VOLUME 15 NUMBER 2 FALL 2015

13 under 30

Highlighting 13 outstanding alumni making an impact before making 30. INSIDE Refining an Industry p2 SAM Football ManufacturingAt 100 p21 Integrity p27 Distingushed Alumni p26 LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

he Sam Houston State story is about honoring traditions and creating futures. Our institution was founded on a mission “to elevate the standard of education throughout the State, by giving thorough instruction and Tspecial training to our present and future teachers.” More than 135 years later, we remain true to our roots but have expanded our focus and vision on being “the best at educating the next generation of professionals.” Creating a balance of academic learning and real-world experience led by a dedicated, caring faculty inspires our university’s commitment to excellence. Building on these core competencies has helped catapult SHSU to the top of all public higher education institutions in the state for placing students in the workforce within 12 months of graduating. In this issue of the Heritage, we celebrate the success of our young alumni—the next generation of “We need to make a statement to professionals. Their time at Sam the world; Americans are hard Houston helped prepare them for workers, and we’re smart workers exhilarating and fulfilling futures. and we can do, and we will do. Their inspiring stories remind us of the Believe me, this country will come power of education and the importance of making a college experience both back with a vengeance if we work affordable and accessible through hard at it.” careful resource management and the —Fred Pirkle generous support of thousands of our alumni and friends. We have broken ground on the Fred Pirkle Engineering Technology Center. This marvelous facility represents one of Fred’s last and greatest contributions to innovation—a legacy that will stimulate generations of students who share a common outlook of the world—not as it appears today but what it might become through a combination of imagination, skill, and perseverance. The incredible legacy of Fred Pirkle was made possible in part, because our university shared the same underlying purpose of “educating the next generation of professionals.” I am both proud and grateful Fred entrusted Sam Houston State University to carry on his vision for a better, stronger America. As we continue to honor our traditions and create new futures, we will have reached another historic milestone this fall—the 100th season of Bearkat football. SHSU’s championship team is built on a rich history that has culminated with eight NCAA playoff appearances and two championship finals. Our student-athletes also excel on and off the field, achieving a grade point average above 3.0 in six of the last seven semesters. The competitive spirit of our athletic program binds us together, regardless of our age, academic training, and profession. With that thought in mind, I look forward to greeting you at Bowers Stadium or somewhere on the road as we begin the march toward the playoffs for a fifth consecutive season.

Dana G. Hoyt President SPOTLIGHT

13 under 30 Editor 2 They may not have been in their fields for very long, but Jennifer Gauntt they’re already making an impact, utilizing their talents [email protected] around the world both in the workforce and in service to Writers their fellow man. Jennifer Gauntt • Jared Dorster, 29, performs internationally as a cast Julia May Tammy Parrett member with the renowned Pilobolus Dance Theater. Paul Ridings • Margaret Maseko, 26, plans to utilize her medical degree Romney Thomas (in progress in London) to continue the work she and Photography her family started to revolutionize the way HIV-positive Brian Blalock women and children are treated in Malawi. Art Direction/Design Amy Bass-Wilson • Husband and wife Mario Galioto, 29, and Stephanie [email protected] Banuelos, 29, use the skills they acquired through SHSU’s Masthead Design forensic science graduate program in their work with DNA Ford Design and controlled substance analysis. Vice President for University Advancement Frank R. Holmes [email protected] SECTIONS Associate Vice President for Marketing and Communications Kristina K. Ruiz [email protected] University Focus Associate Vice President for Development 13 New Buildings: Pirkle, Powell and Tackett Thelma Mooney [email protected] Director of Marketing and Communications Bruce O’Neal Carry The Vision [email protected] 16 Video Scoreboard Donation Director of Alumni Relations Charles Vienne [email protected] Eye On The Kats 21 100 Seasons of Football The goal ofHeritage is to keep you informed Spring Wrap Up about Sam Houston State University. Heritage is published twice a year by the Office of University Advancement for alumni, donors and friends of SHSU. To contact the Office of University Alumni Look Advancement please call 936.294.3625 26 Distinguished Alumni 2015 or visit shsu.edu/giving. Class Notes; In Memoriam

ON THE COVER BOARD OF REGENTS Thirteen alumni THE TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM are using their talents to make Dr. Jaime R. Garza, Chairman. . . . . San Antonio William F. Scott ...... Nederland their mark before Rossanna Salazar, Vice Chairman...... Austin Alan L. Tinsley...... Madisonville making 30, and Charlie Amato...... San Antonio Donna N. Williams...... Arlington they’re just getting Veronica Muzquiz-Edwards ...... San Antonio Spencer Copeland, Student Regent. . . . Huntsville started. David Montagne...... Beaumont Page 2. Vernon Reaser III ...... Bellaire Brian McCall, Chancellor...... Austin 13 under 30 By Jennifer Gauntt, Julia May, Tammy Parrett and Romney Thomas

or more than 135 years, Sam Houston State what Oscar Wilde may have believed, youth has not University has been providing a world-renowned been wasted. Feducation to students who would go on to L ike m a ny of the i r c o ho r t s, the s e 13 have hit the g ro u n d make significant impacts in the fields of criminal justice, running and can be found all over the globe, working to business and education, among others. advance their educations in an effort to revolutionize the But as the university has grown and its programs way women and children are treated for HIV in Africa or expanded, SHSU’s outreach, too, has expanded. Alumni to create a more effective antibiotic; dazzling on some can be found around the world utilizing the skills they of the world’s most stunning stages and from behind- began acquiring at SHSU to exert their influence both in the-scenes in television; playing significant roles in the workforce and in service to their fellow man. emerging areas within oil and gas and online advertising; These kinds of impacts are not only being made by and, of course, continuing to tackle some of the nation’s alumni who have spent decades building an esteemed most pressing issues in forensic science, business and career, but also by many fresh-faced, recent graduates. education. In showcasing how SHSU also is developing the next While these 13 alumni are using their talents to make generation of young professionals, Heritage magazine their mark before making 30, they’re just getting started; has selected 13 graduates under the age of 30 (one Heritage magazine and its readers will likely be hearing turned 30 during the writing process), for whom, despite about these young alumni for years to come.

2 SHSU Heritage Magazine SPOTLIGHT

Samantha McKinley, 22 services to her own Taylor Price, 23 ’14 BBA in finance and clients and make sure ’14 BA in criminal banking they are satisfied. justice Global wealth “I don’t want Professional bareback relationship associate just a transactional rider, living in Huntsville with BBVA Compass in relationship with Dallas customers, where I’m SHSU rodeo coach simply trying to sell a Bubba Miller put Samantha McKinley is relationship associate. and I like being able product to them,” she Taylor Price on his entering an extremely “We advise and to build a relationship said. “I actually want first bucking steer exciting time in her life. provide high-net-worth and build trust with to get to know them when the Huntsville The 2014 graduate customers the type of customers.” and become a trusted native attended Miller’s recently participated in financial services that As for her future, member of their team, cowboy church, Branded the LEAP program, a they need, depending McKinley plans to whatever that may be.” for Christ, as a freshman management training on their own situation,” continue to learn and While she may be in high school. program for BBVA she said. gain new experiences in new to the job, she has While many cowboys Compass, and accepted “I think this field the global wealth market never underestimated start riding much earlier a permanent position in is really interesting,” so she can become a the power of money. In than that, Price took to Dallas, where she lives she said. “Discussing private banker, which fact, the power of money bull riding like … well, a with her fiancé and her finances requires a very will allow her to provide is something she is very cowboy on a bull. puppy, Mayzie. intimate relationship, specific financial passionate about. And though he “I’ve hit a lot of big “If you can take followed in his mother’s milestones in the past control of your finances, footsteps when he year; I’m just trying you can achieve a lot of attended SHSU by to embrace all of the independence,” she said. majoring in criminal opportunities that have justice, Price’s heart been given to me,” she never left the arena’s said. shoots, especially as he After graduating in excelled in his transition May 2014, the 22-year- from bull riding to old Austin native bareback riding in moved to Birmingham, college. Alabama, for six So after competing months, where she twice at the College learned through the National Finals with the BBVA LEAP program SHSU rodeo team, and about the company’s with a bachelor’s degree many different jobs under his belt, Price set and determined where out on the professional she could add the most bareback circuit, and value. since then, he has shown She knew from her the rodeo world what a time as a peer counselor young “buck” can do. in the SHSU Student The 23 year old Money Management has won rodeos in Center that she loved Cheyenne, Wyoming; helping people manage Pecos, Texas; and their finances, which led Vernal, Utah; and has her to accept a position ridden twice in the as a global wealth Samantha McKinley p Houston Livestock

FALL 2015 3 Show and Rodeo. remainder of his time Rodeo, you generally Curtis Balusek, 25 “RodeoHouston is devoted to travel and have more opportunities ’12 BS in physics and amazing. You look out preparation; because in that area.” math and see 40,000-60,000 of the physical—and As a newbie in the Graduate research people; it’s pretty neat,” mental—demands of professional arena, Price assistant at the Georgia Price said. “There’s a lot bareback riding, Price also has encountered Institute of Technology of electricity in there, dedicates a lot of time to another challenge in in Atlanta and the fans are all exercise and practice. starting later than most really cool.” “Muscle helps me cowboys. Curtis Balusek so they can kill the cell. is no stranger to “We want to identify improvement. transport processes During his time across the outer at SHSU, he was the membrane so that we recipient of the 2012 can produce stronger Sammy Award for the antibiotics that bacteria College of Sciences for are not resistant to,” he working with students said. “To be effective (in across the state, teaching Gram-negative bacteria), them the basics of antibiotics have to cross archery and how to three barriers (outer shoot a bow. membrane, cell wall That passion for and inner membrane) improving the lives of of the cell, then target others carries through specific areas to kill the into his work in the lab bacterium. at Georgia Institute of “My work is Technology, where he recognizing how t Taylor Price is currently a graduate proteins function assistant completing his in their native His biggest win ride bareback horses,” “I still don’t ride a doctorate in physics. environments. This to-date was a $600,000 he said. “If you can hit saddle horse very well,” His research focuses will allow us to identify prize at the American the ground and bounce he said, laughing, “so on all-atom molecular key processes through rodeo at AT&T Stadium a little better, it always victory laps are pretty dynamic simulations which proteins allow in Arlington in March. helps.” awkward.” of outer membrane antibiotics to enter the “I still can’t believe His success proteins, or how cell,” he said. it,” Price told the has landed him a proteins absorb different Balusek graduated Huntsville Item. “I sponsorship with the nutrients through the from SHSU in 2012 with never thought I’d win Cowboy Hooey Brand cellular envelope in an a dual bachelor’s degree that much money at a western wear apparel effort to create more in math and physics, rodeo in my life and it line, which provides him effective antibiotics. and says his time at happened in one day. free merchandise and “We want to identify SHSU prepared him for That is a whole lot of patches to wear during these processes so we many of the challenges money to me. I have competitions. can produce stronger he has faced in graduate so many options now, “Roughy approached antibiotics that bacteria school. instead of being dead me after San Antonio can’t become resistant However, he broke all the time.” last year,” Price said. to,” he said. “To be believes that the most Price said he “Endorsements are a big effective, antibiotics valuable experience competes in about 100 deal, and if you make have to get into the cell he received during rodeos a year, with the the National Finals and target certain areas his undergraduate

