Patrick, c’72, Kevin, l’80, Timothy, m’79, in Leesburg, Fla. She is survived by her where he was a KU professor of mathe- Barry, c’85, and Shawn, c’95; a daughter; husband; a son; her mother; two broth- matics. He is survived by his wife, Mar- Diane Malone Moser, n’81; a sister; a ers; a sister, Nancy Sims-West, d’81; and garet Bayer, ’77; two daughters; his brother; 19 grandchildren; and a great- two grandchildren. mother; a sister; and two brothers. grandchild. Marion Dresser Howey, b’38, 91, Jan. Jane Johnson Nance, d’58, 71, Jan. 1 1970s 6 in Lawrence, where she had been head in Pittsburg. She is survived by her hus- Jan Geary Droegemeier, g’76, of government documents at KU. She is band, David, e’59; two sons; and two PhD’84, 57, Oct. 31 in Wichita, where survived by two daughters, one of whom grandchildren. she did psychological testing and assess- is Judith Howey Theis, ’67; a son; five Thomas Pratt, c’55, 75, Jan. 2 in ment. She is survived by her husband, grandchildren; and two great-grandchil- Kansas City, where he had owned Pratt Doug; two sons; and a brother, Richard dren. Hardware. He is survived by his wife, Geary, f’68, g’70. Opendra “Bill” Narayan, 71, Dec. 24 Gretchen; three daughters; a son; three Geoph Kozeny, a’72, 57, Oct. 22 in in Kansas City, where he was a distin- stepdaughters; a stepson; a brother; three San Francisco. Among survivors are his guished professor and chairman of grandchildren; and seven stepgrandchil- wife, Ginny; and two sisters, one of microbiology, molecular genetics and dren. whom is Penelope, b’76, g’78. immunology at the KU Medical Center. Jack Shears, e’54, 76, Oct. 8 in San Pleasant Voorhees Miller III, c’75, 54, He is survived by his wife, Moonie; a son, Francisco, where he founded Shears & Nov. 10 in Kansas City, where he was a Dhanesh, g’98; two daughters; two broth- Window. He is survived by a son; a travel agent. He is survived by his ers; three sisters; and seven grandchil- daughter; two brothers, William, e’40, mother, Alice Shankland Miller, ’47; a dren. and Robert, c’42, m’44; a sister, Elizabeth brother, David, j’78; and a sister, Allison Viola Shirer, assoc., 82, Nov. 29, and Shears Ashby, ’50; and four granddaugh- Miller Rizell, n’81. Hampton “Tony” Shirer, m’48, 83, Dec. ters. Jordan Walls, n’74, 56, Nov. 3 in 9 in Lawrence, where Tony taught car- Kenneth Wingerd, b’56, 73, Dec. 25 in Lawrence. She lived in Shoreline, Wash., diopulmonary physiology and biomed- Overland Park, where he was retired where she was a psychiatric nurse. She is ical instrumentation at KU until 1991. from industrial sales. He is survived by survived by her husband, James; a son; They are survived by a son, Hampton, his wife, Dorothy Bowe Wingerd, ’76; two her mother; two sisters; and a brother. c’72; three daughters, Louise, c’80, Vir- sons; two daughters; a brother, Bruce, Ralph Weir III, ’76, 53, June 18 in Col- ginia, ’77, and Carolyn Shirer Boyd, ’83; c’60, l’63; 11 grandchildren; and three orado Springs, where he was vice presi- and three grandchildren. great-grandchildren. dent of Weir Management. Surviving are Robert Stump, 86, Dec. 23 in Lexing- his parents, Ralph, e’44, and Barbara Bar- ton, Ky. He had been a professor of 1960s ber Weir, c’44; a sister, Susan Weir physics at KU. Surviving are his wife, Merle “Pat” Cooper, e’60, 79, Nov. 10 Ancker, ’68; and a brother, Daniel, assoc. Jeanne Gass Stump, g’66, PhD’72; four in Kansas City, where he owned M.D. sons, three of whom are Roger, c’73, Cooper and Associates. He is survived by 1980s PhD’82, Gregory, c’76, and Jordan, c’85, his wife, Frances Leach Cooper, assoc.; Dan Lambert, s’81, 56, Oct. 29 in g’87; a brother; six grandchildren; and two sons; a sister; four grandchildren; Arkansas City. Four brothers and five sis- two great-grandchildren. and three great-grandchildren. ters survive.

