MAGAZINE EASTERN NEW MEXICO UNIVERSITY
One Life, Two Loves Ronny Cox returns to ENMU
MAY 2020
Green&Silver
Green&Silver Features
MAGAZINE EASTERN NEW MEXICO UNIVERSITY
04
Music and Mary Inspired Ronny Cox
07
Dr. Steven Bradfute addresses concerns surrounding the Coronavirus
08
Melveta Walker’s 55-Year Library Career
08
Shelby Kirkes Honored in Oklahoma
09
Commodity Trader Marissa Tian
09
Kevin Sublette Brings Indy Racing to Your Living Room!
10
Film Industry Donates to ENMU
10
Business Professor Dr. Goerge Kurian
11
ENMU 85-Year Anniversary Scholarship Fund
12
Artist Trotting the Globe
13
Dr. South’s Research Improved Lives
14
Eastern Athletics News
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Class Notes: People You May Know
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Class Notes: In Memory May 2020 Publication Managing Editor Noelle Bartl Design Editor Todd Fuqua Contributing Editors Jennifer Poyer, Christy Ruby, Dr. Patrice Caldwell Writers and Contributors Dr. Richard Allington, Desiree Cooper, Jay Ford, Todd Fuqua, John Houser, Nicole Lohkamp, Shaylee Moon, Rick Nathanson, Ryan Shumaker, Sara Wright Cover Photo Dick Lowry New address, questions, comments or story ideas? Contact the ENMU Foundation toll-free at 888.291.5524 or todd.fuqua@enmu.edu Looking for a past issue? View all past issues of the Green & Silver Magazine online at enmu.edu/Magazine
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Green & Silver | May 2020
FROM THE ENMU FOUNDATION Dear ENMU Friends and Alumni, I hope this finds you well, staying safe and taking care of each other during this unprecedented challenge to our University, community and nation. While Chancellor Elwell, the faculty and staff redirect their efforts, I’ve been asked to update everyone about campus events for Green & Silver. After spring break, the entire campus community shifted its efforts to protecting and serving ENMU students during the COVID-19 health crisis. Faculty and the Distance Learning office converted all courses to online delivery for the remainder of the semester. Creative strategies and email interactions keep ENMU faculty connected to students and supporting their learning. All students have online access to tutoring, counseling, financial aid, advising and support services. Students scheduled to graduate in May will graduate. Rest assured: ENMU is online and on the job. As an alumnus, I can’t even begin to describe how impressed and proud I am with my alma mater. Everyone is rolling up their sleeves, collaborating, and finding new, innovative ways to finish the semester successfully. On the legislative front, ENMU fared well during the 30-day session. Capital outlay projects included $172,000 to KENW-TV for cameras, $350,000 for covered storage of University vehicles, $600,000 for Roosevelt Science Center, in addition to what we may receive in November’s GO Bond vote. Higher education institutions in the state also received extra funding for the cost of dual enrollment, helping New Mexico high school students earn college credits while still in high school. ENMU’s new Greyhound Promise Scholarship received additional legislative funding and will continue to recruit new education majors this fall and help cover the cost of their attendance. I will close with a news update. On March 13, Dr. Elwell announced that he would not seek to renew his contract, allowing the ENMU Board of Regents over a year to search for ENMU’s eleventh president. According to the President of the ENMU Board of Regents, Mr. Terry Othick, “The Board of Regents would like to thank Dr. Elwell for his service to Eastern New Mexico University. We appreciate the energy and enthusiasm he brought to the University and wish him the very best of luck as he prepares to meet new challenges and opportunities.” From the way the University is handling these challenging times, it’s clear that ENMU remains firmly committed to serving our students and our community. Thanks to the ENMU faculty and staff who are making this possible, and thank you for your continued support. Sincerely,
Stephen Doerr President, ENMU Foundation
Music and Mary...
Two g n o l e f i L s e v o L by Todd Fuqua
When talking about his career and life, there’s one constant Ronny Cox (BS 63) always makes sure is front and center – the love of his life, Mary Lee (Griffith) Cox (BS 63). Mary has been gone from Ronny’s life since she passed away in 2006 – but her impact on him is still felt today. “Mary and I were married 46 years, and she died 50 years to the day from when we went on our first date,” said Ronny, who returned to Portales for a performance at the ENMU Theatre Center (UTC) in November. “I was lucky I found the love of my life.” Ronny made his name as an actor – his most successful run came in the 1980s, when he was in big budget productions and sharing the screen with names like Eddie Murphy and Arnold Schwarzenegger. In recent years he’s returned to his musical roots.
Photo by Jay Ford
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Green & Silver | May 2020
“Early in my career, everyone knew that I was this actor from New Mexico that played music,” Ronny said. “When I was here in the late 50s and early 60s, Clovis was a hotbed of popular music. I was around when Buddy Holly was recording ‘Peggy Sue.’ I was cutting records at Norman Petty Studios when I was in high school.”
Petty heard Ronny’s band – Ron’s Rockouts – perform, and hired them to sing backup on records. The band featured Ronny’s brothers Rickey (MBA 86 BS 75) on bass and Mike on lead guitar.
Years at Eastern It was while at ENMU that Ronny honed his acting talent. He regularly spent his summers performing with a Colorado melodrama company to practice his craft.
The scene that made Ronny famous, from “Deliverance.”
He said Eastern’s size contributed to him getting a lot of roles he might otherwise have never even considered. “At many major universities, you might be lucky to do one or two shows in your entire college career. But the way to learn to act is by doing it, so I was cast in all kinds of roles,” Ronny said. “ There were roles I was wrong for, but I wanted to tackle anything I could. I graduated from college with more experience acting than many other college graduates.” While he was getting experience, he was also falling more and more in love with Mary. The two were married in 1960 and worked hard to build a life together in those lean early years. “Both Mary and I were on scholarship. We had no money,” Ronny said. “I arranged to have all my classes Monday, Wednesday and Friday, going to school from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m, then play practice every night. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, I’d work at the grocery store just to make ends meet.”
