ENMU Green & Silver Magazine - February 2017

MAGAZINE EASTERN NEW MEXICO UNIVERSITY

WHEN DISASTER STRIKES

Pete Phillips works to

REVITALIZE

Texas Communities

TRANSFORMING GOLDEN LIBRARY INTO THE

GOLDEN STUDENT

SUCCESS CENTER Page 9

IT’S FACEBOOK OFFICIAL Alumnus Brings Social Media Giant TO THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT Page 12

FEBRUARY 2017

Green&Silver

Green&Silver MAGAZINE

Features

04 When Disaster Strikes 06 Daniels Scholar Embraces Life as an Educator 07 Landing a Big One with an Eastern Education 08 Grad Fired Up About Taos Clay Studio Residency 09 Transforming Golden Library into the Golden Student Success Center 11 Blackwater Draw Artifacts Find Fitting Home During Museum’s Hiatus 12 It’s “Facebook Official” 13 The Natural Thing To Do 14 ENMU Athletics News Class Notes: 16 People You Know 18 In Memory

Green & Silver Magazine | February 2017

YOU COULD BE WEARING THIS SCARF!

See page 10 for details

Managing Editor Noelle Bartl

Content and Design Editor Rachel Forrester

Contributing Editor Robert Graham

Writers and Contributors

Patricia Duran, Robert Graham, Adam Pitterman, Eamon Scarbrough, Melissa Sena, Wendel Sloan

You can view all issues of the Green & Silver Magazine online at enmu.edu/magazine New address, questions, comments or story ideas?

Contact us at 888.291.5524 or enmu.foundation@enmu.edu.

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Green Green&&Silver Silver| |February February2017 2017

Photo by Cale Bloskas

www.enmu.edu/SpiritScarf

From the President Dear ENMU Family, 2017 has begun, and we at Eastern feel confident it will be a very good year. 2016 has provided us with so much momentum that the University is now poised to move forward on all fronts. Please consider what happened in the last quarter of 2016: 1. The number of students graduating at our Dec. graduation was 447, the most ever. This means that there are 447 more Eastern graduates “out there” doing wonderful things with their degrees. That’s why ENMU exists.

2. The statewide General Obligation Bond C was passed by the voters of New Mexico and provides $11 million to Eastern for the Golden Student Success Center project.

The University now has $26 million to completely renovate Golden Library and expand it to include functions such as tutoring and distance education. The completion date is summer 2018.

3. The new Greyhound Stadium (with Al Whitehead Field) exceeded our expectations. Our football and men’s and women’s soccer teams (along with the state champion Portales Rams football team) played in the stadium and the reviews were great! In a few months we will pave and install lighting for our parking lots and change out the audio system. Greyhound Stadium is not quite done, but we are close.

For these reasons and many others, we at ENMU are optimistic for 2017. The state’s budget situation may slow us down a bit, but the momentum from 2016 and the strong work and commitment of our students, staff and supporters will carry the day.

I thank all of you for your support of Eastern New Mexico University. Go Greyhounds!

Sincerely,

Steven Gamble ENMU President

Green & Silver | February 2017

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When Disaster Strikes Alumnus Works to Revitalize Texas Communities By: Rachel Forrester When disaster strikes a family or community, many groups pitch in to help those in the state of emergency. After the immediate disaster response, however, many still face challenges stemming from less obvious, long-term side effects.

Stepping up at this state of recovery, Pete Phillips (BS 92) has found fulfilling success in working to repair post-disaster communities in the Lone Star State.

As the deputy director for Community Development and Revitalization for the Texas General Land Office, Pete works under Commissioner George P. Bush and is responsible for managing the development of policies and guidelines for $3.8 billion in federal grants appropriated in response to presidentially-declared disasters throughout the state. The program has built more than 10,000 homes, coordinated the cleanup of the Texas coast after hurricanes Dolly and Ike, and administrated long-term recovery efforts for these hurricanes as well as for the 2011 wildfires. They recently completed the restoration of an $85 million wastewater treatment plant in Galveston after a broken valve allowed over 100,000 gallons of partially treated sewage to leak into Galveston Bay.

Day to day, Pete meets with a full spectrum of constituents involved in the restoration projects including U.S. senators and congressmen, state representatives, elected officials, housing boards, the media, concerned citizens and more. He feels grateful to have the ability to help people, and to make a difference in the lives of those who were negatively impacted by events beyond their control.

“It’s so rewarding when you get the keys after a finished project and can help a community,” Pete explained. “When you get invited to a ribbon cutting or to a homeowner’s new home that the grant has provided for them, it is the most rewarding thing. To see the folks who have been made whole after an event.”

“I use a lot of the things that were provided to me as a student at Eastern every day.”

—Pete Phillips

Pete attended Eastern on a speech and debate scholarship, and earned his bachelor’s degree in Political Science. He was an active member of the college community and he attributes much of his success to the skills he learned on campus and in his fraternity.

“I use a lot of things that were provided to me as a student at Eastern every day,” Pete said.

“Being on speech and debate really helped me. I do a lot of public speaking and I truly leverage that time. I was also the President of ΣΑΕ for two terms and worked as a resident assistant at Eddy Hall.”

“I tell friends to encourage their kids to live in the residence halls and to work as a resident assistant. It offered me the ability to lead people and to understand people’s needs—their pains, their wants. You’re there with them and you hear their complaints and stressors. I learned a lot of leadership skills in the fraternity and in residence life.”

Top photo: A 1991 Silver Pack yearbook photo of Pete Phillips.

Bottom photo: Pete speaks about the traffic congestion issues plaguing the local community.

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Green & Silver | February 2017

After attending Eastern, Pete served 16 years in the Marine Corps as a naval aviator and worked in the Department of Defense for the Office of the Secretary of Defense for 12 years. On top of his work for the Texas General Land Office, he continues to serve as the director of Emerging Threats and Analysis in the Texas National Guard and is a commissioner for the City of Austin’s Commission on Veterans Affairs.

Photo by DSW Homes

“It’s so rewarding when you get the keys after a finished project and can see folks who have been made whole after an event.”

—Pete Phillips

Pete joins DSW Homes partners on demolition day for a DSW Homes, Texas City, Galveston County Blue Jay housing project that was three years in the making.

