The Magazine of Memphis University School • March 2010 From the Editor I had the best time talking with Don Crank ’94 about how he became one of the youngest winemakers in the country. He was in Memphis visiting his mom and stopped by with bottles of the “fruits of his labor” MEMPHIS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL to tell me his story. Many of us may dream about Founded 1893 working in a winery (or owning a small share of one), MISSION STATEMENT but Don actually drove across the United States to follow Memphis University School is a his dream. Willamette Valley Vineyards sounds like a college-preparatory school dedicated to great place to work and one that believes in sustainable academic excellence and the development of well-rounded young men of strong practices to leave something for the next generation. moral character, consistent with the In January, I attended a professional conference and heard John Replogle, school’s Christian tradition. CEO of Burt’s Bees, talk about brand building and sustainable leadership. HEADMASTER He asked us if our brand refl ected our school’s mission and aligned with our Ellis L. Haguewood customers’ needs. He talked about how our mission should include learning, leading, and serving. Replogle shared some research which found that 57 percent BOARD OF TRUSTEES Robert E. Loeb ’73, Chairman of people feel more loyal to socially responsible brands. He said that doing “good” D. Stephen Morrow ’71, Vice Chairman may be the key to doing well. Richard L. Fisher ’72, Treasurer When you look at our “customers” (the students, faculty, alumni, parents, W. Thomas Hutton ’61, Secretary Ben C. Adams ’74 and friends) here, you see that many of them act on this idea of “doing good.” R. Louis Adams ’70 In this issue, we feature Cecil Godman ’78 and his work in raising money for Russell E. Bloodworth, Jr. ’63 juvenile diabetes; Rob Edwards ’89, who serves in the Army and still fi nds time Suki S. Carson P. Trowbridge Gillespie, Jr. ’65 to collect school supplies for children in Iraqi schools; Clint Cowan ’05, Warren Samuel N. Graham II ’80 Grimm ’05, and David Montague ’82, who are part of the Memphis Teacher Mark J. Halperin ’67 Residency program; and the Civic Service Organization, which gave the proceeds of Harry Hill III ’66 Joseph R. Hyde III ’61 their 5k race to several charities supported by MUS alumni. We will have a story in E. Carl Krausnick, Jr. ’79 the next issue about the adventuresadventures of Christian Kauffman ’10 Andrew R. McCarroll ’86 and Cort Gatliff ’10 as they bike across America in March to Richard C. Moore, Jr. ’63 raise $50,000 to build wellswells for freshfresh water in Haiti.Haiti. Learn moremore Joseph M. Morrison ’78 Wiley T. Robinson ’75 about them at www.thewatercycle.org.www.thewatercycle.org. Chris R. Sanders IfIf youyou missed senior Ted Fockler’s excellent direction in Charles F. Smith, Jr. ’66 FebruaryFebruary of Agatha Christie’sChristie’s And Then There Were None, we Owen B. Tabor, Jr. ’85 S. Alexander Thompson III hope youyou will join us for the spring musical, Annie Get Your William E. Troutt GunGun, set for April 15-19 in Hyde Chapel. Come see Upper Alexander W. Wellford, Jr. ’60 School PrincipalPrincipal Barry Ray twirling pistols in his role as Gary K. Wunderlich, Jr. ’88 BuffaloBuffalo BillBill Cody.Cody. DirectorDirector Tim Greer brought in legendary ALUMNI ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE BOARD gun handler Joey Dillon to teach the cast how to handle the John H. Dobbs, Jr. ’85, President shooting scenes. It should be loud and fun. Jonathan A. Ballinger ’87, President-Elect Many years ago, the previous editors created a column Robert I. Abbay IV ’92 Albert M. Alexander, Jr. ’84 called “Remember When” and asked readers to write their John B. Barton, Jr. ’95 favorite memory of their days at MUS. We would love David C. Bradford, Jr. ’95 to hear your story and hope you’ll give us a glimpse of a Albert B. Carruthers II ’78 Craig A. Christenbury ’83 favorite time at MUS. We are also looking for stories about Marshall A. Clark ’77 alumni in technical fi elds, higher education, or those who playedplayed Edward J. Dobbs ’89 professionalprofessional and/or college sports.sports. JustJust dropdrop me an e-mail if youyou Paul F. T. Edwards ’79 know anyone who fi ts any of these categories. Jason J. Fair ’89 Cecil A. Godman III ’78 It’s time to start thinking about summer. Call if you have J. Brett Grinder ’91 not receivedreceived a brochurebrochure of our SummerSummer ProgramsPrograms 2010 or go to Charles D. Hamlett ’92 www.musowls.orgwww.musowls.org and click on Campus Life for all the details. Patrick F. Hopper ’89 