Professional success His musical talent followed him into his professional acting career. “When we went to Washington, D.C. – Mary was working on her Ph.D. at Georgetown – I was working at a theater there. There was a club on Capitol Hill, Mr. Henry’s, with two rooms. Roberta Flack was playing upstairs; I was playing downstairs.” It was that musical ability that eventually landed Ronny his first big role, as one of a quartet of unfortunate Atlanta businessmen who were caught off-guard while camping in the Georgia wilderness in the 1972 film “Deliverance.” Ronny said he got the part – in his feature-film debut – because director John Boorman wanted an actor who could actually play the guitar. “It was me, but it wasn’t me playing in the movie,” Ronny said of the famous “Dueling Banjos” scene in which his
character plays an impromptu duet with a banjo-playing youth near the beginning of the film. “John liked the idea of this savant kid showing up this amateur guitar player. The kid we got knew nothing about the banjo, so the banjo didn’t even have strings. “But John wanted to be able to cut to someone’s hands playing the right notes, and that’s why I was hired,” he continued.
Mary Lee and Ronny Cox, married Sept. 10, 1960
Ronny was taught to play the song note-for-note by Steve Mandell, who recorded the song with Eric Weissberg. It was a recording that became a huge hit in the wake of the film’s release, but Ronny wasn’t a part of that. Mary and Ronny on the set of CBS’s “Apple’s Way.” “Did I play it? Yes. Is that Ronny played guitar and sang in every episode. me on the recording? No,” Ronny said. “Did it cost me about a million dollars? Yes!”
While Ronny may not have capitalized on that recording’s success, his role in the film did kick-start an acting career that has spanned almost four decades, with high profile roles and fame. But music was never that far from his mind. His first television role, two years after “Deliverance,” was on the CBS family-oriented series “Apple’s Way.” On that show, he played guitar and sang every week. (continued Page 6)
Green & Silver | May 2020
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“I’VE NEVER HAD ANOTHER GIRLFIEND OR DATE IN MY LIFE OTHER THAN MARY. SHE WAS JUST EVERYTHING TO ME. EVERYTHING REALLY IS ABOUT HER, THAT’S JUST HOW IT WORKS.” RONNY COX
Music is his life Now his career is all about music, but he still uses his acting experience in his shows. “I use all the arrows in my quiver,” Ronny said. “I’m a story teller, and my show’s different than everyone else’s. It’s like a two-act play.” While he’s been around the world and been on screen with some of the film industry’s biggest stars, the person he talks about most is Mary. “Mary was the most intelligent human being I’d ever known,” Ronny said. “It was always so much fun to talk to her about things. I could talk about that deep, maybe six inches, on any subject, but that was because Mary could talk three feet deep.”
(Cox, continued from Page 5)
His musical inclination is why he took the part of police chief Roger Kendrick in the short-lived police drama-musical series “Cop Rock.” It was an odd choice for everyone involved, as series creator Steven Bochco had the idea of pairing a high-drama police procedural with musical numbers throughout, but Ronny was on board from the beginning. “We did five original songs every week, and it was 20 years ahead of its time,” Ronny said. “It was “Glee” before that was popular. However, it’s one thing to see high school kids sing and dance in a show, but cops?” The show may have been considered a failure – it was cancelled by ABC after just 11 episodes – but it did turn Ronny’s career in a different direction that he doesn’t regret. “When we did Cop Rock, that’s when I realized how much I missed the music,” Cox said. “For a while I was in every big movie there was, playing all these authoritative types. After Cop Rock, I turned down a lot of roles for a couple of years and went to Nashville to get a recording deal.” Ronny eventually recorded an album appropriately named “Ronny Cox,” and he was officially hooked on the music. Ronny (second from left) as he appeared in the Portales NewsTribune in 1958 with his band, Ron’s Rockouts. On bass was his brother Rickey (far left) and his brother Mike was on lead guitar (second from right). On drums was Bob Kinsey, while Pat Hunt played the bongos.
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Green & Silver | May 2020
Mary graduated from ENMU with a degree in chemistry, later earning a Ph.D. at Georgetown University and doing research at the Sloan-Kettering Institute in Rye, New York. But before accomplishing all that, she was a young girl that Ronny met and fell in love with. “I met her when she was 11 and I was 14. We started dating when she was a high school sophomore, and I was a senior,” he added. “I’ve never had another girlfriend or date in my life other than Mary. She was just everything to me. “I’ve thought about what she means in my performances. I have a song or two that I do that touches on her. But when I get to thinking about it, everything really is about her. That’s just how it works.”
THE CORONAVIRUS
Answers from Immunologist Dr. Steven Bradfute The pandemic caused by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) has affected all aspects of our society, and there are plenty of concerns and questions about our health and safety, how we got here, and what comes next. ENMU alumnus and immunologist Steven Bradfute, Ph.D. (BA 98) is a research assistant professor for the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. He offered his expertise and advice in these uncertain times. How serious is this outbreak, in your opinion? The virus is rapidly spread by the respiratory route (droplets that stay in the air for a while that can be inhaled) or by being deposited on surfaces (like doornobs, and someone can get infected by touching the surface and then touching their nose, mouth, or eyes). The concern is with the rapid spread, the severe disease it can cause in older individuals and those who have underlying medical conditions (like diabetes, heart disease, cancer, or lung disease). Overall, the lethality rate (1-3% right now, although that could lower as more asymptomatic or mild cases are found) is low compared to some viruses (Ebola – 45%, hantavirus – 35%) but higher than flu (0.1%). More than 80% of the people who get the new coronavirus will have mild or no symptoms. It’s the high-risk groups that are concerning. But it’s also important to realize scale – each year, about 30 million Americans get the flu; so far, as of March 26, 2020, about 81,000 Americans have gotten the new coronavirus. So it’s a serious concern, but the goal is to limit its spread so it causes less damage than the flu. Do you have any data as to how fast this disease is spreading? There is a lag in testing, so it’s hard to know how much of the rapid increase in disease is due to new spread of the virus versus increased testing. Worldwide there’s about 205,000 cases. Is there a possibility the change of seasons (from spring to summer) could affect this virus’ spread? It’s possible, but we don’t know. Typically respiratory viruses aren’t common in the summertime, because a) droplets from someone sneezing/coughing don’t stay as long in the air in the summer as they do in the colder weather, b) people are more likely to stay indoors in the winter so there is increased person-to-person contact and therefore more spread of the virus, and c) when your upper respiratory system is a little colder than normal (due to inhaling cold air) it’s easier for the virus to replicate and harder for your immune cells to respond well.
