TODAY — Summer 2013 by University of Central Missouri

TODAY U N I V E R S I T Y

O F

C E N T R A L

NO REGRETS Summer 2013, Vol. 13, No. 1 | ucmo.edu/today

M I S S O U R I

M A G A Z I N E

A great way to help students

You may be able to make a special gift and reduce your taxes by taking advantage of the IRA Rollover before it expires Dec. 31, 2013!

With an IRA gift, you may be able to: • reduce your income tax • lower your Social Security tax • avoid IRS tax limits • enjoy charitable gift benefits • AND BEST OF ALL help

How it works:

more UCM students achieve

If you are age 70 1/2, you may roll over up to $100,000 from your Individual Retirement Account to the UCM Foundation without paying any federal income tax on your gift. Simply contact your custodian and request that an amount be transferred to us. Your gift could be $1,000, $10,000 or any other amount up to $100,000.

Learn more about estate gifts We invite you to explore our new web site at ucmo.edu/plannedgiving to learn how an estate plan can help advance our mission and benefit you. It’s convenient, easy and informative.

a college degree!

Contact: JOy Mistele Senior major Gifts Officer of the UCM Foundation

email: mistele@ucmo.edu phone: 660-543-8000 toll-free: 866-752-7257

TODAY UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL MISSOURI MAGAZINE

ON THE COVER

A Letter from the President

2 NO REGRETS

Alumnus Joe Ratterman leads BATS into the future.

A historic visit

Tribute to a baseball legend

inside the dragon’s den

President Barack Obama visits UCM.

Dan Austin chronicles the life of Hugh Alexander.

The UCM Foundation supports student opportunities.

The creative scholar at work

Professor Julie Mollenkamp, UCM’s Meridith Harmon Sauer Distinguished Endowed Professor in Theatre, inspires student creativity.

UCM honors distinguished alumni

Alumni Association to present honors a Homecoming

CLASS NOTES 19 In Memoriam 17

Extraordinary Summer Event Sets Stage for New Year The summer of 2013 will likely be remembered as one of the most extraordinary times in the history of the University of Central Missouri thanks to a visit to campus July 24 by President Barack Obama. It was an exciting time to be here, not only to witness a speech by the first sitting U.S. president to ever visit UCM, but to be part of a professional culture with so many individuals who were dedicated to making this event special while working within an extremely short timeframe. In this issue of Today, you can view photos and read more about the presidential visit, which has gained so much national press coverage and has put Central Missouri in the spotlight as an institution that is focused on innovation as a means to achieve student success. While you turn the pages of this publication, you will also discover stories about our alumni who demonstrate through their work and service what learning to a greater degree has meant to their professional careers. Joining you in service, Chuck Ambrose, President

Contact the editor at today@ucmo.edu or 660-543-4640. Send your address updates to alumni@ucmo.edu or call 660-543-8000 or toll-free, 866-752-7257. Editor Mike Greife ‘74 Design Sarah Murrill ‘97 PhotographY Bryan Tebbenkamp ’03 Class Notes Tina (Tock) Bell (fs) Today (USPS 019-888) is published quarterly by the University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO 64093. Printed by The Ovid-Bell Press, Inc., 1201 Bluff Street, Fulton Mo. 65251. Periodicals postage paid at Warrensburg, MO, and additional offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Today, Smiser Alumni Center, University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO 64093. To view the University of Central Missouri’s Nondiscrimination/Equal Opportunity Statement, please visit ucmo.edu/nondiscrimination.

University of Central Missouri | today

NO REGRETS by Mike Greife

In the corner of Joe Ratterman’s office in Lenexa, Kan., a pair of cricket bats lean against a bookcase. Both have the acronym BATS engraved into the wood in a carefully designed logo. “It really doesn’t stand for anything anymore,” said Ratterman, explaining the acronym was derived from Better Alternative Trading System, the original full name of the company of which he is president and chief executive officer. “We started using the acronym, so it eventually became the brand.” Ratterman is also one of the founders of the BATS Exchange, founded in 2005 and currently the third largest U.S. stock exchange and the largest in Europe, handling more volume than the London Stock Exchange. A recent 2

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merger, when approved by regulators, will propel the firm very close to a number two position behind the New York Stock Exchange and ahead of NASDAQ. The company’s growth through the application of technology is Ratterman’s most recent business challenge since receiving a bachelor’s degree in math and computer science from the University of Central Missouri in 1988. Just as the acronym for BATS evolved into the company’s brand, Ratterman’s career has been marked by his ability to take advantage of opportunities as they arise, leading others

in the application of technology while allowing his company to grow and meet challenges along the way. After attending junior high school in the Netherlands on a military base, Ratterman graduated from North Kansas City High School. In high school he taught himself to program on the then state-of-the-art Apple IIe. However, his teacher told him the popularity of desktop computers could likely result in more programmers than there would be computers to program. “I loved programming those computers to do things that even the teacher didn’t understand,” he said, “but I entered college a little discouraged about choosing that as a career path.” He enrolled in college at his mother’s

(continued on page 4)

“If you want to do something, do it. Don’t just talk about it ... if at anytime along the way my time is up, I’m going to have no regrets.”

University of Central Missouri | today

(continued from page 3)

insistence, choosing UCM because it was close to home. With a combined major in mathematics and computer science, he entered the 3+2 cooperative program with the Missouri University of Science and Technology in mechanical engineering. However, unable to visualize how he would use a degree in mechanical engineering, he began searching for another major. His decision to become a teacher ended after one semester when the required visit to a high school classroom introduced him to the challenges of teaching those who weren’t as interested in learning as he was. He then chose to become an actuary, and an internship yielded a job upon graduation with Compensation Programs, Inc., a pension benefit and administration company. When, after two years, a change in upper management required him to start over on actuary certification, he decided to move on. A new job with Knight-Ridder Financial allowed him to apply his computer programming skills while moving into a leadership role. 4

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He continued his work in additional programming languages on his own time, moving up through the ranks during the next 12 years. He was asked to be a team lead, which provided him and his wife with the opportunity to spend two years in Australia, where he hired and managed a team of programmers that took the core software being developed and applied it to the Asian/Pacific Rim marketplace. To prepare, Ratterman began studying leadership and management. “During the next two years, I probably read 30 to 40 books on those subjects, looking for the common themes,” he said. “I had a 45-minute train ride, twice a day, that allowed me to do the reading. It was a very informative time—you know, trial by fire, feet on the ground, being in a different culture and hiring a team from scratch in a local market, being a manager and leader and working remotely from headquarters with a 12-hour time difference.” Upon his return to Kansas City, the sale of the company to a larger group led to more responsibility. He was asked to lead teams in Kansas City, St. Louis,

