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ADVANCING THE POWER OF MEDICINE® Contents | Issue 3, 2019

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28 34

34 20 28 COVER STORY The Illustrated Lives Campus Caretakers All for Fun, Fun for All of Insects Neither snow nor rain nor gloom of night will stay these Two Jayhawk business partners Broad interests and a deep devoted keepers of KU’s are building an entertainment appreciation for rare texts led hallowed grounds from their empire on a simple idea: entomologist Michael Engel to appointed rounds. People just want (and need) his latest project, a beautiful to have fun. book about beautiful books. By Heather Biele

By Steven Hill By Chris Lazzarino

Cover photograph by Steve Puppe

Established in 1902 as The Graduate Magazine Volume 117, No. 3, 2019 ISSUE 3, 2019 | 1 Lift the Chorus

heartfelt, because Coeur he was done, he would say, d’Alene is such an idyllic place “Now, where is the letter from Your and may be a step closer to _____.” My job, in addition to opinion counts heaven. I wish my path had recording and typing his Please email us a note crossed with The Bard, a letters, was to know which pile at [email protected] beloved Jayhawk for sure. I’ll which letter was in. to tell us what you think of have to make another stop at I have always remembered your alumni magazine. the Well-Read Moose to pick his letters. One I especially up a copy of Wobker’s book. remember fondly, since he Lee Hoffman, e’72 used it often. “Dear _____, incredibly slow. It’s hard to Hayden, Idaho Rock Chalk, Jayhawk! We need believe now. a new science building. Why Robert Day looks familiar, so Delightful story in the don’t you underwrite it I’m sure I ran into him in the Spencer most recent issue of Kansas (sometimes just pay for it)? basement of Strong, where I Alumni about “The Bard of Cordially, Fred Ellsworth.” also hung out between appreciation Sherman Avenue.” I ordered a He always used “Cordially.” classes—smoking, drinking few copies of the book with Thanks for an interesting coffee and petting Sarge. I was delighted to read Tom Wobker’s poems from magazine, and continue I went on to read the entire this month’s excellent cover a bookstore in Spokane— producing such interesting issue, cover to cover. We had story on the Spencer Museum’s hilarious, day- and night- issues. just seen the documentary current exhibition, “The Power brighteners, subtle wit I wish Nancy Lansdon Hubert, ’60 “They Shall Not Grow Old,” so of Place” [issue No. 2]. The my late husband, Tom, could Lexington, Massachusetts I had to read “Over Here” and article really digs into explain- have seen. was amazed by the contribu- ing the many facets that go into Jeannie Eblen, ’00 Catching up tions of KU students and making any large museum Lawrence faculty and the commitment show possible. Kansas Alumni continues of resources. As an alumnus and a Cordially ours to be the best publication that Steven Hill’s piece about the longtime supporter of the drops into our mailbox. Sadly, I Lied Center, “Sweet Suite Spencer, I encourage everyone I am writing to tell you often put it aside for “when I Music,” made me proud and to visit the museum with a how much I enjoy Kansas have more time,” so I get sad at the same time, since I better understanding of what it Alumni magazine. It is always behind, but I never throw them don’t have the opportunity to takes to create a remarkable so good, with interesting away. I was perusing issue No. enjoy the Lied Center offerings. exhibition. And kudos to the features and news about what’s 1 and didn’t get further than I would even attend with the hard working people who happening on the Hill. Lift the Chorus when I had to middle-schoolers if I were in make up the Spencer Museum. I worked in the alumni find the previous issue and Lawrence! I may have to look We all benefit from your vision office as a secretary to Fred read it first. into senior living opportunities and efforts. Ellsworth from late 1955 to I was a student during the in the area. David Henry, c’82, g’84 1957 (if I am remembering protest years [“Protests Past,” Now, I’m going to get busy San Francisco correctly). Mildred Clodfelter issue No. 6] and have vivid on issue No. 1, 2019! I am very was the office manager and memories of TV cameras on interested in the article about Wobker wit Dick Wintermote handled the second floor of Strong Hall Salina’s medical school campus, alumni affairs. I did enjoy as I went to Panhellenic “Homegrown Healing.” I have When I was perusing “First my job. meetings in Dean Emily’s been impressed with the Word,” my heart skipped when When he came in in the office. None of the sororities University’s commitment to I read Post Falls, Idaho. I know morning, usually around 9:30, or fraternities had discrimina- rural areas of the state, where that town is, because I Mr. Ellsworth would settle at tory policies in their charters, especially since my relatives have lived in the Coeur d’Alene his desk. Mildred gave him the but there was the issue of de lived in north-central Kansas area for the past 11 years. mail and I would sit while he facto discrimination, since I and I know how limited access Tod Marshall’s story on Tom went through it, commenting don’t believe any of them were used to be. Wobker [“Anonymous No here and there. He would put actually integrated. Progress Donna Multer Ward, d’65 More,” issue No. 2] was letters in different piles. When was being made, but it was Pueblo, Colorado

2 | KANSAS ALUMNI May 2019

Publisher Heath Peterson, d’04, g’09 10 Editor Jennifer Jackson Sanner, j’81 Creative Director Susan Younger, f’91 Graphic Designer Valerie Spicher, j’94 5 First Word Associate Editors Chris Lazzarino, j’86 The editor’s turn Steven Hill Assistant Editor Heather Biele 6 On the Boulevard Photographers Steve Puppe, j’98 KU & Alumni Association events Dan Storey 8 Jayhawk Walk Advertising Sales Representative Textbook heroes, spring break rescue, tea is for Teri Harris Thursday and more Editorial and Advertising Office KU Alumni Association 10 Hilltopics 1266 Oread Avenue News and notes: Architecture students renew a Lawrence, KS 66045-3100 hidden garden; Buzbee accepts journalism award. 785-864-4760 800-584-2957 www.kualumni.org 14 Sports [email protected] Track and field has record-setting spring; senior All-Americans complete tennis comeback. KANSAS ALUMNI MAGAZINE (ISSN 0745-3345) is published by the KU Alumni Association six times a year in January, March, May, July, September and November. $55 annual subscription includes member- ship in the Alumni Association. Office of Publication: 1266 Oread 42 Association News Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045-3100. Periodicals postage paid at Rock Chalk Ball and Roundup raise money and Lawrence, KS. spirits; reunions salute Gold Medal grads.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Kansas Alumni Magazine, 1266 Oread Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045-3100 © 2019 by Kansas Alumni Magazine. Non-member issue price: $7 51 Class Notes Profiles of a Netflix communicator, a cannabis counselor, a veteran sportscaster and more

68 In Memory Deaths in the KU family Letters to the Editor:

Kansas Alumni welcomes letters to the editor. Our 72 Rock Chalk Review address is Kansas Alumni magazine, 1266 Oread Avenue, African modern, a Bunker book, and art from Lawrence, KS 66045-3100. Email responses may be sent to Shimomura and Esquire. the Alumni Association, [email protected]. Letters appearing in the magazine may be edited for space 76 Glorious to View and clarity. For letters published, we’ll send a free KU gift, a Scene on campus $5 value.

ISSUE 3, 2019 | 3 IGNITE POTENTIAL

The indomitable Jayhawk spirit is a beacon of hope in Kansas and beyond. Private support fuels KU’s success by transforming students into leaders and ideas into discoveries. Most gifts are $500 or less, but regardless of size, each one opens doors to new opportunities.

www.kuendowment.org/your-gift by Jennifer Jackson Sanner First Word

Soon he struck up a conversation with Keon Stowers, c’15, a former KU football team STEVE PUPPE STEVE captain, now the Association’s assistant director of student programs. Palmer, a starter for the Jayhawks in ’57 and ’58, wanted to talk foot- ball—and he just happened to mention that he had served in Vietnam and would like to mentor a KU student and fellow veteran. Meanwhile, Kansas Alumni introduced Palmer the poet to readers in November (“War everlasting,” issue No. 6, 2018), in a review of Feet of the Messenger, his stunning collection of poems that juxtapose the serenity of the Flint Hills and the ravages of war. Palmer had given a copy to Associate Editor Steven Hill last July, when the two met over dinner with a mutual friend, novelist and Kansas Alumni contributor Robert Day, c’64. When Palmer later offered to mentor a student veteran, Stowers instantly thought of the perfect match for the physician-turned-poet: Angel, a Thomas Angel and H.C. Palmer veteran of four deployments in Iraq and Afghan- sk me about “Avengers: Endgame,” and I can istan and now a member of the Student Alumni Acite only one tidbit about the sequel to top all Their friendship, Leadership Board (SALB). sequels: The film’s supersized cast of superheroes Sure enough, Angel and Palmer hit it off, born of shared sacrifice includes Jayhawk-turned-Antman Paul Rudd, ’92. talking for two hours in their first meeting. Their This I know only because my weird, wonderful job and calling, proves the bond so vividly demonstrates the impact of the compels me to track Jayhawks—the famous and best mentoring is a Jayhawk Career Network’s KU Mentoring not-so-famous. program that the two were natural choices for a two-way street. Most days, we at Kansas Alumni happily dwell Rock Chalk Ball video (see Association, p. 42, in the realm of the not-so-famous, whose lives and and kualumni.org/angelpalmer). On April 27, careers provide an endless supply of stories that when the KJO Media-created video concluded in often leave us craving more. We yearn to know and share the the hushed Kansas City ballroom, more than 550 Jayhawks nitty-gritty details that limited space and time often oblige erupted in a standing ovation for Angel and Palmer. us to omit. Their friendship, born of shared sacrifice and calling, proves the Such is the tale of Thomas Angel, ’20, a behavioral neuroscience best mentoring is a two-way street. “I learn from Thomas,” Palmer and Italian major from rural North Carolina who hopes to attend says in the video.“There are things about Thomas that I’ve already the KU School of Medicine, and his mentor, H.C. Palmer, c’59, started emulating.” m’63, of Lenexa. The two connected after a series of happy Angel describes Palmer as “one of the most generous people coincidences. I’ve ever met. ... You can’t put into words what H.C. means to me. Last November, the Association hosted a field trip to Our relationship is not a medicine mentorship; it’s a life mentor- Kansas City for undergraduates who want to study medicine or ship. It’s one of those bonds we’ll forever have.” nursing. They met at KU Medical Center with alumni doctors The connections multiply: Angel recently introduced Palmer to and nurses, most dressed in white coats or scrubs, who intro- fellow student, veteran and SALB member Jeff Thompson, ’19. duced themselves by describing their careers. Palmer showed Palmer in turn connected Thompson with Vietnam veteran John up in jeans, a plaid shirt and a cap and said he was a poet; he Musgrave, ’74 (“America’s Story,” Issue No. 2, 2018). The four later told puzzled staff members he was a retired physician but Jayhawks and veterans met for coffee in Baldwin City. offered no specifics. This story continues. Stay tuned for the sequels.h

ISSUE 3, 2019 | 5 On the Boulevard

The 2019 KU Powwow SUSAN YOUNGER SUSAN and Indigenous Cultures Festival, a yearly celebration of North American indigenous cultures, was April 6 at the Lied Center. The daylong event, which was free to the public, featured the Powwow Grand Entry, competitive dancing, educational workshops, children’s programs, and indigenous art, films and food.

Spencer Museum Lied Center 20 Richard Shindell JANUARY of Art Exhibitions 2019-’20 Season 24 David Sedaris 23 “The Color Purple” 27 Brentano String Quartet 26 Martha Redbone, “Bone “Camouflage and Other AUGUST with special guest Dawn Hill: The Concert” Hidden Treasures from the 13 Bruce Hornsby & the Upshaw, soprano Eric Gustav Carlson WWI Noisemakers 29 The King’s Singers Collection,” through June 9 SEPTEMBER “The Power of Place: KU NOVEMBER STOREY DAN Alumni Artists,” through 10 Boz Scaggs: Out of the 2 “Jersey Boys” June 30 Blues Tour 2019 3 Melissa Etheridge: The 17 Buddy Guy “Politics, Race, Celebrity: Medicine Show Photographs from the Esquire 23, 24 Gerald Clayton, 10 The Munin Trio Collection,” through July 7 piano 20 “She, a Choreoplay” 26 KU Symphony Orchestra “Shattering the Void: Realms 22 “The Very Hungry with special guest Juan‐ of Meaning in East Asian Art,” Caterpillar Show” Miguel Hernandez, viola July 16 through Aug. 11 23 Hiplet Ballerinas “Foundling,” Sept. 14 through OCTOBER DECEMBER Dec. 22 6 “Rent”: 20th Anniversary Tour 2, 3 Romero Lubambo, “knowledges,” Aug. 24 through guitar Jan. 5 9 Kit Yan, slam poet 11 “Rudolph the Red-Nosed 19 Black Violin Reindeer: The Musical”

6 | KANSAS ALUMNI 19 Peter Mulvey 26 Sybarite5 DAN STOREY(4) DAN MAY 14 Beatrice Rana, piano

Natural History Museum Events

JUNE 1 National Prairie Day and Prairie Block Party 19 Science on Tap: Birds, Bones, Beetles & Bunker; Free State Brewing FEBRUARY Company, Lawrence 6 KU Percussion Group with special guest Eriko Daimo, Academic Calendar marimba JUNE 12 “Keeping Faith: Sisters of Story” 4 Summer classes begin 16 Russian National Ballet: “Don Quixote” JULY 18 The Peking Acrobats 26 Summer classes end

19 Chris Thile AUGUST 23 Kathy Mattea 26 Fall classes begin

MARCH Alumni Events 3 Siberian State Symphony Orchestra MAY 18 KU Wind Ensemble with 14 Houston: Jayhawks & Java 11 Online networking: 18 Hawks, Helmets & special guest Joseph Alessi, KU memories Handlebars, New Bethel 15 D.C. Jayhawks Sail the trombone Church, Kansas City Potomac, Washington, D.C. 18 Denver: Jayhawks & Java 23, 24 Houston Person and 18 5th-annual Denver Bikes 20 Biospecimen Blood Emmet Cohen AUGUST & Breweries, Call to Arms Drive, Fairway Brewing Company 2 KU Night with the APRIL JULY Minnesota Twins, Target 2 KU Jazz Ensemble I with JUNE 6 KU Night with the Field, Minneapolis special guest Camila Meza, 1 Washington Nationals, 11 Online Networking, vocals and guitar LA Food Bank volunteer- ing, Los Angeles Regional Nationals Park, Washington, KU Memories 3 Samuel Ramey: An Food Bank Volunteer Center D.C. 18 Denver: Jayhawks & Java Intimate Evening of Music 3-5 and Storytelling Mini College, Spooner Hall 5 ZOFO 13 Online networking: Events listed here are highlights from the Association’s busy 10 Ryan McMahon KU women calendar. For complete listings of all events, watch for emails about programs in your area, visit kualumni.org or call 17 “Candid Camera’s” LOL 13 Van Gogh exhibition, 800-584-2957. Tour with Peter Funt Houston

ISSUE 3, 2019 | 7 Jayhawk Walk Sig Eps to the rescue

Seems swimming laps twice a week at KU’s Robinson Center pool paid off for three Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity brothers hailed for their heroism after rescuing a young boy from drowning during spring Classroom break in Destin, Florida. Juniors Connor Churchill of Olathe, champions Jared Cox of Overland Park and Cole Firmature of extbooks are tried-and-true Omaha, Nebraska, were Tteaching tools, but even the finest lounging on a beach when they tools are worthless if few can use them. heard a woman yell for help and “We cannot keep assigning $400 point to a young boy on a boogie board textbooks,” says Josh Bolick, scholarly who had drifted about 40 yards from communication librarian. “We know from shore. With no lifeguard in sight, the three data that sometimes students don’t buy men rushed into the choppy water and their textbooks because of the cost.” battled powerful rip currents to push the

As part of its open education initiative, PEARSON LEROY LARRY boy to safety. KU Libraries in March recognized three Their courageous deed might have gone faculty members as Textbook Heroes for material is work,” Bolick says. “They unnoticed had it not been for Kaci their efforts to offer low-cost materials to made a choice to take on that extra work Gilchrist, an Independence woman who students. Peter Bobkowski, journalism; because they care about students. witnessed the rescue and posted a note of Amy Rossomondo, Spanish & Portuguese; Students don’t learn from materials they praise on Facebook, and Drew Vartia, PhD’13, chemistry, each can’t access. which was shared have “gone above and beyond” in using “We don’t set rent, we have limited nearly 2,500 times. $5,000 grants to create or adopt open control over tuition, but we do select “Today changed educational resources (OER) that teaching materials and we can be critical my mind about students can use for free. of what we’re assigning from a cost millennials,” she “It’s easy to stay on the path you’re on, perspective.” wrote. “These guys but to redesign a course around new Truly a text message worth sending. deserve the upmost credit for putting their lives on the line.” Despite the flurry of media attention upon their return to Kansas, the brave brothers insist their efforts were anything but extraordinary. “We had the opportu- nity and we did what was right in that time,” Churchill said. “But anybody could’ve done it.” MEG KUMIN/KU MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS KUMIN/KU MEG Club is the bee’s knees About 10,000 of nature’s most prolific pollinators reside at the KU Field Station north of Lawrence—and have a swarm of more than 75 faithful follow- ers—thanks to the KU Beekeeping Club, a new student group that’s generating Murray, Skevington and Sundahl a buzz.

8 | KANSAS ALUMNI Founded by juniors Alex Murray, Joe Thesis throwdown Skevington and Elizabeth Sundahl, the STEVE PUPPE STEVE club received Student Senate funding last Damon Talbott’s advice to students fall to buy beekeeping essentials, host competing in KU’s first Three Minute workshops and construct several hives— Thesis competition this spring: Zoom out. now home to 10,000 bees shipped from “You’ve been trained to speak to four California—with guidance from Anthony’s people,” Talbott, g’08, PhD’14, program Beehive and Bee Store in Lawrence. coordinator for graduate studies, jokingly “We began posting about it on our tells students. “Literally. There are four Instagram, and our friends really got people in the whole world who understand interested,” says Murray, a finance and your incredibly tiny research niche. That’s environmental studies major from great, but now you have to completely do Lawrence. “A steady rotation of people the opposite. Hit that button on the map would come out and do these hive that makes you pull way back to the big inspections with us, so we realized picture, you know?” there’s definitely an interest among Three Minute Thesis, originated by the people our age.” University of Queensland in Australia, Talbott and Howard Murray and Skevington, who learned challenges grad students to clearly explain about beekeeping from Murray’s neighbor, the real-world applications of their Your Knee Can!” explained her work on also plan to conduct workshops at local research to a lay audience—in this case a revision total knee replacement, the elementary schools. judging panel of community leaders, increasingly common practice of second, “If you told me three years ago that I’d politicians and University staff—in a third and fourth joint-replacement be a finance and accounting major and presentation longer than an elevator surgeries. starting a bee club, I would’ve laughed,” speech but shorter than a TED Talk. “I’ve been slogging through writing my says Skevington, a Kansas City native. “But Kait Howard, master’s student in thesis, and the competition made it fun KU just has all these resources available bioengineering, bested 26 KU competitors again,” Howard says. “It was a reminder, and as long as you have a drive for it, then to advance to the regional competition in ‘Why did I care about this to begin with?’ you can do it. It’s awesome.” St. Louis. “You Can’t Be Replaced, But So that’s been great.”

Tea for 200 STEVE PUPPE STEVE

tudent Union Activities’ Tea at 3, the weekly Thursday Sritual in the Kansas Union, became all the rage this spring, as attendance surged nearly 40 percent over last fall, to more than 200 students, faculty and staff, who queued up dozens deep in the fourth-floor lobby for tea supplied by Au Marché, a Mass Street purveyor of all things European, and tasty treats. “It’s become a big social hour where groups of friends come to get tea and sit down and talk,” says SUA vice president Abby George. “Profound intellectual stimulation,” is how psychology major Maxx Lamb describes, with a wink, the repartee. “All the things that are complex,” interjects Theo Wiklund, “to the nth degree.” Textbooks, notebooks and laptops tend to be closed, phones are silenced, no big-screen TVs dominate the room, and face-to-face conversation carries the day. Even if it’s only for two hours a week, the sights and sounds of an unplugged social hour represent a welcome return of civilized conversation. More tea? Yes, please.

ISSUE 3, 2019 | 9 Hilltopics by Steven Hill

“It fell off the map for so

STEVE PUPPE STEVE long, and hopefully we’ve done something to bring it back. I think the new entry is key to that; it’s a visual access that makes all the difference.”

—Keith Van de Riet, assistant professor, describing the Weaver Courtyard

this aha moment where students are like, ‘Oh my gosh, the translation from design to drawing to building is real, and we’ve got to do it now.’” On the courtyard project, students worked with The Commons, the interdis- Built with pride ciplinary partnership of the Biodiversity Tapping student energy and ideas, an innovative design-build class Institute, the Hall Center for the Humani- ties and the Spencer Museum of Art that is tackles projects that enhance campus environs housed in Spooner; with KU Facilities, Planning and Development; and with here was a moment, early in their bid that meant everything to the project. faculty members such as Kelly Kindscher, Tto bring new life to an overlooked “Our goal was to open up the garden so c’79, PhD’92, senior scientist at the Kansas campus garden, when students in Keith it gets more use and hopefully more care,” Biological Survey, and Ted Johnson, Van de Riet’s ARCH509 studio got a tough says Van de Riet, a’04, assistant professor professor emeritus of French and Italian, lesson in the realities of design-build of architecture, of the courtyard built in to complete a design that reflects The construction. the 1960s with funding from the family Commons’ mission as a catalyst for Hand-digging a trench intended to hold that owns Weaver’s Department Store. “It unconventional thinking, interdisciplinary 2-foot deep footings for a new sidewalk, fell off the map for so long, and hopefully inquiry and unexpected discoveries across the third-year architecture majors ran we’ve done something to bring it back. I the sciences, arts and humanities. smack into Mount Oread bedrock. think the new entry is key to that; it’s a “It has never been lost on us that there is Irrepressible force, meet immovable visual access that makes all the difference.” a garden outside of the building which object. Dealing with real-world setbacks is a seems like a perfect place to foment all The students’ plan for the Weaver main focus of ARCH509, which under the that,” said Commons Director Emily Ryan, Courtyard, a sheltered garden on the south direction of various architecture faculty g’07, addressing campus partners, donors side of Spooner Hall, called for breaching has tackled campus improvement projects and Oread neighbors who celebrated the an enclosing rock wall to improve visibility such as an outdoor classroom at Prairie project’s completion April 24. “All along and accessibility: The new entrance would Acre, a student gathering space behind we really saw the extension of The also serve as an ADA-compliant ramp. Marvin Studios, and a Sensory Pavilion at Commons mission in this project, with the Construction reality dictated that Audio Reader. arts, sciences and humanities really students adjust—renting equipment, “Unlike other semesters, where the coming together out in this space.” refiguring timetables and eventually, after design process just keeps going, we Using a concept organized around the bedrock proved unyielding, devising a suddenly have to make something,” Van de elements of earth, fire, water and air, workaround to preserve a design feature Riet says. “And as soon as we start, there’s students developed several new features

10 | KANSAS ALUMNI for the garden: A rammed earth structure model is under duress, too, leaving a Milestones, money repurposed from Associate Professor stressed news industry that is “sort of Chad Krause’s Dirt Works Studio provides knocked back on its heels and short of and other matters seating; a rock carving uses the sun’s money and confidence,” said Buzbee, j’88, shadow to trace the passage of seasons; a AP executive editor. trench filled with landscape glass captures And yet, she added, “I’d really rather rainwater runoff from Spooner’s roof and work in journalism at a time when it’s channels it to a bioswale filled with under stress, when what we do every day wetland plants; and singular views of actually matters so very much about the iconic campus sights such as Fraser’s flags future of this industry that we love.” and Dyche Hall’s tower (along with a At an awards ceremony in Woodruff panoramic viewscape opened up by Auditorium, where she received the selective tree trimming) provide airy National Citation from the William Allen n A $2.8 million estate gift from Alton atmosphere. At center is a limestone White Foundation, Buzbee pointed to and Helen Knechtel, ’37, of Chula Vista, sculpture, carved with help from Karl three “signs of hope” for journalists across California, will establish scholarships for Ramberg, ’81, the sculptor creating the United States and around the globe: KU medical students. Entering students Dyche’s new grotesques. Called “Biodiver- the embrace of new innovations such as will be eligible if they are in the top 10 sity in the Balance,” the piece highlights user-generated content to help tell stories percent of their pre-med class, and man’s impact on the natural world and the in places like Syria, where using outside current students will qualify based on fact that, as a sign planned for the new reporters is difficult and dangerous; merit. Alton graduated from Kansas entrance reads, “We all share in the global large-scale collaborations among compet- State University and Helen studied commons.” ing news organizations to report sprawling music at KU before earning a degree Besides these big-picture themes, topics, such as the California wildfires, from Stephens College in Missouri. students also gain a better idea of the that are beyond the scope of any one Alton’s battle with Alzheimer’s, which down-in-the-dirt work it takes to see a outlet; and, the enduring power of “good ended in 1984, was a primary reason for building project through and a sense of old-fashioned facts.” the gift, according to a family friend. having contributed to their campus. “What makes news organizations Helen died in 2018 at the age of 104. “It gets us out of the computer lab,” says valuable to our communities and to our Grant Bechtel, of Wichita, who helped customers is we report, we find out what’s n KU Debate’s record of create the solar stone. “Everybody gets happening and we bring that information success over the past 20 trapped in their computers, and that’s to people. This seems so obvious to all of years earned the program basically how you live for whole semesters. us. Yet in all the worry about the future the Founder’s Award from It’s good to be able to see your project that is hitting our industry right now, I the Cross Examination carried out, and to build something that’s think we are sometimes in danger of Debate Association going to be here a long time.” (CEDA) in April. This h year’s squad also earned CEDA’s top team ranking

STEVE PUPPE STEVE for the 2018-’19 season. Facts still matter KU, winner of six national championships, was the Bedrock values, bold innovation only university this year to have teams will keep journalism thriving in the Final Four in the CEDA national tournament and the National Debate imes are tough for the journalism Tournament. Tprofession, Sally Streff Buzbee of the Associated Press said during her April 11 n Former Sen. Robert J. Dole, ’45, return to Mount Oread to accept the 2019 received an honorary promotion to William Allen White Award. colonel, thanks to a bill introduced by Misinformation and partisanship are Kansas senators Pat Roberts and Jerry widespread, once-promising technologies Moran, c’76, l’82. Dole, who was have proven vulnerable to manipulation, seriously wounded while deployed in and the people who attack journalists— Italy as an infantry lieutenant during verbally and physically—have been World War II, resigned his Army emboldened. The profession’s business Buzbee commission at the grade of captain.

