Remembering Grafton “Mac” Thomas ’37 Sadly, Olivet alumnus Grafton McCready “Mac” Thomas ’37 died March 5 at Northport Highlands under hospice care. He was born Nov. 17, 1915 in Chicago and grew up in Hinsdale, Ill., as the oldest of seven children. During his time as a student at Olivet College, Mac was active in basketball and track, setting a mile record for the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association and an Olivet mile record that held for 25 years. It was here that he met Ruth Adeline Yotter ’38 of Angola, Ind., and the two were married in 1940. Ruth preceded him in death in 2011. After graduating in the middle of the Depression, Mac held several jobs in Chicago before returning to school to obtain teaching credentials. He then took a job teaching history and coaching track at Three Rivers High School. On one road trip, he walked his team out of a restaurant when two AfricanAmerican members were denied service. In 1942 he volunteered for the war but was medically discharged. In 1943 he was employed with Campbell Soup Company. During this time he formed an interracial group in La Grange, Ill., to address racial discrimination. The war had a profound effect on Mac, leading him to enroll at the University of Chicago Theological Seminary, where he earned a Master of Divinity. Eventually he would serve six United Church of Christ churches as a minister. Mac liked challenges and was drawn to taking on congregations that were struggling. He worked for social and racial justice in several cities. In Ohio he initiated pulpit exchanges between an urban black congregation and rural white churches. In central Illinois he led a successful movement to thwart a local gambling syndicate
which had infiltrated the county court. He served on the Human Relations Commission in Alton and prompted a boycott of a local grocery chain for discriminatory hiring practices. In Chicago he served a church in a decaying neighborhood, where his efforts at community organization were often frustrated. He was also active in opposition to the Daley political machine and the Mafia’s interference in elections. Mac and Ruth were active in the Northport community, attending grandsons’ sporting events, participating in the 10K Run for Funds and the Lions Club. Mac founded the Cracker Barrel and Circle groups in Leelanau County which still meet regularly to discuss current topics. He was thrilled to watch the progress of the recently completed wind turbine in Northport that began from one of these discussion sessions.
Mac loved many outdoor activities, which included his passions for canoeing and golf, playing his last round in October. In his late 80s Mac picked up a paint brush and started painting his fence and shed with folk art scenes and animals of Northport. He and Ruth enjoyed summers in Northport surrounded by their four children and families. A celebration of Mac’s life will be held Friday, July 5 at 4:30 p.m. at Trinity Church in Northport, with a picnic to follow at Peterson Park.
athletic administration. He and wife, Tyshika, have a son, DeWitt Dawkins Jr., 2. E-mail DeWitt at dyastyinc99@gmail.com.
DeWitt Dawkins ’07 is a math teacher, technology information educator, AVID team member and head basketball coach at the Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School in Fort Worth, Texas. He is also a Focus Leadership team member. DeWitt earned his master’s in coaching and
Tracey (Fix) Nofs ’07 is the director of marketing with Inter Technologies Corporation, an audio visual solutions company,
SHIPHERD’s RECORD
Mauricio “Moe” Palli ’07 is a training and development manager at H & M national corporate customer service in Chicago. He is responsible for the development of 15 to 20 agents. Since starting with H & M, a fashion retail business with more than 2,800 stores in 49 markets, “Moe” has traveled to Europe three times. E-mail “Moe” at Mauricio.palli@hm.com.
Katie Kilmartin ’08 is a full-time trauma therapist at The Center for Women in Transition in Holland. Katie works with adults and children who are survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. E-mail Katie at katiek@aplaceforwomen.org.
Emma Henson ’09 works with the general manager of TMZ in Los Angeles to facilitate and coordinate meetings within various departments. E-mail Emma at emma.alyse@hotmail.com.
what many spiritual people in India believe to be the most auspicious day in the last 144 years. The journey was aided by great friend and fraternity brother, Navneet Singh ’01, who lives in New Delhi. E-mail Nicholas at nhannar1410@gmail.com.
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Mauricio “Moe” Palli ’07
Kelli Roe ’08, PA-C, is working in cardiothoracic surgery at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. E-mail Kelli at kelli.roe@gmail.com.
