officer and supervisor of field experiences for the College of Education, where he continues to serve. He served on the UF Board of Trustees from 1976 until 2002, when he was named a trustee emeritus. He also served on the Alumni Board of Governors from 1988-2002 and was named a Distinguished Alumnus in 1992. He and his wife created the James D. and Judith L. Philipp Award of Excellence for the College of Education Endowment, which recognizes excellence in the areas of teaching, supervision and support of students by faculty members. They have two children: a son, Tony, and a daughter, Tamara Kircher, and seven grandchildren. Ronald and Susan Souply are enthusiastic supporters of the University. Ronald taught social studies, English and science for the Carey Village Exempted School District until 1986. During summers, he worked for Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. where he was employed as a vacation replacement in the factory and later as a supervisor for summer workers.
In 1986, he accepted a full-time job as a corporate trainer with Cooper Tire and worked there until retiring in 2000. Ronald also was a wrestling referee for high school and college competitions for 25 years and was named to the Ohio Wrestling Officials Association Hall of Fame in 1997. He was president of the Alumni Association Board of Governors from 1987-89 and for many years videotaped UF football and basketball games. A graduate of Bowling Green State University, Susan taught for 33 years in the Findlay City Schools, where she was a small group instructor working with children with learning disabilities. She volunteered with Coach Richard Strahm’s foster-parent program for football players in the late 1970s, and the couple fostered several team members. They have three daughters: Kelly, Kristin and Kassandra, and three grandchildren. Sherrye (Johnson) Trafton graduated from Findlay with a degree in equestrian studies. She and her husband, John,
who is a professional farrier, own and operate a boarding and training facility, Sable Oak Equestrian Center, which has produced numerous state, All American Quarter Horse Congress and World Show champion horses. Trafton is a lifetime member of the American Quarter Horse Association and the National Snaffle Bit Association. She is an AQHA professional horseman and a member of several professional equine associations. Trafton has earned championships in the AQHA, American Paint Horse Association, Appaloosa Horse Club and Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders Association. She also is a respected show judge and has served as ring steward for the AQHA Congress and the American Quarter Horse Youth Association Championships. Recently, she was awarded a four-star AQHA judges’ rating.