Cameron Magazine - Spring 2023 edition

SPRING 2023

IS CAMERON'S HISTORY

HIDING UNDER YOUR NOSE?

Message from the President

Dear Alumni and Friends:

Welcome to the Spring 2023 edition of Cameron Magazine.

While the past three years have been challenging, Cameron University employees and students continue to strive to meet our Core Values – student learning; excellence in teaching, scholarship, service and mentoring; community leadership; shared governance; diversity; and responsible stewardship of resources. As Cameron supporters, you help us realize these values in real-time as we endeavor to be a driving force in the cultural and economic development of the region.

In this issue we take a look back to the origins of CU’s mission to provide experiential learning opportunities for our students. One of the first efforts to provide practical experience for Cameron students was the establishment of a school farm and commercial creamery. Soon local farmers were collaborating with Cameron to process their cream into butter, not only for the local market but also for markets as far away as New York City. Join with me as we explore the history of the creamery and its sole remaining asset – a century old safe that has been recovered and is now on display. The safe is not the only historical item to be located and displayed on campus. Numerous other items, including letterman sweaters, athletic programs, decals, scrapbooks, postcards, and trophies continue to be discovered today.

We also get to know Marcus Natta, a member of Cameron’s first cohort of Caribbean students who now serves as cabinet secretary to the Federal Cabinet of the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis. Mr. Natta credits Cameron for providing him the education and experiences that have led to his success in civil service. We also celebrate the achievements of this year’s Alumni Association award winners, as well as new members to CU’s Athletics Hall of Fame.

Whether it be via a traditional classroom setting, hybrid learning models, or exclusively online offerings, Cameron University continues to deliver exceptional student learning opportunities with highly qualified faculty and staff at an outstanding value. We look forward to reinforcing our connections with our students and with you during the Spring 2023 semester. In the interim, please stay safe, stay healthy, and keep learning.

Sincerely,

John McArthur President

President

John McArthur

Director of Alumni Relations

Jonna Turner

Senior Director of Public Affairs

Keith Mitchell

Managing Editor

Janet E. Williams

Graphic Designers

John Kindred

Alex Zakharchenko

Editorial Assistant

Rhonda Young

Photographers

John Kindred

Alex Knapp

Alex Zakharchenko

Contributors

Chris Maple

Cameron Magazine is published by Cameron University’s offices of Public Affairs and Alumni Relations. For more information, call (580) 5812211 or (580) 581-2988, or email publicaffairs@cameron.edu.

All contents © 2023 Cameron University.

This publication, printed by Paragon Press, is issued by Cameron University. 2,500 copies have been prepared and distributed at a cost of $1.99 each to the taxpayers of the State of Oklahoma. This institution, in compliance with all applicable Federal and State laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, sex, age, religion, disability, political beliefs, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This includes but is not limited to admissions, employment, housing, financial aid, and educational services. Accommodations on the basis of disability are available by contacting the Office of Student Development at (580) 581-2209 or by e-mail at student_development@cameron.edu. (04/2023)

Campus Update

CU ranks as top school in Oklahoma in Best for Vets: Colleges designation

According to the 2022 Military Times “Best for Vets: Colleges” rankings, Cameron is the top-ranking university in Oklahoma. In addition to ranking first in Oklahoma, CU ranks 13th in the Southwest region, 99th among public institutions, 103rd among four year schools and 120th overall in the nation.

Cameron’s ranking in “Best for Vets: Colleges” aligns with the many services and opportunities offered to veterans, service members and their families. One of the most important benefits is CU certification as a Yellow Ribbon school by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for waiving the remaining tuition not covered by the Post-9/11 GI bill for eligible students. Academic support is provided in the form of tutoring, academic and career advising, counseling, and assistance in applying for financial aid and veterans benefits.

Cameron recognized as MilitarySupportiveColleges.com Select School

CU is one of only two regional, public universities selected for inclusion on MilitarySupportiveColleges. com’s Select Schools – Central Editor’s Pick list. According to the site, all schools selected go the extra mile toward making vets and active duty military students feel at home and offer the extra support those students need to transition to higher education from military service.

MilitarySupportiveColleges.com recognized CU’s commitment to student service members, Guardsmen, reservists, veterans, and their family members, citing a dedicated faculty and staff (many of whom are military service members, veterans, and spouses).

Aggie business students win national competition

A team of Cameron University students was named the undergraduate level winner of the 2022 National Government Finance Case Challenge, sponsored by the Association of Government Accountants. Tiffany Bass, Natalie Martin and Taylor Rowley, who were students in CU’s Government Accounting class taught by Bernadette Lonzanida, senior instructor, in Fall 2022, each received a $1,000 scholarship award. The competition was open to graduate and undergraduate students nationwide.

For the challenge, student teams analyzed data for a state, city or county government specified by AGA and then developed a Citizen-Centric Report (CCR), which is part of the requirement for AGA’s Certificate of Excellence in Accountability. The CCR initiative helps simplify communication between government and its citizens, who have a right to accurate information about the way their government spends their taxpayer dollars. The CU team created its CCR for the City of Lawton; the document is now a part of the city’s financial report.

Lawton Public School's employees to benefit from Cameron University partnership with Lawton Public School Foundation

In Fall 2022, CU partnered with the Lawton Public School Foundation to provide scholarships for LPS employees who want to pursue higher education. All LPS employees were eligible to apply, including support staff who want to complete a bachelor’s degree to become a teacher; emergency and alternatively certified teachers who need to earn credits to complete standard certification; and teachers with standard certification who would like to earn a master’s degree to become a reading specialist or school principal.

Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education update

CU alumnus and Cameron University Foundation supporter Dustin J. Hilliary was appointed as an Oklahoma State Regent by Governor Kevin Stitt in 2022. He will serve a nine-year term ending in May 2031. Hilliary serves as Co-CEO of Hilliary Communications, which provides telephone and broadband service to more than 15,000 customers in Oklahoma, Texas and Iowa and has 135 full-time employees.

Cameron Campus recognized by Tree Campus USA®

CU has again earned designation as a Tree Campus USA®. The national program, launched in 2008 by the Arbor Day Foundation and Toyota, honors colleges and universities and their leaders for promoting healthy trees and engaging students and staff in the spirit of conservation.

In earning the distinction, Cameron met five core standards established by the Arbor Day Foundation. The standards are: maintaining a campus tree advisory committee, maintaining a goal-oriented campus tree care plan, demonstrating evidence of dedicated annual expenditures for its campus tree program, holding an Arbor Day observance, and promoting and sponsoring student service-learning projects related to the campus tree program.

The members of the Lawton Northeast On-Line Branch Lions Club have been donating trees to CU since 2009. In 2022, they added two more Eastern Redbuds to the grounds surrounding Aggie Gym. Pictured are (left to right) CU personnel John Osborne, Bob Hanefield and Albert Johnson Jr. were joined by NE Online Lions Club Members Joe Wotring, Doug Rice, Paul McCarthy, Elaine Kier and Vivien Silverstrim.

Faculty and staff news

Dr. John G. Morris, Professor of English, was named one of three recipients of the South Central Modern Language Association’s (SCMLA) Honorary Lifetime Membership Award at the organization’s annual meeting in October. The award recognizes outstanding contributions to the organization over many years. Morris served as SCMLA president in 2009-2010 as well as the American literature representative to the group’s executive committee from 2017-2020. He has chaired panels in American literature and creative writing, presented papers and conducted poetry readings of his work. Since 2018, he has been responsible for coordinating the annual Poet’s Corner session at the conference.

“This is Herland: Gendered Activism in Oklahoma from the 1870s to the 2010s,” coedited by CU’s Dr. Sarah Eppler Janda was one of two selections chosen to represent Oklahoma at the National Book Festival in September. The Oklahoma Center for the Book selected Janda’s book as well as “Run Little Chaski! An Inka Trail Adventure” by Mariana Llanos as part of the National Center for the Book’s “Great Reads from Great Places” program.

