2014 Winter Gold
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GOLD PAN ALUMNI MAGAZINE Winter 2014 Philip Kozushko, A.K.A. “Miner Phil”, MS in mining Engineering,’83, BS Petroleum Engineering, ‘85, the New Mexico State Mine Inspector in ‘94, and Adjunct Professor at New Mexico Tech. Phil is the purveyor of New Mexico Tech legend and lore, and history of mining, minerals, and safety. Take a walk in Alumni Alley at Fidel Center and you will see the Mining History Display showcasing Phil’s collection. 1 A word from the director . Greetings! Colleen Guengerich Director of Advancement and Alumni Relations the legends and lore from your days at New Mexico Tech. November, 2014 As New Mexico Tech celebrates its 125 year and we look Letter from the Director forward to the next 125 years and beyond we know that you Office for Advancement will continue to partner with us as we navigate this journey November, 2014 together. Early next year the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources will move into their new building. Dear Gold Pan readers: I urge you to visit and tour this and other buildings on campus. While you are visiting campus please stop by the Because Gold Pan is New Mexico Tech’s alumni magazine, Advancement Office in the Fidel Center. this letter is addressed to the men and women who have attended this small university specializing in science and My staff and I will be traveling a great deal this coming engineering education and research. year and look forward to meeting as many of you in person as possible at one of the many New Mexico Tech alumni As director of New Mexico Tech Advancement Office I receptions. New Mexico Tech is an extraordinary university recognize you, our alumni, are the greatest asset we have. You and, thanks to you, we are getting better! touch and inspire future generations of Techies each and every day through your work and interactions in your communities. Sincerely, You are the past, the present and future of New Mexico Tech and we thank you for your support. This issue we discuss legends and lore of New Mexico Tech. We recognize there are many more stories then we can tell in Colleen Guengerich one issue and look forward to receiving letters from you about Director of the Advancement Office 2 inside GOLDalumni PAN magazine thank you to our donors! Gold Pan is published by New Mexico Institute of Mining and New Mexico Tech’s “The Board has directed Table of Technology (New Mexico Tech) for Advancement Office has us to enhance our private alumni, faculty and friends, by the Contents Office for Advancement, 801 Leroy completed its annual giving campaign,” Place, Socorro, New Mexico 87801. Phone-a-thon. university President Features Editor and Writers Dr. Daniel H. Lopez From the Director .......... 2 Colleen Guengerich, Editor Undergraduate volunteers Letters to the Editor ........ 4 Thomas Guengerich said. “This effort is also Valerie Kimble staffed the phones, calling Where Are They Now? consistent with our Giovanni Luchetti .........9 Design Tech graduates and donors Edie Steinhoff to solicit donations that strategic plan.” Legends and Lore Photography will help current students The Advancement Office Workman Center....... 12 Thomas Guengerich 49ers 2014 ................... 18 Edie Steinhoff with scholarships, capital continues to host alumni Steve Woit Pranks .......................... 20 improvements and other receptions across the Steve Woit Photography Alumni Spotlight .......... 23 amenities. country. December events Administration Sports @ Tech .............. 25 Dr. Daniel H. Lõpez were in Farmington, President All donations are 100 Traditions @ Tech ........ 27 Dr. Warren Ostregren N.M., and San Francisco. Vice President for Academic Affairs percent tax-deductible. Research @ Tech Melissa Jaramillo-Fleming Donors are encouraged to January receptions are: Environmental Vice President for Student and the 13th in Dallas and the Engineering ................ 33 University Relations, Dean of support the unrestricted Students 14th in Ft. Worth TX, Las Faculty @ Tech ............. 35 Lonnie G. Marquez Alumni Fund, but donors Vice President for Administration Cruces NM on the 20th, Tech Golf Course ......... 39 and Finance can also specify a recipient Memorabilia.................. 40 Dr. Van Romero El Paso, TX the 21st and Vice President for Research and or project. Departments Economic Development Santa Fe, NM on the 27th. Anyone who did not Construction Contact us: The Advancement Office is Colleen Guengerich receive a phone call is Bureau of Geology....... 15 Director 575.835.5352 encouraged to donate by also reaching out to build Career Services .............. 17 [email protected] calling LaVern Robinson relationships with industry. Calendar ....................... 22 Heidi Brown People You Know .......... 