ISSUE 3, 2019 | 11 Hilltopics losing sight of the central primacy of this.” She advised journalists to focus on those “bedrocks of the past that have made journalism strong”—facts, accuracy, credibility and objectivity; “in other words, the things that I learned here from great professors”—while also embracing new technologies and reporting methods. “On everything else, be bold,” she said.

“Embrace the new. Look to the future; MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS KU KUMIN, MEG don’t be scared of it.” Buzbee found the students she met on her visit “very focused and incredibly committed,” she said in an interview with Kansas Alumni. “I asked them if their parents are worried, because they’re doing journalism,” Buzbee said, laughing. She recalled her own reaction a few years ago when her daughters expressed interest in the profession. Girod and Steuart “My heart kind of sank. Like, ‘Oh, god, SCHOLARSHIP it’s a field that has so many challenges right surprise party in the chancellor’s office— now.’ But I have really changed my mind Junior wins Truman complete with festive balloons. 100%. I think we should be encouraging The Topeka junior majoring in Ameri- the brightest people we have to go into Becoming the 2oth Jayhawk to be can studies and biochemistry (with a minor focusing on making our society as good as named a Harry S. Truman Scholar came in Spanish) was one of 62 students nation- possible, and I do really honestly think with some nice benefits for Sam Steuart: wide to receive the prestigious award. that the accurate flow of information is $30,000 for graduate school, professional “I am incredibly thankful to be a critically important to the future of the development programs to help prepare for Truman Scholar because I look forward to w or l d .” h a leadership role in public service, and a the opportunity it provides me to give

UPDATE STEVE PUPPE STEVE ietnam War veterans and Library of Congress, accepted about a previ- Vleaders of humanities the oral and written histories of ously unknown agencies in Kansas and Wash- veterans and others during the or underappre- ington, D.C., gathered at the handover ceremony. Now part ciated aspect Robert Dole Institute of Politics of the Library’s veterans history of service. A April 11 for the culmination of archive, they form “an authentic memoir which “Kansas Stories of the Vietnam document of history for the will then be in War,” a Humanities Kansas future, an endless ripple event,” the Library of project that enlisted 12 Lloyd said. Congress inspir- Vietnam veteran George Liebegott Jr. of Belle Plaine community organizations— “Our shared history is made ing others. It’s an presents oral history interviews to Karen Lloyd. including Kansas Public Radio— more visible by the act of endless spiral of to collect histories from recording what you accom- impact.” Vietnam veterans across the plished, and is amplified by “‘Democracy demands wis- quoting from the agency’s Con- state [“America’s Story,” issue those who use it,” she said. dom and vision in its citizens,’” gressional charter, “and I can’t No. 2, 2018]. “Who knows what these col- said Jon Parrish Peede, imagine having wisdom in the Karen Lloyd, director of the lections will inspire: a poem, chairman of the National absence of such stories, much Veterans History Project at the a movie, or perhaps a book Endowment for the Humanities, less, ultimately, democracy.”

12 | KANSAS ALUMNI back to the members of the community on creating new “liquid biopsy” technolo- Milestones, money who raised me,” said Steuart, who will gies for personalized cancer treatment. He pursue advanced degrees in medicine and developed tools to study a new class of and other matters public health and intends to become a virus-sized vesicles that human cells use to physician who advocates for equitable communicate and worked on nanoscale access to health care and education, technologies that can sequence single especially for low-income and at-risk molecules of DNA, among other projects. children. “This process has taught me so “Winners must be conducting research much about how to make a meaningful that expands intellectual or societal impact on a broad scale, so I am excited to insights and has significant influence in continue learning how to be the leader I their fields,” John Colombo, interim vice aspire to be.” chancellor for research, said of the awards. n Richard Godbeer will be the next “The work of Dr. Burnham and Dr. director of the Hall Center for the RESEARCH Jackson certainly rises to the standard and Humanities. Founding director of the speaks to the breadth, depth and vibrancy New award spotlights research Humanities Research Center at Virginia of research occurring beyond the faculty Commonwealth University, Godbeer is ‘beyond faculty ranks’ ranks at KU.” author of five books. He will serve as the Charles W. Battey Distinguished GRADUATE SCHOOL David Burnham and Matt Jackson Professor in the history department. are the first recipients of an award that recognizes the contributions of unclassi- KU programs perform well n Shelley London, j’74, g’81, received fied professional staff to the University’s in annual magazine rankings the Dole Humanitarian Award from the research mission. Robert Dole Institute of Politics on April Established in 2018, the Research Eleven graduate programs earned 26. London worked in executive Achievement Awards give honorees top-10 rankings in the recent U.S. News leadership positions at AT&T and $5,000 for use in approved research or and World Report 2020 assessment of American Standard Companies before professional development activities. public university graduate schools. becoming the founding president of the Burnham, Programs in special education and local Poses Family Foundation, which PhD’07, prepara- government management were again rated supports parents and families of people tor of vertebrate PUPPE STEVE the best in the country. Occupational with learning and attention issues. paleontology at therapy ranked fourth, while programs in the KU Biodiver- speech-language-pathology and public n Denise Farmer, g’08, student sity Institute and management ranked fifth. success coach in the College of Liberal Natural History Public affairs (eighth); education, Arts & Sciences online degree comple- Museum, petroleum engineering, physical therapy, tion program, won the C.L.A.S.S. Award received the Staff and urban planning and policy (ninth); from the Board of Class Officers. The Achievement and family medicine (tenth) rounded out C.L.A.S.S. (Citation for Leadership and Award. He cleans Burnham the University’s top-10 rankings. Last year Achievement in Student Services) and prepares nine KU programs were included in the recognizes staff members’ dedication fossils for research and exhibits, and his top 10. to supporting students. research focuses on the origin of flight in In all, 48 KU graduate programs ranked birds. Recently he has led a KU team that’s in the top 50 among public schools, up n A $500,000 gift from David excavating and studying a juvenile two from last year. Pittaway, c’72, of Naples, Florida, will Tyrannosaurus rex in Montana. “We look to rankings as one way to create a professorship in military Jackson, a track our progress, and these U.S. News history. The first recipient is Adrian postdoctoral rankings highlight the many different Lewis, professor of history and a retired scholar in the ways we contribute to the state and U.S. Army soldier. Pittaway, vice department of region,” said Chancellor Doug Girod. “As a chairman, senior managing director and chemistry, won leading research university, our graduate chief compliance officer of the private the Postdoctoral programs are an important part of who we equity investment firm Castle Harlan in COURTESY OFFICE OF RESEARCH COURTESY Achievement are. We remain focused on our broader New York City, served 20 years in the Award. His mission and goals to help elevate these U.S. Army Reserve before retiring as research focuses efforts across our university.” a major. Jackson

ISSUE 3, 2019 | 13 Sports by Chris Lazzarino

NCAA champion Bryce Hoppel (left), confident without a hint of arrogance, says, “One of the STEVE PUPPE STEVE things I notice coming across the line in the 800 is that I always have a feeling that I can give more. Not that I’m not giving it my all, but I haven’t found my limit yet.” Zach Bradford (right) attributed his record-breaking pole vault, in part, to the warm afternoon’s steady tailwind: “I felt it was going to be a good day. I felt it coming.”

remain his primary target. “After winning the indoor champion- ship, I want to keep up the level I’m at and hopefully get a repeat in outdoor. Now I’m maybe holding myself to a little higher standard, even in little things I do throughout the day, to hold up expecta- tions of where I’m at and hopefully reach Stars are born greater things in the future.” Runners, jumpers and throwers shine at relays, aim for titles Away from the track, Hoppel is friendly and pleasant, and has earned multiple honors as Academic All-Big 12. On the s overreliance on technologies such last time he lost a non-relay event was the track, he is focused in the extreme, thanks A as big data and video analysis 2018 NCAA Outdoor Championship, at in part to a freshman-year failure. threaten to squeeze the fun out of sports, which he placed fourth with a personal- He’d already made a name for himself by running, perhaps alone among big-time best time of 1 minute, 45.67 seconds, the dashing up the rail to pass senior team- athletic competitions, can still be revered second-best 800 time in KU history. mate Strymar Livingston, an All-American for its elegant simplicity. At least that’s the “Bryce continues to be amazing,” coach and Big 12 champion, in the final strides way junior Bryce Hoppel, the reigning Stanley Redwine said after the relays, at of the Kansas Relays’ 800-meter run. NCAA Indoor 800-meter champion, lives which Hoppel also competed on KU’s Livingston had been locked in a duel with his life on the track. second-place 4x400 relay team. “Two another competitor; as both seemingly lost He doesn’t gear his performances events he just dominated, then he came track of Hoppel, the freshman surged past toward specific time goals or percentage- back and ran an awesome leg in the 4x4, on the inside. of-max energy output. He runs to race and so it is just a fun thing to watch when you “It wasn’t really how I wanted to win the races to win. have an athlete competing at that level.” race,” he said afterward, “but I saw the No need to complicate things. Hoppel, a junior from Midland, Texas, opportunity and I took it.” “Winning a national championship, I this year defended his Big 12 Indoor title The season was sunk, though, when was just thinking that if I get out there and in the 800, and was also a member of KU’s Hoppel lost out on a trip to nationals as obviously do whatever it takes to win, then championship distance medley relay team. his high school rival Devin Dixon, a Texas the time is going to come along with it,” He then won his first NCAA title with a A&M freshman at the time, edged Hoppel Hoppel said in an interview with Kansas school-record indoor 800 meter mark of by a few tenths of a second at the NCAA Alumni shortly before the mid-April 1:46.46. qualifying meet in Austin, Texas. Kansas Relays. “That’s the perspective I As Kansas Alumni went to press, “Training over that whole summer, I like to keep on time.” Hoppel and his teammates were couldn’t get it out of my mind. I kept Hoppel’s Kansas Relays victories in the preparing for the May 10-12 Big 12 replaying that final stretch in my mind, 800- and 1,500-meter runs extended his Outdoor Championships, although the over and over,” Hoppel says. “That defeat individual-race winning streak to 12; the June 5-8 NCAA Outdoor Championships just made me so much hungrier for my

14 | KANSAS ALUMNI sophomore year, and my sophomore year is when I started getting things done.” Now that he’s an NCAA Indoor cham- “The Olympics, I think, is the dream of every track pion and a favorite to do the same and field athlete. It’s becoming a little bit more of a outdoors, Hoppel says he’s dreaming even bigger dreams. reality than a dream now, so it’s something I’m “The NCAA Outdoor Championship is chasing after.” —NCAA Indoor 800-meter champion Bryce Hoppel up next, and that’s what I’m going for first,” { } he says. “But this past indoor season really opened my eyes to a lot of the opportuni- ties I could possibly have after college: compete in the World Championships, hopefully going pro, and the Olympics, I but first he needs to go NCAA and do think, is the dream of every track and field PUPPE STEVE well there.” athlete. Dudarev said shortly after his Kansas “It’s becoming a little bit more of a Relays victory that he is aiming for 80 reality than a dream now, so it’s something meters, but that’s still a long way off. I’m chasing after.” “I can’t throw far right now, but it’s While Hoppel excelled in his three- going to be a long season. I think I can event performance at Kansas Relays, do it.”h freshman Zach Bradford, of Bloomington, Illinois, was lighting up the pole-vault pit with his own star-making performance. Bradford—whose boyish zeal and brash KU’s tennis aces ability evoke images of how iconic middle-distance runner Steve Prefontaine Senior trio conclude careers once carried himself on the track—left his with big wins, high honors competition far behind with a winning jump of 18 feet, 11 inches. His mark was he three seniors who helped rebuild second-best of the NCAA season and Bradford TKansas tennis—Anastasia Rychagova, fourth-best in the world. It qualified the nation’s top-ranked singles player Bradford for the October IAAF World said. “He’s the real deal. There’s no doubt entering the 2018 spring season, until a Championships in Qatar, and broke the about it. He’s one of the U.S.’s best talents.” broken rib derailed her junior year, and KU record of 18-10.75—which at the time Two years ago, hammer thrower Gleb Nina Khmelnitckaia and Janet Koch, was also the American record—set in 1983 Dudarev burst onto the scene with a briefly the NCAA’s top-ranked doubles by the great Jeff Buckingham, ’84. similarly scintillating Kansas Relays team this season—all earned automatic “I was like, ‘I’ve got four years to break performance, crushing his competitors as bids to the NCAA Women’s Tennis that record; I’ll get there eventually,’” an unknown freshman from Belarus. Championships, May 20-25 in Orlando, Bradford said of his intention to one day Dudarev—who owns every throw on guaranteeing All-America honors. become the best in KU’s long history of KU’s all-time top-10 list and is a four-time That news came shortly after the outstanding pole vaulters. “I didn’t think it Big 12 champion in the indoor weight Jayhawks powered past Texas to win the was going to come in the first year.” throw and outdoor hammer—again Big 12 Championship on their home Moments after narrowly missing his brushed aside his relays competitors, easily courts at Rock Chalk Park, where the only attempt at 19-1, for which his winning at 72.29 meters. Jayhawks were undefeated this season. competitors had to assist event officials in After faltering badly at last year’s NCAA “All three will leave here first-team raising and setting the bar, Bradford said, Outdoor Championship, at which he All-Americans. All three will leave here “Everything is just starting to click. finished 12th, Dudarev and throws coach Big 12 champions. Amazing,” said Todd Everything is just starting to get there. I’m Andy Kokhanovsky used early season Chapman, who was named Coach of the ready for even higher heights.” meets at Florida and Louisiana State to Year in the conference. “I don’t know if I As Bradford climbed his way up the restore Dudarev’s national stature. can put into words what they’ve meant to ascending jumps, his coach, Tom Hays, “We went to Florida Relays and beat the this program and how they’ve helped d’90, was unnervingly calm. While national champion, then we went LSU to elevate us to where we’re at.” Bradford caught everybody else off-guard, face the guy who got third, and we beat The best news, though, was still to come: Hays saw it coming. him,” Kokhanovsky said. “This year, his Chosen to host opening-weekend matches “He’s one of the best we’ve got,” Hays season is different. He’s supposed to for the NCAA’s team tournament, the

ISSUE 3, 2019 | 15 Sports

Jayhawks first beat Denver to avenge their Player), sophomore Plobrung Plipuech 2018 tournament loss, then dropped and freshman Sonia Smagina all won their STEVE PUPPE STEVE perennial powerhouse Florida to advance, singles matches. as Kansas Alumni went to press, to a Sweet Smagina capped her victory just 16 Super-Regional showdown at Stanford. moments after Koch lost on the neighbor- Florida coach Roland Thornqvist, who ing court. has led the Gators to four NCAA champi- “It’s crazy. They basically did it without onships, began his coaching career at KU, us,” Koch said. “It’s good to see our in 1997 and ’98, back when the Jayhawks younger ones picking it up for us, knowing played at Alvamar Racquet Club and on that we can just play free because they’ll the courts behind Robinson Gymnasium. have our back and they can step up in the After watching his team fall to this year’s big moment. It’s fun to see.” surging ’Hawks, Thornqvist praised the At some point midway through the facility, the coaching and the seniors. season, Koch explained, younger players “They played the big points a little bit seemed to finally grasp their lessons from better than we did,” the UF coach said, the seniors: practice hard, push each other “and that’s how you get punished in a big to excel, stay positive. match like this. There’s no substitute for “Even the locker-room talk changed,” experience.” Koch said. “Once everyone pulled in to The delight for KU, though, was that the what we’re doing and started to see some younger players were most responsible for success, they figured out that everything “I believed it,” Janet Koch says of her conviction the 4-2 victory. After the ’Hawks won the bleeds into everything. that she and her two fellow seniors would help doubles point for the 24th time in 25 “We feel like we did what we needed to launch a new era for KU tennis, “but I never saw matches, junior Maria Toran Ribes (the do here. It’s a feeling of a lot of it until this year. It’s an unbelievable feeling. Big 12 tournament’s Most Outstanding satisfaction.”h Very emotional. Overwhelming.”

UPDATES

The spring competition both 1- and 3-meter events. ... Longhorns May 4. “That was NCAA’s suspension of forward between junior transfer Among six former Jayhawks to one of the greatest pitching Silvio De Sousa “for alleged Thomas MacVittie and sign NFL rookie free agent performances I’ve seen in my violations that he was unaware incumbent senior Carter contracts, career,” said coach of and from which he did not Stanley to be named coach Les linebacker Joe Ritch Price. ... benefit.” ... Former running back Miles’ starting quarterback will Dineen Jr., b’18, Center Udoka Jon Cornish, c’07, a native of carry into fall camp. After the ’19, twice the Big Azubuike, who British Columbia who spent his STEVE PUPPE STEVE April 13 spring scrimmage, 12’s leading lost most of his professional career with the Miles praised his squad for tackler, joined the junior season to a Calgary Stampeders, on April “great speed,” along with “effort Denver Broncos, wrist injury, 24 was voted into the Canadian and energy” that create “some and defensive surprised coach Football Hall of Fame. It was real chemistry.” The Miles era tackle Daniel Bill Self when he earlier announced that the officially begins with an Aug. 31 Wise, c’19, announced April trophy honoring the home game against Indiana signed with 22 that he will outstanding Canadian in NCAA State. ... Dallas. ... Azubuike return for his football would be named in Senior Vicky Xu on March 1 A 10-6 victory over Texas senior season. “We really Cornish’s honor. ... Junior became KU’s first Big 12 diving May 5 at Hoglund Ballpark anticipated that this would be defenseman Johan Steen and champion when she won the capped KU baseball’s first the year he would enter the senior goalie Ben Smith were 3-meter title at the conference series sweep of Texas since draft,” Self said, “but that was named to club hockey’s meet in Austin, Texas. She set 2014. Junior Ryan Cyr was also based on him having an All-America team, and multiple school and Big 12 named Big 12 Pitcher of the injury-free year.” ... coach Andy McConnell, j’16, records in her only KU season Week for his 86-pitch Kansas Athletics on April 18 was named Div. III Coach and was named All-American in complete-game shutout of the announced it was appealing the of the Year.

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Sports Kansas Relays photographs by Steve Puppe

ISSUE 3, 2019 | 19 IMAGE NO. 100221586_13, AMNH LIBRARY The Illustrated Lives of Insects KU scholar unearths treasures in American Museum of Natural History’s rare books collection for sumptuous volume on earth’s most diverse animals

ichael Engel is one of the labor is the exceptional Innumerable world’s foremost entomolo- Insects: The Story of the Most Diverse and gists, yet a love for bugs Myriad Animals on Earth, the fourth in a hardly runs through the rare-books series launched by the AMNH Mstory of his life. in 2012 with the much-heralded Natural The only buggy boyhood anecdote that Histories, edited by Tom Baione, the Engel, c’93, c’93, University Distinguished museum’s Harold Boeschenstein Director Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary of the department of library services. Biology and senior curator at KU’s As with Natural Histories, subsequent Biodiversity Institute & Natural History volumes on birds and oceans tended to Museum, readily recalls is one he doesn’t focus on the stories of the rare books in even remember, passed down from his which illustrations were found, with mother, about how he used to draw roly narratives about scientists, polies, to scale, the images too tiny to be artists and expeditions. The of much use except to illustrate his need text for each volume was for exactness. published in a softcover “I was really big into drawing things,” book, along with 40 Engel says with his easy laugh. “Only, I like reproductions of the things to be accurate.” “I’ve gone through rare book illustrations examined Themes that do run through the story of collections before, but usually in the book, all his remarkably productive life are passions it’s like, ‘I’m doing study Y and I packaged by Sterling for history, art, books and museums, so need to see volume Y,’ and you’re Publishing Co. in when his colleagues at New York’s Ameri- given access to volume Y. So you’re clamshell boxes. can Museum of Natural History offered telling me I don’t have to have any other “For this fourth volume,” Engel the opportunity to sift through their excuse other than I need to look at these Baione says from his office within the closely guarded rare books collection to books and I can just go look at as many as AMNH complex on Central Park West, produce a book illustrating the beauty of I want? Whoa! All right! Give me the keys “the publishers wanted to try something their insect-related holdings, he accepted to the rare book room and let me loose! different. So we went with a hardback faster than roly polies curl into protective “And you know what? It was great.” volume. I guess they felt the other format little balls. The result of his year and a half of loving was exhausted.”

by Chris Lazzarino

ISSUE 3, 2019 | 21 STEVE PUPPE (2) STEVE

Michael Engel, here in his West Campus office and laboratory, describes the opportunity to research and write Innumerable Insects as “a dream come true.” Tom Baione, AMNH library director, concluded an hourlong interview with Kansas Alumni by saying, “The University of Kansas is very, very fortunate to have somebody like Dr. Engel involved in their program. I can’t state that enough.”

