OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF TEXAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY
Spring 2012
A New Era Begins
A bold vision for the future of Texas Wesleyan takes shape at the presidential inauguration of Frederick G. Slabach.
President Frederick G. Slabach and former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright
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Contents
1 2 3 4 6 8 11 12 13 14
Message from President Frederick G. Slabach
Dean Steven Daniell Recognized by Cultural Ministry of France Room for Discussion
The Big Read Celebrates Communitywide Reading Events Strategic Plan 2020: A Foundation for Excellence Investiture Ceremony Ushers in the Era of Frederick G. Slabach Texas Wesleyan University Bestows Honorary Degrees Madeleine K. Albright Book Signing Inauguration Activities
A Glamorous Night for Wesleyan
16 18 19 20 21 22 25 26 31 33
The NAIA’s Best Are Choosing Texas Wesleyan Teeing it up with Lee Trevino
Wesleyan Golf Expands its Legend University College Day: Imagine. Create. Connect. Message from Alumni Association President The Accidental Artist
Friends + Fun = Alumni Reunion Weekend Alumni News
In Memoriam
Tribute Gift Recognition
Critical Thinkers You’ll need to learn more than facts to succeed in the real world. That’s why we place critical thinking and analytical reasoning at the center of our education. You’ll get opportunities at Texas Wesleyan you won’t get anywhere else – like University College Day, a celebration of student research. “I had the opportunity to participate in University College Day as a presenter and it definitely helped me grow as a leader and public speaker. It was my first experience in front of a classroom teaching. … I learned that teaching isn’t as easy as it looks!” ~Samantha Max, sophomore English major
PRESIDENT Frederick G. Slabach EDITOR Laura J. Hanna CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Chuck Burton Ken Roberts Laura J. Hanna Darren White Josh Lacy DESIGN J.O.
Dear Alumni & Friends,
Thank you for helping to make the inauguration festivities such a great success. There is no doubt in my mind that our inauguration ceremonies served to build new respect for our esteemed institution. During this twoday event, which you can read more about in our cover story, we impressed not only our friends and fans, but we also established important new relationships with many influential members of our community. My sincere thanks go to Louella and Nicholas Martin, who hosted a world-class gala on the evening before my investiture. I am also grateful to Madame Secretary Madeleine Albright for making both the gala and the inauguration ceremony so memorable. The historical event clearly renewed interest in our future, as it served to formally introduce the University’s vision. Our vision is the foundation for all that Texas Wesleyan will become, and in this issue, you can read the highlights of the strategic plan that fuels our vision through 2020. I believe that the immediate future holds great promise for Texas Wesleyan. We’re intentionally small, with a focus on student success. Our faculty members are engaging educators, dedicated to developing critical thinking and analytical reasoning skills, so students will thrive in graduate school and in their professional careers. This point is critical because prospective students and their families understand that in today’s world, a college degree is the minimum requirement of a sound education. What influences their college choice is the prospect of gaining the skills needed to go on to graduate school or to stand out as desirable candidates as they enter their chosen profession. Developing these skills is what Texas Wesleyan does best. Our graduates are movers and shakers who are prominent in business, influential in public service, and inspirational in the classroom. They make a difference in their professions and in the communities where they live. Our Methodist foundation calls upon us to transform the world by transforming lives one student at a time. Our small, liberal arts setting perfectly suits the needs of today’s motivated students. And it puts Texas Wesleyan in a unique position to leverage our strengths. Texas Wesleyan’s new marketing campaign says it best – in just two words … Smaller. Smarter. Sincerely,
COPY EDITOR Janna Franzwa Canard
PHOTOGRAPHY Glen Ellman Tom Pennington
Darren White Jose Valdez
OFFICE OF ADVANCEMENT AND ALUMNI RELATIONS 817-531-4404 | 817-531-7560 (fax) alumni@txwes.edu
Wesleyan is an official publication for alumni and friends of Texas Wesleyan University. It is published in the fall and spring by the Texas Wesleyan University Office of Marketing & Communications. The views presented are not necessarily those of the editors or the official policies of the University. ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Barry Baker ’84 Patsy Clifford ’55 Karen Cole ’99 MBA ’04, vice president Martha Cole ’62 Michael Denis ’74 Martha Earngey ’77, secretary Presley Hatcher ’74 Syndi Hillberry ’86 Hayden Lackey ’08 David D. Martin MBA ’04, president Gladys Moore ’73 Cindy Olivera ’08 Sharon Roberson-Jones ’96 Glen Tuggle ’85, treasurer Jorge Vivar ’76 Kathy Walker ’97 Jerry Wood ’69 Ben Younger ’63 EMERITUS MEMBER E. Frank Leach ’53 EX-OFFICIO MEMBER Dr. Carl G. Schrader, Jr. TEXAS WESLEYAN STAFF Joan S. Canty, vice president for university advancement Gina Phillips ’97 MSP ’07, director of development and alumni relations DeAwna Wood ’05, assistant director of alumni relations John M. Veilleux MBA ’04, vice president for marketing and communications
Frederick G. Slabach President
Chuck Burton, assistant vice president for marketing and communications Laura J. Hanna, director of communications
Dean Steven Daniell Recognized by
Cultural Ministry of France
S
teven Daniell, dean of the school of arts and
letters, was made a Chevalier dans l’Orde des Palmes Academiques (Knight in the Order of Academic Palms) by the cultural ministry of France
in a ceremony in the Baker Building at Texas Wesleyan University on Nov. 29, 2011. “Dr. Daniell has served with high proficiency and dedication in the academic domain,” Frederic Bontems, consul general of France in Texas, said at the presentation. “He is a great teacher of French and a great promoter of French language and culture.” The award is a high honor – The Order was initially established by Napoleon Bonaparte to recognize contributions to French language and culture, and President René Coty revived the honor in 1955. The award was pinned on to Daniell’s lapel with his wife, Lauren, and the Texas Wesleyan community of faculty and staff looking on. Daniell thanked his family, academic mentors and Texas Wesleyan, which he said allows him to continue to research, publish and present his work across North America. Daniell has been active in promoting French and francophone language and culture since receiving his doctorate in French from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1991. He served as the National French Contest administrator for Alabama for 13 years, and he also served as president of the Alabama Association of Teachers of French from 1997 to 2001. He has been a vice president of the American Association of Teachers of French since 2009, and regularly presents papers on contemporary French-language literature. Daniell is active and interested in all aspects of teaching French, Jayne Abrate, executive director of the American Association of Teachers of French, said in July. “From academic research, to working with teachers at all levels – he is an exemplary professor of French. He always brings expertise and good ideas to the table,” Abrate, who nominated Daniell for the award, said.
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Above: Steven Daniell; below: Lauren and Steven Daniell, Frederic Bontems, and Frederick G. Slabach; at bottom: Steven Daniell and Frederic Bontems
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Room for Discussion
Open forum sessions allow President Slabach to hear from faculty and staff members.
By Darren White
D
o you have a question? Just ask. President Frederick G. Slabach held a series of open forum meetings on campus about the 2012-2013 fiscal
year budget planning process and to listen to ideas from the Texas Wesleyan community. The forums – which were held in January, February and March, with more scheduled throughout the semester – allowed faculty and staff from across the University to have an active voice in the budget planning process. “The University has a very, very bright future,” Slabach said at a March meeting. “I’m going to make sure that we do everything we can to fulfill our potential.” Slabach also used the forums – most of which were held in the McFadden Science Lecture Theatre, though the January session was held in Martin Hall – to give updates on ideas the committee was investigating, including proposals from outside companies to increase the school’s environmental efficiency at minimal cost to the University, and other cost-saving measures. The topics and questions were serious, and the meetings were candid, open discussions, with Slabach delivering up-to-date enrollment and fundraising numbers, as well as answering questions about employee benefits, University finances and student support. “This gives an opportunity for faculty and staff to ask questions if they have concerns,” Joe Brown, dean of freshman success and professor of theatre arts and communication, said. “[Slabach] is open and honest and is trying to open the lines of communication.”
The success of the meetings led the president to add more sessions after the end of the budget planning process. Meetings in the future will address a wide range of topics and will act as a continued line of communication between Slabach and the faculty and staff. “Communication like this is really one of [Slabach’s] strong suits,” Marilyn Pugh, associate professor of psychology, said. “His honesty and sincerity are quite apparent, and the clarity and candor of his remarks are refreshing.”
The meetings were held as part of Slabach’s larger “Budget: Common Sense” initiative. Faculty and staff members submitted ideas to improve efficiency at Texas Wesleyan through an online “My Idea” submission box, or on paper through a physical box.
Suggestions began in January and continued to come in throughout the semester. The successful measure received nearly 200 responses to date, all of which were shared with Slabach and the budget planning committee. Some ideas were integrated into the process. Ideas covered many areas of Texas Wesleyan’s operations, including environmental and health initiatives. The idea box, Slabach said, became more than just a channel for budget suggestions; it’s a place for ideas to make the University more efficient not just financially, but also in time and student support. “We want to approach the budget planning process with a healthy dose of ‘common sense,’” Slabach said in an email to faculty and staff before the January open forum, “and to do that I need your input.”