Green & Silver | February 2017

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Daniels Scholar HAVE YOU EVER WISHED YOU COULD HELP but thought you couldn’t afford to give?

There is good news!

There are ways you can give today while still preserving your assets for retirement and providing for your loved ones.

You can support the ENMU Foundation without impacting you or your family.

Please contact us to learn more about these types of charitable gifts and how you can help further our mission.

Here are some gifts anyone can afford to make:

• • • • • • • •

Gifts from a Will or Trust Beneficiary Designations Life Insurance Appreciated Securities Real Property Tangible Personal Property Life Estate Business Interests, Closely Held Stock and Partnerships

Go to www.enmugift.org for more information 6 Green & Silver | February 2017

Embraces Life as an Educator

By: Robert Graham Recent alumna Claudia Campos (BA 16) graduated from Texico High School in 2012 and entered ENMU as a sophomore. The Elementary Education/ Special Education major who minored in bilingual education and math is a bilingual kindergarten teacher at La Casita Elementary School in Clovis, NM. “My teachers were my role models. I saw the passion that they had for helping others, and I saw myself,” says Claudia.

The newly minted educator is also a Daniels Scholar, an award named after World War II veteran, Golden Gloves champion and entrepreneur Bill Daniels. Claudia was one of 250 students selected for the scholarship from New Mexico, Wyoming, Utah and Colorado— four states to which Bill Daniels had meaningful connections.

“I work to exemplify Mr. Daniels’ message to ‘make a difference one individual at a time’ through my work as an educator,” Claudia explains.

Matriculating efficiently through ENMU, Claudia was a member of Voices of Inclusive and Committed Education Students (VOICES), a premiere student organization on campus responsible for numerous educational-community outreach initiatives.

Claudia volunteered at the Family Math and Science Night at James Elementary in Portales for the duration of her college career. She was also tasked with selecting the quotation that her organization engraved on their ENMU stadium brick: “Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself” by John Dewey.

“That quote means a lot to me because I firmly believe that it’s never too late to learn and that we learn every day,” says Claudia.

In addition to her role as a well-rounded educator, Claudia is well-traveled.

“Zacatecas and Guanajuato are two places I frequently travel to in Mexico.

A benefit of my travels is that I have learned to see the differences in the Mexican and U.S. education systems, which I think makes me much more aware as an educator,” she says.

Already, Claudia is considering graduate school in either Reading Instruction or Administration. She appreciates her support network that includes her former advisor and ENMU professor Geni Flores, advising center director Susan Cramp, her husband Victor, daughter Elizabel, sister Jennifer and parents Heriberto and Estela Campos.

Landing A Big One

with an Eastern Education

By: Rachel Forrester For the past four years, Eric Frey (BS 98) has been directly involved in a number of projects restoring and maintaining New Mexico’s fishery habitats. As the sportfish program manager for the state’s Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF), Eric

“I enjoy having the ability to manage species for stuff I really care about,” said Eric. “To work with them on a daily basis and have some kind of contribution to try to make them better can be extremely challenging in an arid state. Especially as drought periods have become longer and the new norm is low lake and stream levels.”

Even with these obstacles, before his current position Eric was hired as the northeast fisheries manager, and his time at Eastern studying wildlife and fisheries well prepared him for the industry.

Photo by Karl Moffatt of NMDGF

“The education I got at Eastern was invaluable and made me very competitive for continuing career advancements with the Department of Game and Fish,” said Eric. “Being a relatively smaller school you get more time with professors which definitely helps you develop those interpersonal skills. In my job we deal with the public a bunch, and we always say the fish are the easy part,” he laughed. “I think spending that one-on-one time helped prepare me for the job I have now, beyond just the biology side of it.”

works with a team of about 10 biologists to monitor sportfish populations including walleye, bass, brown trout and salmon.

He also makes recommendations for the regulations and rules protecting them, writes prescriptions for stocking, and more.

For Eric, an avid fisherman and hunter, the opportunity to improve the state’s fishing environments is more an opportunity than a job. In such an arid state, however, he and his team have their work cut out for them as they battle drought and climate change.

Photo courtesy of NMDGF

Named the 2015 Director’s Wildlife Conservation Professional of the Year, Eric helped to successfully complete a tight budgeted project on the Red River and at Eagle Rock Lake, coordinated the department’s response to the disastrous Gold King Mine spill, and was an integral part in restoring the population of Rio Grande cutthroat trout.

Currently, Eric and his team have on-going projects on the Los Pinos River, the San Juan River, and with bass populations on Elephant Butte Lake. These projects are focused on improving fish habitats and mitigating drought impacts, ultimately providing quality angling opportunity to the public.

Main photo: Eric Frey holds a rainbow trout prior to release in Eagle Rock Lake.

Left: Eric releases a brown trout into the Rio Grande river near Taos, NM. Right: Eric in 1998, holding “Rover” the Burmese python that was on display for several years at ENMU’s Natural History Museum.

Green & Silver | February 2017

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ENMU Grad Fired Up About Taos Clay Studio Residency By: Patricia Duran Backdropped by the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and rich culture, many artists and craftsmen flock to Taos, NM to create and show their work. Last Sept., ENMU Visual Arts graduate Erica Hopper (BFA 14) began a two-year residency at the Taos Clay Studio.

After graduating in 2014, Erica spent a year in her hometown saving up to buy her own ceramic supplies, kiln and wheel. However, fate intervened and Taos Clay Studio offered her a residency in their program.

Along with the support and opportunity to develop their personal work, Taos Clay Studio’s residents are paid to teach ceramics classes, sell their work in the gallery, and lead many projects. Erica loves pottery and the technical challenge of throwing on a potter’s wheel because it takes an amount of focus that she’s never had to achieve in any other line of work.

With the huge culture and history for art in Taos, Erica’s work strays from the traditional Taos Pueblo and Native American influence.

She mixes Greek and contemporary art to form her ceramic style.

“It went really great,” she exclaimed. “A lot of people and new faces showed up. I sold a lot more than I thought I would. Even my high school art teacher came and bought a piece!”