But we don’t know if this virus will go away in the summer and whether it will return in the fall/winter. What’s the most important thing for people to do as we deal with this situation? Remember that they can help stop the spread of the virus (or other respiratory viruses) by staying six feet away from other people if possible, decontaminating surfaces, washing your hands, and staying away from older and high-risk individuals. Also, keep in mind that most individuals who get the virus are not going to have severe disease, so don’t panic. The goal is to keep your head about you and try not to infect others. Is a vaccine being developed, and how soon could we see it administered? Several vaccines will begin in human trials this spring and summer, but it will probably be quite a while before we find out if they work. It’s hard to guess when a vaccine might be available because first it must be tested for safety, then for the ability to induce strong immune responses, then for the ability to protect against disease. That takes time, and we don’t know what kinds of immune responses we’ll need to combat this virus. How long could this extreme situation of personal distancing last? That’s unknown. Some countries have been able to stop the spread rather quickly, others have not. We just don’t know. The next month or two will let us know how well social distancing (which will be the name of at least 20 new college punk bands over the next 12 months) will stop the spread of the virus. If you feel sick, stay home and try not to infect others. Remember that most people will have very mild symptoms and will be just fine. Be extra careful not to be around older or highrisk individuals if you’re sick or if you’ve been exposed to a respiratory virus. Wash your hands with soap and water. We will get through this together.
Green & Silver | May 2020
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Melveta Walker’s Library Career Was a
Dream Come True
By Todd Fuqua
By the time Melveta Walker (BAE 65) returned
Melveta had then planned to attend the
Melveta was told she needed at least eight
to ENMU to work in the Golden Library in
University of New Mexico and pursue
people to make the class, so she walked all
1988, she’d already had quite the career.
a nursing degree, but her fiancé – later
through the library and talked to everyone
husband Jerry Walker (BS 64) – said he
working there. By the time she completed
wouldn’t be able to visit her that much,
her trek around the library, she had a list of
since he still had to milk the cows on
11 people who were ready to sign up for the
her father’s farm.
library science courses.
“So, I decided to go to ENMU to get an
Melveta and Jerry returned to Portales in
education degree, but I didn’t have any more
Febrary 1998 after 25 years on the Navajo
scholarships, so I started working in the
reservation. She said her return to ENMU
library,” Melveta said.
was inevitable, or at least her husband
One semester into her college career, she
thought so.
browsed the class catalog, and found a
“Jerry said that it was God’s gift. ‘It’s what
number of library science courses.
you’re meant to do,’” Melveta recalled Jerry
“Boy was I excited. I ran to see Dr. (James)
telling her.
After graduating with a degree in history and a teaching license, the Eastern alum headed to Arizona to work on the Navajo Reservation as a librarian – the first full-time librarian the tribe ever had, according to Melveta. It was – she thought – the culmination of her life’s ambition. It was an ambition that later turned into a 30-plus year career at ENMU as the director of the Golden Library, a career that closes after this spring semester. Born and raised in Portales, she planned to earn a library science degree, but at the time,
Dyke (the library director at the time) and
“When I worked on the reservation, we had
the closest schools that had library science
asked him who was going to teach those
a self-evaluation each year, asking what
programs were in Denver and Dallas, and
classes,” she remembers. “He said, ‘probably
my ideal job would be. I always put, ‘being a
were both expensive private schools.
no one.’ I said ‘but they’re in the catalog!’”
librarian at Eastern New Mexico University.’”
Young Alumni Success
Shelby Kirkes Oklahoma City Dodgers Shelby Kirkes (BS 15) joined the Oklahoma City Dodgers in August 2016 as the manager of special events. In December 2019, Shelby was honored by the NextGen Under 30 program, highlighting young Millennials who are already making significant professional strides in Oklahoma. “Being an award recipient came as an incredible surprise,” she said. “I was also accepted into a program called LOYAL (Linking Oklahoma’s Young Adult Leaders), which offers me a hands-on opportunity to engage in the community by working with civic leaders. ENMU’s culture of service planted a seed early on to give me that desire to serve outside of the workplace. “My parents and several other family members graduated from Eastern, so attending ENMU was a natural first step,” Shelby said. “Eastern really catered to my desire to get involved.”
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Green & Silver | May 2020
IT TAKES
ENERGYTO TRADE ENERGY
By Todd Fuqua
Marissa Muge Tian (BBA 06), finds her work falls outside of normal business hours as a trader for JPMorgan in Houston, Texas. Marissa’s expertise is in the field of commodity trading – specifically Natural Gas Liquids, or “NGL.” As a part of the energy sector, the work she does is extremely important to a number of markets, from petro-chemicals to mass media to electronics and so much more. “It can be a demanding job,” Marissa said of her sometimes roundthe-clock schedule. Also, it may be an international concern, when one considers the voracious energy appetite of the U.S and the growing markets in developing countries. “The market never sleeps, something always happens,” Marissa said. “If there’s nothing dramatic, I can find out in the morning, but if it’s something like a tanker grounding, pirates or war, that can impact our market and I need to act on it quickly. It doesn’t matter what time it is here.
