The RECORD, Summer 2017

FIRM FOUNDATION Celebrating 125 Years of Inspiration and Innovation

THE RECORD | SUMMER 2017

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{ FROM THE PRESIDENT } ON THE COVER: The front entrance of Carrie T. Burritt Hall, built in 1922, and the new Greenville University seal.

GREENVILLE UNIVERSITY

125 Years of Inspiration and Innovation Stories flowing out of Greenville University’s 125-year history remind me that nothing sparks creative thinking quite like challenge.

In 1918, when an epidemic of Spanish influenza threatened campus, our predecessors converted a dormitory into a hospital where student “nurses” treated patients. In 1925, when financial crises persisted, our predecessors developed an endowment program. In 1932, when they saw that students needed hands-on experience in Christian service, they formed the Gospel League. League records show that in just one year, students preached 213 sermons, taught 129 Sunday school classes, called on 180 sick persons and rendered Christian service “of some sort” to 20,000 people.

National crises forced innovation, too. During World War II, a “defense council” organized on campus helped local residents know what to do in the event of airstrikes. Students burdened financially found relief when administrators trimmed one month off the school year by lengthening each school day. The adjustment saved students the cost of room and board and gave them an additional summer month in which to earn money.

Post-war housing shortages led to the erection of government barracks on college property. Sectioned off, they provided apartments for military veterans and their wives. Later, when requirements for teacher certification expanded to include bachelor’s degrees, faculty stepped up to hold classes on Saturdays, the only day public school teachers could attend.

THE RECORD (USPS 2292-2000) is published three times a year for alumni and friends of Greenville University by the Office of Development, Greenville University, 315 E. College Ave., Greenville, IL 62246. Phone: (618) 664-6500. Non-profit class postage paid at Greenville, IL 62246. Vol. 108, No. 2.

Greenville University online: www.greenville.edu Email: therecord@greenville.edu Send address corrections, correspondence and alumni updates to the Office of Development, 315 E. College Ave., Greenville, IL 62246; or call 618-664-6500; or email alumni@greenville.edu.

Vice President for Development Linda Myette ’73 Director of Major and Planned Gifts Kent Krober ’78 Director of Annual Giving Heather Fairbanks Sr. Advisor to President for Alumni Relations Norm Hall ’87 Coordinator for Alumni Projects Gene Kamp ’53 Coordinator for Alumni Affairs Cyndi (Smith ’85) Oglesby Managing Editor Carla Morris ’77

Today, as Greenville University moves forward, we can count on challenges to disrupt our work. But, our Creator made us in His image to also create. I have faith that when we cover those challenges in prayer and seek our Lord’s help, He will be faithful to feed our imaginations and inspire our efforts.

Contributing Editor Rachel Heston-Davis ’06

In these pages, you will read about inspired innovation that has shaped our institution over 125 years. You will read about ideas that have defined the “Greenville University experience” and continue to drive our work. Perhaps most exciting, you will read about history in the making through the experiences of today’s students.

Writers Rachel Heston-Davis ’06, Carla Morris ’77

Graphic Designer Pancho Eppard ’00 Photography Abby Modaff ’19, Aaron Phillips ’16

Special thanks to Greenville University Archivist Marilyn Starr for her expertise and assistance providing vintage memorabilia presented in this issue.

Blessings,

Ivan L. Filby President

Our mission: Greenville University empowers students for lives of character and service through a transforming Christ-centered education in the liberal arts, sciences and professional studies.

Views and opinions expressed by individuals in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of Greenville University.

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GREENVILLE UNIVERSITY | GREENVILLE.EDU

{ IN THIS ISSUE }

FIRM FOUNDATION 12 Great Ideas Then and Now

EDUCATING FOR CHARACTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 TELLING OUR STORY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 COMMUNITY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 INTERTERM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 INVESTING IN THE SCIENCES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 PARTNERSHIPS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 SERVANT LEADERSHIP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 CONNECTIVITY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 16 REACHING ACROSS BORDERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 GREENVILLE UNIVERSITY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

NEWS Homecoming Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Alumni News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 In Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

LEARN MORE AT: greenville.edu

Financial Champions at work: Fully donor-funded, the Hogue Memorial Tower is currently under construction. Many of these donors had already funded scholarships that provide financial relief to students. Thank you for giving.

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Great Idea: Educating for Character Wilson T. Hogue Administration 1892-1904

OFFENSE, DEFENSE, CHARACTER, CLASS “Education for character will be our motto,” declared President Wilson T. Hogue. “The Bible will have a place in all our courses of study.”

It was the summer of 1892, and Hogue had just announced the fall term for Greenville College, the school’s first term under new ownership and a new name. He said the school would operate as a “well regulated Christian home” with faculty bringing the gospel to bear on all hearts “who are in any way connected with the institution.”

Nearly 125 years later, the ripples of Hogue’s declaration reached John Elliott, vice president and trust officer of 1st Source Bank, Warsaw, Indiana. Elliott served as host coach to the Lady Panthers at the 2017 NCCAA Women’s National Basketball Championship. All eyes were on the Lady Panthers as they claimed the title.

Afterward, Elliott noted the “character and class” the players displayed and called them “wonderful ambassadors” for the team, the institution and the Lord.

Two restaurant patrons watched Elliott converse with the players over lunch. They caught up with him later and asked about the young

women. Elliott explained why they were in town, to which one of the patrons exclaimed, “Sure wish all college students displayed the class they exhibited.”

Shaping athletic skills and shaping character go hand-in-hand at Greenville University. Take Lady Panther volleyball, for instance. Prior to the start of each season, Head Coach Tom Ackerman ’99 leads his team through The Champ Book, essentials he has compiled to help his players relate to Jesus Christ and their teammates.

Three-time team captain Janisha Pealer ’17 recalls a sentence that appears on page one: “You will gain more from serving this team than you will ever give.” She then recounts memorable character lessons Panther volleyball taught her—responding to unexpected adversity with grace and patience, learning from fellow players and modeling a great work ethic.

She doesn’t name humility and gratitude, but they are hard to miss as she credits the persons who have poured themselves into her.

Now that’s class.

Members of the Lady Panthers basketball leadership team hold club pennants that belonged to Professor Wilson R. King, Class of 1916. Pictured from left to right: Kelly Lenz ’18, Laura Goodnight ’18 and Maria Reinhard ’18.

VINTAGE PENNANTS, GREENVILLE UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES

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First Convocation

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Great Idea: Telling Our Story Augustin L. Whitcomb Administration 1904-1908

Upon a Time WHEN STORYTELLING MET TECHNOLOGY

When Associate Professor of English Alexandria LaFaye arrived on campus in 2011 and assumed advisement over student publications, she knew two things: first, telling the institution’s story was important; second, the way audiences preferred to receive stories was changing rapidly.

an online student newspaper, and The Vista became a biannual magazine with a web component. Scriblerus, the writing club, transformed into an online literary magazine called The Scriblerus.