Intentionally Small You’re only in college a few years. Why spend it in a 200-person lecture hall when you could learn in the field? In our Conservation Biology class, students are working to catalog and protect a native plant species on a natural Texas prairie just a few blocks from campus. That’s the kind of real, hands-on, experience-based learning you can only get at a school that’s small by design. College doesn’t last a lifetime, but the experiences you get here matter. Make the most of them. See why smaller is smarter.
The Big Read The Big Read Celebrates Communitywide Reading Events By Laura Hanna
I
n a months-long celebration of reading, Texas Wesleyan University led The Big Read: Fort Worth Reads Together initiative that began with a communitywide kickoff event at the Tarrant Area
Windell Middlebrooks and Wilamae
supporter of education – and he credits Trimble Tech theatre arts teacher/director and chair of the fine arts department Cheryl Penland for his success.
Food Bank in late February and continued with events
“She is the reason I’m doing what I’m doing today,” he said.
through the end of May.
Penland speaks fondly of Middlebrooks and how he has stayed involved with the high school. He was instrumental in creating a scholarship for college-bound students who will major or minor in theatre, she said.
Civic leaders, university mascots and nearly 150 spectators were on hand for The Big Read kickoff, which featured emcee Windell Middlebrooks, an actor who is well known for his role as the outgoing Miller High Life delivery man on commercials and as Dr. Curtis Brumfield on Body of Proof.
Middlebrooks, a Trimble Tech alumnus, flew in from Los Angeles for the occasion because he is a strong
“It’s very sad when we look at food as a luxury. Our community reading discussions will help fill the shelves of the Tarrant Area Food Bank.” ~Windell Middlebrooks
“He also frequently comes back to work with my students, speak to my classes, and help my students with their acting skills. In every encounter with them, Windell emphasizes the value of education and the great foundation he got at Trimble Tech and in the FWISD,” she said.
STEINBECK CLASSIC HITS HOME All of The Big Read events relate to this year’s chosen book, The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. Admission to all events is a donation of food for the food bank. Middlebrooks drew a comparison between the Great Depression, which is spotlighted in the novel, and current times. “It’s amazing to me that we are talking about this classic and we’re seeing a lot of similarities,” he said. “It’s very sad when we look at food as a luxury. Our community reading discussions will help fill the shelves of the Tarrant Area Food Bank.” Last summer, Texas Wesleyan University was awarded an $11,700 grant to participate in The Big Read, an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts designed to restore reading to the center of American culture. Texas Wesleyan is one of four grant recipients in Texas.
Frederick G. Slabach with Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price and Executive Director Bo Soderbergh at the Tarrant Area Food Bank
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“Teaching your children to read and seeing that they read is one of the best things you can do. Mostly, it’s just flat fun.” ~Mayor Betsy Price
At right: Frederick G. Slabach with Windell Middlebrooks and Wilamae
Texas Wesleyan President Frederick G. Slabach spoke at
“Teaching your children to read and seeing that they
the event and expressed his enthusiasm for the project and
read is one of the best things you can do,” Price said.
its impact throughout the community. Slabach shared the
“Mostly, it’s just flat fun. It takes your mind off what
variety of activities, stating that there would be something
you’re working on and it’s fun.”
of interest for everyone on hand – from theatrical performances and book discussions to art contests and antique car shows.
A week prior to the kickoff, the City of Fort Worth honored Texas Wesleyan and The Big Read with a proclamation acknowledging the University’s and the
“The Big Read programming provides citizens with the opportunity to read and discuss a single book within their communities,” Slabach said. “We encourage you
Fort Worth Public Library’s roles in revitalizing literature in American culture. Slabach and Twyla Miranda, Texas Wesleyan professor of graduate education and program director of The Big Read, were on hand at the city council
to participate in the variety of engaging events to be
meeting to accept the proclamation. Also present were
hosted by our many partners over the next few months
partners from The Reading Connection, Tarrant Literacy
supporting this citywide reading project.”
Coalition, Tarrant Area Food Bank, and Fort Worth
Slabach concluded his comments by donating a bag of
Independent School District.
canned goods to the collection box and then introducing
Texas Wesleyan’s other community partners include the
Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price.
Fort Worth Public Library, City of Fort Worth, Friends of the Fort Worth Library, Texas Christian University,
READING IS JUST FLAT FUN
Tarrant County College, Artes de la Rosa/Rose Marine
The mayor spoke of the importance of reading
Theater, National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame,
and talked about how she enjoys reading to her
Stage West Allied Theater Group, Dallas Model A Club,
grandchildren.
Barnes & Noble, and area high schools.
A Texas-Sized Reputation As the longest-running higher education institution in Fort Worth, we’re a small school with a big legacy. Our university and our graduates have been vital players in the Fort Worth community for more than 120 years, and we’re only getting started. We have one of only two law schools in DFW, and U.S. News & World Report ranked our pioneering graduate nurse anesthesia program in the top schools for anesthesia training. We also have graduate programs in counseling, education and business. Our history speaks for itself.
Strategic Plan 2020:
A Foundation for Excellence ACADEMIC DISTINCTION – CRITICAL THINKING TAKES CENTER STAGE
From small businesses to Fortune 500 companies, employers need employees who can see the bigger picture and think for themselves. “This style of learning doesn’t just prepare students to be strong employees,” Allen Henderson, provost and senior vice president, said. “It prepares them to be responsible citizens.”
By Darren White
P
icture the future of Texas Wesleyan. You might see new buildings or overhear students talking about new
academic programs.
STUDENT EXPERIENCE
The vision for Texas Wesleyan’s
The strategic plan sets concrete benchmarks for the growth of the University (3,400 full-time enrolled
future success requires a present day plan, and the University has completed its 2020 Strategic Goals,
Objectives, and Measures. The plan, which can be read in full at txwes.edu/strategicplan, features definitive goals and benchmarks for Texas Wesleyan through the next eight years. So, how did the strategic plan come together? It started with listening. “A strategic plan that comes from the desk of a president is of very limited value,” President Frederick G. Slabach said. “As we began to sit down and listen to all constituency groups, we noticed the major themes became easy to identify.”
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Classes will focus on both written assignments and classroom discussions, which challenge students beyond mere memorization. Study abroad trips and internships will put classroom concepts into real-world focus.
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students), and places an importance on student retention and experience – a measurable “vibrant student life” – and an increase in student retention. “On-campus students are the center of student life,” Pati Alexander, vice president of enrollment and student services, said. “And more students living on campus creates an energy and activity to the University.”
CAMPUS ENHANCEMENT A physical environment that fosters critical thinking and vibrant student life is crucial. To meet those needs, the University has engaged with an engineering firm, Freese and Nichols, to develop a master plan for the campus – a work that defines what facilities Texas Wesleyan needs. The plan lays out the best way to utilize Wesleyan’s space, and advocates for an area that leads people into the heart of the campus. The master planning dovetails with the public investment in the Rosedale
area, where numerous street and streetscape improvements are scheduled to take place. “Providing an attractive, well-utilized space where our students can learn is a very important priority for the strategic plan,” Slabach said.
FINANCIAL VITALITY Financial responsibility is at the core of the University’s financial plan. A strong, fiscally responsible university is a goal that not only pays rewards now – it pays toward the University’s future. Prudent resource management will be utilized through an effort of smart academic program planning, strong enrollment numbers, and alumni giving to strengthen the school’s financial stature. All capital projects will be funded primarily through gifts. Endowment growth – a goal of 5 percent a year – will lead to an endowment balance of $50 million.
MARKETING & BRAND RECOGNITION Increasing Texas Wesleyan’s marketing and brand recognition will yield an important result – greater visibility for the University. “We’re committed to expanding the University’s presence in the marketplace,” John Veilleux MBA ’04, vice president for marketing and communications, said. “We want Texas Wesleyan to be a strong presence as a regional university.” To do this, Texas Wesleyan is implementing a strategy that unifies the University’s look across all channels – including web and publications – and communicates Texas Wesleyan University’s strengths to new students and transfer students. “I believe that we are delivering a great education at Texas Wesleyan,” Slabach said, ”and we need to make sure that across the DFW area that message is being heard.”
Get Involved! Here’s what you can do to help: Connect with a Program: You can speak to a class or provide internship opportunities. Refer a Ram: Know someone who will thrive at Texas Wesleyan? Put them in contact with the Office of Admissions at 817-531-4422 or admissions@txwes.edu.
Become a Ram Wrangler: Help the admissions process hands-on by participating in call-a-thons, high school and college fairs, and hosting events for potential students in your home. You don’t have to live in the DFW area.