The project editors turned to Engel, who has nurtured a long affiliation with the museum. His first job after completing his Cornell University PhD in 1998 was as a recognizing promising scientists under 40, for a second edition by Cambridge research scientist in the museum’s division Engel was introduced by his AMNH University Press. of invertebrate zoology, a job he held until colleague and collaborator David Grimaldi Engel’s academic and scientific creden- returning to KU two years later as an as “arguably the world’s foremost authority tials were impeccable, but the trait that assistant professor and assistant curator. on the evolutionary history of insects.” sold AMNH librarians on entrusting him Engel has since maintained his ties to the Engel was 37 at the time. He already had with the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to New York City landmark as research published more than 200 papers on living dive into their unimaginably deep associate. and extinct insects and co-authored, with holdings of insect-related rare books— When he received the Paleontological Grimaldi, the landmark textbook Evolu- considered by experts as perhaps the finest Society’s 2008 Charles Schuchert Award, tion of the Insects, which is being readied such collection in the world—and share

22 | KANSAS ALUMNI highlights with the wider world is that because it made good business sense. lium, in which the great thinker described Engel is much more than an expert Everyone involved gave the project a hive’s leader as the “king.” entomologist. extraordinary levels of care and devotion, Butler offers practical instructions on He is also, his colleagues knew, a book she says, but, ultimately, the beautiful book capturing swarms and building hives, and lover, historian and world-class scientist about beautiful books had to sell. his observations were so profoundly keen who cultivates an appreciation for the arts. “I think a lot of people are fascinated by that, inspired by the sounds of active hives “Michael has an amazing knowledge of the subject, not just scientists, and it that spoke to his heart, Butler, also a the retrospective literature in entomology,” seemed like there was a dearth of some- musician, wrote a four-part madrigal— says Mai Reitmeyer, the museum’s senior thing like it in the market,” Berger says. “It reproduced in Innumerable Insects—that research services librarian. “He appreciates fills a niche.” was a “transliteration of the tones he and loves the old books—of course the old perceived the bees to be making.” ones that are relevant to his work, but I Butler’s crowning achievement, how- think he even knows the history of some iven complete autonomy to create ever, was placing the crown properly upon of the older books that may be out of date and follow his vision for the the hive’s dominant female. now, yet he appreciates them as artifacts.” Gbook’s text, Engel chose to deviate God save the queen. Published last October by Sterling, from previous standards set by the “It was always this misogynistic view which is owned by Barnes & Noble, at a series—collections of essays on the that surely the ruler of the hive has to be a notably reasonable $27.95, Innumerable histories of the illustrations, the books king; it can’t be a woman,” Engel says. Insects grabbed the attention of lay and from which they were selected, and “And Butler was, like, well, the ruler of the expert audiences alike. scientists, artists and expeditions—and hive happens to have ovaries and seems to Described by Barbara Berger, Sterling instead write about the animals. In this be laying eggs, so I tend to think this is a Editorial’s executive editor, as one of case, earth’s mighty swarms of insects past Barnes & Noble’s holiday success stories— and present. “I totally think it’s a classic,” she says from “Insects were among the earliest animals her New York office—Innumerable Insects to transition to land, the first to fly, the occasionally sells out even in the museum’s first to sing, the first to disguise themselves gift shop. It was hailed as a top-five read by with camouflage, the first to evolve Nature magazine, which promised that societies, the first to develop agriculture, insect aficionados “will be entranced by and the first to use an abstract language,

this homage to the class Insecta,” with and they did all of this tens if not hun- AMNH LIBRARY 100015078, NO. IMAGE “spectacular images” that “glow like dreds of millions of years before humans jewels.” In April the book was named a ever appeared to mimic these achieve- Nautilus Book Awards silver medalist. ments,” Engel writes. “Today’s insects are Writing in the Nov. 2 Minneapolis Star the various descendants of life’s greatest Tribune, Robin Thomson, curator of the diversification.” University of Minnesota Insect Collection, While diligently telling the story of opened by describing Engel’s first book, insects with 10 chapters on various aspects Evolution of the Insects, as “the go-to text of their evolution and existence, each for learning more than you ever thought sumptuously illustrated with plates from you needed to about insects, their diver- the museum’s rare book collection, Engel sity, and entire evolutionary history.” also pauses along the way to replicate the Explaining that she feared Innumerable strategy of earlier volumes in the series: Insects would be more of the same, historical vignettes on the people who Thomson shared her thrill at discovering created these lavishly illustrated and scientists and illustrators previously meticulously researched old books. Of the unknown to her, and summarized fascinating figures Engel profiles, none

Innumerable Insects as “a visually mesmer- captured his imagination more surely than AMNH LIBRARY 100031114_1, NO. IMAGE izing entry point for anyone interested Charles Butler. in exploring insects and the history of Butler, a “radical English vicar and their study.” beekeeper,” in 1609 published The Femi- Berger says Sterling was eager to nine Monarchie, which Engel describes as publish the book not as a vanity project the first English-language book on that would extend its affiliation with a beekeeping—already an ancient craft by prestigious institution like the AMNH, but the time Aristotle wrote Historia anima-

ISSUE 3, 2019 | 23 female. So the title of the book is The family would get together you would have that he didn’t have a car, she set an Feminine Monarchie, which is also all of these people who are literally of the appointment to pick him up, and sure particularly fascinating because he’s Victorian era sitting around and talking,” enough, “here she came along with her publishing it in the later years of Queen Engel says. “I was talking to history for the little car and threw me in and zipped off Elizabeth I’s reign.” early parts of my life.” and took me on a private tour through the As a leading authority on the evolution The family moved to Wichita when Nelson-Atkins.” While in Greece one of bees, Engel naturally delights in the Engel was a high school senior. Though his summer, Banks sent Engel a postcard, story of a rebellious polymath—Butler was parents moved again shortly after their assuring him that “one day you’re going to also an authoritative grammarian, for eldest son graduated from Southeast High come here and see all this yourself.” instance—who identifies the queen as School, leaving Kansas behind, Michael “She was abslutely the greatest,” Engel supreme ruler. But Engel has other reasons remained for the in-state tuition at KU. says. “I really loved her. Four or five years to respond to the story of the queen: “By the time I got here, I was broadly ago I got some award from KU, so I had to Powerful and wonderful women shaped interested in everything,” Engel says. “I give a little talk, and then afterward—and the boy and young man into the man in took classes in archaeology and Eastern by this time she’s rather frail—here comes full he became. Betty Banks. She said, ‘I saw you were giving a talk, so I did everything I could to come and be here. I’m so proud of you.’ ngel’s father, A. Gayle, was a parish “I almost broke into tears.” minister in the United Church of Despite her encouragement, Engel did EChrist. When he was promoted to not major in classics, instead choosing administrative posts, the family moved dual degrees in chemistry and physiology from Arizona to Walnut Creek, California, and cell biology. His advisers were Barbara then a rustic retreat that, as the last stop AMNH LIBRARY 100027815_1 NO. IMAGE Schowen, assoc., now retired as director of on the Bay Area Rapid Transit system, the KU Honors Program, and Sally allowed Rev. Engel access to his work in Frost-Mason, who went on to become San Francisco while the family enjoyed a dean of the College of Liberal Arts & tranquil home. Sciences, provost at Purdue University, “I wasn’t out collecting insects or and, until her 2015 retirement, president anything like that; they weren’t really on of the University of Iowa. Banks, Schowen my radar screen,” Engel says. “Instead, I and Frost-Mason are all members of the was out climbing the fruit trees in our KU Women’s Hall of Fame. backyard, burning off energy like any little “I had these incredibly amazing women boy does.” around me who were giving me the most Early on most Sunday mornings, the incredible insight and education and life Engels piled into the family car and input,” Engel says. “I thank every star in headed for area churches, where Rev. heaven.” Engel would often serve as guest minister Engel recalls that he was a first-semester before meeting with local church officials. sophomore when Frost-Mason encour- While his father was so occupied, Engel’s aged him to take an upper-level develop- mother, Donna, would often play organ mental biology course, where an annoyed music for the children—Michael has a religions and whatnot. One of my favorite professor assured Engel he would fail and younger brother and sister—or lead them professors here—and in hindsight, had I urged him to drop immediately. Frost- to nearby natural history and art galleries. not interacted with some other people, I Mason told Engel he would be fine, and he Even their time in the car was used for might have gone and followed her—was was, at which point she encouraged him to betterment, with the children encouraged Elizabeth Banks. I adored her. During the begin developing a research program that to create “imaginative games about things semester I took with her, and even to this could grow into an honors thesis we’re seeing outside the window as we’re day, in some ways, the sun rose and set (although he was not, technically, enrolled going along.” around Betty Banks.” in the KU Honors Program). Engel suspects that his deep interest in Banks, assoc., director of the Wilcox To help him identify a thesis, Frost- history was influenced by large age gaps Classical Museum from 1970 to 2001 and Mason suggested Engel enroll in a seminar within his family. One of his grandfathers, an associate professor of classics until class, in which students heard each week born in 1893, was the baby of his family; retirement, once urged her eager student from different professors in different fields. siblings were born in the 1880s. to visit Kansas City’s Nelson-Atkins Engel was not particularly impressed. “They were very elderly, but when the Museum of Art. When Engel explained “I know we had a couple of people in

24 | KANSAS ALUMNI IMAGE NO. 10002870, AMNH LIBRARY 10002870, NO. IMAGE

ISSUE 3, 2019 | 25 IMAGE NO. 1000221586_5 AMNH LIBRARY there—Oh, my God, you are really not It’s not being made for me. So do I take the collection to see what we can find that’s good at public speaking. Great science, but path less traveled or not?’ kind of fresh, that hasn’t been seen to you’re killing us here,” Engel recalls. “And “Obviously I did choose that path, and death.” then there was a faculty member who had went off to Cornell.” Engel says that even on his workaday not yet even started at the University. He Two years after earning his PhD, Engel trips to Watson Library, he tries to set was just about to start, he had been hired, was back at KU. Eight years later, he was a aside three hours, because he knows that but he was still finishing up his postdoc at full professor. (For context, new assistant once he finds the intended book or journal the Smithsonian. Byron Alexander.” professors, if they earn tenure, are typically he’ll also read through chapters in Alexander, who died in 1996, told the promoted to associate in seven years, and whatever else he spies nearby and return class that he studied systematics of insects, a promotion to professor can take longer to his office with a stack of 11. then presented his research on the still, even for academic stars.) In 2018 “That was sort of this experience, on genealogical history of honey bees and the Engel reached the lofty heights of Univer- steroids,” Engel says of his AMNH access, evolution of their language. sity Distinguished Professor. “and I took every imagineable detour. I “I thought, ‘Oh, that’s different, that’s “A lot of my life, career, everything, has would pull volumes full-well knowing kind of cool,’” Engel recalls. “He had a just been serendipity. Who knows what there’s a 99 percent chance that this sucker great manner of relating with people. could have happened, for any of our lives? is not going in, but, dear lord, I have got to There’s not a soul on earth who didn’t just It could have fallen out in any one of a to see this.” love Byron.” billion different ways. For me, I was Engel says he was told Innumerable Although he was already working broadly interested in things, and had I Insects would need 150 to 180 images; his toward dual degrees outside the field, been at a different school and interacted pared list reached 400. For each section of Engel approached Alexander about with similarly engaging faculty, who the book, he consulted Baione and research opportunities; the scholar told the knows what I could have been. Reitmeyer, then turned to his wife, Kellie student that he was still in the process of “It just so happened that my life Magill, c’07, research project coordinator setting up his lab, but suggested he reach intersected with the right people at the at KU’s Achievement & Assessment out to a trio of towering KU entomolo- right time.” Institute. gists: the late Distinguished Professor “I’d say, ‘OK, for this section I’ve got 10 Emeritus Charles Michener, Professor images, and they said I could only use two. Emeritus Orley “Chip” Taylor and ou don’t need to be a student Looking at all of this, which strike you Professor Deborah Smith. of entomology to be most powerfully?’ She’d inevitably end up Taylor hired Engel as a research Yentranced by the beauty of picking the two that were right from a lay assistant, Smith worked with him on Michael Engel’s book. Innumerable person’s perspective ... but not the one that his undergraduate honors thesis, and Insects passes the eye test. Anyone shows the wing I like.” both Michener and Alexander who likes books or history or art Engel laughs, and says his wife offered welcomed discussions with the eager will crave a comfy chair to similarly expert advice when Sterling undergrad. crawl into when handed Publishing’s designers began marrying text “It was really great,” Engel says, Innumerable Insects, in part for and images. As Engel worked back and “but I didn’t stop my degrees. I was the rare access it represents. forth with editor Barbara Berger, Magill far enough along that it would be Tom Baione, the AMNH’s would counsel, “Calm down, trust foolish to start over.” director of library services, says Barbara, she’s going to make it look great.” Engel applied to doctoral programs in the museum’s rare book rooms are second Sure enough, “Every single time Barbara chemistry and medicine, but pinned his in security only to the Earth and Planetary would come back with something, it hopes on entomology: “Sure enough, Science gem and mineral collection, and would be stunning.” several of them shot me down, said I didn’t only a small group of library staff even It’s a book full of right choices made by a have enough of the background.” Then have access. lot of smart people who cared very much Cornell University said yes—specifically, Whenever work took Engel to New about creating an important book that Professor George Eickwort, PhD’67, a York, he would spend a few days with Mai would be equally accessible to expert Charles Michener protégé. Eickwort was Reitmeyer, the senior research services scientists and kindergartners looking at tragically killed in an automobile accident librarian, who appreciated the opportunity pretty pictures. in Jamaica a year after Engel arrived at to mingle in the collection as much as “We’d love to think,” Baione says, “that Cornell, yet Engel still describes him as Engel did. young minds, or minds of all ages, are “my mentor.” “I don’t get to work with the rare book inspired to change direction, perhaps in “When George Eickwort said, ‘We’d love collection every day,” she says. “So any their educational career, by seeing these to have you,’ I remember thinking, ‘Oh, time we do one of these books it’s amazing books that we’ve produced.”

IMAGE NO. 1000221591_2 AMNH LIBRARY 1000221591_2 NO. IMAGE no, now I really do have to make a choice. to sort of go on a scavenger hunt into the Sounds ... serendipitous.h

ISSUE 3, 2019 | 27 Campus

From snow and ice removal

to spring landscaping, KU crews PUPPE STEVE ensure campus is safe and beautiful year-round

Jones and Harding

28 | KANSAS ALUMNI SUSAN YOUNGER(4) SUSAN

Caretakers by Heather Biele

ach May, thousands of KU families KU groundskeepers delivered yet again open, as much as possible—during one of and friends descend on Mount this year, albeit under particularly chal- the most relentless winters this region has EOread to celebrate the success of lenging circumstances. experienced in years. graduating Jayhawks at Commencement. “A year ago, I had 34 people,” says Mike According to the National Weather And each year, without doubt, returning Jones, who supervises landscape services Service, more than 17 inches of snow fell alumni and guests marvel at the sheer along with Kale Laverentz, ’14, and Larry on the Lawrence campus from Oct. 1 beauty of the Lawrence campus, with its Rawlings. “Now I have 13. We’re spread through April 9, with significant amounts immaculate lawns, brilliant spring really thin, but the 13 people that I have … reported on nearly a dozen days. By blossoms and groves of lush green trees. I can trust them. We get the job done.” comparison, about 13 inches of snow In the weeks leading up to the annual If the idea of that many workers was measured collectively over the past event, the KU landscaping crew works maintaining nearly 1,000 acres of land in two years. tirelessly, logging 10-hour days to mow, the spring sounds daunting, consider this: “It was definitely the worst since I’ve trim, mulch and plant—all to ensure that Just a few months ago, this same crew been here,” says Shawn Harding, director the University’s sprawling backdrop is at worked even longer days, in even tougher of KU Facilities Services, who oversees its finest for the weekend festivities. conditions, to keep campus safe—and landscaping for all of the Lawrence

ISSUE 3, 2019 | 29 campus, as well as maintenance for the who had reported for their normal shifts at a.m. Wednesday, plowing campus roads University’s academic, recreational and 6:30 a.m., had loaded their Ford F-350 and sidewalks for the anticipated arrival of athletics buildings. He’s worked in the trucks with sand early in the day, pretreat- students, faculty and staff. department since 2011. “We’ve had some ing campus parking lots and roads in Classes were postponed until 10 a.m. bad snows. Five years ago, we had a 10- to preparation for the storm. It was déjà vu that morning, one of seven campus 12-inch snow that shut campus down, I for the crew, who just four days earlier had closures or delays KU experienced this think, for two days. But that was one event cleared campus after blizzard-like condi- year—more than any other academic year within a season that was otherwise tions swept through Lawrence. in at least four decades. When severe normal. This season was every week, if not As the Tuesday-evening storm intensi- weather could potentially affect campus every three or four days at times.” fied, the four men returned to the Lied operations, the University implements an Despite the fact that campus has grown Center to plow and sand the parking lot emergency operation command, or EOC. steadily over the past five to 10 years, as and clear paths for guests to return safely The Federal Emergency Management evidenced by the recent completion of the to their cars. Getting them home was Agency-based procedure involves several 40-plus acre Central District; the Earth, another matter. campus units, including the Office of Energy & Environment Center; the “Every time we would plow something it Public Safety and Facilities Services, which DeBruce Center; and new homes for the would drift back up,” Jones recalls, citing report on the possibility of hazardous schools of business, engineering and winds that gusted to nearly 30 mph. “We conditions and the readiness of campus pharmacy, statewide budget cuts have had cars stuck, and we were running out crews to respond. A core group of admin- hampered the number of employees of sand. We had to run back to the shop istrators makes the decision to cancel Facilities Services can hire. and reload.” classes or close campus based largely on “If anything, we’ve gotten smaller as He and his crew battled treacherous those departments’ recommendations. campus has gotten bigger,” Harding says. conditions for two hours, clearing routes “We’re trying to determine if campus is and assisting more than a half-dozen going to be safe to travel, and travel being vehicles that had careened off Crestline in vehicle or on foot,” says Harding, who y the time members of the KU and Drive after leaving the hilltop performance explains that several EOC calls occurred BLawrence communities arrived at the hall. Jones and another groundskeeper had late at night or early in the morning, Lied Center to see the Feb. 19 performance to travel back to the center loading dock to depending on the timing of the severe of the Japanese drumming troupe Kodo, a help the Kodo troupe members navigate weather threat. “If the answer is no, winter weather advisory was well under- their trucks off the lot. because of what’s coming, then we decide way. Conditions worsened as the evening “We’re just thinking, this is crazy,” says to close campus. That’s really the long and progressed; temperatures plummeted and Jones, who worked through the night short of it.” heavy snow buried the region. before going home to sleep for an hour. He Whether campus remains open or Jones and three other groundskeepers, and his crew were back on campus at 5:15 closes, Harding and Jones consider several factors in their approach to keeping KU safe, including the type of precipitation expected and the needs of campus during a severe weather event. A Saturday-night

SUSAN YOUNGER SUSAN storm might necessitate only the immedi- ate clearing of campus accessibility routes and roads for emergency vehicles, whereas a weekday weather event most likely involves pretreatment of stairs and sidewalks to keep those walkways passable for pedestrians. Another consideration, which was a factor during the Feb. 19 snowstorm, is whether the Lied Center or

Andy Peterson (l-r), Mike Jones and Phil Vaughn planted a Frontier elm east of the Price Computing Center on April 22. KU Information Technology staff collected $150 to purchase the tree for Earth Day.

30 | KANSAS ALUMNI STEVE PUPPE STEVE

Dalton Wanna (l-r), Rick Virtue, Thane Haug, Phil Vaughn, Larry Rawlings, Jamie Jarrett, Tom North, Kale Laverentz, Reggie Walsh and James Traul were among the KU groundskeepers who kept campus roads, sidewalks and stairs clear of snow and ice this winter.

another campus venue is hosting an event, miles of campus roads, no matter the time crewmembers logged countless hours of which affects how quickly crews respond of day. overtime, fatigue had set in. “I had to keep to those areas. “Those four people I relied on at 1 in the a positive attitude,” Jones says. “You know, “Prioritization was a constant conversa- morning to answer their phones,” Jones everybody looks up to me. As soon as they tion throughout the winter,” Harding says. says. “They could’ve told me no and none see a supervisor or a manager with a bad Because of the incessant nature of this of them did. We came in and we worked attitude, it just rolls downhill and every- season’s storms—there was at least one 14, 15, 16 hours to get the streets cleared. thing goes to hell. All my guys, I just severe weather event most weeks in I thought we did a heck of a job, for what talked to them: ‘This is our job; we’ve just January and February—Harding enlisted we had.” got to do it.’” other Facilities Services crews to assist With each storm, the facilities crews with snow and ice removal. The trade found ways to streamline their response shops, which include plumbers, carpenters time and become more efficient, including onths later, with winter mercifully in and electricians, tackled all of the campus hiring an outside contractor to clear M hindsight, Harding reflects on the stairs, while the custodial group was several campus parking lots so KU staff season with nothing but pride for his responsible for clearing paths from the could focus on other areas. “We did it so crews—and no regrets for the decisions buildings to the sidewalks. The landscap- many times that every time we learned made regarding campus closures. “I just ing crew took over from there, sweeping something or we found some way to do really think that with shrinking staff through with John Deere tractors something better,” says Harding, who also numbers and trying to get smarter every equipped with plows or heavy-duty drove one of the plow trucks this year. “We time, we were right on par,” he says. “Even brooms, depending on the type of precipi- just kept building on the experience and though I think of it as a failure when we tation. A small team of four groundskeep- tried to make it better.” can’t open campus, there’s just a time when ers, led by Jones, also cleared nearly 210 Still, by the end of the season, and after you shouldn’t have people out walking

ISSUE 3, 2019 | 31 STEVE PUPPE STEVE Winter Essentials xkjhu ccording to KU Facilities Services, Athe Lawrence campus went through four times more snow and ice removal products in 2018-’19 than in the past three years. Here’s an approximate look at the scope of the work:

1,000 210 miles acres of land of campus road

Reggie Walsh and Anthony Arnold helped unload nearly $12,000 of assorted flowers that were delivered May 6. KU landscapers planted the colorful new shipment in campus flowerbeds the 150,000 pounds of ice melt week before Commencement.

around or driving. For the most part, we trimming trees, and preparing flower beds were right on top of it the whole season, so for spring annuals. “Making campus look 150 160 I couldn’t be prouder of our folks and how good,” Jones says. tons of sand tons of salt they responded.” Though Harding has had to adjust to In the weeks following the last few staff cuts by outsourcing certain tasks, like storms, KU groundskeepers addressed the mowing, and allowing more campus land season’s harsh aftermath, filling hundreds to grow naturally—which saves both fuel of potholes on roads and in parking lots; and manpower—our campus caretakers assessing damage to stairs, sidewalks and know they’ll shoulder the majority of the 3,500 gallons of anti-icing agent campus signs; flushing sand and salt landscaping efforts for this year’s through the storm drains to prevent Commencement. In fact, the team of clogging; and determining whether about a dozen workers recently hand- shrubs, grass and other plants affected by planted nearly $12,000 worth of assorted plows and salt application could be saved. flowers that arrived in early May. The University’s service vehicles, which “It’s definitely something each one of our 5,000 winter labor hours sustained extensive wear and tear over the folks takes pride in,” Harding says. “They past five months, needed immediate like working here because it’s rewarding to attention. go out, make an area of campus look Fortunately, spring’s long-awaited arrival better, and come in the next day and do brings a shift in focus for the landscaping the same thing somewhere else. That’s 6 tractors 5 plow/sander trucks crew: mowing lawns, planting and what we strive to do.”h

32 | KANSAS ALUMNI SEEK SUCCESS BACK ON THE HILL

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All for Fun, Fun for All

34 | KANSAS ALUMNI M att Baysinger and Ryan Henrich met at Blue Valley West High School in Overland Park. Both ran track for the Jaguars and both, in Baysinger’s words, “were a couple of real ding-dongs.” “Our idea of fun was not what the typical high school kid is into,” says Baysinger, now 33 and CEO of Swell Spark, the Kansas City-based company that launched two of the most unique and popular entertainment options to hit Mass Street in years: Breakout Lawrence and Blade & Timber.