Alexandria had support along the way. Then VP of Student Development Norm Hall ’87, along with former English professor Brad Shaw ’83, championed the change. Digital Media Chair Deloy Cole ’84 and then Assistant Professor of Digital Media Jessa Wilcoxen helped manage the actual transition to electronic format.

By Alexandria’s arrival 90 years later, however, readers increasingly received their news and maintained social connections online. She watched expensive print copies of The Vista yearbook and The Papyrus newspaper go largely untouched on campus. Student publications, once vital storytelling pieces, no longer reached students, parents or alumni. How could students tell their stories without an audience?

The transition facilitated storytelling in ways former students might never have imagined. The Papyrus now reaches a worldwide audience with daily updates. The Vista’s documentation of student life in feature format is now available to audiences far beyond campus. The Scriblerus allows students to tell their stories through writing and art. Its mission is to exemplify a Christian approach to storytelling.

Alexandria’s desire to engage modern readers led her to take student publications online. The Papyrus became

As a bonus, modern genres give student staff valuable work experience and marketable skills like online writing and digital design.

1920 PAPYRUS, GREENVILLE UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES, RUBY E. DARE LIBRARY

In 1905, students began to document campus happenings through a monthly literary magazine, The Vista. A weekly newspaper, The Papyrus, followed in 1923. Variations on these publications remained staples of institutional storytelling for decades.

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“Our method of storytelling may have changed, but what hasn’t is our commitment to Christ-centered global citizenship,” says Alexandria. “And now our work will reach more readers across the globe.”

From left to right: Papyrus Co-Editor In Chief Kayla Parker ’17 and Tywon Bender ’18, Papyrus podcaster, hold copies of the Papyrus, dated 1920.

Financial Champions at work: Both Kayla and Tywon received financial relief through the donor-funded Greenville College Scholarship. Thank you for giving.

First student organization, College Missionary Society

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Great Idea: Community Eldon G. Burritt Administration 1908-1927

PHOTO COURTESY THE SIMPLE ROOM, SIMPLEROOM.ORG

THE GYMNASIUM BOOM AND THE SIMPLE ROOM

The Simple Room leadership team. In 2016-17, all but one member of the team were Greenville College (now University) alumni or students.

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tudents roofing the gymnasium worked against a ticking clock. They needed to enclose the new construction before winter set in. Fall semester 1914 had commenced, and they laid shingles when they weren’t attending class.

The construction of Burritt Gymnasium exemplified “community” at its best. Students had raised one third of the projected $6,000 needed to complete it. They inspired financial support from college trustees and engaged “the whole school family.”

Today, that sense of community still invites students like Josiah Mohr ’19 to participate in something bigger than “self.” When Josiah signed on to tutor youngsters at The Simple Room in Greenville, he joined a community of volunteers who echoed the spirit of the Burritt builders.

“We have a saying that has become our welcoming anthem,” Josiah says. “‘Welcome to The Simple Room where we love you!’ We will say it to kids, volunteers,

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First international students, five from Japan

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prospective kids, guests. . . This is central to everything we do.”

“Everything” at The Simple Room goes back to 1983, when Professor James A. Reinhard ’54 and 19 Interterm students imagined “creative, spiritual” ways to reach local youth. They rented space in a downtown building, where they conversed with youngsters over donuts, hot chocolate and games of UNO®.

Today, nearly 100 Greenville University students carry on the work each semester, “empowering youth and building community.” Ben Wayman ’02, assistant professor of philosophy and theology and long time Simple Room board member, calls the collaboration a “ministry of friendship.”

His observation reminds us how conversation inspires community in all its forms—like college students engaged with schoolchildren in a board game, or others, on a rooftop, hammering hard with the clock ticking.

Great Idea: Experiential Learning Leslie R. Marston Administration 1927-1936

EUCA BALM AND TOUR LOGISTICS The Chemistry Behind Those College Degrees

He worked out formulas for household products that students manufactured, packaged and sold. The Saturday Evening Post (June 3, 1939) reported the success: Orders poured in beyond the capacity of Greenville’s lab. Collegiate Industries was organized and other colleges were invited to join in the undertaking.

Twelve finally did. By the end of its first five years, Collegiate Industries had to its sales credit 2100 bars of Euca Balm, more than 6000 six-ounce bottles of vanilla, 3500 tubes of dental cream, 56,000 bars of soap, 21,000 bars of hard-water soap, 1600 boxes of face powder, 2600 cans of talcum, 870 bottles of cough sirup, 1000 bottles of camphor-cream liniment and 3000 bottles of shampoo. Student commissions on these sales were about 40 per cent.

equipped to encourage fathers and focus on their needs and values. “We all have our own biases,” he says, “and we, as professionals, must learn to put our ideals off to the side and accept individuals/clients as they are.”

And then, there is Becca Winemiller ’17, whose experience in product development with Innovative International taught her not to fear failure. Becca’s Depression-era predecessors embraced this timeless lesson in the chemistry lab and in conversations with customers. Her successors will likely find new opportunities to embrace it, too.

COLLEGIATE INDUSTRIES PRODUCT, GREENVILLE UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES

Unemployment during the Great Depression topped 20 percent four years in a row and left colleges nationwide overwhelmed with “indigent students.”

In Greenville, President Leslie R. Marston turned to chemistry professor H.J. Long for a solution, and Long turned to chemistry for an answer.

The work-learning configuration accomplished more than paying student bills; it added to their development as “whole” persons, a key goal of the College.

Today, young graduates like Emily Kaiser ’16 welcome the confidence that comes with hands-on experience.

Off the top of her head, she recalls 16 instances related to her major in music business, where she honed skills that will help her coordinate tour logistics and produce events.

Social Work major Joshua Statler ’17 emerged from his internship at a pregnancy support center better Becca Winemiller ‘17 holds a jar of Collegiate Industries cold cream from the collection of Frank ‘37 and Ruth (Breitenbach ‘38) Joy, along with the cord case using pop-up technology that her Experience First team developed. Financial Champions at work: Becca is the grateful recipient of the donor-funded Dean’s Scholarship and Church Partnership Award. Thank you for giving.

1893

First college newspaper, Wilsonian Literary Journal

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From left to right: Panther Football Servant Warriors LC Washington ’19 and Roman Butler ’17 with vintage 1912 intramural football gear that belonged to Professor Wilson R. King, Class of 1916. Financial Champions at work: LC and Roman received more than seven donor-funded scholarships combined, including the Greenville College Scholarship, Dean’s Scholarship and Resident Chaplain Scholarship.

Thank you for giving.

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First graduate, W. W. Loomis

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VINTAGE ATHLETIC GEAR, GREENVILLE UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES

Great Idea: Intercollegiate Athletics Henry Johnson Long Administration 1936-1962

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS! The Exhilaration of “Team” Don Easton-Brooks ’88 dreaded one particular drill at Panther football practice: running 1.5 miles in 12 minutes. Today, the former team captain treasures the memories of his teammates rallying around him, shouting encouragement as he neared the finish. “Sometimes, as a leader, you don’t get a lot of pick-me-ups,” Don explains, so it meant a lot that his teammates helped him during his vulnerable moments.