New York, and Palo Alto, Calif. Another acquisition expanded his role to responsibilities in New Orleans and Hong Kong. From a team of 12, he found himself leading up to 600 people in 13 cities across the globe. Another acquisition provided the opportunity to take on all software development for Reuters, based in London. At that point Ratterman decided it was time to stay home. “I was spending up to 180 days a year on the road,” Ratterman said. “I said, ‘I’m done. I’ve been on the treadmill long enough.’ I was tired, and I needed to go home and figure out who my kids were.” After spending two years as chief technology officer with LabOne in Kansas City, Ratterman found that “the securities industry was what created a lot of excitement.” He joined Tradebot Systems, a small automated trading firm in North Kansas City, Mo. “It was a really, really difficult decision.” Ratterman said. “I went from leading a team of several hundred people to being an individual contributor inside a company of 20 people. I didn’t have a title or a firm job description, and I went from a guaranteed salary to a share of the trading profits. I considered leaving a well-defined position where I knew where my career was going for something undefined and completely risky that most people wouldn’t even understand, and I did it.” Ratterman learned the company’s trading systems, trading on his own account, as the securities industry went through a series of mergers resulting in two monopolistic stock exchanges, NYSE and NASDAQ. “We realized there was a huge competitive opportunity to build an exchange that would challenge the two industry giants,” he said. “With a significant investment from the company’s owner, plus some of our own money, we carved off half of the company’s associates, moved across the hall, and said we’re going to build an exchange.” And so BATS was born in June 2005. BATS has been successful while running lean. With 160 employees worldwide, including the expansion into the European market, it competes with NYSE, which has approximately 3,000 employees, and NASDAQ with more than 2,000. “We’re a very nimble organization,” Ratterman said. “We’ve taken automation and technology and skill to heart and built something a lot more efficiently than our competitors.” A challenge arose during a 2011 initial public offering of the company, which BATS was doing on its

own exchange utilizing software developed internally. A software glitch forced the shutdown of the IPO. The error was corrected in a few hours, but rather than proceed, Ratterman chose to halt the process, preventing investor losses. “That decision put us in pretty good stead with our investors in the long run,” Ratterman said. “We realized that we could come back and do it right as long as we treated people right. The most pain we suffered was through the media, but we held ourselves to a high standard and came back.” Ratterman attributes his management style to “about three dozen books on leadership” and experience. “I went from to ‘leave me alone; I’m writing code’ to ‘I’ve got to take a break to see how the guys down the hall are doing.’ It was a slow migration, but I had to hire and manage and evaluate people.” He added that as he moved into the management role, he could still “have a hands-on conversation with anybody on the team about anything they were doing. They considered me relevant, and I could watch them develop and take on things they were given.” The Joe Ratterman outside of BATS lives by a philosophy similar to his business philosophy. “If you want to do something, do it,” he said. “Don’t talk about it, do it.” He doesn’t have a bucket list, noting that “the only things on my bucket list are things that probably can’t be done. If, at any time along the way, my time is up, I’m going to have zero regrets. There isn’t anything out there that I know of that I wanted to do and haven’t.” He also credits his faith with guiding him, particularly following the 2011 IPO. “I’m a big believer in faith, family and long marriages,” he said. “I think the IPO crisis brought home the idea that your work life is something that God cares about just as much as He cares about what you do in your community and church.” Ratterman is a licensed pilot, having obtained his private, instrument and commercial licenses and jet certification. In addition to flying his own plane for personal and business uses, he volunteers his plane and his time as the pilot to Angel Flight missions. To keep himself and his employees in shape, Ratterman and BATS employees also participate in the Kansas City Corporate Challenge events each year. He credits UCM mathematics and physics faculty members Ed Davenport, Curtis Cooper and Drake Bell as instrumental in teaching him how to solve problems (continued to page 6) University of Central Missouri | today

“... Did I think when I graduated in 1988 with a degree in math and computer science that I’d be running a startup stock exchange? Not even close. So I try to keep my mind open to the opportunities out there and not get too fixed on what I have to do in the next three to five years.” (continued from page 5)

and encouraging him to expand his horizons in programming. For that reason, he also insisted, just as his mother did, that both of his children earn a four-year degree. “I told them I didn’t care what they got their degrees in, just get a fouryear degree,” he said. “I learned a lot about thinking and problem solving and accomplishment during those four years. What you’re doing 10, 20, or 30 years after you graduate likely will be different than what you studied in school, but it’s the way you manage time, accomplish a goal and think that you learn in college.” His daughter is a UCM alumna, and his son is a graduate of the University of Kansas. “It’s been an interesting journey,” Ratterman said. “I’ve always had the ambition to do whatever I do the best that my body and brain will let me. But the challenges always have just shown up. Did I think when I graduated in 1988 with a degree in math and computer science that I’d be running a startup stock exchange? Not even close. So I try to keep my mind open to the opportunities out there and not get too fixed on what I have to do in the next three to five years.”

Joe Ratterman President and CEO of BATS

Summer 2013 | ucmo.edu/today

President Obama Makes Historic Visit to UCM Before a campus audience of more than 2,500 people, United States President Barack Obama praised the University of Central Missouri for making a difference in education with the Missouri Innovation Campus during a speech on the UCM campus July 24. President Obama’s visit to UCM was the first by a sitting president in the history of the university. “Now, that is exactly the kind of innovation we need when it comes to college costs,” the President said, referring to MIC. “That’s what’s happening right here in Warrensburg, and I want the entire country to notice it, and I want other colleges to take a look at what’s being done here. “….So here at the University of Central Missouri, you are a laboratory for this kind of innovation,’ President Obama added. “What’s happened at UCM is you’ve partnered with the Lee’s Summit School District, with the Metropolitan Community College, with local health care, engineering, energy, and infrastructure firms—industries that are going to drive job growth in the future—and everybody is now working together to equip students with better skills, allow them to graduate faster with less debt and with the certainty of being able to get a job at the other end. That’s a recipe for success over the long term.” Through the Missouri Innovation Campus, students will complete an associate’s degree from MCC by the semester after high-school graduation, earning a bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering Technology or Engineering Technology/ Design & Drafting Technology (CADD) from UCM within two years after high school graduation. They also will participate in high-impact internships and on-the-job education thanks to the partnering businesses. University of Central Missouri | today

UCM alumnus Dan Austin autographs a copy of his book, Baseball’s Last Great Scout: The Life of Hugh Alexander.

Tribute To a Baseball Legend by Jeff Murphy

As moviegoers flocked to theaters in spring 2013 to see how Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball, University of Central Missouri alumnus Dan Austin was sharing a story about another one of the game’s great legends.

hat’s different about this true-life narrative is the main character is not someone baseball fans recognize for hitting and fielding. In fact, as a young member of the Cleveland Indians, “Uncle Hughie,” as he later became known, wore a Major League uniform only a few short weeks and spent most of his time on the bench, despite his tremendous talent and athleticism. But, there is much more to this story. It’s a tale about a man who turned his life around after a tragic accident and went on to contribute to World Series-winning teams in a capacity he never imagined. Some 50 years after he graduated from UCM with a degree in history, Austin was invited in April 2013 to speak at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and

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Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y., having just released his book, Baseball’s Last Great Scout: The Life of Hugh Alexander. His work is the result of years spent getting to know Alexander on a personal level while creating an oral history project for the Hall of Fame. Austin’s countless hours of audio recordings and other materials used in the project are part of the exhibit launched this year in honor of baseball scouts, the unsung fraternity of professionals whose job is to seek out and recruit unsigned ballplayers. Writing the book became a labor of love for Austin, a professor emeritus at Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. He found an “immediate connection” with the long-time scout while working on the oral history project, one of two he created for

the Hall of Fame. The other one celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Negro Professional Baseball League in Kansas City, Mo.