“We would do things like get our lawn A decade later, Baysinger, c’09, g’11, chairs and go sit in a median and wave at and Henrich, ’09, his 33-year-old cars,” he recalls. “Like, what?” cofounder and chief operating officer, Back then Antioch Road was a believe they are feeding a similar craving two-lane that jammed up like the Lincoln with the apparently random mix of Tunnel on weekday mornings as kids businesses that operate under the Swell jockeyed to make the first bell at 7:30. “If Spark name. Breakout, the company’s first I left my house at 6:55, I’d get to school at venture, challenges groups of two to eight 7:00,” Baysinger says. “If I left at 7, I’d get people to unravel clues and solve a series there at 7:30.” of puzzles that allow them to “break out” So he and Henrich and a few friends of an escape room. Choir Bar, a once-a- decided that, rather than fight traffic and month group singalong and social event, scarf down their morning meal in the brings together a few hundred strangers car, they’d arrive early and make breakfast for one night to learn a song and share at school. cocktails; the evening ends with a “I mean, we made breakfast. We would performance in three-part harmony that’s bring our toaster ovens,” Baysinger says. videotaped and made available for “And we’d eat and say hi to hundreds of participants to post on social media. people as they came in. We started junior Blade & Timber is a stunningly simple year, and by the time we graduated there concept: Players throw axes at targets— were often 100 to 200 people coming like darts, but way more badass. Shared to school early.” “A lot of people are like, ‘How can you They initially came for the same go from escape rooms—these epic experiences are reason—to beat traffic—but then, 60-minute adventures—to ax throwing to Baysinger says, “it became, ‘Let’s share a Choir Bar?’” Baysinger says. “And we’re the heart of meal. Let’s talk together.’” like, ‘Honestly, it’s the same thing!’” Turns out even high school kids, who “It’s all an epic adventure,” Henrich Matt and Ryan’s could be forgiven for not wanting to says. “Just in a different way.” spend an extra minute in school, espe- In fact, the unifying thread between epic adventures cially if it means getting up early, were these inventive business concepts that at hungry for something more than Pop first glance seem to have no connection by steven Hill Tarts and scrambled eggs. is, well, the idea of connection itself.

ISSUE 3, 2019 | 35 STEVE PUPPE (4) STEVE

aysinger was working as a high was the back door of an old grocery hour-and-a-half without checking their school guidance counselor and store in Kansas City’s River Market phones, which for teenage kids just doesn’t BHenrich was a firefighter with a neighborhood. happen very often. custom design-build operation on the side “Ryan and I were like, ‘Man, Breakout “Ryan and I had this moment where we when they began tossing around business is a fun activity,’” Baysinger says of the were like, ‘This is it. This is something ideas in 2014. venture’s early days, “but we didn’t put a that’s better than.’” Baysinger had discovered the concept lot of thought into why. We were just Entertainment these days is often of escape rooms; he was intrigued but working really long hours and drinking a passive. We watch a movie, a play, a ball realized his mechanical aptitude lot of coffee.” game. We sit and cheer as others do. wasn’t ideal. One day a group of teenage girls came Solving puzzles against a ticking clock “I call it dad-rigging: If I need to in. They successfully cracked all the clues, with a half-dozen friends or family fix my sink, I’m at least handy enough screaming and laughing as they broke out members—or hurling an ax at a plywood to try. I knew I was not gonna be the before time elapsed. They posed for a target—requires action. guy to build an escape room. But I triumphant victory photo, then left for “Whether it’s an escape room, ax was like, ‘Dude, I can dream up nerdy coffee—at the same coffee shop Baysinger throwing or a group singalong, the puzzles all day. Do you wanna try and Henrich were heading to for their experience doesn’t move forward without this together?’” caffeine fix. the active participation of the crowd,” Henrich did. They traveled the country, “We were behind them for three blocks, Henrich says. “If you went to an escape visiting escape rooms to see how the and the whole way they were deconstruct- room and just watched, you’d have a pretty businesses worked, and they were con- ing what they’d just done,” Baysinger says. bland experience.” vinced they could do better than most Most amazing: Not once did they check What connects Swell Spark’s seemingly they saw. They worked 14-hour days— their cellphones. disparate concepts is the idea that the Matt refining the concepts and Ryan “We’re behind them in line, and they customer drives the action—and the belief building them—to get their first room, still haven’t pulled their phones out,” that action distinguishes adventure from Breakout Kansas City, up and running. Baysinger recalls, noting that players are mere entertainment. For customers, even finding the place asked to stay off their devices during the Consider KU basketball. was a bit of an adventure: The entrance game. “So at this point they’ve gone an “Most people who come to the field

36 | KANSAS ALUMNI KU students (above, l to r) Lauren Lanz, Genna Foster, Jordan Adee, Sidney Zavala, McKenzi Tochtrop and Viviana Patino busted out of Breakout KC’s Y2K room before getting coached up at Blade & Timber Town Center (pp. 38-9). Below: A surprise visit from President Barack Obama on Christmas Eve 2016 brought welcome publicity—and smiles to employees’ faces—at Breakout Waikiki.

watched the teenagers enthuse about their great escape, is there must be additional ways to foster that kind of thing. “Once we realized that, oh my gosh, this COURTESY SWELL SPARK SWELL COURTESY is a shared experience that is helping people build relationships with each other, that was the moment,” Baysinger says. “We were like, ‘What else?’” Henrich adds. “What else,” Baysinger finishes, “is out there that can do this?”

reakout Kansas City led to Breakout Waikiki, in Honolulu, Bwhich grew to five escape games nationwide with more planned (Breakout Lawrence was sold in 2018); Blade & Timber ax-throwing lanes in Lawrence, Kansas City, Leawood, Wichita, Seattle house will say it is the best basketball airballs to deride, wheat to wave and the and Honolulu; Epic Aloha, an interactive experience in the country,” Baysinger says. chant—always the chant. “It’s an interac- photo experience, also in Hawaii; Choir That’s largely because the Jayhawks always tive experience, and I think that’s why Bar Kansas City; and a custom fabrication field a good team, he allows, “but it also people love it so much.” outfit, Catalyst Build, that designs and has to do with the fact that a lot is asked of It’s also a communal experience, and constructs the fittings for each escape you as students and fans during the game.” what the entrepreneurs realized that day in room at the company’s 32,000-square-foot There is newsprint to shred and toss, the coffee shop, as they surreptitiously Kansas City headquarters, called the

ISSUE 3, 2019 | 37 STEVE PUPPE (6) STEVE

38 | KANSAS ALUMNI Sandbox, and ships them out for installa- In March, Baysinger was one of seven stories about the things they’ve done. We tion on site. speakers featured at a TEDx event at the are made up of the stories we’ve lived. Are That extremely hands-on approach University of Missouri-Kansas City, people remarkable because they do allows Swell Spark to maintain a high level “UninhibiTED,” focusing on mavericks remarkable things, or by doing remarkable of quality control, which Baysinger and and trailblazers with the courage to things do you become a remarkable Henrich believe is key to staying ahead of challenge norms. Near the end of his talk, person? I really believe that if you want to the competition in a business where he told the audience that, when it comes to tell great stories you have to do great imitation is pretty much baked into the business, he has “two main and grossly things. People aren’t climbing mountains business plan. (They didn’t invent the idea oversimplified goals”: Make it easy for at our facilities—that’s a whole other level of escape rooms, after all, and the concepts people to hand over their money, and of adventure—but if we can unlock the for Blade & Timber and Choir Bar were make it easy for people to have fun door and let them realize that by doing inspired by similar ventures in England together. cool stuff their life is maybe a little more and Australia.) Outpacing their rivals “I think what we’ve unlocked is this idea fulfilling, then mission accomplished.” means constantly reaching for bigger and that your life is only as good as the The company’s growth strategy focuses better production values. A new Blade & experiences that you share with people,” on finding even more reasons for people to Timber set to open in Kansas City’s Power Baysinger says. “If you talk to someone get together, and giving them more and Light District this summer will be a $1 like my 87-year-old grandpa, they tell reasons to stay together once they do. million ax-throwing destination. “It’s going to be over the top,” Henrich says. “The only way to make sure we don’t have a lot of riffraff muddling the perception of quality of our concepts is to spend a lot more money than all the competition.” SPARK SWELL COURTESY Their goal is to make their new escape rooms “Disney quality.” Their approach seems to work. Breakout and Blade & Timber rank No. 1 and No. 2 in Trip Advisor’s Fun & Games category in Kansas City, Lawrence and Leawood, and one or the other holds the top spot in that category in Wichita and activity-rich Honolulu. For any of Swell Spark’s 26 employees at headquarters who might be having a bad day and need a bit of encouragement, the standard recommen- dation is “go read the reviews.” “To think that a dad gets to be the hero of his kids that day for taking them to Breakout”—Baysinger, himself a father of three, gets emotional talking about it—“it’s meaningful for us. It’s hard to talk about without seeming overly dramatic, because a lot of people look at business as, ‘Oh they’re in it for the money.’ Without the money we don’t exist; we recognize that. But if you were to talk to all the people who work here, you would see that everyone is here because they recognize the greater implications. Read the reviews and you’ll read, ‘This is the best birthday I’ve ever had; this is the best thing I’ve ever done with my dad.’ There’s not many better ways to make a living than providing that Kansas City-area firefighters and police officers turned out for Blades of Glory, an April charity experience for people.” tournament that benefits families of first responders.

ISSUE 3, 2019 | 39

“Once we realized that, oh my gosh, this is partnership with Girl Scouts of Western Washington; Blades of Glory, a tourna- a shared experience that is helping people ment for Kansas City-area first responders that benefits the local Guns ’N Hoses build relationships with each other, that charity motorcycle ride; and an early morning twist on the networking meet- was the moment. We were like, ‘What else? and-greet, coffee and ax throwing, What else is out there that can do this?’” highlight another signature tenet of the Swell Spark approach to fun: the belief that —Matt Baysinger and Ryan Henrich people bond more readily when doing something they’ve never done before. “This idea of shared experiences, and From a corporate team-building program smart enough to play your escape rooms,’” what that does culturally, what that does now in development to a plan for adding Henrich says. “But you can’t know that for families or businesses, has been huge kitchens to every Blade & Timber so ax until you play. And we try to emphasize for us,” Baysinger says. “But also what flingers can linger over burgers and that it’s supposed to be challenging, not we love is this idea of new experience. chicken fingers, Swell Spark is eager to see impossible—and it’s challenging for There’s no pressure to be good; the how many different ways they can answer everyone, including smart people.” hope is just that you have fun. There’s a the question, What else? Which is good to know: A spring break vibrancy when you have this shared thing “I would argue that probably the three attempt to crack Breakout’s “Civil War” you’re doing, when you’re not going or four things in life that bring people room with my wife and three kids turns face-to-face every time, but instead you together the most are sports, music, out to be an exercise in humility. Captured go shoulder-to-shoulder.” religion and food,” Baysinger says. “We’re and imprisoned in an enemy bunker, we not gonna start a new religion, but the try to use tools left behind by a defector to other three are absolutely on the table.” make our escape; a strong start lifts our nce upon a time, the most iconic confidence, but, alas, the timer runs out example of that shoulder-to- before we figure out some of the more Oshoulder camaraderie was the he quality of every shared experi- challenging clues, even after using our full bowling league. Back when Baysinger and ence Swell Spark pushes is essen- allotment of hints provided by game Henrich were born, in 1986, the archetypal Ttially twofold: One, unless you’re guides during play. None of that dulls Everyman outing (even Fred and Barney already an Olympic ax-throwing puzzle anyone’s enthusiasm for the fun, though, were in a bowling league) was already whiz who absolutely lives for karaoke, especially after we see that the room rates losing popularity. In his noted 1995 essay you’re probably going to be stepping out of eight on the 10-point difficulty scale, with “Bowling Alone,” social scientist Robert your comfort zone when you step into one only about 26% of teams successfully Putnam traced the decline in American of their venues. And two, they’re going to breaking out. civic engagement with attendance drops make you feel OK with that. The doubts about ax throwing are even at social clubs, PTA meetings and bowling “We’re tapping into the idea that without more deeply rooted, and predictable. leagues. While the number of people a little bit of risk, there’s not often a lot of “We are fully aware,” Baysinger says who bowled had risen 10 percent since reward,” says Baysinger, who ran track at wryly, “that if you were to look at every 1980, Putnam observed, those who bowled KU and recently set a Guinness World article that’s been written about ax together in league play decreased by Record for the fastest relay marathon. throwing as we’ve opened in new cities, 40 percent. “When you go in to do something brand the top comment on every one is going to At Blade & Timber Leawood on a new that you’ve never done in your life, be some variation of, ‘Alcohol and axes, blossom-sotted spring night, league there’s a vulnerability there. What if I, a what could go wrong?’” play is back. 6-3, 200-pound man, can’t throw an ax Extensive coaching, a wristband system Alex Pope, who formed team Sheesh very well? Oh my gosh that could be that tracks alcohol consumption and a and Slice with his fellow engineer, Regan embarrassing; that could not be fun. So we stringent safety program are designed to Wilson, says his introduction to ax are tapping into this idea that in order to ensure that injury is one thing they are not throwing came during a work retreat. have a truly memorable experience you do willing to risk. “From the moment people “No one in our group had ever tried it have to take some risk.” walk in the door,” Baysinger says, “we have before,” Pope says. From interns to C-suite Thinking your way out of a locked a zero tolerance policy for shenanigans.” execs, everyone was a novice. room, for example, comes with the risk of Events such as Throw Like a G.I.R.L. “It evens the playing field,” Wilson adds. failure and embarrassment. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader), “You don’t feel embarrassed if you’re bad.” “We get a lot of people who say, ‘I’m not which celebrates the Seattle location’s “It’s the bowling of 2019, but it’s actually

40 | KANSAS ALUMNI STEVE PUPPE STEVE SUSAN YOUNBER SUSAN

Henrich and Baysinger oversee design and construction at Swell Spark’s 32,000-square- foot headquarters, which includes wood and metal shops and a supply of decommissioned arcade games they scavenge for parts. “The Sandbox is this big area where we test new ideas,” Baysinger says. “It allows me to understand the sandbox of the world I can play in.”

easier than bowling,” Pope says. “I’m Metcalf and his fellow coaches tend to blinks. Leading by four, Pope and Wilson much more likely to get a bull’s-eye than see the stretching of comfort zones as a discuss whether he should risk the low- a strike.” draw, not a hurdle. percentage, high-reward shot or play it safe. Though ax throwing may be a hot trend, “I think it’s great,” he says, “because “Big players make big plays!” Pope finally it’s not merely for the trendy: The appeal people like that. That’s why we like scary says, and goes for blue. He misses, settling extends beyond 20-something hipsters to movies. We like to be a little disrupted in for two points. But it turns out to be grandmas, tweens and teens, bachelorette our normal day to day, and something like enough: Sheesh and Slice get their win, and parties and a sorority that rented the entire this has a little element of danger, has the the players all shake hands. “There’s Lawrence location for Mom’s Night. possibility that you may embarrass competition, but it’s pretty chill,” Wilson “I never imagined so many women yourself. Or you may look glooooorious.” says, “which is perhaps a good thing, since would be coming in the door,” says Clint Against a soundtrack of thudding axes there are axes involved.” Metcalf, Leawood Blade & Timber’s league and heavy metal music, Sheesh and Slice Back when Matt Baysinger was a guid- coordinator. “People thought it would be throwers close out game five of their ance counselor, one of his jobs was to help lots of bearded, roughneck guys, like a lot match against Jam ’n’ Beans, which students write their college essays. “Often, of us who work here,” jokes Metcalf, includes musician Jim Halbasch, a guitar the first draft was just garbage,” he recalls. himself a big, bearded fellow whose player who savors “the primal feel of “Just terrible. They would try to play it imposing stature is moderated by a sticking it” when a throw goes just right. really safe. ‘Well, I don’t know who’s gonna generous laugh. The self-described “avid He and his partner appreciate the read it, so I need to make sure I say outdoorsman raised by avid outdoorsmen” together-time and the chance to do something that everyone will like.’ I was with a quarter century of competitive something completely different than what like, that’s not how you tell a great story.” ax-throwing experience (yep, there’s a they’re used to doing. How you tell a great story, Baysinger pro circuit, the World Axe Throwing On the last throw of each game, players would have us believe, is live a little. Risk League, televised on ESPN) says women have the option of targeting a blue dot on looking silly. Sing off key. Take the big shot. not only outnumber men, but also often the outer edge of the target, worth 10 Have some fun. out-throw them. points. In high-level games like the final The clock is ticking, babies. Axes up.h “And I can tell you exactly why that is,” match of the Leawood league’s winter Metcalf says. “Gals listen to coaching tournament, where both teams made instructions and follow them better. The bull’s-eye after bull’s-eye, the final frame More online fellas get up there and it’s, ‘I’ve been selling can become a marathon test of wills where View Dan Storey’s video of photocopiers for 20 years, get out of my players go back and forth, turn after turn, Matt and Ryan’s adventures at way, I know what I’m doing!’” pummeling that blue dot until someone kualumni.org/extras.

ISSUE 3, 2019 | 41 Association STEVE PUPPE (5) STEVE

Association’s national Board of Directors, Always Jayhawks and Billy Marshall, c’00, co-chaired the Rock Chalk Ball showcases 14-member Rock Chalk Ball committee. Boulware also led the ball in 2017, when the benefits of mentorship she co-chaired the event with Jason Booker, d’00. Booker is now Kansas City he enduring power of Jayhawk network president and a JCN volunteer. Tconnections took center stage at the Alumni worked with Association staff Rock Chalk Ball April 27 at the Kansas led by Kelsey Hill, c’12, assistant director City Convention Center, as more than 550 of Kansas City programs; Kristi Durkin alumni and friends celebrated the annual Laclé, c’99, assistant vice president of the event hosted by the Association’s Greater JCN; and Nick Kallail, d’04, l’07, assistant Kansas City Network. vice president of alumni and network This year’s theme, “Always a Jayhawk,” programs. highlighted the University’s distinctive, INTRUST Bank, a longtime Association beloved mascot and the timeless values it corporate partner, was the title sponsor of represents—told mainly through the the ball. Presenting sponsors included compelling video story of a KU student, Charlie Hustle Clothing Co., which Thomas Angel, ’20, and his alumni provided exclusive T-shirts for all guests; mentor, H.C. Palmer, c’59, m’63, who KJO Media, which produced the video of connected through the Jayhawk Career Angel and Palmer and several other videos Network (JCN) and its KU Mentoring for the evening; and Gohagen & Co., a program (see First Word, p. 5). longtime provider of Flying Jayhawks In addition to Angel and Palmer, special trips, which donated a November 2019 Confetti showered winning bidders during the guests included the ball’s honorary chairs, trip, Island Life in Greece: An Aegean live auction; Maddie Kentch and Gabby Foster KU football coach Les Miles and his wife, Odyssey, to the live auction. were among the Student Alumni Leadership Kathy Miles; Chancellor Doug Girod and Emcees John Holt, j’81, l’84, Fox 4 News Board volunteers who greeted guests during his wife, Susan Girod; and numerous other co-anchor, and Crystle Lampitt, c’10, host KU leaders from the Lawrence and Kansas of “Kansas City Live” on KSHB-TV, the silent auction; Les and Kathy Miles served City campuses. guided the program. Lampitt gave a as honorary chairs; Dan Besco worked wonders For the second year, Sasha Flores shout-out to the KU Edwards Campus, with his chainsaw; partiers captured the Boulware, c’98, g’00, a member of the where she is pursuing her master’s in moment as they danced to the tunes of KC Flo.

42 | KANSAS ALUMNI social welfare through a program that blends online coursework and lectures, A NOTE FROM HEATH opportunities enabling her to work full time; 50% of to connect with Edwards Campus students juggle full-time Lifelong Jayhawk connections alumni based on jobs with their KU classes. begin with students their career Auctioneer Trisha Brauer and her team interests—not orchestrated the live auction. In addition s I reflect on the academic year, first only to learn from to the Flying Jayhawks trip, the auction Aand foremost I am incredibly grateful fellow Jayhawks featured: for your support as members of the KU but also to build • a custom 5-foot Jayhawk created by Alumni Association! I am thankful for our their networks Kansaw Carvings artist Dan Besco, a talented staff members, who work before they wizard with a chainsaw; tirelessly to provide great experiences for Peterson complete their • Zipchair furniture festooned with the our students and alumni. We continue to KU degrees. More than 3,500 alumni Jayhawk logo; position your alumni association have signed up to be mentors with 1,500 • a tour of Napa Valley’s Futo Wines strategically to help solve big challenges student mentees. Thus far, we have Vineyard donated by alumnus facing higher education—and create new facilitated more than 1,600 connections. Tom Futo, ’71; opportunities for the KU community. If you would like to be a mentor, please • an exclusive painting by Kansas City In addition, we will continue to focus on sign up at mentoring.ku.edu. The JCN artist Mike Savage, f’80; how our organization can and should be and SAN are just two examples of how • a football autographed by Kansas City relevant to Jayhawks throughout their your alumni association is creating new Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the lives, adding new value and building ways to connect students with alumni NFL’s 2018 Most Valuable Player; and stronger relationships with all and alumni with one another. • the Jayhawk Car Experience, a stakeholders. Of course, May is always an exciting two-week test drive of the exclusive Our Student Alumni Network (SAN) in time as we welcome new graduates. The Jayhawk Car, a KU-themed 2019 Toyota only two years has ballooned from 1,400 Class of 2019 includes many potential RAV4 donated by Crown Toyota and to 5,700 members. SAN now stands as volunteer leaders, mentors, members, Volkswagen. the largest student alumni organization donors and lifelong Jayhawks who will Proceeds from the ball benefit the in the Big 12. help us strengthen the KU legacy we’ve Association’s student and alumni pro- Most important, we are delivering all worked together to build over many grams, including the JCN and the Student tremendous value to these students generations! Alumni Network. “Rock Chalk Ball was a through the power of our Jayhawk Career Rock Chalk, Jayhawk! tremendous platform to share all of the Network (JCN). Students now have —Heath Peterson, d’04, g’09 great things that are going on with the President, KU Alumni Association Jayhawk Career Network,” Booker says. “It really helped show exactly what alumni KU Honors Program. In the afternoon, donations were going toward and brought alumni were treated to a special screening the stories of the individuals to life in new of “Where is Yesterday,” a film written by and meaningful ways.”h John Hill, j’69, who died in 2017, and YOUNGER SUSAN directed and edited by Nicholas Eliopou- los, c’69, during their senior year. Back on the Hill “When we were young and making this film, we were like, ‘Oh, it’s for the 50th Reunions celebrate newest reunion. That’s never going to happen,’” members of the Gold Medal Club Eliopoulos recalled with a laugh. The film, which highlights the 1960s on Chi’s pledge class of 1965: Chris Robe, lentiful sunshine and warm spring the Hill and around the globe, prompted b’69, l’72, and Scott Post, j’69, of Wichita; Ptemperatures welcomed nearly 140 cheers and applause from Jayhawks in Mike Patton, c’69, of Kirkwood, Missouri, Jayhawks to Mount Oread May 3-4 for the attendance, including Bruce Linton, assoc., who was joined by his wife, Joyce Bond Class of 1969 and Gold Medal Club professor emeritus of journalism and Patton, d’69, g’91; Hank Braley, j’69, of reunions. The celebrations began Friday faculty adviser for the Class of 1969. Geneva, Illinois; Jim Gilliland, j’69, l’72, of with guided tours of campus, the Kenneth On Saturday, alumni and their guests Hutchinson; Charlie Peffer, b’69, of Spencer Research Library and Quantrill’s gathered at the Adams Alumni Center for Fairway; and Steve Adams, j’69, of Tulsa, Raid through Lawrence, as well as a lunch a luncheon and program. Among those Oklahoma, the oldest son of Kenneth and presentation with students from the participating included members of Sigma Stanley “Boots” Adams, ’21, former CEO

ISSUE 3, 2019 | 43 Association

silent auction, which were given names like Joe Chalker and Tweet Water in a nod to Woodstock performers.