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of leadership and purpose, but he also recognized his need to plan for “life after college.” Extraordinary professors like James A. Reinhard ’54 and Rick Stephens ’77 stepped in and pushed Don to academic excellence. Today, Don helps shape equitable policies in public education and serves as dean of the School of Education at the University of South Dakota.

The appeal of “team” often draws high school athletes to Greenville University.

President H.J. Long foresaw this effect when, in 1944, his administration initiated the intercollegiate athletics program. It began with a basketball team and a lineup of nine spring game dates; today, the University boasts 15 athletic teams.

Kirk Pearce ’15 did “the unthinkable” as a high school senior and turned down an offer to attend the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs in order to play college football; Greenville provided that opportunity.

Panther football shaped Kirk’s character for a lifetime. He credits then Coach Ordell Walker with instilling life principles that “I still fall back on to this day.”

In Panther sports, students find the camaraderie and thrill of intercollegiate competition they anticipated. Often, they also find surprises like fresh academic interests, spiritual formation and personal development.

Kirk discovered opportunities outside of sports, too. Chemistry Department Chair Darrell Iler ’77 urged him to major in chemistry and then pursue research. Iler’s dedicated guidance ultimately led Kirk to a PhD program at Virginia Tech.

Don, for example, felt deep satisfaction on the football field, encouraging weary teammates and easing game-day anxieties.

Football helped him develop his sense

Kirk is grateful for his mentors in athletics and academics. “Any success that I have achieved can be attributed to these two men and the difference they made in my life.”

First yearbook, The Okaw

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Mark Your Calendar for Exploration Traveling across the globe to Israel helped Ross Baker ’13 prioritize Jesus’ calling over the allure of having “right answers” to every question. Financial Champions at work: As a student, Ross benefited from the donor-funded Trustees Scholarship and Resident Chaplain Scholarship. Thank you for giving.

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First nationally connected society, Student Missionary Volunteers

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Great Idea: Interterm Glenn A. Richardson Administration 1962-1970

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annah (De Loche ’10) Shanks surveyed the barren Judean wilderness. Tiny waterways carved out thin lines of relief in an otherwise desert land. Vegetation seemed sparse compared to the rural countryside of her home in Beardstown, Illinois.

Hannah would never again read Psalm 23 as a picture of abundance; she would read it instead as “having enough in a place where there isn’t enough.” The vision continues to shape her theology of God’s presence in suffering. It’s one lesson among many that students visiting Israel over Interterm have embraced.

Interterm, a short January term, began in the late 1960s when President Glenn

Richardson envisioned a winter term allowing students to explore interests not covered by usual course plans.

The Israel trip, an Interterm offering frequently heralded as transformative to education and faith, is the capstone experience for the class “Historical and Geographic Settings of the Bible.” Students spend fall semester studying maps of Biblical regions to understand the geography and history behind the stories. During Interterm, they visit those sites, turning a semester’s worth of head knowledge into personal experience.

Andrew Schack ’17 sees Jesus’ 40-day wilderness journey differently after visiting “the wilderness” firsthand. “It was a hilly, mountainous area,” he recalls. The thought of Jesus traversing over mountains and through valleys, in a region known for brutal robberies, gave the story new meaning for Andrew.

Ross Baker ’13, a new Christian at the time of his trip, found his fledgling faith strengthened. He was troubled to learn that historians can’t always pin down locations for important scriptural events, and this induced a necessary struggle in his mind about the role of certitude in faith.

“Wrestling with that was really good for me,” Ross reflects.

The uncertainty led him to prioritize the message and call of Jesus over the allure of having “right answers” to every question.

Such experiences confirm the value of unusual explorations. Short-term or full-term; spring, fall or winter—“life-changing” experiences know no bounds.

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First organized musical group, The College Quartette

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Great Idea: Investing in the Sciences Orley R. Herron Administration 1970-1977

Engineering major Ye Jin “Victoria” Han ‘20 of Mexico City, examines a toroid loop (circa 1940s) that students used to study magnetic fields produced by electric current moving through several hundred turns of wire that made up the circumference of the circle. It is likely that Professor of Physics Ralph Miller ‘36 used this loop as a teaching aid.

“Can you imagine a better environment for students to study the mysteries of science and the beauty of God’s creation than at a Christian college?” asked President Orley Herron in 1974. He had just broken ground for Snyder Hall of Science. Herron invited onlookers to imagine the “labs and classrooms appropriate for the rigorous standards of today,” but he could easily have added “and for tomorrow.”

This spring The Journal of Experimental Neuroscience published an account of the research Juliana Phillips ’17, Kellie Steele ’18 and Michael Shawn Mengarelli ’15 conducted in Snyder Hall. Assistant Professor of Biology Bwarenaba Kautu supervised their work with help from Assistant Professor of Biology Eric Nord.

The students’ exploration centered on “kava,” a sedative beverage derived from a plant root common in the South Pacific Islands. For centuries, Pacific Islanders have used the drink for ceremonial and medicinal purposes.

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The trio discovered that chemicals in kava seem to affect the transmission of acetylcholine, an important neurotransmitter critical to vital functions like cognition, learning and memory, movement, muscle contractions and heartbeat. The students are likely the first researchers to associate these issues with kava metabolism.

Kautu will visit the United Kingdom this summer and work with scientists at the University of Cambridge to advance the research initiated at Greenville University. The two-month venture may pave the way for ongoing research collaboration between Kautu’s team and Cambridge scientists.

Orley Herron and others correctly intuited the future needs of the University when they built its first science-specific facility. Today, Snyder Hall of Science houses the departments of biology, chemistry, engineering/physics and math. Student research continues.

First GC construction project, Assembly Hall Building (later named LaDue Music Center)

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GREENVILLE UNIVERSITY | GREENVILLE.EDU

VINTAGE PHYSICS EQUIPMENT, DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS, GREENVILLE UNIVERSITY

Student Research Draws International Attention

Great Idea: Partnerships W. Richard Stephens Administration 1977-1993

SAVE MONEY, MAKE MONEY: NAVIGATING THE MARKETPLACE . . .

TOGETHER

Though half a century separated their experiences, the two men arrived at the same conclusion: when it comes to saving money and making money, sometimes we just need a little help from our friends.

In the early 1970s, college was just too expensive for many high school graduates. With a little help from nearby Kaskaskia Community College, Greenville College developed a plan that allowed KCC students to take classes on GC’s campus at a reduced cost.

President W. Richard Stephens ’53 oversaw the partnership throughout his administration. The joint effort ultimately served more than 3,000 local students and saved their families millions of dollars.

This year, students participating in the Briner School’s Experience First program partnered with businesses to make money. Lincoln Siebert ’17 joined four other students working with Eckert’s Family Farms, the nation’s largest family-owned and operated you-pick orchard. Eckert’s asked the students to develop a plan that would increase traffic to the orchard’s restaurant and country store during the slower winter months.