Before the event Erica continued a tradition that started at ENMU’s ceramics lab to help her prepare for the show. Each time the gas kiln was fired, the instructor and the work study students that helped load the kiln would make kiln gods.

Kiln gods are once-fired little figurines that are meant to protect the kiln and make sure the firing goes well. Being a bit superstitious, Erica makes two kiln gods for every gas firing and fires them with all her wares.

“I prefer to make the figures based on an animal I’ve recently seen; Usually, it ends up being my dog Anakin,” she explains.

“I am influenced by Classical Greek forms and art; Greek-era ceramic vessels and artifacts, Greek goddesses, strong women, giant handles and figure painting,” said Erica.

With the residency and shows, Erica is hoping to build her portfolio to apply for postbaccalaureate programs so she can get into a master’s program. She wants to become an art teacher or professor because she realized how important a good instructor is.

Erica hosted her first solo exhibition in the Taos Clay Studio last September. She filled the gallery with nearly 500 pieces of her own pottery that took six months to create.

“I am so grateful for faculty like ENMU ceramics instructor Diane Cole,” said Erica.

“They offered me so much assistance and helped me get to where I am today.”

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Green & Silver | February 2017

Transforming Golden Library into the

Golden Student Success Center With Bond C passing in the Nov. 8 General Election, ENMU will receive an additional $11 million toward the transformation of Golden Library, which opened in 1952, into the Golden Student Success Center (GSSC). The total project will cost $26 million, with another $11 million coming from the 2014 bond issue and $4 million from the University.

Bond C passed by a statewide percentage of 63.27 percent to 36.73 percent, with Roosevelt county passing it by the third highest margin—69.56 percent.

While retaining all the functions of a traditional library, the GSSC will be a destination for social and intellectual interaction between students, faculty and resources, and will become a hub on campus where students can connect with needed resources in a technology-rich environment.

The 94,000 square-foot facility will make use of natural light and views to the outside, with sustainable maintenance and operation costs. The GSSC will include academic, writing and tutoring assistance, collaborative study spaces. There will also be after-hours help with registration and financial aid, advising and counseling and a café.

There will also be a two-story-tall gallery, presentation rooms, an electronic events display and a triage/assessment area where students can meet with staff who will refer them to the appropriate people for help.

Main photo: A rendering of the new Golden Student Success Center after the Golden Library renovations.

Top photo (left): The entrance to Golden Library before renovations began.

Center and Bottom photos: Renderings of the inside of the remodeled GSSC, showing the circulation area and easy-to-navigate floor plan.

By: Wendel Sloan

Services currently administered by Golden Library staff will be incorporated into GSSC, including: •

General Collection and Journal Collection - Books and materials based on the the university’s curricula. Print journals are available for titles not available online.

•

Government Documents Collection - ENMU is designated as the regional depository for eastern New Mexico. As such, ENMU selects 43 percent of all documents produced by the federal government and 100 percent of the state documents.

•

Special Collections - University archives including the official records of the University, New Mexico/Southwest rare and hardto-find books, maps, papers, etc., and Jack Williamson Science Fiction Library, used by researchers from around the world.

•

Instructional Resource Center - Maintained in cooperation with the NM Education Department. Supplied by publishers and kept for a six-year cycle, used by Education students, homeschooling parents, and evaluated by the surrounding school districts for purchase of their textbooks.

•

Media and Technology - Includes computer labs and stations for students designing, printing and laminating visuals for University and community use. Provides die-cuts for bulletin boards, poster paper, button-making equipment, Scantrons, paper cutters, sound and video equipment, laptops, TVs, etc.

•

Maps Collection - Includes atlases, globes, physical maps, state topographical maps, etc.

•

Juvenile Collection - Used by College of Education students.

•

Circulation Area - Materials are checked in and out, resources are organized for easy access, and multiple study areas provide areas to meet every student’s needs.

•

Administrative Area and More - There will be a reception area, two offices, a conference room and reference area, study areas, offices and technical services for material processing, mail, acquisition, book repair, etc.

Green & Silver | February 2017

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UNLEASH YOUR GENEROSITY! Dear fellow ENMU Alumni and Friends, You may not realize the impact ENMU is making in our region educating future leaders, teachers, business owners, doctors, etc. Thanks to the generosity from many of our alumni and friends, ENMU surpassed 6,000 students for the first time in the University’s history this Fall 2016 semester. That’s 6,014 Greyhounds learning and growing like generations before them receiving the same quality and innovative student-centered education ENMU is known for.

The real story behind those numbers is impressive. Check out these recent notable rankings: 1. USA Today Ranks ENMU among Five Best Bargains in the Nation 2. The ENMU Online MBA ranked #1 in the nation by GetEducated.com

As a thank you for your University Fund donation of $150 or more, we’d like to send you this limited edition spirit scarf.

Donate online at

www.enmu.edu/SpiritScarf

or use the enclosed envelope.

Photos by Cale Bloskas

3. ENMU Master’s in Education ranked #1 for 2017 by BestMastersDegrees.com 4. ENMU Social Work Program ranked #7 Most Affordable by CollegeChoice.net 5. ENMU Teacher Education Program #1 in New Mexico by ToBecomeATeacher.org 6. ENMU Master’s in Education ranked #3

by TopMastersInEducation.com 7. OnlineU.org ranks ENMU #1 for Least Expensive Online Degrees 8. ENMU ranked #2 in Online Elementary Education Master’s Degrees by BestCollegeValues.org

9. ENMU Nursing Program ranked #13 Among Most Affordable by TopRNtoBSN.com 10. ENMU MBA program ranked #15 in Most Affordable by BestValueMBA.net and 17th according to TopManagementDegrees.com 11. ENMU is Top Affordable Online School in New Mexico according to OnlineColleges.net 12. Couponsdaily.com ranks ENMU #3 among Cheapest College Towns 13. Chronicle of Higher Education Ranks ENMU 4th Most Affordable in Southwest 14. Chronicle of Higher Education Lists ENMU as 18th Fastest Growing 15. ENMU Ranked 42nd Best for Hispanic Students by bestcolleges.com

As you can see by these exceptional rankings, alumni support and the commitment of Eastern’s dedicated faculty and staff have helped ENMU deliver high quality education at an affordable cost. And we all know how much that means to today’s students and their families.