4 SHSU Heritage Magazine SPOTLIGHT

Curtis Balusek q Darcee Haveman, 26 ’12 BA in interior design Creative director for PlanNorth Architectural Co. in Brenham

As young professionals tDarcee Haveman enter the business world, it can be easy to lose a sense of direction and purpose amidst the important decisions being made. But as a creative director at PlanNorth Architectural Company, Darcee Haveman’s sense of purpose has never been clearer. occupants with the journey has been at Haveman’s position exterior design created times, it has not been in the company by PlanNorth’s expert without setbacks. After came unexpectedly team of architects. losing her mother last at the completion of “I like to think of it as year, Haveman has found her interior design bringing the building to solace in her work with career would be the internship in 2012. life from the inside,” said the PlanNorth team. opportunities he was PlanNorth recognized Haveman. “The materials “A lot of the projects provided for research. her innate talent for that I work with are we work on are for “The numerous interior spaces regarding different than the ones church groups,” said opportunities I received color, texture, finishes the architects use, and Haveman. “It’s been as an undergraduate and the overall feel I customize the interior good to find strength researcher were some of a project, and they of the space to bring in my faith through my of the most beneficial welcomed her to their the vision of the owner work, and PlanNorth to me. I had a number team with open arms. to life. The exterior of has been so supportive of experiences with “I really worked my a building is what the through everything.” professors who prepared way up to this position; public sees, but it’s the For Haveman, the me for the type of work it wasn’t just something interior where people opportunity to use her I would be doing in that happened right accomplish their goals.” skills to help people’s graduate school.” away,” she said. “I Some of the visions come to life is a He looks forward started at the front desk, multimillion-dollar dream and a blessing. to beginning a career learning the ins and projects Haveman has “If you were to ask in pharmacology or at outs of the business, contributed to include me what I’d want to a research firm where and tried to keep paying the Woodland Oaks do in five years, I’d tell he can continue to attention to all of the Church of Christ, you it’s exactly what I’m understand proteins and details that were going First Baptist Church doing right now. If I can develop more effective on; then things really Chappell Hill and the do what I do today every antibiotics. took off for me.” Washington County day for the rest of my Haveman now is Tractor Company, in life, that’s what would responsible for matching Navasota and Bryan. make me the happiest.” the interior vision of a As serendipitous as building’s owner and Haveman’s professional

FALL 2015 5 Margaret Maseko, 26 benefit from these Laken Jenkins, 27 ’14 MA in health programs.” ’10 BA in philosophy Maseko is currently Medical student at St. Transactional attorney living in England, where George’s University of in Houston London, UK she is a second-year medical student at St. If there’s one thing There are approximately George’s University college students need to 500,000 women above Margaret Maseko q of London. After she know before graduating, the age of 15 and completes her medical it’s the importance of approximately 170,000 training, she plans to networking. At least children under the age return once again to that’s what Houston- of 14 living with HIV Malawi, where she will area attorney Laken in Malawi, according to work as a pediatrician. Jenkins credits her UNAIDS. “I also hope to have success to. In the rural mobile clinics to cater to “I read a book called Malawian village of the villages with major ‘Never Eat Alone’ and Salima, Margaret disparities in receiving it taught me the power Maseko and her family adequate medical of relationships,” she are revolutionizing the attention,” she said. said. “I like to spend my way that women and When she is home evenings at networking children infected with in Salima, Maseko events or happy hour, HIV are treated and enjoys spending time putting my name out monitored throughout with her family and the there and meeting new their treatment. children who live in or potential clients.” Maseko’s father the orphanage. In fact, Many find it difficult established Pothawira one of the activities she to position and market Christian Organization, enjoys the most is taking themselves, and Jenkins which houses a school, the children to the beach is no stranger to that church, orphanage and and serving as a mentor feeling. a clinic that sees more to them, tutoring them “It can be than 200 patients every in math, sciences and uncomfortable when day. English. you first start, but after It was here that she Maseko said. “This her home, where she six months, you’ll know learned the importance enables us to get the was able to use her new someone in every room of medicine and had mothers started on knowledge to implement you walk into,” she said. the opportunity to their treatments early, extracurricular activities “The majority of my serve as the director reducing the risk of such as sports programs, friends and professional for a program transferring the virus to a health club, an art acquaintances got provided by Global their offspring during club, and a drama club. their jobs through Health Innovations, gestation. Once the “My experiences at networking. It’s not HITSYSTEM, that child is born, we are able SHSU prepared me to about what you put on monitors infants born to monitor its health, identify the problems a resume; it’s about how to mothers infected with schedule follow-up visits within the school’s you present yourself.” HIV. and ensure that they’re infrastructure by After graduating “The HITSYSTEM getting the treatment opening up a dialogue from South Texas has helped us to direct that they need.” with the teachers,” she College of Law, she infected mothers and After completing said. “I was able to get used her networking children back into her Master of Arts their input and plan skills to land a position our clinic for timely degree in health at according to how they at Kilburn Law Firm, follow-up visits,” SHSU, she returned to felt the school would where she works as a

6 SHSU Heritage Magazine SPOTLIGHT

Steven Nelson, 28 Laken Jenkins u ’08 BA in mass communication Campaign analytics supervisor for Centro in New York City

Steven Nelson has big plans for the fall. After four years of working for Centro in New York City, the company awards its employees a month-long sabbatical. Nelson will use his time in September to travel across six countries in Europe. professional career transactional attorney It is a well-deserved Steven Nelson p for the oil and gas flourished because vacation for the 28-year- industry. In this role, of the time she’s old digital campaign what you’re working on.” provide them, which is she is responsible for invested in building analyst. Centro is a provider part of the business that a lot of the behind- and maintaining In addition to of enterprise-class I led on that campaign.” the-scenes work of the relationships, her supervising six analysts software for digital The fast pace of his industry: meeting with personal life has been in NYC, Washington, advertising, and work is all a part of the clients and preparing enriched as well. D.C., and Boston, Nelson has come off of life he leads in NYC. contracts, including She spends countless Nelson’s responsibilities a multi-million dollar An average day real estate closings and hours volunteering with with Centro focus on holiday campaign begins with a 6 a.m. employment contracts. the Breeders Greeters the analytics side of with Crate and Barrel, walk with his dog Jenkins quickly committee at the digital advertising— an achievement that Tommy and gym time recognized a need Houston Livestock Show what Nelson calls the he considers among before heading to the for representation for and Rodeo each year. “driver behind the his proudest because office, where he will stay clients based in other “When the kids come industry”—examining of its high profile. until 6:30 or 7 p.m. After oil-producing states, so in to show animals, and reporting online “It was quite the feat work, he’ll have dinner she decided to become we’re the first people campaign data to for Centro because it with clients or happy licensed in the state of they see. We show determine how was a different kind hour with friends. West Virginia as well. them to their stalls and campaigns perform. of business for us, and “It’s a weird way “I had just passed the help them unload their “It allows us to we had some very lofty of life here; you’re bar, so the information equipment,” she said. optimize campaigns in goals to meet,” Nelson constantly thinking, was still fresh in my “They love telling us real-time to get the most said. ‘how much can I get mind,” she said. “I knew about their animals; return on investment,” “It was a huge done during the time that it would provide it’s such a rewarding he said. “I think that’s initiative and a large I’m not at work?’” he more opportunities to experience. Many of so exciting because it investment on their said. “I’ve turned into bring in clients, and I these kids wouldn’t makes for a fast-paced part,” he said. “We this person I never would be able to take be able to afford environment but also exceeded all of our thought I’d be because on a leadership position school without these a more rewarding goals and they were before I moved to New and be the lead attorney scholarships, so it’s nice environment, because very impressed with the York, I could sleep until for West Virginia.” to be so involved with you’re making changes performance insights noon, but now, if I sleep Not only has her them.” for the betterment of that we were able to that late, I feel very

FALL 2015 7 unproductive and a bit Alejandra Trevino, 28 “Unfortunately, though, stressed. ’11 BA in not all schools have “It’s funny because interdisciplinary the same access to most of the time, you studies and ’13 MED in technology, and even don’t even notice it,” he international literacy in the schools that do, said. “When I go back Third grade bilingual educators don’t always home to Fort Worth, the teacher with Conroe ISD know how to utilize that slow pace of life actually technology.” throws me off; my There’s no denying that Trevino has been parents are constantly Texas’s demographic Alejandra Trevino q accepted to the telling me to slow down, landscape is rapidly learning technologies but I have this mindset changing. Between doctoral program where we have to get as 2000-2010, the state’s at the University much done as possible.” Hispanic population of North Texas, As for where he sees increased by 6 percent, where she will learn himself down the road, with the majority of that how best to address Nelson said he thinks population below the these deficiencies in about that “constantly,” age of 28, according to classrooms. She said but because the industry the decennial census. she is thankful to the is so new and rapidly It’s statistics like SHSU McNair Scholars evolving, he sees a lot of these that shed light Program for providing potential. on the importance of her with the resources to “Centro is really teachers like Alejandra apply to graduate school. becoming an industry Trevino, a bilingual “In the short time leader, and I think that program teacher at that I have been presents an incredible Ben Milam Elementary teaching, I feel that I’ve opportunity to position School in Conroe ISD. learned so much from myself as a thought In a school like my students,” Trevino leader,” he said. Milam, where 80 writing, science and economic and linguistic said. “I hope, in turn, to percent of the students social studies. While backgrounds become be able to learn as much are Hispanic and a large her social studies class confident in their as I can in order to portion speak English is conducted entirely in abilities.” create the best learning as a second language, English, her science and The attention she environment possible.” Trevino and the writing classes alternate pays to her students’ educational background weekly between English progress and the she acquired at SHSU and Spanish. This motivation she inspires are a major asset. allows her students to in them earned her “All of the children grasp a proficiency of the teacher of the year in my classes are ESL the English language award at her school in students,” said Trevino. without being entirely 2014. “This year, my third overwhelmed. Although Trevino graders all began in “As the students enjoys teaching her the bilingual program progress through their students, she feels that as beginning English levels in the bilingual she can still learn more students, and they program, they gain more to contribute to their will all be moving and more confidence success in the classroom. into intermediate in their English skills,” “Technology is level one as they enter said Trevino. “It’s so becoming more and the fourth grade.” rewarding to help more important in Trevino teaches students from all education,” said Trevino.