“This can be a very stressful job,” she added. “The job is fast-paced and my hours are pretty long.” Not everyone can handle the high stress and fast pace environment of commodity trading, but Marissa credits her education at ENMU for her success. “I’ve learned a lot on the job, of course, but those professors gave me the tools I needed to deal with what I would face,” she said. “Good learning and good accomplishment don’t come easily.” Marissa was at Eastern as part of a student exchange program, which helped her adjust not just to the University, but to the culture and experience of living in this country. “I didn’t know much about the United States at the time, so I learned how to interact with others,” Marissa said. “I’m also very grateful to my sorority, Chi Omega. They helped me embrace the culture.”
By Todd Fuqua Race day begins very early for Kevin Sublette (BS 84) at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Typically, he’s up by 3:30 in the morning, double-checking countless details his company – IMS Productions – has in place for the broadcast of the single largest sporting event in the world, the Indianapolis 500. The big race tops the list of numerous events IMS Productions is involved with throughout the year, including all Indy races, commercials and the Professional Bullriders Global Cup. NBC may broadcast the Indy 500, but it’s Kevin’s job as IMS Productions president to make sure all cameras, equipment and people are in place for things to roll smoothly. “IMS Productions provides all the broadcast facilities to support the Indy 500 to include working with vendors for onboard cameras, helicopters
at KENW-TV, working as the master control operator. He was also in the ROTC Program and later served as a logistical operations officer during Operation Desert Storm in Iraq in 1991. He says those experiences went a long way to preparing him for his current position.
for aerials, 250-plus production
Kevin said his time at ENMU was wonderful but he has some
crewmembers and yes, even
advice for the recent graduate that wants to make a career
Porta Potties,” Sublette said.
in mass media. “KENW is a great base. Every student gets a chance
“We provide a nice package
to work on the equipment. But in the real world, you have to have
for NBC to come in and
the drive to get what you want,” he said.
produce a broadcast.” Kevin got his start in broadcasting as a student
“I’ve worked in nine different states in my career. You have to be willing to move and be aggressive to get the experience where you can find it.”
Green & Silver | May 2020
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Giving to the ENMU Foundation Film Industry Donates to Digital Filmmaking By Desiree Cooper Eastern New Mexico University’s digital filmmaking program received a $17,000 donation from NBCUniversal through the New Mexico Film Office Give Back Program. Todd Christenson, director of the New Mexico Film Office, toured the campus, visited classrooms and presented the check to the program on Jan. 14. “We are immensely pleased to be receiving this donation from NBCUniversal through the New Mexico Film Office Give Back Program,” said Dr. Neil Rutlan, chair of Left to right: ENMU Chancellor Dr. Jeff Elwell, ENMU Vice President for Academic Affairs the Department of Theatre and Digital Dr. Jamie Laurenz, Todd Christensen the director of the New Mexico Film Office, Dr. Neil Rutland the chair of the Department of Theatre and Digital Filmmaking, Portales Mayor Ron Filmmaking. “These funds will go toward meeting the financial needs of our students Jackson and New Mexico state Sen. Stuart Ingle. through scholarships, grants and other requirements of camera operation, lighting, sound recording assistance that will aid them in the production of their and post-production. student films and acquiring important industry internships.” ENMU is committed to providing students with an affordable The ENMU digital filmmaking program provides a education and high-quality experiences that will prepare comprehensive education in all facets of the art. Students them to successfully compete for creative positions in the study the disciplines of acting, directing, visual design, sound design and screenwriting, as well as the technical
film and television industry.
Kurian praises ENMU’s focus on student success By Shaylee Moon “I was attracted to my
to contribute to the growth and development of the MBA
position at Eastern
program. I love imparting my knowledge to students and
because of the focus
contributing to the advancement of the College of Business by
on overall student
serving on different committees,” stated Dr. Kurian.
success, as well as the combination of traditional teaching and modern technology to provide students with a unique learning experience,” said Dr. George Kurian, assistant professor of management in the College of Business.
Dr. Kurian received his bachelor’s degree in technology with an emphasis in mechanical engineering from Mahatma Gandhi University in India. He obtained both his master’s degree and his doctorate from the University of Texas at
Dr. Kurian teaches Production and Operations Management
Arlington. His master’s degree is in business administration
courses. In BUS 330, he focuses on the fundamental concepts
with an emphasis in operations management, while his
in the field of operations management, such as forecasting,
doctorate is in business administration with an emphasis in
capacity management and inventory management. His
management science.
graduate course, MGT 530, views the concepts of production
Currently, Dr. Kurian is conducting research on business
and operations in greater depth as students apply the ideas in the form of case analyses.
administration. He said, “My research on business administration is diverse, varying from the field of behavioral
“One of my main goals at ENMU is to grow the course
operations management to supply chain management to the
offerings in production and operations management; I want
use of textual analytics techniques.”
LAST CHANCE TO GIVE TO THE
85TH ANNIVERSARY SCHOLARSHIP FUND The ENMU Foundation established an 85th Anniversary Scholarship Fund that supports critical recruiting efforts and retention scholarships. You can make a difference and help us continue providing a quality education at an affordable price. All donations of $85 or more received before June 30, 2020 will be listed on a special 85th Anniversary Campaign plaque permanently displayed in the Administration Building.
DONATE ONLINE: enmu.edu/85Years
YOUR DONATION HELPS STUDENTS
LIKE THESE
“My favorite part about being a Greyhound has to be the opportunity for self-development. My peers seem to understand that concept as well, as we push each other to be better individuals.”
“I transferred to ENMU to have a more personal connection to a university. I knew at Eastern I would experience the personal connection to students, teachers and the University that I longed for.”
