University President: Dr. Janet Cunningham, Northwestern Oklahoma State University
Official Publication
Published annually by the Northwestern Foundation & Alumni Association
Editors: John Allen & Kat Lunn
Art Direction/Designers: Montana McCullough & Kat Lunn
Writing Contributors: Megan Maharry & Caitlyn Hofen, interns
Change of address notices and other correspondence may be sent to:
John Allen
Director, Alumni Relations
Northwestern Student Center 709 Oklahoma Blvd.
Alva, OK 73717
580-327-8593
nwalumni@nwosu.edu
my.nwfoundation.com
For information about making a contribution to Northwestern Oklahoma State University, contact: Allen E. “Skeeter” Bird
Chief Executive Officer
709 Oklahoma Blvd.
Alva, OK 73717
580-327-8599
aebird@nwosu.edu
Alumni Association Board, 2018-2019
President: Donna Anderson
Vice President: Rod Dunkin
Secretary/Treasurer: John Allen
Recording Secretary: Kandee Almgren Visit
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Letters
Thank-A-Thon 2018
Baseball, Hot Dogs and Apple Pie 2019
Spring Alumni Reunion 2019
Sports Hall of Fame 2019
Ranger Wake Up 2018
Donor Dinner
Homecoming 2018
Living with a Commitment to Family
The Other Side of President Cunningham
The Jones Family and Rialto
Northwestern Rodeo Wins Big
Ryerson Hall Celebrated
@NWFoundationAlu
NWFoundationAlumni
NWOSUAlumni
From Northwestern Ranger to Denver Nugget
Marriages, Class Notes, In Memory and Lil’ Rangers
Can you believe we have put another year in the books? Last year was full of celebrating generations of family memberships, alumni success stories and refreshing the look of the campus. Now, on to another year of outreach to new members and appreciation to our current membership for all the work done on behalf of the Northwestern Oklahoma State University Alumni Association.
So many people work behind the scenes to bring year-long events to our alumni. I want to take this time to thank Skeeter Bird, John Allen and their amazing colleagues who work tirelessly to improve relationships and make our association the best in Oklahoma. Of course, no thank you is complete without including our president, Dr. Janet Cunningham. She is a leadership rock star and believes in the importance of alumni support for continued progress.
Be sure to check out the beautiful renovations to the campus when you are in the area. Everything is changing except the excellence in education provided by the faculty and staff of Northwestern. That remains top notch and the proof can be seen in you, the alumni of Northwestern Oklahoma State University!
We have enjoyed another year of connecting with our Northwestern alumni. I continue to be amazed at the journeys of our Rangers once they have walked across the stage at their commencement. To date, not one graduate has failed to share their personal appreciation for the education they received at Northwestern…complimenting faculty, academic programs, student life and community support.
Occasionally we hear about students who opted to go elsewhere for their education, citing Northwestern as a “small school in a small town”. Much more often we hear – from our successful alumni representing all generations and from our students – that Northwestern provides “big opportunities”. Judging from the journeys of our alumni, I would add Northwestern supported an outstanding number of “big successes”.
This issue of roundUP provides endorsement from our alumni that Northwestern made a great difference in their lives and careers. I am convinced it is still making incredible impact, every single day. The alumni featured in this issue of roundUP represent the graduates whose Northwestern experience gave them a clear advantage in their careers and their lives.
Two of our features highlight the legacies of successful, multiple-generational family businesses with Northwestern connections. The Brown family expanded on a building empire, now headquartered in Denver, Colorado, that started in Alva, Oklahoma. Johnny and Jesse Jones have kept the Rialto Theatre in downtown Alva a destination for generations of movie patrons.
Looking forward, we are introducing some changes in our alumni outreach this coming year. Spring Alumni Reunion 2020, scheduled for Saturday, April 25, will add the five- and ten-year graduates to the list of honored classes celebrating 25, 50, 60 and 70 years since graduation. One-year graduates (December 2017 and May 2018) were invited back for special recognition at Homecoming 2019.
On behalf of my colleagues at the Northwestern Foundation & Alumni Association, thank you for allowing us to share this issue of roundUP with you. We look forward to seeing you soon and hearing your story.
Ride, Rangers, Ride.
John Allen Director, Alumni Relations Northwestern Foundation & Alumni Association
More than 230 student volunteers met in the Ranger Room on November 12-13, 2018 for the eighth annual Thank-A-Thon event. Almost 1,600 cards and more than 260 phone calls were made to show appreciation to donors for their generous investments in students and Northwestern. In addition to thanking donors, student volunteers participated in games, prize giveaways and free pizza.