Would you consider a charitable contribution to the University Fund so we may continue this momentum of success?

The ENMU Foundation (a 501(c)3 nonprofit) exists to provide scholarships for students and provides financial support for other top university priorities. A gift to the University Fund supports special academic programs and projects, provides matching funds for grant initiatives, assists with Bond C promotional efforts and much more. We need your assistance in reaching the $250,000 University Fund goal.

A gift to the University Fund is the best way to make a broad impact…

UNLEASH YOUR GENEROSITY. Sincerely,

Noelle Bartl Executive Director ENMU Foundation

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Green & Silver | February 2017

Blackwater Draw Artifacts

Find Fitting Home During Museum Hiatus

By: Rachel Forrester With news that the Blackwater Draw Museum is moving to a newly remodeled location in ENMU’s Lea Hall, the museum off of Highway 70 closed its doors last year, leaving the museum’s ancient artifacts temporarily in the dark. Some of the items however, including the Star Trek prop spears featuring Folsomlike points have found a second home during the hiatus.

Right off the bat, you might be wondering what these Star Trek spears were doing with the ancient artifacts in the Blackwater Draw museum in the first place.

The Star Trek spears were previously on display with the age-old Folsom Points (above) at ENMU’s Blackwater Draw museum.

Their current home is at the New Mexico Museum of Space History in Alamagordo, pictured to the right.

In 1967, Dr. George Agogino, ENMU’s former Paleo-Indian Institute Director saw a resemblance between the spear points being used in the 1967 Star Trek episode “The Galileo Seven” and Folsom points, which were discovered in New Mexico in the late 1920s. In the episode, spears with points that resembled the ancient hunting tools were being thrown by creatures at Spock and his crew after they had crash-landed on a hostile planet.

An avid fan before the series gained today’s popularity, Dr. Agogino wrote the show’s producers to see if they would donate the props for display at the newly-built Blackwater Draw Museum. One of the producers wrote back, explaining that the spears were based on the Folsom points, but they had taken some “dramatic license” by enlarging them to 15 feet long.

George Crawford, the current director for the Blackwater Draw National Historic Landmark, reflected on Dr. Agogino’s interest in bringing the spears to the museum nearly 50 years ago.

“He was excited,” said Crawford. “He was grasping for something that would be neat to display in the museum. Something they wouldn’t have to make and that kids would enjoy.”

Nonetheless, the Star Trek spears were sent to Agogino and have been on display ever since, until this past fall when they were loaned to the New Mexico Museum of Space History for their new exhibit honoring Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry as the newest inductee into the International Space Hall of Fame.

Photo courtesy of the New Mexico Museum of Space History

Now in their current resting place, Sue Taylor, the curator for the New Mexico Museum of Space History in Alamagordo, describes how the spears help meld science fiction with science.

“It’s important because it’s not only a prop from the series, but it’s showing how, through science, we’re searching for other civilizations and hoping to learn from their tools. In this particular case they had to make some allowances for artistic endeavors, but even so the thrust of that episode is that we don’t know what we’re going to find on other planets. And that’s what the spears represent,” Taylor explained.

On loan through next summer, the spears also seem to be receiving plenty of attention from the museum’s visitors.

According to Taylor, during the exhibit’s opening night “some people asked if there was anything else to see and I said ‘Did you look up?’’ And more than once that night I heard ‘Oh my god, get a load of the size of those things!’”

Green & Silver | February 2017

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It’s

Official

Alumnus Helps Bring Social Media Giant To New Mexico By: Rachel Forrester

When you hear the words “Facebook official,” chances are it refers to someone who has publically announced their relationship or family news online. For Gary Tonjes (BS 78), however, his involvement with Facebook went a step further when he was challenged to help bring the world-class social media company to New Mexico.

Gary is president of Albuquerque Economic Development, Inc. (AED), where he leads efforts to recruit new employers and help local companies expand to create quality jobs and opportunities for the city’s metro area. He engages with companies to generate interest and investment in the area, and works with the AED team and community partners to win these job creation projects.

In January of last year, AED was tasked to lead the recruitment effort in finding a location for Facebook’s newest data center, and the team worked extensively behind the scenes to bring the highly respected company to the land of enchantment.

Gary and AED Vice President Deb Inman were Facebook’s intermediaries for much of the work and analysis, coordinating with real estate brokers, land owners, elected officials and governmental staff, utility representatives and many others who were involved in the effort. Several sites throughout the Albuquerque metro area were presented for consideration, including the Los Lunas site that Facebook ultimately selected.

“A project of this magnitude doesn’t happen without a team from diverse organizations pulling in the same direction,” said Gary.

“It was a fascinating project to work. The Facebook team was, not surprisingly, incredibly professional and detail oriented. They were a pleasure to work with.”

Beating out Utah, another state in contention, Los Lunas offered a property tax break through $30 billion in industrial revenue bonds, a gross receipts tax reimbursement of up to $1.6 million annually and $10 million in Local Development Act funding.

The $250 million first phase of the project broke ground in October and will provide construction and high-tech jobs, as well as the potential to attract other companies to the state.

“Since the announcement, we have already seen an increase in interest and project activity from companies that support and follow Facebook’s data centers,” said Gary. “Facebook is well-known within the industry for its comprehensive analysis of potential locations. Their selection of Los Lunas for this mission-critical investment sends a message to other employers that the Albuquerque metro area and state should be considered for their future projects.”

In addition to its initial minimum job and investment commitments, Facebook may invest as much as $30 billion in the complex, which could grow to as many as six buildings. The facility will be equipped with the latest hardware designs and powered by 100 percent clean and renewable energy through solar and wind plants. The data center is the largest capital investment in the state’s history and is expected to begin operation by 2018.

Photo provided by Albuquerque Economic Development

Pictured below: On Oct. 11 Gary Tonjes (far left), the Albuquerque Economic Development, Inc. team and Facebook representatives broke ground in Los Lunas, NM to begin construction on the social media company’s newest data center.