John R. Malmo, Jr. ’85 Please call or e-mail me if you have any questions or Stephen J. Maroda, Jr. ’75 suggestions for the magazine or our other communications G. Kirby May ’94 and marketing programs. Daniel H. McEwan ’88 John R. Pitts ’76 M. Paul Reaves ’84 Vicki Tyler R. Scott Rose ’82 Director of Communications Dudley P. Schaefer, Jr. ’76 (901) 260-1416 Gwin C. Scott, Jr. ’83 Cleo W. Stevenson, Jr. ’68 [email protected] William R. Tayloe ’92 Scott D. Williams ’85 W. Battle Williford ’01 ® The name, seal, and logos of Memphis University School, as well Philip S. Wunderlich ’90 as MUS Today, Inside MUS, The MUSe, The Owl’s Hoot, The Owl, and Beg To Differ, are registered marks of Memphis University School DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI AND PARENT PROGRAMS and use in any manner is prohibited unless prior written approval is Claire K. Farmer obtained from Memphis University School. MUS TODAY contents f e a t u r e s The Grapes of Wine 3 A Moving Experience Coast to Coast 6 Lessons in Education 9 Running for Funds 12 Fulfilling Duty 14 McCracken Feels Right at Home in Foreign Service 26 ON THE CO VER Family Business Growing on a Global Market Don Crank ’94 inspects the 28 season’s barrels of pinot noir. Story starts on page 3. Latest Alumni Events 44 Photo by Aaron Hewitt. EDIT O R Vicki Tyler d e p a r t m e n t s ASS oc I A TE EDIT O R Headmaster’s Message 2 Kimberly Eller Faculty Profile 16 ST A FF WRITERS Vicki Tyler, Kimberly Eller, Lilly Rice National News 17 ALUMNI NE W S State Winner Claire Farmer 18 CO NTRIBUTING WRITERS From the Archives 21 Ellis Haguewood, John Harkins, Steve Hergenrader, Gifts in Memory and Honor Melanie Threlkeld McConnell, 22 Lauren Oxner, Kem Pollard, Gee Loeb Sharp, Owen Tabor, Class News 30 Anna Turnipseed 12 GR A PHI C DESIGNER Denise Hunt PH O T O GR A PHY The Commercial Appeal, Jerry Gallik, Charles Harrell, Aaron Hewitt, Ryan Hollis, Larry Inman, Jack Kenner, 41 Tony Marable/Herald-Citizen, MUS Archives, and various MUS constituents PR oo FRE A DING Sue Johnson 44 CORRECTION: In the 2008-09 Annual Report, Jerry M. Bradfield ’62 should have been listed under Class of 1962 as a Scholars Circle donor. Headmaster’s Message by Ellis Haguewood TRADI T I O N and Be steadfast in all your ways (Proverbs 4:26b) supremely global because the stories set in Mississippi explore the One of the great strengths of Memphis University School is universal human spirit. its steadiness and consistency. Our students and faculty know what Creativity abounds at MUS because creativity thrives in our they can count on day after day and year after year, and there’s a structure and habits. In his book Playing for Keeps: Michael Jordan confidence and assurance that comes with the tranquil and steady and the World He Made, David Halberstam devotes two chapters commitment to an uncompromising mission. We’re not given to to Dean Smith’s Carolina basketball program. He describes the radical change overnight or short emotional outbursts over the latest team’s daily practice as “stunning,” because of how quiet and how educational whims or fads. We’re not constantly carefully organized it was. trying to re-invent ourselves. During the last Creativity needs a good coach, one who decade or two, we’ve certainly made changes that stresses freedom within a fundamental structure. have enhanced and improved what we do – our Coach Peters, for example, teaches his players facilities have improved greatly, we use a good bit to operate within sound offensive and defensive of technology now, we’ve added more sports, our principles, but the purpose of the overall structure student body has greater diversity, and our admis- is to provide a system in which players must sions, development, and communications offices “create.” Almost always Coach is sitting on the are much more sophisticated. We are always bench. He wants his boys to look at themselves, looking for ways to improve and enhance the MUS experience. rather than at him during the game. But the important things haven’t changed, and we hope All our superb teachers, many they never do – a tough-minded liberal arts curriculum, a serious who have given their lives to this attitude toward our work but an ability to laugh at ourselves, great school, provide role models allegiance to the Honor Code, opportunities for student service of what it means to be a scholar or and leadership, an emphasis on gentlemanly behavior, devel- a gentleman or a leader, and they opment of lifelong friendships, strong bonds between faculty and encourage the independence and students, and athletic competitiveness. These ideas, these charac- creativity of the boys they teach.