Hosted by the Greater Enid Northwestern Alumni Task Force and the Northwestern Foundation & Alumni Association, “Baseball, Hot Dogs & Apple Pie” had another successful run. The annual event on April 16 provided an opportunity for Northwestern alumni and friends to cheer on the Ranger baseball team as they took on the Oklahoma Wesleyan University Eagles. Those in attendance enjoyed free hot dogs cooked by the Rowdy Rangers and free apple pies provided by McDonald’s. Free “Baseball, Hot Dogs & Apple Pie” tee shirts were provided for the first 120 youth league baseball players through the gates.
Northwestern celebrated alumni at the annual Spring Alumni Reunion on Saturday, April 27, 2019. Starting the night with the popular and talented University Singers performing the National Anthem, five Outstanding Graduates were honored for their achievements, as were the classes of 1949, 1959, 1969 and 1994 (celebrating 70, 60, 50 and 25 years since graduation, respectively). Earlier in the day, 24 seniors were awarded with honors.
Save the date of Saturday, April 25, 2020, for Spring Alumni Reunion 2020. The new class of Outstanding Graduates will be recognized. This next year’s celebration will include the honored classes celebrating five and ten years since graduation. If you are a graduate of the classes of 1950, 1960, 1970, 1995, 2005 or 2010, please make sure we have your updated contact information by going to my.nwfoundation.com/ whereareyounow or emailing nwalumni@ nwosu.edu.
“The four individuals honored were great representatives of Ranger athletics in and out of competition,” said Brad Franz, director of athletics. “They were great athletes at Northwestern, but also went on to have highly successful careers beyond athletics. We’re excited to honor their accomplishments.”
The Northwestern Foundation & Alumni Association has made it a tradition to welcome students, faculty and staff back to campus on the first day of school. Monday, August 20, began with the annual Ranger Wake Up breakfast. Hot coffee, bottles of ice cold water, donuts and apples were on the menu. Drawings for free homecoming tee shirts and a Northwestern desk lamp provided a great start to the new school year.
Amy Pottinger,’10, was the featured speaker at the Donor Appreciation Dinner on Thursday, October 25, 2018.
Pottinger is best known as a 2013 finalist on The Next Food Network Star. A stay-at-home mother to two children, Pottinger discovered she had a passion and talent for cooking before auditioning for the show.
Before her remarks to the dinner guests, Pottinger spent time with a number of Northwestern students, answering their questions and encouraging them to “Pursue anything you’re passionate about.”
Speakers for the evening’s event included, clockwise from top right, Dr. Janet Cunningham; J.C. Wells, student speaker; and Amy Pottinger, keynote speaker.
The cold and rainy day had nothing on the energy and spirit shown by the many alumni, students, faculty, staff and community members celebrating Ranger Homecoming 2018 on Saturday, October 6.
The day began with the Ranger Fun Run, followed by Northwestern’s annual Homecoming parade led by Parade Marshal Dr. David Bohlen. Ranger Field was home to a massed band performance populated from high school bands from surrounding communities, the announcement of Ranger royalty, alumni tent activities and a 17-7 win over East Central University.
Roger Adair, ‘88, reads the six words written on a sign in his garage every time he comes home. It is, perhaps, this quote that best captures the foundation of the Brown Family legacy.
Devotion to family and serving others are two principles that have been constant in the fabric of the Brown family. Two generations have continued and evolved the family building legacy that started in Alva, Okla., by Robert R. Brown. This legacy is based on family values, loyalty to customers and a strong work ethic.
“My dad and granddad continue to be identified as two very caring men,” said Roger. “As with Robert R., my dad intensely loves his family. He cared for and protected his father’s name and reputation with that love. With that came loyalty to and caring for the customer.”
Adair Group, Inc., headquartered in Denver, Colo., is known for the excellence it provides to the customers’ projects, whether residential or commercial. The award-winning company is a leader in the industry, building projects across the country. At print time, Adair Group has projects in Carlsbad and Pasadena, Calif.; Chicago, Ill.; San Antonio and Houston, Texas; and Denver. But the awards and accolades earned by the company pale to the focus of satisfying the customer. And it all began in Alva, Oklahoma.
Starting with Robert R. Robert R. Brown – “Robert R.” as he was known to many – was well-known for building solid homes in northwest Oklahoma and southern Kansas from the 1950s through
the early 80s. He also owned the Robert R. Brown Lumber Co. in Alva.
