Ocean Beat N OVEMBER 2 015
The Official Publication of the Texas Southern University Ocean of Soul Alumni Chapter
Texas Southern University Ocean of Soul Alumni Chapter Officers Garnet Foster President
The Texas Southern University National Alumni Association Ocean of Soul Chapter would like to extend a Special Thanks to the Homecoming Tailgate Committee for an Outstanding Job in organizing the tailgate. Special Thanks to Marcus “Chino� Montgomery for barbecuing all of the meat
Joselyn Coats V. P. of Membership Kevin Jernigan Treasurer Pamela Scott Recording Secretary Cynthia Gardner Corresponding Secretary Leonard Faniuel Sergeant At Arms Donald Greer Parliamentarian Khary Boykins Financial Secretary Donald Black Communications If you want to submit information to the TSUOOSAC Newsletter, please email information to: Oceanalumni@gmail.com or mail to: Texas Southern University National Alumni Association Ocean of Soul Chapter P.O. Box 88155 Houston , Texas 77288
Cover Photo Courtesy of Walter Williams, National Showband Association
New Scholarship Brunch Flyer
TSU NEWS TSU Maps Out a Plan to Better Secure its Campus
Texas Southern University took a major step to unify national, state and local law enforcement agencies to help secure and protect its campus. The TSU police department hosted a round table discussion to look at procedures, personnel and protocol when dealing with crime and crime prevention in our area. TSU President, Dr. John M. Rudley told the law officers that Texas Southern is in the business of educating students and that we need their help as experts to keep our campus safe. “I want to send a message to the community that this is not a one day story,” President Rudley emphasized. “We will deal with this issue of protecting our students, faculty and staff 365 days a year.” The agencies involved included the Texas Southern University Police Department, the Houston Police Department, the Metro Police Department, Harris County Constable’s Office-Precinct 7, Texas DPS Highway Patrol-Region 2, Texas DPS Texas Rangers-Region 2, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms, Federal Bureau of Investigation and the US Attorney General’s Office. Dr. Rudley and his law enforcement leaders said five initiatives and recommendations that were presented in the task force meeting will be implemented immediately. They are: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Build stronger relationships and partnerships with area federal, state, and other local law enforcement agencies Enhance visibility on campus by utilizing alternative mobility units (bicycle officers, etc.) Conduct community forums with students and hold specific training sessions with them Apply for grants to supplement the police operations Utilize technology as a force-multiplier (cell phone apps, etc.)
Texas Southern will also have a threat assessment done on the campus. “Securing TSU’s campus is a priority for us and this discussion with the various law enforcement agencies, I believe, will assist us elevating our level of security at Texas Southern University,” said President Rudley.
Letter from the TSU Board of Regents
TSU ATHLETICS Texas Southern University honors TSU – NFL Alumni
As part of a festive week of activities during Homecoming, Texas Southern University paid tribute to some of their very own. Texas Southern University saluted a number of our Fighting Tigers at the “Tigers in the NFL—A First and Goal Celebration” that paid homage to some of the biggest names that ever laced up cleats and proudly wore the maroon and grey on the football field. The event proudly honored: Melvin Baker, Raymond Baylor, Greg Briggs, Joe Burch, Kenny Burrough, Oliver Celestin, Darrell Colbert, Larry Crowe, Fredrick Dean, Willie Ellison, James Ford –family, Charles Frazier, Kevin Harris, W.K. Hicks, Winston Hill, Ernie Holmes-family, Jack Holmes, Mike Holmes, Roy Hopkins-family, Nate Johnson, Leroy Mitchell, Lloyd Mumphord, Harold Paul, Charles Philyaw, Andrew Rice, Marvell Simmons, Larry Smiley, Davis Thomas, Warren Wells, and James Williams.
Prairie View 38 - Texas Southern 11 Texas Southern 63 - Bacone College 0 Texas Southern 24 - Arkansas Pine-Bluff - 20
Jackson State 34 - Texas Southern 30 Alabama State 41 - Texas Southern 23 Mississippi Valley 49
- Texas Southern 21
Southern 40 - Texas Southern 21 Texas Southern | College of Faith - Postponed
HOMECOMING 2015
Photos Courtesy of National Showband Association
HOMECOMING 2015
Photos Courtesy of National Showband Association
OCEAN FLASHBACK
Gulf Coast Concert Band under the Direction of Benjamin J. Butler, II Seven Acres Retirement Home 6200 North Braeswood | Houston, Texas Veterans Day Concert Sunday, November 8, 2015 2: 30 PM
OCEAN SCHEDULE Saturday Red River State Fair Classic Nov 7 Texas Southern v. Grambling |Shreveport, Louisiana 2:00 PM Saturday Texas Southern v. Alcorn State Nov 14 BBVA Compass Stadium | Houston, Texas 1:00 PM Thursday World Weight Lifting Championship Nov 19 George R. Brown Convention Center| Houston, Texas 7:00 PM Thursday 66th Annual H.E.B Thanksgiving Day Parade Nov 26 Downtown Houston 9:00 AM
OCEAN SPOTLIGHT
Kirk Whalum | Ocean Alumnus
Kirk Whalum was born in Memphis, Tennessee. He attended Melrose High School and Texas Southern University where he was a member of the World Famous Ocean of Soul Marching Band. In addition to singing in his father's church choir, Whalum learned to love music from his grandmother, Thelma Twigg Whalum, a piano teacher, and two uncles, Wendell Whalum and Hugh "Peanuts" Whalum, who performed with jazz bands around the country. He told John H. Johnson's magazine Ebony Man in a 1994 profile, "The music I like to play and write encompasses the four elements I grew up with: Memphis R&B, gospel, rock, and jazz. The emphasis, though, is on melody, period.� In 1986, he performed at Jean Michel Jarre's giant concerts Rendez-Vous Houston and Rendez-Vous Lyon. At each concert, he performed the track "Last Rendez-Vous", also known as "Ron's Piece", in place of Jarre and Whalum's mutual friend, saxophonist and astronaut Ron McNair, who died in the Challenger disaster. Whalum has worked on a number of film scores, including those for The Prince of Tides, Boyz n the Hood, The Bodyguard, Grand Canyon, and Cousins (film). In 2005 Whalum recorded the Babyface Songbook (2005) with R&B icon Babyface's best songs of the past 15 years, including "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)", "I'll Make Love to You", "When Can I See You", and others. Joining in the intimate and stylish proceedings are other smooth jazz notables, including trumpeter Rick Braun, soprano saxophone player Dave Koz, and guitarists Norman Brown and Chuck Loeb among others. On June 20, 2014, Whalum was the inaugural Jazz Legend honoree of the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville, Tennessee. In September 2015, it was announced that Whalum would be joining the faculty of Visible Music College in Memphis, Tennessee.
IN MEMORIAM Terrance Thompson Ocean 1985 and 1988 - Bass Drum