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Green & Silver | February 2017

The Natural Thing To Do

Museum Named To Honor Esteemed Biology Professor

By: Eamon Scarbrough, Portales News Tribune

Photo by Larry Brock

Friends and loved ones of a prolific ENMU professor gathered in October at the ENMU Roosevelt Science Center to honor his memory and see a building dedicated in his name. ENMU’s Natural History Museum was re-named the “Dr. Anthony ‘Tony’ Gennaro Natural History Museum” in honor of Gennaro, who died in August of 2015.

“Tony meant so much to the institution—he was here 32 years— that we thought the renaming of this museum was—this is the closest I’ll get to a pun all day—the natural thing to do,” said ENMU President Steven Gamble at the dedication.

Gamble said Gennaro was an invaluable asset to ENMU, in part due to his outreach on behalf of the University.

Photos courtesy of ENMU Special Collections

Photo courtesy of Marjorie Gennaro

“As a university, when we look at the outreach for the institution—by that I’m talking about people that can really take our message out to the community—probably in the top five, top maybe ever that I’m aware of, Tony would rank at the top of that,” he said. “I mean, he did his own television show; he did articles in the newspaper; he was consulted as an expert when something in natural science would come up.”

Two of Gennaro’s former colleagues, ENMU Department of Physical Sciences Chair Jim Constantopoulos and Department of Biology Chair Kenwyn Cradock, also spoke on the profound impact he made on them.

“As the director of the Miles Mineral Museum, Tony and I worked and fought hard

Dr. Tony Gennaro’s wife, Marjorie attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony to inaugurate the museum’s new name and honor her husband’s lasting legacy.

together to make these museums what they are today. He taught me to appreciate the importance of the museums, not only for ENMU, but for Portales and New Mexico,” Constantopoulos said.

“Our friendship went beyond our love of the natural world and the day-to-day interactions we had in this building. Here’s a little-known fact: Tony was Italian, and sometimes he would play Italian music; and he made me feel proud of my Greek heritage.”

Cradock recalled Gennaro’s ability to spark an interest of the natural world in other people. “Tony’s passion was engaging people with nature. In particular, students,” said Cradock. “He actively engaged students in all levels with setting up the museum, maintaining it, and that continues to this day.”

After a ribbon-cutting ceremony to inaugurate the museum’s new title, Gennaro’s wife Marjorie (MBA 79, BBA 73) observed a lasting legacy that he established at Eastern.

“With God’s blessings, I’m certain Tony’s watching over us. I think I can almost hear him saying, ‘Marjorie, my work at Eastern is complete, and my love for my students, enduring,’” she said.

“I thank you so much for honoring Tony, and the many, many students that helped to create the Dr. Antonio Gennaro Natural History Museum. And let me tell you what: Tony thanks you too.”

Gennaro designed and opened the Natural History Museum’s educational exhibit in 1967, helped launch the Wildlife and Fisheries program and started the University’s wildlife club. He retired in 1998 as a distinguished emeritus professor of biology.

Top left: Dr. Anthony “Tony” Gennaro and his wife, Marjorie.

Bottom photos: Dr. Tony Gennaro taught biology at Eastern from 1966-98.

Green & Silver | February 2017

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ENMU Athletics News

Visit the official website at goeasternathletics.com

By: Adam Pitterman

Greyhound Softball Team Gives Back to the Community The ENMU softball team has given back to the Portales community on numerous occasions, including helping Central Christian Church sort, bag and distribute food.

“We are so blessed to have everything we have,” Head Coach Katie Welborn said. “Sports should never be just about sports.

We are on a platform to help our community and we take full advantage of that. I am lucky to have a coaching staff and

After Historic Grand Opening, Gridiron Hounds Follow Familiar Road to C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl Although the ENMU football team played in a new, state of the art facility in 2016, their season followed a familiar road as previous years. Much like the 2013 Lone Star Conference championship season, the Greyhounds earned a hard-fought road win over Angelo State, erased a 21-point deficit to claim the Wagon Wheel, and defeated Midwestern State. In 2016, that road took the Greyhounds to Copperas Cove, TX, for the C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart

Page 14: (left) The softball team helping out at First Methodist Church’s Thanksgiving dinner and Bazaar. (right) The ball is handed off to junior running back Kamal Cass.

Page 15: (left) Senior Lauren Frye attacks during their game against New Mexico Highlands. (right) Senior guard CoRnell Neal before he made the game-winning shot.

wonderful girls who are willing to help whole-heartedly. We are not done with our community service, but I feel like this is a really great base for us to continue to build upon and rise.”

of Texas Bowl for the second straight season. The Greyhounds faced Fort Hays State (8-4), who took an early lead and handed the Greyhounds a 45-12 setback at Bulldawg Stadium.

Along with the caring and sharing, Eastern did its fair share of scaring during the month of October, working with the Portales Rec Center at the haunted house. Other events the team has helped put on include Roosevelt General Hospital’s annual Clay Shooting Competition, the Maggie Lee for Good day, Hope Haven, and Thanksgiving dinner and Bazaar at First Methodist Church.

The team concluded a strong 2016 season which saw them Lone Star Conference wins over Western New Mexico, Angelo State, West Texas A&M, University of Texas of the Permian Basin, Oklahoma Panhandle, and Midwestern State.

“My favorite part of community service has been seeing the people we helped and how it impacts them,” freshman Kaylee Rogers said. “I especially love seeing this around the holidays.”

Not only has the team helped the community, they helped the men’s and women’s basketball teams promote the Greyhound Madness event to tip off the 2016-17 basketball season.

“I am so proud of our girls,” Welborn said. “They give everything their all. They were great people before they became Greyhounds and now they are just making being a Greyhound even better.”

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Green & Silver | February 2017

Among the key performers that emerged over the season were freshman quarterback Wyatt Strand and senior receiver Larry Baker-Bruce. Baker-Bruce’s 30.11 yards per catch is the Hounds best since at least the 1998 season. Strand’s passer efficiency rating (182.4), average yards per pass (12.2), total offense per play (8.11) were also team bests since at least the 1998 season. The Hounds flourished offensively, marking the best season since 1998 in rushing yards per game (346.9), average yards per rushing attempt (5.77), average yards per play (6.68), and average yards per pass (11.4). The defense also stepped up their game, and their 10 rushing touchdowns allowed were the fewest since at least 1998. Against Oklahoma Panhandle, Strand’s 32.6 yards per completion is the programs best for the last 19 seasons at least.

