F RO M S E N I O R WA L K
welder in the Gulf of Mexico for many years. Survivors: his three children and his siblings, Carol Amerine BSPH’78, and Leigh Freeze.
In Memoriam Ray Thornton
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Richard Eugene Mayes II BA’87, Fayetteville, Dec. 16, 2015. He was a retired police officer after serving 20 years with the Springdale Police Department. He also served in the U.S. Reserves retiring in October 2013 as colonel. Survivors: wife, Karen, two sons and a sister. Photo submitted
Ray Thornton, who served as president of the University of Arkansas Associated Student Government in 1956 and as president of the UA System from 1984-1990, passed away April 13, at the age of 87. Thornton was born in Conway and grew up in Sheridan. He attended the University of Arkansas for two years before winning a scholarship to attend Yale University. He later returned to the U of A to attend the School of Law. In 1956 he ran a light-hearted campaign for ASG president as “Cowboy Ray” Thornton, the singing candidate. It was the first of many successful political campaigns. Later that year he graduated with a law degree, married Betty Jo Mann of Sheridan, and began practicing law. He was elected attorney general of Arkansas in 1970 and served one term before successfully running for Congress. He represented the 4th Congressional District for three terms, during which time he served on the House Judiciary Committee that investigated the Watergate burglaries and drafted the articles of impeachment against President Nixon. Thornton’s career in higher education began with four years as president of Arkansas State University, before being named the UA System president in 1984. During his tenure he facilitated moving the president’s office from Fayetteville to Little Rock, to provide more centralized leadership for the system. He also appointed Dan Ferritor as chancellor. “My first reaction upon hearing the news that Ray Thornton had died was that he significantly changed my life when he asked me to take the leadership role at the University of Arkansas,” Ferritor said. “When I had more time to think about it, I realized I was not alone, as he changed the lives of thousands of Arkansans every year serving as the Arkansas attorney general, U.S. congressman, president of Arkansas State University, president of the University of Arkansas System, U.S. congressman again and as an Arkansas Supreme Court justice.” Thornton served three terms as congressman for the 2nd Congressional District in 1990, then was elected to the Arkansas Supreme Court in 1996. He served as a justice for eight years, retiring in 2004. Thornton and his wife returned to the U of A for a celebration after he donated his papers to the University Libraries’ Special Collections. ■
Peggy Probst BA’87, Fayetteville, February 24. Survivors: her brother and his family and her aunts.
Terry I. Stapleton JD’82, Olympia, Washington, April 1. He served two years in the U.S. Army from 1970-72. He later joined the Washington State Public Utilities Commission in 1990. Survivors: two sisters and three brothers. Albert M. Douglas MS’88, Danville, Virginia, Jan. 25. He retired from the U.S. Army after 20 years as a Missile Maintenance chief warrant officer. He then worked for General Dynamics in California, Arkansas, Michigan and Saudi Arabia, where he retired after 16 years as a program manager. Survivors: his wife, Suzanne, two children, one granddaughter and his sister. Larry Lynn Therrell MED’88, Little Rock, Dec. 11, 2015. He served several years in the U.S. Air Force. He also worked at the Department of Human Services and then taught adult education at Oil Belt Vocational School in El Dorado. He later served many years as supervisor for the Adult Education Division of the Department of Career Education. Survivors: his partner of 20 years, Thomas and one sister. Mary Virginia Bishop MED’88, Springdale, Jan. 29. She was employed as a teacher for the Springdale School District for 25 years before retiring. Survivors: husband of 55 years, Donald Ray Bishop MED’68, three children, three grandchildren, one brother and one sister. George Wayne Rutherford MS’89, Judsonia, April 25. He was retired from the U.S. Air Force with 30 years of service. Survivors: his wife of more than 60 years, Sue, two sons and two grandchildren. Sid Camp MS’89, Cabot, March 5. He served 30 years in the U.S. Air Force until his retirement in 1986. He was a
Vietnam War veteran and attained the highest enlisted grade of chief master sergeant. He received the Bronze Star, three Meritorious Service Medals, two Commendation Medals and the Vietnam Service Medal. Survivors: six children, 14 grandchildren and 13 greatgrandchildren. Darrell Samuel Vogt BSBA’92, Fayetteville, Feb. 19. Survivors: son, Zechariah, brother, Verlin Vogt, two sisters, Norma Willis and Mary, and several nieces and nephews. Todd Bruns BSBA’92, Conway, Feb. 2. He spent many years teaching, managing and supervising in a McDonald’s business environment, encouraging people to reach their goals in life. Survivors: his girlfriend, his mother and father, his sister, two nieces and one nephew. Gregory A. Willson AS’93, Springdale, Dec. 23, 2015. He graduated with a nursing degree in 1994. Survivors: one son, two daughters, three grandchildren, two brothers and two sisters. Patrick Hunt Dudeck MBA’94, Heber Springs, Jan. 26. Pat was an executive broker at Crye Leike Brock Real Estate. Survivors: his wife, Kerri, daughter, two sons, parents and his brother. Jerry Lee Reed, Fayetteville, Jan. 20. Drafted into the U.S. Army, Reed served from 1972 to 1974. He later became a sportswriter and editor for his entire professional life. Reed worked for newspapers all over Texas and Northwest Arkansas. Survivors: two sisters and one brother. Daniel Michael Wuchenich MS’96, Woodbridge, Virginia, Jan. 6, 2014. He was a retired lieutenant colonel from the Air Force Academy. Survivors: wife, Tessa and their daughter, Elly. Willard James Ross MS’96, Memphis, Tennessee, Dec. 24, 2015. He retired from the U.S. Postal Service in July of 2006. He later retired from Discover Financial Services in July 2010. Survivors: three children, four brothers and three sisters. Jill Elizabeth Byers ★ MSOR’97, Fort Smith, Jan. 1. She was an engineer for Baldor. She also taught college math, engineering and industry related courses for 14 years as an adjunct instructor. Survivors: her brother, James. Jason Robert Elsasser, Sherwood, Jan. 18. He was an electrical engineer
A R K A N S A S • Summer 2016