ISSUE 2, 2008 | 63 Rock Chalk Review

you a story about this place,” Lassman writes in Wild Douglas County, a thoughtful, eloquent look

STEVE PUPPE at the natural history of the Lawrence area. But to read that book you must first know the language. “If you go to a sporting event and you don’t know the rules, if they’re speaking a different language and you’re sitting there scratching your head, bored, then you’re probably not going back,” Lassman says. “There’s no reason to go back unless you learn the language. Same thing with the outdoors.” Helping people learn the rules and language of nature has long been a kind of passionate avocation for Lassman, c’77, h’91, an occupational therapist and director of habilitation services at Kansas Neurological Institute in Topeka. In the 1980s he began leading nature walks and group presentations on Kansas ecology, and he published Seasons and Cycles, a calendar that gave week-by-week reports of the doings of local plants, insects and mammals and traced annual migrations of the sun and moon. Lassman’s idea was to paint a broad picture of the cyclical nature of the environment, while recommending specific Prairie primer things to look for at a particular time of year. Much of the material in the calendar, now out of Field guide teaches how to read print, has been incorporated into Wild Douglas nature’s ‘living book’ County. The changes Lassman has seen on his own alking the Douglas County farm farm are only a small part of the transformation where his family has lived for six of the Kaw River Valley he outlines in the book. ■ Wild Douglas County generations, Ken Lassman wades When white settlers arrived in Douglas County through a field of Indian Grass, the in the 1850s, they quickly set about imposing Ken Lassman Wfeathery seed heads of the tall prairie perennial their will on land inhabited by Plains Indians Mammoth Publications flaring bronze in the winter sun, and talks of and largely shaped by forces of wind, fire, water mammothpubs@ struggling to establish this now-thriving stand in and sun. The native tallgrass prairie that covered hotmail.com the 1980s under the Conservation Reserve Pro- 83 percent of the county was plowed under for gram. Further up the slope, in an old cornfield farmland. (Only about 1 percent of the original $19.95 planted to brome, he plucks broom sedge and grasslands remains today.) Within the first 20 dogbane, their presence a cautionary tale of soil years of settlement, more than half of the old- depleted by row crops and erosion. On a ridge growth, oak-hickory woodlands that sheltered that looms steeply behind his house, where deer the remaining 17 percent of Douglas County tracks divot new snow, he recalls a time not long were cleared. ago when only three trees grew on a sidehill now Replacing the soft-edged natural boundaries of smothered in cedars. ecoregions, biomes and watersheds were the “Each native species of plant is a kind of straight lines set down by man: the Midwestern chronicle of the local, a living book that can tell grid of map borders, power lines and property