– Samuel Coronado Biochemistry Program
– Jayci Nigreville Business Program
“Eastern was simply the perfect place for me, with its welcoming sense of community to the close kinships. Ever since I took the school tour, I knew it was going to be my home.” – Kinnley Davis Education Program
“I love ENMU for its friendly environment. It trains us to achieve our career goals. I want to contribute to plant science. I think the agriculture world needs more plant scientists.” – Sundar Sapkota Biology Program
Artist Trotting the globe By Todd Fuqua
Dale Jennifer Landry (BFA 15) is traveling the globe making
Dale’s travels have taken her across the globe – Canada, Sweden,
beautiful art. The ENMU fine arts alumna with a minor in business
England, Germany, Spain, Italy, Mexico, Belgium, Japan, New
is putting all of her education to work, financing her wanderings by
Zealand and Australia have already been checked off her list. She
selling original art on commission over the internet.
looks forward to being able to visit South Korea, China, Nicaragua
“My top two passions in life have always been art and travel – in
and Nepal in the future.
equal measure,” Dale said. “When I realized I could build a client
Of course, her travels are now curtailed due to the COVID-19
list and people would pay for my work, I began planning my
pandemic, finding her currently grounded in Tasmania.
life abroad.” Through her internet presence at Etsy.com (DaleDraws) and on Instagram (DalesDrawing), she sells digital copies of her work. By working almost entirely online, Dale said costs for materials are almost completely eliminated, and she can work anywhere on the
“I had to choose whether to go back to the U.S. or stay where I was at the time of the lockdown,” Dale said. “I elected to stay where I was.” Dale said the best thing she learned as an ENMU student was how
planet using her iPad Pro.
to be focused and direct when working to achieve her goals.
“However, there are people willing to pay for ‘traditional’ artwork.
“The art department hosted amontly design competition. It
For them, I use a variety of physical media including ink, graphite,
was a challenging, fun, quick-turn competition,” Dale said. “I
watercolor and sketch marker,” Dale said. “My other revenue stream
still use most of the time-saving knowledge that I may never
is generated from my YouTube channel (Dale Draws), where I
have learned if not for that competition and my wonderfully
sometimes record the creation process.”
supportive professors.”
SIMPLE IDEAS TO
PROTECT
YOUR LOVED ONES AND CREATE YOUR
With just a little planning, you can have peace of mind knowing you have taken care of your family and secured their future. You can do much planning without visiting an attorney. You can designate a beneficiary for your retirement assets and insurance plans typically by completing a simple form. You can also add a family member to your savings, checking or investment account and your funds will pass to them when you pass away. Call or visit our website for more ideas on ways to protect and provide for your loved ones.
888.291.5524 | noelle.bartl@enmu.edu | enmugift.org Copyright © 2016 Crescendo Interactive, Inc. Used by permission.
LEGACY
from a story by Dr. South’s Research Improved Lives Edited Rick Nathanson/Albuquerque Journal She will long be known as the woman who cared for “the boy in the bubble.” But history will also remember her as an accomplished medical school professor and physician who achieved major breakthroughs in the treatment of babies’ immunological systems.
In a 2000 interview in the Portales News-Tribune, South
Dr. Mary Ann South (BA 55) died in her Portales home at 86 on Nov. 7. A graduate and class valdecitorian of Portales High School class of 1951, South graduated with honors from ENMU, then attended Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, recieving an M.D. in pediatrics in 1959.
positions, she remained close to the boy and his family and
But she is best known as a member of the team of doctors who cared for David Vetter, known as “the boy in the bubble” because of the protective plastic domes in which he lived his entire life.
newspaper. “Now we have the possibility to do genetic
South was long recognized for her expertise in pediatrics, infectious diseases, and pediatric and adult immunology.
said, “I got really attached to David’s family and to David. He was a cheery baby. He had a sunny personality ... just a happy little kid.” Although South had moved on to other professional was present at the time of his death. “Cultures of his cells were preserved after his death and the molecular defect was discovered using his cells and those of two other boys with the disease,” South told the engineering to correct the defect.” As a result of her early work as well as the work of her colleagues, the overwhelming majority of infants diagnosed with SCID are now successfully treated with bone marrow transplants.
During her career, she was involved in major breakthroughs involving how the rubella virus in babies causes immune defects and the differentiation of immune cells, as well as other groundbreaking research.
It was during her time as an assistant professor at Baylor
South was among the doctors treating Vetter, who was born in 1971 with severe combined immunodeficiency, or SCID. During his first years of life, he lived mostly at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston.
where she was the director of pediatric immunology at
Later, he spent more time at home with his parents and older sister in Dobbin, Texas. Even there, he existed in interconnected plastic containment bubbles and could only be touched by special gloves protruding into the walls of his bubble. Vetter died in 1984, at the age of 12.
College of Medicine that South came to know and help care for Vetter. Other professional positions took South to Pennsylvania, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and professor at the University of Pennsylvania; then to Lubbock, where she worked in the Department of Pediatrics at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center; then as a visiting professor with the National Institutes of Health. She then served as the Kellogg Endowed Professor of Medicine at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee, one of the few historically black medical schools in the country.
Green & Silver | May 2020
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ENMU ATHLETICS NEWS Williams Signs Professional Contract Greyhound senior Jasmine Williams signed a professional contract with the Warwick Senators basketball team in Australia, not long after learning her team wouldn’t be playing its scheduled NCAA playoff contest due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The senior from Wichita Falls, Texas, would play forward for the team. “We are all excited and proud of Jasmine Williams, she has worked extremely hard and deserves this honor,” said ENMU Women’s Basketball Coach Josh Prock. “We all know she will represent herself and ENMU very well. She has been a great representative for our program and University.”