Frye Becomes First Greyhound to Earn First Team All-Region

Resurgent Men’s Basketball Team Earns Dramatic Wins

Volleyball senior Lauren Frye was named to the 2016 D2CCA South Central All-Region Volleyball Team this past November. It marks the first time an ENMU player received all-region honors since Lindsay Schiely earned Honorable Mention in 2004. Frye hit a blistering .312 with 552 kills on the year, the third-highest mark in team history.

With two overtime wins and another decided by just one possession, the Greyhounds head into conference play with a three-game win streak.

With the First Team selection, the 6-0 senior also received All-America honors and was selected to the All-Lone Star Conference First Team for the second-straight season. The Amissville, VA native notched 341 kills in league play, hitting .331 with seven solo blocks and 29 total blocks. Frye was named five-time LSC Offensive Player of the Week and became the first player in ENMU history to record over 1,700 kills in her career, breaking the program record in her final game.

Page 14 and volleyball photos by Claude Vigil

Although Wayne State hit a buzzer-beating three-point bucket to force a second overtime, the Greyhounds persevered and never trailed in the second extra sessions. Although WSU attempted another buzzer-beating trey, the Greyhound defense stood tall for the 89-86 win.

That dramatic victory came just one day after CoRnell Neal’s trey with four seconds left lifted the Hounds to a stirring 76-73 win over Southern Nazarene. With the wins, Eastern will have a winning record headed into Lone Star Conference play for the third time in the last four seasons.

Photo by Marty Saiz

Neal’s Heroics Earn Lone Star Conference Women’s Basketball Team Off to One of Offensive Player of the Week Honors Its Best Starts in Years Senior basketball guard CoRnell Neal was named the Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Week in November. It marks the first time since Jan. 2016 that a men’s basketball player has earned a weekly award and the first time since Dec. 2014 that a Greyhound garnered the Offensive Player of the Week award.

“CoRnell’s performances prove that he is getting tougher and trusting in our program’s beliefs,” Head Basketball Coach Tres Segler said. “I couldn’t be more proud of how much he has grown already. I really look forward to seeing him continue to develop.”

Neal led the Greyhounds in the team’s 2-0 weekend at the PAKA-SAK Thanksgiving Classic. Against Southern Nazarene, Neal made the game-winning shot, a three-pointer with four seconds remaining to give ENMU the 76-73 victory. The bucket capped a 16-point, six assist and four steal effort. The 6-0 guard scored a season-high 29 points in the double-overtime win over Wayne State with six rebounds, four assists and two steals. Neal hit a pair of free throws with 26 seconds left to send the game to overtime.

With a 6-2 record, the Greyhounds have won their first four Lone Star Conference games since the 1998-99 season, with a road win over rival West Texas A&M for the first time since the 1980-81 season. ENMU is ranked seventh in the South Central region after their rallies from deficits of 12 and nine to post victories over WT and Tarleton State. The win over the TexAnns snapped a 19-game losing streak. Defense has been key, as the team has limited the opposition to just 61.6 points per game and a .268 three-point percentage. Mikaehla Connor and Daeshi McCants have already earned LSC Defensive Player of the Week honors.

When conference play finished in Dec., ENMU was one of just two teams still undefeated in LSC play, with Angelo State being the other. Each of the Greyhounds’ previous opponents were undefeated in league play when they faced the Hounds. The fast start has Head Coach Josh Prock in third place on the ENMU women’s basketball list in career wins and conference wins. The Greyhounds will participate in the Holiday Hoops Classic and host Sul Ross State before returning to conference play against Western New Mexico University.

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Photo by Wendel Sloan

Class NotesPeople You Know

Reuniting to celebrate last year’s Homecoming festivities, a group of ΣAE fraternity alumni members enjoyed the sun and fun before the football game at the new Greyhound Stadium.

Lavelma Parks (BA 59) retired after 35 years of working as an elementary school teacher, reading specialist and Title I coordinator.

Since retirement, Lavelma has been an active member of Retired Educators. She married Charles Parks and has a son, Robert.

After earning a MCM from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Duane Blakley (BME 59) served as Minister of Music in a number of Baptist churches across Texas from 1960 through 2002. He also taught at East Texas Baptist University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Since 2002, he has served as part time Minister of Music at Barcelona Road Baptist Church in Hot Springs Village, AR and is a widely published composer of choral and instrumental music, as well as a hymn writer with works in the catalogs of major publishing companies in the U.S. Jerry Zimmerman (BA 60) and his wife Donna have published two books. “A Curse at Squaw Creek Farm” tells of Jerry’s experiences growing up on the family farm, details his surgery at the Shriner’s Hospital and his time at Eastern. The sequel is titled “So Far from Squaw Creek Farm” and follows Jerry as he battles rehabilitation and discrimination after losing the mobility of a locked leg.

Marlene Vince Fleming (MED 68, BS 66) and Donald Fleming (AA 68) recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Sept. 3, 2016. Marlene is a retired school counselor and Don is a retired Environmental Engineer.

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Green & Silver | February 2017

On Monday, Nov. 14, 2016 the on-campus Vietnam Veteran Memorial was re-dedicated. A new stone monument (above) created

by Albert Sena, Tommy Knight and Mike Williams was unveiled.

The College of Health and Human Services at Fresno State recognized Jim Santos (MS 67) as a 2016 Community Hero. Jim, who has led a five decade-long, decorated career in the area of college and professional athletics, was also recently inducted into the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame. He has coached collegiate athletes to NCAA titles and spent 18 years creating programs for children and adults with special needs through the Special Olympics.

C. Barry Crutchfield (BS 68) has been included in American publisher Marquis Who’s Who. Considered among the top 10 trial lawyers for his outstanding work in criminal and personal injury law, Crutchfield is managing partner of Templeman and Crutchfield in Lovington, NM since 1977. With a background of work in the federal and military sectors, at the start of his career he was a deputy counsel for the Governor of Texas, and then achieved military judge for the U.S. Marine Corps. He was named among the Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the New Mexico State Bar, as well as Who’s Who in American Law. Long-time resident of Roosevelt County until 2007, Mary Blakley (Attended), celebrated her 100th birthday last May in Arkansas.