64 | KANSAS ALUMNI boundaries. ◆ ◆ ◆ politicians.” Yet he notes that bloggers In Wild Douglas County, Lassman come in many stripes. A form that started sets out to reconnect with the very visi- OREAD READER as a way for those with no journalism ble (but often overlooked) world that training to bypass big media and share exists underneath man’s arbitrary grid. their opinions with a mass audience, he And he proposes ways his readers can We the people points out, has largely been adopted by do the same. Study finds both hype and the media and by political candidates The book is meant to be read afield, themselves. This trend has created and it’s organized by several perspec- hope in political blogs opportunities for bloggers—once by defi- tives: Chapters on ecoregions, water- “ escribing political blogging in nition consummate political outsiders—to sheds, woodlands and prairie allow a book that took three years become political players: speechwriters, readers to learn about where they are to research and write and consultants and kingmakers. reading. A “Seasons of the Kaw” section another year to publish is like But perhaps no role is as essential as traces the weekly progression of plant reportingD a NASCAR race with stone that of citizen journalist. Perlmutter and animal life, allowing readers to focus tablets,” writes David Perlmutter in Blog- writes that not only do bloggers “supple- on when. wars, a study of the rising popularity and ment (and sometimes supplant) regular Passages of lyrical nature writing mix influence of Web blogs on American poli- reporters” by reporting on events main- with in-depth explanations of the tics. Indeed, Perlmutter—professor and stream journalists ignore, but they also region’s geology and biology. Lassman associate dean for graduate studies and have served as watchdogs of the media provides detailed directions to specific research in the School of Journalism and (perhaps most famously in the case of local stands of old-growth timber and Mass Communications—notes the near Dan Rather’s debunked report on native prairie grass, along with tips on impossibility of accurately quantifying George W. Bush’s military service). Quot- what to look for if you visit. He also how many blogs are on the Internet, ing a lengthy blog passage from a North offers ideas and resources for joining how many thousands of people visit the Carolina communications professor who preservation efforts. His overarching most popular sites or, even, what exactly closely critiques a New York Times arti- point is that nature is essential to our a blogger is. But he gamely tries, deliver- cle on the war in Afghanistan, Perlmutter survival. To ensure its survival, we have ing what is billed as the first full study to act. of this mercurial new form of mass “We plan for highways; we plan for communication. the needs of our communities,” he says. Blogs have a reputation as a magnet “Well, part of our community is the for partisan extremists and an outlet for often unrecognized ecosystems we live harsh speech and vitriolic attacks on within. If we want them to be a vital political opponents. So it’s no surprise part of our future, we have to plan for that Perlmutter characterizes many of the them, too.” political bloggers he met as “warriors” —Steven Hill who “take politics more seriously than

An Apple for teacher loading on the iPod,” says James Miller, co- director of the lab and associate professor oming someday to an iPhone near you: of electrical engineering and computer sci- STEVE PUPPE Conline courses in teacher education. ence at KU. “It proved to be enormously KU’s eLearning Design Lab, a collabora- popular. Everybody loved it.” tion between the School of Education and Designing courses for on-demand online School of Engineering, is developing online consumption is just one more way the Uni- courses for teachers that take advantage of versity can knock down barriers to course the new Apple gizmo’s promise to put the delivery, he says. It’s also a good way to liven Internet in your pocket. The project follows up the research process. the lab’s success at delivering course content “Part of the fun is figuring out what you through another popular Apple machine, can do with these new technologies when the iPod. they come out,” Miller says. “Sometimes it “Almost as an afterthought, we said let’s sparks ideas. That’s what research is.” make course modules available for down- —Steven Hill Miller

ISSUE 2, 2008 | 65 Rock Chalk Review

life,” he recalls. Sherbon also Sherbon Dance Theatre in Robinson asked Evans to return to KU for a Center. His third performance, which solo performance, the beginning requires advance registration, will help ■ Blogwars of his 40-year relationship with rededicate the theatre in honor of Sher- KU dance. bon’s 100th birthday. Sherbon retired by David Perlmutter Evans, whom Dance Magazine from KU in 1975 and remained in Oxford University in 2004 named one of the Lawrence; she died at age 92 in 2000. Press nation’s top three tap dance Evans describes his mentor as “gra- artists, returned to KU in Febru- cious but tough as nails. $24.95 ary for a weeklong residency in “She had to be. In that era, she was the department of music and trying to establish a dance program at a dance. He taught modern dance public university, and it was seldom that classes and choreographed a anyone made it easy for her. Onstage she writes, “You may disagree with her, but at piece for selected members of the Univer- exuded a sense of serenity that was least she is conducting close, line-by-line sity Dance Company. remarkable—quite raw. You couldn’t take analysis, which is something sorely miss- The dancers will perform his work in your eyes off her.” ing from professional press ‘criticism.’” the UDC’s spring concert at 7:30 p.m. All eyes are on Evans one snowy Feb- Ultimately, Blogwars challenges the April 17-18 at the Lied Center. The ruary morning, as he teaches a modern idea that blogging is a hugely effective dance, which Evans calls a “celebration dance class for 27 students in the Sher- political tool, but argues that bloggers do of African rhythm” to a piece called “Jazz bon theatre in Robinson. Teaching play a role in strengthening our democ- Jamaica,” melds tap with Sherbon’s spe- clearly brings joy to the dancer, who for racy. They are critical thinkers who ques- cialty, modern dance. During her 20 tion conventional political and years in New York City, she performed in journalistic wisdom. And because they the companies of modern dance legends do so in an interactive format that opens Martha Graham and Jean Erdman. After their own expertise and opinion to com- returning to Kansas in the mid-1950s to STEVE PUPPE (2) ment, the implicit message to readers teach dance in Wichita, Sherbon moved would seem to be, “Do as I do.” back to Lawrence and her alma mater in Don’t, in other words, believe every- 1961. thing you read. The celebration weekend also will —Steven Hill include solo tap performances by Evans both nights at the Lied Center and at a ◆ ◆ ◆ special concert April 19 in the Elizabeth Master and muse An acclaimed dancer honors KU’s Elizabeth Sherbon