Alumna Jennifer Glover-Rowland, MS, LPC, is now the director of the Student Wellness Center, which provides services that enhance the physical and mental health of CU students. Glover-Rowland has been in private practice as a Licensed Professional Counselor since 2001. She served as the Commissioner of the Department of Behavioral Health for the State of Arkansas and was the director of Substance Abuse Treatment Services for the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Glover-Rowland earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology with a concentration in Family Science and a Master of Science degree in Psychology with a concentration in Behavioral Science from Cameron. She has completed a professional residency program at the Betty Ford Clinic as well as Harvard University’s Public Hospital Administration Training.

Dr. Abbas Johari was honored with the 2022 Editors Reviewer Excellence Award by the editors of the Educational Technology Research and Development (ETR&D) journal. The award recognizes exemplary academic services in support of the publication. ETR&D is the premier journal of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology. Johari has been frequently honored by the organization. He was honored with this same award in 2019. In 2017, he received ETR&D’s Outstanding Cultural & Regional Perspectives Reviewer Award. He has been a member of the AECT Board of Directors since 2018, led the organization’s Professional Ethics Committee from 2015 to 2022, and has twice been honored with the organization’s Presidential Award. In 2011, he was recognized for his service to AECT and in 2013, was honored for sustained contributions to the area of university service. He served as the international division’s president, president-elect and past president.

Melissa Mayfield has joined the CU staff as Director of Human Resources. She was most recently employed with the City of Lawton in the Human Resources and Legal Services Departments. Mayfield holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communications from Southwestern Oklahoma State University and an Associate in Science degree in Psychology from Oklahoma City Community College. She served as a legal assistant and human resources specialist for the City of Lawton until joining the Cameron staff in late August.

Longtime Cameron University staff member Sarah Stroud is now the director of the university’s Open Doors and Upward Bound programs following the retirement of Beth Gregory. Stroud was most recently assistant director of the Upward Bound program. A Cameron alumna, Stroud joined the CU staff in 2001 as an academic advisor for the Open Doors/Talent Search program. She has served as the advisor for the Cameron University Nepalese Association, a student organization. Stroud earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology in 1999 and a Master of Science degree in Behavioral Sciences in 2003.

John Young, who joined the CU staff in July 2019 following his retirement from the U.S. Army, has been named environmental health and safety officer. During his tenure in the military, Young’s duties included acting as a battalion safety officer. In his new role, Young will support campus adherence to occupational safety and health rules, regulations, policies, and procedures including compliance with industrial hygiene and health regulations at the local, state and federal level. His duties include development, implementation and evaluation of safety policies and programs encompassing environmental and occupational health, safety, hazardous materials management, and emergency preparedness plans, exercises and drills, as well as routine audits/inspection of buildings, thoroughfares, worksites, fire extinguishers, AED’s and other safety devices.

Bekah Fountain, news director for KCCU-FM, has been recognized for her volunteer work with the Carolyn Stone Award by the Comanche County Veterans Council (CCVC). A member of American’s Veteran Supporters, for which she serves as communications coordinator, Fountain volunteers for numerous veteran-related organizations and initiatives, including Quilts of Valor, Wreaths Across America and Fort Sill National Cemetery’s Memorial Day program. In addition to attending funerals of unclaimed veterans, Fountain has given her time to help with the VA Center’s Cooties with Bingo activity as well as at fundraising events organized by the Veterans of Foreign Wars and CCVC’s Veterans Day program.

CU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AWARDS

Four Cameron alumni and one faculty member have been recognized by the Cameron University Alumni Association. Charlotte Gagliardi Oates and Capt. Gary “Mike” Rose (Ret.) were named Distinguished Alumni, while Travis Burch and Jamie Smith were selected as Outstanding Young Alumni. Additionally, the CUAA inducted Dr. Krystal Brue into the Faculty Hall of Fame.

Distinguished Alumni: Charlotte Gagliardi Oates

Currently director of the Life Ready Center at Lawton Public Schools, Charlotte Oates served as principal at each of LPS’ three high schools following 30 years of classroom experience in music education. Throughout her illustrious career, she received a multitude of accolades. These include recognition as a Director of Distinction by the Oklahoma Choral Directors Association, Exemplary Teacher by the Oklahoma Music Educators Association, Lawton High Teacher of the Year, Administrator of the Year by the Professional Oklahoma Educators, National Football League Teacher of the Year, and Visionary Leader of the Year by the Lawton Enhancement Trust Authority. She was also twice nominated as a Disney Teacher of the Year.

Oates, who earned a Master of Science degree in educational leadership from CU in 2008, remains connected to CU in a variety of ways. While pursuing her master’s degree, she served as the student speaker during the 2017 Convocation. She received the CU Inspiring Minds Excellence in Education Award in 2011 and has served as an adjunct instructor in the music program. Additionally, she continues to perform in community choirs and assists CU staff in coordinating concurrent students at LPS. She served as a mentor for student teachers from CU for more than 10 years.

Oates currently serves on the boards of the Laura Fields Trust and Lawton Community Theatre.

In accepting the Distinguished Alumni Award, Oates relayed how she was the first in her family to go to college. “Cameron welcomed me, instructed me, and encouraged me,” she said.

Class of 2008

“I can never say enough about the quality of instruction that I received at Cameron.”

Distinguished Alumni: Capt. Gary “Mike” Rose (Ret.)

with such heroism that he was awarded the Medal of Honor, our nation's highest military award. Although sustaining personal injuries, he continued to rescue and attend to fallen comrades as he fought off the enemy until they were rescued.

After his service in Vietnam, he completed officer's school. His assignments took him to Panama and Europe.

He attended Cameron while still on active duty in the military. After completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in general education from CU, he earned a Master of Arts degree in communication from the University of Oklahoma.

Rose retired from the U. S. Army in 1987 at the rank of captain. He then worked as an instructional designer who wrote operator, user and maintenance manuals. He also designed training for the manufacturing industry. Now retired, Rose remains involved in charity work, including the Knights of Columbus. He also delivers food through a school backpack program and actively supports the Boy Scouts of America. Rose serves as a board member for numerous organizations that support youth education, veterans, and leadership and character development.

Class of 1977

Gary “Mike” Rose enlisted in the U. S. Army on April 4, 1967. After completing his training and being assigned to the 46th Special Forces Company, he was assigned to Thailand in 1969 where he trained Thai soldiers and border police medics. In 1970, he requested transfer to South Vietnam and was assigned to Military Assistance Command Studies and Observation Group. He was wounded on his first mission in June 1970, receiving his first Purple Heart and Bronze Star.

On Sept. 11, 1970, he was part of a company of soldiers that executed Operation Tailwind, a diversionary operation, acting

He has been inducted into numerous halls of honor, including the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame, the Army OCS Hall of Fame, the Field Artillery OCS Hall of Fame, the Pentagon Hall of Heroes, and the United States Special Operations Command’s Commando Hall of Honor. Additional honors include the Alabama Veteran of the Year, BSA Heart of the Eagle Award, The Gadsden Medal from Sons of the Revolution, the Hooper Award from the Vietnam Veterans of America, and the Vietnam Veterans Association Achievement Medal.

Due to a previous commitment, Rose was unable to attend the ceremony, but sent his gratitude and appreciation for the recognition.

The Distinguished Alumni Award and the Outstanding Young Alumni Award are presented to former Cameron students who have made significant contributions to society and whose accomplishments have brought credit to Cameron by distinguishing themselves in their careers, in service to their communities or through continued support of Cameron University. The Distinguished Alumni Award is presented to Cameron alumni who are 40 years of age or older. The Outstanding Young Alumni Award is presented to Cameron alumni who are 39 years of age or younger.

Induction into the CUAA Faculty Hall of Fame honors current or retired faculty members for teaching effectiveness, having a positive impact on student lives, involvement at Cameron outside of the classroom, or involvement in the community.

Outstanding Young Alumni: Travis Burch

Outstanding Young Alumni: Jamie Smith

Classes of 2012 and 2015 Class of 2017

After graduating magna cum laude with an Associate in Applied Science degree in engineering with a concentration in electrical engineering in 2017, Travis Burch earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering in 2019 from the University of Oklahoma. He is currently a distribution engineer at OG&E.