Fund a Scholarship: You can help Texas Wesleyan students by funding a scholarship. Call the Office of Advancement at 817-531-4404 for more information. Share the Wesleyan Story: Visit txwes.edu/smarter and learn about our university’s strengths and how to talk about them.
Share Your Story! Visit txwes.edu/tellus to share your story about the impact Texas Wesleyan has made in your life. Write us, send us a photo of you in action, or upload the link to a short YouTube clip about your experience!
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Investiture Ceremony Ushers in the Era of
Frederick G. Slabach
By Laura Hanna
The anticipation. The planning. The preparation. All for the inauguration. Nearly 1,200 spectators were on hand for the investiture ceremony for Frederick G. Slabach, the 20th president of Texas Wesleyan University. They were treated to a historic day with weather that was less like late January and more like spring - mild, sunny and breezy. Slabach greeted the crowd with enthusiasm and candor. “I am honored to be here and bask in the reflected glow of the 122-year history and traditions of this great institution of higher learning,“ he said. Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright, the keynote speaker for the inauguration, spoke of her respect for the University’s leader whom she has known for a decade. “Texas Wesleyan could not have chosen a better leader,” she said.
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A VISION FOR THE UNIVERSITY
THE KEY TO TRANSFORMING THE WORLD
“Fred Slabach has a clear vision for this University’s future based on what is best for students — including relatively small classes, a regular dialogue between undergraduates and faculty, a commitment to lifelong learning, and an emphasis on critical thinking,” Albright said.
The importance of higher education was a recurring theme during the investiture ceremony.
“This emphasis is needed because you don’t have to be an expert in foreign policy to know that our globe has suffered a great deal in the past from wishful and simplistic thinkers, not to mention those who failed to think at all,” she said. “Critical thinking is the opposite of that; it’s another name for asking hard questions, keeping an open mind, and relying on facts, instead of stereotypes or prejudice as the basis for action.”
“I believe that higher education is the greatest socioeconomic elevator ever devised by man,” Slabach said. “And I believe it is the mission of higher education to transform the world by transforming lives, one student at a time.” Slabach also took time to thank everyone who worked to make the inauguration events the best possible. “The board, faculty and staff have been working for months to plan all the activities of this week,” he said. “I especially want to thank the members of the inauguration steering committee who poured through millions of details, plan alterations, last-minute complications, and came out on the other side with most of their hair intact, and, for the most part, still friends.”
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Alumni from Near and Far Join in Ceremony Texas Wesleyan pride shone on the faces of the alumni representatives from the Class of 1942 through the Class of 2011 as they joined in the inauguration celebration. The procession of more than 150 alumni was a striking tribute to the school spirit felt by longtime alumni and recent graduates. Brian Barker ’82 and Barbara McMillan Barker ’83 traveled from their home in Modesto, Calif., to partake in the activities. The investiture was a first for them, but Brian’s father, James Barker ’58, had attended the previous one. Brian said they were invited to continue the legacy by participating this time. Brian said they enjoyed the events and getting to see old friends. “I went to a basketball game,” he said. “I hadn’t done that since I was in school there.” Being part of the alumni processional and listening to former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright were memorable moments for the Barkers, he said. And Texas Wesleyan holds a special place in his heart – literally. “My parents met there and I met my wife there.”
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At left: Frederick G. Slabach with Madeleine K. Albright Below: Frederick G. Slabach and Dee J. Kelly
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Texas Wesleyan University
Bestows Honorary Degrees During the presidential inauguration, four distinguished guests received honorary doctorate degrees from Texas Wesleyan University: Madeleine K. Albright, former U.S. secretary of state and chair of Albright Capital Management LLC, doctor of humane letters James S. DuBose, founder of Fort Worth Mortgage and chairman emeritus of the Colonial family of companies, doctor of business
At left: Frederick G. Slabach with Edgar H. Schollmaier Below: Frederick G. Slabach, James S. DuBose and Kenneth H. Jones, Jr., board chairman
Dee J. Kelly, founding partner of Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP and founding chair of the Dean’s Advisory Council for Texas Wesleyan School of Law, doctor of laws Edgar H. Schollmaier, former president and chief executive of Alcon Laboratories and namesake of the Ed and Rae Schollmaier Science and Technology Center, doctor of science
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A
A special highlight of the inaugural activities was former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright’s visit to campus. She and President Frederick G. Slabach had a conversational question-and-answer session between themselves and then with the audience, which was comprised primarily of faculty, staff and students. Afterwards, everyone had the opportunity to meet Albright in person and get one of her books signed.
Albrights Unite
MADELEINE, MEET MADELINE. Madeline Albright, a junior at Arlington Heights High School in Fort Worth, met her moniker muse at the former U.S. secretary of state’s Q&A and book signing immediately before President Slabach’s inauguration Jan. 27. At right: Madeleine K. Albright signs a book for Madeline Albright, second from left. Madeline is joined by her mother, Kathryn (right), and sister, Rachel (left).
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S
ocial events and scholarly activities filled the week leading up to the presidential investiture in late January. The School of Law kicked off the week with a reception honoring Frederick G. Slabach. An inauguration concert and a faculty scholars’ reception were among the events that followed. Dignitaries and VIPs gathered for the inaugural gala (see pp. 14-15), which was held on the eve of the inauguration ceremony. Faculty, staff and students were treated to a questionand-answer session with Slabach and former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright and then a book-signing event, where Albright interacted with the large crowd who stood patiently in line for a chance to speak with her (see p. 12). Four luncheons for delegates, trustees, alumni and campus personnel capped the week.
At left: Juanell and Rufus ’51 Earl Below: Kaye and Ben ’63 Younger
Top left: Bill ’57 M.Ed. ’62 and Linda Lee ’02 Hailey Above: Lisa Dryden, professor of graduate reading, and Allen Henderson, provost and senior vice president At left: Justice Bob McCoy; Tanya Pierce, associate professor of law; and Aric Short, associate dean for academic affairs and professor of law
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A Glamorous
Night for Wesleyan
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Madeleine K. Albright and Kenneth H. Jones, Jr.
T
he inaugural gala was held the evening before the inauguration and was attended by a veritable Who’s Who list of Fort Worth’s elite. Honorary hosts Dr. Louella Baker Martin HON ’03 and Nicholas Martin attended to every detail to ensure that the image of Texas Wesleyan shone like a diamond, and their efforts were successful beyond every expectation. Alumni and friends of the University felt immense pride in attending such a fabulous evening, and guests who were previously unconnected with the University couldn’t help but be impressed.
Claudia Stepp, Madeleine K. Albright and Rod Stepp
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Gregory Gerendas and Carol Johnson-Gerendas
Board Chairman Kenneth H. Jones, Jr. welcomed the crowd of nearly 400. Guests heard from Lou Martin, former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright, and President Frederick G. Slabach’s brother, Don Slabach. President Slabach concluded the brief remarks before inviting everyone to join his wife and him for a night of dancing. Earlier, he presented the Martins with a crystal keepsake as a thank you for their dedication to Wesleyan and their fundraising efforts in support of the inauguration. Knowing of Albright’s well-known penchant for collecting pins, he presented her with a custom-made Wesleyan Flame pin. She was so taken with the University and its mission and vision that she proudly wore the pin the next day when she delivered her keynote address at the investiture of Frederick G. Slabach as 20th president of Texas Wesleyan University.
Frederick G. Slabach with Madeleine K. Albright and Melany Neilson
Frederick G. Slabach and daughter Amelia
Nicholas and Louella Martin with Frederick G. Slabach
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Ram Sports
The NAIA’s Best Are Choosing Texas Wesleyan By Josh Lacy
The Texas Wesleyan University men’s basketball program has a rich history that includes 75 seasons. The Rams were a part of the fourth annual NAIA (then the NAIB) National Championship, reaching the Elite 8 in the 1940 tournament. That began a string of four straight appearances.
ENDURING SUCCESS Beginning with the national championship season of 2006, Wesleyan has reached the national tournament six times in seven years. The team has been ranked in the NAIA’s top 25 in 55 consecutive polls, marking the third longest active streak in the country. Each year, the NAIA Men’s Basketball Coaches’ Association All-America Committee selects an All-America team that includes first (10 players), second, third, and honorable mention teams. Approximately 1,600 student-athletes play NAIA Division I men’s basketball, so the first-team All-Americans represent the top 0.6 percent of all players. Texas Wesleyan has had three first-team All-America selections in the last four years.