s a young choreographer, Bill Evans spent the summer of 1968 on the Hill, teaching at KU’s Midwestern Music and Art ACamp. After students performed two of his pieces in Hoch Auditorium, the ele- gant Elizabeth Sherbon, d’30, matriarch of KU’s dance program, sought him out to introduce herself and praised his work. She invited him to serve as a panelist for an American Dance Symposium— ■ Members of the University Dance Company rehearsed in February with Bill Evans. They will heady stuff for the 28-year-old Evans. “It present his work April 17-18. The weekend also will include solo performances by Evans, one of was a great opportunity that changed my the nation’s top tap dance artists.

66 | KANSAS ALUMNI 16 years was a professor of dance at the ■ Among his former University of New Mexico, leading a con- colleagues dedicated temporary UNM ensemble while direct- to carrying on Bill STEVE PUPPE ing and performing worldwide with his Narayan’s laboratory own professional company. legacy at the KU Med- Nimbly stretching his lanky limbs, ical Center are Associ- Evans narrates his movements by coax- ate Professor Shilpa ing students to extend their imaginations as well as their bodies. He reminds them Buch (center) and that dance, like other art forms, connects researchers (l to r) artists and audiences in powerful, Honghong Yao, Fuwang unseen ways. Peng and Sirosh “We dance so we can touch people’s Bokhasi. “We miss him hearts and minds,” he says, “so they can so much,” Buch says see and think and feel alive.” of Narayan. “It’s a —Jennifer Jackson Sanner big void that we just cannot fill.” ◆ ◆ ◆ Dream lives on five years; each has been handed over, His fellow researchers at KU and After Narayan’s death, pending final NIH approval, to fellow KU around the country also cite Narayan’s researchers vow to find researchers. dedication to fostering careers of women his long-sought AIDS vaccine “Dr. Narayan’s research program had scientists, plus two key lessons he shared been moving forward at a terrific pace, with those working in his lab: the time is colleagues in the School of making great advances in the develop- limit for moping after a failed line of Medicine’s department of ment of the HIV vaccine,” says Paul Ter- experimentation was 24 hours, then microbiology, molecular genet- ranova, KU Medical Center’s vice “chin up and move on,” and that “telling ics and immunology promise chancellor for research. “You lose a little a story,” rather than relying solely on dry Hto carry on his quest for an AIDS vaccine. ground when this happens, but we have laboratory data, was the overlooked key As for filling other voids left by the loss planned very carefully and I feel confi- in applying for grant funding. of Opendra “Bill” Narayan, the prognosis dent the momentum will continue.” “He took interest in our work, which is less hopeful. Narayan, a native of Guyana, earned a really made us want to do better,” Buch “It’s very difficult not to have him doctorate in veterinary medicine from says. “Nothing excited him more than here,” says Shilpa Buch, associate profes- the University of Toronto in 1963 and a talking about science, but even if he was sor of molecular and integrative physiol- doctorate in mechanisms of viral disease working in his garden, then he was doing ogy. “All that I have learned about HIV from Ontario’s prestigious University of that with passion. has been under his mentorship. I would Guelph in 1970. In 1973 he began pio- “That is the word you would put with call him my guru. It is a challenge, but I neering research on the “lentivirus” in him: passion.” take it with great enthusiasm to keep his sheep; 15 years later, when it was discov- Chancellor Robert E. Hemenway legacy going. He would have wanted it ered (due in part to his research) that recalls Narayan telling him that he awoke no other way.” HIV is also a lentivirus, Narayan immedi- every morning and consciously thought Narayan, one of KU Medical Center’s ately changed course. about what he could do that day to find a most prominent researchers since arriv- In a lengthy tribute published in his cure for AIDS, especially for ravaged ing here in 1993 from Johns Hopkins field’s most prestigious professional jour- areas of Africa. University as the Marion Merrell Dow nal, colleagues described Narayan as a “That gives you a sense of the nobility Distinguished Professor, died of a heart “globally renowned HIV researcher” and of his vision,” Hemenway says. “The only attack Dec. 24. He was 71, but, according a “towering figure in HIV pathogenesis solace we have is that his colleagues are to colleagues, had never seriously consid- and vaccine research” who made “semi- picking up the research effort he has cre- ered retirement. At the time of his death, nal contributions in the areas of neu- ated. We’re hopeful that they are driven Narayan was principal investigator for roAIDS and therapeutics.” In 2006 his by their shared vision of the cures that three National Institutes of Health neurovirology colleagues bestowed upon Bill intended to achieve.” grants, worth a total of $16 million over him their Pioneer Award. —Chris Lazzarino