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The students researched the feasibility of installing a synthetic ice skating rink. Though Lincoln disliked initiating phone calls, he agreed to “talk money” with suppliers and solicit bids. With each call, he grew more skilled. In the end, he negotiated a deal that fit Eckert’s budget. Eckert’s installed the rink in January, and Lincoln walked away with valuable experience.

Dennis Spencer ’75, executive vice president of Lagardère Unlimited and a member of the Briner School of Business Advisory Council, says today’s employers want graduates who have a broad range of knowledge and some success “creating plans, creating businesses [and] creating initiatives.”

Lincoln Siebert ’17 teamed up with four other students and business partner Eckert’s Family Farms to increase profits for the nation’s largest family-owned you-pick orchard. Lincoln learned volumes from the experience, including how to carry himself professionally in dress, manners and speech.

Prior to graduation, Lincoln landed a job assisting with the construction of a milk processing plant.

He currently gathers quotes and information from contractors, engineers and retailers, and will manage the operation once construction is complete. He is grateful for the “little help” he received from Eckert’s, his teammates and Experience First.

First issue of The Vista, a literary magazine

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HOMECOMING 2017 HIGHLIGHTS OCTOBER 19-22, 2017

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20

HOMECOMING CHAPEL – 9:30 A.M. Chapel is a hallmark of our heritage. Join us in Whitlock Music Center to recognize this year’s recipients of the University’s Alumni Awards. Afterward, make your way over to Hogue Lawn for donuts, coffee and conversation with faculty and friends.

JAZZ BAND CONCERT – 7:00 P.M. Whitlock Music Center is the site for swinging sounds from Greenville University’s very own big band in this kickoff event for Homecoming 2017.

HOMECOMING VESPERS – 9:30 P.M. Stay up late for this popular student-led worship service that regularly draws more than 300 attendees.

fun and music. Wilson T. Hogue Society members are invited to eat a casual dinner indoors in the Krober Room at 5:30 p.m., by RSVP.

Celebrate the choir’s 91st anniversary with superb musical offerings ringing through the rafters of the James E. Wilson Recital Hall.

GREENVILLE UNIVERSITY CHOIR CONCERT – 7:30 P.M.

DESSERT RECEPTION WITH PRESIDENT AND MRS. FILBY – 8:30 P.M. Following the choir concert, linger on campus for a special by-reservation-only dessert reception under the stars in the Whitlock Music Center Courtyard.

50TH ANNIVERSARY PANTHER 5K – 8:30 A.M. Bring your running gear and race to the finish in this time-honored tradition, or take your place as a spectator on Hogue Lawn to applaud runners as they cross the finish line. Registration starts at 7:00 a.m.

Briner School on the 2nd floor of Dietzman Hall.

HOMECOMING PARADE – 4:00 P.M. Wear your orange and black to cheer on the Marching Panther Regiment, athletes, alumni honorees and a host of other groups that will step off at 4 p.m. for a school spirit parade. Following the parade, gather on Scott Field for food,

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21

CHILDREN’S RACES – 8:00 & 8:15 A.M. Children ages seven years and younger will join the University’s mascot and race through the Fun Run course on Scott Field at 8:00 a.m. Older children, ages 8-12, will sprint down College Avenue at 8:15.

Registration opens at 7:00 a.m.

BRINER SCHOOL OF BUSINESS MEET & GREET – 9:30 A.M. Alumni with degrees in business, management and accounting will enjoy conversation and light refreshments in the

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GREENVILLE UNIVERSITY | GREENVILLE.EDU

GREENVILLE UNIVERSITY SUMMER RESEARCH EXPERIENCE – 10:00 A.M. Visit Snyder Hall of Science and see what student researchers accomplished this summer as they engaged their problem solving skills and used state-of-the-art equipment to conduct research. This is a come-and-go event.

LOOK FOR MORE INFORMATION ONLINE: greenville.edu/homecoming

TAILGATE LUNCH – SERVED 11:30 A.M. TO 1:30 P.M.

football and soccer teams compete, or return to campus via one of the shuttles that will be available throughout the day.

welcome members of the 50th Reunion Class into the Wilson T. Hogue Society.

Childcare is available by reservation for children age six and younger.

ART REUNION – 4:00 TO 6:00 P.M. Enjoy a special exhibition of works by a featured alumni artist. Refreshments will be served.

Lunch with family and friends under tents at the John M. Strahl Athletic Complex.

After the meal, stay to watch Panther

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 22

WORSHIP SERVICE – 8:30 A.M. & 10:30 A.M. The Greenville University Choir will bring special music to worship services at the Greenville Free Methodist Church.

ALUMNI DINNER – 5:00 P.M. Join us at the Eleanor M. Armington Center as we celebrate the 2017 Alumni Awardees, recognize reunion classes and

HOMECOMING BRUNCH – 11:00 A.M.-1:00 P.M. Meet for one last meal together in Armington Center before heading home.

Brunch is served for just under $10 each, payable at the register. Special alumni seating will be available in the Krober Room.

HOMECOMING CONCERT BAND CONCERT – 4:00 P.M. Postpone leaving just a little longer. The closing concert of Homecoming weekend features the Greenville University Concert Band in the first concert of its 2017-18 series.

AFFINITY REUNIONS

Did you . . . Go on Walkabout? Play men’s basketball? Represent MOSAIC, BSA or Rapport?

Serve as a GCSA officer? Come back for Homecoming 2017!

Homecoming 2017 and the historic 125th anniversary celebration events are sponsored in part by:

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Great Idea: Servant Leadership Robert E. Smith Administration 1993-1998

Beyond the Bright Shiny Star Janisha Pealer ’17 holds one of the servant-leader towels that graduates in the 1990s received at Commencement to remind them of their calling to serve. Financial Champions at work: Janisha is the grateful recipient of the donor-funded Greenville College Scholarship, President’s Scholarship and two endowed scholarships. Thank you for giving.

1906

First Vespers, held Sunday afternoons

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SERVANT LEADER TOWEL, THE ROBERT E. SMITH PAPERS, GREENVILLE UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES

Looking

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hen Robert “Ish” Smith ’57 transferred to Greenville College in 1955 from Central Christian College, he hoped to play basketball and baseball. He loved sports, but his talents were marginal. “I knew I would not be a star,” he recalls.

Coach John Strahl knew it too, but Strahl valued more than “star” quality. He enlisted Smith to help manage his athletic teams. Smith agreed, but soon learned that “managing” mostly meant tending to tasks like packing uniforms, picking up sack lunches and securing keys for the school cars. Still, he served and served well.

The coach engaged Smith repeatedly with opportunities. He tapped Smith to coach junior varsity basketball and help coach baseball. He envisioned Smith earning a master’s degree and paved the way to make that happen. Later, he was instrumental in Smith accepting a coaching position at Taylor University, Strahl’s alma mater.

In 1961, Strahl invited Smith back to Greenville to head the College’s physical education department, coach baseball and assist coaching basketball. But even this was not the end of Strahl’s vision for Smith. In 1977 he opened the door for Smith to serve on the U.S. Olympic Committee. Smith later presided over the International Baseball Federation and contributed more than 15 years to the sport, garnering accolades for his “unselfish promotion” of intercollegiate baseball.