8 SHSU Heritage Magazine SPOTLIGHT

Stephanie Banuelos, 29 she met her now- Mario Galioto, 29 ’08 BS in forensic husband, Mario Galioto, ’10 MS in forensic chemistry and criminal at SHSU. science justice and ’10 MS in “Mario and I met at DNA analyst with the forensic science the graduate student Harris County Institute Forensic analyst— orientation our first of Forensic Sciences controlled substances semester in the forensic section with the science program,” she Mario Galioto first Houston Forensic said. “We were lab became interested in Science Center partners for many of our genetics in high school classes and shared the and began to think of a After earning her t Mario Galioto & same circle of friends. career in forensic DNA bachelor’s degree Stephanie Banuelos During a professional as his ultimate goal. at SHSU, Stephanie conference in our first “I was fascinated Banuelos continued year, Mario and I shared by the combination her education in time alone, exploring of science and its forensic science as a the city of Denver, application to the justice graduate student. She visiting a few museums system,” he said. worked on a National and enjoying a night at His interest first led Institute of Justice grant a local jazz club. One him to the University project, participating month later, we went on of Texas at Arlington in the development our first date.” for his undergraduate and validation of In her free time, she degree before being a method to detect enjoys traveling and drawn to SHSU’s designer drugs in urine exploring different cities forensic science and blood, using gas and countries. She also graduate program, chromatography/mass likes to spend time with where he completed spectrometry. her friends and family a capstone project in The summer in her hometown of alternative postmortem after graduation, she Galveston. sample tissues for DNA was employed as a “I also like to identification. forensic scientist in the exercise, because I feel After graduating controlled substances that it clears my mind,” from SHSU, he accepted section of the Texas she said. “I especially a position with the DPS Crime Laboratory enjoy running, cycling Defense Forensic in Weslaco, where and homemade controlled substances and practicing yoga. Science Center in she acquired practical explosives, which she and testifying as an She also appreciates Georgia as a forensic experience in evidence utilized during a six- expert witness in court. art and design, visiting biologist. At the center, analysis and courtroom month deployment “SHSU has been a local art museums and he was trained to locate testimony. to Afghanistan as a major contributor to browsing in shops for and identify biological After a while, she chemist with the DFSC my career,” she said. pieces to complete her stains, such as blood accepted a position in Forensic Exploitation “While a student, I home. and saliva, and perform Atlanta, Georgia, with Directorate. had access to some forensic DNA testing. the Defense Forensic Today, her job with of the most prevalent He was deployed twice Science Center as a the Houston Forensic instrumentation in the to Afghanistan to work forensic examiner Science Center includes forensic community at mobile forensic in the chemistry putting her training and and studied under some laboratories located at section. She learned to experience to work as of the most renowned U.S. forward operating analyze and identify she analyzes evidence professors in their field.” bases. military, commercial for the presence of She also notes that With two

FALL 2015 9 deployments and nearly apply them to scientific Ryan Bradford, 29 four years with the problems,” he said. ’08 BFA in graphic DFSC, it was time to “And the emphasis on design and ’13 MA in come back to Texas. professional culture in sports management forensic science was Galioto accepted his Network operations current position with invaluable when I first assistant with Fox the Harris County entered the field.” Sports in Houston Institute of Forensic Galioto also met his Sciences and moved future wife at SHSU (see Ryan Bradford grew up q to Houston. Stephanie Banuelos). with an appreciation of Ryan Bradford His responsibilities When he’s not at sports. But unlike many, now are to receive work, he spends a lot of that appreciation has custody of evidence his free time on physical developed into a career related to criminal activities such as cycling in sports entertainment. investigations and and running. He also The opportunities examine it for the enjoys reading, traveling Bradford had while presence of biological and cooking. attending SHSU to materials. He is earn his degree in also responsible for sports management performing tests to led to a media relations identify blood and/or internship with the semen and selecting Houston Rockets and, appropriate samples subsequently, to his for analysis. After position as a network sample collection, he operations assistant at conducts DNA testing Fox Sports. to develop profiles from Bradford manages evidence samples that the programming in may be compared to the Fox College Sports individuals involved in Southwest and Central investigations. He also regions. has ongoing laboratory “It’s a lot of “Sports That move forward duties relating to the responsibility,” said entertainment can be is something Bradford continuous process of Bradford. “The competitive, just like hopes will come in the quality assurance. Southwest region is the sports themselves,” next year or two. “The SHSU forensic second largest market said Bradford. “But “I want to stay with science program is Fox Sports covers.” I’m mostly competitive Fox Sports, for sure,” where I learned how to Bradford takes with myself.” said Bradford. “I’m be a scientist,” Galioto a no-holds-barred Bradford takes hoping to continue to said. “The coursework approach to his work, special care to do his work in the production was rigorous and something that earned job, and to do it well. and communications demanding, with many him recognition in his “For my work, I have area of this company. late hours spent at the position, as well as an to be really organized I’ve had an amazing lab studying or finishing X-Award, an honor and pay attention to time so far.” projects. Fox Sports employees detail,” said Bradford. No matter what the “The capstone earn for going above “I want to exceed in this future has in store for element of the and beyond the position so when it’s him, Bradford lives curriculum developed requirements of their job time to move forward, according to words my critical thinking descriptions in order to my work ethic can speak spoken by college skills and forced me to be “true team players.” for itself.” basketball player,

10 SHSU Heritage Magazine SPOTLIGHT

coach and broadcaster Jared Doster, 29 venues. However, still Jimmy Valvano, who ’10 BFA in dance and in store is a two-week said, “You have to have BS in industrial design residency in New York dreams and goals, and and development this November, a major first for this piece of you have to be willing “Shadowland” cast to work for them.” member with Pilobolus Pilobolus’s repertoire. “That quote has Dance Theater, living in “‘Shadowland’ has guided me to the success Huntsville never been performed in that I’ve obtained in the the U.S.,” said Doster. “It sports profession,” said and across the globe. will be really interesting Bradford. “And I know Most notably, he has to see where this leads.” that it will carry me found himself as a part As for continuing to through to whatever my of “Shadowland,” an perform with Pilobolus, next step may be.” evening-length work Doster sees no reason to created by Pilobolus stop. Dance Theatre, “I’m really happy an internationally to have industrial recognized and design to fall back on respected dance if necessary, but right company. now this is what I love Through tours across to do. As long as I can Europe, the Middle keep expressing myself East, Asia and Australia, through dance, and as more than a half- long as ‘Shadowland’ million people have seen keeps touring, that’s “Shadowland” since it what I’ll be doing.” was created just three years ago. pJared Doster In the world of dance as art, success like this Renowned dancer and talents, but Doster finds can be difficult to come choreographer Martha that the skills he learned by, and Doster is no Graham once said, while earning degrees stranger to rejection. He “There is only one of in dance and industrial was even cut during the you in all time; this development and design first round of his initial expression is unique. at SHSU often work audition with Pilobolus. And if you block it, it hand in hand. “Getting here was will never exist through “In dance, I’m still definitely a journey,” any other medium and it building,” Doster said Doster. “But I’m will be lost.” said. “I’m building really looking forward For Jared Doster, the movement as opposed to what is still in store expression of his creative to a structure or a for ‘Shadowland.’” self can be found mechanical part, but This season, the through various media, I’m still creating and show faces some from the dance and bringing an idea to life.” uncertainty, as choreography Graham For the past few years ‘Shadowland’ will take spoke of, to the drafting Doster has enjoyed a yearlong hiatus from and construction of cars building movement touring in Germany, in his spare time. It’s a with various dance home to some of the unique combination of companies locally show’s most successful

FALL 2015 11 Scott McCarrey, 30 including “Bleedin’ ’08 BFA in theatre Trees,” “Robot Songs,” Playwright and “The Hopeful Monster,” screenwriter in Los “The Wilds,” and Angeles “Grand Canyon”—that have been brought A missing child to life by various case leads detectives qScott McCarrey companies on stages to discover three across America. women who have been He is currently imprisoned in a man’s developing a historical home for years. Video comedy following the surveillance footage escapades of Moses of a basketball player Rose, allegedly the only abusing his girlfriend man who didn’t stay to emerges, prompting fight at the Alamo. numerous women to While he prefers to come forward with stay behind the scenes, more allegations of McCarrey has acted in a abuse. number of productions These may sound and encourages similar to real-life anyone who wants to events that have become a writer to happened in recent do the same. years, but they are “You can always actually plot lines from tell when a writer one of the longest- has never been running crime drama on stage,” he shows on television, said. “In order “Law and Order: Special to understand Victims Unit.” what you’re asking “Some of it is the actors to do, intentional,” said Scott you have to put McCarrey, who was a prepare him for the opportunity to see their yourself in their writers’ assistant for the next chapter of his own work performed on shoes, even if it’s series for three years. story: graduate school stage. not something you “We tried to create at New York University. “I was so proud to want to pursue.” ✯ stories that would “I debuted my first come from a university interest our viewers, and play at Sam Houston, that had prepared me sometimes the best way and the experience for what I was going to connect with them changed my life to school to learn,” he is through developing forever,” McCarrey remembers. plots and characters said. “Watching my These days, Scott that are inspired by characters come to life spends his days writing current events.” from the audience was for various projects, It was at SHSU that incredible.” including “Cyboars,” McCarrey found his When he got to a children’s animated voice and received NYU, he noticed action show. He has many rewarding that many of his written a number of experiences that would peers hadn’t had the award-winning plays—

12 SHSU Heritage Magazine UNIVERSITY FOCUS

Building To Grow By Marissa Nunez, ’14, and Julia May

common outlook of the world—not as laboratories, and an outdoor academic A Dream No More … it appears today, but what it could be, courtyard. through a combination of imagination, The “Thomas Jefferson Level” will Construction Begins On skill and perseverance,” she said. include an animal science physiology lab, Fred Pirkle Building “I am both proud and grateful Fred animal science research lab, agricultural Pirkle entrusted Sam Houston State science student-teacher classroom, Fred Pirkle’s vision of a resurgence in University to carry on his vision for a agricultural business computer lab and American innovation, manufacturing and better, stronger America. This building seminar room, horticulture science and technology is one step closer to reality. and the engineering technology program crop lab, a student lounge, and adjunct With his sister, friends and will stand as a testament to the power of faculty offices. former co-workers in attendance, innovation and ingenuity.” The “Sam Houston Level” will house groundbreaking for the Fred Pirkle The new building will feature four administrative and faculty offices, as well Engineering Technology Center took levels, which will be filled with state-of- as a seminar room and graduate student place on June 12 at the corner of Sam the-art technology that is specialized and teaching assistant cubicles. Houston Avenue and Bowers Boulevard, for each program and major within the “The sustainable where the building will be located. Department of Agricultural Sciences and energy laboratory, “Fred Pirkle was a man in love with Engineering Technology. along with the new ideas,” SHSU President Dana Hoyt The “Edison Innovation Level” sustainable energy told the audience. “He was an innovator. will include collaboration areas, an patio, will allow An inventor. An entrepreneur. We see the electronics and robotics lab, clean us to do solar fruits of his passion in his many patents, manufacturing and wet lab, machine and wind energy successful businesses, and the impact his and woodworking shops, and an outside, demonstrations inventions have had on a number of major covered work area. to complement industries. The “Fred Pirkle Level” will feature the academics “Today, we celebrate one of Fred’s an innovative, pre-function lobby, that go with it,” last and greatest contributions to multi-purpose classrooms, an alternative Stanley Kelley, innovation—a legacy that will inspire energy and sustainability lab, the Fred department chair, generations of students who share a Pirkle Honorific Museum, computer Fred Pirkle said. “We will