Uncle Hughie to give scouting a try. Taking advantage of a free train ticket to Cleveland, his great stamina, salesmanship and knowledge of baseball, Alexander endeared himself to the sport’s managers and owners looking for the next generation of talented ballplayers.

“The people at the Hall of Fame said ‘We don’t know much about what scouts do. We really have no history of it,’ ” Austin said. “They asked me, ‘How do they find So what was it about Hughie Alexander that made a ballplayer?’ ” Posing the same question to Alexander, Austin want to write about him? For one thing, it was Austin in 1992 began the first of many interviews, the strong Midwestern connection and a mutual love for establishing a friendship with the well-seasoned, and baseball that both men shared. Perhaps another has sometimes colorful, scout that would last until Uncle to do with the trust Uncle Hughie placed in Austin Hughie’s death in 2000 at the age of 83. asking him to share his story. Alexander, a gifted judge of baseball talent and outstanding storyteller, traveled the nation’s back roads seeking out future baseball stars for six decades, the longest of anyone in his profession. He recruited more than 60 players for teams such as the Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies and the Chicago Cubs. Players like Allie Reynolds, Don Sutton, Frank Howard, Steve Garvey, and Davey Lopes are just a few of the many contributions to Big League rosters made by Alexander, a man “who never heard of a radar gun or a stop watch.”

“I wrote it with the intent of being respectful to Hughie,” Austin said. “I admired and respected the way he loved the game.”

Despite his success in scouting, such a career was far from Alexander’s mind when he was called up at age 20 to play for the Cleveland Indians after two years in the minors. “He was an incredible athlete,” Austin said. “A Cleveland Indians scout who signed him said, ‘Hughie, if you make the major leagues in two years, you get $1,000.’ During the Depression, that was a lot of money.” Alexander didn’t play much that first season, but prospects for a promising career still looked good for the red-headed, wiry, slugger when he left the ballpark at season’s end to join his parents at an oil field near Seminole, Okla. His fate changed quickly. While working on an oil rig his flannel shirt got caught in some gears and his left hand was badly mangled, so a “doctor amputated it with only couple of shots of bourbon as an anesthetic,” Austin said. Believing his baseball career had ended, Alexander temporarily found work as a bartender before the same scout who had recruited him – the one who had also signed Indians pitching legend Bob Feller – encouraged

Dan Austin’s biography of legendary baseball scout Hugh Alexander

University of Central Missouri | today

The Hanze Seven Left to right, Brad Banowitz, Anna Robb, Tina Guier, Amber Ward, Kyle Phillips, Kayla Hockersmith and Madison Sommers

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By Chelsey Buseck

hether you enter the Shark Tank in America or the Dragon’s Den in Canada, it can be a scary experience. Each week, these two reality television shows feature aspiring entrepreneurs who pitch business concepts and products to venture capitalists with millions, even billions, of dollars, and the knowledge and connections to make things happen. Seven University of Central Missouri students had that type of experience this summer, one they will remember for life, when they presented to Philips Electronics, Europe’s largest consumer electronics producer, while studying at Hanze University in the Netherlands. They called themselves “The Hanze Seven.” In a span of three weeks, these Honors College students had the opportunity to embrace a new culture and prepare for one of the most important product pitches of their academic careers. “We pitched our idea within three minutes,” said sophomore Amber Ward, a digital production media major. “It was a very intense and nerve-wracking experience, especially in front of someone so important.” That someone was Philips CEO Frans van Houten, a global expert on restructuring corporations, who also is known as a straight-talker. Not only did these UCM honors students present their work, they also won the competition. Their presentation was part of an international learning opportunity made possible by donors to the UCM Foundation in support of The Honors College. “Partnering with the UCM Foundation, we created a model where honors students who had never studied abroad before could experience another country essentially with no cost to them,” said Joseph Lewandowski, dean of The Honors College and International Affairs. He chose the “Doing Business in Europe” summer study program at Hanze University in Groningen after presenting a lecture on excellence and education at an international honors conference there. “While in Groningen, I learned that Hanze University has a similar mission to ours in applied and professional studies. (continued to page 12)

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(continued from page 11)

I had the sense that this would be an outstanding place for UCM’s high-ability students to study abroad,” he said.

O’Fallon. Another came from Colby, Kansas. At least one had never flown on an airplane, and most had never traveled internationally.

Once he settled on the right overseas institutional partner, Lewandowski researched the three-week summer school experiences Hanze University offers for students throughout the world.

Once selected for the program, “The Hanze Seven” attended three pre-departure meetings and were given a variety of documents, including information about how to get their passports, course reading assignments, and a copy of a student travel guide to help prepare them academically and culturally for the experience.

He identified an honors-appropriate, three-week interdisciplinary course that emphasized European business, politics and culture. Lewandowski then decided to partner with the UCM Foundation. Choosing the students came next. When interviewing potential candidates, he looked for students in The Honors College with genuine interest and excitement, openness to cross-cultural experiences, and a promising academic record. The result was a mixed group of students, in keeping with the uniqueness of The Honors College, whose 454 current students pursue degrees across all of UCM’s academic colleges. Tina Guier, a senior explained her interest. “When applying for the study program, I wanted to do something that would set me apart from other university students,” she said. Junior Brad Banowetz noted, “I figured that studying business in Europe would help broaden my business skills and introduce me to a different market outside the United States.” Like Banowetz, many of the students indicated they wanted to apply the knowledge they gained at Hanze University to their classes at UCM. The students’ majors included digital production media, accounting, business administration, biology, speech pathology and history. Many were from small towns in Missouri such as Concordia, Albany and 12

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Lewandowski said, “I knew it was going to be a demanding curriculum, but that was part of the idea. I wanted them to experience the culture, yet I also wanted them to have a really challenging academic experience.” Part of the challenge of living and studying in the Netherlands was learning from professors from countries such as Italy and Germany. Engaging their different cultures, values and traditions was another first for many of the UCM students. Each professor brought a different perspective on international business, culture and politics to class. “It was really interesting gaining a new perspective from all the professors,” Ward said. Banowetz added, “The cultural dimensions of the classes were most interesting. It was eye-opening to hear about different countries from a new perspective. I was used to hearing about countries from an American perspective, and now I was learning about countries from the Dutch perspective.” The business portions of the classes were informative and tough. Sophomore Kyle Phillips said, “The academic part of the trip was stressful, demanding and a lot of work.” Academic engagement was a fundamental part of the experience. Each student spent many hours after