“I’m honored to receive this award, and I want to express my gratitutde to the faculty and staff, who made Cameron a great experience and helped me get to where I am today,” Burch said when receiving the honor.

As a CU student, Burch completed internships at Goodyear, Cotton Electric Coop, and other locations. A PLUS scholar who earned placement on the Dean’s or President’s Honor Roll each semester, he was inducted into Phi Eta Sigma, the international honor society for first-year students.

He has been involved in the CU Engineering and Applied Mathematics Summer Academy since 2016, most recently serving as an engineering industry liaison and curriculum instructor. He has also returned to campus to speak to students enrolled in CU’s engineering courses. Additionally, he served as a counselor for Cameron’s Camp of Champs.

Burch volunteers for the United Way Day of Sharing and delivers meals for Norman’s Meals on Wheels program regularly.

Prior to her current position as human resources manager at Henniges Automotive, Jamie Smith served as CU’s human resources director for three years. Prior to that, she was a human resources specialist for the City of Lawton.

Smith earned a Bachelor of Science degree in sociology in 2012 and a Master of Science degree in behavioral sciences with a concentration in psychology in 2015. During her tenure as a Cameron student, she was a member of the cheerleading squad, earned placement on the Dean’s Honor Roll and was inducted into Phi Kappa Phi.

“Being here feels like home,” Smith said during the CUAA Awards ceremony. “I would never have imagined that when I stepped onto this campus in 2008 as a freshman that I would experience so many things that continue to shape my life today.”

She is the past president of Southwest Oklahoma Human Resources (SWOKHR), an affiliate of the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM) and has also served as an OKHR State Council board member. Smith was recognized as an Emerging Professional in Human Resources by SWOKHR in 2019.

Smith holds certification as a SHRM – Senior Certified Professional.

Faculty Hall of Fame: Dr. Krystal Brue

also been a guest reviewer for the Journal of Behavioral and Applied Management, International Journal of Reliability and Safety, Journal of Management Education, Inquiry in Education and the Southwest Business and Economics Journal. She has also sponsored and been involved with several student research projects since 2015.

Recognition includes the Oklahoma Human Resource State Council 2020 Volunteer of the Year Award and the Association of Leadership Educators Distinguished Research Award in 2017 and 2018. Additionally, she was recognized as the Honorary Faculty Inductee to Delta Sigma Pi Fraternity. Brue is a member of the Delta Mu Honor Society and the Golden Key Honor Society.

She has provided training at numerous organizations in southwest Oklahoma, including Great Plains Technology Center, Cache Public Schools and the City of Lawton.

Dr. Krystal Brue, chair of the Department of Business and assistant dean of accreditation, internships and outreach, joined the Cameron University faculty in in 2013 after serving as an adjunct instructor for many years. Her service to the university is extensive. She is presently chair of the Distance Learning Committee and is a member of the Graduate Council. Brue has served as the ACBSP Teaching Award Abstract Evaluator and the ACBSP Best Presentation Region 6 Evaluator and has been a member of the Faculty Senate. She has chaired the Long-Range Planning Committee and has been a member of the Institutional Assessment Committee and the Recruitment/ Enrollment Committee.

Brue has published several local and national/regional articles and publications pertaining to various business topics. She has

During the induction ceremony, Brue, a first generation college student, referred to Cameron as “a special place to me. I am here because of an institution that is very similar to Cameron.” Recalling her college experience, she explained, “I really didn’t know anything – college was challenging because it was a whole new world.” A professor who mentored her asked if she had ever considered graduate school, saying, “I like the way you think.”

“That was a pivotal moment for me,” Brue says. When she and her husband moved to Lawton, that professor put her in touch with Tony Allison, long-time CU faculty member. Brue recalls that he was “fantastic, gentle and encouraging – and one of the many reasons I’m here at Cameron.”

She continued by saying, “When I look at Cameron students’ faces, I think about myself, how I wanted to learn. I didn’t know how, and I needed encouragement. Professors gave that to me with tough love, in the spirit of trying to make me a better person. That’s why I ended up here – I’m trying to replicate that job for others. I have to make a difference because so many people made a difference in my life.”

John Hollarn was the defensive heartbeat for the number one defense in the NAIA for the Aggie football team from 1983-87, serving as defensive captain for three years. A member of the 1987 national championship team, he teamed with Hall of Famers Thomas O’Kelley and Charlie Washington, who both attested during their respective inductions that Hollarn was the guy who kept the talented defensive unit going on the field from his middle linebacker position. The Cyril native was the defensive signal caller and kept everyone focused, according to his former teammates.

A member of the Aggie men’s golf team from 2001-2005, Ryan King was honored as the National Freshman of the Year in 2002, bringing home Cameron’s first-ever NCAA DII award. King was a two-time AllAmerican golfer in 2002 and 2004.

“I thought the world of him,” former coach Jerry Hrnciar stated. “He was the second consecutive Freshman of the Year for me, which is unusual; you never see a team have two straight people win that award. Ryan was a very coachable athlete. Other teams highly respected him.”

Four former Cameron Aggies – John Hollarn, Ryan King, Daniel Pazos and Freddy Wisdom – are the newest additions to the Cameron University Athletics Hall of Fame. The latest inductees are partly responsible for multiple national, regional and conference championships, All-American selections and annual awards.

Daniel Pazos was a star for the Aggies on the tennis court from 2008-09. He was a two-time All-American, a two-time Lone Star Conference champion, and an LSC individual champion for singles and doubles in the fall of 2008, the last time the conference had a fall tournament. In addition, he was a 2008 NCAA regional champion. Pazos was a part of the number-one ranked doubles team in the nation and on the highest-ranked Cameron team at number six.

Freddy Wisdom walked the links for the Aggie men’s golf team from 1982-84. He was a member of the 1983 national championship team and a two-time All-American. Wisdom placed fifth individually, leading CU at the national tournament in 1983, shooting a (+1) 285. He participated in the PGA Tour’s 1988 Shearson Lehman Hutton Andy Williams Open, making the cut after shooting an opening round of 69. “Freddie was the catalyst to our national championship effort,” said Hrnciar. “He would have won the individual title if there was not a penalty in the final round; that was not his fault. He was the best shotmaker I had ever coached; his playmaking was unbelievable. I remember him on the practice tee at the national championship; he was hitting the ball so good that players from other teams would stop and watch him.”

- Chris Maple

It began with a text message and ended with a century-old piece of Cameron history avoiding the scrap heap.

Those who work with me know that I am something of a treasure hunter when it comes to the things that define Cameron University’s history, all the way back to its days as an agricultural high school. My office at the university is littered with trophies, pennants, books and swag we’ve handed out over the years.

That’s what made this Friday evening text message in February 2020 so intriguing. Fellow CU employee John Young was aware that two old security safes were in an industrial dumpster and thought I might be interested. He was right.

It was dusk when I got back to campus. One safe had no identifying marks, but the other one immediately caught my attention. In the neardarkness, I could read the words “Cameron Creamery” painted above the door of the safe. On the door itself was an extremely faded painting of an idyllic lakeside scene, complete with mountains and fir trees.

Many Aggies know that Cameron owned a dairy herd

during its junior college era. In fact, two of the old dairy barns built by the Works Progress Administration in 1940 still stand and are used by CU’s physical facilities operation. But most folks don’t know that Cameron operated a creamery decades before that, not long after its founding as an agricultural high school.

As soon as the campus was established on its present site, Cameron State School of Agriculture’s first president, J.A. Liner, sought to create a demonstration farm to provide students with practical experience. Liner hired Homer Melton to run the school farm, while Jerry Sparlin was put in charge of a small dairy herd made up of Jerseys and Holsteins. It was a shrewd acquisition, as it enabled Cameron to sell dairy products to supplement the school’s meager budget.

1st President J.A. Liner 1909-1912

Cameron’s creamery was located in the basement of the first building on campus, later known as Aggie Hall.