FALL 2015 13 have the innovations lab, Vice President for Student in which students will Services Frank Parker said be able to take a concept at the building dedication. and, through group efforts “As many have told me, he and teamwork, build and always gave very wise and engineer a final product. sound advice. His wisdom “With the agriculture and mentoring kept many program, we’ll have students in school and out physiology and research of trouble. laboratories, a floral “It’s fitting that we design lab and floral name the Student Health display area, and a and Counseling Center unique agricultural in honor of a man who business and agricultural cared about the welfare of communication students and guided them classroom, where students through their college will be learning in careers. We all owe a part group pods,” he said. of our success in life to the The center is a result of a generous University Buildings man who cared enough to share his time, donation by Pirkle, an SHSU alumnus wisdom, knowledge, and patience with all who gave $10 million for the new Dedicated In Memory of us.” building, $10 million for student Of Powell, Tackett Tackett had a career in various law scholarships, and $5 million for faculty enforcement positions, from patrol to enrichment. Two buildings now carry the names administrator, with the Corpus Christi “The Fred Pirkle Technology Center of former administrators who made Police Department before coming to will be a place where students get things significant contributions to campus life SHSU in 1973 as the director of what was done with hands-on, applied engineering during their time at Sam Houston State then the Department of Campus Security, technology, through real-world examples,” University. now known as the Department of Public said Provost Jaimie Hebert. “Our students The William Safety Services. will be work-ready from day one to R. Powell Student One of his milestone accomplishments meet the engineering and technology Health and was requesting legislation that would challenges in Texas, the United States and Counseling Center clarify the jurisdiction of university police the world. was named and officers. As a result, House Bill 391 was “Our goal is to be recognized as a dedicated on signed into law in 1987. The law defined top engineering technology program in May 22, and the campus law enforcement jurisdiction to Texas,” he said. “This building is the first Charles W. Tackett include all counties in which property is critical step to reaching that goal.” University Police owned, leased, rented, or otherwise under Construction is scheduled for Building was named the control of the institution of higher completion in the fall of 2016, with the and dedicated on May 26. education or public technical institute first classes to be held in the building in Powell came to SHSU as an assistant that employs peace officers. It also granted the spring 2017 semester. The department dean in the Student Life Office in 1972, university police officers the authority to will move from its current location in becoming the first African American enforce all traffic and laws on the streets the Thomason Building, which will be administrator hired by the university. He and highways, including those outside of converted into support offices for the played an integral role in the development their primary jurisdiction. university. of the student judicial system and served Tackett served as chief law enforcement “Fred Pirkle’s gift is a game changer for as a mentor and adviser to a number of officer of SHSU for more than 30 years my program,” Kelley said. “Not only is the students and student organizations. A before retiring in 2005. building significant from the academic member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, At the building dedication, current side, but it will also allow us to recruit Powell was instrumental in establishing Director of Public Safety and Chief of highly qualified students and be able to the Theta Mu chapter of the fraternity on Police Kevin Morris talked about his enrich their lives with the scholarships. the SHSU campus. personal experience with Tackett. “It’s brought attention to us not only He was named associate dean of “As a student ticket writer, I did not in student recruitment but with the Student Life in 1977, a position he held have much interaction with the chief,” industry as well,” he said. “Great things until his retirement in 1987. During that Morris said. “But after I graduated and are happening at a remarkable speed, and time, he worked to develop the University was employed as a police officer, I had the it’s a very exciting time.” Counseling Center. honor and privilege to work for and come For more information about the “So many of us were fortunate to have to know Chief Tackett. building, visit bit.ly/1KZMW5Y. Dean Powell as a mentor and as a friend,” “As I grew in the department and my

14 SHSU Heritage Magazine UNIVERSITY FOCUS

role expanded to supervisor, I had the opportunity to work more closely with Chief and to hear his stories of his past work experiences and how they related to today,” he said. “It is my sincere hope that I will continue the traditions of Chief Charles W. Tackett and build upon the success he had in leading the department. Naming the building in his honor is a fitting tribute to a great man who helped to launch the careers At the May 26 Tackett UPD Building dedication, renovations and upgrades were of many law enforcement professionals unveiled that included the addition of signs that glow green at night, which pay homage and did so much for Sam Houston State to 17th century “Watchmen” who patrolled New York City carrying green lanterns. University.” ✯

What do Textbooks and Tubas, Computers and Costumes, Microscopes and Mannequins have in common?

They were ALL made possible by alumni and friends who support Sam Houston State University through the Annual Fund.

When you join with others, your gift will help create opportunities for all SHSU students. Gifts of any size are important, and you can give to the area of your choice. Whether you support scholarships, academic programs, or other student needs, you WILL make a difference.

Your Support Matters. Give online today at shsu.edu/giving.

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Office of University Advancement shsu.edu/giving Box 2537 | Huntsville, TX 77341-2537 ANNUAL FUND SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY 936.294.3625 /shsugiving FALL 2015 15 Bearkats Score Big! ne of the earliest graphics. The construction mentions of a at Bowers also begins scoreboard was the installation of new Oin a New York Times video boards for facilities article covering the 1894 supporting track and field, Penn win over Princeton. volleyball, basketball and Although electrical boards softball. were introduced in 1908, This was made possible mechanical scoreboards by a generous donation were predominately used from alumni Jim and for decades. It wasn’t until Tonya Ferris; Ann Wismer 1950 that electric boards and Michael Landolt, of became popular when the Wismer Distributing Yankee Stadium introduced Company in Baytown; its first scoreboard and, and Kurt Stevenson, with upgrades made in of Stevenson Beer 1959, the board was hailed Distributing Company as “the electronic miracle.” in Trinity and Anheuser- It contained 11,210 lamps Busch. ✯ with a wattage of 115,000. The total face area was over 4,700 feet and weighed 25 tons. When the Houston Astrodome opened in 1965, the 474-foot-wide scoreboard was the largest in all sports and featured 50,000 lights for animated displays. The Dodgers unveiled a $3 million, 875- square-foot video board in 1980, ushering in a new era for scoreboards and the fan experience. Up until 2006, SHSU had mechanical scoreboards at both Pritchett and Elliott T. Bowers Stadium. Installation of a new state- of-the-art video board at the stadium is now underway and expected to be completed in time for the 2015 season. Approximately 2,560 square feet, the high definition board has live video capability and custom animation with full-color

16 SHSU Heritage Magazine Bearkats Score Big!

Pictured from left: Danielle Ferris, James Paul Ferris, Tonya Ferris, Jim Ferris, Ann Wismer, Michael Landolt, Kurt Stevenson.

FALL 2015 17 BOOKSHELF

Faculty publications showcase the work professors do outside the classroom.

1035” and district court trial materials to refute the proposition that Jehiel Brooks—long-time The Enemy Within Never Did Caddo Indian agent and the commissioner who negotiated the 1835 sale of Caddo lands in Without: German and Japanese northwestern Louisiana—took advantage of his Prisoners of War At Camp position to defraud the tribe for his own personal Huntsville, Texas, 1942-1945 benefit. Brooks was ultimately found innocent by the United States 5th Circuit Court. Edited by associate professor of history The START Group, 2014—219 pages Jeffrey Littlejohn and Norfolk State Killing Congress: Assassinations, history professor Charles Ford, “The Attempted Assassinations and Other Enemy Within Never Did Without” is Violence Against Members of Congress an SHSU graduate student-written Oliver and Marion team up once again to examination of Camp Huntsville, one investigate the seven assassinations and of the first and largest POW camps numerous other attempted assassinations constructed in America during World of members of Congress since the body was War II, which served as a model site for established in 1789, describing the actions that led POW installations across the country to the violence, the incidents themselves, and the and set a high standard for the treatment repercussions of the events. of prisoners. Lexington Books, 2014—282 pages Texas Review Press, 2015—232 pages Labor Relations in Globalized Food (Research in Rural Sociology and Development) Alessandro Bonanno, Texas State University 2014 urbanization, mass immigration, organization System Regents’ Professor and Distinguished of labor, and an immense gap between wealthy Professor of Sociology, stresses the new and Federal Law Enforcement Agencies in industrialists and the poor—by highlighting the America emerging dimensions of labor in agriculture and important events, key people and trends of the food and the continuous importance of this labor Willard M. Oliver, professor of criminal justice, time, as well as such key themes as agriculture, under globalization, exploring such factors as and Nancy E. Marion (University of Akron) business, economy, finance, labor, and politics. globalization and the change in labor relations, the introduce the functions and jurisdiction of federal ABC-CLIO, 2014—303 pages mobility of agricultural labor, social upgrading, law enforcement agencies, covering the essential Intimate Relationships (7th edition) labor relations, and resistance in the value chain. information in a concise format and offering Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 2014—352 an overview of currently existing federal law In his new edition, Rowland Miller, professor pages enforcement agencies. of psychology, provides a comprehensive Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2014—200 pages introduction to the scientific study of close Science Unshackled: How Obscure, relationships, including more than 700 citations to Abstract, Seemingly Useless Scientific The Industrial Revolution: Key Themes work published in the last three years. Research Turned Out to Be the Basis for and Documents McGraw-Hill, 2014—592 pages Modern Life Distinguished professor of history and Texas State C. Renee James, professor of physics, explores University System Regents’ Professor James S. Jehiel Brooks and the Grappe Reservation: The Archival Record the “seemingly useless” world of pure science, Olson and editor Shannon L. Kenny explore the where obscure studies of natural phenomena significance of the Industrial Revolution era in Jim Tiller, professor of geography, makes have led to unexpected and life-changing American history—a period characterized by extensive use of Congressional “House Report breakthroughs, such as WiFi, GPS, genetic

18 SHSU Heritage Magazine UNIVERSITY FOCUS

sequencing, pain medications and cancer Enterprises in Austin, offer practical solutions to Edward Elgar Publishing, 2015—392 pages treatments. many of the health and fitness challenges that can Johns Hopkins University Press, 2014—217 adversely affect the longevity and job performance The Inevitable Bandstand: The State pages of the law enforcement population through 50 Band of Oaxaca and the Politics of Sound short, easy-to-read lessons that each focus on a 2015 Charles V. Heath, associate professor of history, different aspect of health and fitness. examines how music is used as a political tool American Economic History: A GTN Media, 2015—132 pages in Mexico through a study of Banda de Música Dictionary and Chronology del Estado de Oaxaca (State Band of Oaxaca), a Handbook of the International Political government-sanctioned civic organization that is Olson and ABC-CLIO senior editor Abraham O. Economy of Agriculture and Food: a part of popular political culture and is used by Mendoza cover the figures, events, policies, and Handbooks of Research on International the state of Oaxaca to bring unity and order to its organizations that have had an effect on the role Political Economy domain. economics has played in U.S. history since 1776, Edited by Bonanno and Lawrence Busch, this while also showing how economics was a key University of Nebraska Press, 2015—248 book tackles the central question of the political factor in the development of America’s two-party pages and structural changes and characteristics that system. govern agriculture and food, examining this La Pulsión del Lenguaje: Diálogos y Greenwood, 2015—695 pages highly globalized economic sector by analyzing Poemas de José Kozer Chill Factor: How a Minor-League salient geographical regions and substantive Enrique Mallen, professor of foreign languages, Hockey Team Changed a City Forever topics such as labor, science and technology, the compiles dialogues on poetry between the financialization of agri-food, and supermarkets. internationally recognized Cuban poet José Kozer Associate athletic director for external relations David Paitson and freelance writer Craig Merz replay the Columbus Chill hockey team’s “wild ride” in the 1990s, from the team’s formation, to building a fan base and its ultimate success, as well as the long-term effects the team had on the city. Paitson previously was team president and general manager of the Chill. Border Contraband: A History of Sports Publishing, 2015—344 pages Smuggling Across the Rio Grande Get Along, Get It Done, Get Ahead: George T. Díaz, assistant professor of Interpersonal Communication in the history, provides the first history of Diverse Workplace the common practice of smuggling Geraldine E. Hynes, professor in the College across the U.S.-Mexico border, of Business Administration, offers a practical explaining how greater restrictions have guide for managers seeking to improve their transformed smuggling from a low- daily communication and develop intercultural level mundane activity, widely accepted competence. She shows how skillfully managing and still routinely practiced, into a a diverse workforce impacts an organization’s highly profitable professional criminal financial and operational success. enterprise. Business Expert Press, 2015—180 pages University of Texas Press, 2015—255 Getting Healthy: 50 Lessons on Fitness pages for Law Enforcement Associate professor of kinesiology Matthew Wagner and Joe Serio, president of Joe Serio