A strong and unwavering work ethic was a standard for the Brown family.
Adair Brown, ’70, recalls his father picking him up from a little league baseball practice or game to go to work on a construction site. Adair eventually traded the leather glove and wooden bat for hammers and other tools of the building trade.
“As a young child, I would sit on a demolition site and clean used bricks that were destined for a new home,” said Adair. “Brick and mortar construction was a standard for my dad.
“We were taught from a young age that getting up early – four or five in the morning – and doing your job paid dividends in the end.”
With Northwestern a few blocks from home, Adair took advantage of its academic offerings. With the work ethic instilled early in his life, Adair participated in few campus activities. When not in class, he was often on a job site learning the building trade from Robert R.
“My father taught me a profound work ethic, which was not optional. Northwestern then taught me discipline regarding my education. My dad taught me so much about always delivering the best to the customer. He taught me to take care of the customer. That has been a cornerstone of our success. But without the lessons I learned at Northwestern, I would not be where I’m at today.”
While attending Northwestern, Adair and Susan (Ware), ‘68, married. Susan took her degree and taught school in nearby Burlington, Okla., while Adair balanced finishing his economics and political science degrees with working alongside his father. Nighttime often found Susan supporting Adair by typing his college papers.
After graduation, Adair and Susan headed to Austin, Texas, where Adair studied economics at the University of Texas Graduate School of Economics. Yet, the pull of a thriving family construction business brought Adair and Susan back to Alva and then to Pratt, Kans., to build new homes.
They eventually moved their family of three children to Colorado in 1979. Adair expanded his knowledge of the construction industry and developed valuable relationships along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains.
Roger returned to Alva to attend Northwestern and earned his business administration degree in 1988. Northwestern also welcomed his siblings. Randy attended classes in Alva before moving on to colleges in Colorado and California. Julie also attended Northwestern and then completed her degree in early childhood education at Colorado State University.
At Northwestern, Roger sought the same academic advantage his father found years earlier.
“Your greatest mentor may be your dad, your granddad, your uncle,” shared Roger. “Robert R. was – and Adair is – an intelligent and mindful businessman. They provided me with opportunity and insight into the building business. Northwestern then provided me with the business acumen and the understanding of what I could do with the tools learned on the construction site. Northwestern opened me to the awareness of being prepared for the future.”
After receiving his degree, Roger applied his strength in finance to a fast-paced, upward progression of positions in the savings and loan industry. He went to work for Columbia Savings and Loan in Wichita, then moved to its headquarters in Emporia, Kans. After six months, Roger was offered a position in Dallas, Texas, in 1989.
“During this time we experienced the savings and loan crisis. It gave me an opportunity to build a portfolio and work with numbers beyond my experience. I was exposed to complicated transactions.”
His ongoing success found Roger back in Denver, close to family and the continuing legacy of Brown construction. The move also brought a new opportunity.
On September 1, 1992, Adair Group, Inc. opened for business, offering high quality residential and commer-
cial projects along with unquestionable customer service and loyalty to employees.
For Adair, it was another step in how he looked at his career.
“Some go to work, some go to an adventure.”
Joining Adair and Susan in this new chapter were sons Roger and Randy. Randy has since left the company to work independently, but the sense of family commitment remains in the business and in the Browns’ personal lives.
The Steel Magnolia Usually reserved for a woman of the historical Southern United States, the characteristics defined in “steel magnolia” are part of Susan Brown. Petite, beautiful and gentle, she has the strength of steel in her resolve.
Susan continues to be a steadfast advocate for her family and the business. She pays attention to the balance of both and understands the risks in the construction industry.
“I don’t recall a time when I worried about Adair’s business decisions” Susan explained. “I had faith in him. “He was deliberate in calculating both the possibilities and the risks. I was young when I became a part of the family business, so I grew to understand there were risks. But I always thought, ‘If we lose everything, we will just start over.’”
Both Adair and Roger call this steel resolve “the glue that holds this family together.”
“Mom always had the knack to take the edge off of the intensity of the project,” offered Roger. “My dad and I could become so embroiled in a situation. Mom knew how to pull us back and remind us that we both had the same goal, only different methods to get there.
“There is so much involved and much to consider: family, business, finance, etc. There’s a lot to say for keeping this dynamic together and in balance for decades. Mom kept the priorities in front of us. Family comes first.”
The investment that Adair and Susan put into family
is obvious in the ways they support and encourage one another. They appreciate each other’s company.