SUSAN YOUNGER (3) YOUNGER SUSAN Steve, c’75, and Gena Gunn Dillard, ’77, chaired this year’s festivities, and longtime hosts David, e’75, b’75, and Janet Lusk Murfin, d’75, generously donated the venue. Steve Dillard and Janet Murfin serve on the Association’s national Board of Directors. Chancellor Doug Girod and Alumni Association President Heath Peterson, d’04, g’09, welcomed Roundup participants and Party like it’s 1969 thanked them for their dedication and support of student and alumni programs. Wichita Jayhawks celebrate After indulging in a delicious barbecue Woodstock at Roundup buffet provided by Security 1st Title, alumni and guests, many of whom roovy tunes and good vibes filled embraced the Woodstock theme by GMurfin Stables April 12 as nearly 400 wearing bell-bottoms, flowers in their hair, KU alumni and friends gathered for the fringed vests and tie-dyed T-shirts, danced Class of 1969 members heard updates from KU Alumni Association’s annual Jayhawk the night away to music by The Source, a leaders and received their 50-year pins as Roundup, the Wichita Network’s largest local Wichita band. members of the Gold Medal Club during a May fundraising event. The theme for this “We couldn’t have asked for a better 4 lunch, the finale of their weekend reunion. year’s celebration was Hawkstock, in evening to bring Wichita Jayhawks honor of the 50th anniversary of the together,” says Danielle Lafferty Hoover, legendary music festival, and dazzling c’07, director of donor relations and of Phillips Petroleum Company who peace signs, colorful daisies and miniature Wichita programs. “It was great to see so donated $2 million to build the Adams Volkswagen bus centerpieces captured the many alumni and friends support KU and Alumni Center. spirit of the 1960s. celebrate the spirit of the ’60s.”h “We’ve gotten together over the years a Proceeds from the Roundup benefit number of times,” Peffer said of his pledge the Association’s student and alumni brothers. “The last time we got together programs, including the Jayhawk Career was four years ago, because it was the 50th Network and the Student Alumni Net- anniversary of when we pledged the work. Live auction highlights included fraternity.” a guest spot at the Bill Self Basketball Special guest Les Miles, KU’s head Fantasy Experience and a 5-foot wooden football coach, opened the program with a Jayhawk carved on-site by Kansaw spirited reminder, which drew boisterous Carvings artist Dan Besco. Besco also cheers from the group: “Fifty years ago, provided several smaller birds for the your team right here in Kansas won the Big 8 conference championship,” he said. “It’s been done here. Let’s do it again.” Carl Lejuez, interim provost and executive vice chancellor, discussed KU’s redesigned budget model, which was announced May 1, and detailed how it aligns with several strategic priorities, including student success, faculty and staff development and global research efforts. “The University is on a great path,” he told alumni, “and it’s on a great path because of what we’re doing here, but also because of Guests (and far-out birds) showed off tie-dyed T-shirts, fringed vests and cool shades at the people like you in this room.”h Jayhawk Roundup.

44 | KANSAS ALUMNI Stay connected to the Hill! Half-price Life Membership for New Graduates

Buy your grad gift of Life membership Special rates for new graduates by May 31 and we’ll send you a Membership Single Joint Graduation Gift Pack featuring a commemorative KU tassel. Half-Price Life Membership $500 $750

The Graduation Gift Pack also includes: 12-Month Installment Plan $41.66/month $62.50/month Life member pin, stickers, KU coasters, stand-up Jayhawk, luggage tag, wooden wall art, champagne Recent Grad Annual Membership $25/year $30/year flute—plus a Jayhawk notecard to include a personalized message. Recent grad rates are available for the first five years after completion of the most recent KU degree.

Membership benefits: Call 800-584-2957 or visit • Access to the Jayhawk Career Network kualumni.org/joinrggift • National Discount program • Invitations to alumni network events • Kansas Alumni magazine in print, online and via the app • KU wall calendar • Merchandise discount at the KU Bookstore (in store and online) • Savings on insurance • And much more! Visit kualumni.org/benefits for a complete menu of benefits We believe in the power of Jayhawk connections.

8.1Save the date.. On Thursday,19 August 1, Jayhawks across the world will have the opportunity to connect.

One Jayhawk Connection can— share a new job opportunity. provide a business partner. be your next hire. mentor your career. invest in your startup. be your best customer. change your world.

The possibilities are yours to imagine.

kualumni.org • 800-584-2957 Adams Alumni SAVE YOUR Center DATE At the Adams Alumni Center, we believe world-class hospitality enriches the Jayhawk experience. Our location offers many options in an elegant atmosphere on the beautiful KU campus.

“The staff was exceptional and really helped make everything run so smoothly” - Katie T.

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Life Members Cassandra J. Leyden

Mallory A. McKee STOREY DAN The Association thanks these Jayhawks, who began their Life Brian McTaggart memberships March 1 through April 30. For information, visit Joseph W. Medved kualumni.org or call 800-584-2957.h Bryan E. & Stephanie Wing Meyer Michele Kraak Nelson Reid N. Abbott Ashton L. Fee Luke A. Nitchals Lindsey B. Aberle Julia C. Filardi Jessica Palacios Jeffrey J. & Christina D. Leslie Letts Gaudreau Randall C. Phillips New staff Bandle Amanda Swanson Goff Michael N. & Esther L. Ray erideth Warinner, d’16, Sharon K. Breit Eric A. Gormly Jacob W. Rogers Mjoined the Association Kevin M. Brouillette Christopher W. Gough Ronald K. Sadler in March as coordinator of Craig J. & Lisa M. Campbell Kathleen MacNaughton Todd A. & Leslie C. Schmidt operations and membership. Ryan Chaffee Hance Betsy J. Snell After leaving the Hill, she Elliott M. Chaney Sarah G. Heitmeyer Erin Sommer completed her master’s in Alexander M. & Caitlin William W. Humphrey Lindsey A. Spencer sport management at The Farrington Chiles Lynela H. Jarjur Richard E. Terry Ohio State University before Taylor N. Christie Jane Robinson Johnston Kaelyn N. Thierolf joining Old Dominion Emma C. Creighton Kim Guthrie Jones Bethany M. Thomas University in Norfolk, Virginia, McKenzie E. Cory Zoya S. Khan Corbin F. Trimble as coordinator of athletic Collin D. Cox Henry J. Killen John M. Trombold operations and events. This Janet S. Cox Patricia A. Konopka Ellen M. Waters is her fourth time living in Allison L. Elliott Jane C. Lang JoAnn M. Williams Lawrence, and she’s happy Ashley Elliott Coupar C. Lester Michael E. Wilson to return home.

ISSUE 3, 2019 | 47 2020 Destinations

Sunny Islands and Andes Kentucky Derby Discover Southeast Alaska January 3-22 April 30-May 3 August 7-14

Antarctica Aegean Medley Emperors & the Opulent January 15-28 May 14-25 August 28-September 8

Panama Canal Paris Northern Serenade and Costa Rica May 16-24 August 29-September 11 January 16-24 Inland Sea of Japan Ireland Wild Atlantic Way Exploring Australia and May 19-30 September 5-13 New Zealand January 25-February 15 Cultural Poland Flavors of Northern Italy May 23-31 September 5-13 Journey to South Africa February 9-24 Scottish Isles and Singapore, Thailand and Norwegian Fjords Angkor Wat Captivating Colombia May 23-31 September 10-23 February 21-29 Africa’s Wildlife Grand Danube Passage Israel June 6-19 September 24-October 9 March 22-31 Celtic Lands Machu Picchu to Treasures of Portugal June 7-16 the Galapagos and Southern Spain October 6-21 March 26-April 9 Oberammergau June 9-19 Tanzania Sorrento October 6-17 April 1-9 Great Journey through Europe Cosmopolitan Havens Southern Grandeur July 8-18 November 3-11 April 20-28 Gaelic Inspiration Legends of the Nile European Coastal July 12-22 November 3-14 Civilizations April 27-May 6 Nordic Magnificence Holiday Markets July 12-22 December 11-19 Dutch Waterways April 28-May 6 Scotland August 3-11

For the latest dates and detailed trip descriptions, visit kualumni.org/travel or call 800-584-2957. 2020 Destinations

Sunny Islands and Andes Kentucky Derby Discover Southeast Alaska January 3-22 April 30-May 3 August 7-14

Antarctica Aegean Medley Emperors & the Opulent January 15-28 May 14-25 August 28-September 8

Panama Canal Paris Northern Serenade and Costa Rica May 16-24 August 29-September 11 January 16-24 Inland Sea of Japan Ireland Wild Atlantic Way Exploring Australia and May 19-30 September 5-13 New Zealand January 25-February 15 Cultural Poland Flavors of Northern Italy May 23-31 September 5-13 Journey to South Africa February 9-24 Scottish Isles and Singapore, Thailand and Norwegian Fjords Angkor Wat Captivating Colombia May 23-31 September 10-23 February 21-29 Africa’s Wildlife Grand Danube Passage Israel June 6-19 September 24-October 9 March 22-31 Celtic Lands Machu Picchu to Treasures of Portugal June 7-16 the Galapagos and Southern Spain October 6-21 March 26-April 9 Oberammergau June 9-19 Tanzania Sorrento October 6-17 April 1-9 Great Journey through Europe Cosmopolitan Havens Southern Grandeur July 8-18 November 3-11 April 20-28 Gaelic Inspiration Legends of the Nile European Coastal July 12-22 November 3-14 Civilizations April 27-May 6 Nordic Magnificence Holiday Markets July 12-22 December 11-19 Dutch Waterways April 28-May 6 Scotland August 3-11

For the latest dates and detailed trip descriptions, visit kualumni.org/travel or call 800-584-2957. Andrew Wymore PROUD MEMBER. Realtor.

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ANDREW WYMORE REALTOR Hugh Grant, b’58, is on the board by Heather Biele Class Notes 58 of directors of Tetra Tech. He lives in San Marino, California, where he retired after 38 years with Ernst & Young. his time between Leawood and Scottsdale, Grant Milleret, b’75, g’77, lives in Arizona. 75 Las Vegas, where he’s a CPA at Joan Stafford, b’59, lives in Pasa- CliftonLarsonAllen. 59 dena, California, where she retired Ola Stover Faucher, c’71, g’88, will from a career in human resources manage- 71 retire in May as director of human Paul Carttar, c’76, serves on the ment at Pelco, a security company. resource management at KU, a role she has 76 board of directors for panOpen, a held since 1998. She was honored in 2018 learning platform that uses open educa- Trudy Gier James, c’60, is an as the University’s Employee of the Year. tional resources. He is co-founder and 60 interfaith chaplain in Seattle. She’s Katherine Kruger Noble, j’71, is editorial partner at International Venture Philan- former director of the AIDS CareTeam in manager at United Methodist Communi- thropy Center and former executive vice Arkansas. cations in Nashville, Tennessee. chancellor for external affairs at KU. Roger Stanton, c’60, l’63, an attorney in Manuel “Tony” Domenech, h’76, is Overland Park, in February received the David Cogswell, ’72, contributed to program director and associate professor Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achieve- 72 Are You Still Listening?: 1969 Stories of physical therapy at the University of St. ment Award. He’s been practicing law for & Essays, which was published in January Augustine in Austin, Texas. 55 years. by Brent Green & Associates. Brent Green, c’72, lives in Denver, where T. Michael Garrison, e’61, is retired he recently wrote and published Are You School Codes Letters that follow names 61 director of business development at Still Listening?: 1969 Stories & Essays. It’s indicate the school from which alumni earned George Butler Associates. He and Roberta his sixth book. degrees. Numbers show their class years. Johnson Garrison, c’62, make their home Christine Fuller Scheuneman, c’72, a School of Architecture in Port Saint Lucie, Florida. serves on the board of directors of Farmers and Design The Rev.John Kimberlin, c’61, has & Merchants Bank of Long Beach in b School of Business served at several churches across the California. She is an attorney and recently c College of Liberal Arts country and is currently volunteering as retired as partner at Pillsbury Winthrop and Sciences assistant pastor at First Presbyterian Shaw Pittman. d School of Education Church in Branson, Missouri. He and e School of Engineering f School of Fine Arts Alicia Harris Kimberlin, ’64, live in Wade Martin III, c’73, m’77, in g Master’s Degree Hollister and have been married for 57 73 March received the Albert Nelson h School of Health Professions years. Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award j School of Journalism from Marquis Who’s Who. During his l School of Law Charles Kulier, PhD’62, retired as a 42-year career, he has served as a physi- m School of Medicine 62 research chemist at Pfizer. He lives cian at the VA St. Louis Health Care n School of Nursing in Holland, Michigan. System and as professor of medicine at p School of Pharmacy John Zimbrick, g’62, PhD’67, is profes- Washington University in St. Louis. PharmD School of Pharmacy sor emeritus at Colorado State University s School of Social Welfare and an adjunct professor of health sciences Robert Bruegging, d’74, is vice u School of Music at Purdue University. In March he received 74 president of product management at AUD Doctor of Audiology DE Doctor of Engineering the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Race Winning Brands. He lives in Avon DMA Doctor of Musical Arts Achievement Award from Marquis Who’s Lake, Ohio. DNAP Doctor of Nursing Anethesia Who. William Cathcart-Rake, m’74, will retire Practice in June as dean of the KU School of DNP Doctor of Nursing Practice Timothy Miller, c’66, g’69, g’71, Medicine-Salina. He has led the Salina DPT Doctor of Physical Therapy 66 PhD’73, wrote Communes in campus since its inception in 2011. EdD Doctor of Education America 1975-2000, which was published William Ferguson, c’74, teaches English OTD Doctor of Occupational in March by Syracuse University Press. as a second language for the Parent Therapy He’s professor of religious studies at KU. Academy in Santa Fe, New Mexico. PhD Doctor of Philosophy Allen Worob, g’74, is the global site SJD Doctor of Juridical Science Tony Gogel, g’69, retired as senior chaplain for thenewstalkers.com. He (no letter) Former student assoc Associate member of the vice president at Arcadis US, a founded and co-manages the Chaplain’s 69 Alumni Association design and consulting company. He splits Corner.

ISSUE 3, 2019 | 51 Class Notes

Gregory Mathis, c’76, retired after more from Marquis Who’s Who. He is a Patrick Thompson, l’80, a judge on the than 40 years with the Navy-Marine Corps diagnostic radiologist in Corpus Christi, 28th District Court in Saline and Ottawa Team. He lives in Fort Washington, Texas, and has been practicing since 1987. counties, sat with the Kansas Supreme Maryland. Lisa McElwee-White, c’79, is Crow Court in January. He makes his home Robin Walker-Lee, c’76, was elected to Professor of Chemistry and chair of in Salina. the board of directors of Emcor Group the department at the University of Inc. She recently served as executive vice Florida in Gainesville. In April she MARRIED president, general counsel and secretary of received the Francis P. Garvan-John David Miller, c’80, and Kathleen TRW Automotive Holdings. Robin makes M. Olin Medal from the American Ammel, c’91, Feb. 22 in Lawrence, where her home in Naples, Florida. Chemical Society. they make their home. Clyde “Butch” Tate, c’79, l’82, a retired Michael Heck, j’77, is real estate major general in the U.S. Army Judge Steven Dillman, c’81, lives in Kansas 77 counsel for Payless ShoeSource. He Advocate General’s Corps, in April 81 City, where he’s managing partner at makes his home in Lawrence. received the KU School of Law Distin- Jayhawk Midtown Development. guished Alumni Award. He and Lynn Mary Kennedy, c’81, directs the Wind- Hawkstock James Baker, c’78, lives in Carlsbad, Klotz Tate, d’79, make their home in gate Museum of Art at Hendrix College in 78 California, where he’s a senior Fairfax Station, Virginia. Conway, Arkansas. She previously served principal engineer for the U.S. Marine as CEO and executive director of Mid- Special thanks to our benefactors, volunteers and sponsors Corps. Kathleen Sebelius, g’80, is presi- America Arts Alliance in Kansas City. Charles Fairchild, c’78, l’80, is an 80 dent and CEO of Sebelius Evelyn Greer Magley, d’81, is CEO of BENEFACTORS University Friends • $1,000 Decoration Monique Garcia attorney at Fairchild & Fairchild in Kansas Resources, a strategic consulting firm in The Basketball League, a professional Jayhawk Benefactor Kansas Athletics Jim Burgess and Mick Lafferty, Molly Gordon City, where he makes his home. Lawrence. The former Kansas governor men’s sports league. She and David, c’82, $5,000 and up and Williams Education Fund set design Chris Jeter and secretary of the U.S. Department of a former NBA player, co-founded the Dave and Janet Murfin KU Endowment Cindy Burgess Elaine Level Kenneth Cook, c’79, m’83, in Health and Human Services also recently organization in 2018. Security 1st Title KU School of Pharmacy Jerry Burtnett Janet Murfin 79 February received the Albert Nelson joined the board of directors of Exact Robert Moser, p’81, m’85, is the new Lucy Burtnett Kendal Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award Sciences Corp. dean of the School of Medicine-Salina. Jayhawk Patron • $2,500 Roundup Host • $500 David Carr Andrew Nolan Fugate Enterprises Steve and Gena Dillard Gena Dillard Camille Nyberg Hinkle Law Firm, LLC Greg and Debby Ek Debby Ek Robert Ralston A charitable gift annuity Duane and Jill Poynter, Jim and Ruthie Gillespie Trava Hoover Ben Renn allows you to support T.D.D. Equities, LLC Phil and Maggie Hagen Chris Jeter Anna Ritchie CREATE FINANCIAL an area of KU that is Jeff Kennedy and Patti Gorham Lori Jeter Sam Ritchie Crimson & Blue • $1,500 Joshua and Amanda Linnell Colette Kocour Jim Spencer STABILITY FOR YOU meaningful to you, while Air Capital Waste James and Renee Phillips Margaret Lafferty Byron Watkins also paying you or a loved CrossFirst Bank John and Linda Stewart Elaine Level Katy Winters AND HELP BUILD A one income annually for Emprise Bank Kurt and Sue Watson Janet Murfin GREATER KU life. Scholarships, academic Foulston Siefkin, LLP Donna Shank Entertainment programs, research and IMA Financial Group VOLUNTEERS The Source Jayhawk Landmen Venue Sponsors Wichita Network Board more can be supported with Martin Pringle Attorneys at Law Dave and Janet Murfin Robert Nugent, President Beverages charitable gift annuities. MV Purchasing, LLC Andy Ek, Vice President Standard Beverage Corp. Hale and Janie Ritchie Food Geron Bird Xclusive Event Services SAMPLE RATES OF RETURN Scott and Carol Ritchie Security 1st Title Steve Dillard Donna Shank Sylvia Do Thank you to KU Libraries for the AGE RATE UMB Bank Meghan Doyle Rock Chalk Champions exhibition. 65 4.7% 75 5.8% Your support counts. Proceeds benefit student and alumni programs, 85 7.8% including the Jayhawk Career Network and Student Alumni Network.

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kualumni.org/jayhawkroundup 52 | KANSAS ALUMNI Hawkstock

Special thanks to our benefactors, volunteers and sponsors

BENEFACTORS University Friends • $1,000 Decoration Monique Garcia Jayhawk Benefactor Kansas Athletics Jim Burgess and Mick Lafferty, Molly Gordon $5,000 and up and Williams Education Fund set design Chris Jeter Dave and Janet Murfin KU Endowment Cindy Burgess Elaine Level Security 1st Title KU School of Pharmacy Jerry Burtnett Janet Murfin Lucy Burtnett Kendal Nelson Jayhawk Patron • $2,500 Roundup Host • $500 David Carr Andrew Nolan Fugate Enterprises Steve and Gena Dillard Gena Dillard Camille Nyberg Hinkle Law Firm, LLC Greg and Debby Ek Debby Ek Robert Ralston Duane and Jill Poynter, Jim and Ruthie Gillespie Trava Hoover Ben Renn T.D.D. Equities, LLC Phil and Maggie Hagen Chris Jeter Anna Ritchie Jeff Kennedy and Patti Gorham Lori Jeter Sam Ritchie Crimson & Blue • $1,500 Joshua and Amanda Linnell Colette Kocour Jim Spencer Air Capital Waste James and Renee Phillips Margaret Lafferty Byron Watkins CrossFirst Bank John and Linda Stewart Elaine Level Katy Winters Emprise Bank Kurt and Sue Watson Janet Murfin Foulston Siefkin, LLP Donna Shank Entertainment IMA Financial Group VOLUNTEERS The Source Jayhawk Landmen Venue Sponsors Wichita Network Board Martin Pringle Attorneys at Law Dave and Janet Murfin Robert Nugent, President Beverages MV Purchasing, LLC Andy Ek, Vice President Standard Beverage Corp. Hale and Janie Ritchie Food Geron Bird Xclusive Event Services Scott and Carol Ritchie Security 1st Title Steve Dillard Donna Shank Sylvia Do Thank you to KU Libraries for the UMB Bank Meghan Doyle Rock Chalk Champions exhibition.

Your support counts. Proceeds benefit student and alumni programs, including the Jayhawk Career Network and Student Alumni Network.

kualumni.org/jayhawkroundup EDUCATION THAT WORKS JUST AS HARD AS YOU DO.

If you’re an educator considering going back Virtual resources to school to specialize, let the KU School of for learning online. Education help you achieve your goals. Let our virtual school district, interactive Find your focus. reading room and student simulations help bring your online learning experience to life. We offer a variety of online programs in special education, curriculum and teaching, and educational leadership and policy studies. Fly higher with an online graduate Continue working full time. degree from the School of Education. Our 100 percent online coursework is designed to accommodate the schedules of busy educators GET STARTED TODAY. like you. onlinesoe.ku.edu/jayhawks For the past five years he has served as Toni Eilerts, c’82, is a geoscientist the KU School of Law Distinguished executive director and chief medical 82 at the Railroad Commission of Alumni Award. He lives in Minneapolis, officer of the Kansas Clinical Improvement Texas in Austin. She lives in Missouri Minnesota, where he’s the state’s manage- Collaborative at the University of Kansas City, Texas. ment and budget commissioner. Health System. Gregory Voth, c’81, in April was Steve Flood, j’83, is regional general Jeanny Jackson Sharp, j’84, directs honored with the Joel Henry Hildebrand 83 manager at Hyundai Motor Ameri- 84 public affairs for the Kansas Award in the Theoretical and Experimen- ca’s southern regional office. He and Department of Corrections. She makes her tal Chemistry of Liquids by the American Sharon Bodin Flood, j’86, c’87, g’87, who home in Emporia. Chemical Society. He’s Haig P. Papazian retired in 2018 from a career in finance Distinguished Service Professor in the and accounting, live in Woodstock, Andrea Mitchell Walsh, b’85, c’85, department of chemistry at the University Georgia. 85 is president and CEO of Health of Chicago. Myron Frans, l’83, in April received Partners in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

PROFILE by Chris Lazzarino

Grad lives boyhood dream expertise and passions, he came to KU as in national parks a biology major; after Unger spent his first UNGER JUSTIN COURTESY summer as a seasonal employee, he saw ustin Unger, deputy superintendent of that the parks are, in essence, cities, with JEverglades and Dry Tortugas National identical issues, challenges and job Parks, concedes that 1.5 million acres of opportunities. subtropical prairie can’t compete with He morphed into a history major, instant gratifications of purple mountains focused on American Indian history; the majesty—a lesson he first learned as a park-as-municipality mindset also drove seasonal employee at Yellowstone National him to earn a master’s in public adminis- Park during his KU undergraduate years. tration: “Best career decision I’ve ever “We call it the ‘aha moment,’ which is, made, to go through the KU MPA you come around the corner and there’s program, for sure.” Old Faithful erupting. It’s in your face,” Before moving to South Florida five Unger, c’03, g’05, says from his Home- years ago, Unger had been chief of stead, Florida, office. “You drive through administration for the National Mall and Justin Unger says his biology and Native the entrance to Everglades and it’s pretty Memorial Parks, overseeing more than 350 American history studies were both about “the damn humble. Look, there’s a wood stork. employees and an annual base budget of interface between people and an environment Or, one lone alligator hanging out.” $33 million. He explains that, dressed in and how both of them shape the landscape.” Unger equates the Everglades experi- civilian clothes, he escorted new employ- ence to that certain something that ees to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Kansans treasure in the Flint Hills: “It where they would wait until a visitor requires you to get out of the car and just arrived to stencil a name, and he’d whisper, resources for the coastal metropolis. be patient and let the landscape reveal “Always remember what you’re seeing.” “The moment that any of us forget why itself to you. It doesn’t happen on your Unger carries those memories as he we’re here—to heal those wounds, whether timescale. It’s a subtle landscape. You have tends to a UNESCO World Heritage site that’s here in the Everglades or at a D.C. to slow down and pay attention to it.” and International Biosphere Reserve still war memorial—then it’s time to move on Unger keeps in his office a poster he reeling from recent hurricanes and and do something different. To me, that’s made when he was 6 years old, announc- undergoing billions of dollars of restora- still a powerful lesson. You are truly a ing his intention to one day work for the tion and repair to undo damage caused by steward to America’s treasures. U.S. National Park Service. Harboring the decades of short-sighted development “That’s why I do what I do, and I common stereotype of park rangers’ while also preserving drinking-water love it.”h

ISSUE 3, 2019 | 55 Class Notes

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Donelle Meyer Broskow, c’86, g’95, Allen Humphrey, c’89, g’98, is an Steve Schaefer, j’91, is president of 86 is in workforce development for the 89 employee relations specialist at Selig Leasing Company in Milwaukee. U.S. Air Force. She makes her home in Olathe Health. Columbia, Maryland. Jeff Robertson, c’89, lives in Russellville, Darren James, a’92, was promoted Patty Skalla Gentrup, j’86, g’90, is Arkansas, where he’s dean of Arkansas 92 to president of KAI Enterprises, interim director of the Public Manage- Tech University’s College of Natural and an architectural, engineering and ment Center at KU School of Pubic Health Sciences and professor of astro- construction services firm. He has Affairs & Administration. physics. He also directs the campus worked for the company since 1993 Rob Thomson, ’86, a Canada native astronomical observatory. and most recently served as president a and bench coach for the Philadelphia nd COO of KAI Texas. Phillies, was inducted in the 2019 Deborah Murphy, j’90, lives in Mark Spencer, j’92, is vice president Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. He 90 Kansas City, where she’s a con- of marketing at MobileUp Software played for the Jayhawks from 1984 to sulant, strategist and coach at Rain BDM, in Overland Park. He and Christa, ’85 and was drafted by the Detroit Tigers a business development and marketing assoc., vice president of marketing at in 1988. He has spent the past 30 years firm. Mariner Wealth Advisors, live in in various coaching and administrative Jon Trevisani, m’90, is medical director Overland Park. roles for several professional and founder of the Aesthetic Surgery baseball teams. Centre in Maitland, Florida. Dan DeFreece, m’93, is a family 93 physician and president of CHI Carey Craig, c’87, directs human David Engel, e’91, is president of Health St. Mary’s in Nebraska City, 87 resources at Hutchinson Regional 91 CCI Mechanical in West Valley Nebraska, where he makes his home with Healthcare System. City, Utah. his wife, Kay. Mark Fields, c’87, is chief human Jyll Standiford Kafer, c’91, directs Catharine Hamm, ’93, lives in Glendale, resources officer for the city of Tuscaloosa alumni relations at Kennesaw State California, where she’s travel editor at the in Alabama. University in Kennesaw, Georgia. Los Angeles Times.

