Alumni and Friends Corner

ClassNotes

’50s | RICHARD TUCKER ’59, a sculptor from Custer, SD, was the alumni artist for our Homecoming 2015 art show. He also designed and created this year’s Distinguished Alumnus award. Thank you, Richard!

’60s |

SARAH FREY

’69 and daughter

LEESA FREY FREEMAN

’96 returned to McMurry homecoming to fulfill the last wish of their husband and father, GORDON FREY ’69. Gordon was Freshman Class President in the fall of 1965 and was very involved with Homecoming and the bonfire; his wish was to have his ashes scattered in the bonfire at Homecoming. The family received permission from the president and honored that wish this year with many family members and friends attending. ’80s | DAVID OSBORN ’83 has been promoted to executive vice president and chief lending officer at WestStar Bank in El Paso. He has 32 years of lending experience and continues to oversee the bank’s lending activity, including managing all lending officers.

SUSAN NIX ’86 has been working at West Texas A&M University since 2003. She earned her M.Ed. and Ed.D. from Texas Tech University in 1996 and 2001 respectively. She has taught elementary school and served as an assistant principal, and principal before becoming the program chair for the Educational Leadership program. As of September 1, 2015 she is officially a full professor. Susan writes, “I am humbled, knowing all the individuals and various committees who were included in the process of examining my work. I share this with you because of my excitement about the next journey I am about to undertake. And, I am proud of the first step that took place with graduation from McMurry.” ’90s | JOLISA HOOVER ’92 has been selected as a full-time Washington Fellow for the U.S. Department of Education’s 2015 Teaching Ambassador Fellows Program. JoLisa is a founding 2008 Classroom Fellow and 2014 Alumni Fellow from the Leander School District in Texas where she has taught fourth grade at River Ridge Elementary School. Congratulations JoLisa!

JENNY (TERRELL) FEENSTRA ’99 and husband Nathan welcomed a baby girl, Katelyn Elizabeth, in January 2015. In February, Jenny was elected SecretaryTreasurer of the Texas Optometric Association. And in May she was honored with the “Volunteer of the Year” award from the University of Houston College of Optometry. Congratulations on all the great life events, Jenny!

SCOTT JAMESON ’99 was promoted to chief operating officer at West Texas Rehabilitation Center. A Coleman native, Scott has been with WTRC since 2002, and has served as director of the organization’s orthotics/prosthetics departments in Abilene and San Angelo the last six years. Congratulations Scott!

’00s |

KIMBERLY STANSBURY

’00 received Teacher of the Year for the 2014-2015 school year for Noel Elementary in Odessa, Texas, where Kimberly has taught fourth grade for eight years. This is the second time in three years she has received this award; previously it was for 20112012. Kimberly is pictured with Board of Trustees Secretary Teri Ervin, Board of Trustees President Dr. Steve Brown, Board Member Doyle Woodall, and Superintendent Tom Crow. Way to go Kimberly!

LORIE SPRAGUE ’01 graduated from Stephen F. Austin University with a Masters of Education in May 2015. She is currently working towards her Educational Diagnostician Certification. She is employed by the Krum Independent School District as a pre-kindergarten and PPCD teacher. Pictured with Lorie are her husband, Mark Sprague ‘01, their oldest daughter, Victoria and their youngest daughter, Amelia.

DAVID ‘01 & TRACI STOUT WALKER

’02 welcomed Emma Jo Walker on May 12, 2015. Emma Jo joins big sister Tyler Ann, age seven. Congratulations Walker family!

DR. DREW HILLHOUSE

’03, a biology graduate who received his Ph.D. in medical microbiology from University of Missouri-Columbia, has accepted a position as research assistant professor in the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology at Texas A&M University. He will also be the assistant director of the Texas A&M Institute for Genome Sciences and Society. In his capacity, he will be collaborating with McMurry scientists on projects of mutual interest. Drew is the son of McMurry alumna, and member of the Science Wall of Honor, DR. LEE ANN ODOM HILLHOUSE ’76 and nephew of Head of Security MARK ODOM ’82. Congratulations Dr. Hillhouse!

TYSON ALEXANDER

’05 and wife Lisa share a photo of their son Jase in his Future McMurry War Hawk bib!

ANA BARRIENTOS

MCBRIDE ’05 and her three sisters were featured on Good Morning America to share their story on becoming debt free.

ANNALISE ALLEN

’06 and Russell Allen share a photo of their son sporting his Future McMurry War Hawk bib – thanks for sharing Allen family! TJ HUNTER ’06 is pictured with his new daughter wearing her Future McMurry War Hawk bib. Thank you for sharing this with us, TJ!

MATT ‘07 & KELLY PROCTOR ’08

welcomed a little boy, John Ellis Proctor, on July 24, 2014. Here he is in his Future McMurry War Hawk bib! Thanks for sharing Proctor family!

Jones family!

CHARLES ’11 & ELIZABETH WHITING JONES ’10

welcomed daughter Madeline on April 7, 2015. Congratulations

ALUMNI AUTHORS

WALTER HOFHEINZ ’79 has published a coloring book of hand drawn mandalas. He originally began drawing the mandalas under the direction of Dr. Bob Monk many years ago. For more information about the book please visit ninetydays. com/book.php. The book is also available at Amazon.

LUISA R. CANTU ’08 has published her first children’s book, “Wow, My Little Bitty Baby.” It is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and EBooks.

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