She fondly remembers her studies at ENMU, and she was very active in Farm Bureau, National Extension Homemakers Council, and National Federation of Women’s Clubs, serving on boards and in elective offices. She also worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and received honors for outstanding leadership from these organizations and the governor of New Mexico.

SUBMIT Rossanna Hays (MA 69, BME 62) recently played the lead role of “Laurie” in Oklahoma at the Voyager RV Resort in Tucson, AZ. Still using the musical skills she fine-tuned at Eastern, the highcaliber play is the result of many talented performers between the ages of 60 to 92. Fun fact, the veil Rossanna wears in the play (pictured to the right) was last worn on her wedding day in 1962.

After coaching football for 35 years, Patrick Brady (MS 83, BS 82) retired in December. His coaching has included ENMU, WTSU (two years as Lone Star Conference Champs), Amarillo, Texarkana and Waxahachie. He led the Liberty-Eylau high school football team in Texarkana to a state championship, and was the athletic director during five state championships for the school’s baseball team, girls’ basketball and girls track team. For the last five-and-a-half years he was the athletic director at Red Oak High School in Texas.

Michael Meeks (BSE 88) has been named the executive director of Athletics by the Lubbock ISD trustees. He has served as assistant athletic director since 2013 and previously coached track and served as the varsity football assistant at Coronado High School and Robert E. Lee High School in Midland, TX. Michael served in similar positions in Ft. Stockton, El Paso and Socorro, TX. Michael Fair (MS 97, BS 95) has been selected as the new athletic director for Shawnee Public Schools in Oklahoma. Previously, Michael was the assistant coach for the Bonham High School football team and head golf coach. He has also been head coach of the baseball team at three other Texas schools and on several football coaching staffs.

A STORY IDEA,

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Stefanie L. Juliano (BS 04) and her wife, Lisa, celebrated the birth of their rainbow baby (a baby born after a miscarriage or infant loss) on Aug. 30, 2016.

Their daughter’s name is Alyssa Marie.

The Texas Association of Broadcast Educators named Paul Hunton (BA 05) the Texas Broadcaster of the Year. The current director of Texas Tech University Public Media, Paul earned his degree in broadcast production from Eastern and worked at the KENW television station.

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Class NotesIn Memory 40s

William K. Gore (Attended) passed away Sept.

23, 2016. With a dream of becoming a sports writer, at Eastern he majored in journalism and worked as an editor and sports reporter for the local Portales paper. He left to join the Army Air Corps in WWII, then married the love of his life, Chela, in Albuquerque. He often told about covering local sports events and writing the stories as long as possible because he was paid per word. They were usually cut to a sentence or two. He was involved in Friends of the Belen Library, the Masons, church and other community organizations, and also wrote historical articles for local newspapers.

50s

LaNora E. “Tillie” Miller (BA 50) passed away on Oct. 12, 2016.

While at Eastern, LaNora met the star of the basketball team and her future husband, Harry, which culminated in a 61-year marriage that produced three sons. Tillie was a generous and caring person to all who knew her. She never missed a game of her boys or of her husband, who served as a college basketball head coach for 37 years.

Johnnie B. Vinson (BS 56) passed away Sept. 8, 2016. After earning her degree in mathematics, she began her career as a Systems Analyst/Engineer for IBM and held various positions over the years in San Antonio, Lubbock and Irving, TX before her retirement in 1993. She will be remembered as a very generous person, always willing to share of her time, love and advice.

Professor Gail B. Poch (BME 58) passed away on Aug. 31, 2016.

Born in Atlantic, IA. Gail retired after a long and distinguished career at Temple University in Philadelphia where he taught choral literature, music theory and conducting for 33 years. He also directed several university choirs and was music director for 20 years of the Reading Choral Society. Earlier in his career he had taught at what is now La Salle University and at high schools in New Jersey. Gail is survived by his wife of 53 years.

Jimmie Ray Priest (BME 59) passed away Oct. 3, 2016. Music was his passion, and after college he was a band director for 33 years, teaching throughout West Texas and New Mexico. Some of his favorite performances were with the Amarillo Symphony Orchestra, the annual New Mexico Governor’s Ball, and the Lubbock West Winds. Jimmie was married to his wife, Betty, for 58 years, was an avid woodworker, enjoyed painting houses, loved to read and was never without his crossword puzzle.

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Green & Silver | February 2017

60s

Jack Larry Greenfield (MED 64, BA 62) passed away on Sept. 28, 2016. Jack married his wife, Natessia, in 1952 in Portales. They lived in various places in New Mexico and Texas through the years, finally moving to Powderly, TX. He retired from USAA in 2003 and was also a 32nd degree Mason.

Fred L. Brumbelow (MED 64) passed away on Sept. 27, 2016. Fred served in the Army and fought in WWII where he was a P.O.W. and earned a purple heart. He went into the Army Reserves where he retired as a warrant officer. His marriage to his wife, Hazel, lasted 71 years. Fred loved to play golf and canasta, enjoyed watching Lawrence Welk and loved to make people laugh.

Sharon Kaye Harrel (BS 67) passed away on Oct. 3, 2016. She married her high school sweetheart, Wayne, in 1963 and the couple raised their two children in Carlsbad where they lived until they retired from teaching in 1998. In 2002, Wayne and Sharon moved Katy, TX, where they enjoyed their grandchildren’s activities and actively participated in their local neighborhood groups. Sharon’s family and friends will always remember her compassion, generosity, and kindness.

John Whiteside (MA 69, BS 67) passed on Oct. 17, 2016. John played football on a full scholarship, served as Student Body President and was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha. After graduation he became a member of the ENMU staff, ultimately serving as Director of Student Financial Aid. As an adult he loved playing weekly poker with friends or a weekly round of golf, and finally, in his later years, walks in the park with his buddies.

Billy Duane Moore (MED 69, BA 58) passed on Oct. 18, 2016. Billy met his wife, Jeannie, in Portales while they were both attending Eastern. Jeannie was living on her own, a young widow with two small boys and Billy sometimes stayed with the kids so she could attend evening classes. After a few weeks he bought her a fully automatic dishwasher that they could roll across the kitchen floor and connect the water in and out through hoses to the kitchen sink. Billy went on to have a law career as a public defender in Dallas County, as a realtor and home builder.