“Adair and I grew up together. We enjoy each other. We appreciate so many of the same things. I took up golf so we could spend more time together.”
Susan recalls a time when she joined a group of women for a game of golf.
“That just didn’t last. It was more enjoyable playing the course with Adair.”
Do they ever disagree?
“Occasionally,” confesses Susan. “Adair gets quiet and stonewalls,” she offers with both a smile and the expectation of a response.
“Negotiating tactic,” comes the response from Adair, along with a smile.
Roger has led Adair Group, Inc. since 2014.
“It is extremely satisfying coming to work every day and walking into a building that has my father’s name on it. It is wonderful to be part of a legacy that went from building three to four homes a year to where we are today.”
For several years, Adair Group, Inc. opened an average of 365 new doors a year – or one each day of the year. This included single family homes, multiple-family facilities
and commercial buildings. A current point of pride for the business is building dementia care facilities.
“These facilities provide a safe place for our residents who can no longer care for themselves and who need continuous care and supervision,” explained Roger.
And like generations before, Roger takes his 14-year old daughter with him on job sites.
“If I’m out checking jobs on Saturday, Reese is with me. She is shown the good, the bad and the ugly. She may not understand all of it, but she is developing her own concept of the business and can determine what part she wants to play in its future.
“Reese also understands the legacy, and she can choose to define her own role in continuing that legacy of family, business and serving others.”
In his spare time, Roger enjoys family time including joining his wife, Janice (a nurse) or his parents for a game of golf. Adair and Susan will continue spending time with their family, including five grandchildren, ranging in ages from 12 to 18.
At the end of a Northwestern commencement address in May 2008, Adair left the graduates with a quote by John Wesley: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”
This advice is playing well in the Brown family.
Many of us recognize Dr. Janet Cunningham, ‘76, in her role as Northwestern’s president. Leading the Ranger Nation involves welcoming students, meeting with internal and external constituents and stakeholders, and championing the mission of the university. She logs countless hours and miles in her responsibility.
The other side of this lady, however, may be missed by the general public. She is wife to Rick, also a ’76 alum and an attorney; mother to four successful adults; and grandmother to five grandchildren. In her “spare” time, Dr. Cunningham has created and sewn many memorable Halloween costumes; consumed the role of “cheerleader” on the sidelines of her loved ones’ games and recitals; and has served as outfielder while Rick coaches grandson Zane in hitting the t-ball (and Zane can really hit that ball!).
Enjoy the photos showing another side of our president.
The lights are low as people file in to claim their seats. With one hand holding a tub of popcorn and the other holding a drink, it is time to settle in and enjoy the movie.
The Rialto theatre has been a long-standing business in the Alva community. Its origin dates back to the 1920s when Homer Jones came to Alva in 1929 to manage the original theatre.
In 1949, Homer opened the new Rialto at its existing site on the Alva square. The building underwent extensive construction, adding in all new seating. The first movie to play in the new Rialto theatre was “It’s a Great Feeling”, starring Doris Day, Jack Carson and Dennis Morgan.
The Rialto stayed in the Jones family for many more years as Johnny Jones, Homer’s son, eventually took over managing the theatre.
Johnny was born and raised in Alva. He graduated from Alva High School before attending Northwestern where he earned his degree in sociology and business. He graduated from Northwestern in 1968 and was then drafted in the Army.
Once out of the Army in 1970, Johnny returned to Alva to help his father with the new drive-in theatre in 1971. The drive-in was located on south Lane street.
Johnny and his wife, Donna, managed the drive-in for seven years. Donna ran the concession stand while Johnny operated the projectors.
Johnny said one of his favorite memories of the drive-in was Ranger Night, when Northwestern college students were able to attend a free movie.
“It was always kind of a fun deal,” Johnny said, “to have all those kids in one spot.”
The drive-in closed in 1985, and the main focus turned to the Rialto theatre. In 1981, the Rialto went from one large theatre to three separate screens.
While the theatre shows movies on-screen, Johnny said they also decided to go into the video business. The theatre rented out VHS tapes, and currently rents out DVDs and Blu-ray. At the end of 2019, rentals will stop completely.
Johnny said another fond memory about the Rialto theatre was all the birthday parties his dad held for him there.
“He had a trailer before the movies advertising my birthday that had my picture with it,” Johnny said.
The Rialto was passed to yet another generation in the Jones family in 2015.
