2016 Emeritus Faculty and Exemplary Service to the University Community Awards

2016 Emeritus Faculty Honorees

Dr. Timothy M. Ashmore

Dr. Timothy Ashmore served the ENMU Department of Communicative Arts and Sciences as director of Forensics for three years, graduate coordinator for six years, and department chair for nine years. He served on a variety of University committees and was very active in the New Mexico Communication Association and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. He retired in 1998 as professor emeritus of Communications, having developed Communications courses, publications, workshops and presentations.

Lorene Hallenberger (Posthumously)

Lorene Hallenberger joined Eastern’s faculty in 1965 as an assistant professor to develop a library science endorsement program for teachers. In 2001, during a meeting of the Eastern New Mexico Librarians, the question was asked: “who or what inspired you to become a librarian?” 12 of the 20 librarians named Mrs. Hallenberger. Lorene retired in 1976 as associate professor of Library Science.

Dr. Richard E. Propes

Dr. Richard Propes (BA 64) obtained his bachelor’s degree in 1964 from ENMU and returned to the University almost 20 years later as faculty. Over the years he has written six textbooks and a number of publications on the radical theory of rings, his field of specialty, including “Radical Properties of Rings,” “The Radical Equation” and more. He retired in 2005 as associate professor emeritus of Mathematical Sciences.

Dr. Rosemary Bahr

Dr. Rosemary Bahr joined the ENMU family in 1987 as an assistant professor of sociology. A living example of collegiality and the importance of lifelong learning, she has been instrumental in teaching and mentoring hundreds of students. Her care for her students and colleagues, as well as her unquestioning acceptance of others remains an example of the best that ENMU offers its students. Dr. Bahr retired in 2013 as professor emerita of Sociology.

Michael O’Connor

Michael O’Connor’s experience teaching, as well as his ag-based lifestyle farming alfalfa and raising beef and dairy cattle made him a valuable asset to the ENMU agriculture department. During his 14 years at Eastern, Mr. O’Connor taught a variety of plant and soil science courses surrounding agronomy, horticulture and agriculture education. He was also the “go to” person for the University’s dual enrollment program. He retired from ENMU in 2011 as instructor emeritus of Agriculture.

Thomas G. Uchtmann

Concert pianist Thomas Uchtmann received his bachelor’s degree in 1967 from Juilliard School of Music. He came to ENMU and dedicated 25 years to the University as music instructor and associate professor of Music. Along with the occasional piano recital, Mr. Uchtmann now enjoys retirement by being outdoors at his home in Waynesville, NC and restoring classic cars.

2016 Exemplary Service to the University Community Award

Frances K. Richardson

Frances Richardson’s (EDSP 67, MA 62, BA 58) career at Eastern spanned nearly 25 years. She played a pivotal role in the inauguration of the University’s foundation, the Friends of Eastern Foundation, in the 1970s, as well as the Upward Bound Program for which she served as the inaugural documenter in the late 1960s. She also served as director of Development from 1978-88, as well as assistant to the President, director of University Relations, and carried a six-year term on ENMU’s Board of Regents.