LETTERS
To the editor:
I enjoyed the fall 2012 issue (Vol. 62, No. 1) of the Arkansas Alumni magazine. I especially enjoyed the article on page 13 describing the designation of the Buffalo River as a National River. I was, however, very disappointed that the involvement of Doug James and his family during that period was not included. I was a graduate student under Dr. James in the department of zoology from 1962 – 1964, and was a participant in many Buffalo River bird and canoe outings. Dr. James and his then-wife Fran and daughters Sigrid, Helen and Avis were extremely active in the effort to save the Buffalo River from having dams built on it. Doug and Fran are both internationally recognized avian ecologists and were very active in the effort to save the Buffalo. They served as the hosts to many of the people and activities of the Ozark Society’s efforts when they were in Fayetteville. Doug began at the University of Arkansas in the mid-1950s and is still an active researcher and professor in the biology department. It cannot be an accident that the scholarship given by the Hedges is in ornithology. I consider myself to be one of the many students lucky to be trained and influenced by association with Doug, Fran and his family.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Whether you want to recognize one of the many professors who have served the university or you feel like encouraging others to pursue their dreams through higher education, you can send your letters to Charlie Alison at editor@uark.edu.
Past President Steve Nipper ’71, ’73, Magnolia Treasurer Tom Dorre ’68, ’81, Fayetteville Secretary Deborah Blume ’08, Fayetteville BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2010-2013 Gerri Ayers ’77, Houston,TX Ritche Manley Bowden ’86, Memphis,TN Bao Bui ’98, Fayetteville Virginia Rainwater Cox ’82, Jonesboro Don Eldred ’81, Houston,TX Vince Jones ’95, Centennial, CO Johnathon Mormon ’02, McGehee Charlene Reed ’74, ’77, Marianna Jeffrey M. Stephens ’86, Hot Springs Brandon Timbes ’98, Charlotte, NC 2011-2014 Ben Beaumont ’04, Little Rock Leslie F. Belden ’79, ’05, Fayetteville Judy Drummond Covert ’83, Bel Aire, KS Dewayne Goldmon ’85, ’87, Pine Bluff Kay Collett Goss ’63, ’66, Alexandria, VA Anthony Lucas ’99, ’04, Little Rock Carla Martin ’04, Pine Bluff Heather Nelson ’94, Little Rock Melissa Pianalto ’88, ’90, Springdale Chuck Roscopf ’79, ’83, Helena
Sincerely, Kenneth B. Davis B.A. 1963, M.S. 1965
2012-2015 Kenneth Biesterveld ’05, ’10, Bentonville John L Colbert ’76, ’81, Fayetteville John W. Cole ’76, ’78, Springdale Rita Geiger ’66, Oklahoma City, OK Teena Gunter ’92, ’97, Oklahoma City, OK Sharon Hunt ’73, ’75, Fayetteville William L. Kerr ’88,Tampa, FL Terry Rasco ’71, ’72, Little Rock Stephanie S. Streett ’91, Little Rock Joel G.Wood ’74, Germantown,TN
To the editor:
I was sitting here reading the alumni magazine thinking that maybe I should give you my story. I came to the U of A in 1984 at the age of 46 from Sweden and enrolled in chemical engineering, gradated in 1991. At that time my daughter had enrolled at the university. She graduated in 1995 or 1996, Anna Isfalt. Her daughter, my granddaughter, is now in a nursing program at the community college. Anna and her other two daughters work at the university. In addition, when my son saw what I had done he entered the university in Linkoping, Sweden, and graduated in education. His two daughters are at the University of Lund, Sweden, and the older one is almost finished with a Ph.D. in a study of meteors. Is it not strange how many lives changed just because I had the courage to leave the safety and pursue a dream? Nora Holm B.S.Ch.E. 1991 4
OFFICERS President John Reap ’70, Dallas,TX
STAFF Executive Director Graham G. Stewart Director of Membership and Resource Development Terri Dover Director of Communications and Marketing Tammy W. Tucker ’97,‘03 Director of Outreach and Engagement Angela Mosley Monts ‘80 Director of Administration Debbie Blume ’08
Don Schaeffer, for many years an editor for the university’s division of information, donated 30 yearbooks that he had collected over the years to the office of university relations. The office is always on the look out for old yearbooks to fill out our collection, especially the era from 1900 to 1940. If you have an old yearbook no longer in use, send it to the Office of University Relations, Davis Hall, 1030 W. Maple St., University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701. ARKANSAS
Debbie Abbott, manager of facilities and special events; Nicole Allbritton ’07, ’10, assistant director of communications; Carolyn Baltz ’03, associate director of membership and marketing; Catherine Baltz ’92, ’07, manager of strategic marketing; Kelly Bostick, electronic communications coordinator; Heath Bowman, associate director of regional programs; Stella Clark, records and membership assistant; Brendan Curington ’02, ’06, fiscal support analyst; Deb Euculano, associate director for special projects; Kabrina Gardner ’10, coordinator of outreach operations; Meredith Hawkins, executive assistant; Airic Hughes ’11, assistant director of young alumni and student programs; Robin January ’98, scholarship coordinator; Julie Preddy ’04, associate director for lifelong learning; Elizabeth Tipton, records and membership assistant; Chris Wallen, alumni records manager.
Winter 2012