FALL 2020 FALL l THE ALUMNI MAGAZINE OF MEMPHIS UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE SCHOOL THE ALUMNI MUS TODAY CRUMP’S LEGACY INSPIRING ARCHITECTURE THAT ENDURES 1 105909_MUS today magazine.indd 1 12/7/20 2:28 PM Senior Class President Will Woodmansee led the Class of 2020 procession onto Hull-Dobbs Field for a combined Baccalaureate and Commencement ceremony in Stokes Stadium June 20 to the accompaniment of the Wolf River Pipes and Drums corps. The open-air ceremony – approved by the Shelby County Health Department – provided an opportunity to celebrate the class amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 2 l MUS TODAY FALL 2020 105909_MUS today magazine.indd 2 12/7/20 2:28 PM Photo by Wendy Adams 1 105909_MUS today magazine.indd 1 12/7/20 2:28 PM MUS TODAY THE ALUMNI MAGAZINE OF MEMPHIS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL l FALL 2020 FEATURED THIS ISSUE 5 19 12 5 Met Crump ’60 has made his architectural mark on Memphis – and MUS 12 Scooter Taylor ’11 launches virtual network to connect young professionals 14 Introducing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee Chair Curtis Johnson 19 Class of 2020 graduates in Stokes Stadium, with pipes, drums, and fireworks 2 l MUS TODAY FALL 2020 105909_MUS today magazine.indd 2 12/7/20 2:28 PM musowls.org/media IN EVERY ISSUE ON THE COVER HEADMASTER Peter D. Sanders 18 Student Lauds Since 1988 Met Crump ’60 has made his mark architecturally on BOARD OF TRUSTEES 29 Faculty News MUS as his Crump Firm Architects James F. Burnett ’83, Chairman Glenn A. Crosby II ’77, Vice Chairman has designed seven campus 38 Board News Chris R. Sanders, Secretary buildings. Ever the creative 44 Class News & Milestones D. Stephen Morrow ’71, Treasurer director, Crump suggested James H. Barton, Jr. ’85 61 Gifts in Memory and Honor this photo be taken under the R. Earl Blankenship archway of the Sue H. Hyde Sports Andrew F. Cates ’89 and Physical Education Center Edward J. Dobbs ’89 overlooking Stokes Stadium – both Crump designs. William B. Dunavant III ’78 Photo by Donny Granger of Creation Studios Robert M. Fockler ’77 P. Trowbridge Gillespie, Jr. ’65 Samuel N. Graham II ’80 J. Brett Grinder ’91 Director of Advancement Editor Mark J. Halperin ’67 Robert J. Hussey III ’81 Perry Dement Liz Copeland Margaret C. McLean [email protected] [email protected] Jeffrey B. Meskin Johnny B. Moore, Jr. Director of Alumni and Inside MUS Managing Editor Richard C. Moore III ’98 Parent Programs Rebecca Greer Joseph M. Morrison ’78 Ann Laughlin William E. Orgel ’81 [email protected] Creative Director Wiley T. Robinson ’75 LeeAnn Christopherson Frederick C. Schaeffer, Jr. ’88 William V. Thompson III ’95 Philip S. Wunderlich ’90 Contributors ALUMNI ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE BOARD Andrew A. McArtor ‘86, President Wendy Adams, freelance photographer based in Memphis Edward L. Simpson ‘85, President-Elect Shanon Bell and Jamila Lisbon, freelance photographers based in Atlanta Scott S. Adams ’02 W. Preston Battle IV ’07 Daniel Black ’18, Mississippi State student and freelance writer Christopher P. Beard ‘84 Christopher Blank, WKNO-FM news director and freelance writer Jeffrey Block ‘94 Grant Burke, Chair of the Arts Department Albert B. Carruthers II ‘78 Horace L. Carter ‘89 Greg Cravens, freelance illustrator based in Memphis Derek M. Clenin ‘03 Donny Granger, photographer, owner of Creation Studios, Memphis George R. Coors II ‘09 Donald D. Drinkard, Jr. ‘98 Jack Kenner, freelance photographer based in Memphis J. Elliot Embry ‘04 Kathy Daniel Patterson, freelance photographer based in Memphis Emmel B. Golden III ‘97 Gaye Swan, freelance writer based in Memphis J. Wesley Grace ‘86 Robert G. Heard III ‘76 Kristopher C. Horne ‘92 W. Ben James ‘99 Lucius D. Jordan III ‘83 Edward D. Lake ’13 W. Neely Mallory IV ‘07 Founded 1893 Jay P. McDonald, Jr. ‘00 William M. McDonald Jr. ‘97 MISSION STATEMENT Gregory P. McGowan ‘86 Memphis University School is a college-preparatory school dedicated to academic excellence, cultivation of Kelly L. McGuire ‘70 service and leadership, and the development of well-rounded young men of strong moral character, consistent Robert B. Preston ‘78 with the school’s Christian tradition. M. Shannon Rhodes ‘90 Gideon L. Scoggin ‘95 © 2020 Memphis University School. All rights reserved. The name, seal, and logos of Memphis University School, as well as MUS Today, James E. Sexton III ’14 Inside MUS, The MUSe, The Owl’s Hoot, The Owl, and Beg To Differ, are registered marks of Memphis University School and use in any manner is prohibited unless prior written approval is obtained from Memphis University School. Jasmail Singh ‘12 Alexander H. Snyder ‘06 George J. Sousoulas ‘78 George V. Steffens IV ’98 Reid W. Wesson ‘06 3 105909_MUS today magazine.indd 3 12/7/20 2:28 PM FROM THE HEADMASTER Gaming the