56 | KANSAS ALUMNI Thank you to all our sponsors and donors for Rock Chalk Ball 2019.

Your support counts. Proceeds benefit student and alumni programs, including the Jayhawk Career Network and Student Alumni Network.

Title Sponsor Presenting Sponsors

Oread Benefactors Rock Chalk Corporate Benefactors

Table Hosts Populous KU School of Education Crimson Couples John and Cindy Ballard Ruf Commercial, LLC KU School of Law William Bradley and Al and Sasha Boulware KU School of Music Roberta Harding CreativeOne University Friends KU School of Pharmacy Eric and Rosemary Edell Garmin Kansas Athletics and KU Student Affairs Brandon and Andrea Graham HERE Kansas Williams Education Fund KU Undergraduate Studies Lewis and Laura Gregory IMA, Inc. KU College of Liberal Arts & Office of the Chancellor Alonzo and Colleen Jamison Jayhawk IMG Sports Marketing Sciences Office of the Executive Dean, William and Denise Marshall J.E. Dunn Construction KU Edwards Campus KU School of Medicine Richard and Karin Morgan Kansas City Royals KU Endowment Office of the Executive Vice Charles and Anne Rhoades Tom and Jennifer Laming KU Libraries Chancellor, KU Medical Center Randy Sedlacek and Lewis Rice KU Memorial Union Office of the Provost Mary Ventura McCown Gordon Construction KU School of Business Office of Public Affairs Mark and Jackie Van Blaricum

To view Rock Chalk Ball photos, visit kualumni.org/rockchalkball. Class Notes

Jeffrey Paulsen, p’93, is a pharmacist at championships a record nine times. Eric Madden, c’96, l’99, was named to PharMerica in Overland Park. the 2019 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers Matt Tucker, b’93, senior vice president Chad Lawhorn, j’95, in February was in America list. He’s a partner at Reid of wealth management at UBS Financial 95 named publisher of the Lawrence Collins and Tsai in Dallas. Services in Kansas City, was named to the Journal-World. He has been with the Jenny Cascone Mosh, l’96, is an 2019 Forbes/Shook Best-in-State Wealth newspaper since 2001 and has served as a attorney and shareholder at Polsinelli Advisers list. He and Angie Bryan Tucker, reporter, managing editor and editor. in Kansas City. c’93, live in Leawood with their four Chad and his wife, Kristine, live in Eudora children. with their two children. Matt Allen, g’97, in November Larry Thiel, b’95, is managing director of 97 received the Buford Watson Jr. John Bradford, c’94, e’94, is provost Holliday Fenoglio Fowler, a mortgage- Award for Excellence in Public Manage- 94 of global initiatives and dean of banking firm in Denver. ment from the Kansas Association of City/ earth resources and environmental County Management. He has served as the programs at the Colorado School of Mines Tad Gomez, p’96, is president of city manager of Garden City since 2008. in Golden, Colorado. 96 Loyola University Medical Center Paul Mills, c’97, works at iModules in Craig Brown, c’94, j’94, is lead video in Maywood, Illinois. He and Kerry Hogan Kansas City, where he’s senior director of editor at Garmin in Olathe. He and Megan Gomez, b’95, have a daughter, Ansley. software engineering. He and Tiffany Shoup Brown, b’93, g’94, live in Leawood Tara Humston, b’96, was promoted to Keithley Mills, d’99, who directs children’s and have three daughters, one of whom, senior vice president of the supervision ministry at Christ Church Anglican in Bridget, is a sophomore at KU. and risk management division at the Overland Park, have four children. Holly Reynolds, d’94, in April was Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. She’s inducted in the Vermont Sports Hall of also a member of the management Katrina Davis-Salazar, f’98, is an Fame. She was on the KU women’s golf committee. Tara has been with the bank 98 artist and adjunct instructor at the team from 1990 to ’94 and went on to play since 1998 and most recently served as College of Lake County in Grayslake, professionally, after winning the Vermont vice president of community bank Illinois. Women’s Golf Association’s amateur supervision activities. Alexis McKinley Jones, c’98, g’01, ’17, is

58 | KANSAS ALUMNI regional director at CEA Study Abroad. California. He lives in Long Beach. attorney at Arcadia Settlements Group in She makes her home in Shawnee. Kelly Howard Gaynes, c’00, h’05, is a Chicago. He works remotely from Clear- Ann Volin, g’98, g’00, PhD’06, lives in clinical lab scientist at Olathe Medical water, where he lives with Holly, assoc. Brookings, South Dakota, where she’s Center. Devon Reese, l’00, an attorney and executive director of the South Dakota Wendy Klein Hill, b’00, is chief people partner at Reese Kintz in Reno, Nevada, Humanities Council. officer at Netsmart Technologies in was recently elected to the city council. Overland Park. Kyndra Stockdale, c’00, l’03, in February Andrea Snowden, l’99, lives in Tiffany Seeman Hurwitz, j’00, was was appointed associate circuit judge for 99 Lincoln, Nebraska, where she’s promoted to partner at Siegfried, Rivera, the 16th Circuit Court in Kansas City. second vice president and assistant general Hyman, Lerner, De La Torre, Mars & She’s a senior attorney at Foland, Wickens, counsel at Ameritas. Sobel in Coral Gables, Florida. She Roper, Hofer & Crawford. specializes in construction law and leads Jason Thoren, d’00, in February was Christopher Chelko, d’00, manages the firm’s contract drafting department. named head football coach at Baker 00 events for the city of Anaheim in Christopher Randle, c’00, l’03, is an University in Baldwin City. He was the

PROFILE by Chris Lazzarino

Fisher leads law firm out of school at Bayer Bess Vanderwarker, ERIC FISHER COURTESY a Chicago advertising firm—all while into new cannabis era fending off his father’s pleas that he consider law school. Not that he would rowe & Dunlevy is the oldest law firm have joined the family firm: His father was Cin Oklahoma. It has produced more a cardiac transplant surgeon who was in federal judges than any other firm in the his 50s when he enrolled in law school state and more presidents of the American night courses, eventually graduating, Bar Association than any other law firm in passing the bar and becoming a malprac- the country. tice litigator before returning to medicine. “So it’s about as stuffy as it gets,” says Early in his tenure at the ad agency, one of its own attorneys, Eric Fisher, j’88, Fisher worked on a dog food account that who delights in the irony of seeing his was sued for deceptive advertising. He dug new, tattooed clients roaming the halls. into the unfair trade practices act to They and other eager entrepreneurs are understand why the customer sued, and Eric Fisher’s former brother-in-law did four welcomed at Crowe & Dunlevy since helped the parties settle. That’s when law years in federal prison for flying marijuana into Oklahomans last August unexpectedly took root, and Fisher returned home for Colorado ski resorts: “Today he’d be a celebrity. approved medical marijuana. law school and a career at Crowe & A kingpin. We’re at a cultural crossroads.” Joining forces with a free-spirited young Dunlevy, where he has for years honed his lawyer in the firm—whom Fisher skills for helping an “entrepreneurial set of describes as “one of the smartest lawyers I clients” establish new businesses. $400,000 perched atop his desk after know and an absolutely incredible Now that’s happening in an entirely new selling his legal marijuana crop.) litigator”—Fisher last fall convinced industry. Many marijuana clients have no But most will push through, with the Crowe & Dunlevy management to business experience and none have help of a good lawyer, because there’s establish a cannabis industry practice experience in a legalized marijuana money to be made. A lot of money. group, which Fisher chairs. industry. Most are surprised to learn that “In California, it’s a $10 billion business. “I literally get three phone calls a week IRS regulations will prevent them from In Colorado, it’s about $8.5 billion. A year,” from new clients,” Fisher says, “and I have deducting business expenses, and, for now, Fisher says. “We recognize that this is since October of last year.” federal banking regulations will prevent going to be a big, legitimate industry, and Fisher studied advertising at KU, then them from securing loans or even using in all likelihood will be federally approved earned a master’s in marketing at North- credit cards. It’s an all-cash industry. in a couple of years, and we needed to be western University and took his first job (Fisher recently met with a client who had out front of it.”h

ISSUE 3, 2019 | 59 Class Notes program’s assistant coach for the past 15 Igor Taber, e’02, works for DataRobot, a associate at Crowe & Dunlevy in Okla- seasons and earned Heart of America software company in Boston. He’s senior homa City, is secretary of the Oklahoma Assistant Coach of the Year honors three vice president of corporate development Bar Association’s appellate practice times. Jason was a starting linebacker at and strategy. section. KU from 1994 to ’97. Jeremy Williams, a’02, is executive creative director at Dimensional Innova- MARRIED Jay Cherwin Jr., l’01, in March was tions in Overland Park. Menneka Scott, n’04, to Brian Roper, 01 named partner at Meltzer Purtill & Jan. 12 in Kansas City. They make their Stelle in Chicago. He focuses his practice Tyson Blatchford, m’03, is a home in Overland Park, where Menneka is on commercial real estate. 03 physician at South Central Kansas a nurse at Providence Medical Center. Steven Elliott, f’01, lives in Wayne, Medical Center in Arkansas City. In Nebraska, where he’s vice president of January he was honored as the hospital’s Kelly Brogan, c’05, lives in Silt, academic affairs at Wayne State College. Integrity Health Professionals Lifesaver of 05 Colorado, where she’s an industrial Amanda Kaschube, j’01, directs sports the Month. hemp farmer at Hemp Valley Farm. content for the Chicago Tribune. She’s Mark Rothert, g’03, is city manager of Devin Sikes, c’05, l’08, in January was been with the newspaper since 2002. Pekin, Illinois. promoted to counsel at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld in Washington, D.C. BORN TO Thomas Elafros, g’04, is president He also was named to the city’s 2019 Seth, b’01, and Betsy Winetroub 04 and CEO of Green Globe Interna- Rising Stars list. Lindsey, c’05, daughter, Nell Elizabeth, tional, a CBD and cannabis supply chain Jan. 29 in Mission Hills. company in Murrieta, California. Molly Tucker Butkus, c’06, lives in Meka White Morris, j’04, is chief 06 Houston, where she’s an attorney Megan Schemmel, f’02, is a website revenue officer at ISM Connect, a technol- and partner at Bracewell. 02 developer and co-founder of All ogy and media firm in Doylestown, Amanda McEwen, c’06, ’07, founded Aboard Apps. She makes her home in Pennsylvania. Mod Girl Marketing in Sacramento, Lake Quivira. Melanie Wilson Rughani, c’04, an California.

GOALS

1 2 3 Continue to provide world-class Grow membership Restore Jayhawk education & experiences pride in our football program KANSAS HAS 4,700 MEMBERS 460+ WILLIAMS STUDENT-ATHLETES 10,000 MEMBERS BY 2024 EDUCATION FUND

HOW YOU CAN HELP MISSION The Williams Education Fund generates financial support for all University of Kansas student-athletes with a responsibility to 1 2 3 4 facilitate, promote, and enhance academic and Renew/Join Purchase Give to the Break the Encourage your athletic experiences. Williams Education football season Cycle Campaign to friends & family to Fund Membership tickets help properly fund do the same HISTORY our football program The Williams Education Fund was originally founded as the Outland Club by Dick, Skipper and Odd Williams in 1949. In 1973, the Outland Club became known as the Williams Education Fund to honor the Williams Family for its commitment to Kansas Athletics. WilliamsFund.com | 855.GIVE.WEF [email protected]

60 | KANSAS ALUMNI Show your pride with a Jayhawk license plate. Jayhawk license plates are available in Kansas, Maryland and Texas.

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Proceeds from Kansas-issued license plates help fund: l Kansas Honor Scholars Program l Jayhawk Career Network l Scholarships for Kansas students

Nicole Lynch Porter, d’06, teaches in the Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he’s chief BORN TO: De Soto School District. She and her network officer at the Institute for Non- Andrea Wolf McLin, c’07, ’08, and her husband, Courtney, live in Olathe. profit News. husband, Ryan, daughter, Ava Grace, Feb. Jacob Strecker, d’06, is owner and vice Lori Mueller, l’07, works for PPL Electric 2 in Fort Worth, Texas. Andrea is a president of sales and marketing at INA Utilities in Allentown, Pennsylvania, physician assistant at Epiphany Alert in Ellinwood. In March the security where she’s vice president of customer Dermatology. company received the Outstanding services. Newcomer Achievement Award from Mark Nuss, b’07, directs Summit Equity Dustin Bradley, l’08, is an attorney Avigilon. Group. He lives in Overland Park with 08 and owns Bradley Law Firm in Ryan Weiss, g’06, is president of SEAM Cara, g’14, and their son, Evan. Tulsa, Oklahoma. Strategies in Elgin, Illinois, where he lives Peter Simonsen, c’07, l’10, is a risk Denise Kunze Farmer, g’08, in March with his wife, Rebecca, and their four management and insurance consultant at was presented KU’s C.L.A.S.S. Award for children. Charlesworth Consulting in Kansas City. her commitment to student support. She is Jacey Thomson, d’07, lives in Clare- a student success coach and adviser for the Jennifer Bergman, j’07, manages more, Oklahoma, where she’s a physical College of Liberal Arts & Sciences’ online 07 marketing at Snell & Wilmer. She therapist at Advanced Orthopedics of degree program. makes her home in Irvine, California. Oklahoma. Trisha Jackson, g’08, PhD’12, teaches Patricia Crawley, m’07, is a cardiologist physical science at Pratt Community at DeBakey Heart Institute at Hays MARRIED College. Medical Center, which is part of the Joel Leader, d’07, to Brad Grant, Alyson Beach James, c’08, is a senior University of Kansas Health System. March 9 in Anna, Texas. They live in compliance analyst at Waddell & Reed in Alonzo Jamison, c’07, is an outside sales Frisco, where Joel is an assistant principal Mission. She and Elmer, c’04, make their representative at 360 Document Solutions at Lewisville High School. He’s also home in Leawood. in Shawnee. He and Colleen Rodgers pursuing his doctoral degree in educa- Maxx Krueger, c’08, lives in Liberty, Jamison, f’87, live in Tecumseh. tional leadership at the University of Missouri, where he’s vice president of Jonathan Kealing, c’07, j’07, lives in North Texas. business banking at Bank of America.

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*Savings compared to stand-alone price of each policy, based on national sample customer data from 2017. Discount amounts do not apply to all coverage or premium elements; actual savings will vary based on policy coverage selections and rating factors. Nationwide has made a fi nancial contribution to this organization in return for the opportunity to market products and services to its members. Products are underwritten by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and aˆ liates, Columbus, Ohio. Nationwide, the Nationwide N and Eagle and Nationwide is on your side are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. © 2018 Nationwide AFO-1106AO (10/18) Patrick McCormick, e’08, e’13, PhD’18, Courtney Longino, c’09, lives in Hous- Nikki Keene Woods, g’09, g’11, PhD’12, in April received the Robert T. Hill Best ton, where she’s senior catering sales is an associate professor of public health Dissertation Award from the Aerospace & manager at Z Resorts and Hotel ZaZa. sciences at Wichita State University. She Electronic Systems Society. He works at Lindsay Sax, c’09, is a news producer at and Ryan, assoc., live in Wichita and have the Sensors Directorate of the Air Force KOAA-TV in Colorado Springs. three daughters, Sloan, Quinn and Nell. Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Karson Thompson, d’09, is an attorney Air Force Base in Ohio. at Butler Snow in Austin, Texas. He Jake Cornett, g’10, is executive specializes in commercial litigation. 10 director of Disability Rights Oregon Andrew Clark, j’09, g’14, is lead Robbyn Franklin Traylor, m’09, was in Portland. He previously served as senior 09 marketing automation developer at named one of 2019’s Top Women in adviser to U.S. Sen. Patty Murray on the Genpact. He lives in Loveland, Ohio. Healthcare by Texas Healthcare Diversity Committee on Health, Education, Labor Joseph Krsnich, b’09, is an adviser at Council. She’s chief medical officer at Next and Pensions. Jake and Ramsey Cox, j’10, ICT Health Insurance Agency in Wichita. Level Urgent Care in Richmond. who directs media relations and public

PROFILE by Heather Biele

Love for Latin America Rio de Janeiro’s largest gang-filled favela, COURTESY SARAH STERN SARAH COURTESY fuels Netflix PR manager or shantytown. Stern, a photography enthusiast who is fluent in Spanish and hen Lawrence native Sarah Stern Portuguese, acted as a translator during Wwas a senior at Free State High the trip and also took photos, which were School, she participated in a two-week published with Smith’s in the book Favela exchange program to Encarnación, da Rocinha, Brazil. Paraguay’s third-largest city and the site of Later that year, Stern earned a fellowship the boisterous Carnaval Encarnaceno from Kansas Paraguay Partners to return festivities. to South America, where she worked with “It just really shook me,” says Stern, c’13, Fundación Paraguaya, a nonprofit organi- “I’ve been really lucky to have a few of those j’13. “I had traveled, but I had never been zation that empowers women to explore pinch-me moments throughout my career and to Latin America before. When I was their entrepreneurial potential through throughout my time at KU,” says Sarah Stern, there, I just realized how much I didn’t microfinance services. She also danced in who manages communications at Netflix in know about the world around me.” the Carnaval Encarnaceno after studying Latin America. Determined to remedy that upon samba for more than a year. These arriving at KU, Stern spoke with Anita accomplishments and more landed Stern Herzfeld, g’65, g’74, PhD’78, longtime on Glamour magazine’s Top Ten College professor and undergraduate director of Women of 2012 list and in KU’s 2012-’13 exactly that,” Stern says. Latin American studies, who helped guide Women of Distinction calendar. Though her current position at Netflix, Stern’s decision to pursue a degree in the Now manager of the Latin America which she’s held for more than three years, program. A double major with strategic communications team at Netflix, Stern keeps Stern challenged and fulfills her communications helped Stern prepare for frequently travels from her home base in passion for travel and learning new skills, a career in the corporate world. Los Angeles to Mexico and several she’s eager to flip the page on the next During her four years at KU, Stern took countries throughout Central and South chapter of her life. advantage of several opportunities to stay America, promoting the streaming-media “I have a lot of runway,” she says. “I can connected to the lively Latin American provider’s brand in the press. Last year she see that there’s a lot more room to grow. communities and culture she had grown to lived in São Paulo for seven months, Having that runway is exciting because I’m love. In May 2011, she traveled to Rocinha, working at one of Netflix’s international still figuring out what my life and my Brazil, for three weeks with Gary Mark offices. career are going to look like in one year, Smith, j’84, a global street photographer, “People kind of chuckle when I say I two years, five years. I think that excite- and videographer Carlos Beltran, c’09, studied Latin American history and ment about the future is what really keeps j’09, to capture images of everyday life in strategic communications, and I’m doing me motivated.”h

ISSUE 3, 2019 | 63 Class Notes

currently is serving as an aeromedical evacuation flight nurse in Okinawa, Japan. Jillian Dryden, c’14, lives in Kansas City, where she’s a strategic marketing consul- tant at McClatchy. Blaine Kaehr, b’14, is a financial analyst on the investment research team at Coltala Holdings in Fort Worth. Craig Jackson, g’14, directs advance- ment for the College of Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Andrew Kerstein, m’14, is senior behavioral health medical director at St. Joseph Medical Center in Kansas City. Christin Pham, b’14, is a junior buyer for Rally House. She makes her home in Overland Park. Hannah Wise, j’14, audience develop- ment editor at the Dallas Morning News, recently was named to Editor & Publisher’s 25 under 35 list. Lisa Wojcehowicz, j’14, lives in Kansas City, where she’s a senior account execu- tive at GlynnDevins, a senior-living marketing and advertising agency.

Nathaniel Abeita, e’15, is a civil affairs at the Beer Institute, live in manager at RTS Financial in Overland 15 engineer at TranSystems Corp. in Washington, D.C. Park. Kansas City. He and Sara Hettenbach Leslee Marks Rivarola, g’10, is city Amanda Roberts, j’12, lives in Chicago, Abeita, c’15, who teaches at Free State administrator of Basehor. She lives where she’s brand manager at Stolen High School, live in Lawrence. in Lenexa. Spirits. Caitlin Farrington Chiles, m’15, is a family medicine physician at Hunter Eugene Cody, ’11, is a data associate at Eric Buller, EdD’13, is president of Health Clinic. She lives in Wichita with 11 the Hopi Foundation in Kykotsmovi 13 the National Collegiate Boxing Alexander, c’10, a physical therapist. Village, Arizona. Association and director of the Harry T. Danielle Doerr Johnson, b’15, is a public Emily Ellison, c’11, is an administrative Wilks Leadership Institute at Miami relations and interactive marketing assistant to the assistant football coaches at University in Miami, Ohio. In March he specialist at Midland Memorial Hospital in Kansas Athletics. She lives in Lawrence. joined USA Boxing board of directors as Austin, Texas. the affiliated member director. Josh Kurelac, j’15, is a weekend sports Danford Bryant, g’12, is deputy Trent Davis, m’13, in January was anchor and reporter at WJAC 6 in 12 director of the interagency partner- elected mayor of Salina. He’s a neurologist Johnstown, Pennsylvania. ship program at the United States Special at Salina Regional Health Center. Benjamin Leinwetter, c’15, works at Operations Command. He and his wife, Connor Hays, c’13, lives in Lawrence, Computek Dental Systems, where he’s a Jennifer, live in Alexandria, Virginia. where he’s a senior researcher at Bloom, a sales engineer. He lives in Denver. Patrick Eland, j’12, lives in Dallas, where credit solutions company. Tony Reames, PhD’15, is assistant he’s associate manager of sponsorships at Moneeshindra Mittal, m’13, is a professor in the School for Environment Keurig Dr. Pepper. psychiatrist and medical director at and Sustainability at the University of James Gentile, b’12, g’19, is team lead Ascension Via Christi Behavioral Health Michigan in Ann Arbor. and engineering manager at Cerner in Center in Wichita. Haley Burgess Strube, h’15, manages Kansas City. He lives in Lee’s Summit, operations at Scott City HealthMart Missouri. Katherine “Kayla” Benson, n’14, is a Pharmacy. She and Robert, ’15, make their Patrick Martin, c’12, is an account 14 captain in the U.S. Air Force. She home in Scott City.