class doing homework and preparing for the next day of lectures. While academics were a major part of the trip, the group also made time for leisure activities. In Papenburg, Germany, the group toured MeyerWerft, a 200-year-old shipyard and one of the world’s leading builders of luxury ocean cruisers. Here, the students learned about business from the standpoint of a sixth-generation German family business. In Amsterdam the students visited the historic Rijksmuseum, where they viewed and learned more about the works of famous artists, such as Van Gogh and Rembrandt. On another weekend, the group explored Schiermonnikoog Island in the northern Netherlands. “Schiermonnikoog had a huge beach that was filled with activities, from sand castles to kite surfing. That island provided a great break from the hustle of class,” Banowetz said. In a span of three weeks, “The Hanze Seven” explored the Netherlands and learned about business in a country that many consider one of the world’s financial hubs. But for these seven UCM honors students, the defining moment was yet to come. Each student worked on a team during the course. The task was to create and develop a marketing plan for a product that would improve lives. With their product and plan in hand, each team then entered the “Dragon’s Den,” similar to the popular American television show, “Shark Tank.” This contest tested each student’s public speaking and messaging skills. The winning team then pitched its idea to van Houten. Ward’s team won the honor to make the pitch. Their idea was to use UVC lighting in subways, schools, hospitals and other high traffic areas to stop the spread

of germs. By the end of the competition, van Houten picked their team for its winning product idea. “We all learned so much from this experience,” said junior Kayla Hockersmith. “After the winning team was chosen, we got to talk directly with the CEO and learned a lot about his successful career.” All of the students started and ended their days together at Hanze University. Riding bikes, attending lectures and experiencing Dutch meals as a group made this collection of strangers a close-knit bunch. By the end of the experience, each student was more prepared academically and professionally for the competitive global marketplace. Guier explained, “The trip was generally very challenging for me and pushed you to your limits. But, I learned so much about international business, and I’m already using it in my classes.” Dean Lewandowski hopes to expand the initiative to include two study programs for the 2014 summer semester at Hanze University. One program will emphasize European business, culture and politics, while the other will focus on applied and fine arts and technology. Both programs will be four weeks in length and offer high impact learning experiences. He hopes that UCM alumni and friends will once again provide the financial support needed through their gifts to the UCM Foundation. For “The Hanze Seven,” those gifts proved an ideal way to cultivate a worldly perspective and have a direct impact on their lives. “This study program helped me realize that the world is a little bit bigger than everyone makes it out to be,” Banowetz said, “and there are a lot more places to explore.”

University of Central Missouri | today

Julie Mollenkamp Meridith Harmon Sauer Distinguished Endowed Professor of Theatre

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THE CREATIVE SCHOLAR AT WORK by Mike Greife

In a darkened theatre on a stage lit for rehearsal, Julie Mollenkamp demonstrates choreography to the cast of the children’s show she is directing. It’s not her usual location during the preparation for a production in the University of Central Missouri’s Department of Theatre. “I’m used to being down there, directing,” she said, pointing to the dimly lit seating in the James L. Highlander Theatre, but she seems just as comfortable on the stage with the students she is committed to teaching as she is in the many roles she accepts as professor of theatre. Mollenkamp recently was named to the Meridith Harmon Sauer Distinguished Endowed Professorship in Theatre in recognition of her dedication to her chosen profession. She sees the professorship as an opportunity to grow as an educator while pursuing the career she loves. She began performing at the age of 4, and at age 18 she decided she would share her love of theatre and performance as a teacher. “I thought I would be a better actor in my 40s, so I went off to college to become a teacher,” she said. “I flunked out and came back home and went to a community college.” She continued her education, receiving her B.S. degree in education from Midland Lutheran College in Fremont, Neb., in English, speech, theatre and journalism. Her initial experience with college would become an important factor in her success as a professor of theatre. Mollenkamp began her teaching career in a small school district in rural Nebraska. “I did everything, but when it came time for a reduction in staff, I was the last hired, so I was the first let go,” she said. She worked as a secretary for a year in Chicago until a former teacher and mentor encouraged her to continue her education. Mollenkamp earned her master’s and Ph.D. degrees from Bowling Green State University and began her career in higher education at Defiance College in Defiance, Ohio. She then taught in higher education in Michigan and Minnesota before coming to UCM.

Mollenkamp credits her initial failure in college with giving her insight into how to help her young, talented students make the transition to college. “I don’t think you teach creativity,” Mollenkamp said. “I attempt to inspire my students to find creativity within themselves. I try to create a really safe place where students feel free to take huge risks and fail beautifully, because this is the place to fail and learn from it and be willing to look as foolish as possible to achieve what you want to achieve.” Mollenkamp teaches all aspects of theatre, including directing, acting, theory, advanced literature, theatre management, research, and serves as graduate coordinator for the Department of Theatre and Dance. “What excites me about all of those disciplines of theatre is that we’re focusing on both scholarship and creative production and how they work together,” she said. Mollenkamp has not neglected the performance side of her career. She was under contract with Paramount for about a year in their recording studio, but didn’t care for the West Coast. She has performed on the Highlander stage, most notably in the Department of Theatre mainstage presentation of “The Grapes of Wrath.” She and her husband, filmmaker Daniel Mollenkamp, formed a production company, Smashing Frames, that produced her one-woman performance, “Inconclusive Woman,” which premiered in Kansas City and was produced in New York. Mollenkamp’s future plans include heading east with her family when she retires from teaching, where she will move on to the next stage of her creative career. “Our production company focuses on theatre and film, but our work is a little more connected to the independent field,” she said. “I also think I’d like to direct films. After almost 30 years, I feel like I have somewhat of a grasp how to get relationship and communication happening, so I’m excited to try and mesh those two and see what can happen. I may blow it, but we’re going to find out.”

University of Central Missouri | today

L. Marlene Mawson

Gavin Tade

Paulo T. Guerra

Frank Fendorf

2013 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients The University of Central Missouri Alumni Association will recognize four UCM alumni for their lifetime achievements since graduating from UCM. The awards will be presented during the 2013 Homecoming celebration at the Distinguished Alumni Dinner planned for Oct. 25. L. Marlene Mawson Distinguished Alumni Award Known as the “Mother of KU Women’s Athletics,” L. Marlene Mawson is being recognized as a pioneer in intercollegiate women’s athletics well before federal legislation required equal opportunity for men and women student athletes. A native of Archie, Mo., Mawson graduated from the University of Central Missouri in 1962 with a Bachelor of Science in Education degree in English and physical education. After starting her teaching career at Van Horn High School in Kansas City and completing a master’s degree, she accepted a faculty position at the University of Kansas, where she started women’s athletics programs in four intercollegiate sports. After completing her doctorate and coaching for several years, she moved into academic administration. She then was a professor at Illinois State University and the University of West Georgia before retiring and returning home to Lawrence, Kan. Mawson was inducted into the KU Athletics Hall of Fame and was honored with the naming of the Marlene Mawson Woman Athlete of the Year Award at KU.