When Liner discovered that nearby Lawton lacked a source for milk and cream, he obtained permission from the governing board to establish a commercial creamery. But where to put it, as there was only one building on campus at that time – the huge three-story administration building. Built a year earlier, in 1910, it served as everything – classrooms, administrative offices and library. And it had a basement.

Liner purchased an industrial-sized DeLaval cream separator and 8-foot, gasoline powered churn to be installed in the northwest corner of the basement. When the equipment arrived, it was discovered that the churn was far too large for the doorway. A portion of the brick wall was removed so that it could be moved into what became CSSA’s “dairy laboratory.” There, under the supervision of Sparlin, male students learned the mechanics of creamery operation, including how to test cream and make butter.

Barnes Safe and Lock of Pittsburgh, Penn., the safe was probably pre-owned. Although the painting on the door is consistent with other models produced by the company, the wording identifying the creamery was not professionally lettered. Created with seven flanges of steel that made it the premier fireproof safe of the day, it weighed close to 500 pounds and was impossible to be moved by a single individual.

By now, former CSSA agriculture teacher Robert P. Short had become the latest in a rapidly changing list of school presidents. He oversaw the move of the creamery from Aggie Hall into a new frame building located roughly where today’s Administration Building stands. Short hired O. C. Whipple, a graduate of Oklahoma A&M (where he had experience in that college’s creamery) to take charge of Cameron’s operation.

Within weeks, area farmers decided that it was easier to sell their cream to Cameron than go through the labor-intensive process of making and selling butter themselves only to compete against CSSA’s product in the local marketplace.

As it turned out, Cameron students had a knack for making quality butter that was in demand in markets as far away as the East Coast. Soon, the school was literally “churning” out thousands of pounds of butter each week, some of which made its way to New York City and the dinner tables of the upper crust. It was in such high demand that an article in the May 20, 1911, Daily Oklahoman noted that “Gotham society matrons are compelled to get up early in the morning to lay in their supply before their next-door neighbors can hitch up and get theirs.”

Cameron simply could not keep up with demand, which led Liner to ask the state board of education for funds to enlarge the operation. It was profitable for both the school and its students, who could earn 10 cents an hour making butter after normal school hours.

This success is most likely why the safe was acquired by the creamery. Manufactured sometime between 1871 and 1911 by

Although highly successful in its early days, the lack of a consistently dependable market began to create financial issues for the creamery, and while it proved useful in helping student workers earn money for room and board, it failed as a career training tool with only one former student choosing it as his profession.

Although Whipple, by all accounts, was an able instructor who was popular with students, the creamery’s financial situation was most dire by 1915. There were vaguely worded references to problems with the creamery’s bookkeeping in newspaper reports of the day. That task had fallen to Blanche Graham, school registrar and secretary to Short’s successor, A.C. Farley. Farley’s relationship with CSSA faculty could be described as contentious at best, and the creamery’s troubles didn’t help matters.

President R.P. Short 1914-1915

O. C. Whipple

President A.C. Farley 1915-1920

An early-day group of students make butter in Cameron’s dairy lab. The DeLaval cream separator is seen at right.

Farley’s ultimate solution was to fire Whipple over “differences regarding the accounts of the creamery.” The decision was not well received by Cameron’s students or faculty, with roughly half of them temporarily walking out in protest – one of the first, if not THE first time, such an event had happened in school history.

Whipple’s dismissal effectively ended Cameron’s creamery venture after only five years of operation. What happened to the old Barnes safe in the ensuing half-century will likely forever remain a mystery … other than the fact it didn’t leave campus.

During Cameron’s high school days, no comprehensive inventory system existed, so it’s impossible to trace its whereabouts. When a system was finally established, the creamery safe was assigned a relatively low tracking number, 145, indicating it was one of the original items inventoried.

At some point, the safe was declared surplus and moved to a university warehouse where it joined the other security safe I spotted in the dumpster. In early 2020, more than a century after it was first acquired by Cameron – and long after the deaths of anyone with any firsthand knowledge of its use or importance – the decision was made to discard it. And that’s where I come in.

When I spotted the creamery safe in the dumpster that February weekend, I knew it needed to be salvaged. With John’s help (along with a forklift and a rented trailer), we loaded the safe and relocated it to my residence. My wife thought it would make an interesting conversation piece … until I realized that the 500-pound safe’s narrow steel wheels most likely would damage the tile floors in my home if I tried to move it inside. So there it sat in my garage for more than a year.

Compounding my frustration was the fact the safe was locked. Did it contain lost creamery funds? Historical records? Or was it empty? I consulted a number of websites that featured instructions showing how to open the safe, but to no avail. Every so often I would go out to my garage and make a half-hearted attempt at safecracking. I even tracked down the name of a company in Tulsa that might have a solution, but transporting the heavy safe across most of Oklahoma relegated this project to my “someday” list.

In the end, I felt that the Barnes creamery safe really needed to be back at Cameron, but on display instead of stored in a warehouse. I obtained permission to ask Physical Facilities personnel to move the safe and in June 2021 it returned to campus where it was put on display in the Office of Public Affairs.

Then the most curious thing happened.

On the day it arrived, CU purchasing agent Laura Kane was passing by my office, took one look at the safe and asked, “What’s THAT doing here?” I proudly filled her in on my involvement with the safe, only to discover that she not only knew about the safe, but knew where it had been located prior to it being removed from the university’s inventory.

Unknown to me, the Barnes safe had sat across the hallway from Public Affairs in the Business and Finance office for many years. It was used on occasion to temporarily secure proceeds from concessions at high school football games that took place in Cameron Stadium. When CU ceased handling the concessions in the late 1990s, the safe was declared surplus and moved to the warehouse.

I commented that the safe was locked and that no one seemed to have a combination, to which she replied, “It’s in my desk.” Within just a few minutes, she had opened the safe, which, of course, was empty.

In an odd twist of fate, the safe had returned to campus just a few dozen feet from where it had been located for many decades, and most likely not far from the creamery operation that existed on this site from 1913-1915. With the exception of the few months spent in my garage, it had never left campus for the 100-plus years it had been owned by Cameron.

Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction. In this case, history, fate and some sheer luck combined for an interesting tale. And most importantly, this old university artifact was literally “safe at home.”

- Keith Mitchell (Note: The author relied heavily on the historical research of CSSA alumnus and faculty member Hugh Corwin in creating this article.)

CU staff John Young and Jamaine Simpson move the creamery safe to its permanent home in the Office of Public Affairs.

A tarnished trophy. A matchbook. An old sweater. Half of a football helmet.

As the old saying goes, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. It definitely applies in Cameron University’s case.

Any of those items could easily be found in a pile of discards from a spring cleaning of the garage. They are also exactly the kind of items Cameron wants.

The university is continually on the hunt for its history. It might be found in your closet, your storage unit, or your parents’ attic.

With Cameron turning 115 years old in 2023, one would think that the university has tons of historical artifacts stored away in a warehouse somewhere on campus. Sadly, that’s not true. Although CU established an archives room in the library decades ago, the university didn’t get truly serious about collecting items until it was nearing its 100th birthday in 2008.

This attitude toward Cameron’s past largely parallels that of Lawton, and to a lesser extent, Oklahoma. As colorful as it may be, because it is one of our nation’s youngest states, Oklahoma’s history doesn’t equal that of any state east of the Mississippi River. Lawton itself has frequently looked more to its future

than to preserving its past. Comanche County has had no less than three courthouses, with the first two razed to make way for their successors. A significant portion of the historic downtown was eliminated to make way for the former Central Mall.

Depression-era memorabilia fills a gap in Cameron’s recorded history.

Cameron’s reputation is that of reinvention, from high school to junior college, and then to full-fledged university, later with graduate degrees. School administrators were often guilty of tossing out tradition each time Cameron transitioned into a new era. Moreover, they encouraged Aggie students to take an active role in creating new traditions. This “newer is better” mentality meant that much of Cameron’s past was deemed disposable. The thought seemed to be, “What’s the point of keeping items from the high school days now that we’re a junior college … or junior college items now that we’re a university?”