FALL 2015 19 and literary critics from 15 different countries. Book Chapters Plains—including areas in Texas—and Corn Kozer, who taught at Queens College in New York Belt of the Midwest, and in China, the North-East City until 1997, authored 52 books of poetry and “Agriculture and Food Production in (Heilongjiang), Eastern Plain and Yantzse River prose and is associated with the “Neobarroco China and the U.S.” Plain/Delta. Movement.” The compiled dialogues are in In chapter four of the textbook “Comparative Springer, 2014—387 pages Spanish, Portuguese and English. Geography of China and the USA,” geography “State Registration of Sex Offenders: Lumme Editor, 2015—577 pages and agricultural sciences professors Mark Leipnik Public Notification, Web Mapping and Managerial Communication: Strategies and Robert Lane, with Beijing Normal University Spatial Issues” and Applications (6th edition) professors Lane Yun Su and Xinyue Ye, survey the heavy industries and main areas of agriculture In chapter six of “Forensic GIS,” Leipnik and The newest edition of Hynes’s textbook focuses on in China and the U.S. in a college-level text Ye (Kent State University), investigate with the communication skills and strategies that managers published simultaneous in English and Mandarin. use of geographic information systems and web need in today’s workplace, comprehensively Springer, 2014—387 pages maps to provide information to the public and law covering such topics as managerial, not entry- enforcement on the locations and characteristics level, competencies that are essential for success “The Main Agricultural Regions of China of registered sex offenders. in the contemporary workplace. and U.S.” Springer, 2014—310 pages SAGE Publications, 2015—456 pages In chapter 10 of “Comparative Geography of “Strategic and Tactical Issues with Apple China and the USA,” Leipnik, Su, and Ye also Mobile Maps” discuss the most important agricultural areas of the United States and China, in the U.S., the Great In chapter 21 of “Mobile Electronic Commerce: Foundations, Development and Applications” Leipnik, management and marketing professor Sanjay Mehta, and former graduate student Vijayaprabha Rajendran audit the rollout of Apple The Myth of the Press Gang: Maps in 2012, widely considered the biggest new Volunteers, Impressment and the product flop of that year due to millions of errors like misnamed or missing streets, non-existent Naval Manpower Problem in the towns, and directions leading to dead ends or Late Eighteenth Century driving across water. Jeremiah R. Dancy, assistant professor CRC Press, 2014—pages 455-478 of history, argues that, contrary to the general belief that British seamen were recruited in the late 18th century through what is known as the press gang, the overwhelming majority of seamen in the navy were there of their own free will. Dancy details the sort of men recruited and the means by which they were recruited; shares individuals’ stories; and compares the recruitment methods employed by other navies. Boydell Press, 2015—218 pages

20 SHSU Heritage Magazine EYE ON KATS

A Centennial Season: Bearkat Football To Kick Off 100th Season This Fall

back to defeat Bryan Baptist Academy 27-6 and Blinn Memorial College 18-6 before ending with a 19-7 loss to Lon Morris College. All four games were played in Huntsville. Since then, football has TM been a continuous sport at Sam Houston, except for the war years—1918, during World War I, and 1943, 1944 and 1945, during World War II—and will celebrate its 100th season this fall.

1912 First football team: (from top left) Phillips, Tredwell, Ray, Mitchell, Earnst, Thomas, Pinson, Smith, Arrington, Broadway, Barron, McGrede

By Paul Ridings inaugural game for both n 1911, Sam Houston schools, Sam Houston hosted INormal Institute students what was described by an played an intramural football observer as a “pugnacious” game on Pritchett Field, Rice team. Spectators stood named in honor of dean shoulder to shoulder along of men and brother of the the lime-lined boundary that late school principal Joseph marked off the converted Pritchett, a field originally gridiron. created for SHSU’s first A game account reported intercollegiate sport—baseball. Len Baldwin took a snap at A year later, those players the five and “ploughed his way approached biology professor through the center of the line” S. R. Warner, a new arrival in in the first half to score Sam Huntsville, to be their coach. Houston’s first touchdown. Warner, who played football at But Rice fought to earn a William and Mary, agreed to 20-6 victory before climbing supervise the squad for a four- aboard a train and heading game schedule. back to Houston. Late in October, in the Sam Houston bounced

FALL 2015 21 Going 100 Deep Comparing that first football team stop at a service station every 200 miles of 19 players with the 100-plus-member since there was no bathroom on the squad that will be seeking to defend bus,” said Ronnie Choate, a member of the Bearkats’ Southland Conference the Bearkat teams from 1956-1959 and a championship in 2015 demonstrates how coach and athletic administrator during far the sport has progressed. the next 40 years. “Once Dr. Harmon L. First, the average weight in the Lowman, the school president, came with inaugural squad was 135 pounds; SHSU’s us and Coach (Paul) Pierce started to 2015 squad averages 208 pounds. drive off without him. He came running Inaugural squad players were all native out of the station and flagged us down. Texans, coming from no farther away All the players thought Coach Pierce was than Longview; today’s student-athletes going to get in trouble but Dr. Lowman In 1920, bleachers were erected still are largely from Texas, but SHSU was a good sport about it.” on the west side of Pritchett Field now recruits across the country and even Sam Houston’s first airplane flights to get fans off the sidelines. During internationally. came in 1953 for a regular season the 1930s, the Work Progress Equipment in 1912 included leather game versus Tampa, Florida, and the Administration constructed the helmets and fully padded pants of heavy Refrigerator Bowl in Evansville, Indiana. stone seating. The most significant canvas, totaling around $15. It takes more The Bearkats also flew to the 1956 innovation, however, came in than $800 to outfit a player for a game Refrigerator Bowl and to Findlay, Ohio, 1932, with floodlights mounted on today. and Augusta, Georgia, for the NAIA creosoted poles. “They introduced the new plastic national semifinals and championship helmets my sophomore year. They would games in 1964. bust like glass in a collision. They didn’t “There were no jets then,” said Choate, give you much protection, not nearly what who made three of those five trips. “We the helmets today give players,” said Jack flew on a DC-3. Both prop engines were Kyle, a 1948-1951 football letterman who so loud you felt like they were in the plane earned All-Lone Star Conference honors with you.” three times. “At least the leather helmets Until the move up to the NCAA level fit your head. The plastic helmets had in the 1980s, Sam Houston traveled out webbing inside to keep you from hitting of Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma only the plastic, but that didn’t always work.” seven other times. Even with squad size The playing site for home games has increases, due to the advent of two- improved as well. platoon football (different lineups on In 1920, bleachers were erected at offense and defense), buses were the Pritchett Field to get fans off the sidelines, primary mode of transportation. which were replaced in the 1930s by stone “When I first got to Sam Houston, seating. The most significant innovation we traveled in a 55-passenger bus and came in 1932, when floodlights were two vans,” Williams said. “As a young mounted on creosoted poles. assistant coach, I drove one of the vans. “The people of Huntsville turned We were coming back from Weatherford, out in droves to witness the spectacle of Oklahoma, one Saturday night and had a seeing the Bearkats play football under blowout. When we finally found a place 1912: The the lights,” reported the Houstonian. The that was open, the only tire they had that average weight of teams played with a white ball that made it would fit was used and had no tread. inaugural squad easier to spot against the night sky. “I still swear that tire was more square was 135 pounds. When Sam Houston advanced to than it was round. Everybody in the van the Southland Conference and NCAA had to chip in whatever money they had Division I Football Championship in their pockets to pay for it. Somehow we Subdivision play, the Bearkats moved into made it all the way back to Huntsville on a new home in 1986. that tire.” Bearkat Stadium (renamed Elliott Since moving up to FCS play, SHSU T. Bowers Stadium to honor the former has flown across the country on regular university president in 1990) opened on commercial flights, as well as charters. Sept. 13, 1986, with a 23-6 victory over Last season, alone, the Bearkats totaled Montana State. The new facility seated more than 11,000 air miles with trips to more than 12,000 fans. Washington, Pennsylvania, Alabama, and “For four years, we recruited based on North Dakota. pictures of the new stadium and a hole Buses are the norm for games in in the woods on the hill where it was Texas and the surrounding states but going to be built,” said Bearkat Director are modern, 44-passenger buses with Equipment in 1912 of Athletics Bobby Williams, who joined comfortable seats, televisions and Wi-Fi. included leather helmets that cost Ron Randleman’s coaching staff as an The first telecast of a college football $3 each ($70 in 2015 money), assistant in 1982. “Moving into the game occurred in 1939, but Sam and fully padded pants of heavy facility was new, modern and uplifting.” Houston’s first live TV appearance did not canvas priced at $12. Helmets Bowers Stadium continues to see come until 1984, when the Kats hosted 2015: SHSU’s today cost well over $200, and improvements, with an addition this fall Stephen F. Austin at Pritchett Field. current squad it takes more than $800 to of a new video scoreboard that will sit in More exposure came with Sam averages 208 outfit a player for a game. the south end zone and will be among the Houston’s affiliation with the Southland pounds. largest for an FCS university, featuring Conference, resulting in almost 40 a full LED HD video display and the appearances through the league’s package 1912: 155 miles. The players capability for live video and custom with Fox Sports Southwest were from Huntsville and Bryan, or animation with full-color graphics. (from 1989-2007) and on smaller surrounding communities, Travel and media exposure are two the Southland TV regional with no one’s hometown farther other areas of comparison that feature network. away than Longview. stark contrasts. SHSU became the first (and During the first four decades of only) Southland team to be Bearkat football, Sam Houston’s only out- paid to televise a home game by of-state trips were four-to-six hour bus a major national television network rides to play in Louisiana or Oklahoma. when ABC-TV gave the university Longview With the addition of Sul Ross $25,000 to air the Kats’ match-up with 1912-50s: The only out-of-state trips were four-to-six hour bus rides HUNTSVILLE to the Lone Star Conference Alcorn State and quarterback Steve “Air” Bryan/ to play in Louisiana or Oklahoma. College Station in 1948, the most dreaded trip McNair. SHSU won 48-23 in front of a became Alpine. then-record crowd. “Sul Ross was definitely the The Bearkats’ recent success in FCS longest trip,” Kyle said. “After World playoff competition has led to 19 football War II, the U.S. Army sold off buses appearances on the ESPN family of as surplus and that’s what we networks in the past four seasons. SHSU 2015: 9,422 miles. The rode. We all played a lot of and Eastern Washington played in ESPN’s majority of the student-athletes bridge and canasta on “Kickoff Classic” last August in those trips.” the first game of the 2014 1953: The first airplane flights were still are from Texas, but the team ✯ features players from Oklahoma, “We’d college TV schedule. for a regular season game versus Washington, Louisiana, Georgia, Tampa, Florida, and the Refrigerator Florida, and Australia. Bowl in Evansville, Indiana. Snapping Up Players the program’s media exposure. regionals. J. T. Taylor (top To ensure that this right), whose father Tommy Perhaps the biggest success continues, the SHSU Taylor won the Lone difference between the early Athletic Department has Star Conference years of Sam Houston football initiated efforts to increase Championship in 1982, won and today is the cost of external revenue sources for the Southland individual providing scholarships for the scholarships, equipment, medalist trophy. Bearkat student-athletes. facilities improvement and Other accomplishments “Coming from Rockdale—a travel expenses. include: men’s basketball small, Class B school—I never “In 1998, when I became posting its highest victory really thought about college athletic director, 93 percent total at the NCAA Division when I was in high school,” of our funding came from I level (26-9, 2nd right); Kyle said. “A teammate of the university and student baseball fighting its way to mine and I were invited to athletic fees,” Williams said. the Southland Conference come to Sam Houston for a “That figure now is down to 62 Tournament finals for its tryout. They bedded us down percent, with the rest coming sixth championship game in the old men’s gym, and for from external sources. To appearance (Colt Atwood, three days we worked out at see continued improvement top left); and SHSU’s men and Pritchett with the team. and growth of the national women both finishing as team “When the coach offered prominence the 100th season runners-up in the Southland me a scholarship, I didn’t even and beyond, it is crucial that indoor and outdoor conference know what that was. I couldn’t the financial support of our meets (Danielle Demas, afford college, but when he alumni, fans and friends not bottom left; Ashley Jenkins, told me I could get room, only continues but increases.” 3rd right; and Matt Viverette, board and tuition for playing The 100th season begins bottom right). football and get a degree out of Sept. 5, when SHSU meets For a complete spring it, I thought he’d lost his mind. Texas Tech in Lubbock. The sports wrap up, visit I said yes. I had found a place Bearkats will play six home shsuheritage.com. ✯ to get a college education.” games at Bowers Stadium and In the 1950s, the program will meet Stephen F. Austin in was limited to 33 scholarships. the 90th “Battle of the Piney Players lived for free in the Woods,” presented by H-E-B, men’s gym and ate in the on Oct. 3, at NRG Stadium in cafeteria. Each got a dollar a Houston.✯ day for laundry money. “Everything that was Spring Wraps With included in those days wasn’t Cup Win more than $500, but it was a great opportunity to come With championships here, play football and get your in football and golf—and degree,” Choate said. runner-up finishes in Like everything since the three other sports—SHSU 1950s, costs have continued earned its fourth Southland to rise. Today, a full athletic Conference Men’s All-Sports scholarship at SHSU is Championship Cup during the $19,632. 2014-15 season. Hundreds of young men The Bearkats stand as the and women have taken only Southland member to advantage of that opportunity earn five Commissioner’s Cups in their sports to earn degrees (symbolic of the combined and join the work force in men’s and women’s All-Sports Texas and other states. These title) and are one of only two student-athletes have excelled current league programs to on the field, in the classroom earn four men’s cups. and in the community and The 2015 spring semester have brought both regional was highlighted by a second and national attention to consecutive men’s golf league Huntsville and SHSU through title and trip to the NCAA