Gavin Tade Distinguished Alumni Award Lt. Col. Gavin Tade received a bachelor’s degree in aviation technology from the University of Central Missouri in 1994 and joined the Air National Guard. After earning his wings, he received training on the F-16 and became a functional check flight pilot. He flew three tours of duty in Iraq between 1999 and 2002, enforcing the no-fly zone in northern Iraq. 16

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After serving with the 458th Fighter Squadron at NAS Fort Worth JRB, Texas, he was named assistant director and director of operations for the 301st Operational Flight Wing. Most recently, Tade was named commander of the 73rd Aerial Port Squadron at NAS Fort Worth. In his civilian career, Tade is a pilot for American Airlines and involved with the Allied Pilots Association, the collective bargaining unit for American Airlines pilots. He also is chair of the Government Affairs Committee. He spent many hours as an instructor on different aircraft, including the F-16. He became a test pilot for NASA in 2010.

Paulo T. Guerra Distinguished International Alumni Award With a desire to improve aviation safety in his native Brazil, Paolo T. Guerra received a master’s degree in aviation safety from the University of Central Missouri in 1989. As a senior officer in the Brazilian Air Force, he was sponsored by his government to learn about aviation safety so he could return home and help revamp the country’s system of research and prevention of aeronautical accidents. In addition to his military service, Guerra also has served as post graduate professor for the University of the Brazilian Air Force and an instructor pilot for the Brazilian Air Force Academy. He has served as vice director of CENIPA, the Brazilian equivalent of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, and is the official representative of Brazil to the SICOFAA, an international organization that promotes cooperation between North and South American. He also was a representative from Brazil to the Flight

Safety Foundation in Switzerland, Great Britain, Panama, Argentina, Venezuela and Chile. Guerra is the recipient of 12 Medals of Honor from the Brazilian Air Force and has volunteered as an air safety officer and consultant.

Frank Fendorf Distinguished Alumni Award for Service Frank Fendorf arrived on the University of Central Missouri campus in 1942, only to have his college career interrupted by his military service in World War II. Upon his return to campus in 1945, he earned a bachelor’s degree in music, studying under the late Professor Paul Utt, the name sake of UCM’s current music building. Fendorf started his career as a music educator at Warrensburg High School, moving to Chillicothe High School. In 1965 he left education to become a partner in Wingert Jones Music Company, a publisher and distributor of music for educational music programs. His new career allowed him to sustain lifelong friendships with his fellow music educators. He remained with the company until his retirement in 2004. Throughout his business career, Fendorf also remained active as a musician. He enjoyed playing with jazz bands in the Kansas City area and serving as conductor of the Overland Park Civic Band for 42 years. He also was instrumental in founding the UCM Alumni Band, which brings UCM music alumni back to campus on a regular basis to participate in Homecoming and Alumni Band concerts.

CLASS NOTES 1950-1959 Norm Brooks ’57 and his wife, Wanda (Wood) ’56, celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary. They live in Green Valley, Ariz. and enjoy golf, senior softball and bridge. Dorothy (Burkhart) Edmonds Anthony ’58 celebrated her 92nd birthday on June 7. She retired in 1989 as an elementary school teacher. She and her husband, John, reside in Lincoln, Mo., and enjoy playing bridge, pinochle and bingo with their friends. Christa Creason Chaussee ’58 married Alfred Elter on Oct. 12, 2012. She is retired from the IBM Corporation and he is a retired building contractor. They make their home in Bergenfield, N.J. and Fort Myers, Fla.

1970-1979 Bill Deering ’70 retired from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point after 25 years of teaching media studies courses. His wife, Denise, is a retired artist from UWSP. They reside in Stevens Point, Wis. Jeanne (Clothier) Tyson ’70 resides in Kansas City, Mo. She would love to hear from old friends who attended the Laboratory Elementary School. Beckie (McCoy) Heck ’72 has retired after 20 years with Springfield schools in Holland, Ohio. She previously was a manager at Waldenbooks for 17 years. She and her daughter, Stephanie, recently moved to Kissimmee, Fla., with goals of working at Walt Disney World. Ron Ramlow ’72 is a classic ship model crafter. He has built more than 50 models to donate to school libraries and public institutions. He taught history and social studies in Wisconsin and is a retired

government employee. He resides in Cherry Valley, Ill. Carl Kirts ’75, ’76 is a retired helicopter pilot. He taught for 17 years in Germany and raced cars in Europe on the Grand Prix Circuits. He was an inspector for the U.S. government, operated several businesses in Warrensburg, worked in Ukraine with an oil company and owned a construction company. He, his wife, Yuliya, and two children reside in Warrensburg. Donnie Bowerman ’76 retired in 2002 from a duel career in law enforcement and the U.S. military. His wife, Tina, recently retired from a distinguished career with Union Pacific Railroad in Omaha, Neb. They reside in Missouri Valley, Iowa, and have plans to travel.

1980-1989 Karen Kline ’81 retired in January 2012 from the city of Kansas City, Mo., after 28 years of service with the Parks and Recreation Department, 26 of which were with the Kansas City Zoo. She now works part time as a veterinary assistant. She resides in Kansas City, Mo. Greg Thomas ’81 is a teacher, head wrestling coach, and assistant football coach at Piper High School in Kansas City, Kan. He was a two-time MIAA champ in wrestling at UCM and was inducted into the UCM Wrestling Legends in 2012. Donna (Southward) Reynolds ’82, ’84 retired after 30 years of teaching, the last 15 as a middle school teacher at St. Paul’s Episcopal Day School in Kansas City, Mo. She and her husband, Jim ‘73, reside in Raymore, Mo. Col. C. David Turner ’83 took command of the South Pacific Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

on June 19, 2013. He is responsible for leading a workforce of more than 2,000 and this command extends from New Mexico to the Pacific. Richard Garrett ’84 is regional manager of WorkSafe Consulting Services, a division of Accident Fund Insurance Company of America. He and his wife, Sandra, reside in Pleasant Hill, Mo. Cendy Harrell-Carson ’84 is an armed resource officer for the Sedalia School District. She holds six police commendations, two Meritorious Conduct Awards and a Life-Save Award. She and her husband, Jim, have two sons, and she has two step-daughters. Andrea Kent ’87 is human resource practices manager for the Hertz Corporation. She resides in Kansas City, Mo. Tracy Shea ’87 is vice president of Social Strategy at Mitchell Communications Group, LLC, based at the New York office. Rob Baker ’88, ’90 is a first officer for American Airlines flying a Boeing 737-800. He is based in Miami, flying primarily to the Caribbean and Central America. He and his wife, Julie, have two sons and three adult stepdaughters. The family resides in Overland Park, Kan., with plans to move to south Florida in the near future. Tim Carr ’89 is the chief deputy juvenile officer for the 18th Judicial Circuit in Missouri. He served 23 years in adult law enforcement, retiring as chief deputy. His wife, Amy, is a nursing instructor at State Fair Community College. They have one son, Alex, a sophomore in high school. The family resides in Sedalia. Tim Rowden ’89 is associate editor for the St.

Louis/Southern Illinois Labor Tribune. He resides in Arnold, Mo. John Sands ’89 is an endo-mechanical closure system technician with Sutcher Express. He resides in Independence, Mo.