Prock Earns 200 Career Wins ENMU women’s basketball head coach Josh Prock registered his 200th NCAA career
Billings Appointed as New Athletic Director
victory with his team’s 60–45 victory over Texas A&M-Kingsville in January. Prock just completed his seventh regular season at the helm of the ENMU Women's Basketball Program and has led the Hounds to their first three NCAA Tournament berths in the last four seasons. Their latest NCAA appearance against Texas A&M-Commerce was cancelled due to concerns over the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. In mid-March, the NCAA announced it was canceling all spring sports and practices, cutting short the entire ENMU athletic calendar. To secure their NCAA Tournament berth, the Hounds upset Tarleton State in the quarterfinal round of the LSC tournament, 66–62. It was a game that wasn’t decided until the final seconds. Eastern won its first-round game against Oklahoma Christian before falling to Texas A&M-Commerce in the semifinals. The Oklahoma Christian victory gave Coach Prock 100 wins since taking the helm of ENMU Women’s Basketball Program. Prock was named as one of four finalists for the 2020 NCAA Division II World Exposure woman’s head coach of the year.
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Green & Silver | May 2020
Matt Billings took the reins as Eastern’s new director of athletics on Jan. 20. He came to ENMU from Portland State University and holds bachelor’s degrees from Utah State University in political science and Idaho State University in economics. He also holds a master’s degree from Idaho State University in athletic administration. Photo of ENMU Director of Athletics Matt Billings and wife, Christi Billings.
Greyhounds Claim Post-Season Bowl Victory By Ryan Shumaker Greyhound Football used a key defensive
The difference in the game was a stellar
75 yards in seven plays to set up a fourth-
stop late in the fourth quarter and two early
second half of defensive football for
and-goal situation at the Hound five.
touchdowns to claim a 20–13 victory in the
the Hounds as Eastern scored on their
2019 Heritage Bowl over Southern Arkansas
opening possession of the game and
Defensive linemen Daniel Garces and
in December.
never relinquished the lead despite the Muleriders starting in quality field position twice in the third and fourth quarters.
Mulerider rushing attempt just shy of the goal line at the ENMU one-yard line to give the Hounds the ball back, effectively ending
Both drives were created for Southern
the game.
Arkansas by two costly fumbles for the
Eastern set the school record for rushing
Greyhounds, but the defense for the
yards in a season in the process, breaking
Hounds rose to the occasion and limited
the previous mark of 4,144 yards set by the
the opposition to a field goal and a
2015 team, finishing the 2019 campaign
turnover on downs with a stop with 2:03
with 4,184 rushing yards.
remaining in the contest.
The Greyhounds also broke the Lone Star
Southern Arkansas was gifted good field
Conference record for rushing attempts
position at the 50-yard-line with 8:46
in a season with a total of 770 attempts,
remaining in the game after a Greyhound
eclipsing the previous total of 731 set in
fumble, but the Hound defense rose to the
2016 by ENMU.
occasion and forced a punt to send the Greyhound offense onto the field at their own 13-yard line. Greyhound senior Paul Terry was crowned the 2019 Heritage Bowl Most Valuable Player after scoring all three Eastern touchdowns and rushing for 110 yards.
Quincy Arceneuax combined to stop the
The Hounds finished the season 8–4, matching the second highest win total in program history. That etched their name
When Eastern couldn’t put together a
into the record books as one of the most
drive and punted, the Muleriders covered
prolific rushing offenses in the nation.
Green & Silver | May 2020
15
Class Notes People You May Know Diane Holguin-Balogh (BA 70) is the author of “Rosary Without Beads,” an historical novel that involves the legend of Billy the Kid and the Lincoln County War. The book, her first novel, is a finalst in the 2019 Colorado Book Awards in general fiction and finalist for three awards from the 2019 New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards. Dr. Mark R. Jelinek (MA 77 BME 76), Emeritus Professor of Music at Bloomsburg University, conducted the university Community Orchestra for 29 years and the University Chamber Orchestra for 22 years. Dr. Jelinek will be the artistic director for the 26th season. He also served as Music Department chair for nine years. Dora Dominguez (BS 89) is the new director of business and economic development for Sandoval County. Before her new position, Dora was the senior economic developer for the city of
David Rogers (BS 90) attended and spoke at a climate conference in December 2019 in Madrid, Spain coordinating with Earthworks, an environmental advocacy group. Rogers, who has a Master of Divinity, serves as the pastor for First Christian Church in Carlsbad, and is currently pursuing a master’s in communication at ENMU. His efforts with Earthworks focus on responsible extraction and reasonable regulations on oil and gas exploration in southeastern New Mexico.
Albuquerque and also served as the director of the office of business advocacy for the State of New
Bobby Springer (BS 96) was named
Mexico Economic Development Department.
president and general manager at KHOUTV in Houston, Texas, in January of 2019,
Diane Maez (BAE 89) is currently a reading interventionist at
less than six months after taking on
James Elementary in Portales. She taught first grade at James
the vice president and station manager
for 29 years and has taught multiple generations of students.
position at the same station. Prior to
Seeing her students learn and grow throughout the year is one
being at KHOU, Bobby was director of
of the reasons she continues to teach. Michael Swearingen (BS 90) served in the U.S. Air
advertising and promotion and sales design director at KUSA-TV in Denver, Colorado.
Force in Woomera, Australia, at the Joint Defense Facility Nurrangar as a space system equipment maintenance specialist. After the Air Force, Mike worked as an electrical engineer for electric cooperatives for 20 years. He has also been a contributor and independent merit reviewer for the Department of Energy, has published several articles at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and served as a technical advisor at the National Electric Energy Testing Center.
his education career
president for inclusive excellence and strategic
shortly after graduating,
initiatives at Indiana State University. For the
teaching art at ENMU and
past two years, Rana was the chief diversity
later at the American University in Dubai and the United Arab
and inclusion officer for Unity College in Maine.
Emirates. He currently teaches design at Peru State College
Before that, she was the senior associate for
in Peru, Nebraska. He also owns a web hosting site and has
diversity outreach and special projects at the
traveled around the globe, visiting almost 60 countries and
Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education.
writing about his travels. His book, “Living My Dream,” was
She has earned numerous awards for her work.