Smith, the onetime athlete who lacked star qualities, but who embraced service, assumed the presidency of Greenville College in 1993. He challenged and encouraged all to serve in Jesus’ name. His influence remains.

“I learned here that leadership is the equivalent of service,” says Janisha Pealer ’17, copresident of MOSAIC Diversity Group. “Jesus was our perfect model of a servant leader.

My professors and mentors model that for me, daily . . . I will leave Greenville empowered and transformed because of what I have learned from others through service.”

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First electronic media, WGRN

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Great Idea: Connectivity V. James Manoia, Jr. Administration 1999-2009

KEEPING CONNECTIONS PERSONAL IN A DIGITAL AGE Two generations of wireless: From left to right, alumna Juanita (Mooney ’50) Burge with today’s Papyrus Social Media Director Riley Hannula ’19. Juanita and nine graduates from the Classes of 1948-51 remain connected today through “round robin letters”— “pen and paper” correspondence mailed from one classmate to the next with each correspondent adding her personal news for the others to see. Riley helps to produce the digital Papyrus, which readers now access from various devices across the globe.

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When Greenville College became the first college in the nation to offer campus-wide wireless internet in 1999, it brought unprecedented opportunities for connection. It also posed challenges: how does a community-oriented school prevent digital connection from replacing personal connection?

President V. James Manoia, Jr. saw advantages to wireless connectivity. “Because it further enhances the communication and community for which we are so well known,” he said, “the technology ensures that we will continue to build ‘connections that last a lifetime.’”

Today, instructors like Christina Smerick are skilled at casting a wide net of connectivity through online classes.

The associate professor of philosophy and theology says the recipe for personal connection in the digital “classroom” is the same as it is in the physical classroom; she just needs to make sure to include all ingredients.

It starts with fostering real connection between individuals. She first convenes a meeting with all students

First woman college trustee

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via Adobe Connect to lead an icebreaker activity, so students are more than a name on a screen.

“I have students do discussion forums in pairs, so they only interact with one person per week,” she adds.

Personal connection also demands investment and rapport from the professor. In addition to assignment feedback, Smerick intentionally emails students to ask about their learning experiences and offer assistance. Knowing that online critique can carry a harsher tone than intended, she finds workarounds. “I’ve ended up doing video chat with [students] to get around the ‘tone’ problem in email, and I try to be very positive.”

The terrain of online connection keeps changing, but University professors like Smerick continue to say “challenge accepted,” just as they have since the first wireless laptops appeared throughout campus 18 years ago.

Great Idea: Reaching Across Borders Larry H. Linamen Administration 2009-2012

A Lesson in Adventure Brought to You By Sally On first glance, Fei “Sally” Li ’16 doesn’t appear adventuresome, but looks can be deceiving.

Sally made a bold move five years ago, traveling 7,000 miles from her home in Shanxi Province, China, to study the English language. She found a “safe, faithful and friendly environment” on campus and graduated from Greenville’s English language program, initiated by President Larry Linamen. She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Greenville and is currently enrolled in @MBA, a one-year master’s program in business administration.

More than 50 international students called Greenville home last semester. They arrived from Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Hong Kong, Korea, China, Japan, Spain, Belgium and Canada.

Provost Edwin Estevez ’94 considers them kindred spirits. He came to Greenville College in 1990 as a 16-year-old freshman from Santiago, Dominican Republic.

He attributes his collegiate experience to the work of Free Methodist missionaries in Santiago, who drew inspiration from a theology of freedom and encouraged learning.

Estevez speaks passionately about gospel-inspired inclusion and Greenville University’s

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history in the Wesleyan tradition and the Free Methodist Church. “This work is at the center of our mission, and we cannot ignore the tradition that sits at the heart of the words and deeds of those who came before us,” he says. “This year is the 100th anniversary that my family was touched by the compassionate care, visionary thinking and Christ-centered outreach that intricately defines our legacy.”

English language instructor Jo (Keillor ’79) Wolf takes that compassionate care seriously.

Between lessons in vocabulary, tense and sentence structure, she plants seeds of faith in her students. Her warmth drew a positive response from Sally and blossomed into a mentor relationship. They remain friends, testifying to the authentic connection with faculty that traditional students have treasured for decades.

Sally is grateful for every level of instruction at Greenville University. “[It] made me to be open-minded, courageous and humble when I view and experience the world,” she says, adding that she now feels equipped to explore new vistas—spoken like a true adventurer.

Pictured from left to right, Provost Edwin Estevez ’94, Fei “Sally” Li ’16 and President Ivan Filby. “Everyone here is willing to help you learn and grow, and share the Christian love with you,” reflects Sally.

First intercollegiate football game

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Great Idea: Greenville University Ivan L. Filby Administration 2013-present

Moving

Forward “Greenville University will instill so much newfound school pride and spirit among our entire community, and I foresee it having a ripple effect for years to come. I believe that Greenville University is exactly what we need to provide us the strength and passion to enrich and diversify the student experience. I cannot wait to be a part of it.” – Maci Sepp ’18, president, Greenville Student Government Association (GSGA)

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First graduate studies offered, Leadership and Ministry Program (LAMP)

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Financial Champions at work: Chemistry and public relations major Maci Sepp ‘18 is the grateful recipient of the donor-funded McAllaster Honors Scholarship and the Cooley Endowed Scholarship.

Thank you for giving.

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First online courses offered

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What’s New With You?

ALUMNI NEWS 1960s

Rose (Davis ’65) Thompson serves as an ordained elder in her local church. She taught school for 38 years and also served as principal for 11 years. In 2012, Rose received her doctorate in biblical studies.

“Greenville played a big part in my goals in life,” she writes. “God is so good.”

John ’61 and Dorothy (Robbins ’60) Hartley have recently retired. John served Azusa Pacific University (APU) for more than 40 years and was a founding member of its graduate school. He retired as distinguished professor of Old Testament.

Colleagues celebrated by presenting him with a Festschrift written in his honor.

Hartley is widely published. His most recent commentary is NBBC, Proverbs: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition (New Beacon Bible Commentary, 2015).

Dorothy retired after 49 years as a public school teacher. The Hartleys reside in Glendora, CA.

ALUMNI NEWS

Submit your information online at greenville.edu/alumni.

line up to 40 minutes to see the master craftsman’s tribute to wounded veterans.

Jim conversed with guests for 10-12 hours each day, often listening to personal accounts of battle wounds and canine heroes. He credits his wife of 47 years, Marcia (Brenner ’71), for playing a key role in his work over the years, providing financial stability that allowed him to produce art “even in a poor market.”

Learn more at jamesmellick.com.

’67 REUNION YEAR October 19-22, 2017

Lloyd de Witt Bockstruck ’67 has published a book, American Settlements and Migrations: A Primer for Genealogists and Family Historians (Clearfield, 2017).