Jamel White
ranking fifth nationally with 652 total points. He set school records in single-game free throws made (20), free throws attempted (22), and free throw percentage (16-for-16). He set single-season records with 252 free throws made and 311 free throws attempted. In two seasons, he became the 19th member of Wesleyan’s 1,000 point club and ranks 17th all-time with 1,046 points. In one of the best seasons in school history, the team achieved its fourth consecutive RRAC Regular Season Championship while matching the 1946-1947 team’s school record of 30 wins. This year, Eric Frederick, a 6-foot-8-inch forward and
RAMS SHOWCASE SKILLS Following the 2008-2009 season, Chris Berry, a 6-foot4-inch forward from Dallas, became the first Ram to receive the honor since Clifton McNeely in 1946-1947. Averaging 21.8 points per game and breaking McNeely’s single season school record with 740 points, Berry was named RRAC (Red River Athletic Conference) Player of the Year and Texas Small College Player of the Year. After scoring 36 points in a Sweet 16 game, Berry was named to the NAIA All-Tournament team. Last year, Brian Wanamaker, a 6-foot-3-inch guard, averaged 19.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.9 assists while
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RRAC Newcomer and Player of the Year, blasted Berry’s record while his 25.4 points per game topped Donnie Kliever’s (1976-1977) record of 23.8. He ranked in the NAIA’s top 50 in nine statistical categories, including second in points per game, total points, and defensive rebounds per game (8.2). Frederick earned RRAC Player of the Week honors six times and was named NAIA Player of the Week twice. He reached double figures in scoring 30 times, scored 20 or more points 27 times, and 30 or more nine times. Twice he scored 42 points, nearly matching the school’s single game scoring record (45 by Irvin Rue, 1965).
RECRUITING TALENT During the 2009-2010 season, a 6-foot-4-inch guard out of Brooklyn, N.Y., joined the team at the semester break. Jamel White went on to score 516 points in the last 23 games of the year. He also averaged 35 points per game during the national tournament, including 40 in a Sweet 16 contest. That earned him NAIA All-Tournament team honors and an honorable mention All-America selection. Had he played a full season, White’s numbers would have made him a first-team pick. There is no denying that the Rams are on an incredible run. Texas Wesleyan University is providing an atmosphere that is attracting big time talent, and those talented student-athletes are finding success to the tune of 108 wins in the last four years – more than any other four-year program in Texas.
Eric Frederick
Chris Berry
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Teeing it up with Lee Trevino By Josh Lacy Left to right: Adam Austin, Lee Trevino and Daniel Dahlinger
Thanks to the Texas Wesleyan golf program, four local junior golfers were treated to a once-in-a-lifetime experience at Diamond Oaks Country Club this season. Adam Austin, a senior at Western Hills High School; Daniel Dahlinger, a freshman at North Crowley High School; Dalton Martin, a junior at Saginaw High School; and Nicholas Narcisse, a freshman at Mansfield High School, spent the day on the course with the legendary Lee Trevino HON ’81. A package that included a practice session, lunch, and a round with Trevino was auctioned at Texas Wesleyan’s
Hughes, the managing partner of Maverick Homes, and Kevin Millikan ’98, head women’s golf coach and director of new sport development at Texas Wesleyan, found the four participants through The First Tee of Fort Worth. They are all good students, are members of the Junior Advisory Committee at The First Tee, and love to play golf. On the driving range, Trevino shared some of his immense cache of golfing knowledge. The young group may have known Trevino more for his work in the 1996 Adam Sandler film Happy Gilmore than his six major championships, but they quickly learned that at 71, Trevino’s passion is still unrivaled.
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O.D. Bounds Golf Classic in September for a winning bid of $20,000. Lee Hughes, the auction winner, then passed the experience on to four local high school students. “When we bought it at the auction we wanted to do something that could be carried on,” Hughes said. “My friends and I are going to play golf on Saturday anyway, but this was a chance for some good kids to learn and be around one of the true legends and great people of the game. We are hoping this thing will carry forward.”
Adam Austin, Nicholas Narcisse and Lee Trevino
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“You have to have options. I want you to have a passion for this game and a passion for life, but make sure you open a book, work hard in school, and give yourself options,” Trevino said. Texas Wesleyan auctioned two outings with Trevino with the proceeds being split between the Lee Trevino Endowment for Golf at Texas Wesleyan and the Fort Worth Junior Golf Association.
Lee Trevino and Daniel Dahlinger
Nicholas Narcisse, Daniel Dahlinger and Lee Trevino
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Wesleyan Golf Expands its Legend By Josh Lacy
Texas Wesleyan Athletics has a rich history and none of its programs have enjoyed more success than the men’s golf team. In fact Texas Wesleyan golf is one of the most storied programs in all of the NAIA.
When looking at the annals of Texas Wesleyan golf, one wonders where to start: six national championships, nine individual national medalists, 47 top-10 finishes, 50 national tournament appearances, 75 AllAmericans, 196 tournament wins, and let’s not forget, two hall of fame coaches. O.D. Bounds ’41 was the first coach inducted into the NAIA Golf Hall of Fame (1972). He joined the Golf Coaches Association of America Hall of Fame in 2009 as well. Meanwhile, head coach Bobby Cornett ’72 was inducted to the GCAA Hall of Fame in 2010 and joined Bounds as well as players Danny Mijovic ’83 and Ian Leggatt ’89 in the NAIA Hall of Fame at the spring NAIA National Championship.
A NEW ADDITION Texas Wesleyan will expand its golfing prowess to the women’s game beginning in the fall of 2012. The new program will be headed up by Kevin Millikan ’98. Currently in his 16th year at Wesleyan, Millikan also serves as the director of new sport development. “The success we’ve seen on the men’s side certainly opens new doors for us within the community,” Millikan said. “That will benefit the women’s program as well, and we will be expected to represent at that same level.” Millikan has already signed 11 student-athletes.
A STRONG FINISH This year’s men’s team headed into the 61st annual NAIA National Championship with a third-place ranking. The Rams ultimately finished in sixth place, but Nathan Anderson, a junior from Burleson, placed second in the national individual competition. This year’s team featured six seniors, four players with NAIA National Championship experience, and three players who have individual collegiate wins to their credit. Zach Monson, a senior out of Clear Lake, Iowa, fits the
bill in each of those categories. Monson helped the Rams to a ninth place finish at the NAIA National Championship last season after winning his very first tournament as a Ram: the Charles Coody Invitational at Diamondback Golf Course in Abilene, Texas (Feb. 13-14, 2010). Joel Thelen, a senior from Marshall, Texas, and Derek Brown, a senior from Cleburne, Texas, were also a part of last year’s national tournament, while Dillon Watkins, a junior from Newark, Texas, has made the trip to nationals in each of his first two seasons.
Joel Thelen
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University College Day:
Imagine. Create. Connect.
T
he 2012 edition of University College Day – a day devoted to celebrating academic pursuits – featured nearly 200 students and 25 faculty throughout the day of 65 presentations.
Fort Worth City Councilman Joel Burns concluded the day of presentations, group discussions and live bands with a keynote address on bullying. A total of 1,700 students, faculty and staff attended the sessions on April 11. For more than 20 years, University College Day has been a forum for Texas Wesleyan students and faculty to share their scholarly and creative endeavors. University College Day unites our campus and connects it with the world, supporting active learners as they think critically to engage one another in reaching out to local and global communities.
Fort Worth City Councilman Joel Burns was the keynote speaker for University College Day.
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Dear Fellow Alumni,
I bring you greetings from the Texas Wesleyan Alumni Association Board of Directors. I would like to start by extending a special welcome to President Frederick G. Slabach. The association was proud to be a part of the activities that surrounded the inauguration of our 20th president. He has already made a tremendous impact on the University, and we know that great things will happen under his leadership. If you have not yet had the opportunity to meet President Slabach, I encourage you to do so. He is very supportive of the Alumni Association, and I know he would enjoy visiting with you. The association has been working to implement new activities for both alumni and current students. This year, we revived the tradition of providing dinner to students who live on campus. These gatherings have proven to be a great success, and the students and alumni who attended enjoyed the fellowship and camaraderie. This is an exciting time for the University, and the members of the alumni board of directors are working diligently to spread the word about all the wonderful and exciting programs on campus. There is something for everyone, from athletic events to music and theatre performances, and we encourage you to come back to campus for one or more of these fine events. Plans are also under way to engage recent graduates by increasing activities for young alumni. We are looking at some new fundraising opportunities to enable us to provide more scholarships to deserving students and more benefits and programs to our alumni. If you are interested in assisting with these efforts, please call the Office of Alumni Relations at 817-531-6548. I would like to take this opportunity to extend a very special thank you to the Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations staff for helping guide the association in all that we do. I would also like to thank all the members of the board of directors for their tireless efforts in making our Alumni Association a great organization.