Jean Gilles Dean (MED 70, BA 61) passed away on Oct. 3, 2016. Her life-long leadership skills were demonstrated by her serving as president of the Baptist Student Union and as a summer missionary in Hawaii and San Francisco.

She also studied in Europe, at Texas Tech, Florida State and Master Teacher in Manhattan, KS. After learning to quilt, Jean moved from teaching math and history in her school classroom to teaching the math and history of quilting to children, teens and adults all over West Texas.

70s

Merle Lee Moreland (MA 70, BS 69) passed away on Sept. 10, 2016. After serving in the Army, Merle worked in Kansas and Oklahoma for the Kansas-Nebraska Gas Co. He graduated from Eastern with a master’s in theology and history and went on to teach many courses through his tenure at Kilgore Junior College. When not working, he enjoyed traveling and spending time with his family, reading and going out to dinner with close friends, and enjoying nature. He always had a smile on his face and a joke to tell.

George Albert Harriman (BBA 70) passed on Sept. 26, 2016.

Growing up in Ashfield, MA, George spent his youth as a mischievous boy, getting into antics such as ‘roping’ his sister off a moving bicycle. While serving in the Air Force he was stationed in Clovis with the Air Police Squadron K9 unit. George spent most of his career working in commercial bottling, manufacturing and production with Shasta, Coca Cola, and others where he worked his way from production-line manager to plant manager. A loving father and grandfather, he enjoyed the beach or swimming at the pool and grilling up some good barbeque.

Vaughn “Dean” Robinson II (BBA 73) passed away on Oct. 26, 2016. While earning his accounting degree, Dean sold bibles to pay for his college tuition. After graduation he worked at various accounting firms until he opened his private firm and eventually became CFO at Big Lake Services, Inc. Dean lived a life of service to others. He was active at passing on his love for roping and horsemanship to the next generation and was an active member of AA, with over 30 years of continuous sobriety.

Karla Lovorn (BUS 74) passed away Nov. 5, 2016. Teaching was her passion and career, and she devoted much of her life to teaching middle school English in Gallup and Thoreau. She retired in 2008. One of her former students paid her the ultimate compliment when he said that she “remembers what it is like to be 13.” Karla had a huge heart for animals, especially dogs. She adopted many in her lifetime, and also rescued and helped find homes for countless others.

Virendra Joshi (MA 75) passed away on Nov. 10, 2016. Virendra spent the majority of his career working in Social Services. He retired in 2010 following a prolonged illness. He also enjoyed restoring old cars.

Howard “Pete” Stanley (MA 76) passed away on Oct. 7, 2016. Pete was a decorated airman who had a 20 year career in the Air Force with the Strategic Air Command. He was directly involved in the operational acceptance of the Boeing B52 Bomber and deployed on its first mission in the South East Asia theater, to prepare for the maintenance of the B52 once it became deployed to operations during the Vietnam conflict. He retired from the Air Force and built a successful hotel and restaurant business with his wife in Puerto Rico.

80s

Esther Cruz Aguilar (MED 84) passed away on Oct. 24, 2016.

Esther taught at Parkview Elementary in Clovis, as well as at La Merced in Belen, NM. She retired after 20 years of teaching and was a member of the NM Retired Educators Association. Esther enjoyed reading and camping, as well as spending time with family. After retirement she and her husband Tony went on a trip of a lifetime to Europe and spent three months celebrating life.

Cara Lea Blakley Smith (BA 89) passed away on July 26. She attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary where she met her husband, Tim. She developed an outstanding reputation as a drama teacher, director and actor, and her long-time dream of playing “Aunt Eller” in the musical Oklahoma was fulfilled in her final role in June. Having battled six bouts of cancer since she was 12 years old, Cara wrote of her experiences in her book “I Choose to Laugh.”

90s +

Misti D. Wall (MA 96, BS 92) passed on Oct. 25, 2016. She was an educator, teaching English and Communication at the high school and college levels. Her advanced degree in Organizational Learning and Instructional Technology afforded her an opportunity to work in corporate business, which led her to Arizona. Misti was an avid tea enthusiast who loved traveling with friends and family to various tea rooms, and she found much happiness in attending all types of concerts.

John Scott Brandon (BS 97) passed away on Oct. 18, 2016. At Eastern he was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity. After graduation he moved to Chandler, AZ to attend the Arizona Golf Academy. He earned his PGA class A pro golf card and carried multiple jobs in the industry until moving back to Clovis where he worked as an engineer and in management for the railroad.

Ronald Lee Green II (BUS 09) passed away on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016. He was a standout defensive football player in high school, and carried that talent to the gridiron at Mississippi Valley State University before transferring to Eastern and achieving all-American status.

Jane Milnes Rosin (Staff) passed away Dec. 6, 2016. “Nurse Jane” was ENMU’s director of University Health Services for 29 years before retiring in 1986. She traveled extensively with her husband, Bill (MS 54, BS 53) in retirement, was a 60-year member of Beta Sigma Phi professional sorority, a member of the Portales Rock Club, the Retired Teachers Association, and ENMU’s Council of Professors Emeriti (COPE). She will be remembered for her dry wit, love of flowers and artistic creativity.

Green & Silver | February 2017

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Once upon a time... ...the Silver Pack editor used this camera (below) to take many of the yearbook photos.

1939

...it wasn’t uncommon for students to study shorthand to increase the speed and brevity of their writing.

1947

1975

1953

...the library was full of students using the Sony Listening Center for their music and political science classes.

The rather expensive record player had room for eight headsets to plug in.

1954

... KENW-TV used their first color cameras when the new on-air studios were built in the old Broadcast Center (now the Art Annex). The three RCA TK-42 cameras were purchased from WKY-TV in Oklahoma City. They were so heavy, the pedestals they were mounted on had to have an electric motor inside to raise and lower them.

1961 ...sorting, trimming and pasting were constant chores for the Silver Pack staff (above), who designed the yearbook’s pages from hundreds of photographs.

...there was a University farm (above) that was home to one of the finest Jersey herds in the area—and everyone eating at the cafeteria enjoyed their fresh milk.