The volume offers a synopsis of settlement and migration patterns throughout the U.S. and focuses on states and territories established between the colonial period and the mid-19th century. Lloyd has written extensively about genealogy. Prior to his retirement in 2009, he helped the Dallas Public Library gain national recognition for its comprehensive collections that facilitate genealogical research.

Last fall, Gene Wright ’61 presented “Showboats on the Mississippi” at the Savanna Museum and Cultural Center in Savanna, IL. A former history teacher in Savanna schools, Gene has built several model riverboats. He is also well known for his gallery of Civil War soldiers at the museum, a display that includes more than 100 life-sized mannequins wearing authentic Civil War dress.

1970s ’77 REUNION YEAR October 19-22, 2017

Debbie (Cronau ’77) Kirley recently retired from Edward Jones after working with the company for 31 years. cashelorock@icloud.com.

1980s 2 Terry Combs ’81 has recently published a book, The Boy Scout, The Beekeeper and The Bees: Lessons in Life and Beekeeping (Outskirts Press, 2016). The volume blends advocacy for honeybees, personal career exploration and the

Wood sculptor James Mellick ’69 claimed the $200,000 grand prize People’s Choice Award at ArtPrize 2016 in Grand Rapids, MI, for his exhibit, Wounded Warrior Dogs. Guests waited in 1

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Terry Combs ‘81

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Kevin Hopkins ‘83

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Vonjia Shannon ‘84

development of competent beekeepers.

Writing for beekeepers of any skill level, Terry explores the complex role bees play in our ecosystem. He draws from the work of scientists and researchers and his own lifelong interest in bees. Terry teaches courses in beekeeping at Kaskaskia College and also works at Greenville Auto Body.

1113 Mulberry St, Keyesport, IL, 62253. combstr@yahoo.com.

3 Kevin Hopkins ’83, mathematics professor and chair of the math department at Southwest Baptist University, has contributed to the newly released Thomas’ Calculus: Early Transcendentals 14th Edition (Pearson, 2017). Kevin collaborated with a team to develop interactive figures that appear in MyLab™, an online course that supplements the time-tested Thomas text. Interactive figures help students visualize concepts like motion and change.

“Mathematics is not a spectator sport,” Kevin observes. “We have to get into the problems and try them.” Interactive figures invite students to do just that. khopkins@sbuniv.edu.

6 Matthew McKenzie ’86 has recently published a book, Creeds, Codes and Cowboy Commandments: TV’s B-Western Heroes Rules to Live By (McKenzie House Publishing, 2017). Early television programming featured plenty of action heroes on the small screen, but none more popular than the “B-Western” cowboy.

Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Hopalong Cassidy, the Lone Ranger and others modeled godly values and virtues, a moral basis that fueled their on-screen actions. Matthew writes, “It is my hope that the book will prompt readers to be more inclined to carefully consider the values reflected in the entertainment they allow in their homes, in a culture that is now further removed spiritually from the Christian influence visible in the popculture of the 1950s.”

’87 REUNION YEAR October 19-22, 2017

5 Jill (Butterfield ’85) Gostin was named the Women in Technology Woman

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Jill (Butterfield ‘85) Gostin

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Matthew McKenzie ‘86

1990s ’92 REUNION YEAR October 19-22, 2017

Marcia (Brown ’94) Brown-Medina and Francisco Medina, a son, Caleb Francisco, born May 2, 2016. Caleb joins siblings Joshua, age 16; Gabrielle, age 14; and Abigail, age 8. Marcia works as coordinator for Hispanic/Latino Services with Catholic Charities-Diocese of Joliet in Kankakee, IL. mmedina@cc-doj.org.

Sarah (Jahn ’95) and Brian Edgington were married in 2013. Sarah works with United Healthcare as a provider pricing auditor. She still loves to sing, write and learn new instruments. ’97 REUNION YEAR October 19-22, 2017

2000s Wesley Bell ’01 recently retired as locomotive engineer/trainmaster.

Amanda Lightcap ’01 is a supplemental learning support teacher with the Harrisburg School District. She recently became legal guardian for her great niece, Ella.

Mike Pomatto ’03, MA ’06 is director of information management at Coventry Health Care. mike@pomatto.com.

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Matt Wright ‘03

ALUMNI NEWS

4 Vonjia Shannon ’84 retired from the U.S. Army Reserve as Lieutenant Colonel.

Vonjia’s service included tours to Iraq and Korea.

of the Year for Medium Size Businesses (501-2,500 employees) in Georgia. The award celebrates women technology executives for their accomplishments as leaders in business, visionaries of technology and persons who make a difference in their communities. Jill is deputy director of the Information and Communications Laboratory at Georgia Tech Research Institute. jill.gostin@gtri.gatech.edu.

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Eddy Ogbuji ’09 THE RECORD | SUMMER 2017

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7 Matt Wright ’03 recently contributed calligraphy illustrations to The Alphabet Prayer (Clovercroft Publishing, 2016)

by Linda Seger and Peter Le Var. The authors use an A-Z structure to guide prayer rituals. Matt’s calligraphy for each alphabet letter draws attention to the letter and the simple, one-line prayer associated with it. Additional text explores the prayer’s meaning.

’07 REUNION YEAR October 19-22, 2017

Global technology and engineering company Emerson recently awarded Matthew Carter ’09 its Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award. Each year, Emerson pays tribute to St. Louis-area educators for their achievements and dedication. In addition to teaching fifth grade, Matt tutors students, coaches soccer and serves on various district committees. He is known for establishing strong relationships with students, parents and colleagues.

Jessica (Gilmore ’09) Chenoweth, a daughter, Ezra Kay, born March 10, 2016.

ALUMNI NEWS

8 The scholarship committee of the Educational Administration and Foundations (EAF) at Illinois State University (ISU) has named Eddy Ogbuji ’09, MBA ’15 a recipient of the Odessa Meyer Endowed Scholarship. Eddy is currently pursuing doctoral studies in educational administration.

2010s

10 Cody Ripperger ’14 serves as youth and young adult pastor at the Davison Free Methodist Church in Davison, MI.

9 Brent Crowe ’10 is owner and lead producer/engineer at BackBeat Sound Design in Chattanooga, TN. The studio is a full service audio production facility offering recording, mixing, mastering and production services. Brent works with artists of all genres, levels of popularity and talent. He is glad to offer a 10 percent discount to Greenville College (now University) alumni and current students. Learn more online at backbeatsounddesign.com. brent@backbeatsound.com.

This summer, Brandon Leonard ’11 will begin an accelerated track of studies at St. John’s College of Nursing in Springfield, IL. Kristen (Lynch ’14) and Nathan ’15 Hood were married November 19, 2016.

Kristen is a counselor with the St. Clair County Child Advocacy Center. Nathan works with St. Louis Arc, helping disabled persons find and maintain employment in the competitive workforce.

11 Kirk Pearce ’15 recently published two papers. One appears in The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters and refers to research he conducted as a student at Greenville College (now University). The other appears in The Journal of Natural Products and holds the potential key to more effective treatment of malaria.

