Eastern Michigan University DigitalCommons@EMU Alumni News University Archives 2001 Connection, September/October 2001 Eastern Michigan University Follow this and additional works at: http://commons.emich.edu/alumni_news Recommended Citation Eastern Michigan University, "Connection, September/October 2001" (2001). Alumni News. 91. http://commons.emich.edu/alumni_news/91 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the University Archives at DigitalCommons@EMU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Alumni News by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@EMU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. EASTERN MICHIG_AN UNIVERSITY A MAGAZINE FOE.ALUMNI ASSOCIATION M:::MBERS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2001 's WarEffort EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2001 · VOLUME 11, NUMBER 1 Features 2 Dean Rockwell - From Ypsilanti to Omaha Beach Janitor Turned Principal How EMU's Dean Rockwell, '35 6 made history at D-Day 9 Continuing Education at EMU Growing in ew Directions Page2 1 0 Creative Career Paths Lead Alumni Back to EMU Departments 1 Commentary 12 University News 16 Athletics 18 Alumni News 19 Broadcast Notes Rapport with children took the Alumni Association Chapters leader of Green Oak Township 20 school along an unusual career Chapter Happenings path 21 Page 6 23 Class Notes 28 Alumni Events Calendar IBC 2001 Homecoming Schedule Two alumni who never met on campus share a commitment to optimizing technology and to EMU Page IO Volume 11, Number 1 C 0 M M E N T A R y CONNECTION is published five times per year for members of The Alumni Association of Eastern Michigan University by the Office for Alumni Relations, Division of Advancement A hearty Homecoming hello to all Address changes, duplicate copy information or information alumni! It's hard to believe that summer requests should be directed to: has come and gone for another year. Not Officefor Alumni Relations EasternMichigan University only does fall usher in cooler 1349 S. Huron St., Suite 2 Ypsilanti, Ml 48197 temperatures and changing colors, it also 734/487-0250 signals that another EMU Homecoming 734/487-7009 (fax) e-mail:[email protected] is upon us. Homecoming is a time to www.emich.edu/aJumni renew old friendships,a time for Cover and inside photos by university photographer Dick remembrance, and a time to come back Schwarze Graphic Design by Deborah Kern, Kern's Creative Services and visit your alma mater. Personally, it is one of my favorite times of the year, as The Alumni Association Board of Directors Eric Rass, '91, '95, president I'm sure it is for many of you also. \<V. Frederick Roberts, '56, '68, past preS1dent Eric Rass, '91, '95 Karen M. Pitton, '79, president-elect Homecoming 2001 is scheduled for Melissa Oostmeycr, '94, parliamentarian Saturday, October 13. I invite you all back to campus to watch the Alan JeS1el, '88, treasurer/secretary Ken Behmer, '64, '70 Green and White take on their MAC rival, the Cardinals of Ball Tom Borg, '79 George Bneloff, '86, '91, '98 State. Prior to the game, your Alumni Association will be hosting a George Eason, '88 tailgate starting at 4 p.m. Jerry Gemignani, '94 David J. Glassman, '95 Mark Johnson, '97 The Office for Alumni Relations has also undergone many changes Frances Jones, '79 William Malcolm, '76 since I last spoke with you. The office itself has been relocated from Jennifer Maxwell, '93 PJMoffett, '97 the basement of Welch Hall to the officeof the EMU Foundation Michelle Owens, '94, '97 on South Huron Street (near the Eagle Crest Golf Course). This Marie Q,ayle, '92, '96 Rick Ross, '75, '77, '85 move was made because the Office for Alumni Relations is now H.F. (Bud) Schimmelpfenncg, '68 In Ronald Shannon, '97 part of the new division of institutional advancement. addition, Jeff Stabnau, '73 the Foundation itself is under new leadership. Dr. John B. Shorrock Robbin Ward, '96 Sally Wilson, '54, '62 is now on board as the new vice president for advancement and executive director of the Foundation. Along with his Foundation AJumni Relations Team Vicki Reaume Mushisky, '91, '96, director duties, John will also oversee alumni relations, development, and Bill C. Schultz, '97, '99, assistant director Lyndsey Martin, assistant director gifts and records. Previously,John was the vice president for Pam Smith, scmor secrctarv advancement at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois. Finally, I Jennifer M. Blok, head student assistant Mike T. Grange, student assistant would like to mention that the Alumni Relations Office has a new Anthony Sciara, sn1dent assistant and improved web site. Please