Movers & Shakers Where do you find a Texas Wesleyan grad? Look in Congress, behind the bench in a courtroom, or look into a local classroom and watch a teacher inspire a child. Across many fields, our graduates are problem solvers who relish new challenges and love to step up to the plate. “As a teacher, I am able to apply everything I learned at Texas Wesleyan, and I feel it has empowered me and shaped me into the professional I am today. As a student, I learned to care about my community and committed myself to action through different student organizations, and it’s something I continue to do.” ~Yuridia Valenzuela ’07 M.Ed. ’09
With Ram pride,
David D. Martin MBA ’04 Alumni Association President
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The Accidental Artist By Ken Roberts Standing on a stage in Los Angeles last September, Tamlyn Wright ’92, gracious and modest, accepts the Emmy for outstanding art direction for variety, music or nonfiction programming. Presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, the Emmy, Wright’s fourth, is for her work designing the set for the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards. During her career she has won two Emmys for designing sets for the Academy Awards and another for her set design of a Grammy Awards telecast. Winning television’s highest recognition even once, much less four times, could have easily never happened. ACT I: TRAGEDY STRIKES Wright, 41, a freelance production designer/art director based in Los Angeles, was an accomplished high school athlete. As a teenager, her routine consisted of school and training. Six days a week she trained. Competing in cross country track, roller skating and ice skating. Then, something happened that no 17-year-old believes will happen to them. She was in a car accident. For a period of time she was unable to train, much less compete, in the sports she pursued with relentless passion. The timing could not have been worse. Wright was a senior. This was her final year at Arlington Martin High School, and the accident brought the curtain down on the training regimen and the competitions that drove her. Having these suddenly taken away, Wright filled the void created by the accident with her theatre class. She had taken theatre for three years at Martin, not because she was serious about acting, but simply because it was fun.
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For the first time she put the energy into her theatre class that she always had put into athletics. And she found a new passion that would, ultimately, bring her to Texas Wesleyan and set the stage for her life’s role. Before the accident, Wright said she didn’t have any plans to go to college. But when she became more involved in her high school theatre class, her teacher, Larry Cure ’76, saw something in her and knew her plans had to change.
“She came here with a gap. The other students had more experience in high school, on stage and doing sets and lights, than she did. But, she could see what she liked and she was able to make her talent work more quickly.” ~Professor Joe Brown
ACT II: ENTER WESLEYAN
could succeed.
“Larry was hugely influential in my decision to go to college,” said Wright. “He was very encouraging even though I was not very talented or focused.”
“I was really excited about acting. I thought my athletic
A four-time Emmy winner not very talented?
“I was delusional. During my first semester here I
“When I became more involved in theatre, I thought I wanted to act and applied to several schools,” she said. Then, just weeks before her high school graduation, she met Joe Brown HON ’10, dean of freshman success and professor of theatre arts and communication. Brown suggested to Wright that she should attend Wesleyan’s spring musical and talk to some of the students in the production. “The musical was Once Upon a Mattress and, lo and behold, it was really impressive,” she said. “I got caught up in it and knew this was what I wanted to pursue.” It turned out Wright had gone to high school with two of the students in the musical, Kris LaMorte ’92 and Nelson Robinson ’91. Both were just a year older than her and those personal connections, plus Wesleyan’s small size, led Wright to choose Wesleyan over the other schools she was considering.
abilities and my performance experience from skating would transition to the stage,” Wright said.
realized I was probably the worst actor in the program.”
ACT III: HARD WORK PAYS OFF Brown saw that Wright was discovering her future as a student and a professional would not be on stage. Rather than advising her to pursue another major, Brown worked with Wright, helping her find what her talents really were and how they could be applied in the theatre. “Tamlyn was here with a great group of very talented kids. Most of them are still working in the theatre industry today, which can be very tough and difficult,” Brown said. “She came here with a gap. The other students had more experience in high school, on stage and doing sets and lights, than she did. But, she could see what she liked and she was able to make her
“I knew I would get a lot of attention at Wesleyan and make a lot of ties here,” she said.
talent work more quickly.”
For someone “not very talented,” that attention would prove to be the difference between her possibly leaving the theatre program altogether, altering her entire life’s course, or being pointed in the direction where she
she could “sew a straight line, paint and do a little
While Wright may not have been the best actress, construction,” she said. “Joe knew if I was going to have a career in theatre, it would be backstage, designing costumes and staging.”
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Wright also had another characteristic necessary for success in the theatre: a tremendous work ethic. “She was never afraid to work,” said Brown. “One summer, several students and I were freelancing at Casa Mañana. She would be there all hours, days and nights — down on her hands and knees working — creating costumes or designing, building and painting sets.” Wright agrees the hard work she put in as a student at Wesleyan established a work ethic that continues in her professional life. It’s one of the factors that made four Emmys possible. Just as important as hard work is to her success, so are her professors and fellow students at Wesleyan and what she learned from them. “The group of students from when I was in school are successful professionals, but we were successful academically as well. The theatre department was very strong and made us as well-rounded as possible. We had to take tech classes in costume, lighting and sound. We designed and built sets. We took classes in acting, directing, playwriting and theatre history,” she said. It was in her tech classes, and designing costumes and sets for Theatre Wesleyan productions, where Wright’s artistic talents emerged.
ACT IV: A STAR IS BORN “The tech students were together all the time. We were constantly pushing design ideas, designing scenery, costumes and sets,” said Wright. “They were my biggest cheerleaders and biggest critics. A brutally honest crowd. We set very high expectations for ourselves and each other, then we worked together to make sure we reached those expectations.” Many of her Wesleyan mentors were fellow students, including Robinson, LaMorte, George Miller ’93, Kathy Kreuter ’93, Sam Hatcher ’91 and Alice Watson ’95. “All are very talented and, to this day, we still get together and we even work together sometimes. They are my best friends.” Brown agrees with Wright’s assessment of that group of students. “They were all willing to work together. Tamlyn didn’t have the same level of theatre experience as the others, but she had a great ability to learn from them and apply herself. “They taught each other how to weld, build sets and paint,” he said. “They worked long nights together and were just a great team.” Twenty years later, standing on that stage in Los Angeles, she’s certain her Wesleyan teammates are cheering for her. It’s no accident that on this night Tamlyn Wright is accepting her fourth Emmy Award.
Engaging Educators Are you ready to see the world through new eyes? Our professors ask questions, provoke thought, and connect students with opportunities they wouldn’t get anywhere else. Example No. 1: Religion Professor Mark Hanshaw. His award-winning documentary series on rituals in world religions takes a student crew across the globe to places like Turkey and India, where they not only see a new and exciting culture, they learn how to capture its essence through visual storytelling techniques. At Texas Wesleyan, you’ll work closely with passionate professors who will challenge you. Why? We think it’s the best way to succeed.
Friends + Fun =
A
Alumni Reunion Weekend
lumni friends old and new came together for a weekend of fun at the Alumni Reunion this spring. The traditional all-alumni dinner kicked off the celebration at Los Vaqueros restaurant. Other activities included breakfast, the all-alumni gathering, an address by President Frederick G. Slabach, campus tours, a group photo, and school-specific receptions. A performance of the 58th annual spring musical, Cabaret, concluded the festivities. Gina Phillips ’97 MSP ’07, director of development and alumni relations, said a good time was had by all. “It was one of the best ever!”
Above: Gale Wood ’63, Billy Tam ’64 and Presley Hatcher ’74 At right, top to bottom: Juanell ’52 and Rufus ’51 Earl Carlos Martinez, Lisa R. Martinez ’99 and their son Alex Erin Bethany ’12, Ashly Spencer ’11, current student Selena Stewart, Julie Hutson ’11 and Rachel Horton ’12 Current students Meagan Stewart and Spencer Baker with Barry ’84 and Cheryl Baker
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A
Alumni News 1940s
1970s
Rev. John C. Johnson ’47 has decided to come out of
Lyle Kanouse ’75 is working on his 56th film in Los Angeles
retirement (again!) and assume the role as pastor of Calvary
called Out West starring Sean Astin, Ray Wise and Jennifer
United Methodist Church of Weatherford. He hopes to help
Elise Cox. Lyle will play a rodeo judge for a county fair in
the church grow and is pleased to be working with the very
Colorado. Lyle recently played a southern TV station owner
cordial Calvary congregation.
on the NBC comedy, Up All Night, which aired March 8. He
1950s
opposite Val Kilmer and Trace Adkins, which is now available
Martha Burke Ayers ’52 and William Edward Carroll were married on July 22, 2010, at First United Methodist Church in Fort Worth.
Dixie Moore ’55 volunteers with Meals on Wheels at Central
appeared in Wyatt Earp’s Revenge playing Judge Hinkle on DVD. Lyle is also producing the new musical parody
FELLOWSHIP! (based on the Lord of the Rings trilogy) along with wife Audrey Wasilewski, Anne Street Skipper ’78 and Sarah Dandashy. The comedy played through June 29 at the Steve Allen Theatre in Hollywood, Calif.
UMC in Waco and Scott & White Hospice at Hillcrest.
1960s
Evan Faris ’76 has recently accepted a position with Aledo ISD.
Elizabeth Peck ’61 studied at Christ Church College, Oxford in the summer of 2011 as part of The Oxford Experience. Larry Graham ’64 was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame at the induction ceremony in March. Martha Hernandez ’64 was reappointed to the board of the Arlington-based authority, which oversees development and conservation of surface water resources of the Trinity River Basin. Martha is a retired nutritionist. She is a past member of the Burleson library board, past president of the Burleson Garden Club and Burleson Heritage Foundation, and past chair of the City of Burleson park board of directors.