Kirk is a graduate research assistant at Virginia Tech. In the near future, he will present posters at the 2017 meeting of the Southeast Theoretical Chemistry Association (SETCA) at the University of Mississippi and at the 11th Triennial Congress of the World Association of Theoretical and Computational Chemists (WATOC) in Munich, Germany.

Erik Reed ’15 is currently employed as an assistant supervisor with Centralia Recreation Complex. 1109 N. Lincoln Blvd, Centralia, IL 62801.

201306245@panthers.greenville.edu.

12 I’Esha Baber ’16 currently works in community outreach and program development with AmeriCorps Vista in Abilene, TX, serving low to moderate income neighborhoods. At the same time, she is pursuing her master’s in social work at Abilene Christian University.

Austin Moore ’14 currently works for Christ in Youth as a production coordinator.

Kara (Strathman ’14) and Nathan ’16 Propst were married March 4, 2017.

Greenville University Vision: We welcome the presence of the risen Christ to fill us, equip us and send us.

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Cody Ripperger ‘14 (third from right)

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Kirk Pearce ‘15

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I’Esha Baber ‘16 (second from right)

IN MEMORY Ann (Wafer ’37) Hunter passed away February 23, 2017, in Highland, IL. She was an active member of various civic groups and her church, where she taught Sunday School for many years.

Fern (Goshen ’38) Coulter died August 18, 2015. She served as teacher and counselor at the high school and junior high levels. Fern led a Bible study group until she was 95.

James Lyerla ’38 of Highland, IL, died November 8, 2016. He was a locomotive engineer with the NY Central and Southern Pacific Railways until his retirement in 1981.

James served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Arnold Eddings ’39 passed away February 2, 2017, in Belleville, IL. He was a geologist in the oil industry before joining Country Companies Insurance. He was a founding member of Calvary United Methodist Church near Bloomington, IL. Ruby (Tosh ’40) Schlosser died April 8, 2017.

She lived an extraordinary life of service with her husband John, pioneering and nurturing the first Free Methodist churches in the Philippines. Today, the Philippine church conference claims more than 25,000 members.

Frances Dixon ’44 passed away November 11, 2015. She worked 36 years as an executive secretary at Amoco Refinery in Casper, WY, and filled various leadership roles at the Casper First Church of the Nazarene.

Esther (Roberts ’45) Lyon of Greece, NY, passed away October 10, 2016. Esther edited Christian education materials for the Free Methodist Church of North America and authored The Bishop and His Lady (Light and Life Press, 1962), a biography about B.T. Roberts.

Winifred Hessler ’46 passed away September 6, 2016, in Spring Arbor, MI. A schoolteacher for 32 years, Winifred held membership in the Dansville Free Methodist Church, where she served faithfully.

Rev. Ralph Crowell ’49 of Okeechobee, FL, died March 3, 2016. Ralph served Free Methodist and Nazarene churches. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army.

Earl Halford ’49 of Decatur, IL, passed away February 20, 2016. Earl retired from BorgWarner after 30 years. He was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps.

Betty Lou (Smith ’49) Ivers of McPherson, KS, passed away January 1, 2017, in McPherson. Prior to retirement, she chaired the life sciences department at Central Christian College and was named to its Academy of Achievers in 1988.

Larry Tomb ’49 of Sun City, AZ, passed away at home November 8, 2016.

Donald Cleveland ’50 died March 15, 2017, in Spring Arbor, MI. He pastored Free Methodist Churches in Michigan and Florida and also served at the Free Methodist Headquarters in Winona Lake, IN. Prior to retirement in 2001, Don served as assistant pastor at Light and Life Camp near Lakeland, FL. During WWII, he was among the soldiers to liberate prisoners from the Nazi concentration camp at Dachau.

Betty Young ’50 of Rushville, IL, passed away July 14, 2016. A lifelong schoolteacher, Betty was active in her community and church.

Olive (Kendall ’51) Hodson died January 6, 2017, in Portland, OR. Olive’s life investments included church missions and outreach, Bible studies, women’s shelters and freelance writing.

She tutored homebound students and taught piano lessons while raising her three children.

Faith (Baldwin ’51) McInturff of Homer Glen, IL, died November 1, 2016. Faith was an active member of the First Church of the Nazarene and a retired elementary school teacher.

Kay (Emery ’51) Skidmore of New Smyrna Beach, FL, passed away January 4, 2017. Kay and her husband established and managed a mobile home park.

Alice (McMullen ’53) Whittingham passed away September 13, 2016. She taught music in various Illinois communities and sang in choirs and on worship teams. She built Afterglow

Lake Resort in Phelps, WI, and operated it for more than 50 years.

Betty (Elliott ’56) Robertson died March 23, 2017. A librarian, she was employed by the Carmen-Ainsworth School District in Flint, MI, for 30 years.

Kathleen (Lybolt ’57) Ball, age 80, of Albuquerque, NM, passed away May 10, 2015. A lifelong learner, she expressed her love through nursing, family, church choirs, leading Girl Scouts, firefighting, art therapy and silk painting.

Donald Jordahl ’57 passed away October 12, 2016, in Greenville, IL. The Greenville University community remembers Don for his long and celebrated 32-year tenure as professor of history. Don and LaVon (Krober ’55) Jordahl enjoyed 60 wonderful years of marriage.

Don Tschannen ’57, of Daytona Beach, FL, formerly of Highland, IL, died January 13, 2017. Don retired in 1995 after owning and operating retail businesses that included Ben Franklin and Jan’s Hallmark stores. He was an active member of the Highland Chamber of Commerce and a member of St. Paul Catholic Church-Highland.

Eli Heffron ’59 of Greenville passed away September 4, 2016. Eli taught elementary school from 1962 until his retirement in 1989.

His wife Maxine (Cook ’67) survives.

John Molin ’60 of Auburn, IN, died February 28, 2017. For more than 40 years, he served various roles in education, including teacher, principal, college professor and dean.

James Wallace ’60 died December 5, 2016.

James served as a teacher and administrator in Ohio public schools for more than 36 years.

He also served various churches as a pianist and organist.

Dr. Conrad “Doug” Collins ’61 passed away December 18, 2016. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam conflict as a surgeon.

For more than 40 years, he practiced medicine in Plainville, CT. Also an entrepreneur and businessman, he founded and helped lead companies in fields as diverse as health care, construction and technology.

Rev. James “Jim” Kirk ’61 died February 23, 2017, in Yakima, WA. A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Jim pastored various churches in the Pacific Northwest and Canada before retiring in 1999.

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ALUMNI NEWS

Elizabeth (Johnson ’45) Johnson of Platteville, WI, died December 15, 2016.

She taught high school home economics and county extension classes, and enjoyed life as a busy mother and farm wife. She was a lifelong member of the Livingston Free Methodist Church.

Marjorie (Rhines ’47) Tonn of Jesup, IA, died February 9, 2017. She worked with special needs students in community schools.