ISSUE 2, 2008 | 67 Oread Encore BY CHRIS LAZZARINO SPENCER RESEARCH LIBRARY

while here to preview the 2003 Final Four, ■ The 1955 arrival of Jim Caple, senior writer for ESPN.com, Allen Field House’s sure did: Longines clock was ... It’s absolutely beautiful. Like Wrigley documented (though Field, only with championship banners. Why, it’s so old school that there’s a Longines clock names of people posing on the wall. You expect to see players in Chuck with it were not); 53 years Taylors and tight satin shorts run from the later, the KU Longines, locker room ... now perched on the west Longines analogue clocks once were wall, is an up-to-the-second spiffy equipment for American sporting reminder of bygone times. venues. Yankee Stadium had one, until its 1970s renovations; so did Cincinnati’s Crosley Field, until it was closed in 1970. Hands of time Bill Mazeroski won the 1960 World Series for his Pittsburgh Pirates with a home run Allen’s ’50s-era Longines clock that sailed over Forbes Field’s Longines is that rarest of sports icons: clock. While those arena icons are now merely antiquated gear still going strong matters for memory, the Allen Field House clock keeps on ticking. he most important timepieces in Allen Les Rollins, Facilities Operations’ instrumenta- Field House are, of course, the game and tion supervisor, says it was installed on the south shot clocks. While those modern digital wall shortly after Allen Field House was built. “We marvels frantically click through the min- used to have to walk out on a beam and stand on Tutes and seconds until yet another ’Hawks hoops the air handler to set the time,” he says. Rollins victory, their distinguished forebear elegantly, and rebuilt the clock in the 1990s when when it was almost anonymously, rotates its hands through moved to the west wall. the years and decades. There isn’t much else left from times gone by. In our pilgrimages to our beloved basketball The indoor track is long gone; courts and baskets shrine, where there is always an onrush of sight have been replaced countless times; even the and sound, do we even notice the old Longines entire east entry has been made over into the mar- clock, now hanging on the basketball barn’s velous Booth Family Hall of Athletics—which west wall? might one day, when the time is right, be the When he fell under Allen Field House’s spell perfect repository for our lovely Longines.

68 | KANSAS ALUMNI

KU Alumni Association 1266 Oread Avenue | Lawrence, KS 66045-3169