Debbie Brown ’78 played the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland at Casa Mañana, March 27-April 15. She also played the role of Aunt Eller in the Lyric Stage production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! at Irving Arts Center’s Carpenter Hall, June 15-24. Emily Anne Skipper, daughter of Michael Skipper ’78 and Anne Street Skipper ’78, married Tim McDermott on Nov. 5. Mike and Anne also celebrated their son Graham’s nomination for an Ovation Award as best actor in a musical. They traveled to Los Angeles for the awards ceremony on Nov. 14.
Del McAmis ’64 retired as pastor of Community Presbyterian Church in Tulelake, Calif. Del and his wife, Rosemary, now Quentin McGown ’79 J.D. ’00 was featured in the Fort Worth Business Press for receiving the Fort Worth Cowtown Legend Award.
reside in Roseburg, Ore. Marilyn Bettes ’65 of Navasota ISD was re-elected by the Texas Association of School Boards to a two-year term on the TASB board of directors, representing Region 6. Nancy (Bransom) Arnold ’69 was presented the 2011 Arizona Teacher of the Year Award by the Arizona Federation of
to educate children about America’s Founding Fathers
Melissa (Benton) Wallis ’80 and Adam Hargrove ’03, both theatre faculty at Boswell High School in Fort Worth, worked tirelessly with students for the production of the musical Guys and Dolls, which ran Dec. 8-11. The thespians also gathered canned goods for a national outreach – Trick or Treat So Kids Can Eat. They donated more than 3,000 pounds of food for the
through her book, Patriotic Pups.
local food pantry.
Republican Women. In addition to being honored for her more than 30 years in the classroom, Nancy was recognized for the historical/patriotic programs she presents to schools and civic organizations throughout Arizona, and for helping
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Stan Graner ’81 played Anne Frank’s father in WaterTower Theatre’s production of The Diary of Anne Frank, which ran
Tamlyn Wright ’92, a freelance production designer/art
Jan. 9-29 in Dallas. He then returned to WaterTower Theatre
director based in Los Angeles, won a Primetime Emmy
to play Sheriff Deon Gilbeau in August: Osage County, which
Award for outstanding art direction for variety, music or
ran March 30-April 22.
nonfiction programming for the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards. She and the German design team she collaborated
Donna Holcombe Banks ’83 received her Kodály certification
with attended the Creative Arts Emmy Awards on Sept. 10
in music through the San Antonio ISD partnership with the
in Los Angeles. She has been awarded three trophies in
Fort Worth ISD. Donna, a FWISD elementary music specialist,
years past. Tamlyn’s fascinating career includes theme park
spent the last three summers receiving intense training at
show design, awards shows, political events, rock concerts,
Bass Hall. Her graduating class had the privilege of giving a
musicals and corporate events.
final performance on the beautiful Bass Hall stage. Art director Tamlyn Wright ’92 with production designer Florian Wieder accepting their Emmy for outstanding art direction for variety, music or nonfiction programming for their design of the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards.
Tim Martinez ’83 was recently promoted to director of community relations and special projects at Legacy Community Health Services. He has worked there for two years and now oversees special events and fundraising events for the agency. Legacy is the largest Federally Qualified Health Center in Houston. Dr. Billy Miles ’84 married a woman from Medellin, Colombia, in 2009 and currently has a successful dental practice in Fort Worth.
Lisa Stephens Shelton ’93 published her first book, Wish Dog
Tales: Afraid of the Dark, written to help kids who fear the dark. This is the first in a book series that focuses on problems
Mary Kayser ’88 is now the city secretary of Fort Worth.
children face. Lamar Wilson ’93 is starring in the regional debut of
1990s
David Mamet’s RACE at Carolina Actors Studio Theatre in
For the third year in a row, Daniel McVeigh ’90 was named a Five-Star Wealth Manager in the August 2011 edition of Texas
Monthly, which represents no more than the top 7 percent of professionals in the DFW market.
Charlotte, N.C. Paul Lilly ’94 retired as a police chief after a 20-year career in public safety then transferred to the reserves and now serves as a reserve lieutenant for Hood County sheriff’s office. He
Meredith Lucio ’93 made her Broadway producing debut in January with The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess starring Audra McDonald, Norm Lewis and David Alan Grier. She has also joined the Broadway producing team of Ann, a solo show
obtained his doctorate in forensic and criminal psychology and is an assistant professor of criminal justice at Howard Payne University and also serves as an adjunct professor at Texas Wesleyan.
written and performed by Two and a Half Men’s Holland
Jan Pettigrew Wilde ’94 was recognized at the 2011 Mary
Taylor about former Texas Governor Ann Richards. Look for
Kay Seminar held last July. She has enjoyed working as an
Ann on Broadway in the fall of 2012. Meredith also recently
independent beauty consultant with Mary Kay for 15 years
led a producer workshop for Theatre Wesleyan students.
and received the following acknowledgements:
Top-Tier Value What does Top Tier Value mean? It means we’re a great university at an affordable price. Our students know we’re affordable, too. Last year, 99 percent of entering undergrads received scholorships and/or grants. Like the Hatton W. Sumners Scholarship, a merit-based scholarship that Justin Mikulencak, junior religion major, receives. “Scholarships have made it possible for me to do all the things I’ve wanted to do to achieve my goals, and the small size helps you find more opportunities.” ~Justin Mikulencak, junior religion major
• #2 in sales in the Judy Staats unit for the fiscal year ending
information on upcoming performances. Amber also took her one-woman cabaret “Should I Be Sweet?” to Jolly’s Dueling
June 30, 2011
Piano Bar in the heart of Philadelphia’s Center City as part • Most improved in the Judy Staats unit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2011, for the second time • Consistent customer service and team building efforts • Princess Court of Sales for culminating a fiscal year of more than $20,000 retail
of the Philly Fringe Festival on Sept. 13. She debuted this show at the famed NYC nightclub Don’t Tell Mama to a standing-room-only crowd.
2000s Keith Thomas Walker ’00 was featured in The Dallas Examiner for his work as an author.
Anne Lawrence ’95 is the proud parent
Emily Fowler ’01 and husband Jared welcomed their new
of Lena Elizabeth Ramsell along with her
addition to the family – Steven Archer Fowler – on Sept. 13.
husband, Todd Ramsell. Lena was born March 13, 2011. In the photo, she is modeling
Melinda Massie ’01 and her company, Organizing with a Side
one of Anne’s crocheted designs for Modest
of Fabulous, have been recognized as one of the top home
Ambition.
businesses in the nation by StartupNation in its annual HomeBased 100 competition. The StartupNation Home-Based 100 highlights ten top-10 lists making it not just your ordinary
April Sawey ’97 joined the Botanical Research Institute of
business ranking. Organizing with a Side of Fabulous was a
Texas family after 17 years in K-16 classrooms. She loves
winner in the category of Most Glamorous.
bringing a dynamic experiential education in outdoor and indoor classes to K-12 students and teachers that visit her Brian ’01 and Mindy (Finch) ’02 Matlock
campus.
welcomed their baby boy, Rhett Hayes Matlock, Melanie Bivens ’98 recently appeared in Auntee Explains
on Sept. 9 at 3:41 p.m. He weighed 6 pounds,
X-mas at the Jubilee Theatre in downtown Fort Worth.
13 ounces and was 20 inches long.
Jessica Cannon-Beebe ’98, executive director and founder of the children’s ministry Kidstand, joined forces with Andrew
Anne Dixon M.Ed. ’02, special education teacher at
Palau to provide entertainment for children and families who
Morrilton High School, retired at the end of the school year.
suffered major losses due to the tragic earthquake in Port-
Anne worked for 16 years at Morrilton Junior High and the
au-Prince, Haiti.
last six at Morrilton High. She is enjoying spending time
Jason Lamers ’98 was named Fort Worth chief of staff for the mayor and city council.
with her family. Adam Hargrove ’03 and Melissa (Benton) Wallis ’80, both theatre faculty at Boswell High School in Fort Worth, worked
Sandy Myers M.Ed. ’98 and Joanne Oport ’06 participated in V-Day Fort Worth’s celebration of ten years of production with Take Back the Night and The Vagina
Monologues. All proceeds went to the women and children
tirelessly with students for the production of the musical Guys
and Dolls, which ran Dec. 8-11. The thespians also gathered canned goods for a national outreach – Trick or Treat So Kids Can Eat. They donated more than 3,000 pounds of food for the local food pantry.
at Opening Doors for Women in Need and the Women’s
Brett Hudson ’03 obtained his Certified Systems Engineering
Center of Tarrant County in Fort Worth. The global 2012 V
Professional certification from the International Council on
Spotlight Campaign benefits the women and girls of Haiti.
