Eastern Kentucky University Magazine, Winter/Spring 2015

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Non-degreed Alumni or Alumni of Unknown Class Year David Sandhage of Jennings County, Ind., on May 19, 2014. A graduate of Indiana University, he received his certification in special education from Eastern. He spent his entire career as an educator. In 1999, he purchased his grandparents’ farm, which has been in his family for more than 100 years. He is survived by his wife, Cathy Bode.

Former Faculty & Staff David Allgier, who retired in 2003 as assistant director of information technology, on June 16, 2014. He joined EKU in 1981 and quickly endeared himself to colleagues with his know-how and sense of humor. His wife, Jill, was the longtime registrar before retiring in 2006. His daughter, Abby Horn, is a program analyst at Eastern. Author and historian Charles Bracelen Flood, a tireless advocate for EKU Libraries, passed away on Aug. 15, 2014, after a brief illness. He was 84. He resurrected Friends of EKU Libraries, served as president during a period of rapid growth for the organization, and was an active fundraiser for EKU Libraries. The New York City native and Harvard graduate conducted most of his research in John Grant Crabbe Library. He received an honorary doctor of letters degree from EKU in 1982. His books earned many prestigious national honors and appeared on the New York Times bestseller list. The titles include “Love Is A Bridge,” “A Distant Drum,” “Tell Me, Stranger,” “Monmouth,” “More Lives Than One,” “The War of the Innocents,” “Trouble at the Top,” “Rise and Fight Again,” “Lee: The Last Years,” “Hitler: The Path to Power,” “Grant and Sherman: The Friendship That Won the Civil War,” “1864: Lincoln at the Gates of History,” and “Grant’s Final Victory.” He recently completed “The Lafayette Escadrille,” the story of the Americans who volunteered to serve as pilots on

the Western Front in 1915 before the U.S. entered World War I. It’s set to be published in 2015. Dr. Donald Haney, former chair of the department of geology, on Sunday, June 8, 2014. Dr. Haney served at Eastern from 1964 to 1978 and was the founding chair of what was then the department of geology. He also established the department’s master’s degree program and served as faculty regent from 1971 to 1974. The first of many faculty members from the department who went on to become state geologists, he was director of the Kentucky Geological Survey. In 2005, he was presented the John T. Galey Memorial Award by the Eastern Section of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, the highest honor given by the association. He also received the Geological Society of America-America Geosciences Institute Ian Campbell Medal for exceptional leadership in his field. Dr. Amy King, foundation professor emeritus of mathematics, on June 7, 2014. King, who taught at Eastern from 1972 until her retirement in 1998, was a pioneer and role model whose influence will resonate for generations. She entered the field at a time when few women held doctoral degrees and was recognized many times for classroom excellence, including the first award for Distinguished College or University Teaching of Mathematics, conferred by the Kentucky Section of the Mathematical Association of America in 1992. She also received the Math Education Service and Achievement Award from the Kentucky Council of Teachers of Mathematics. A thoughtful mentor who exhibited great personal warmth and kindness, King remained in touch with many of her students well after her retirement and established several charitable gift annuities at EKU to assist the department of mathematics and statistics, EKU Libraries and the honors program. In addition to her foundation professorship for 1993-95, a mathematics education technology classroom in the Wallace Building was

named in her honor in 2011. She was active in her church, where she taught three-year-olds in Sunday school. Dr. Mitch Lifland, retired professor of technology at EKU, on April 28, 2014. He joined EKU in 1990 after serving as plant manager for National Metal Processing in Richmond and taught in the areas of quality assurance and materials and processes. He also coordinated the graduate program in industrial technology and was one of two faculty advisers for an EKU robotics team that captured a prestigious national title in 2000. He retired in 2006. Dr. James Robert Miller Jr., professor emeritus of philosophy and religion and longtime chair of the department, on June 4, 2014. He taught at EKU from 1971 until his retirement in 2001. He was active in the Faculty Senate, serving many years as its parliamentarian. He pastored several small, rural churches for 10 years before devoting his full-time service to teaching, and was a longtime member of the Wine Society. John J. Moll Sr. on March 11, 2014. He was an instructor in the adult education program at EKU from 1999-2008. His wife, Dr. Diane E. Vance, is a professor in the department of chemistry and director of the forensic science program at EKU. An educator throughout his life, John touched the lives of thousands of students for more than 55 years, not only at EKU but also at Bellarmine College and several Louisvillearea high schools. He was a lifelong athlete in track and field. In September, he won a gold medal in the discus for the 80-84 age group.

was only the second dean in the history of the College, succeeding Dr. Robert Posey. During Dr. Ricks’ tenure as dean, recruitment became a primary goal, the Training Resource Center began operations and a police administration program for Air Force security officers was launched. James Cosby Singer, former Facilities Services employee, on June 7, 2014. He worked in the electrical and plumbing department. Dr. Robert Stebbins, professor emeritus of history, on June 17, 2014. He served Eastern from 1963 until his retirement in 2000. His specialty was modern European history, particularly European intellectual history since 1750. During the early 1990s, he was active with the honors program and was a prominent member of the campus chapter of the AAUP. His wife, Dr. Ann Stebbins, also taught history at EKU. He was one of the founders of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Madison County in 1978. Margaret Bernice Thurman, wife of James Wyatt “Spider” Thurman, on May 9, 2014. She graduated with honors from Eastern with a bachelor of science and a master’s degree. She and Mr. Thurman spent most of their lives in Richmond, and both retired from EKU. She pioneered the Medical Assisting program at Eastern and served on the first formulating board for state exams. Pearl Etta White, a retired night hostess at EKU, on Jan. 14, 2014. She served the University for 30 years and was active in her church and Madison County Homemakers.

Dr. Truett Ricks, dean of what was then the College of Law Enforcement from 1983 until his retirement in 1997, on March 18, 2014. Ricks joined EKU in 1972 as an associate professor of law enforcement and became associate dean the following year. He was granted a two-year leave of absence in 1975 when he was appointed commissioner of Kentucky State Police. He

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