24 SHSU Heritage Magazine Traveling Bearkats ALUMNI LOOK Explore With Us. . .

NEW YORK ALUMNI REFLECTIONS & FRIENDS TRIP OF ITALY

4 Days - 3 Nights 10 Days – 14 Meals December 15 - 18, 2015 March 09 – 18, 2016

Highlights: Experience NYC during Highlights: Rome, Colosseum, the holiday season. Includes round Assisi, Perugia, Siena, Florence, trip air and limo transportation, Chianti Winery, Venice, Murano lodging at the Sheraton NY Island, Milan Times Square, Bearkat welcome Travel By: Collette Vacations Double $1,100* reception on December 15 and Double $3,899* reception and dinner at the University Club of New York on December 16. Travel By: SHSU Alumni Association

SOUTH DAKOTA COLORS OF THE BLACK HILLS NEW ENGLAND & BADLANDS 8 Days – 10 Meals October 02 – 09, 2016 7 Days – 9 Meals June 28 – July 04, 2016 Highlights: Boston, Woodstock, Quechee Gorge, Stowe, Ben Highlights: Mt. Rushmore, Crazy & Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory, Horse Memorial, Black Hills Gold, Rocks Estate, North Conway, Needle Highway, Custer State Lake Winnipesaukee Cruise, Park, Deadwood, Lead, Badlands Double $2,049* Double $2,999* Kancamagus Highway, Boothbay National Park, Wall Drug Store, Harbor, Lobster Dinner Hot Springs Travel By: Collette Vacations Travel By: Collette Vacations

FALL 2015 25 For more information visit alumni.shsu.edu or call the Office of Alumni Relations at 936.294.1841. FOUR SHSU ALUMNI who have made names for themselves in business, the NFL and politics, and two alumni whose service to their alma mater and their communities is distinguished in itself, will be recognized during this year’s homecoming festivities with the SHSU Distinguished Alumni and SHSU Service Awards. Those who will be honored during dinner on October 23 include Distinguished Alumni Carolyn Faulk, Stan Blinka and Cindy Distinguished Marion; Distinguished Young Alumna Ashley Etienne Stephens; Cynthia “Cindy” Alumni and Service Award recipients John Peltier and Alan Tinsley. Marion, ’81 To read the full biographies of this year’s recipients, visit Houston CEO Carolyn Faulk, ’70 bit.ly/1LnaN0N Cindy Marion may Plastic may bend sell products and and mold, but Carolyn Stan Blinka, ’79. ’84 services to people Faulk’s resolve to be a businesswoman As an SHSU football linebacker, he around the globe through her award- with integrity has remained so defended Bearkat territory on Pritchett winning MMI agency’s multi-million- inflexible that she has branded her Field. And though he went on to play dollar campaigns, but those who company “a service business that just on fields in New York and Denver, know Marion say she is a walking happens to sell plastic.” several of his athletic achievements still advertisement for integrity. The 1970 Bachelor of Business stand in SHSU’s books. “Cindy not only possesses the rare Administration degree recipient More than three decades after combination of savvy, craft and ethics established her A&C Plastics, Inc., in earning his Bachelor of Business that professionals should aspire to, but Houston, in 1973 with only a $5,000 Administration degree (1979) and his she lives them every day,” a nominator investment and a “never give up” Master of Business Administration said. “Through the years I’ve watched attitude. degree (1984), Stan Blinka maintains Cindy make tough decisions and This mentality and Faulk’s hands-on Bearkat career records for the most continue to inspire her team to deliver involvement has led A&C to become tackles in a game (24), season (211) excellence without compromise to the an international resource and the single and career (536). He is also the former strictest of business ethics.” largest plastic distributor in the U.S., school record holder in the discus. Over its 29 years, MMI, under with locations in Texas, Colorado and Blinka now divides his time between Marion’s direction, has become Illinois. his homes in Irwin, Pennsylvania, Houston’s third largest marketing and Faulk also now serves as president and Huntsville and frequently attends advertising agency, with more than and CEO of Faulk Properties, LLC, SHSU events. He is the owner of 85 employees and $20 million-plus in and president of Marco Plastics. Interstate Batteries of Pittsburgh. revenue. “She has been widely recognized as “Stan has always been proud to be a Among Marion’s clients have been a businesswoman who competes with Bearkat and has continued to support MD Anderson Cancer Center, NRG energy and determination, but always Sam both monetarily and through his and AIG. with fairness, in building a small service to the university,” a nominator Her work has earned her an Emmy plastics company into one of the largest said. Award and, this year alone, 33 Addy and most respected distributors in the Awards from the Houston Advertising country,” a nominator said. Association.

26 SHSU Heritage Magazine ALUMNI LOOK Six To Be Recognized For Distinguished Careers, Service

Carolyn Faulk Stan Blinka Cynthia “Cindy” Marion

Ashley Etienne Stephens John Peltier Alan Tinsley

FALL 2015 27 Distinguished Young Service Awards Alan Tinsley, ’71 Alumna In the trials and tribulations of life, John Peltier, ’72 1971 graduate Alan Tinsley uses his Ashley Etienne Stephens, ’00 Since the inception of his now expertise to advocate for those in need. Ashley Etienne Stephens has worked multi-million-dollar Peltier Brothers An estate and probate attorney and behind the scenes to manage the Construction in 1978, company CPA at Alan L. Tinsley, P.C., Tinsley’s communications efforts on some of the founder, CEO and partner John service has included avid support country’s most pressing public policy Peltier has constructed a reputation of SHSU’s Sigma Chi fraternity, the issues and national campaigns for the that incorporates integrity, humility, Alumni Board, President’s Circle, a strong work ethic, and, above all, nation’s top elected officials. Let’s Talk, and the Athletic Advisory Since 2014, Stephens has served service. Board. He mentors SHSU students and as the special assistant to President His service includes in the U.S. provides thousands of dollars annually Barack Obama and White House military, as a medic during the through area fair associations to support communications director for the Vietnam War; at SHSU, as a supporter future college students. cabinet. of Houston-area Bearkats in Business; In this role, she coordinates press in his home in Tomball, as a visible Tinsley also serves on the Texas State operations and media outreach among family and church leader; and around University System’s Board of Regents. the White House, federal agencies, the globe, through mission work that In addition, Tinsley uses his legal and departments and the people who includes drilling water wells, building knowledge to provide pro bono run them. She also keeps tabs on churches and homes, and providing for assistance to those who cannot afford developments that the White House the care and education of children. representation and participates in might consider embarrassing or “John is the epitome of success several organizations that support troublesome, according to Washington in every aspect of his life, but he is wounded veterans. Post writer Ed O’Keefe. a strong, unselfish and unassuming “Alan Tinsley is making Sam person, always working quietly behind Stephens previously served as Houston a better place. He continues deputy communications director the scenes, steadfastly doing things in to have a profound and meaningful and spokesperson for House selfless service to others,” a nominator effect on people’s lives,” a nominator Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, said. “He works very diligently to direct said. “His love for SHSU and his civic as communications director for recognition of service to others, rather engagements have no boundaries.” ✯ House Democrats on the oversight than himself.” and government reform committee, and was an Obama spokesperson in Virginia in 2008. A Houston native, Stephens also earned her master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University.

28 SHSU Heritage Magazine ALUMNI LOOK

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION WELCOMES NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH SAM HOUSTON UNIVERSITY BOOKSTORE

The Office of Alumni Relations and “When the Alumni Association Barnes & Noble College have joined began looking at vendors to work with to together to link alumni to the SH promote alumni merchandise and Bearkat University Bookstore for easy access to gear, we did not have to look any further Bearkat merchandise—and provide a than our own University Bookstore,” said way to give back to Sam Houston State Charlie Vienne, executive director of the University. SHSU vice president for University association. “Barnes & Noble has been a Through the partnership, alumni can Advancement. “This provides an excellent strong and loyal partner of the university purchase official, high-quality SHSU way to make high-quality, SHSU- since 1999. It only makes sense that the merchandise utilizing a special link on emblematic merchandise accessible to our Alumni Association and Barnes & Noble SHSU’s alumni page, alumni.shsu.edu. alumni, regardless of where they might work together to provide alumni with Throughout the year, alumni will also reside. Moreover, it is a vehicle for our enhanced product lines and cost-saving receive exclusive offers and discounts on Alumni Relations office and the bookstore discounts.” SHSU merchandise through email. A to work closely in developing other “Barnes & Noble College is always percentage of all purchases made through opportunities for the mutual benefit of looking at new ways to connect with our the online bookstore will go toward the SH University Bookstore, the Alumni school partners, and this new partnership funding alumni programs and student Association and our alumni.” will be a unique and fantastic way to scholarships. With an alumni base of more than provide alumni with official SHSU-branded “We are very positive about the new 115,000, the Office of Alumni Relations merchandise that will not only connect partnership between Barnes & Noble is constantly seeking innovative ways to them to the university, but also give back and its University Bookstore with our connect former students to their alma to SHSU,” said Marc Eckhart, regional Alumni Association,” said Frank Holmes, mater. manager at Barnes & Noble College. ✯

FALL 2015 29 Alumni have been doing interesting things since leaving SHSU. Look to Where future issues for people you may have sat next to in biology, business or Are English. We may even feature you!