Harold Kemp ’64 of Greenville, IL, died October 26, 2016. He received his master of arts in counseling from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville and worked for Greenville College and Bond County Community Unit No. 2. He also pastored the Mt. Gilead Cumberland Presbyterian Church for more than 20 years.

Naomi Vought ’64 passed away November 14, 2016. She worked as the head nurse of a medical floor at West Suburban Hospital in Oak Park, IL, until her appointment by the Free Methodist Church to the Greenville Mission Hospital in Natal, South Africa, a facility started by Greenville College graduates.

Upon her return to the U.S., she served at Utlaut Hospital in Greenville, IL, for more than 30 years.

Bruce Bellen ’65 passed away January 13, 2016, in Indianapolis, IN, after a long battle with ALS. He is survived by his wife Gail (Stiver ’65) and children Amy (Bellen ’90) Dillow, Scott ’93 and Ann. Rev. Karen (Zahniser ’65) Bettacchi of Lexington, MA, died March 22, 2017, of complications from Alzheimer’s disease. An ordained Episcopal priest, Karen served various congregations, blessing many with pastoral insight that brought love, kindness and truth into the same moment with grace.

ALUMNI NEWS

Luella (Monday ’65) Edwards died August 24, 2016. She retired in 2004 after 40 years teaching music in elementary schools. She sang with multiple church choirs and entertained at local nursing homes.

Sterling Schoen ’65 of Alhambra, IL, died January 23, 2017. Sterling taught music, band and swing choir for 30 years in Granite City schools. He also served as a chaplain with the state prison system, taught Sunday School and served on the board of Hitz Memorial Home.

Raymond Diston ’66, passed away January 11, 2017. He worked as a teacher and a youth minister, and later assisted guests at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Kissimmee, FL. He loved meeting new people and learning new ideas.

Larry Iberg ’67 of Springfield, IL, formerly of Greenville, passed away April 2, 2017. Larry worked for the United Parcel Service for 25 years. In retirement, he worked in car sales and ran a lawn mowing business. His wife Nancy (Gross ’76) survives.

Rev. Theodore Cutrell ’68 of Greenwood, IN, passed away November 12, 2016. He pastored Free Methodist and United Methodist churches in Illinois and Indiana.

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Dennis Cassell ’69 of Asheboro, NC, passed away October 22, 2016. He was a retired teacher and coach, an active volunteer for Faith Christian School in Ramseur, NC, and a loving husband, father and grandfather.

John Gisselbeck ’69 died January 29, 2017, in Miltonvale, KS. He taught grade school briefly before joining Twin Valley Telephone, where he worked until his retirement in 2011.

He participated in various civic groups and held membership in the Clay Center United Methodist Church.

Rosemary (Hager ’69) Weis of Hudson, FL, passed away August 11, 2016. She was a retired schoolteacher.

James “Jim” Scanland ’70 passed away March 12, 2017, in Colville, WA. Jim’s broad range of interests included refurbishing cars, working leather and playing the trumpet and piano. For much of his life, Jim served as a minister in the Midwest.

Jim McCasland ’72 of Greenville passed away April 16, 2017. He expanded his family’s sand and gravel business into a distribution enterprise, which he operated until his retirement in 2007.

Judith Wickersham ’72 of Vandalia, IL, passed away March 2, 2017. She had a career as an insurance underwriter.

Charl Stowe ’74 of Greenville, IL, died August 12, 2016. After retiring from his law practice in 2012, he continued to serve others by providing pro bono legal counsel.

Ronald LaGant ’75 of Greenville passed away November 28, 2016. He was an independent contractor who previously worked for Nevco Scoreboard Company and Greenville College.

Sheila (Kinney ’75) Ranly of Sturgeon Bay, WI, passed away December 5, 2016. She was a retired first class hospital corpsman with the U.S. Naval Reserve, a volunteer firefighter for almost 20 years, an EMT first responder and emergency room tech. Her home was always open to those in need.

Patricia (Peters ’76) Brown passed away in October 2014, after a long struggle with cancer.

She was a park ranger at the Grand Canyon.

Jeannette (Bateman ’78) Hand passed away January 1, 2017, in Vincennes, IN. A lifelong schoolteacher, Jean enjoyed traveling and membership in the Wandering Wheels, a coastto-coast bicycling organization. Jean’s siblings— brother Frank ’77 and sisters Marcia ’77 and Jan ’78—also attended Greenville College.

Connie (Grisham ’81) Hargrave of Fairfield, OH, died November 8, 2016. She taught school for 27 years and served various churches alongside her husband in ministry.

Carolyn Hunter ’84 of Greenville passed away February 10, 2017. She taught special education classes in several school districts and also worked for Basler Electric.

Kurt McGrath ’86 of Grandview, TX, passed away September 18, 2016. He served as executive director of administration services for Alvarado Independent School District and coached football, soccer and basketball.

Vanessa Vassar ’93 of Godfrey, IL, passed away March 26, 2017, after a 14-year battle with amyloidosis and acute leukemia. She served as an early childhood mental health consultant for the State of Illinois and taught at Lewis and Clark Community College.

David Snow ’00 of St. Louis, MO, died August 31, 2017. A lifelong learner, David retired in 1998 from his work as state relations manager for AT&T and went on to complete his bachelor’s degree at GC. He served on executive boards of the American Marketing Association and Junior Achievement, and participated in the Illinois Community College Economic/Workforce Development Association (ICCEDA). He was a U.S. Navy veteran.

Doris Wessling ’02 of Bartelso, IL, died January 19, 2017.

Frances Rickman ’09 of Vandalia, IL, passed away November 14, 2016. She served as a library aide in the local high school and volunteered often in activities that raised cancer awareness.

Longtime member of the GC community Anita Krober of Greenville passed away March 2, 2017. Anita managed the student union from 1962 until 1970. She and her husband Howard enjoyed more than 66 years together before his death in 2006. They are the parents of GC alumni Wendel ’63, Leslie ’69 and Kent ’78.

Delbert Catron, former professor and vice president of student development at Greenville College, passed away September 21, 2016.

His long tenure at GC included teaching in the education and psychology departments and directing teacher education. He retired in 1994.

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WHY I GIVE

From left to right, Jesse ’11, Lolly, Elle ’16, Brent ’82 and Logan ’14 Shaw

Years ago when our children were very young, we chose to establish a living trust and designated a certain percentage of our estate to go to Greenville College. I graduated from GC in 1982 and have always been grateful for the

education I received there, the relationships I established and the wonderful memories that I made.

I wanted to be able to give back, in a tangible form, something that would give someone else that same opportunity.

—Brent Shaw ’82

Greenville University Vision: We offer a transformational Christ-centered educational experience that empowers, enriches and endures.

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GREENVILLE UNIVERSITY SUMMER 2017

GREENVILLE, ILLINOIS 62246 greenville.edu

Help Us Inaugurate

greenville university September 20, 2017 Dedication of Hogue Memorial Tower Convocation Chapel Colloquia 125th Celebration Bash Fireworks LEARN MORE AT: greenville.edu/university 26

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