Jesse Jones never thought he would go into the theatre business. He grew up in Alva and around the theatre business with his father Johnny, but always
thought he would get out of Alva and do something else.
Jesse attended Northwestern and graduated in 2001 with a business degree. For a brief time, he attended the University of Oklahoma because he thought he wanted to pursue a career in architecture.
He soon realized that was not the direction for him and he returned to Alva. He met his wife, Brandy, and settled his family in Alva.
It then became clear that the theatre business was for him. He took over management of the Rialto fully in 2015.
“I kind of fell in love with it again,” Jesse said. “I love movies and I love everything about it, and I
“For it to be here this long and to stay in the same family, I think we kind of know what we are doing,” Jesse said.
Looking toward the future of Rialto, Jesse said it is important for good movies to be made in order to attract an audience.
He said when he was younger, he loved watching movies after hours with his friends.
“When I was little, I loved going down there and making myself a drink and getting me a sack of popcorn,” Jesse said. “I just loved taking my friends with me just to have them experience it too.”
Both Jesse and Johnny still support Northwestern as much as they can. They are both involved with Rowdy Rangers, which is a group of individuals
had the chance to take it over and run it and keep it in the family.”
Both Johnny and Jesse said one of the most challenging aspects of keeping the theatre running is competing with all the other technology. Between programs like Netflix, Hulu and the ability to watch movies online, it has proved difficult at times to bring in people to watch movies at the Rialto.
“The biggest challenge is figuring out how we can get attendance up,” Johnny said.
Johnny also said some of the hardest parts about running a business are finding new ways to keep it going.
Johnny said it means a lot to him that Rialto has stayed in business for so long in Alva. Jesse said he thinks it shows how good his dad was in keeping it going, even through the occasionally rough times.
that helps with various events on campus, such as cooking hamburgers and hot dogs for Northwestern’s family week celebration.
The Jones have built and managed a long-time staple in the Alva community. Their strong ties to Alva, as well as Northwestern, have allowed the people of Alva to enjoy numerous films, popcorn and happy hour drinks for decades.
The legacy of the Rialto and Jones family is and will continue to be strong in the community.
“Saturday Matinee when I was a kid; cartoon and double feature, A/C in summer, soda, popcorn and the movie for about 25 cents.... lots of great memories when it was a single screen with balcony.... they even had a coin operated comb machine in the men’s room.”
—Gary D. Oakes“Saw ‘American Graffiti’ there in 1974. Also remember seeing ‘Godspell’ there in 1973. Great theater!”
—Steve Wyatt“I remember when I was younger going as a family to watch Raiders of the Lost Ark when it came out... I also remember getting in line for the premiere showing of Twister. LOTS of people lined up to see that show on the first day. I also remember going with friends, my dad, my sister and my friend’s dad to see Silence of the Lambs - I think I’m still scarred from that evening! At one point in the show I said out loud in disbelief - He cut off his face! Everyone found it pretty funny, and then we went for pizza afterward, and the pizza just seemed awful to look at after that!”
—Valarie
Case“I loved the Saturday matinees. Saw all the Superman movies, etc. so much fun!! I remember I had my feet on the back of the seat in front of me.... never did that again! Homer Jones, who was the owner then, would walk up and down the aisle with his flashlight. If you got caught with your feet up on the seat in front of you, he would whack your shin with the flashlight. Ouch!!! I learned quickly.”
—Deb Haltom“I saw “Jailhouse Rock” at the Rialto while visiting my cousin in the 60s. Fast forward, my husband and I had many dates at Rialto in late ‘60s to early 70s. It cost two dollars to see the movie and buy 2 popcorns and 2 pops. Good memories! My husband reminded me our first date was at the Rialto. We saw “Pink Jungle” with James Garner. Years later, we saw Garner being interviewed on the Tonight; he said “ Pink Jungle” was the worst movie he made. We got a big laugh out of the remark.”
—Kay
GamalloToby Keith made a good point when he sang “I should’ve been a cowboy”.
The Northwestern Oklahoma State University rodeo team and its members compete year-round. Led by head coach Stockton Graves, the cowboys and cowgirls have seen large success lately.
Coach Graves has led the Northwestern Oklahoma State rodeo team since the spring of 2012. He grew up participating in rodeo, and has spent nearly 13 years competing professionally. He has competed in several different events such as roping and team roping, as well as steer wrestling.
Since coming to Northwestern, Graves has led and coached talented teams as well as talented individuals.