41 Associate Director 575.835.5292 at 575.835.5616 or visit Heidi Brown, the new [email protected] In Memoriam ................ 43 the secure website at associate director of the Lynn Osorio Advancement Office, said The Last Word: Associate Director 575.835.5205 advancement.nmt.edu/donate. Brigitte Ek ................... 47 [email protected] she expects to host more This year’s efforts reflect Theresa Kappel get-to-know-Tech events http://www.nmt.edu Special Events Coordinator both the Board of Regents Toll-Free Numbers 575.835.5525 with potential supporters [email protected] directive to increase private 1.800.428.TECH (8324) of New Mexico Tech. LaVern Robinson giving and the new five- Admission: ...............Press 1 Administrative Coordinator 575.835.5616 Financial Aid ............Press 2 [email protected] year strategic plan that Graduate Office .......Press 3 Edie Steinhoff emphasizes the same. Advancement...........Press 4 Marketing Coordinator 575.835.5620 Housing ...................Press 5 [email protected] Registrar ..................Press 6 New Mexico Tech is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution. 3 letters letters to the editors letters to the editor: out of hibernation and Your article was excellent. Al Cooper when, what birds survive Really brought Sylvia to Wilma Moore the winter, all the little life and a busy life it is. Good morning Colleen, and big critters that live That was a wonderful Editor’s Note: The following free! And then all those trip for you and Colleen I think you did a great letter was sent to a regular amazing women! Wow, to make to Idaho! Have job on the current issue Gold Pan contributor, how do they do it? you ever seen any of her of Gold Pan alumni Valerie Kimble, by her toys? She manages so magazine. I must admit friend Wilma Moore, who I noticed that Romaine many things in life – from that I was kind of has her own memories of Ausman wrote about Earl. science, love of animals, grumbling to myself as the early years at Langmuir I have often wondered saving the planet and now I was leafing through Laboratory. Mrs. Moore, about that family. She was children and motherhood. it thinking “Geez, they now 89 and still living in pretty amazing, too. They How does one person have had better have put the Socorro home she shared lived in the house next to this much energy, diversity, Christina in there.” Sure with her late husband, the Richardson family on and ability? Amazing! enough, you had two Charlie, has graciously School of Mines Road. pages devoted to Dr. Balk. agreed to share her letter They invited us to dinner Of course, Irene Scott I didn’t recognize her with all Gold Pan readers. one night and she had a was no slouch and did so picture at first and that is fabulous meal. I remember much when women were what I was looking for. Arriving in Socorro some 50 tender steaks and fresh considered helpmates years ago, she adjusted to the asparagus and that’s about or housewives but never Dr. Balk was one of my change from their previous all. Everything cooked scientists. And it is Geology Professors from home in Boston, but insisted to perfection. I think she interesting that both she 1968 to 1971. She was on one civility: Delivery of must have been a home and Sylvia had their own indeed a very unique the Sunday edition of The economics major. She firms. professor and deserves New York Times. also was a seamstress and all of the recognition inventor! She made little As I said, I went on to and more that you aptly Dear Valerie: girls’ reversible dresses, read the whole magazine. gave her in the Gold Thank you for Gold Pan. if you can imagine. No I might pass it on to Pan. I took Historical I forgot about it for a bit doubt they would be Klea who would also be Geology, Stratigraphy and so I took it to bed appreciated by mothers interested. Yes, Klea is a and Sedimentation from with me, thought I would and they were displayed great seamstress. Don’t her. I would have loved to browse through it for a in the windows of a know if she still makes have taken a Paleontology while, but I couldn’t stop clothing store on the Plaza. quilts but she used to course from her, but it reading it. I started with I remember the lunches win prizes for them at the just wouldn’t fit into my Earl. I remember the for wives of students County Fair. schedule. She expected winter he and Mary spent graduating in May and a lot from her “boys,” as on the mountain. Seems probably Sally Smith Wilma Moore she fondly called us. Any scary but very interesting originated those. one of her courses could to see what animals come 4 letters have easily taken up the waving her hands one way memorable times such Ann Stacy Coppin entire semester’s time just or the other describing as the when I saw her putting up a poster about with all of the reading, the formations and their Dear Editor, the whales (around 1976).