take a few moments to check it out. Executive Officers The site can be found at www.emich.edu/alumni. Samuel A. Kirkpatrick, preSidcnt Patrick). Doyle, '92, vice president for business and finance and treasurer to the board of regents In closing, I would like to thank all of the alumni who have Courtney 0. McAnuff, vice president for enrollment services Juanit•l l\11. Reid, '75, vice president for university relations contributed their time, efforts, talents, and financial gifts to Eastern Paul T. Schollaert, provosr and vice president for academic "ffairs Michigan during this year. A strong university must have a strong John B. Shorrock, vice president for advancement and executive and active alumni base. To that end, I look forwardto seeing many director of the EMU Foundation James F. Vick,'75, vice president for student affairs of you at the upcoming events this fall. Board of Regents Philip A. lncarnati,'76, '82, chair Always Green, Rosalind E. Griffin,vice chair Joseph E. Antonini Jan A. Brandon, '86 Robert A. DeMatt,a Steven G. Gordon, '80 Michael G. Morris, '69, '73 Karen Valvo, '93 Eric M. Rass, '91, '95 Editorial Committee Dana Aymond, l{jrkCannan, '93, '95, Deb Kern, Nancy Mida, '72, President, EMU Alumni Association Mary Motherwell, Vicki Reaume Muslusky, '91, '96, Doug Kose, Karen M. Pinon, '79, Kathleen D Tinney, Pamela Young 1 Dean Rockwell - From Ypsilanti to Omaha Beach By WardMullens, office ofpublic information ean Rockwell doesn't think much about W his time in the Navy during World War II. He doesn't talk about it either. There are enough others to talk about those events. It's not because of what he saw or experienced, but because it's history. "When I got out I was 33 and wanted to be a civil­ ian again. I wanted to move on with my life," said Rockwell, 89, a 1935 graduate of Michigan State Nor­ mal College. 2 Rockwell, of Three Rivers, Michigan, did just that Rockwell was the commander of LCT Flotilla #12, when he was discharged in 1945. He went to graduate a group of 36 LCTs which were assigned to carry the school at the University of Michigan, got a job at tanks in the first wave of the Normandy invasion June Albion as the head football coach and then went on to 6, 1944. a successful business career. His retirement was effec­ "It was a recipe for disaster," he said. "So I broke ra­ tive June 30. dio silence and called the commanding officer. He said Along the way he became a wrestling coach who he agreed but that it was to late to do anything about trained the firstAmerican to win an Olympic medal in it." Greco-Roman wrestling. And, oh yes, he has intro­ Drawing a map on the table of the restaurant he fre­ duced a president of the United States. quents in Ypsilanti, Rockwell demonstrates what he "I've had a very good life," he said. Rockwell says did next. two of the highest points of his life have been his "I lined up my group like this (parallel to the beach), 56-year marriage to his late wife and "my relationship and we went to the beach and landed them," he said. with Eastern Michigan University." Of the four LCTs in Rockwell's group, three were de­ Anyone who knows Rockwell knows that he is a stroyed during the landing by German 88s. man who doesn't hesitate to say what he thinks about "I was just lucky," he said. anything. For his "good judgment" as he calls it, Rockwell was That character trait has gotten him into a few awarded the NavyCross, the second highest honor in scrapes, one of which was the D-Day invasion of that branch of the military. He is also the recipient of Normandy. France's Croix de Guerre Avec (Cross of War with "They had designed a tank called a DD (duplex Palm). drive) tank," Rockwell said. "It was a tank that was Rockwell said he doesn't think what he did was supposed to float and could be launched from an LCT worth a medal. (landing craft tank)." "It was not based on bravery," Rockwell said of his ac­ tion, "but making the right deci­ sion. There were a lot of guys who deserved a medal more than me." Aside from his decorations, Rockwell is also proud of the fact that his wave was the only one that was on time during the mvas1on. Once Rockwell and his crew of nine men had gotten the tanks on the beach, their next task was to bring medical sup­ plies and personnel on shore. Rockwell's exploits are chronicled in greater detail in "D-Day June 6, 1944: The Climatic Battle of World War II," by Stephen E. Ambrose (Simon and Schuster, 1994). 3 Speaking up served him well at Omaha, it certainly was one of the reasons that contributed to him landing in the Navy and later the newly formed amphibian force. "I enlisted in the Navy on May 17, 1942.