Systems Engineering in August 2011.
For more information on the global V-Day movement go to Blaze ’03 and Julie ’03 Loeffelholz welcomed Audrey Jean
www.vday.org.
Loeffelholz on June 14, 2011. Kerry Watterson ’98 recently received his Certified Fund Elizabeth Miller ’03 is directing a new play in New York
Raising Executive certification.
City called SPARK. The play also features Wesleyan theatre alumnus Michael Kreitzinger ’10. Amber Womack ’99 recently launched her
new
website,
amberwomack.com,
where her fans can keep in touch and get
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Natalie Davidson Walker ’03 has joined the Serenity Now Yoga team as a certified mat Pilates instructor.
Helping Students Succeed
The
Wesleyan Fund “I feel blessed to have received such a valuable education from intelligent professors who really care about me. They are willing to work with students no matter what the circumstances. Playing on the soccer team at Texas Wesleyan also enhanced my college experience. I can’t imagine not being a part of something so amazing.” Math/Secondary Education ’12
Texas Wesleyan University has a great tradition of helping students succeed, thanks in part to the Wesleyan Fund. Gifts to the Wesleyan Fund serve as the foundation for the University’s ongoing success and are dedicated solely to providing institutional scholarships and program support for our students. Thank You – alumni, parents and friends – for believing in our commitment to provide the best educational environment for students pursuing their dreams. Show your support for Texas Wesleyan by making a gift to the Wesleyan Fund.
Give today at www.txwes.edu/makeagift Texas Wesleyan University Office of Advancement 1201 Wesleyan Street Fort Worth, Texas 76105 817-531-4404
Fort Worth’s Pantagleize Theatre Company presented The Fourposter written by Jan de Hartog and directed by Don Shook, Sept. 23-Oct. 2. This Tony award-winning comedy about every happy marriage featured Lark Wallis-Johnston ’03 and her husband, Seth.
for Women in Need and the Women’s Center of Tarrant County in Fort Worth. The global 2012 V Spotlight Campaign benefits the women and girls of Haiti. For more information on the global V-Day movement go to www.vday.org. Jonah Copeland ’09 recently returned from a mission trip to
Lisa Gordon ’04 joined the Meals on Wheels team last August
Nairobi, Kenya. He is currently attending the Convergence
and is now serving as the Ellis County volunteer coordinator.
School of Supernatural Ministry.
She is excited to be a part of such an amazing organization and enjoys working with the wonderful volunteers devoted
LaNette Kincaide ’09 started her own business, Just Pearlz,
to delivering meals. She currently resides in Waxahachie with
which was recently named one of the BEST Dallas businesses
her husband and 3-year-old son. John Gonzales ’05 was asked, once again, to be an announcer for the annual Parade of Lights in downtown Fort Worth.
for 2011 by The Dallas Examiner. In addition, Just Pearlz was featured in Taste Texas Magazine, CRAVE Fort Worth, Alive
Magazine and Fort Worth Black News.
Thanks to the Alumni Association, student volunteers and the
Ben Phillips ’09 appeared as Ebenezer Scrooge in Scrooge:
theatre department, the University was able to participate
The Musical at Grapevine’s Runway Theatre Nov. 25-Dec. 18.
again with an amazing float!
He then appeared as Lloyd in Noises Off at Theatre Arlington Jan. 13-29.
Sirrah Harris ’05 and his wife welcomed their baby boy, Xavier Kazuto Harris, into the world on Jan. 6.
Jeremy Smith ’09 is working on his master’s in jazz vocal studies, currently serves as the worship leader at Clearwater Community Church in Richardson, and is staying busy as a professional singer in the DFW/Denton areas.
Christina (Jones) Branham M.S. ’06 graduated with a Ph.D. in family therapy from Texas Women’s University, where she is currently an adjunct instructor. Beth (Worley) Gilley ’06 married Don Kent Gilley on June 18,
Amber Montgomery ’10, theatre alumna, is teaching Acting I at Theatre Arlington and at the International Performing Arts Academy.
2011, at the Northeast Wedding Chapel. The bride and groom
The original play LYCANTHROPE by Chuck Fain ’11 ran
are both teachers with the Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD. The
Sept. 29-Oct. 9 in the Thad Smotherman Theatre at Texas
couple honeymooned in San Diego and reside in Watauga.
Wesleyan University. Alpha Psi Omega hosted a reception after the Oct. 8 performance.
Joanne Oport ’06 and Sandy Myers M.Ed. ’98 participated in V-Day Fort Worth’s celebration of ten years of production with Take Back the Night and The Vagina Monologues. All
Janie ’11 and Taylor ’11 Pokluda were featured in the Fort Worth
proceeds went to the women and children at Opening Doors
Texas Wesleyan in December of 2011!
Star-Telegram. The mother and son team both graduated from
Don’t Be Left Out!
The alumni office wants to share the good news of Texas Wesleyan to all of our alumni, but we are missing information on quite a few! Unfortunately, when addresses, jobs and emails change, many of our alumni update their information with the cable company but forget about their alumni association. If you know anyone who might fit this description, please contact the Office of Alumni Relations to help us find our “Lost Alumni” so we can share the great things that are happening at Texas Wesleyan. Thank you! Office of Alumni Relations | Phone: 817-531-4404 | Email: alumni@txwes.edu
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In Memoriam E. Frank Leach ’53
Joe Martinez ’56
Leach, a United Methodist Church pastor who served in churches and campus ministries throughout Central Texas, died on June 24, 2012. He was also a 1948 graduate of Polytechnic High School and longtime supporter of Texas Wesleyan University. Leach also earned graduate degrees from Southern Methodist University and Texas Christian University. He received the Wesleyan Service Award in 2008 and served as emeritus member of the Texas Wesleyan Alumni Association. He spent 27 years in the Fort Worth area and served for six years at Polytechnic United Methodist Church (PUMC) just prior to his retirement in 1995. Among his many contributions to Texas Wesleyan are participating in Wesleyan Sunday and Lessons and Carols, and his involvement in the donor brick walkway project and the office renovation in PUMC for Dr. Alice Wonders. He served on many community boards, including Poly Partners, Shalom Zone, PUMC ESL Program, and was involved in tutoring programs.
1950s Rev. Wesley W. Williams ’52, Nov. 17, 2011, Burleson Williams earned a Bronze Star Medal in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was an ordained minister of the United Methodist Church who served as the chaplain and associate professor at Texas Wesleyan from 1962 to 1972. He was a life member and chaplain of the Sons of the Republic of Texas, E.M. Daggett Chapter #36, and was a direct descendant of Texas Revolutionary War figure Col. Leonard Houston Williams.
Martinez, a longtime employee of Fort Worth ISD, died Nov. 26, 2011. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 4709 and the fourth-degree General Worth General Assembly as a Faithful Navigator. The Martinez family followed in their father’s footsteps: Veronica ’81, Tim ’83, and Joe Ralph ’89 all chose to attend his alma mater. Some of his nieces and nephews also earned degrees at Texas Wesleyan. The family had such strong feelings for the University that they were involved in the lives of other Wesleyan students, including Richard Noon ’98 from England. In a 2000 Wesleyan magazine article, Joe Martinez said he was drawn to the school “because of its intimacy and the friendliness of the teachers and other students.” And that positive experience influenced many others when it was time for them to choose a university.
Ima L. Chambers ’53, Oct. 23, 2011, Richland Hills Chambers was a wife, mother and grandmother, who dedicated her life to missions at age 13, a path she pursued her entire life. She received a master’s degree from the University of Michigan and was a high school business teacher for 25 years. Chambers was a member of Richland Hills Baptist Church. Lila H. Walker ’58, Nov. 4, 2011, Hurst Walker was a retired Hurst-EulessBedford teacher who was named Donna Park Elementary School
Teacher of the Year in 1986. She married Gaston Walker in 1958 and was a member of the First Baptist Church of Bedford. Roscoe H. Brewer, Jr. ’59, Dec. 8, 2011, Canton, Ga. Brewer, a graduate of Amon CarterRiverside High School, received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from the California Graduate School of Theology and devoted his life to ministry. He was founder and president of EPIC International, which has planted more than 85,000 churches worldwide.
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1960s
1980s
William T. Bryant ’64, Nov. 18, 2011, Arlington
Roy L. Alholm ’89, Oct. 11, 2011, Fort Worth Alholm taught math and computer science at Trimble Tech High School for 27 years and coached basketball from 1975 to 2002. He was a skilled dancer who also sponsored and hosted the Oktoberfest at the Wellington Senior Center.