1990-1999 Jeff McLanahan ’90 is the vice president of training for the Home Services Division of Direct Energy/Clockwork Home Services. He and his wife, Jackie, and their family reside in Sarasota, Fla. Kari Monsees ’90 is superintendent for the Raymore-Peculiar School District. Jill Rhoad-Cook ’93 and her husband, Chris, announce the birth of twins, Michaela Allyn and Jackson Miles, in May. The family resides in Bear, Del. Brian Gromley ’94 is in charge of student support services at the Dublin Institute of Technology in Ireland. Lisa Mandina ’95, ’03 is a high school librarian at Sumner Academy of Arts and Science in Kansas City, Kan. She resides in Kansas City, Mo. Doug Hafer ’98 and his wife, Sarah, announce the birth of their second son, Wyatt. The family resides in Aurora, Ill. Keli (Sears) Hurst ’98 and her husband, Kyle, announce the birth of Kaden Powell in June. He joins his brother, Karter Preston. The family resides in Kansas City, Mo. Jared Welch ’98 and his wife, P.J., announce the birth of Declan Sylvester on Feb. 18, 2013. He joins sisters, Clare, 5 and Cate, 2. The family resides in Platte City, Mo. Janquil (Straka) Boswell ’99, ’02 and her husband, Kelsey, welcomed twin girls, (continued to page 16)

University of Central Missouri | today

CLASS NOTES (continued from page 17)

AWARDS & HONORS

Bridget and Claire, April 25, 2013. They join their brother, Brooks. The family resides in Liberty, Mo.

1960-1969

2000-2009 Trey Buckley ’00 graduated from the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Law on May 18, 2013. He resides in Kansas City. Hether Henderson ‘02 and David Celetti were married on Oct. 10, 2009. They announce the birth of Andrew Joseph on May 1, 2013. The family resides in Jacksonville, Fla. Stephanie Wansing ’04 and Adam Durham were married May 11, 2013. They reside in Independence, Mo. Michelle Davis ’05 graduated May 12, 2012 from University of MissouriColumbia with a Master of Science in Education degree with an emphasis in reading. She teaches first grade for the Otterville School District. She and her husband, Scott, reside in Smithton. Shannon Whetzel ’05 is the collections manager at Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center. She is a certified archivist and a member of the Academy of Certified Archivists Petition Review Team. James Freese ’07 is manager of certification and compliance at Southwest Airlines in Dallas, Texas. Tricia Hager ’08 and her husband, Chris, announce the birth of Jaina Lee, on March 2, 2013. The family resides in Lee’s Summit, Mo.

Summer 2013 | ucmo.edu/today

Kari Baum ’09 is account development representative at Humanscale. She resides in The Colony, Texas. Katelyn Beverlin ’09 and Nate Bignall ’08 were married and reside in Moline, Ill. Vicky (Clay) Martin ’09 worked at Army Community Service as a volunteer coordinator and Army family action coordinator. She and her husband, William, recently relocated to Elizabethtown, Ky., where she is pursuing creative writing and working towards credentials as a substance abuse counselor and licensed professional counselor.

2010-2013 Kaitlyn Roach ’10 graduated summa cum laude with a Juris Doctorate degree from Mississippi College School of Law. Trooper Aaron Engelhart ’12 graduated from the Missouri State Highway Patrol Academy on July 12, 2013. He is assigned to Zone 7, Jackson County. Lt. Col. Rick Ingram ’12 is a safety liaison between the United States Army and the National Guard. He is stationed at Fort Rucker, Ala. Trooper Beau Ryun ’12 is assigned to Zone 14, Bates County. He graduated from the Missouri State Highway Patrol Academy on July 12, 2013. Ashley Terry ’12 teaches kindergarten at University Academy in Kansas City, Mo.

Janice (Gudde) Plastino ’60 received the Performing Arts Medicine Association Service to the Field Award in July. She owns Healthy Performing Artists: Dance, Drama, Music. She and her husband, Richard, reside in Lake Forest, Calif. Bob Springer ’68 is part owner of Set Free Films, a non-profit Christian movie production company. Two of their short films, The Reunion and Set Free, were nominated for The Evangelista Award at the 11th annual 168 Film Festival at Glendale Performing Arts Center in Glendale, Calif., Aug. 8-10. He resides in Jacksonville, Fl.

1970-1979 Pamela Gove ’75, ’90 received the Kansas Society of Professional Engineers-Eastern Chapter Outstanding Teacher of the Year award in May. In June she received the KSPE state level award. She teaches at Gardner-Edgerton High School in Gardner, Kan., and resides in Olathe, Kan.

1980-1989 Mark Curp ’81 was inducted into the MIAA Hall of Fame on June 6. He was an eighttime All-American for the Mules cross country and track programs. He was a member of the 1978 MIAA cross country championship squad and is one of only three athletes to win the MIAA individual cross country title three times. His Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field record of 14:13.4 in the 5,000 meters was set in 1981and stands today as the oldest building record at UCM. His UCM school record in the 10,000 meter run in 1980 and 5,000 meter run in 1981 stood until last season. In 1985 he set the world record in the half-marathon at 1:00:55 which stood for five years and

stood as an American record until 2007. He is a member of the inaugural class inducted into the UCM Athletics Hall of Fame.

1990-1999 Manoj Patanaker ‘93 was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, U.K. for his 20 years of dedicated contributions to the advancement of aviation safety. He and his wife, Kirsten, live in Chesterfield, Mo. Kristin Thomas ’94 was recognized by Inter-State Studio as National Teacher of the Year. She received a $300 classroom grant. She is a second and third grade teacher at Ocotillo Ridge Elementary School. Amiee Shelton ’95 was selected for a Fulbright award to Slovak Republic for spring 2014. She resides in Barrington, R.I.

2000-2009 Daniele Massey ’02, an algebra teacher at Vilseck High School in Germany, is the Department of Defense Education Activity Teacher of the Year. She and her husband, U.S. Army Maj. Adrian Massey, have two daughters.

2010-2013 Darrin Tobias ’12 was named the Missouri Troopsto-Teachers 2013 Teacher of the Year for rural schools. He teaches 7-12 grade social studies at Calhoun, Mo., High School and is the assistant coach for boys’ basketball. His wife, Patty, is an Early Head Start teacher in Sedalia, Mo. They have two daughters, Jessi, a Head Start teacher attending State Fair Community College, and Katie, an elementary education major at UCM.