Most tragically, the first building erected on campus in 1910 – Aggie Hall as it came to be known – was razed during the Korean War after it was decided that electrical and other issues made it unworthy of saving. As a result, what should be Cameron University’s stately and iconic structure on campus, much like Old Central at Oklahoma State University, is only a memory.

These days, Cameron is actively searching for the items that define its history, and with relative success. Staff members in the Office of Public Affairs regularly scour the internet for items that find their way into the public domain … such as an old scrapbook that belonged to alumna Virginia Lawrence that included old Commencement, music and theatrical programs from 1926-1934. Student directories from 1935 and 1936 were acquired in similar fashion, as was an old picture postcard from 1940 that featured Nance-Boyer Hall, then barely 10 years old. These are extremely important because Cameron State Agricultural College suspended publication of “The Wichita” yearbook as a cost-saving move during the Great Depression, creating a gap in reference materials that lasted until World War II ended. Photos from that era are also scarce.

men to put them on, and get out and fight.” Rather than risk ruining their new silk uniforms, they played – and won the game 20-0 – in their longhandles.

Cameron’s football history – especially its numerous trips over the years to Pasadena, California, to play for a national title – have been preserved through several acquisitions. These include a ticket stub from the 1947 Junior Rose Bowl, a program from the 1961 Junior Rose Bowl, and an advance ticket form for the 1964 Junior Rose Bowl. Thanks to that last item, we know that the best seats in the stadium to watch the Aggies play for a national title that year were only $4. If you were a child or a soldier, it was only 50 cents!

Many of these items tell colorful stories about Cameron, such as a 1939 press photo featuring nine football players. The Aggies had invested in new black silk uniforms that season. They traveled to Eastern Oklahoma State College only to discover that heavy rains had reduced the playing field to a mud pit – six inches deep in some spots. According to the photo’s caption, the coach rushed into Wilburton and bought “old-fashioned full-length drawers for the team, told the

Another unique discovery was a sheet of CSAC window decals from 1960 that featured a cowboy astride a bucking bronc. That was the year that Aggie students submitted suggestions to name the cowboy and his steed … and that gave birth to our mascot, Ole Kim. Kim and his horse, “Pancho,” would be featured in silhouette a few years later on the shoulder patch of Cameron’s ROTC uniforms.

Over the years, CU resorted to some imaginative promotional gimmicks. The university obtained the business card of its fourth president, Robert Short, a PR man ahead of his time. The back of Short’s business card contained a sales pitch for students. Tuition was free; room and board was $12/month. Boys and girls residence halls came “furnished, with heat, light and bath.” A card was slipped inside each copy of the 1914 “Wichita” distributed that year. In the 1960s and early 1970s, Cameron State Agricultural College wasn’t above advertising its financial assistance for returning Vietnam veterans inside matchbook covers.

Programs and other items from Cameron’s football glory days.

These items were rescued from the trash.

President Short’s business card (left) promoted CSSA, and a matchbook cover provided benefits information to Army vets.

The Public Affairs office frequently checks with the Eugene D. McMahon Library archives to see if CU already owns an item spotted on the web. In one case, that wasn’t necessary. The 2009 award presented to NBA basketball star and Olympic gold medalist Jim “Bad News” Barnes when he was inducted into the CU Athletics Hall of Fame was spotted in an online sale. The plaque had been given up by the family after Barnes’ death and was quickly repatriated by CU.

Cameron staff have not been shy about going wherever necessary to rescue items. A 1933 first place trophy won by Cameron’s junior college journalism class was rescued off a windowsill in West Hall shortly before its demolition. Dumpster-diving has yielded a program from an ROTC event in the late 1960s, the CU half-helmet mounted on a plaque, and a 500-pound safe (whose story is told earlier in this issue). They’ve even descended into a water-filled trench to retrieve bricks from Aggie Hall when the basement of the iconic building was excavated during waterline repairs in 2021.

But far and away, the most important relics have been those that have come from Cameron alumni and supporters. A number of old copies of “The Wichita” have been donated. One yearbook came to the university from Goodwill and a copy of that year’s Commencement speech was discovered inside. An estate sale turned up a graduating class photo and copy of the junior class will.

Kevin and Maureen Curran and Jim Noye were gracious enough to donate a 1926 “Wichita,” along with an old letterman’s sweater from the 1920s … not in black and gold, but in the old school colors of orange and black.

A.C. Farley’s signature, correspondence from 1929 signed by President John Coffey and the 1930 dedication program for Nance-Boyer Hall. Those items highlight a collection of photos, news articles and memorabilia that have been in her family for decades and date back to Cameron’s earliest days as a high school.

Glenda Turner, the daughter-in-law of Homer and Edna (Corwin) Turner –who were among the earliest graduates of Cameron State Agricultural College – has given a number of items back to Cameron, including Edna’s 1919 Cameron diploma that bears President

Like Glenda and the Currans, you, too, can be of assistance to Cameron University. The odds are, tucked away in a drawer, or a closet, or a cardboard box up in the attic, there are items of historical interest to the university. A matchbook cover or an old dog-eared event program from Cameron may not seem very important, but they are to the university. They don’t necessarily have to be old or even in perfect condition. No matter what shape they may be in, they help tell Cameron University’s story. Photos, especially those that show life on the Cameron campus throughout its history, are especially welcomed.

If you think you have something of historical value and would like to donate it to the university, please call the CU Office of Public Affairs at (580) 581-2211 or email publicaffairs@cameron.edu. Staff will evaluate it and work with library staff to see how it fits into the university’s archival collection.

Just as Samuel L. Jackson asks, “What’s in your wallet?” in his credit card commercial, Ole Kim is asking, “What’s in your attic?”

Your answer could be priceless.

- Keith Mitchell

Edna Corwin Turner

A letterman’s sweater from the 1920s was donated to the archives.

Edna Turner’s heirs donated her Cameron diploma from 1919, which measures a massive 16x25 inches

“Being a father means a lot of things, but most importantly, it means to be a good role model for your son.” No one knows who first uttered those words, but they certainly ring true for Cameron alumnus Marcus Natta.

Although the St. Kitts native was only 12 years old when his father, William Marcus Natta, passed away after a courageous battle with kidney cancer, he has dedicated his life to living up to his father’s legacy.

“It was the most painful period of my life but from that pain grew an insatiable desire to keep his memory alive and to help others at the same time. He was very passionate about education, volunteerism and civic mindedness,” Marcus says.

The elder Natta – a trade unionist, soldier and executive member of the St. Kitts-Nevis Trades and Labour Union –instilled all three of those attributes in his son.

“I knew from a very young age that I wanted to go to university and obtain my degree but I just did not know how I would do it,” he says. His college dream became a reality in the late 1990s when Dr. Randy Glean, a professor at Midwestern State University, visited St. Kitts and Nevis, where he promoted tuition and fee waiver programs for Caribbean students at various American universities. In 1999, Marcus applied to Cameron and was part of the first cohort of Caribbean students under that initiative.

“When I landed at Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airport with several other Caribbean students in August 1999, it was 112oF! Now, it is often sunny and warm in the Caribbean but it is never 112oF or even close to that. Feeling that intense heat on my face made me ask, ‘What am I doing here?’” he recalls with a laugh.

Once he arrived on the Cameron campus, he hit the ground running. To say he was active on campus is a bit of an understatement. Marcus was one of the founders of Students of the Caribbean Alliance (SOCA), serving as president and secretary of that student organization. He was also a member

“Cameron gave me a solid foundation on which to build my pursuits of even higher education.”

of Sigma Pi Sigma, the National Physics Honor Society; Society of Physics Students at Cameron University; and the Biology Club. Additionally, he was an Aggie Ambassador and was a member of the Student Government Association. He also served on the Student Activities committee and the Student Activity Fee Allocation committee.

Looking back at that hectic period, he reflects on the impact his collegiate experience has had on his life.

“Attending classes, performing lab experiments, and so forth are important but the real education and experiences occur outside the classrooms and laboratories,” he says. “The benefits I gained from my involvement in student organizations are too numerous to mention. However, significant for me were the amazing people I met and the lasting connections and networks we created, many of which are still in existence today. The ability to learn from, work with, have fun with and volunteer with people from all walks of life is simply invaluable, and I will forever cherish those experiences.”

