Class Notes
Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour (’97) can proudly boast to be America’s first African American female combat pilot. After brief stints with the police departments of Nashville and Tempe, Ariz., Armour joined the Marines, became a combat pilot, and completed two tours in Iraq. Today, she is a professional speaker and founder of Washington, D.C.–based VAI Consulting and Training. You might have seen her as a guest on CNN, PBS, the Tyra Banks Show, Tavis Smiley, and Oprah. MTSU
Eric Paslay Songwriter/artist Eric Paslay (’05) recently signed to EMI Records Nashville, a sister label of Capital Records Nashville, and released his first album and has had his first single on the radio. In demand as a songwriter, Paslay wrote country artist Jake Owen’s recent single “Barefoot Blue Jean Night.” While studying music and business at MTSU, Paslay served as president of the MTSU chapter of the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) and worked as an intern at Cal IV Entertainment, which signed him as a songwriter about a year after his graduation. MTSU
at the 25th Annual Mid-South Emmy Awards in the Photography—Short Form category (Cinematography) for a project called Digital Diary Christine, which they shot for their client, GodFilms. The duo had previously won a student Emmy Award while attending MTSU for a project they
worked on for a documentary class in 2001. The Pessonis are the founders of Nashville-based Gemini Production Group, where Matthew is a producer and art director and Scott serves as director of photography and chief technology officer.
In Memoriam 1930s Margaret Batey (’37), Nashville, on Jan. 16, 2011. Homer Long (’38), Linden, on March 30, 2011. Howell Frances “Fran” Brandon (’39), Murfreesboro, on Feb. 26, 2011. Milly Simmons Pettit (’39), Quebeck, on Dec. 12, 2010.
Buford Foster (’41), Roswell, Ga., on March 29, 2011. Thomas James Sr. (’41), Odum, Ga., on Oct. 23, 2010. Thomas Meadows (’41), Memphis, on July 7, 2010. Noel Norman (’41), Dallas, Texas, on Nov. 1, 2010. Allie Whitaker (’41), Shelbyville, on Oct. 26, 2010.
1940s
Jean Lynn (’42), Bell Buckle, on Aug. 18, 2010.
Anne Lokey (’40), Atlanta, Ga., on April 27, 2010.
Horton Tarpley (’42), Hermitage, on May 24, 2010.
Charles Brown (’41), Harrisburg, Pa., on May 11, 2010.
Martha Holladay (’44), Miami, Fla., on Feb. 16, 2011.
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