Final Chapters

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1. Wayne Evans, Class of 1962, died April 6, 2021. He attended Adams State on a full tuition scholarship. This motivated him to assist students financially when he had the opportunity. Wayne received the 2018 Willis Fassett Jr. Award. In 2009, he and his wife, Ellen, established the Wayne O. Evans and Ellen M. Evans Science/Math Scholarship. After the death of a high school classmate, Wayne established the MVHS-Adams Scholarship Endowment for Monte Vista High School graduates to attend Adams State.

2. Former Student Center Director Harry U. Hull died December 23, 2021. Harry retired in 1987 after 31 years. In 1988 he received the Billy Adams Award for his outstanding and long-time service to the Institution.

3. Dennis Lopez, Class of 1974 and 1978, died unexpectedly February 25, 2022. He received the 2021 Billy Adams Award because of the many contributions to his alma mater. He was always willing to share his knowledge of the language and history of his beloved San Luis Valley. He taught classes at Adams State and Alamosa High School. He was always willing to be a guest speaker and was active in the Adams State Alumni Association. He loved learning and he loved teaching. “I wanted to learn and learn and learn.” 4. Former Journalism Professor John L. (Jack) Morris, Ph.D., died March 8, 2022. He began working at Adams State in 1988, teaching and advising students, and serving as the advisor of the South Coloradan student newspaper. He helped dozens of students recognize their potential as reporters, photographers, and advertising representatives. In 2012, Jack attended a reunion with former South Coloradan staffers and mentioned how much he loved seeing his “kids” grown up and thriving. Adams State is accepting memorial donations in his name to benefit the student newspaper or establish a scholarship.

5. Joseph “Boogie” Frank Romero died April 13, 2022. He was as much an icon of Adams State as the white cupola gracing the top of Richardson Hall. After 32 years of service to the University in Facilities Services, Boogie retired in 1993 but his loyalty and commitment never wavered. He was given a special “Citation of Honor” at the 1994 ASC Hall of Fame for outstanding service and support to the college and its student athletes. Boogie often said how he remained in contact with many Adams State alumni.

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Ernest E. Ballotti ’50, ’62 (Pueblo, CO) passed away Jan 20 at the age of 95. Geraldine M. Anderson ’51 (Atascadero, CA) passed away Jan 16 at the age of 91. Leland C. Lively ’58, ’68 (Buena Vista, CO) passed away Jan 3 at the age of 89. Robert F. MacFarlan ’61 (Kennewick, WA) passed away Feb 23 at the age of 78. Jeffrey A. Sell ’61 (Oceanside, CA) passed away Sep 6 at the age of 86.

Albert L. King ’61, ’64 (Alamosa, CO) passed away Mar 9 at the age of 88.

Richard N. Anglund ’62 (Pueblo, CO) passed away Oct 18 at the age of 82.

Merredith G. Von Burg ’66 (Grand Junction, CO) passed away Jul 27 at the age of 77. Jeb S. Taylor ’66 (Falls Church, VA) passed away Mar 26 at the age of 78. Sam Vasile ’66 (Pueblo, CO) passed away Dec 31 at the age of 88. Paul E. Prior ’67, ’68 (Richmond, VA) passed away Dec 12 at the age of 76. Ronald E. Alford ’68 (Mountain View, CA) passed away Dec 29 at the age of 82. Richard Hime ’68 (Pueblo, CO) passed away Dec 20 at the age of 84. Charles P. Hammill ’68, ’69 (Medford Lakes, NJ) passed away Jan 21 at the age of 78. John E. Gaffga ’71, ’73 (Golden, CO) passed away Jan 10 at the age of 81. Frank C. Latino ’73 (Pueblo, CO) passed away Feb 16 at the age of 73. Frank P. Dino ’77 (Longmont, CO) passed away Jun 13 at the age of 68. Douglas D. Barr ’78 (Louisville, CO) passed away Aug 7 at the age of 68.

Charlotte A. Schneider ’79 (Windsor, CO) passed away Feb 17 at the age of 72. Janice E. Luellen ’80 (Pueblo, CO) passed away Jan 1 at the age of 70. Michael S. Kelly ’86, ’87 (Benton, AZ) passed away May 2 at the age of 60.

Allen L. Norris ’88 (Socorro, NM) passed away Dec 9 at the age of 58. Travis L. Corning ’88, ’06 (Arvada, CO) passed away Aug 20 at the age of 55. Mary E. Wilmes ’89 (Rapid City, SD) passed away Oct 7 at the age of 64. Scott E. Elliott ’90 (Denver, CO) passed away Jul 6 at the age of 56. Selina Wuori ’93 (Lakewood, FL) passed away Jun 7 at the age of 78. Colleen Rollings ’94 (Buena Vista, CO) passed away Mar 24 at the age of 68.

Brenda K. Coen ’97 (Delaware, OH) passed away Aug 23 at the age of 66.

friends

Dr. Bill E. Peters (Tucson, AZ) passed away Dec 23 at the age of 87. He was Dean of Men, Dean of Student Affairs, and Professor of Psychology and Statistics at Adams State College.

Adams100 memory

Louise Pasztor (nèe Halasz) graduated from Adams State College in 1956. She loved Adams State, and she blossomed there, writing a humor column for the South Coloradan in which she parodied literary classics (Anthony and Cleopatra brought together by their comic book collections) and college life (“Why don’t we all sneak into the library some night and nail sides on the tables—every campus needs a pool hall”). Her yearbooks and personal pictures from that time show a person who relished the beautiful surroundings, made lifelong friends, and likely surprised herself at what she was able to accomplish. It was also a different era, with decidedly different (and even antiquated) sensibilities: Mom was named Adams State’s “Miss El Conquistador” in 1955. What remained a constant, however, was my mom’s conviction that her years at Adams State were among the richest of her life. Thirty years after mom graduated, I arrived at Adams State, fresh out of high school, shy by nature, and not quite certain how I would do so far from my home in Littleton, Colo. Four years later I had surprised myself by what I had accomplished: hosting a radio show for KASF, serving as an officer in Associated Students and El Parnaso (the Spanish Club), participating in intramural sports, traveling to represent the campus at the Consortium of State Colleges in Colorado, and graduating with honors. Like my mom before me, I had found at Adams State the support I needed to do things I never imagined that I would do. For my late mother and for myself, the Adams State motto of “Great Stories Begin Here” rings particularly true. Thank you Adams State, for the memories that will always connect me to my mom. By Suzanne B Pasztor

A-Stater Adams State University Alamosa, CO 81101