His involvement in SOCA is among his most memorable moments on campus.

“The creation of the first-ever Caribbean-style carnival, SOCArnival and also the stage show COLOURS, both planned and executed by SOCA, are dear to my heart. SOCArnival was simply remarkable where we were able to share our music, street dancing, costumes and foods with the Lawton Community. COLOURS showcased our Caribbean history and culture as well; it was my first time to model, dance and sing in the various segments of the show. In both events, the comradery and talents of my fellow Caribbean students just blew me away. Those were some great times!”

He also speaks highly of the education he received at Cameron.

“Cameron gave me a solid foundation on which to build my pursuits of even higher education,” he says. “My professors were thoughtful, brilliant and accessible. The relatively small size of the classes was helpful because you were able to be more than just a number but rather professors knew you by name and could give you that extra attention needed at times.”

Numerous faculty members made a lasting impression on him. He says that Dr. Brad Davis gave him the opportunity to work in the Math Lab and tutor students and also taught him how to truly teach mathematics. He refers to Dr. Ira Hawk as

“the first professor to make learning physics a fun experience and for being a wonderful person, listener and advisor.” Dr. Mohammad Tabatabai also made a strong impression. Marcus called him “the best math teacher I have ever had. His classes were never boring and always instructive.”

After earning dual Bachelor of Science degrees in physics and mathematics in 2002, Marcus then earned a Ph.D. in chemical and materials engineering from the University of NebraskaLincoln.

Returning to his homeland, he spent more than a decade in the civil service, working at the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College, the Ministry of Sustainable Development, and St. Kitts and Nevis Bureau of Standards. He has led legislation reviews, prepared policy papers for Cabinet approval, and implemented reforms to comply with international standards and treaties.

He has also represented St. Kitts and Nevis in regional and international treaty organizations, including two consecutive terms as vice president for Latin America and the Caribbean to the Bureau of the Stockholm Convention from 2015-2019.

In August 2022, Marcus was appointed as Cabinet Secretary to the Federal Cabinet of the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis. His initial reaction upon receiving word of the appointment: “A lot of shock but even more gratitude. Cabinet Secretary is a high-level role which comes with significant responsibilities. To be appointed to such a position gives me great pride, and I will strive to serve the people of St. Kitts and Nevis to the best of my ability.”

Natta recites the Oath of Secrecy as he is sworn in as Cabinet Secretary to the Federal Government of St. Kitts and Nevis.

He has established specific goals for his role in the federal government.

“My intention is to ensure that the machinery of the Cabinet – and by extension the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis –functions efficiently and effectively. It is critically important that from my office, the government executes the mandates and policies that it has pledged and will pledge to the people of St. Kitts and Nevis. Ultimately, I hope that some young student somewhere will look at my work and aspire to this position one day.”

Marcus has another role that is equally important to him. He is chairman of the William Marcus Natta Memorial Scholarship Fund, a non-profit organization the he founded in 2010 to ensure that his father’s legacy continues. He told a newspaper reporter in 2021 that he does almost everything with his father in mind, saying, “I want to feel like he’s in heaven looking down on me and nudging angels next to him saying, “That’s my son down there doing these good things.”

“Since 2011, we have awarded 25 scholarships to deserving primary (elementary) school students. Our scholarships target students who are in financial need and therefore these scholarships certainly assist in that regard. However, we also endeavour to develop these young people holistically. We maintain communication with them throughout their lives and we also hold social gatherings, informative sessions and other activities that bring past scholars together.”

The Fund also donates school supplies to its scholarship schools – to date, more than 15,000 educational items have been donated.

“The ultimate objective is to continue the expansion of the William Marcus Natta Memorial Scholarship Fund to include all primary schools in St. Kitts and Nevis and make it a National Scholarship of the highest esteem,” Marcus says. “I believe we will get there one day.”

With the guiding spirit of his father providing motivation and inspiration, there’s no doubt about that.

- Janet E. Williams

Terrance Drew, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, congratulates Marcus Natta on his appointment in the federal government.

Marcus Natta celebrates the scholarships awarded by the William Marcus Natta Scholarship Fund in 2022.

CU mourns the passing of Dr. Terral McKellips, who served the university in numerous roles during a career that spanned five decades.

McKellips first came to Cameron State Agricultural College in 1968, when campus officials asked him to be a part of the new baccalaureate program. During his career, he served as a mathematics professor, chair of the mathematics department and dean of the School of Mathematics and Applied Science. In 1989, he was named vice president for academic affairs by then-President Don Davis, who said, "Dr. McKellips' scholarship, management experience and astute leadership will continue to enrich Cameron.”

He was subsequently promoted to provost, the university’s highest faculty position.

Newly appointed CU President Cindy Ross tapped him to return to campus as Interim Vice President for Administrative Affairs in August 2002, following a short-lived retirement in 2001.

He retired a second time in June 2003.

McKellips played an integral role in Cameron's development, recruiting faculty and working with the North Central Association to maintain accreditation. Additionally, he provided insight and guidance to numerous other organizations, including the State Regents' Council on Instruction. His work in state and national organizations, such as the Mathematical Association of America and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, increased CU's visibility and reputation.

In 1998, McKellips was inducted in to the Cameron University Alumni Association Faculty Hall of Fame. Two years later, he was named a Distinguished Faculty Member by the Chi Eta Sigma chapter of Phi Kappa Phi. Ross appointed him to the university’s Centennial Commission in 2006.

McKellips completed undergraduate studies at Southwestern Oklahoma State University and earned his master's degree and doctorate at Oklahoma State University. He completed additional graduate studies in mathematics at Tulane University and the University of California at Santa Barbara.

His influence was felt at campuses throughout the nation, as he consulted in mathematics curriculum at Mankato State University, Southwest Texas, Wyoming, Vanderbilt, Michigan State and several Oklahoma campuses. Active in professional groups, McKellips was chairman of leadership seminars for department chairs for Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. He also advised the U.S. Army Field Artillery School at Fort Sill.

In 2002, he was named to the State Board of Education by Governor Frank Keating.

McKellips was also active in community affairs, serving on the board of directors for the Bank of Elgin as well as the Lawton Country Club, where he served as president for many years. He was also on the advisory board of the magazine Golf MidAmerica.

CAMERON UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THE EDUCATIONAL GOALS OF CU STUDENTS

Since its founding in 1972, the Cameron University Foundation (CUF) has made a significant impact on the lives of countless CU students. That impact is made possible thanks to the support and commitment of donors who recognize the importance of the foundation’s mission: To promote educational, scientific and cultural interests at Cameron University for the benefit of Cameron students and the citizens of southwest Oklahoma.

For the past 51 years, donors to the foundation have enabled the non-profit entity to meet its objectives. The foundation was established to promote and foster educational and cultural interests at Cameron, to create a fund to be used for any program, project or enterprise undertaken in the interest of the university and to foster and promote educational and cultural interest in the state of Oklahoma.

Through these endeavors, the foundation provides scholarships that ease the financial burden of earning a college degree and endows chairs of learning that allow faculty members to provide exceptional learning opportunities that might not be otherwise possible.

CAMERON UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION

ESTABLISHES ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP COMMEMORATING LATE STUDENT MAKAYLA TAYLOR

Makayla Taylor wanted to have a positive impact on the lives of others by becoming a child psychologist. At CU, she earned a reputation as a hard-working student with unbridled enthusiasm for her chosen profession. Although she passed away unexpectedly five months before graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology, her dream of helping others lives on with the establishment of the Makayla Taylor Endowed Scholarship in Psychology.

The endowment was established by the CUF through a donation provided by the Stanley Bruce Davis Foundation, thanks to that entity’s president, Tracie Tuck-Davis.

The endowed scholarship will benefit full-time CU students in perpetuity and, once awarded to an eligible student, can be retained for up to eight semesters.