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ISSUE 3, 2019 | 65 TM Class Notes

& Sciences. She also is a makeup artist and hosted two tutorial events on campus this spring. The Perfect Caroline Burkard, j’18, is a multimedia journalist at WECT News 6 in Wilming- ton, North Carolina. Grad Gift Alisha Casey, b’18, is an IFS business analyst at DSI in Kansas City. Choose from a variety of styles, available in 10K Walter Kalu, m’18, is a psychiatric and 14K yellow or white gold. The inside of the hospitalist at Ascension Via Christi ring is forged with “Rock Chalk Jayhawk,” Behaviorial Health Center in Wichita. and can also be engraved Lauren Muth, a’18, lives in Prairie with the graduate’s Village, where she’s a creative strategist at initials, degree and Lighthaus Global. class year. Ian Shea-Cahir, g’18, g’19, directs communications at Eisterhold Associates in Kansas City. He lives in Shawnee.

To order, visit Alejandro Besada, c’19, is chief kualumni.org/classrings 19 instructor at Elite Martial Arts in Overland Park. He lives in Leawood. or call 800-584-2957. Renee Clare-Kovacs, g’19, is lead roaster at Caffeinated Content in Atlanta. She and her husband, Ryan, live in Cumming, Georgia. McKenzi Davis, j’19, works at KSNT in Topeka, where she’s a multimedia journalist. MARRIED Zurich in Overland Park. He commutes Jennifer Chappell Deckert, g’19, is an Natalie Scott, h’15, g’17, and Joseph from Lawrence. assistant professor of social work at Bethel Kivlin, h’17, g’19, Dec. 15 in Mission, Luke McElwain, g’17, g’18, is an intern at College in North Newton. She and her where they make their home. Natalie is an Yaeger Architecture in Overland Park. husband, Aaron, have three children, occupational therapist at Aegis Therapies. Alexandria Petitjean O’Rourke, c’17, Lydia, Andy and Abby. lives in Overland Park, where she’s a Dylan Driver, b’19, manages projects at Margaret Hair, g’16, directs external human resources specialist at Hallmark ATG Sports in Andover. He lives in 16 affairs at the KU School of Law. She Cards. Wichita. lives in Lawrence with Zachary Fridell, William Twaler, g’17, is a chef and Adina East, g’19, teaches fourth grade at l’16, assistant revisor of statutes for the associate professor at the International Liberty Oaks Elementary School in state of Kansas. Culinary Institute in Myrtle Beach, South Liberty, Missouri. She lives in Lee’s Merideth Warinner, d’16, coordinates Carolina. Summit and has two children, Trinity and operations and membership at the KU Avery. Alumni Association. MARRIED Alexis Gough-Worley, b’19, is a report- Taylor McElhaney, d’17, to Kala White, ing analyst at Cerner. She lives in Over- Kelly Cordingley, c’17, j’17, lives in Aug. 4 in Oologah, Oklahoma. They make land Park. 17 Chicago, where she manages their home in Hutchinson. Ashley Klymiuk, PhD’19, lives in marketing and content at Travel Mindset. Chicago, where she manages paleobotany Gerald Dessus, g’17, in January was Christian Blair, l’18, is an associate collections at the Field Museum of Natural named to the International Literacy 18 attorney at Kutak Rock in Omaha, History. Association’s 30 Under 30 list. He teaches Nebraska. He specializes in trademark Jordan Lamb, b’19, is an accounting social justice at Mastery Charter School’s clearance and technology transactions. clerk at Gary Crossley Ford in Kansas City. Shoemaker Campus in Philadelphia. Mercedes Bounthapanya, c’18, lives in Taylor McMurtry, c’19, lives in Kansas Meredith Hess, b’17, g’18, is an auditor Lawrence, where she’s an administrative City, where she’s a mental health techni- at Deloitte in Kansas City. assistant and coordinates diversity, equity cian at Research Psychiatric Center. Brandon McDonald, c’17, is an analyst at and inclusion at the College of Liberal Arts Elizabeth Bianco Persun, b’19, is a

66 | KANSAS ALUMNI consultant at Cerner in Kansas City. Johnson & Company in Derby, where she Sarah Wolt, b’19, is a senior loan Jane Ryan, b’19, is a digital marketing lives with her husband, Nathan, and their support analyst at PNC Financial Services. analyst at Starkey Hearing Technologies in son, Owen. She lives in Lawrence. Eden Prairie, Minnesota. She makes her Dawn Wagoner, g’19, is an instructional home in Chanhassen. coach in the Anchorage School District in ASSOCIATES Michael Schonwetter, g’19, lives in Alaska. She has two sons, William and Michael Githens, assoc., is a credit Overland Park, where he’s an account Joseph. supervisor at Pioneer Balloon Company in executive at Mansfield Oil Company. Faith Whiteley, d’19, coordinates Wichita, where he lives with Jennie, Sara Sydow Smith, g’19, teaches at accounts at SAGE Communications in assoc., a systems solutions analyst at Queen of the Holy Rosary Wea in Kansas City. She commutes from INTRUST Bank. Bucyrus. She and her husband, Anthony, Lawrence. Douglas Schmitt, assoc., lives in Topeka, live in Louisburg and have a daughter, Jordan Wolf, j’19, is an editorial where he’s fire chief at Soldier Township Madelyn, who just turned 2. producer at MiLB.com. He lives in Fire Department. Britton Winkler Voss, c’19, is a CPA at Lawrence.

PROFILE by David Garfield STEVE PUPPE STEVE

‘Legendary’ career started Hedrick, who retired at KU for Hedrick in February after calling his final Baker om Hedrick grew up dreaming of basketball game, honed Tplaying Major League Baseball. But his trade as a Baker after being cut from his high school undergrad broadcast- baseball team in Newton, Massachusetts, ing games across he had an epiphany during his walk home. campus on his tape “Right in front of the Newton Center recorder. At KU, where Library, I stamped my foot down and said, he became the first ‘By God, I’m going to be a sportscaster just student to receive a like Curt Gowdy,’” Hedrick recalls. “He master’s in radio-televi- “Biggest break I ever had,” Hedrick says of becoming the voice of the was my idol.” sion, he worked at Jayhawks from 1960 to ’67 and 1975 to ’83. “Getting that job at 24 Twelve years later, in 1963, Gowdy was KLWN and assisted his set up my career.” broadcasting a Kansas City Chiefs game mentor, voice of the and asked Hedrick to spot for him. Jayhawks Monte “Helping me today is a great young Moore. Wilt Chamber- broadcaster named Tommy Hedrick; we lain was among his students, and Hedrick as I live.” Afterwards, he received a call call him ‘The Parrot,’” Hedrick recalls disc jockeyed on Chamberlain’s radio from President Richard Nixon, who asked Gowdy saying. “He’s going to make it big show, “Flippin’ with the Dipper.” to speak to quarterback Len Dawson. s om e d ay.” In 1960 Hedrick was sports director at a “I said, ‘Mr. President, if you wait, I’ll get Hedrick, g’58, made it “big” with a Hutchinson radio station when Moore him for you.’ Lenny’s talking to about 50 legendary 62-year broadcasting career. He called him to audition as voice of the reporters. I said, ‘Leonard, you have an called three Super Bowls (I, II, IV), two Jayhawks and “rigged (it) so I’d win.” important phone call.’ ‘What is it Parrot?’ I Final Fours, nine Cotton Bowls and ABC’s “I helped you; you help somebody else,” said, ‘the president of the United States.’ “Wide World of Sports.” He was the voice Hedrick says Moore told him. That was like an avalanche. I bet 50 people of the Jayhawks, Chiefs, Nebraska Corn- “The thing I’m proudest,” Hedrick says, ran over me.” huskers, Cincinnati Reds, Dallas Cowboys, “I’ve had 82 kids I got started in this noble How would he like to be remembered? Texas Rangers and Baker Wildcats. A profession,” including Kevin Harlan, j’82; “Always prepared, always honest and not six-time Kansas Sportscaster of the Year, Gary Bender, g’64; and Bill Kurtis, j’62. afraid to tell the truth and try to help he is enshrined in the Kansas Association Hedrick calls Super Bowl IV (the Chiefs others.”h of Broadcasters Hall of Fame and the shocked the Minnesota Vikings, 23-7) the —Garfield, c’88, is a Baker Athletics Hall of Fame. career highlight he’ll “never forget as long Lawrence freelance writer.

ISSUE 3, 2019 | 67 In Memory Corporation. Several nieces and nephews survive.

Joan Stockmyer Baird, d’55, 84, Sarah “June” Paulk Barelli, ’45, Fred Williams, e’58, g’60; five grandchil- 50sNov. 20 in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. 40s97, Dec. 5 in Kansas City. She was dren; and three great-grandchildren. She taught high school English, history a homemaker and volunteered in her Josephine “JoAnn” Hurst Kappelman, and science and later published a commu- community. Surviving are a daughter, c’49, 92, Jan. 13 in Lawrence, where she nity newspaper with her husband. Janet, n’08; four sons; 12 grandchildren; retired after a 25-year career as an account Surviving are her husband, James, j’55; eight step-grandchildren; and 20 representative and secretary at Capitol three daughters, one of whom is Laura great-grandchildren. Federal Savings. She is survived by two Baird Gatson, c’82; two sons, one of whom Martha Goodrich Coate, c’48, 92, Jan. daughters, Margaret Kappelman Rose, ’82, is Robert, ’83; a sister; a brother; 10 24 in Prairie Village. She worked for the and Carol, c’84; seven grandchildren; and grandchildren; and 11 great- Kansas Children’s Service League and was five great-grandchildren. grandchildren. a member of P.E.O. Sisterhood. Survivors Elman Rinehart, b’49, 98, Feb. 2 in Franklin Bichlmeier, m’58, 86, Jan. 11 in include her husband, Arthur, b’49; two Overland Park, where he retired as Overland Park, where he retired after sons, one of whom is Arthur Jr., c’75, g’85; assistant controller and data processing more than 30 years as a cardiothoracic a daughter, Sarah Coate Johnston, m’76, manager at Katz Drug Company and later surgeon. Survivors include his wife, Caryl; g’13; a brother, Judson Goodrich, c’47, worked for the Equitable Life Assurance two daughters, one of whom is Kathryn g’48; eight grandchildren; and five Society of the United States. His wife, Bichlmeier David, ’86; a son, Mark, ’93; great-grandchildren. Cecilia Medved Rinehart, g’50, survives. and four grandchildren. John Dixon, c’40, m’42, 100, Oct. 23 in Paul Seymour Jr., ’47, 95, Jan. 21 in David “Dan” Chase, e’58, 82, Feb. 26 in Mason City, Iowa, where he was the city’s Wichita, where he was president of Englewood, Florida. He was a retired deputy medical examiner. He is survived Arrowhead Petroleum Company and patent attorney. He is survived by his wife, by a daughter, Susan Dixon Dalton, c’68, served on several boards in the commu- Kay; two daughters, one of whom is Mary g’70; a sister, Mary Dixon Scharmann, nity. He is survived by his wife, Dorothea, Chase Derusseau, l’91; and four c’52; three grandchildren; and four assoc.; three sons, Paul III, c’76, John, c’78, grandchildren. great-grandchildren. and William Todd, c’82; two daughters, George Christopher, e’52, 88, Feb. 13 in Warren Hall, b’47, 97, Dec. 11 in Elizabeth Seymour Marshall, ’84, and Tyler, Texas, where he retired after serving Overland Park. He owned Boelte-Hall, a Katherine Seymour Deeter, c’85; a brother, as CEO of Christopher Steel in Wichita. commercial printing company in Roeland Todd, j’50; eight grandchildren; and seven His wife, Mary; two daughters; two Park. Surviving are a son, Steve, ’70; a great-grandchildren. stepdaughters, one of whom is Brenda daughter, Barb, c’73, n’83; three grandchil- Robert Taggart, ’49, 92, Feb. 9 in Klassen Craig, h’85; four grandchildren; dren; and two great-grandchildren. Topeka. He worked in real estate and three great-grandchildren survive. Dorothy Kintzel Harris, c’45, 94, Jan. 12 development and owned an appraisal Frank Exter, e’52, 92, Nov. 22 in Reno, in Atlantic, Iowa. She taught at Drury company. He also served several terms Nevada. He lived in San Luis Obispo, University in Springfield, Missouri. in the Kansas House of Representatives California, where he owned a motel and Survivors include three daughters, and Senate. Survivors include his wife, worked in commercial real estate. A Elizabeth Harris Heller, c’69, Susan Harris Jeanne; two daughters; a son; a sister, memorial has been established with KU Coleman, f’76, and Laura Harris Graham, Doris Taggart Lentz, assoc.; four grand- Endowment. His wife, Norma, two c’93; a son; 11 grandchildren; and three children; six great-grandchildren; and a daughters, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. great-great-grandson. great-grandchildren survive. Ruth Kelley Hayden, c’43, 97, Dec. 29 in Margaret Strattan Wilson, b’40, William Halverhout, b’50, 93, Dec. 16 in Atwood, where she was a travel agent and 100, Feb. 6 in Lansing. She lived in Phoenix. He lived in Prairie Village for columnist for the Atwood Citizen-Patriot. Weston, Missouri, and worked in insur- several years, where he was vice president She is survived by four sons, three of ance and banking. Survivors include of Haas & Associates. Surviving are his whom are Kelley, c’69, g’72, g’73, PhD’83, three sons, one of whom is Abe Shafer wife, Karen York Halverhout, c’50; a son, Tom, ’71, and Paul, ’87; a daughter, Katy, IV, l’68; nine grandchildren; and 11 Winn, b’75, l’78; a daughter, Anne p’75; and five grandchildren. great-grandchildren. Halverhout Curzon, e’77, g’81; a sister, Virginia Williams Holzle, c’47, g’48, 93, Nola Ginther Winters, ’47, 93, Jan. 14 in Anna Halverhout Greiner, d’58, g’65; two Feb. 7 in Topeka, where she taught English Atwood. She lived in Colorado Springs, grandsons; and a great-grandson. as a second language. She also was active Colorado, where she was assistant corpo- Hollis Hands, c’51, m’55, 90, Jan. 22 in in her church. Survivors include a son, rate secretary and director of corporate Amarillo, Texas, where he was an obstetri- Ross, e’74, g’78; two daughters; a brother, and public relations at Holly Sugar cian and gynecologist for nearly 50 years.

68 | KANSAS ALUMNI He is survived by a daughter, two sons, 13 postmaster. Surviving are a daughter; two great-grandchildren. grandchildren and seven great- sons; and a sister, Ruth Bertsch Glatt, n’52. Dorothy Davidson Rich, c’52, 88, Jan. 15 grandchildren. Leon Mason, b’55, 85, Jan. 9 in Boulder, in Lawrence. She was a homemaker. Thomas Jones, b’57, 84, Feb. 3 in Colorado. His career included posts at Survivors include two sons, one of whom Bakersfield, California. He retired as vice IBM and Regis University and as a is Jamie, c’81; a daughter; a brother, David president of finance at Occidental Petro- financial adviser. Survivors include his Davidson, c’49, g’51; seven grandchildren; leum. A son, a daughter, four grandchil- partner, Sheila, three sons, and three eight great-grandchildren; and a dren and seven great-grandchildren grandchildren. great-great-grandson. survive. Beverly Phillips May, f’56, g’57, 84, Feb. Herbert Schumacher, f’54, g’63, James Jukes, b’55, 86, Feb. 13 in 22 in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. She taught EdD’73, 86, Sept. 12 in Erie, Colorado. He Waunakee, Wisconsin. He worked at piano lessons and music history. A son, a taught ceramics for 25 years at the credit unions throughout the Midwest for daughter, a brother and three granddaugh- University of Northern Colorado. His wife, 40 years. Surviving are his wife, Phyllis; ters survive. Carlene, three sons, a daughter and three two sons; a daughter; a brother, Richard, Robert “Hod” McIntosh, b’55, 88, Feb. grandchildren survive. e’52; five grandchildren; and six 27 in Prairie Village, where he retired after Robert Shaw, b’51, 89, Sept. 3 in great-grandchildren. nearly 40 years with Employers Reinsur- Oklahoma City, where he was a certified Larry Keenan, c’52, l’54, 89, Feb. 23 in ance Corp. He is survived by his wife, government financial manager and retired Great Bend, where he practiced law for 60 Peggy, assoc.; and four daughters, Heather, as comptroller at the Oklahoma Depart- years. In 1960, he was elected Barton b’85, Kendra, e’88, Shaunna, c’89, and ment of Veterans Affairs. He is survived by County Attorney, and in 2016 he received Kerry, h’91. two sons, five grandchildren and a the KU School of Law Distinguished Alice “Vicki” Parker Meuli, d’59, 81, great-grandson. Alumni Award. A memorial has been Feb. 21 in Cheyenne, Wyoming. She was Clarence “C.O.” Sherwood, ’52, 88, Feb. established with KU Endowment. He is an elementary school teacher and also 21 in Wichita. He lived in Lyons for more survived by his wife, Patty, assoc.; three performed in local theatre. She is survived than 70 years and owned Lyons Lumber sons, two of whom are Matthew, c’81, l’84, by her husband, Larry, c’58, m’62; two Company. Survivors include his wife, and Marty, c’82, l’85; two daughters, one of daughters; a son; and six grandchildren. Billie; a son, Craig, f’78; two daughters, whom is Beth Keenan Hudak, b’89; a James Moorhead, a’55, 87, Nov. 7 in one of whom is Stacy Sherwood Stafford, stepdaughter, Denise Degner Shaw, n’82; Lone Tree, Colorado, where he was a ’80; seven grandchildren; and five three stepsons, two of whom are Jamey retired architect. His wife, Cecilia, two great-grandchildren. Degner, m’84, and Rex Degner, m’85; two sons, three daughters, a stepson, a step- Paul Skolaut, b’51, 89, Feb. 18 in brothers; 15 grandchildren; 11 step-grand- daughter, 10 grandchildren and three Wichita. He owned several Pizza Hut children; two great-grandchildren; and great-grandchildren survive. restaurants in Hutchinson, Emporia and two step-great-grandchildren. George Pohlman, b’58, 86, Oct. 1 in Salina. He is survived by his wife, Mary Dorothy Wandling Kennedy, d’54, 86, North Tustin, California. He had a 35-year Ann; five daughters, one of whom is Mary Feb. 27 in Prairie Village. She lived in career as regional sales manager at Skolaut Birch, j’74; a son; a sister; 12 Salina for more than 50 years, where she Colgate-Palmolive. His wife, Maggie, two grandchildren; and 16 great- co-founded the Salina Charities League daughters and three grandchildren grandchildren. and delivered meals to those in need for survive. Marilynn Smith, ’51, 89, April 9 in nearly 30 years. Survivors include two Gretchen Kendall Pratt, c’56, 84, Feb. 1 Goodyear, Arizona. She was a professional daughters, Carol Kennedy Johnson, b’77, in Overland Park, where she was a golfer and helped found the Ladies and Katie Kennedy Chalfant, j’81; two homemaker. Surviving are three daugh- Professional Golf Association in 1950. sons, Don, c’87, and Bill, j’92; 18 grand- ters, Betsy Isern Guthrie, c’81, Amy Isern During her nearly 25-year career, she won children; and three great-grandchildren. Mulich, j’84, and Molly Isern Curtis, ’87; a 21 LGPA titles and served as president of Thomas Kennedy, c’59, g’70, 82, Feb. 22 son, Chad Isern, c’89; three stepdaughters, the LPGA from 1958 to 1960. She was in Fairfax, Virginia, where he was a retired one of whom is Margaret Pratt, c’77; a inducted in the World Golf Hall of Fame U.S. Air Force colonel and executive stepson; a sister; nine grandchildren; and a in 2006. director of the Association of State and great-grandchild. Barbara Richard Thiele, ’50, 90, Jan. 20 Territorial Solid Waste Management Carl “Red” Privitera, ’51, 94, Jan. 4 in Topeka, where she worked at TARC for Officials. He is survived by his wife, in Kansas City. He owned Mark One several years before co-founding Discov- Patricia, two sons, a daughter and six Electric Company and also worked in ery School, a Montessori preschool. She is grandchildren. commercial real estate. Survivors include survived by two sons, Jeffrey, m’79, and Elisabeth Bertsch Mason, n’53, 86, Feb. three sons, two of whom are Carl II, e’85, James, e’81; a daughter, Sara Thiele 11 in Marmaduke, Arkansas, where she and Anthony, b’87; a daughter; a brother; Heydari, ’82; six grandchildren; four was a registered nurse and later became a nine grandchildren; and four step-grandchildren; five great-grandchil-

ISSUE 3, 2019 | 69 In Memory dren; and seven step-great-grandchildren. Schools. He also served 12 years as a two grandchildren survive. Frank Darrell Timken, d’52, g’64, 88, commissioner in Wyandotte County. Jeannette “Liz” Langel Munns, d’61, 80, Jan. 2 in Topeka, where he was a teacher. Survivors include his wife, Lee Ann Parks Jan. 1 in Topeka, where she was a teacher. Survivors include his wife, Clarice; a son, Ellison, ’61; a son, Guy, ’86; a daughter; a Several nieces and nephews survive. Mark, c’79; a daughter; three grandchil- brother, Nolen, d’63; six grandchildren; Maryanna Quilty, c’69, s’77, 71, Jan. 17 dren; and three great-grandchildren. and three great-grandchildren. in Topeka. She was a social worker at the Warren Wandling, d’59, g’61, 84, Jan. 25 Doug Farmer, j’63, 79, Feb. 11 in Blue Menninger Clinic and Stormont Vail in Wichita. He had a long career with Springs, Missouri. He was a real estate Hospital. A brother survives. AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company agent for more than 20 years. He is William Vollbracht, b’60, 80, Dec. 30 in and retired as agency manager. Surviving survived by two sons; a brother, Art, g’81; Denver. He was founder and chair of Land are his wife, Nancy Simone Wandling, a sister; and two grandsons. Title Guarantee Company and also d’57; three sons, Warren Jr., c’86, Todd, Marilyn Kay Harris, s’69, 71, Nov. 16 in co-founded Alpine Banks. Surviving are ’86, and Lee, c’11; and six grandchildren. Media, Pennsylvania. She was associate his wife, Leslie, two daughters and two Virginia Nalley Woodson, c’53, 86, Nov. professor emerita and chair of the criminal grandchildren. 13 in Palo Alto, California. She taught justice department at Temple University, elementary school and helped establish where she helped create the Inside-Out Lee Adcox, EdD’70, 88, Jan. 13 in magnet programs. She also was an Prison Exchange Program. Her partner, 70s Overland Park, where he owned administrative assistant to the executive Jack, and a brother survive. LEA Inc. His wife, Connie, two sons, three pastor at her church. Survivors include Fred LaMar, c’63, g’65, 77, Jan. 30 in daughters, 13 grandchildren and 21 two sons; a brother, Victor Nalley, c’51; a Lenexa, where he retired as director of risk great-grandchildren survive. sister, Gloria Nalley Jardon, ’64; and three management and insurance at Farmland Marsha Sawyer Bjerkan, j’78, g’88, 62, grandsons. Industries. Survivors include his wife, Feb. 25 in Prairie Village. She worked for Marcia Nielsen LaMar, d’67; a daughter; several mobile phone carrier companies Rob Ash, b’64, 76, Jan. 17 in three stepdaughters; a sister, Rebecca, d’69; and Morgan Stanley. Survivors include a 60s Prairie Village, where he owned two grandchildren; and three brother, James, e’74; and a sister, Kristine Ash Battery Systems. He is survived by his step-grandchildren. Bjerkan Lawrence, ’76. wife, Nancy Smith Ash, ’66; two daughters, Leo Lutz, ’61, 80, Jan. 2 in Lawrence. He Kevin Condon, c’73, g’75, PhD’81, 74, Susan Ash Hoffman, f’92, and Molly Ash had a long career in commercial banking Dec. 29 in Denver, where he was a Kohring, ’94; a son; two brothers, Stephen, in California and was an accomplished certified financial planner and partner at a m’71, and James, c’76; and eight fine art photographer. His wife, Wilma, a web-based financial advising company. He grandchildren. son, a daughter and two sisters survive. is survived by his wife, Glenda; two Dennis Brady, d’66, 74, Dec. 20 in James Mahoney, ’68, 75, Jan. 17 in daughters; a brother, Mark, c’71; and six Hercules, California. He worked in retail Albany, Missouri, where he was a farmer grandchildren. sales and for an insurance company in San and real estate appraiser. He is survived by Dean Corwin, f’71, 69, Dec. 10 in Francisco. His wife, Elaine, two sons and a his wife, Barbara Gyulavics Mahoney, d’70; Topeka. He was a retired librarian at brother survive. and a daughter. Washburn University. Surviving are two Margaret “Marge” Brake, e’69, e’73, Mason McIntire, c’67, g’69, 73, Jan. 18 sons; two brothers, one of whom is 73, Feb. 23 in Las Vegas, where she was a in Maryville, Missouri. He owned McIn- Harold, c’65, g’67; and four grandchildren. civil engineer at Reynolds Electrical and tire Lumber in Mound City, Missouri. Thomas Ewan, e’79, 62, Jan. 21 in Engineering Company. Surviving are three Surviving are his wife, Judy Bailey Olathe. He worked for Boeing and later sisters, one of whom is Jaye Brake, c’73; McIntire, c’68; two daughters, one of owned Landmark Title in Paola. He is and a brother. whom is Jill McIntire Green, c’98, g’00; a survived by his wife, Pamela; a son, James Cook, e’68, 73, Feb. 5 in Over- sister; and six grandchildren. Dustin, ’07; his mother; a sister, Susan land Park, where he was a consulting Judith Scott Mills-Hinch, d’68, 71, Feb. Ewan Dunaway, d’72; and a brother. engineer at Crown Center Redevelopment. 24 in Havre de Grace, Maryland. She lived Ronald Faught, e’78, 62, Feb. 1 in He is survived by his wife, Eva Lord Cook, in Aberdeen, where she was an EMT and Topeka. He worked at DuPont for 21 years c’92, g’02; two sons, Theron, c’09, and firefighter. She retired from the Aberdeen before starting a residential construction Walter, c’14; a daughter; a sister, Kate Police Department as communications company. Survivors include four sons, Cook Lawrence, c’71; and two officer. Survivors include a son, a half- three of whom are Ronald Jr., ’99, Danny, grandchildren. sister and a grandson. b’15, and Allen, g’15; three daughters; his Benoyd “Butch” Ellison, d’62, g’74, 79, Marvin Duane Mulkey, e’62, 78, mother; two brothers, one of whom is Feb. 13 in Kansas City, where he was a Feb. 4 in Naples, Florida. He worked at Donald, e’73; a sister; and three teacher and school administrator for 37 Honeywell UOP in Des Plaines, Illinois, grandchildren. years in Kansas City Kansas Public for 40 years. A son, a daughter and Thomas Gilcrest, d’71, 69, Jan. 17 in