In Memoriam 1940-1949 Carrol J. McCubbin ’40 Reva L. McKinnon ’41 Florence Carino ’42 Elizabeth W. Hart ’44 Alma Louise Eastep ’45 Vernon J. Daugherty ’47 Gordon E. Gross ’47 Kenneth T. Carter ’48 1950-1959 Raymond J. McGuire ’50 Vivian L. Fuchs ’51 Carolyn E. Peoples ’51 Harlan F. Callen ’53 Leonard P. Beck ’54 Barbara Rising Hale ’54 Clyde M. Pasley Jr. ’54 Juanita K. Pederson ’54 Alex Bartlett ’55 Gary E. Geivett ’56 John G. Healy ’56 William E. Brough ’57 Gabriel T. Georgeff ’57 Ronald W. Hubbard ’57 Betty M. Dod ’58 Sylvia J. Anderson ’59 Joseph P. Murphy ’59 1960-1969 Hazel B. Jobe ’60 Ronald D. Oesch ’60, ’65 Robert E. Rosenquist ’60 Alvis R. Kent ’61 Edwin Dennis Martin ’61, ’64 Esther E. Jarrett ’62 Wyota F. Kite ’62 Raymond G. Williamson ’62 James D. Stroth ’63 Opal G. Walters ’63 Linda J. Frankenfeld ’64 Robert E. Caine ’65 Cheryl L. Jonson ’66, ’75 Sharon S. Achim ’67 Robert D. Darby ’67 Charles P. Doherty ’67 Barbara A. Berendzen ’68 1970-1979 Carolyn A. Booker ’70, ’71 Ronnie T. Bross ’70 John Milton Brown ’70 Norman F. Hopkins ’70 Frances M. Ziemba ’70 Linda K. Allen ’71 James A. Denny ’71 Bob H. Furrey ’71, ’73, ’85 Daniel J. Schussler ’71 Paul E. Strombeck ’71 David B. Anderson ’72

John W. Goebel ’72 Ruth B. Joy ’72 Ellen R. Landess ’72 Virginia K. Warchol ’72 Robert E. Hartley ’73 Alice A. Oman ’73, ’74 Michile D. Bosch ’74 Robert E. Duzenberry ’74 Michael D. Stinson ’74 Gail L. Cary ’76 James R. Triay ’76 Stephen R. Miller ’78 Janet L. Sodergren ’78 Dorothy L. Williams ’78 1980-1989 Steve C. Alexander ’83 Thomas J. Ruess ’83 Russell L. Kerr ’84, ’85 David V. Krause ’84 John D. Ragsdale ’87 Scott N. Sewing ’87, ’94 1990-1999 Melanie Renee Harkins ’90 Patrick Michael Broyles ’92 Brian Paul Buchanan ’94 2000-2009 Kelly D. Messerli ’00 Julius E. Friedman ’01, ’04 David J. Moore ’01 James H. Brock ’02 Guy C. Gilbert ’05 2010-2019 Whitney A. Blair ’10 Derek K. Willis ’13 COLLEGE HIGH ALUMNI Ellen C. Dashner Cindy Misemer Frances Oswald Mary G. Patrick CURRENT STUDENTS Aaron Markarian Caitlin J. Talley FORMER STUDENTS Suzanne T. Garlich Jerrie J. Kerr Wayne E. Luff Edward M. O’Keefe William H. Roach FRIENDS Harry H. Berrier Jr. William J. Brady

Richard L. Bullard Dorothy L. Burden Dama C. Cooper Harold L. Enloe Mary C. Gauldin Alfred R. Hupp Sr. F.R. Jespersen Shirley Keyton Mathias Krewenka Geoff Neuhoff Olen Ritter Jr. Wanda A. Phillips Lorena Prince G. Dale Reesman Kevin M. Riecke John C. Risner Rebecca A. Schildknecht Emily M. Smith Teresa Belle Spencer Anna June Tate Albert Ward Jr. Wesley B. Weddle Shelley L. White-Horsley Kathryn H. Whitfield

associate chair and tenured associate professor of anthropology at West Virginia University and a research associate for the Center for Urban Affairs and Policy Research at Northwestern University. Podolefsky was a three-time graduate of Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, N.Y., earning master’s degrees in liberal studies and anthropology and a doctorate with distinction in anthropology. He also earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from San Jose State University, San Jose, Calif.

Aaron M. Podolefsky Aaron Podolefsky, former University of Central Missouri president, died Aug. 8, 2013, in Buffalo, N.Y. Podolefsky was president and professor of anthropology at the University of Central Missouri from 2005 to 2010, where he raised the university’s academic profile, initiated strategic and master planning efforts, cultivated mutually enriching campuscommunity partnerships, enhanced regional economic development, and launched landmark energy savings and sustainability initiatives. Podolefsky began as president of Buffalo State on July 1, 2010, a post he held until stepping down July 31, 2013. He previously served as provost and vice president for academic affairs and dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Northern Iowa. He also taught and served as department head in Western Kentucky University’s Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work. Prior to this, he was

He was the author of numerous scholarly works, including books, textbooks, and articles. He was a fellow of the American Anthropological Association. His graduate field studies in anthropology took him and his family to the highlands of Papua New Guinea in the 1970s. Podolefsky is survived by his wife, Ronnie, and his two sons, Noah and his wife, Molly, and Isaac and his wife Laura. Kay Bodenhamer Kathlyn “Kay” Bodenhamer, 76, of Warrensburg, died April 12, 2013, in Lee’s Summit, Mo. She was a graduate of Adrian High School and received a B.S. in Education degree from UCM in 1981 and a master’s degree in 1984. She taught school in rural Johnson County, Mo., and Centerview, Mo. She then became the reading coordinator for the Kansas City Magnet Schools. After retiring from teaching, Kay managed the Johnson County License Bureau from 1993 to 2005. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Trails Regional (continued to page 20)

University of Central Missouri | today

In Memoriam (continued from page 19) Library Board, Western Missouri Medical Center Auxiliary, and an active member of the Liberty Baptist Church. She was a former 4-H leader, Missouri Southern Baptist Convention teacher trainer, and did mission work in Belarus to teach Bible school. She was also a member of the Missouri State Teachers Association and a member of the school board for the former Farmers School District.

Robert C. Jones

Kay is survived by her husband, Delbert; three sons, William Clayton and wife Lilian; Delbert Lee, and Kenneth Joe and partner Michael Helman; and a brother.

He was an associate professor of English at the University of Colorado at Boulder, and later joined the faculty of William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo. He joined the UCM faculty in the fall of 1961, rose to full professor of English and retired in the spring of 1991.

Marian Demand Marian Frances Demand, 87, of Sedalia, a long-time donor to UCM, died Friday, May 25, 2012, in Cole Camp, Mo. She received a Bachelor of Music degree from UCM in 1944, a master’s degree at Northwestern University in Illinois and doctorate at the University of Southern California. A long-time resident of Sedalia, she taught in the public schools and Arizona State University. She was a professor of music education at Temple University from 1972 until her retirement, after which she returned to Sedalia, where she was active as a member of the board of the Sedalia Symphony, a member of the Helen G. Steele Music Club, and Sorosis. Marian was also a member of the Music Educators National Conference and Sigma Alpha Iota, a national musical fraternity for women. She was widely respected for her work and her research in elementary music education.

Summer 2013 | ucmo.edu/today

Robert C. Jones, 81, professor emeritus of English, died June 7, 2013, in Warrensburg. He graduated from Longview, Texas, High School and earned a two-year degree at Kilgore Junior College. He earned a Bachelor of Journalism degree, a Master of Journalism degree and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in English from The University of Texas at Austin.