Today, Max is a production specialist with Root Sports, and Pamela is the owner and accounting and financial recruiter at CP They Paragon Solutions, L.P., both of which are in Houston. As an editor and producer, Max has spent the past 15 years working with the sports networks that broadcast Rockets and Astros games, along with Houston Texans weekly shows. These include Fox Sports Net, Fox Sports Houston, Comcast Sportsnet Now? (CSN Houston) and, currently, Root Sports. His work has earned him 22 Lone Star Emmy Award nominations and seven wins, including Excellence in Sports Editing in 2013 (Sports Editor of the Year in Texas).

Since earning a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in general business in 2000, Pam worked with three recruiting firms before becoming co-owner of her current firm, which is celebrating its 10-year anniversary this year.

Both attribute a portion of their success to SHSU.

“The value of spending my college years with like-minded, ambitious people with strong social skills has been immeasurable,” Max said.

“The value of spending my college years with like-minded, MAX AND PAMELA HESS MEJIA ambitious people with strong social skills has been immeasurable,” Max said. He came to SHSU for the strong radio-television program. She came because of the influence of a high school criminal justice “SHSU has top-notch professors. They really taught me the teacher. In 1999, they met at a fraternity/sorority mixer. value of hard work. I learned critical-thinking, analytical and problem-solving skills,” Pam said. “Also, I gained exposure “My life has been better ever since,” said Max Mejia of meeting to real-world business problems that has carried into my his future wife Pamela Hess on that auspicious evening. professional career and assists in my business-making decisions.”

30 SHSU Heritage Magazine ALUMNI LOOK

The couple has expressed their gratitude to SHSU by working to fulfill the university motto, “The measure of a Life is its Service,” both at SHSU and through various ventures in their Houston “The collegial atmosphere was, and still community. is, wonderful and reflects the values “We have both enjoyed wonderful careers post-graduation and have used that as an opportunity to give back to the university,” that I’ve always strived to maintain Max said. “We became lifetime alumni members in 2008 and have sponsored multiple alumni events in the Houston area.” among my team members today—high “We love attending sporting events, as well, and really appreciate trust, empowerment and respect—so being able to be included as sponsors,” Pam added. “I am very proud to be an alumna of SHSU and always enjoy the drive each people are inspired and supported in year to see how the campus has changed.” a manner that positions them to grow In addition to moving to the Humble/Atascocita area this fall, the couple has a 4-year-old daughter who keeps them busy. and be at their best,” she said. “She loves animals, and so we actively donate to the Houston Zoo and are members as well,” Pam said.

“The collegial atmosphere was, and still is, wonderful and reflects the values that I’ve always strived to maintain among my team members today—high trust, empowerment and respect— so people are inspired and supported in a manner that positions them to grow and be at their best,” she said. “In my case, I learned most of what I studied in my MBA through real-world experience first and then had the pleasure of deepening my knowledge and expertise through my classwork, research and projects.

Since completing her degree, Elliott has become head of America’s projects and technology communications for Shell, for which she performs a diverse range of responsibilities that cover reputation and business communications, as well as external relations across numerous Shell businesses.

But because the people were among what she appreciated most about SHSU, Elliott has continued to maintain her interactions with campus. REBECCA LINKOUS ELLIOTT “Since graduating from SHSU with my MBA, I have enjoyed According to 1998 Master of Business Administration graduate staying in touch with some of my professors, as well as current Rebecca Linkous Elliott, the three years she spent at SHSU students,” she said. “For a couple of years, I had the pleasure of include some of her favorite lifetime memories. working as a volunteer adviser of the SHSU Public Relations Student Society of America Chapter, and over the broader span “Obtaining my MBA had been a long-time goal, but I wasn’t of years post-graduation occasionally I am invited to come up comfortable attending night classes at any of the Houston-based and speak with the business and communications students.” universities, which was not at all the case at SHSU, where I’ve always felt safe and enjoyed the convenient proximity of the buildings in which my classes were held,” Elliott said.

FALL 2015 31 RICHARD “RICH” the Texas Prison Rodeo. During the KIEVAL AND DANYA month of October, Huntsville came MARTIN KIEVAL alive with the people that came to watch the rodeo. We grilled and sold After earning his Bachelor of Business hamburgers during the rodeo as a Administration degree in accounting fundraiser. in 1980, Rich Kieval began working in the energy industry. “Setting aside all the fun, my very best memory is meeting Rich. My love for That same year, his wife, Danya him and the game of basketball began Martin, completed her degree in home at SHSU,” she said. “I really don’t economics and began working in think my parents had any idea how retail as a department manager and, many miles I put on my little blue VW later, assistant buyer. bug following the basketball team to watch Rich play.”

“I could have never lived the life I am currently living without Likewise, Rich’s fondest memories involved many of the social that piece of paper from Sam Houston,” Rich said. “With SHSU’s aspects of SHSU, “lots of things that did not involve the hard close proximity to Houston, energy was just a natural fit for me.” work in the classrooms,” he said.

Like so many couples, without SHSU, Rich and Danya may have “I made several lifetime friends and, of course, met my wife, never met. Danya,” he said. “I still have fond memories of hanging out with friends at the Sound Machine and working during the off season as a bartender at the Jolly Fox. I also worked at American Bank in Huntsville.”

The couple is giving back to the After the couple married, Danya decided to stay home and raise their children, where the confidence she had acquired at SHSU university “for what SHSU has done in learning to set and achieve goals and her leadership and for us,” Rich said. organizational skills really paid off. “I have spent years serving on PTA and booster club boards; I serve on boards and committees in my church and my community,” she said. “All three of our children were very active and kept me very busy.” Rich, a Houston native, came to SHSU after playing basketball for a year at the University of Utah. Rich has continued to work in the energy business, taking jobs with the Enron Corp.; Statoil, Texaco and Williams; and BMO “After not properly taking care of my education, my mother, an Capital before starting Midstream Capital Partners, with which educator, told me I was staying closer to home so she could keep he is now a senior partner. an eye on me,” Rich said. “The perfect fit was SHSU and when Coach Denny Price offered me a basketball scholarship to play at The couple also has begun giving back to the university “for Sam Houston, a match was made in heaven.” what SHSU has done for us,” Rich said.

Danya, a San Antonio native, knew about SHSU because her This has included being involved with the Houston-area aunt and uncle had both graduated from the university. She Bearkats in Business, athletic fundraisers, and holding season became a member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority and was Texas tickets to basketball, softball and football. Prison Rodeo Queen in 1976. “I have been so impressed with what SHSU has become,” Danya “I have very fond memories of hanging out with my sorority said. “Our youngest, Jennie, has found such great support sisters and participating in activities both social and civic,” there (as a student). The academic support she has been given is Danya said. “One of the civic activities we participated in was amazing.” ✯

32 SHSU Heritage Magazine ALUMNI LOOK

The second annual Founders Warner Endowed Chair of Day event on April 18 Journalism Peter Roussel, allowed SHSU alumni MAKING HISTORY who discussed his time and friends to learn about in the White House and some of the groundbreaking announced that he will donate research being conducted by his documentary archive to faculty. Joan Bytheway (right), SHSU; and Center for the Study associate professor of forensic of Disasters and Emergency anthropology, explained with Management director Jason Enia, visual artifacts some of the who explored some of SHSU’s things she and her team at the scholarship and engagement in Southeast Texas Applied Forensic the field. Science Facility have learned More presenters will share since the willed-body donor their work and the impact of facility was opened in 2008. their research at the third annual Other presenters included Founders Day celebration on Center for Innovation and April 23, 2016, at the Katy and Technology director Pamela E. Don Walker Sr. Education Zelbst, who showed off a project Center. Updates on the 2016 that involved creating a 3-D-printed hand event will be available at shsu.edu/ for a local girl in need of a prosthesis; foundersday. ✯

TA N S TE O U T N Life Membership S I U V E O Join together and carry the university motto “The measure of a Life is its Service.” R

H S

I

T

M Y

Life Membership goes into a permanent endowment which strengthens the A university—not just for one year, or even one generation, but in perpetuity. S

Stay connected to the university and its great traditions by becoming a life member today!

*Save the date for the 6th Annual Life Member Dinner and Celebration, February 26, 2016.

For more information visit alumni.shsu.edu or call the Office of Alumni Relations at 936.294.1841. CLASS NOTES

Jim Renfro, ’65, and a group of SHSU Student Money Management Center. Clinton and George W. Bush and human approximately 20 chemistry department rights activist Malala Yousafzai. The graduates from the ’60s met on June 19 to Charles “Chuck” Jones, ’81, served as organization’s executive committee selected revisit “old times” and see their mentor, host of national indirect lending for Tritico for his role in the justice process James Stallings, a retired chemistry SunTrust Bank for the 2015 Dealer VIP and for the sacrifices he has made. Tritico is professor and former department chair event in Palm Springs, California, in president of the SHSU College of Humanities and dean for nearly 30 years. “Dr. Stallings March. That month, he and wife Debbie and Social Sciences Advisory Board and was directly responsible for guiding many also attended the Consumer Bankers a member of the SHSU Alumni Board. of us to successful careers in chemistry,” Association Annual Convention in In February, he was added to the SHSU Renfro said, and because of that Orlando. Jones serves on the CBA auto CHSS Wall of Honor. A renowned Houston relationship, the alumni group founded finance committee. The highlight of the criminal defense lawyer, he currently is an two scholarships for chemistry majors— conference was meeting Lou Holtz after attorney at Tritico Rainey, L.L.P. one in the name of Stallings and the other the chairman’s reception on March 22. in the name of Ray E. Humphrey—both of Lisa Keefe, ’87, was recently recognized which are still active. Stallings, who is now Darrell Rosen, ’81, recently joined the by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension with 97 years old, retired from SHSU in 1984. team at 8th & Walton as its new chief the 2014 “Friend of Extension Award” in operating officer and president. Rosen has recognition of outstanding dedication Melvin “Mel” Stone, ’66, was named three decades of supplier experience and and service to the Texas A&M AgriLife 2015 “Citizen of the Year” by his local spent 28 years in leadership positions for Extension Service for Liberty County. newspaper, The Baytown Sun. He is the Proctor & Gamble before retiring in 2014. Keefe instructs youth in the Horse Project 20th person to receive the annual award. He will act as second in command to the in Liberty County. CEO, Jeff Clapper, and will handle day-to- Michael day operations and growth strategies. Alice Cangemi, ’89 & ’95, recently served Paul Smith, as the keynote speaker at the Children’s ’68, was Reginald Randolph, ’82, a fixture in Safe Harbor Annual Gala in April for inducted Houston First Theater District Parking child sexual abuse awareness month. into the facilities for more than two decades, has Cangemi is the author of “Darkness Texas been promoted to director of parking Before Dawn,” a novel that helps to raise Basketball at the 3,400-car garage in the heart awareness of sexual abuse and sheds light Hall of Left to right: Jimmy Smith, Paula Smith, of Downtown Houston. He has been on the trauma it causes. Phantipha Dhanaphatana Smith (Class of Fame on 1968), Patty Smith Norwood, and Mike recognized for his knowledge of today’s SHSU Pride May 23. Smith (Class of 1968). parking technologies and trends in David Mendel, ’91, recently was Show your commuting. Randolph’s efforts to restore promoted to the assistant superintendent Help SHSU Students Carol Paradowski, ’72, is honored to have the garage after the floods from Tropical of stewardship (finance) for the attended SHSU in the footsteps of her Storm Allison in 2001 are among the Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of late grandmother Ruby Daughtry, who high points in his career. Houston First Galveston-Houston. Mendel previously graduated from Sam Houston Normal Corporation manages more than 10 held positions as an auditor for the Institute in 1905. Houston city-owned buildings, plazas Archdiocese and a teacher for the Catholic With $22 from each plate In addition to state and parking facilities, including Theater schools. He is also former SHSU Student going to support scholarships registration fees, the tag Donald Allee,’73, was recently named District Parking, Jones Hall, Wortham Government Association president. for students, it is a great way fee starts at just $30. director of cruise and tourism by the Theater Center, Miller Outdoor Theatre, to give back. In fact, past board of the Port of New Orleans. Don the George R. Brown Convention Center, Regina Bynote Jones, ’92, was recently SHSU license plate sales have More SHSU car tag has more than three decades of experience and Hilton Americas-Houston. promoted to the position of general already raised more than information is available in executive port management. counsel–Asia for Schlumberger. The $57,000 in scholarships for online at alumni.shsu.edu, Ricky Taylor, ’82, recently retired after three-year, ex-pat assignment is based in deserving students. (click on the Benefits tab). Patsy Collins, ’81 33 years with Texas Instruments and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. & ’13, was awarded Raytheon. The car tag features the Show your pride a 2015 SHSU Kevin Pooler, ’94, and wife Helen welcomed SHSU Bearkat Paw logo and as you cruise along ... Sammy Award Chris Tritico, ’83, was among the recipients daughter Emerson Hana Pooler on May may be personalized with up of the 2015 “Reflections of Hope Award,” 14, 2014. In June, Kevin was named for “Outstanding to six characters. Faculty or Staff presented by the Oklahoma City National the North America general counsel of The newly designed Bearkat Style! Memorial & Museum on April 19. Previous TrailStone Group, a private, equity-backed Member.” Collins is SHSU license plate the director of the Dana G. Hoyt and Patsy Collins recipients have included Presidents Bill commodity company with energy and is now available!