He has his own success on the dirt, however. Graves continues to compete in the World Champions Rodeo Alliance (WCRA). On June 1, 2019, at the event at the Titletown Stampede in Green Bay, Wis., he won the steer wrestling event with a time of 3.65 seconds. His win earned him $62,500.
Graves said winning was a good feeling and it was exciting. He said what was nice about his win was having the opportunity to accomplish it.
“It’s our goal, it’s what we set out to do. So when you accomplish it, it feels good.”
Along with his success, two of Graves’ athletes also won big in the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) that took place in Casper, Wyo. On June 15, 2019, Bridger Anderson and Taylor Munsell both won the National Championship – Anderson in steer wrestling and Munsell in breakaway roping.
Munsell, ‘19, from Arnett, Okla., won her first national title in the breakaway roping event. It is also the first-ever national title won by a women’s rodeo team member at Northwestern.
Munsell has been competing in rodeo since she was very young. She got into breakaway roping
after shoulder surgery made it more difficult for her to team rope. Since she has been in college, it has proven to be the right event for her.
After competing in ten college rodeos throughout the year, she found herself in the CNFR arena in Casper, gunning for a national title.
“It’s one of the best atmospheres I have roped in,” Munsell said. “There’s so many people there and they’re so loud; it’s crazy.”
She said one of the hardest parts about competing is keeping a good mindset.
“Your biggest enemy is yourself in rodeo and it’s hard sometimes,” Munsell said. “One run goes bad and you want to dog yourself.”
Munsell has worked hard to progress throughout her career to win a national title. She said her mentality has changed, and she takes each run for what it is.
“Taylor is very talented,” Anderson said of his college teammate. “She is probably, if not the best, one of the best breakaway ropers in the nation right now. She’s an awesome cowgirl and a really great person.”
Munsell plans to return to Northwestern and obtain a Master’s degree. She will also compete in her final year of college rodeo, as well as continue
to compete at the professional level.
Anderson, a sophomore from Carrington, N.D., became the second men’s rodeo team member to take home a national title. JD Struxness won the Ranger’s first-ever national championship in rodeo in 2016.
Anderson has competed in rodeo all his life. He picked steer wrestling – aka, bulldogging – when he was three years old. It is the event he has stuck with ever since.
Just like Munsell, Anderson competed during his college season at Northwestern which landed him a spot at the CNFR in Casper to compete for a national title.
“I was probably more nervous on my first three runs than in my final round,” Anderson said. But nerves did not hold him back.
He said as soon as he looked up at the clock, he knew he had gotten it done.
“When I looked up and read 6.7 seconds, I fell back in the arena and threw my arms up in huge relief,” Anderson said. “Thought I might have just laid in the arena forever.”
He has received great support from Coach Graves, and he is grateful for his teammates who have always been there to help him out and cheer him up.
“Bridger bulldogs better than most kids in college rodeo,” Munsell said of her college teammate. “He’s a great athlete and has the right mindset and the right tools, and he’s putting them to use.”
Graves commented on how excited he was for
his two team members to accomplish this achievement.
“It’s great for the rodeo team and it’s great for Northwestern,” Graves said. “I’m very proud of those two.”
Graves emphasized that both Munsell and Anderson are extremely committed to what they do. He said their strong commitment is what makes them stand out a bit more.
“They have committed their lives to what they do,” Graves said. “That’s a big difference between them and others.”
The support from the Alva community and Northwestern is obvious.
“They’re always supportive of anything we do,” Graves said. “Trying to build this program, I believe this town gets behind it and understands what we need to do.”
With future Ranger rodeo teams, Graves said their goal is to compete for and win national championships. He said he will also continue to compete with the WCRA.
Along with winning, he wants his team members to succeed in school. He also wants his team athletes to have great experiences and be proud of what they have done and where they attended school.
“I want Northwestern to be a national competitor,” Graves said. “Year in and year out.”
Munsell, Anderson and the rest of the Northwestern rodeo team are paving the way for this goal.
Northwestern Oklahoma State University rodeo has become a nationally recognized team in recent years, and donors have recently stepped forward to enhance the program’s resources.
Twenty horse stalls with runs were recently completed north of Alva at the existing Don Campbell rodeo training facility.
”We’ve had the plans to build this facility for over a year and I’m very pleased with how fast the construction took place,” said Stockton Graves, Northwestern’s head rodeo coach.
With more than 110 student athletes, Graves believes this new facility will be beneficial to existing competitors and to future ones in the rodeo program, as well.
