SPECIAL EDITION
Terry Othick A Legendary Volunteer
MAGAZINE
EASTERN NEW MEXICO UNIVERSITY
OCTOBER 2020
Green&Silver
FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear ENMU Family and Friends: I am overwhelmed with admiration and respect after witnessing all the ways our local businesses and community members are adjusting to this pandemic, fighting to stay afloat, helping neighbors, and dreaming of better days. I wish ENMU could bring back our thousands of students, send cohorts of faculty and staff out to dine together in the local restaurants, window-shop around the Portales square, and buy out all the merchandise. ENMU’s move to online instruction was probably the hardest decision we have ever made, and it was hard because we knew local restaurants and businesses were counting on us. But we could not do the expedient thing. We could not follow our hearts when ENMU needed to do our part to help keep students, employees, and our beloved community safe. You taught us better than that. You expect more from Eastern than that. I’m thrilled that this newsletter is featuring a very special alumnus--our Board of Regents President, Mr. Terry Othick, who came “home” to ENMU to serve six years as a regent. In hindsight, Terry and his fellow regents could not have predicted six years ago that they would be guiding ENMU through both a state budget crisis and a pandemic in 2020. And as our world and campus shifted gears swiftly to address COVID-19, Terry and his talented spouse and college sweetheart, Sissy Othick, helped to home-school their grandchildren all the while Terry agonized about the tough choices facing ENMU. Terry Othick is the kind of person who defines his alma mater, defines what the University values, and defines how ENMU quietly and competently must do what is right, no matter the personal cost. Volunteer leadership like Terry’s is why you can trust Eastern to stand with you through and after this pandemic. He is why you can trust everyone at ENMU to do what is right and safe for students. He is why we say, spring will come, and we will be back. ENMU will never forget these days and everyone’s sacrifices. And when the pioneering resiliency of ENMU, Portales and Roosevelt County has pulled us through this pandemic, we will be even stronger partners supporting the students and the community we love. Sincerely,
Patrice Caldwell, Interim President Eastern New Mexico University
ENMU Athletics Suspends All Activities for Fall Semester Eastern New Mexico Athletics suspended all athletic competitions scheduled for the fall semester. The announcement came in response to the state of New Mexico’s efforts to mitigate the pandemic. ENMU will honor all student athlete scholarship awards for the year despite the absence of competition or on-campus team activities for all sports. “First and foremost the safety of our student-athletes has been and always will be our top priority.” Eastern New Mexico Athletic Director Matt Billings said, “This decision reflects that mission and we look forward to safely bringing our student-athletes back onto campus and preparing for competition when that time comes.” While campus facilities were closed to students and the community this summer, crews painted and resurfaced the Greyhound Arena court.
A decision on whether or not Eastern New Mexico will compete during the spring semester will come at a later date.
Greyhound Gratitude by Todd Fuqua
ENMU Thanks Volunteer Legend Terry Othick
For more than five decades, Terry Othick (MBA 70 BBA 68) has influenced – and been influenced by – Eastern New Mexico University, starting as a student in 1964 and continuing through his term as an ENMU Regent. His six-year term on the Board of Regents ends this winter, and Othick recently took the time to look back on the many accomplishments advancing the university he loves. “As we begin to approach the fourth quarter of 2020, amid the COVID-19 and all of the uncertainty and change it has brought into our daily lives, I would like to thank each of you for your support provided to the ENMU Alumni Association and ENMU Foundation,” Terry said. “Both organizations are significant parts of the University in terms of ENMU fulfilling our mission as an institution of higher education in the State of New Mexico and beyond.”
Margaret and Terry Othick appear at an ENMU football game with Roxy and Ralph.
In addition to serving as a regent, Terry also chaired the annual ENMU Alumni Scholarship Golf Tournament for a decade, and said the experience was rewarding. Planning and fundraising for the tournament is year-round, and his wife, Margaret “Sissy” (Whitworth ) Othick (MED 74 BS 71), works many hours behind the scenes with Terry. The volunteer couple fills their garage with all the tournament door prizes and supplies for the many golfer goody bags. Sissy sacrifices her parking space in the garage for months, all to help ENMU students. Terry stated, “one of the most valuable benefits I received from volunteering for ENMU was the friendships I have made from working with the two volunteer boards, the ENMU administrators, other Regents, the dozens of golf tournament sponsors, and hundreds of golfers. The cancellation of our 2020 ENMU Alumni Scholarship Golf Tournament, our 11th annual event, was necessary yet very disappointing.” Even with canceling this summer’s golf tournament, Terry reported $44,150 raised, and the golf supporters approved redirecting those funds to scholarships, bringing the net revenue over 11 years to $400,150 benefiting scholarships for descendants of ENMU alumni. “Congratulations to all of you who have been a part of this golf fundraising journey,” Terry said. “I look forward to working with the new tournament chairs so this event can continue to thrive, providing much-needed student scholarships.” In 55 years – starting in August of 1964 – Terry has been an undergrad, graduate student, staff and faculty member, Alumni Association board member and ENMU Board Regent. His roles on both the Alumni Board and as an ENMU Regent required Terry to also serve as the liason for several as years on the ENMU Foundation Board of Directors.
“Each of these roles gave me a different perspective yet a deeper appreciation of ENMU and the University’s important value to our local, state, and international communities, and especially the students we serve,” Terry added. Terry spoke of the ENMU Foundation, calling its mission “critical to the success of the entire University.” “We must continue to work to expand the capabilities and reach of the ENMU Foundation, combined with the efforts of the Alumni Association, to cultivate and grow new donors,” Terry told alumni. “This is especially challenging given our current restrictions on social gatherings and travel, but as our golf tournament donors have recently demonstrated, our stakeholders have a great deal of loyalty to ENMU.” ENMU Foundation Director Noelle Bartl stated, “Terry is one of the most remarkable, dedicated, and versatile volunteers I have ever had the pleasure to work with. He gives his time, talent and treasure at stellar levels that set the bar super high for others.” Terry was honored as Volunteer of the Year in 2018 by the ENMU Foundation, was given the Distinguished Service Award by ENMU Alumni Affairs in 2013, and has been inducted into the Theta Zeta Chapter Hall of Fame by his chapter of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. As his Regent term nears an end, and as he trains the next golf tournament chair, all of us at ENMU want to publicly thank Terry and Sissy for demonstrating what it means to give back and help the next generation of leaders. This Greyhound couple definitely bleeds “green and silver” for Eastern. To help us thank Terry and Sissy, please consider donating in his honor to the Terry L. Othick Scholarship for Educators, or to your favorite fund online at www.enmu.edu/Donate.
Green & Silver | October 2020
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ENMU Foundation Station 8 1500 S Ave K Portales, NM 88130 enmu.edu/Foundation Return Service Requested
“How Can I Help ENMU Students?” ENMU students are continuing to push forward to earn their degrees, just like past generations. This time, they are reaching for their goals in the midst of a global pandemic. A gift to the University Fund is the best way to make a broad impact on deserving students needing scholarship assistance. If you’re among those in a position to help students who are struggling, consider pledging your support to the University Fund.
Donate online at enmu.edu/Donate
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