(l to r) Friends and family of the late Makayla Taylor gathered for the establishment of an endowment in her memory. Joining CU President John McArthur were Tracie Tuck-Davis; family members KaBellah Roberts, Miranda Roberts and Patricia Cantwell; Tiffany Smith, CU Director of Development; and Rhonda Clemmer, chair, Cameron University Foundation.

DELTA DENTAL OF OKLAHOMA ENDOWS SCHOLARSHIP FOR PRE-DENTISTRY STUDENTS

The foundation has added another resource to support CU students, thanks to the generosity of Delta Dental of Oklahoma. The company and its foundation provided funding for the Delta Dental of Oklahoma Pre-Dentistry Endowed Scholarship, which will benefit full-time students who are pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in either biology or chemistry and who have declared their intent to pursue a post-baccalaureate degree in dentistry.

“This gift from Delta Dental of Oklahoma eases the financial burden of students who plan to pursue a career in dentistry,” says Tiffany Smith, Director of Development. “Numerous Cameron graduates who have earned degrees in either biology or chemistry operate dental practices throughout Oklahoma, and this endowment will boost those numbers.”

“One of the many ways Delta Dental of Oklahoma fulfills its mission to advance the oral wellness of all Oklahomans is supporting the education of future dental professionals,” says Terrisa Singleton, Director of the Delta Dental of Oklahoma Foundation. “Oklahoma needs dentists and dental hygienists practicing in our state in order for patients to access necessary dental care and services. In addition to awarding scholarships to students pursuing dental and dental hygiene degrees at our state’s only dental college, we also support undergraduate students planning to enter the profession of dentistry – and are excited to partner with Cameron University to establish another Delta Dental of Oklahoma Pre-Dentistry Scholarship to encourage careers in dentistry.”

FOUNDATION RECEIVES PROCEEDS FROM SALE OF WICHITA NATIONAL LIFE STOCK

The Cameron University Foundation received $650,568 through the sale of stock that it received as a gift more than 40 years ago from community leaders Floyd Freeman and Ewell Lacy. As partners in a group of Lawton businessmen who chartered Wichita National Life (WNL) in 1957, Freeman and Lacy played a significant role in establishing a locally owned and operated insurance company that has served the citizens of southwest Oklahoma ever since.

Freeman was president of Freeman Inc. and FRASCON Inc., the largest construction company in the region. Lacy, the owner of Lacy’s Furniture, would also serve as chairman of Home Savings and Loan. Both were members of the Lawton Rotary Club. Twenty years after chartering WNL, Freeman and Lacy, who shared a love for Cameron University and the impact that CU graduates had within the Lawton/Fort Sill community, took steps to ease the financial load carried by degreeseeking students.

“They often talked about Cameron University, and they started conversations about donating their stock rather than selling it so they could make a difference in students’ lives for years and years to come,” says Randy Gilliland, WNL president and CEO. Gilliland, who worked and served closely with Lacy and Freeman on the Wichita National Life Board of Trustees for many years, is also a member of the Cameron University Foundation Board of Directors.

To support the Cameron University Foundation, please contact the Office of University Advancement at 580-581-2999.

The donations of WNL stock to the Cameron University Foundation resulted in the establishment of the Floyd J. Freeman Endowed Scholarship in 1978 and the Ewell B. Lacy Endowed Scholarship in 1980. Both endowments provide scholarships to assist full-time students who are pursuing degrees at Cameron University.

Community members wishing to follow in the footsteps of donors such as Floyd Freeman and Ewell Lacy by establishing an endowment that will benefit Cameron students in perpetuity are invited to contact the Office of University Advancement at 580-581-2999.

Mickey and Donna Cooper

ALMA MATTERS

Alumni who received more than one degree are listed by year of most recent degree. Those who attended but did not graduate are listed under the year they would have graduated; or in some cases, the last year they attended. If you have changed your address, have a new job or have other news to share, contact the CU Office of Alumni Relations, 2800 W. Gore Blvd., Lawton OK 73505, 580-581-2988; alumni@cameron.edu; or on the web at www.cameron.edu/alumni.

1950s

Joe Skrdle (AA ’54) and his wife Lacreta, Mansfield, Texas, celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary in October. She was a longtime member of the CU faculty.

Jimmy Zinn (BA ’79), has been posthumously inducted into the Duncan Area Arts Hall of Fame. An award-winning music teacher, he was previously inducted into the Oklahoma Music Educators Association Hall of Fame.

1980s

1970s 1980s

Michael Babb (BS, ’84), Arlington, Texas, has been inducted into the Pratt Community College Athletic Hall of Fame, where he played basketball before transferring to Cameron.

1990s

Vickie Hall (BBA ’90), Snyder, is now teaching second grade at Snyder Public Schools. She previously taught at Cache Public Schools.

Jay Johnson (BBA ’90), Duncan, was honored with the W. Cleveland Rodgers Distinguished Service Award by the Oklahoma Hospital Association in recognition of outstanding service to the health care industry. He is the president and chief executive officer of Duncan Regional Hospital.

Chandice Haste-Jackson (MS ’99), Syracuse, N.Y., has been appointed associate dean of student services at Falk College. She was previously an associate teaching professor in the institution’s Department of Human Development and Family Science.

2000s

Greg Treadwell (BACC ’90), Snyder, retired in December from Cameron University, where he was assistant professor of business.

Janet Crossan (BS ’92, BA ’87, AAS ’86), Cache, was named 2022 Teacher of the Year at Cache Intermediate School. She is a fourth grade teacher.

Zoe Barnard (BS ’94), Snyder, teaches sixth grade at Snyder Public Schools. She previously taught at MacArthur Middle School.

Teri Runnels (BS ’94), Cache, was named 2022 Teacher of the Year at Cache Elementary School. She teaches first grade.

Charlotte Nal (BS ’00), Naples, Fla., is the co-founder of Wings of Mine, a non-profit agency in her native country, Belize, and the founder of Ixchel Caribe Foundation, Inc.

Paula Griffith (AS ’01), Walters, was named the 2022 March of Dimes Nurse of the Year for Innovative Practices. She is the nurse director of numerous units at Comanche County Memorial Hospital.

Tanner Biggs (BS ’03), Lawton, was named 2022 Teacher of the Year for Integration of Academics and Career and Technical Education by the Association of Career and Technical Education’s New and Related Services division. He is the construction trades instructor at Great Plains Technology Center.

Travis Hunter Jr. (BACC ’96), Chicago, Ill., has been named managing partner of KPMG US’s Chicago office. He has been with the firm since 1999 and was previously a partner in the Dallas office.

Col. Stephen Renshaw (Ret.) (MBA ’01), Richmond Hill, Georgia, is now the military outreach coordinator at Savannah Technical College. He was previously a JROTC senior Army instructor at Richmond Hill High School.

Maurice Wilson II (BA ’01), Cedar Hill, Texas, has joined the North Texas Food Bank as chief operating officer. A veteran of the U.S. Army, he was previously a site director at Wayfair.

Kelsi Bond Musick (BS ’03), Bixby, is now the head women’s basketball coach at Oral Roberts University. She was previously head women’s basketball coach at Southwestern Oklahoma State University.

Steven Smith (MA ’03, BA ’01), Lawton, was a finalist for 2023 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year. He is a teacher at Lawton Public Schools’ Life Readiness Center, where he teaches art.

John Veal Jr. (BS ’03), Lawton, was honored with the Superior Service Award from Omega Psi Phi fraternity.

Electa

participated in the Pawnee Seed Project, a project utilizing pre-colonial seeds in the Pawnee’s native region in what is now Nebraska. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in community development at the University of Arkansas.

Hare Redcorn (BS ’05), Pawhuska,

Danny Ford (BA, BS, AAS ’86), Duncan, retired from the Duncan Police Department, where he was the Chief of Police.

Charlotte Brown (BA ’07), Lawton, is now the director of community services/planning department for the City of Lawton. She was previously a code plans supervisor and senior planner.

Jordi Mullor (BBA ’08), Lexington, Mass., has joined Rebalance, a wealth management firm as vice president of growth. He was previously with Hightower Advisors.