Pandemic One brilliant fall day on our beautiful 94-acre campus, that way this year and wanted you to know this event is a real several groups of masked students gathered on Webb Field winner.” armed with oversized slingshots and water balloons. Stretching I could not agree more with the observations of Mr. the launchers back, they hurdled the balloons toward pairs Abrahams and Mr. Stalls. From March through May, when of classmates attempting to catch the missiles in slings. I did school was all-online, our boys had limited, in-person contact not see any caught, but that was not the point. The guys were with school peers and with mentor adults outside their having fun … together, with their coach cheering them on. immediate family members. Watching the organized fun Over on Rogers Field, students were playing Spikeball. On around campus this semester is proof positive of the value this Thorn Field, a hot game of Wiffle ball was in play. And there portion of the day provides. There is also great worth in the was kickball, Pickleball, cornhole, archery, Family Feud, and downtime the “Student Lounge” rotation facilitates for our even Civic Service Organization sandwich-making going on, as boys. I have seen students in the Dining Hall “Lounge” – spaced the campus was given over to X-Games, a collection of faculty- apart – talking about classwork or the previous weekend’s and staff-supervised activities organized several times each games or getting in some last-minute study time before a test. week. The purpose is to give boys a break from the classroom I give great credit to the teachers and administrators who and time interacting, while observing precautions these times foresaw, during those jam-packed planning weeks of summer, dictate. (See page 16.) the need for scheduled diversions in the COVID era. It is time Since we cannot gather en masse, X-Block, which precedes well spent. the games, has taken the place of traditional chapel assemblies. As I write this, we are preparing to welcome nearly all Boys stay in their classrooms and watch videotaped our students back on campus (October 26) after conducting announcements and speaker presentations created by a half- the first 10 weeks in a concurrent/hybrid model, with half our dozen students under the direction of Technical Director of students on campus and half learning online in rotating two- Theater Robert Fudge. There have been some great ones, day shifts. We made the decision to fully open campus because including Instructor in English Norman Thompson’s interviews we know in-person interaction – as much as it can be safely with TIME Editor/CEO Edward Felsenthal ’84 and bestselling provided – is the best way for our boys to learn and develop author Hampton Sides ’80. A series of faculty presentations into men of character. examining the year 1963 and Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter We do not know what tomorrow will bring, if COVID-19 from Birmingham Jail” and the “I Have a Dream Speech” – conditions will dictate a return to concurrent learning or to our all-school read selections – has been compelling and all-online learning. We continue to offer the online option for enlightening. families with health concerns (about 9 percent at this point), Director of Counseling Joe Abrahams ’96, the recipient of and we are committed to giving their boys the best experience this year’s Hale Award for Outstanding Service (see page 29), possible through our robust virtual teaching platforms. We helped develop and organize X-Block and X-Games, along with remain diligent in following safety measures on campus while a contingent of dedicated faculty and staff members. carefully monitoring the health of the community. Whatever Why interrupt the school day with these activities? With happens, we are ready. boys wearing masks and staying socially distanced, even in And as much as possible, our faculty and staff will provide classrooms, they can feel disconnected. opportunities for positive interaction inside and outside the “Our boys need interaction with one another and classroom, in person and virtually. Because, as we hear over with teachers and coaches to get the most out of life,” Mr. and over from our alumni, the relationships they formed at Abrahams says. He cites the landmark Harvard Study of Adult 6191 Park Avenue bring them happiness and fulfillment Development, begun in 1938 and still ongoing, that has shown to this day. the key to happiness and fulfillment is community – healthy Go, Owls … together! relationships. Instructor in Math Phillip Stalls observed his students the first time they tackled the water balloon slingshot game: PETER D. SANDERS “Before the event, they were not looking forward to any activity, HEADMASTER wanting to just hang out and study. They returned very excited [email protected] and worked up from the fun they’d had.