Bryant, a U.S. Army veteran, was a principal at elementary schools in the Arlington ISD and loved creating a caring school atmosphere for children. He married his wife, Margie, in 1968. In 1993, AISD named the Bill and Margie Bryant Elementary School in their honor. He was a long-term member and deacon at First Baptist Church Arlington. Randy J. Kunze ’68, Nov. 8, 2011, Fredericksburg Kunze served in the U.S. Navy from 1968 to 1972. He studied dentistry in the Naval Dental Department and opened a private practice in 1976. He was president of the Montabaur Sister City Vereins and was a member of the Hermann Sons
1990s Annie M. Golightly ’94, Feb. 28, 2012, Corsicana Golightly was a singer who performed for U.S. Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and Jimmy Carter. In her later years, she rode horses and was even able to ride with 30 cowboys on a six-month, 1,700-mile cattle drive from Fort Worth to Miles City, Mont.
Mixed Choir as well as the Arion Maennerchor.
2000s 1970s Kenneth M. Culpepper ’72, Oct. 12, 2011, Fort Worth Culpepper worked for the Fort Worth Police Department from 1966 until 1997 and served as deputy police chief from 1985 until 1997. He was instrumental in forming the first SWAT team in the Fort Worth Police Department and was very active in many civic organizations. Billy M. Sparkman, Sr. ’73, Oct. 27, 2011, Arlington Sparkman served in the U.S. Navy as a dental technician from 1950 to 1970 and worked for the U.S. Defense Department as an accountant. He was a husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He graduated cum laude from Texas Wesleyan with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Jefferson M. Loveless ’75, Oct. 31, 2011, Albuquerque, N.M. Loveless worked as a travel agent of Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, and he also worked for the Southland Corporation and the Tandy Corporation. Known for his wit and generous spirit, Loveless also studied genealogy and
James L. Bearden ’01, Nov. 9, 2011, Fort Worth Bearden had a long career in private investigation and security, as well as a career practicing law in Arlington. He was active in St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, a member of the Men’s Club – along with many other civic organizations – and an assistant scoutmaster for many years. Kristy H. Kirk ’02, Oct. 30, 2011, Grapevine Kirk was a Fort Worth native. She leaves behind her children, Tiffany M. Jones and Shelton E. Jones (Latericka); her brothers, Kenneth Kirk of Compton, Calif., and Marvin Kirk of Fort Worth; sisters, Kathy Smith of Forest Hill and Karen Villars of Fort Worth; as well as grandchildren, Deja, Shelton Jr., Sir’ Legend and Kelton. Brenda J. Thomas ’03, Nov. 6, 2011, Fort Worth Thomas received a teaching degree and raised a son, Buck. She was born in Columbus, Ohio, but moved with her family to Fort Worth in 1964. Asa L. Ellis ’07, Dec. 18, 2011, Fort Worth Ellis was an attorney who specialized in Social Security Administration. She was also a member of Buel Baptist Church. She was known as an avid shopper and reader with a great sense of humor and a sharp wit.
sang in the choir at Monte Vista Christian Church. Marilyn Marley-Bailey ’77, Nov. 22, 2011, North Richland Hills Marley-Bailey loved to listen to music, paint, draw, dance and spend time with her family. She worked at Lockheed Martin for more than 30 years. Sandra C. Tye ’78, Oct. 17, 2011, Arlington Tye, an accountant, raised five children and worked at H&R Block, Fort Worth Steel, and the Association of Professional Flight Attendants. She also established her own tax practice. She and her husband, a member of the U.S. military, traveled and lived across the world. Tye was also a member of the Network of Enterprising Women.
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Sarah Elizabeth Young ’09, Aug. 13, 2011, Fort Worth Young was a member of the board of directors for Hugworks and was a marketing manager at Mouser Electronics. She loved life and lived it to the fullest. She worked hard, played hard, and gave of herself in both life and death. Mary M. Ball ’10, Nov. 11, 2011, Arlington Ball served in the Air Force for 12 years. She loved being outdoors – especially viewing nature and fishing. Ball, one of five children, was married to Gil Jones. David W. Keeling ’10, Oct. 20, 2011, Flower Mound Keeling graduated from Lake Highlands High School in 1987 and worked as a nurse anesthetist at JPS Hospital in Fort Worth. He loved spending time with his children, as well as sailing and boating.
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Tribute Gift Recognition A gift to a charitable organization is a wonderful way to recognize someone of importance in your life. Texas Wesleyan is honored to receive gifts in memory or honor of alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends. These gifts acknowledge the relationship individuals have with the University and the community. We are pleased to recognize these gifts and the role each honored person and donor has in the lives of our students. We gratefully acknowledge the following donors for their tribute gifts received from Sept. 1, 2011, through March 31, 2012.
IN HONOR OF “Friends” for the 2011 Holiday Season to the Wesleyan Fund George Ann Carter Bahan Anne Street Skipper ’78 Charles E. Duke ’53 to the Charles Duke Music Scholarship Fund First Christian Church of Fort Worth Jan Fersing HON ’ 11 to the Fersing Freshman Success Center M.A. Mortenson, Jr. Emma Harris for the Carol Corley Employee Library Fund Bob & Shirley Corley James ’03 & Richard ’04 Lind to the Tribute Scholarship Fund John & Barbara Lind John H. Maddux ’59 to the John Maddux, Jr. Endowed Scholarship Fund Madelon L. Bradshaw Music Department – Guiyang, China Trip to the China Music Fund Patricia Barr ’52 Richard Bender Alfred Daniell Charles Duke ’53 Jan Fersing HON ’11 Mary Ann Kornye Maxie Sickles Patricia Wooley ’59 Judi D. Pardue to the Tribute Scholarship Fund Dr. J.D. & Cheryl Phillips Dr. Hector Quintanilla to the School of Business Ty & Tammy McKinney Dr. Stephen Simons to the Music Scholarship Fund Evan ’76 & Janie ’77 MA ’83 Faris Anne Street Skipper ’78 to the Wesleyan Fund Evan ’76 & Janie ’77 MA ’83 Faris President Frederick G. Slabach to the Wesleyan Fund United Methodist Church, Lufkin, Texas – Rev. Nick Sholars ’74
Dr. Lamar Smith ’50 HON ’65 to the Wesleyan Fund Evan ’76 & Janie ’77 MA ’83 Faris
Alta Lewis Dollar ’66 to the Alta Lewis Dollar Endowed Scholarship David Dollar ’85
The Texas Wesleyan Music Department Dr. Ann Arnold ’59 Pamela Ayres Patricia Barr ’52 Guadalupe Barreto ’78 Dr. Mary Anne Clark Curtis Clemonds Dr. Ellen Curtin ’96 Jan Fersing HON ’11 Elaine Garvin ’70 Lisa Lindsey Ben Logan Mariagrazia Sheffield Dr. Lamar ’50 HON ’65 & Mrs. Beverly Sone ’52 Smith Lee M. Smith Dr. Carol Sullivan
Faye Johnson to the President’s Special Fund Bob & Shirley Corley
Nikki Vassar to the Tribute Scholarship Fund Dr. J.D. & Cheryl Phillips Catherine Wakefield ’39 to the Wesleyan Fund Sharon Allen ’67
Joe Martinez ’56 to the Tribute Scholarship Fund Association of Realtors, Inc. Fort Worth Gary & Jane Cumbie Gaylynn Sanders Veronica ’ 81 & Joey Vasquez Rev. Dr. Sidney Roberts ’50 to the Tribute Scholarship Fund Rev. Gilbert ’44 & Dorris ’47 Ferrell John H. Maddux ’59 Anne Street Skipper ’78 Elma Sarah Slabach to the Law Review Endowment Fund Rita G. O’Donald Lila Haney Walker ’58 to the Tribute Scholarship Fund Dr. & Mrs. Gaston Craig Walker Rev. Dr. Wesley Williams ’ 52 to the Tribute Scholarship Fund Janice Rockwell Fox
IN MEMORY OF Letha Jane Brown ’62 to the Wesleyan Fund Letha Grace McCoy ’66 J.D. Brown, Jr. to the Carol Corley Employee Library Fund Bob & Shirley Corley
GIFTS IN KIND Blue Mesa Restaurant Joan Canty Charles Claffey ’89 Patsy Warren Clifford ’55
Vernon Eugene “Gene” Burge ’54 to the Texas Wesleyan Athletic Expansion Fund Mildred Allen & the Allen Family Ann Burge ’54 Ray ’47 & Jo Ann ’47 Jenkins Poly Alumni Association
Steven Daniell
David E. Catterton ’42 to the David E. Catterton Endowed Scholarship Fund Gladys Catterton James L. Catterton Lois Wasoff
Mexican Inn
Diane Conrad Palladino to the Tribute Scholarship Fund Janice Rockwell Fox
Anne Street Skipper ’ 78
Keith Dennis Charles Duke ’53 & Joe Don Conger Grapevine Opry Jack Jackson Louis “Mac” McLain Omni Hotel Jamie Pipes ’84 Paul Proffitt ’67 Dr. & Mrs. Stuart Rosenkrantz Texas Wesleyan Theatre Department Glen Tuggle ’ 85
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