70 | KANSAS ALUMNI Leawood, where he retired as director of is Kelsey, c’99, l’02; a son, David, c’02; a College’s Distinguished Alumna Award in design-build services at Blue Scope sister; a brother; and five grandchildren. 1979. Construction. Surviving are his wife, Telia; Gail Miller Watson, c’71, 67, Aug. 18, Alison Heath Carter, d’68, 72, Jan. 26 in a daughter, Jeslyn, c’09, ’11; and a sister. 2017, in New Orleans, where she was a Lawrence. She worked part time at the Christian Hoffman, b’73, 69, Jan. 24 in physical therapist. Surviving are her Dole Institute and was a member of P.E.O. Salina. He was president and CEO of husband, Robert; a son, Lance, c’07; and Sisterhood. A memorial has been estab- UMB-NBA. His mother and two brothers, a brother. lished with KU Endowment. She is Bill, c’75, g’77, and Tom, g’88, survive. survived by her husband, George, c’72; a Michael Luthi, f’73, 70, Nov. 3 in Davis, Elizabeth Baker Melton, c’82, 59, daughter, Elizabeth, c’14; and a sister, Rae California, where he was senior producer 80sFeb. 7 in Raytown, Missouri. She Heath Hederstedt, d’64. and director of academic technology taught special-needs children in the Blue Joseph Meek, c’54, m’57, 87, Jan. 30 in services at the University of California- Valley School District. Surviving are her Wichita, where he was an endocrinologist Davis. Survivors include his wife, Deborah husband, Kevin, two daughters, a step- and chair of internal medicine and dean at Bordner Luthi, d’72; a son; two sisters; and daughter, a sister, a brother and five KU School of Medicine-Wichita. Surviv- two grandsons. grandchildren. ing are his wife, Bette; two daughters, William Majors, EdD’79, 76, Feb. 24 in Allen Vance, b’80, g’85, 60, Jan. 9 in Nancy Meek Leonard, n’84, and Kathryn Meriden. He was a teacher and school Kansas City, where he was a rates adminis- Meek Thompson, c’89; a son; a brother; six administrator and retired as assistant trator for KC Water Services. A sister, grandchildren; and two great- executive director at the Kansas Associa- Cynthia Vance Knighton, h’77, survives. grandchildren. tion of School Boards. He is survived by Dick Williams, ’83, 59, Feb. 18 in Plano, Janet Sharistanian, 75, Feb. 6 in his wife, Betty, ’93; a son; a daughter; and Texas, where he worked in technology. A Lawrence, where she was professor three grandchildren. memorial has been established with KU emerita of English. She led the develop- Charles Marshall, b’71, 70, Nov. 13 in Endowment. He is survived by three ment of the women’s studies program and Scottsdale, Arizona. He was an attorney sisters, Kimberly, b’79, Lynn, j’79, and served as director of the Research Institute who specialized in asbestos cases. Surviv- Evan Williams Walter, c’85; and a brother, on Women from 1979 to 1983. In 1985 she ing are his wife, Patty, two sons, a daugh- Russell, ’90. was inducted in the KU Women’s Hall of ter, a brother and two grandchildren. Fame. A memorial has been established Kenneth Peterson, j’70, 71, Feb. 19 in David Hale, c’91, 55, Jan. 18 in with KU Endowment. Topeka. He was a field reporter at the 90s Lawrence, where he worked for Sarah Chappell Trulove, g’82, 83, Feb. Topeka Capital-Journal and press secre- Indoff Business Products. Surviving are his 14 in Lawrence. She was assistant director tary for Rep. Jim Slattery in Washington, partner, Laura; a daughter; his parents, of the Hall Center for the Humanities D.C., before retiring as executive director Gary, j’58, l’71, and Kay Roberts Hale, from 1983 to 1987 and a lecturer in the of the Kansas Petroleum Council. Survi- n’74; and a brother, Greg, ’94. humanities and Western Civilization vors include a son, Kyle, ’14; and a program. A memorial has been established daughter. Susan Greenberg, c’12, 47, Jan. 4 with KU Endowment. She is survived by Loren Rabon, f’70, 79, Dec. 4 in 10sin Lawrence, where she was an her husband, Jim Woelfel, assoc.; a son, Freehold, New Jersey. He owned a design artist and photographer. She is survived by Paul Trulove, c’84; a daughter; three and construction company. His wife, her wife, Jessica; her parents, David, f’65, stepdaughters; seven grandchildren; and Linda, a son, three daughters, a brother, 12 and Judy Greenberg, assoc.; and two seven great-grandchildren. grandchildren and a great-grandson sisters, one of whom is Julie, ’89. survive. ASSOCIATES James “Jace” Rexroad, c’74, 69, Jan. 17 UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY Beverly Londerholm, assoc., 84, Jan. 11 in Hutchinson. He had a 20-year career in Marc Asher, m’62, 82, Feb. 1 in in Leawood. She worked for the U.S. medical technology and later founded Leawood, where he was University Census Bureau. Surviving are three sons, Primus Corporation, which developed one Distinguished Professor Emeritus of two of whom are Robert Jr., d’77, and of the first blood tests for diabetes. A Orthopedic Surgery. In 1999 he was Stephen, ’82; a daughter; 16 grandchildren; memorial has been established with KU named School of Medicine Alumnus of and eight great-grandchildren. Endowment. His wife, Janet Svoboda, c’73, the Year, and in 2009 he was awarded the Genevieve McMahon, assoc., 101, Jan. survives. Association’s Fred Ellsworth Medallion. 10 in Lawrence. She was a teacher and Margo Kelsey Roberts, g’74, 69, Jan. 18 Surviving are his wife, Elinor, and a managed membership for the National in Dodge Center, Minnesota, where she daughter. Association of Colleges and Universities and her husband owned a chiropractic Beverly Boyd, assoc., 93, Jan. 26 in Business Officers in Washington, D.C. A practice and also rehabilitated homes. She Lawrence, where she was professor son, a daughter, four grandchildren and is survived by two daughters, one of whom emerita of English. She received Brooklyn three great-grandchildren survive.

ISSUE 3, 2019 | 71 Rock Chalk Review Among the pieces now attracting invitations to international design shows and showcases in design magazines are his Nyala chair, inspired by the horns of a South African antelope; the Ashanti stool, recalls with a laugh. “I said, ‘Please a reinterpretation of a traditional Ghana- explain.’” ian stool; and the MeQuamya chair, He quickly realized the mix of science, inspired by T-shaped staffs used in art and engineering that Branham Ethiopian Orthodox church ceremonies. outlined was exactly what he wanted to do. “In my home growing up, we had all COURTESY JOMO TARIKU (3) JOMO TARIKU COURTESY Now a furniture designer, he recently these carved pieces, beads and masks and launched his own studio and is gaining stools,” and that type of work is what most attention for his modern takes on tradi- museums and galleries think of as African tional African themes. design, Tariku says. “But that’s not me, “For me, design is really an interpreta- even though it is my inspiration.” tion of your culture, your heritage,” says In addition to launching his own Tariku, a’10, who lives near Washington, forward-thinking pieces, Tariku works to D.C., where he works as a data scientist for improve diversity in the design industry as The World Bank. “It’s not just the lines and a charter member of the Black Artists and how you build it, it’s the color, it’s the Designers Guild. In April, he exhibited things that have been passed on to you work and appeared on a panel at “Beyond being reinterpreted into the objects you the Mask: Storytelling in Black Art & design.” Design,” the collective’s first exhibition at the influential High Point furniture market. “The biggest obstacle is lack of name recognition, and we are on the way to African influence accomplishing that for guild members,” Designer adds modern twist to Tariku says. “I have not seen this type of intensity around the work of black artists traditional cultural themes and designers, and I’ve been around for many years. It’s exciting to see.”h n a campus visit in 1987, Jomo Tariku —Steven Hill Ohad a chance meeting with a profes- sor that changed his course in life. Ashanti Tariku was born in Kenya and grew up in Ethiopia; after finishing high school he No ordinary man moved to Olathe to attend MidAmerica Nazarene University with his brother. New book tells overdue story “I wasn’t good at anything but drawing of key figure in KU museum and sketching,” Tariku recalls, “and one of the professors said, ‘It looks like art is your n his first day in Lawrence, Charles passion: What are you doing here?’” OBunker, a shy man in his early 20s Exploring a transfer, he came to Mount who had moved from Illinois with his Oread over summer break. Campus was family when his father accepted a job at nearly deserted, but he found Richard Haskell Institute, decided to explore. Branham, professor of industrial design, in Bunker trekked that chilly morning in his office. Branham invited him in and March 1891 from his family’s rented asked about his interests. Fine art, Tariku Nyala home at 17th and Massachusetts streets told him. Sketching and painting objects, to see the school southeast of town where not people. ”If you’ve traveled through Africa, or you are his father now worked. His anxiety about “He said, ‘Have you looked into indus- African or African American and have a meeting new people prevented Bunker trial design?’ I’d never heard of industrial heritage that connects you, I want to give you from venturing inside, so he headed back. design, let alone looked into it,” Tariku something that relates to that,” Tariku says. That’s when he first noticed the hill west

72 | KANSAS ALUMNI reprinted in full the admiring notes from naturalists who had trained under Bunker STEVE PUPPE STEVE and gone on to glory at such institutions as the Smithsonian, Cal-Berkeley and the U.S. Biological Survey. “The legacy was his students,” Warner says. “This is not a book about science. This is a book about a guy, who just happened to work in science.”h —Chris Lazzarino Birds, Bones, and Beetles By Chuck Warner University Press of Kansas, $24.95 Shimomura’s muse Artist’s show mixes new works of Lawrence, topped by a cluster of What was built here required the dedica- impressive new buildings. tion of many, including a shy man from with earlier paintings He knew he should be job hunting, but Illinois who could disappear within a Bunker instead ventured west, and up. He crowded room and always found himself oger Shimomura’s new exhibition, soaked in the valley views and admired the on the back row of any photograph. R“American Muse,” at Sherry Leedy institution, whatever it was, anchored like “As I researched, it occurred to me that Contemporary Art in Kansas City’s a fort with overwatch of an encampment. Charles Bunker was not the typical history Crossroads district, packs a wallop. The next morning, Bunker asked the book hero who led a country, won a battle, Bold and bright, with the compositional neighborhood grocer if he knew of any or discovered a cure for a dreaded disease,” flair and razor focus of the comic book taxidermists in town. An avid outdoors- Warner writes. “So why is his story worth panels that have long influenced Shimo- man, Bunker had trained in taxidermy saving? First of all, appearances can be mura’s work, 105 paintings fill the main back in Mendota and hoped to continue deceiving—his accomplishments were far floor of the compact gallery with a riot of with the trade in Kansas. The grocer from commonplace. Secondly, his story color and image. replied that the only taxidermy was illustrates how those who lead quiet lives “It’s sort of like walking inside a graphic happening at the university—which can still make a significant difference in novel,” says gallery owner Sherry Leedy, Bunker had already unknowingly visited. the world around them, a message that g’80. “Paintings change character due to So begins Chuck Warner’s charming and seems important in this world of status their surroundings, and to see this many authoritative biography of his grandfather: and wealth worshipping.” of Roger’s paintings together has more of a Birds, Bones, and Beetles: The Improbable Although not hired until 1895, after punch than if you saw just one. It’s a very Career and Remarkable Legacy of Univer- Dyche had found fame with the exhibition dense show.” sity of Kansas Naturalist Charles D. Bunker. he brought to Chicago’s 1893 Colombian The subject matter, too, is visceral and Encouraged by his family, as well as staff Exhibition, Bunker helped Dyche build immediate: In a series of paintings that members at Dyche Hall’s Biodiversity the museum’s Panorama. He conducted draw on Shimomura’s earlier depictions of Institute and Natural History Museum field research of his own, developed a his imprisonment with his family and who have long been eager for Bunker’s still-in-use system for using beetles to other Japanese Americans in World War II story to be told, Warner, b’67, l’70, decided clean flesh from specimen bones, and in to tackle the project after retiring from his 1911 discovered the now-iconic 45-foot 20-year career as president of U.S. Bank’s sea serpent later identified as the largest Lawrence branches and nearly as many mosasaur ever found in North America. RICK HELMAN years on the business side at Centron In fall 1935, Bunker agreed to meet with Films. a student reporter on assignment from The The story of natural history at KU has Graduate Magazine, Kansas Alumni’s always been about “The Dashing Kansan,” precursor. The shy scientist had difficulty Lewis Lindsay Dyche, c’1884, c’1884, telling his own story, so Catherine Penner g’1888. It’s a formula that worked for more Kruse, c’36, asked about former students. than a century because the story is a good “Bunk” beamed, and handed over a one. Birds, Bones, and Beetles illuminates stack of letters he had recently received for the legend’s over-reliance on one man. his 65th birthday. The Graduate Magazine Shimomura

ISSUE 3, 2019 | 73 Rock Chalk Review internment camps, the artist takes on is the last one on his calendar, Leedy President Trump’s treatment of Muslim laughs when asked if “American Muse” is a immigrants and other ethnic and religious final chance to see this many Shimomura minorities. Called “Muslims and More,” paintings in one space. the series of 50 12-by-12 inch paintings “What I would say is it’s Roger’s most was created in the last year. recent last exhibition.”h “It started with the idea that what was —Steven Hill happening to Muslims is similar to what “American Muse” runs through May 25 (2) OF ART SPENCER MUSEUM COURTESY happened to Japanese Americans,” said at Sherry Leedy Contemporary Art, 2004 Shimomura, who has mostly stopped Baltimore Ave., Kansas City. For more granting interviews and accepting visiting information visit sherryleedy.com. artist invitations as he nears 80. “There was talk about, well, we could put them in camps, and, as they prove themselves loyal, we will let them out. That idea sent ’60s seen through shock waves throughout the whole Japanese American community,” he said in Esquire eyes a KU news release. Magazine archive featured “And so that’s when I started doing these paintings that treated Muslim people a lot in lively Spencer exhibition like Japanese Americans and putting them behind barbed wire, since Trump said that ate Meyer, the Spencer Museum of he would probably be willing to do the K Art’s curator for works on paper, same thing to Muslims they did to the describes the University’s Esquire maga- Japanese Americans.” zine holdings as “kind of wild,” and she Top: Dan Wynn, “Body and Soul: Gloria Steinem Some have called this exhibition adds that she is not aware of any of other and her partner, Dorothy Pitman Hughes, Shimomura’s most political ever, but Leedy U.S. institution with a similar mass-market demonstrate the style that has thrilled audiences offers a slightly different take. magazine archive. on the Women’s Liberation lecture circuit,” “I think Roger’s work has always been The challenge, though, is how the 1971. Above: Robert L. Greger, “In New York, a political, but this new work is maybe the museum can best share highlights from policeman attempts to remove a Negro least distanced from current events,” she the collection. demonstrating against racial discrimination,” says. Past work based on his childhood at “The first thought I have is a nervous circa 1963. Gifts of Esquire, Inc. the Minidoka concentration camp in one,” says Meyer, g’04, PhD’11, “because I Idaho—represented here by two dozen think, ‘Oh, it’s this men’s magazine and it’s paintings in a series titled “Minidoka and going to be all sexist or dated. Whatever Beyond”—was separated by time and are we going to do with this? How could it through material culture, into what was distance from the experiences that be relevant to anything?’” happening in the world, and definitely in inspired them, Leedy notes. The imagery Meyer’s answer to the questions she the U.S., especially in the years we were from the “Muslims and More” series has a posed is “Politics, Race, Celebrity: focusing on, the 1960s.” ripped-from-the-headlines immediacy. Photographs from the Esquire Collection,” Thanks to the depth of KU’s Esquire “The issue is in the current news, so we’re on view in Spencer’s Larry & Barbara holdings—acquired in 1980, due in large all sort of hypersensitive to it, more Marshall Family Balcony through July 7. part to the efforts of the late Professor attuned to it right now.” The lively exhibition uses famous faces Emeritus Lee Young, g’68, founder of the A third series in the exhibition, “Great and names to explore Esquire’s take on magazine sequence at the William Allen American Muse,” mixes American Pop Art monumental U.S. events and movements, White School of Journalism and Mass and Japanese Wood Block imagery while including Watergate and the downfall of Communications and namesake of the referencing various artists—Andy Warhol, Richard Nixon, second-wave feminism, fund that supported the current exhibi- Roy Lichtenstein, Keith Haring—who civil rights and the counterculture, while tion—Meyer could post a rich variety of presumably influenced the development of encouraging comparisons with similar camera-ready original photographs, some Shimomura’s work over the years. current events. even still bearing an editor’s wax-pencil The effect is of an artist looking back on “I hope that the exhibition is an example crop marks, while also displaying maga- an exceptional career while still engaging of the way Esquire was sinking its teeth zines in which some of the images fiercely with the issues of the day. And into lots of topics,” Meyer says, “and ends appeared. while Shimomura has said this exhibition up being a really fascinating insight “They can see that people saw this

74 | KANSAS ALUMNI image, and they saw it in the form of the communities—fictional stand-ins for her scenarios; that to me is a lot of fun.” magazine, and here’s how it looked on the mother’s hometown, Lincoln Center, Also fun is the deeper world she builds magazine pages. That is a valuable proof of where Hawker, j’86, spent summers as a for her characters beyond the pages of her concept of how much images can perco- kid. She calls Kansas her books. Her website, late, and we take that for granted in a spiritual home. lshawker.com, includes a pre-internet understanding of the world. “I grew up in the music blog from the heroine “The image of Nixon with the caption, suburbs, and they were of her second novel, Blood ‘Why is this man laughing?’ That’s a just so vanilla,” she says. and Bone; a fictional pre-internet meme, and Esquire did it all “You couldn’t walk HAWKER LISA COURTESY corporate site for a nefarious the time.”h anywhere; you had to be artificial intelligence startup —Chris Lazzarino driven. When I got to this from her third novel, End of tiny little town in Kansas, the Road; and music you could walk to the pool, playlists inspired by all four you could walk downtown of her books. She also Small-town drama and buy candy. It was just included a real phone magic, it really was.” number in The Throwaways, Childhood visits to Kansas inspire More important, for a Hawker which she monitors, writer’s page-turning plots kid who wrote her first delighting when readers murder mystery at age 9, there was drama. leave voicemails for her fictional character. isa Stormes Hawker grew up in “The things that happened there,” Hawker “I’m just a sucker for that sort of thing,” LDenver and lives there now, but all her says, “would never happen in the suburbs.” says Hawker, who found inspiration from “golden childhood memories” were made The Throwaways begins in Lawrence, the way J.K. Rowling created Pottermore in Kansas, and it’s there she returns for the when Hawker’s protagonist gives a ride to for Harry Potter fans. “I love fantasy settings of her thriller novels. a stranger he meets at a liquor store and worlds, what can I tell you?” Hawker’s debut, The Drowning Game, finds himself framed for a triple murder As for the real-world trials and troubles published in 2015 by Harper Collins, was before fleeing to his central Kansas that fuel a page turner, Hawker is happy to one of six finalists for the International hometown. The plot was inspired by look for those in what many would think Thriller Writers’ Best First Novel Award. something that happened to a KU of as the unlikeliest of places: the small She has since written three more books; classmate. The real-life incident didn’t end town. her most recent, The Throwaways, was with murder—that was Hawker’s twist. “Let’s face it, drama is everywhere, isn’t published by Vanishing Point Press in “I thought to myself, ‘Wow, what if the it? It really is. You just have to look hard early 2019. worst had happened?’” she says of the enough.”h All are thrillers set in small, rural novel’s genesis. “I like thinking of those —Steven Hill

Untold no more schools in the landmark Oliver The book is the culmination of Deborah Dandridge, ‘94, Brown et al. v. the Board of workshops conducted in 2017 curator of African American ince the 1954 Supreme Education of Topeka, they have by the Brown Foundation for Experience collections, Spencer SCourt decision that ruled “unwittingly reduced the story” Educational Equity, Excellence Research Library; Darren public school segregation by obscuring the many and Research to help families Canady, playwright and unconstitutional, “historians, remaining plaintiffs, several write a first-person narrative associate professor of English; political scientists, and others hundred in all, under the legal about their experiences with and Vincent Omni, ’19, graduate have unintentionally term “et al.”—Latin the case and its teaching assistant in the participated in a kind of for “and others.” aftermath. Cheryl department of English. The historical erasure,” writes John Recovering Brown Henderson, project received support from Edgar Tidwell, professor Untold Stories, daughter of the late KU’s Hall Center for the emeritus of English, in published this Rev. Oliver Brown Humanities. Recovering Untold Stories: An spring by KU and founding The book is available in print Enduring Legacy of the Brown v. Libraries, adds the president of the from KU Bookstore for $19.25 Board of Education Decision. contributions of foundation, led the or by free download online at By citing only one of five two dozen of those workshop with help kuscholarworks.ku.edu/ cases that challenged racial “others” to the from four KU handle/1808/27702.h segregation in U.S. public historical record. scholars: Tidwell; —Steven Hill

ISSUE 3, 2019 | 75 Glorious to View Photograph by Dan Storey

Brightly colored tulips signal spring’s arrival on Mount Oread. Each fall, KU landscapers plant hundreds of bulbs around the Chi Omega Fountain and in front of Watson Library and Smith, Strong and Budig halls. Once the blossoms fade, the crew replaces them with early spring annuals.

76 | KANSAS ALUMNI ROCK CHALK, FOREVER A JAYHAWK!

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