While at UCM, Jones taught modern literature and creative writing, published student writing and sponsored the English Club and the English honorary Sigma Tau Delta, advising the fine arts magazine Cemost. He initiated a system of contract grading and individual student tutorials. He wrote the libretto for the mixed-media opera Ismene, with music by Donald Bohlen and design by Richard Monson. He also wrote texts for music written by Charles Theis and Walter Halen. In 1971 he produced the centennial history of Central Missouri State College, 100 Years. In the late 1960s, Robert initiated the Sight/Sound Fine Arts Festival on campus, and for several years directed the university films program. In the 1970s, he was nominated by the Danforth Foundation of St. Louis to be a Danforth representative on the UCM campus and received grants from the foundation for various creative activities on campus. For several years, Robert was a member of

the Poetry Committee of the Jewish Community Center in Kansas City. Among his honors at UCM, Robert received the Faculty Distinguished Lecture Award, The Kansas City Star Poetry Award, the College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Faculty Award, and the Byler Distinguished Faculty Award in 1989. He was an active member of The Writers Place, organizer of The Missouri Association for Teachers of English, participated in television documentaries for Friends of Literature, Poets Corner, Writers on Writing, and The American Poetry Series, sponsored by UMKC. He founded the Warrensburg Writers Circle. Robert was awarded a Fulbright Lectureship at the University of Timisoara in Timisoara, Romania, and was Visiting Fulbright Lecturer at Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece. He was director of the first Missouri London Program and exchange professor at Budapest University of Economic Sciences in Budapest, Hungary. He was a founding editor of the not-forprofit Mid-America Press. In 2003, he received a Missouri Arts Award from the Missouri Arts. He is survived by his wife, Nancy, and three daughters, Susannah Louise, Amy Robin, and Elizabeth Ann. He is also survived by his brother and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, Chris. Kathryn E. Payne Kathryn E. Payne, 81, died June 6, 2013. She graduated from Higginsville High School and received her Bachelor of Science in Education degree from the University of Central Missouri in 1953.

Katie was then employed as a medical research laboratory assistant at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Mo. She married R. Wayne Payne in 1956. The family lived in St. Louis, and the family later lived in Memphis, Tenn.; Copenhagen, Denmark and Houston, Texas. Katie was the founding president of the Memorial Drive Esplanade Association, a non-profit organization created for the beautification of a portion of Houston’s Memorial Drive esplanades. Her world-wide friendships were created through participation in Friendship Force reciprocal home-stay visits with people from other countries. She was a life member of the Board of Stewards of Chapelwood United Methodist Church and an active church member. She is survived by her husband; sons David and his wife, Mary, and John and his wife Karen and two grandchildren. Contributions in her memory may be made to the Kathryn Eydt Payne Scholarship Endowment through the UCM Foundation. Sandra A. Russell Sandy Russell, 71, of Warrensburg, a member of the UCM Foundation Board of Directors, died July 5, 2013 in Colorado. She was a graduate of the University of Missouri, and she and Bob, her husband of nearly 50 years, resided in Warrensburg for the past 45. A model in Kansas City, she was Princess of the 1957 Kansas City Auto Show and as a Tri Delta at the University of Missouri was named one of Glamour Magazine’s ‘Top Ten Best Dressed Women’ in 1962.

In Memoriam Sandy taught first grade in Kansas City, and then taught art in the Knob Noster, Mo., public schools before becoming a successful realtor and real estate developer. She was a member of the board of directors of First Central Bank. Most recently, she pursued a lifelong dream of owning cattle and created the Bucket List Cattle Company. She served on the Warrensburg R-VI Board of Education; the board of the Warrensburg Area Chamber of Commerce, serving as chair of Military Affairs committee; and as past president of the Whiteman Air Force Base Community Council and Civilian Air Boss of the Whiteman Air Force Base Air Show. In the 1970s she and five of her friends formed a band called “The Girls,” She learned to play the piano at age 50 and participated in the first People-toPeople program to Berlin in 1962. She obtained her pilot’s license, sky-dived, and white water rafted through Ecuador, traveled solo through China and caught a 300-pound marlin while deep-sea fishing, to name a few of her many accomplishments. Sandy is survived by her husand, Bob, a former member of the UCM Board of Governors; two sons, Rob and wife Kelly; Randy and companion Ann Bailey; her daughter, Beth Neuhoff; and four grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a sonin-law, Geoffrey Neuhoff. Harvey E. Wadleigh Harvey Wadleigh, 83, a former member of the UCM Alumni Association Board of Directors, died July 30, 2013, in Kansas City. Harvey was born in Green Ridge, Mo. He attended

school in Green Ridge and graduated from UCM in 1952, receiving his Master of Science in Education degree in 1957. He then served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1958-1960. Harvey worked in the Raytown School District for 33 years, followed by serving as the director of Raytown Chamber of Commerce. During his life, Harvey belonged to multiple civic and religious organizations. He is survived by three children, Gregory Wadleigh, Lori Wadleigh-Dowling and Douglas Wadleigh; and nieces and nephews in the Kansas City, Green Ridge and Sedalia areas. He was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley. Floyd A. Walker Floyd A. Walker, 89, former UCM director of athletics and professor emeritus of physical education, died June 3, 2013, in Warrensburg. He graduated from LaPlata High School and served in the U.S. Army Air Corps from. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Northeast Missouri Teachers College in Kirksville, and his master’s degree from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Ariz.

University, a position he held until 1980. He remained on the faculty as a professor until 1986. Walker then became associate athletic director at UMKC until his official retirement in 1992, when he returned to Warrensburg. He was a member of the First Christian Church of Warrensburg, where he served as deacon, chairman of the church board and elder. He was a member of the American Legion Post 131, where he was a past commander, and a member of the VFW Post 2513. Floyd was a member and past president of the Warrensburg Kiwanis Club and several professional organizations. He served on the NCAA Division II Basketball Tournament Committee and was one of the founding members of the Rusty Zippers Club in Warrensburg. In 2000, he was inducted into the Athletic Directors Hall of Fame. Floyd is survived by his wife, G’Anna; two sons, Burt Walker and wife, Nancy, and Bill Walker and wife, Karen; a daughter, Barbara Walker; five grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and a sister.

Floyd began his career at LaPlata High School as the football, basketball and baseball coach. He moved his family to St. Charles, where he taught school and coached until he moved to Warrensburg to be the head baseball coach and assistant basketball coach. He completed his doctorate in education at the University of Arkansas in 1966, and became athletic director at Central Missouri State University of Central Missouri | today

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The Mule Family Speaks

Prompting Opportunity, Expressing Loyalty Our Alumni Attitude Survey worked to tell us how you feel about your alma mater. We’ll share more data in future months but here are a few highlights: •

95% said your decision to attend UCM was good or great.

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91% described UCM today as good to excellent.

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90% said the value and respect for a UCM degree were primary influencers of their opinion, especially younger alumni. Providing scholarships was a close second.

Thank you so much for taking our survey. It will help us create new programs and services tailored to your needs, such as our recently launched Mule Nation alumni clubs. Learn more at ucmo.edu/alumni.