Richard Rasmussen ’35, M.D.; Ruth (Yotter) ’38; and Mac Thomas ’37
DeWitt Dawkins ’07 and his wife, Tyshika
Christine Moulton ’11 finished her first half marathon in the Martian Invasion of Races in Dearborn April 13 at a time of 2:16:31. She will pursue a master’s degree at the University of Michigan this fall. E-mail Christine at moulton.c7@gmail.com.
in Mishawaka, Ind. Tracey, husband, Matt, and son, Caleb, have relocated from Sarasota, Fla., where Tracey was a marketing and traffic specialist for Coldwell Banker. E-mail Tracey at t.a.fix@hotmail.com.
Jennifer Martin ’09 earned her master’s degree in social work from the University of Southern California. Her goal is to continue to work with youth and families in the juvenile justice system. E-mail Jennifer at jmartin87@ymail.com.
2010
Mark Gouba ’12 starred as Jesus in the production of “Jesus Christ Superstar” at the Franke Center for the Arts in Marshall in March. Mark works at Farm Bureau Insurance in Lansing. E-mail Mark at mdgouba@gmail.com. Christine Moulton ’11
Kelsey Miller ’12 is currently serving a year-long term for AmeriCorps in Arizona, working 32 hours a week at the service sight and six hours at a local church. In July she will begin a master’s program in social work at the University of Michigan. E-mail Kelsey at kmiller0726@gmail.com. Chelsie Whitesall ’12 is in the master’s program for marriage and family therapy at Antioch University in Keene, N.H. She is an intern therapist at Wediko Children’s Center. E-mail Chelsea at cwhitesall@gmail.com.
Marriages Grant MacKenzie ’96 and Julie Lilienthal, May 26, 2012, St. Patrick Church, Wyandotte. E-mail Grant at grantmackenzie@me.com. Chris Quackenbush ’07 and Danielle Soria, April 13, Victorian Chapel, Waterford. Chris Coon ’08, Ryan Hayes ’07, Ryan Ward ex’08 and Carl Werner ’07 were ushers.
Jennifer Martin ’09
Desmond Tillman ’07 and Melina Burciaga, January 26.
Joe Cleveland ’10 is coordinator of family and community engagement at the Gateway Middle School in St. Louis. He is also the junior varsity basketball coach at Gateway STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) High School. E-mail Joe at joecleve7@gmail.com. Alyssa “Ali” Fredrick ’11 presented research in San Diego on the Psychophysiological and Immunological Effects of Adaptive Sense of Humor and Laughter during Stress at the Association of Applied Therapeutic Humor Annual Conference in April. She earned her master’s degree in pre-doctoral clinical health psychology from Northern Arizona University. E-mail Ali at redrick10@gmail.com. Serafin Llerena ’11 is a paraprofessional/teaching assistant at Lighthouse Academy in Grand Rapids. Wife, Chelsey Sue SmithLlerena ’12 is a jewelry specialist at Kay Jewelers in Battle Creek. They also own C & S Blueberry Farms in Bangor. E-mail Serafin at sllerena87@gmail.com and Chelsey at chelse2224@yahoo.com.
James Boyd ’09 and his wife, Sara
James Boyd ’09 Chris Quackenbush, ’07 and Sara and his wife, Danielle Rushford, March 2, Saginaw Valley State University Founders Hall, University Center; the reception was at the Black Forest Brew Pub in Frankenmuth. Matthew Reinhardt ’08 was best man; Jennifer (Olson) Reinhardt ’08 read a poem. E-mail James at james.boyd@fmins.com.
Joanne Osborn ’09 and Gregory Miller, April 6, Marshall Country Club. Mike Fales ’75 officiated; Caitlin Osborn ’11 was the maid of honor; Kellie (Carden) Gouba ’11 and Amanda (Roy) Gouba ’11 were bridesmaids; Mark Gouba ’12 and Jeremy Adams ’10 were ushers, and Jeremy sang as Joanne walked down the aisle. Joanne is the SPRING 2013
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