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Ken Curtis (BS 00) began
Rana Johnson (MA 94) is now the associate vice
Green & Silver | May 2020
published in 2018, detailing his first trip around the world.
Brady Uselman (BS 01) received his Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of Utah and is the CEO of Oil Command in Salt Lake City, Utah. He is in the process of building a software solution for the oil and gas industry.
Kristin Berg (BFA 03) is the co-artistic director of the Cardboard Playhouse Theater Company, which designs plays “by kids and for kids,” and helps to run The Box, an improvisational theater
Anthony Garcia (BS 09) and Emery Edwards Garcia (BME 12), who were married in 2016, welcomed their future Greyhound, Axton Gram Garcia, on Sept. 20, 2019.
workshop for adults, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The entire endeavor runs on grants and ticket sales. Silvia Miranda (BAE 04) was one of 10 national finalists for the Shell National Science Teaching Association award, to recognize “an oustanding classroom science teacher (K-12) who has had a positive impact on his or her students, school and community through exemplary classroom science teaching.” The award would mean $10,000 to the
Juan Rivas (BS 07) is currently a collegiate success coach at Colorado State University. Juan hosts “Let’s Talk TRIO,” which is a podcast dedicated to bringing informative programming about the federal education program to the general audience, featuring interviews by TRIO staff and participants and providing policy updates affecting the TRIO community. Michelle Santos Villarreal (MED 19 BS 11) and Curtis Villarreal were married in Aug. 2019, when Michelle also completed her M.E. in Dec. 2019. They have a son, Maddox, and are expecting their second son in June 2020.
teacher and an expense-paid trip this month to the
Rozbeh “Roz” B. Moghaddam (MBA 11)
NSTA’s National Conference in Boston. Silvia is a
is the president of RBM Consulting
fourth grade teacher at Mesa Elementary School
Group, Inc. As a geotechnical
in Clovis, New Mexico.
practitioner, he has participated in major projects around the world. In his professional career, he has designed foundations, earth retention systems and tunnel sections in Mexico City’s complex soils. Dr. Moghaddam has authored more than 30 technical publications and has lectured at numerous universities and delivered short courses and seminars. Adrianna Pricilla Lucero (MA 19 BS 16), after receiving her master’s in counseling in Dec. 2019 from ENMU, is traveling to Papa, Hungary and is visiting Budapest, Prague, Bratislava,
This informal reunion brought plenty of former Greyhound Football players (circa 1978) to the Wagon Wheel game between ENMU and WTAMU in October. Don Holden (BS 73), Randy Mayes (BS 78), Kirk Potter (BS 78), Lance Farris (BBA 77), Doug Youngs (BBA 77), Johnny Chavez (BS 79), Rusty Pounds (BBA 78), Barey Chambers (MS 82 BS 78), Mike Dillard (MED 78 BS 76), Billy Bob Birkhead (BS 77), Bill Joy (MS 70), Carey Chambers (MS 84 BS 78), Dempsey Kee (BS 77), Al Dillard (BS 78) and Paddy Sheya (BS 78).
Vienna and London. Upon her return, Adrianna will begin her counseling career in the Portales/Clovis area.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU Submit your story ideas, news and memorials to us at alumni.affairs@enmu.edu
Green & Silver | May 2020
17
Class Notes In Memory 30s
Helen Mohea Warnica
Ruth Jane Lee (attended) was born May 27, 1915 in Fayetteville,
this life on Nov. 18, 2019 in Portales. After
Arkansas and died Jan. 10, 2019 in Portales. During World War
earning her degrees at ENMU, Helen
II, Ruth was a “Rosie the Riveter,” helping with the war effort
began her teaching career at Portales
and working in the airplaine factories in California. Later, Ruth
Junior High School in 1965, and taught
taught at Lindsey Elementary in Portales. She retired after more
reading and English.
(EDSP 66 MED 65 ED 64) passed from
than 40 years of dedicated teaching. David Allen (MME 76 BME 69) passed away Feb. 19, 2020. David
40s
was a tremendous supporter of ENMU, the Department of Maudie Ellen (Greer) Moore (BA 43) passed away on Feb. 17, 2018. Maudie was first in her family to attend college and received her B.A. in Secretarial Science in 1943. Maudie then worked as an executive
Music, and the Alumni Band, serving as president for a twoyear term from its first downbeat in 1988. He was, along with his wife Beth, a major financial contributor to scholarships awarded by ENMU bands.
secretary at the Bank Examiner’s office in Santa Fe,
Pamela J. Batson (BS 68) passed away on Oct. 5, 2019. At
New Mexico. In Santa Fe, she was happily married
ENMU, Pam was a member of Alpha Delta Pi and married her
to William (Bill) Moore until his death in 1994. She
high school sweetheart, Wes (MBA 70 BBA 69); in September
volunteered at scouting and school endeavors for
1965. Pam worked at Re/Max Associates of Dallas in the Lake
her three children for many years.
Highlands area, Paul Reinhart, Inc., and Cotton Market and Risk Management Consulting, Inc.
50s
Harold “Bruce” Altman (MA 70 BS 69) Helen Ruth Franse (BA 50) was born Aug. 9, 1927
passed away July 27, 2018. Born Dec.
in Portales, and passed away July 9, 2019 in Clovis.
28, 1941 in Kansas City, Kansas, Bruce
Helen attended public school in Portales and
graduated from Washington High School
graduated from ENMU. She received her master’s
in Bethel, Kansas in 1959 and served in
degree in psychiatric social work from USC at
the U.S. Air Force from 1964–1968. After
Los Angeles. Helen held many positions for the
graduating from ENMU, Bruce worked for
county of Los Angeles and the state of California.
the United States Postal Service in the labor relations department.