2010s

Sandy Montgomery (MA ’10, BBA ’94), Lawton, and her husband Pat celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in August.

Jason Poudrier (MEd ’10, BA ’08, AS ’08), Lawton, serves as the community co-chair for the 2023 Oklahoma Arts Conference, which takes place in October 2023 in Lawton. He is the arts and humanities administrator for the City of Lawton.

Lisha Elroy (MS ’12, BS ’07), is now the principal at Duncan High School, where she has served as assistant principal for the past four years.

Cody Flood (BA ’12), Lawton, has joined the staff of Great Plains Technology Center as a student recruiter. She was previously the concurrent enrollment coordinator at Cameron.

Chris Huff (MEd ’12, BA ’08), Cache, was named Regional Cross Country Coach of the Year. In addition to coaching cross country at Cache High School, he teaches history.

Dusti Hoover (BS ’14), Comanche, has been promoted to CRA and compliance officer at First Bank & Trust Co. During her 13-year tenure at the bank, she has been a teller, human resources associate and fraud and risk prevention specialist.

Rhiannon Poolaw (BA ’15), Oklahoma City, is the assignment editor at KFOR. She was previously a producer at KSWO in Lawton.

IN MEMORIAM

Helen Shelton Abram, Lawton

Stephen “Keith” Adams (’76), Olustee

Tarri Lynn Aldridge (’72), Lawton

Nancy Rose Wright Allen (’73), Comanche

Richard “Dee” Attocknie, Carnegie

Annelle D. Hamilton Barton, Altus

William “Bill” Tennyson Berry (’76), Lawton

Aurita June Bird (’89), Rio Rancho, N.M.

SFC Donald Leroy Blazer (Ret.) (’06), Lawton

Coyle “Joe” Bohn (’84), Lawton

Twila June Hillbert Bomar, Lawton

Kim Delayne Borcherding, Madill

Kimberly Bourque (’88), Carlisle, Pa.

George Blain “Billy” Bowman (’78), Bristol, Va.

Betty Buchanan (’50), Oklahoma City

Yolanda Gale (Malone) Burt (’88), South Euclid, Ohio

Raymond L. Butler, Duncan

Lena Chockpoyah Calfy (’01, ‘99), Walters

Carol Ann Adams Clutter, Lawton

James Colbert (’72), Houston, Texas

John Walker Cox (’70), Oklahoma City

Thelma JoAnn Dillard, Duncan

Cynthia Ann Dismuke, Duncan

James “Jim” D. Dixon III (’73), Sulphur

David Wayne Eckiwaudah (’89), Cyril

Toni C. Epley (’71), Midwest City

Doyle Etheridge, Lawton

MSG Pedro A. Feliciano (Ret.) (’78), Lawton

Kermit LaRay “Poppy” Fitzpatrick, Oklahoma City

Wilfred Flores Sr. (’11), Lawton

Patricia Fuentez (’65), Lawton

Eugenia Gina Gibson, Cache

Jordan K. Godlewski (’13, ’14), Lawton

Trevor Smith (BS ’15), Lawton, teaches at Washington Public Schools. He previously taught at Big Pasture Public Schools.

Michael Forrest (BS ’16), Lawton, was named Omega Man of the Year by Omega Psi Phi fraternity.

Brandon Schmidt (BS ’18), Lawton, is a recent graduate of the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine.

Jeein Yoon (BS ’18), Oklahoma City, graduated from the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine in May. She is a resident physician in Oklahoma City.

2020s

Natalie Halbleib (BS ’20), El Paso, Texas, has been named assistant athletic director for development at the University of Texas, El Paso. She was previously director of women’s basketball operations.

Niels Sorensen (BS ’20), Pampa, Texas, is the golf pro at Pampa Country Club. He was previously assistant golf manager at Lawton Country Club.

Joe Bob Harrell, Indiahoma

Bobby Hart (’58), Walters

Teddy “Trey” Joe Hardy Jr. (’80), Sikeston, Mo.

Rhonda Lee Haumpo (’74), Yukon

CW3 Larry Glenn Hull (Ret.) (’99), Velma

Corinna Jarvis (’10), Lawton

Melissa Joy Jones (’86), Lawton

Willie Mae (Willis) Jones (’72), Oklahoma City

Albert H. Kauanui Jr. (’79), Lawton

Rodney L. Kay (’87), Ripley

Janice Bessemer Kinder (’90), Chattanooga

John Richard Kissick (’62), Kerrville, Texas

Janice Laughlin, Copper Canyon, Texas

Donald Wayne Lindsey (’94), Marlow

Diana Lynn Littlefield (’94), Stillwater

CSM William Eugene Logan (Ret.) (’89), Lawton

Deedra D’Ann Martell (’22), Frederick

Lanetta Ann Crow Martin (’68), Geronimo

Mary Sue Massey, Lawton

Patricia (Fisher) McCauley, Anadarko

Seth McCool (’18), Mountain View

Gary Meador (’88), Cleburne, Texas

Jerry Miller (’63), Elgin

Marion Miller, Fletcher

Lori Lynne Jennings Myers (’11), Lawton

Jack Waunah Parrish, Chickasha

Martha E. Phillips, Lawton

Jean Howell Polk, Frederick

Reuben Pulis (’22), Temple

Frank Marshall Ragland, Louisville, Ky.

Ginger Lee Raulerson, Duncan

Frankie Reynolds (’92, ’89), Fishers, Ind.

Clois Burton Richardson, Bowie, Texas

Jose Olivo (BA ’21, AA ’20), Lawton, has been named to the list of NextGen Under 30 by Lawton Proud. He is a community resource coordinator for Cameron’s Student Enrichment Center.

Roger Malonda (MBA ’22), Mitchell, S.D., is the assistant cross country and track and field coach at Dakota Wesleyan University.

Kylee Sparks (BS ’22), Walters, is the head softball coach at Bray-Doyle High School, where she also teaches high school English..

Andrew Tuan (MBA ’22), Hobart, is the head coach of the Hobart High School basketball team. He served as a graduate assistant coach at CU for the past two years.

Mattie Lou “Boo” Bledsoe Robinson, Fort Smith, Ark.

Anthony Michael “Tony” Robles (’95), Cyril

CSM Louis G. Rosa Jr. (Ret.), Lawton

Roy Lee Ryan, Keller, Texas

Orban Eugene “Gene” Sanders II (’77), Lindsay

Eugene Scott (’89), Cache

Teresa Kay Scroggins (’00), Lawton

Earl Lindel Smith, Duncan

Les Snipes (’75), Baton Rouge, La.

Margaret Stephens (’43), Walters

Terral D. Tatum (’91), Grandfield

Scarlett Taylor (’86), Shelton, Conn.

LaVera Thompson (’81), Walters

Kenneth “Ken” Troutt, Glendale, Ariz.

Janet E. Wallace (’79), Kingwood, Texas

Vivian LaFaye “Vicky” Wallace, Lawton

CW3 William Thomas Willard (Ret.), Lawton

H. Glenn “Herky” Williams, Lawton

Pauline Laura Christian Wilson-Hartley, Oklahoma City

Delores Wynn (’79), Lawton

CU SUPPORTERS, FACULTY AND STAFF

Owen Samuel “Sam” Ard, Lawton

Stephen Fred Bentley, Lawton

Terral McKellips, Lawton

Janet Sue Nance, Mountain View

Orville D. Smith, Lawton

Herbie Arnold Strachan, Lawton

Attention: To submit an address change, please call the CU Office of Alumni Relations at 580.581.2988, or email alumni@cameron.edu MAGAZINE

2800 West Gore Boulevard

Lawton, Oklahoma 73505-6377

580.581.2211

ALUMNI TOAST

Friday, May 5 | 6

p.m.

North side of Cameron Stadium

All new Aggie graduates will be honored immediately before the start of Commencement. There will be opportunities for photos, refreshments, an alumni gift and a time to celebrate with classmates and faculty. The event will end with a toast led by the CU Alumni Association at 7 p.m.

Please join us as we salute the Class of 2023!