34 SHSU Heritage Magazine P.O. Box 2022, Huntsville, TX 77341 | 800.283.7478 | alumni.shsu.edu ALUMNI CLASS NOTES LOOK

finance professionals working in oil and communityimpact.com. The couple has Corp., in The Woodlands, where he holds gas investment and finance, energy asset three daughters and lives in Round Rock. the position of financial analyst in the management, energy logistics and trading. corporate planning division. The company has offices in Austin, New Letecia Ellis-Haywood, ’04, was honored York, London, Berlin, and Sydney. with the “Stars of Design & Stars on the Aaron Arenas, ’10, is currently in his Rise” Award on April 30. She is a senior second year of law school at South Texas John Garrett, ’97, & Jennifer Garrett, ’99, interior designer with Laura U, Inc., and College of Law and will graduate in fall will celebrate the 10th anniversary of presently holds the office of president 2016. He worked as a lead marketing the founding of their media company, for the Texas Gulf Coast Chapter of the analyst for two years at Reynolds and Community Impact Newspaper, in American Society of Interior Designers. Reynolds. September. The free, hyper-local monthly publication is delivered through the U.S. James R. Phillips, ’08; Jeffery Dailey, ’02; & Howard Ward, ’14, has been granted mail and was started in Round Rock and Monica Koenigsberg, ’08, recently released admission to Pflugerville out of the Garretts’ home a new book called “Border Security,” Baylor College of with just three employees. Currently, the which is filled with relevant information Medicine and was company has 150 employees, including that provides a holistic approach and recently named several SHSU alumni, and there are 20 timely foundation for anyone interested in a recipient of the multi-city editions of the paper that are the topic of border security. Army Health mailed to nearly 1.5 million households Professionals and businesses, making Community Dennis Shafer, ’09 & ’11, was recently Scholarship Impact Newspaper the largest-distributed Program. Ward Howard Ward with Terry licensed as a certified public accountant Bilhartz, who was Ward’s publication in the state and the fourth by the Texas State Board of Public began matriculation benefactor through The Lyman largest in the nation. In June the at Baylor on and Janet Bilhartz Scholarship. Accountancy. Shafer has been employed Ward received the scholarship company re-launched its website as since 2010 by Anadarko Petroleum, July 27. ✯ from 2011-2014.

Show your SHSU Pride Help SHSU Students

With $22 from each plate In addition to state going to support scholarships registration fees, the tag for students, it is a great way fee starts at just $30. to give back. In fact, past SHSU license plate sales have More SHSU car tag already raised more than information is available $57,000 in scholarships for online at alumni.shsu.edu, deserving students. (click on the Benefits tab).

The car tag features the Show your pride SHSU Bearkat Paw logo and as you cruise along ... may be personalized with up to six characters. The newly designed Bearkat Style! SHSU license plate is now available!

P.O. Box 2022, Huntsville, TX 77341 | 800.283.7478FALL | alumni.shsu.edu 2015 35 In Memoriam

Susie Belle (Speer) Hall ’39 Wayne Thomas Wise ’59 & ’63 Terry Joe Bert ’72 Pollie Mae (Carter) Malone ’39 E. Jay Daniel ’59 Gene Gaillard Ronsonette ’73 & ’74 Jeanette Ann (Smith) Parten ’41 Davis Houston Linn ’59 George Wilton Palmer ’73 Marilyn M. (McGown) Godfrey ’42 & ’48 Thalia (Joiner) Burks ’61 Ruverna Francis (Hopper) Dunning ’74 Sammie Sue (Parish) Harang ’43 Howard Wayne Stevens ’62 Rachel V. (Cross) Henry ’74 Anna Mildred (Carr) Chesney ’47 & ’52 Marilyn Ann (Southard) Isaacson ’63 Jack Craig Boettcher ’75 Max Wallace Schlotter ’47 & ’53 Bernice (Choate) Coe ’64 James Michael Germany ’75 Espy Garner Watts ’49 J. R. Wright ’64 Robin Williamson ’75 Terrence Acker Hanks ’49 & ’51 Bettie M. (Arnett) Taylor ’64 Robert James Jenkins ’75 Morris Inman Waller ’49 Rebecca Jean (Hudgins) Brandenburg ’64 Cecelia Theresa (Rodgers) Miller ’76 Dwaine Rufus Manning ’50 Dorothy M. Walker ’64 & ’68 E. Maxine Green ’77 Orran Kelley ’50 Weldon Leo Blackman ’65 Robert Francis Deegan ’78 Charlie W. Hampton ’50 Helen Ham Streetman ’65 Allen Deryl Sapp ’80 Horace Chilton Davidson ’50 George Lynn Laird ’65 Walter Alexander Hunter ’83 Jessie Jean (McClellan) Scarborough ’51 Lillian Marie (Abshier) Carson ’66 Charles Frank Massey ’85 Cecil Morris Gandy ’51 Sidney Arthur Lanier ’67 Erby Paul Leible ’89 Lee Evelyn (Boedeker) Doonan, ’54 Joseph L. Macaluso ’69 Pamela Joy Finke ’90 Bobby Will Brown ’53 Lawrence Duaine Harvey ’69 William G. Lacy ’93 Carroll Bennett Taylor ’55 Michael Rankin Smith ’70 Raymond Patrick Sierleja ’93 Wayne Kay Kitchel ’55 Henry D. Murphey ’70 Stephen Louis Webb ’94 Vera Beth (Johnson) Hedges ’56 Ronald Eugene Christesson ’70 Charles Stephen Johnson ’98 John David Wright ’56 Joseph Stuart Clements ’70 Edward John Gallner ’98 Lawrence Raymond Kozielski ’57 Edward Wayne Dickey ’70 Timothy Ray Price ’01 Ernesto V. Vela ’58 Patricia Lee (Theneman) Rogers ’71 Brandon Scott Oltmann ’07 Darlene (Dennard) Matchette ’72

2015 Alumni Board Announced

1st Row (Front): Billy Goeke ’80, Estella Koryciak ’71, Alexis Bloomer (Student Representative), Joe Amato ’72, Jonathon Amato ’08, Ray Matthews ’64, Leanne Woodward ’74, ’78 (Secretary), Charlie Vienne (Executive Director); 2nd Row: Troy Thompson ’87, Jean Hendricks ’82, Justin Burnett ’02, Chris Tritico ’83, Wayland Rawls ’95, Rebecca Mohr ’83, Len Keeling ’63 (Treasurer); 3rd Row: David Brady ’89, Rissie Owens ’80, Yolanda Green ’92, Tameka Williams-Bruce ’99, Roland Black ’61 (President-Elect), Will Peltier ’97, Mike Pavelka ’96; 4th Row: Mike Bakewell ’06, Sam Kennedy ’83, Tanya Brannon ‘81, Ray Burgess ’75 (President), Jim Ferris ’69; 5th Row (Rear): Kyle Lehne ’94, Terry Williams ’83 (Past President), Rick Hanna ’79 (Vice President), Steve Seltzer ’77, Brian Brown ’89, Walter Fitzgerald ’79, Brian Hall ’88; Not Pictured: Ronny Carroll ’65, Jason Culpepper ’99, Shelley Beto ’70, Ellen Phillips ’82, Gay Rod ’65, Ken Ross ’81, Charlene Sandel ’83, Mary Ellen Thornton ’64, ’68, and Spencer Copeland ’15 (Student Representative).

36 SHSU Heritage Magazine What happens when two A Slam Dunk for Scholarship Q:Sam Houston State alumni, a former member of the Bearkat Basketball team and a retired teacher, want to give back to their alma mater? The establishment of the Red A:and Sandra McKaskle Men’s Basketball Endowment.

D.V. “Red” McKaskle graduated from Sam Houston State University in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science in sociology. While attending SHSU he was a member of the Bearkat basketball team. After graduating, Red stayed connected—serving on the Alumni Board of Directors and as a member of the Bearkat Partners. Sandra K. McKaskle is a 1972 graduate of Sam Houston State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration. Both Sandra and Red are Joint Life Members of the SHSU Alumni Association and the SHSU Walker County Alumni Club. “Orange” runs deep in the family—both daughters and a grandson are Sam Houston graduates. In 2014, the McKaskles established a $25,000 endowment that will award a $1,000 scholarship each year to a full- time, undergraduate or graduate student employed as a teaching assistant in the SHSU basketball program. Q:Why give back? According to Red, “The A:only way I got through college was having a basketball scholarship, which was funded by the generosity of people who felt strongly about education and athletics. I wanted to give other students interested in basketball the same opportunity I had.”

Learn more about ways you can support Sam Houston State University, visit shsu.edu/giving or call University Advancement at 936.294.3625. Sam Houston State University NON-PROFIT MAIL Office of University Advancement US POSTAGE Box 2537 PAID Huntsville, Texas 77341-2537 BERNE IN 46711 PERMIT #43

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