Vila Jean (Tucker) Smith (BA 56) passed away Nov. 24, 2019, in Maineville, Ohio. Vila Jean was
Donna Kay Wilkins Hilliard (Attended)
a devoted elementary school educator (early
passed away on Jan. 1, 2020, in Lubbock,
childhood education and music), teaching at
Texas. Donna was born Jan. 13, 1948, in
Wilson School, and most recently La Tercera School
Raton, New Mexico, moving to Portales
in Petaluma, California. She was very involved
with her family after her sophomore year
with church music and education, serving in many
in high school. She attended ENMU before
capacities in church leadership and mission.
marrying William “Kent” Hilliard (BBA 70). After Kent’s graduation from chiropractic
60s
college, he joined a practice in Portales and Donna served as office manager.
Adam John Berg (BS 66) Passed away Sept. 7, 2019, after having been a business owner in Amarillo, Texas, for 30 years. Prior to that, he was a research scientist for Ralston Purina Company in Gray Summit, Missouri.
70s Linda Sickles (BBE 70) passed away on Sept. 25, 2019. Linda performed with the New Orleans Symphony Orchestra in the first violin and vilola sections for the Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra and was a founding member of the musical ensemble, The Lawson Trio. She taught both for Portales Municipal schools and ENMU.
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Green & Silver | May 2020
Susan Sehr (MA 88 BS 72) died Oct. 11, 2019. After
Debby Rogers (BS 82), a resident of Salt
retiring as a child and family therapist in New
Lake City, Utah, passed away on Dec.
Mexico, Susan was an artist and received many
27, 2019 at her home in Salt Lake City
certifications, including one in textile and fiber arts
following a battle with cancer. She was
from Gail Harker Creative Studios.
born on April 28, 1960 in Fort Collins, Colorado and graduated from ENMU with a degree in broadcast journalism.
Daisy Laurene Finkner (MED 75 BS 72) passed away on Sept. 25, 2019. At ENMU, Laurene was a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Delta Kappa. She later taught for 15 years in Clovis schools before teaching a year at Cairo American College in Egypt. Laurene and her husband, Ralph, traveled the
She was a television news producer and worked in television markets in El Paso, Texas, Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada, Toledo and Columbus, Ohio, and Salt Lake City, Utah. Most recently she was the public affairs manager for the Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City.
world for business and pleasure, visiting more than
Donald E. Coates (attended), passed
50 countries.
away on Sept. 17, 2018. Don owned radio stations in Missouri and New Mexico,
Kim Eugene Ingram (MED 78 BA 74) passed
then was a business professional at
away on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28, 2019. While
Sandia National Laboratories, retiring in
at ENMU, Kim was part of the Swanee musicals,
2002. He enjoyed spending time with his
concert choir and the Greyhound Sound band.
wife, children and grandchildren.
He also was a member of Phi Mu Alpha. Kim taught music for 41 years in Arizona, Texas, Connecticut and Florida before retiring in 2015.
90s
He was also an accomplished actor, performing in
Terry L. Hill (BS 93), passed away on
community productions, radio and television ads
Nov. 9, 2019. During his time at ENMU,
and film productions.
Terry was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity, and he later studied law at
Vivian Asmos Gunnels (BS 74) died Oct. 17, 2019. Vivian
the Univesity of Oklahoma College
was an insurance agent for Southland Life and was
of Law. Most recently, he had been a
one of the company’s first successful women agents,
claims adjuster for Farmers Insurance in
involved in insurance trade associations. She was
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
also an avid acrylic painter. Howard Stearns (BS 78) passed away on Feb. 3, 2020. Howard was a former football player and coach at ENMU, also coaching at schools such as Alabama A&M, Benedict College, Eastern Arizona College, and several high schools. Throughout his career, Coach emphasized sportsmanship and hard work. He was always willing to help those in need.
Orlando Brown (faculty) of Las Vegas, New Mexico, passed away, Nov. 3, 2019 at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born Oct. 27, 1938, in Las Tablas, New Mexico. He graduated from McCurdy High School in
80s
1958, then attended Westmar Karen Scott Smith (BS 80) passed away Dec. 30,
University and obtained a
2019 after living 20 years in Broomfield, Colorado.
Bachelor of Arts in 1962. He
Born Sept. 20, 1957 in Coral Gables, Florida,
also earned a Master of Arts
Karen grew up in California and New York before
at New Mexico Highlands University in 1972.
attending ENMU, where she was editor of the
Orlando was a professor and football coach
Chase her senior year and met her husband of 40
at McCurdy High School, ENMU, and New
years, Kent Smith (BS 79). Karen earned a B.S. in
Mexico Highlands University. He was also
Nursing from Lamar University in 1983 and worked
responsible for bringing the National Youth Sports Program
as a nurse for 30 years, receiving recognition as Nurse of the
(NYSP) to Las Vegas, New Mexico, a program which he directed
Year from Kaiser Permanente in Colorado.
for many years.
Green & Silver | May 2020
19
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Return Service Requested
New address, questions, comments or story ideas? Contact us toll-free at 888.291.5524 or enmu.foundation@enmu.edu.
We couldn’t say “Thank You …” … because we didn’t get the chance. Over the years, the ENMU Foundation receives planned gifts from people we never met. In fact, this winter, we received over $430,000 from the estate of Harold “Bruce” Altman (MA 70 BS 69). We are grateful for this generosity, but we are sad that we never had the chance to thank Mr. Altman and alumni like him.
The ENMU Foundation would like to posthumously thank Harold “Bruce” Altman, for his visionary estate gift. This gift establishes a new endowed scholarship in Mr. Altman’s name benefiting alumni descendants attending ENMU.
If you’ve named the ENMU Foundation in your will or estate plans, feel free to let us know. We’d like to show you our appreciation and understand your wishes for your future gift.
Noelle Bartl Associate Vice President for Advancement noelle.bartl@enmu.edu 888.291.5524 | ENMUGift.org