The generosity of Richard Ryerson and his family has revitalized one of Northwestern’s most easily recognized and beloved buildings. And on a sunny autumn day in November, Ryerson Hall was officially recognized at a dedication ceremony attended by the public.
Originally named Science Hall, and more recently Fine Arts, Ryerson Hall’s 386 windows were replaced during the summer of 2019. Before new windows, tuck-pointing of the exterior brick façade was painstakingly completed. Restroom renovation will finish the project by the end of the year.
Richard and his late wife, Johnece, supported campus enhancements in the past, including the entrance signage to campus. They also invested in academic endowments, including a chair and several scholarships. And if you’re close to the Alva campus, you will hear the distinctive chimes from the new carillon system that Richard gifted to the University.
Felipe Eichenberger grew up in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. He enjoyed playing other sports while growing up, but soon developed a passion for basketball.
His love and talent for the game eventually led him to be recruited by coaches Bob Battisti and Andrew Brown to play college basketball. He played all four years he attended Northwestern. He chose to play at Northwestern because of the coaches and his like for Alva.
At first, Eichenberger was unsure of what career he wanted to pursue. He said it all started with something Coach Battisti had his players do. Eichenberger said every year Coach Battisti had them write down their goals — season, short-term and long-term — on a piece of paper and keep it in their locker.
“My freshman year I didn’t really know,” Eichenberger said. “I wrote down some random goals, not really knowing what I wanted.”
It wasn’t until his second year that Eichenberger fell in love with strength conditioning. He then had a confident goal to write on the paper Coach Battisti gave him.
“My goal then for year two was to be a strength and conditioning coach for a basketball team in the NBA,” Eichenberger said.
His dream to be a strength and conditioning coach at the highest level of basketball never wavered. Upon graduating from Northwestern in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in health and sports science, he began the journey of achieving his dream.
He traveled to Las Vegas, Nev., to work in an internship. It was there he came into contact with people associated with the Denver Nuggets, and he eventually moved to Denver. He began reaching out to the former head strength and conditioning coach,
Steve Hess, trying to find an opportunity with the Nuggets.
“I called him three months in a row, two times a day,” Eichenberger said. “It was like I was the annoying guy.”
His persistence opened the door for him.
Hess contacted Eichenberger and asked him to work at the gym he owned in downtown Denver. Eichenberger worked there as a performance trainer until another opportunity presented itself.
During the NBA lockout period, Hess was unable to train the players for the Nuggets because of rules set by the NBA. Eichenberger received the opportunity to train some of the players from the Nuggets during this time.
Eichenberger’s training of the players was a success, as both Hess and the Nuggets players liked him.
Eichenberger then finally reached his ultimate goal of being the strength and conditioning coach for the Denver Nuggets. He spent eight years as the assistant strength and conditioning coach and is now in his third year as head strength and conditioning coach.
As a strength and conditioning coach, he is responsible for creating workouts that keep the players in good shape and
condition. He said he puts together a variety of different workouts for his players.
“My main thing is keep it basic, work hard and make it fun,” Eichenberger said. “I try to keep it interesting, intense and simple.”
His love for his job comes easily. He said it is important to him that whatever he does as work, he does not want it to feel like a job, but rather something he loves doing.
“I come to work every single day happy, looking forward to seeing the guys, and I love basketball,” Eichenberger said. “This is not a job to me. It’s a passion.”
One of the hardest parts of his job is traveling so much while his family is at home in Denver. He said it gets tough during the season as he is with the team more than he is with his family.
His family includes Carly and their three children Gia, August and Maxwell.
Eichenberger gives much credit of his success to Northwestern, where he met great people, instructors and coaches. He admitted he did not speak superior English when he came to Northwestern, but his professors and coaches helped him both with English
Eichenberger was given his Outstanding Graduate Ranger Recognition award by John Allen (left) and Skeeter Bird at the Denver Nuggets practice facility in Denver, Colo.
and keeping up with his classes.
Eichenberger shared that his favorite memory of Northwestern was in 2007 when he and his team made the Elite Eight in the NAIA tournament in Kansas City.
“Northwestern was just special,” Eichenberger said. “I think every single moment at Northwestern has something special for me.”
“This is not a job to me. It’s a passion.”
’68 Sheldon Russell’s 11th novel was published in October 2019. A Forgotten Evil is a historical fiction novel centering on the Battle of Washita River, “one of the bloodiest battles of the Indian wars on the 19th century.”
’72 Jim Blevins was inducted into the Oklahoma Track Coaches Hall of Fame. While at Northwestern, Blevins ran hurdles, pole-vaulted and was a punter for the Ranger football team.
’16
’07 Eric Wheeler and Dr. Kathryn Salvatore on February 14, 2019.
’92 Max Ridgway published Musical Traditions in Western Culture: A Concise Survey. Ridgway earned his bachelor’s degree from Berklee College of Music, before completing his Master’s degree in Music Education from Northwestern. He currently serves as an adjunct instructor of music at Northwestern Oklahoma State University.
’01 Lynn Scott was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in January 2019, honored for power and leadership on the field as a defensive back and special teams player. Scott was a member of the 1999 National Championship team, and went on to play for the Dallas Cowboys.
’07 Eric Wheeler began a new job as Social Media Content Lead at Patterson Companies, Inc., in Minnesota.
’09 Candace Kite is the new Associate Director of Alumni Engagement with the University of Tulsa Alumni Association.
’15 Haley Ragan began her new role as loan officer with REI Business Lending Team in August 2018, and is located in Alva.
’16 Jordan Evans began working as an Assistant Transportation Planner with the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments in April. He is responsible for promoting and planning active transportation throughout central Oklahoma. This includes updating the Regional Active Transportation Master Plan and coordinating with member communities on their bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure.
In 2018, Evans was awarded the NextGen Under 30 award by ionOklahoma. He and his wife, Natalie, ’16, have been married for three years.
’18 Audrey Estes recently finished her first year of physical therapy school at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Estes is also class president and is active in many leadership opportunities, along with attending multiple state and national conferences for physical therapy.
’41 Jadeena P. Brown, 11/27/2018
’44 Arthur Lancaster, 8/6/2018
’48 Betty J. Beasley, 1/19/2019
’49 Oleta A. Peters, 11/29/2018
’50 William D. Campbell, 1/15/2019
’50 Mary Holder, 2/27/2019
’53 Shirley Cummings, 3/30/2019
’53 Lynn D. Puffinbarger, 7/31/2018
’54 Kenneth W. Brown, 12/3/2018
’54 William E. Lowe, 2/23/2019
’56 Willis L. Winder, 12/5/2018
’57 R. Deane Wymer, 7/7/2018
’58 Korwin J. Goodwin, 1/13/2019
’59 John C. Branch, 12/6/2018
’59 Guy Winters, 10/21/2018
’60 James A. Beers, 11/24/2018
’60 Paul W. White, 11/19/2018
’62 James W. Lambert, 12/30/2018
’63 Larry E. Claflin, 2/3/2019
’63 Patsy J. Robertson, 6/9/2018
’66 Connie J. Allen, 8/5/2018
’67 Jo Rhea Lansdown, 3/5/2019
’69 Leslie A. Kamas, 5/25/2019
’70 Steven R. Hannaford, 3/9/2019
’70 Michael W. Mitchel, 7/1/ 2018
’70 Donald E. Simmons, 11/30/2018
’72 Patricia J. Chaffin, 12/14/2018
’73 Larry D. Coontz, 7/27/2018
’74 Roy D. Achemire, 8/19/2018
’74 Melvin C. Bickford, 12/16/2018
’77 Lynn L. Martin, 3/12/2019
’78 Janet R. Jobes, 10/10/2018
’82 Kimberly A. Daniels, 2/16/2019
’08 Debra Hogan, 1/25/2019
’14 Caitlyn L. McOsker, 9/23/2018
We want to know!
You became a Ranger here. Once a Ranger, always a Ranger. So where are you now?
Have you started a family? Do you own a business? Who have you become? We want to know!
Please complete the form at my.nwfoundation.com/whereareyounow and tell us about your journey!
Have you recently welcomed a little one to your family? Send us your birth announcement and we’ll send you our Lil’ Rangers tee shirt! What’s the catch? We want you to send us a photo of your child wearing the shirt, and we’ll print the information in the pages of the roundUP alumni magazine!
Please send the following information to nwalumni@nwosu.edu - child’s name, birth date and weight, parents’ names, Northwestern graduation years of parents and mailing address.
2018,
Kynnadi Jones, born February 26, 2018, to Kody and Ashlynn (Frey), ’11
Tate (right) and Jacob Asher Tate, born April 26, 2018, to John and Amy (Stewart), ’04
Aspyn
Isaiah
born June 27, 2019, to Trey, ’14, and Kat (Kuhlmann)
580-327-8593
nwalumni@nwosu.edu
my.nwfoundation.com
