UCM Magazine: Vol. 16, No. 1

® UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL MISSOURI MAGAZINE

VO L . 1 6 , N O. 1

H E AV I N R WA R N E S I N AS CE N DT E N FORGOT AN AMERIC SPORT

THIS ISSUE

celebrates several students and alumni whose achievements range from the U.S. Olympic Trials to global security, military readiness and community volunteerism.

They are fascinating reads especially in the influence that the university has had on each of their lives. Let us know what you think at ucmmagazine@ucmo.edu.

CONTENTS COVE R STORY

2

LET IT FLY: HEAVIN WARNER ASCENDS IN FORGOTTEN AMERICAN SPORT In many ways, the hammer throw can easily be called the ugly duckling of track and field. U.S. Olympic athletes Amber Campbell called it “a whirling, twirling dance of crazy” and Kevin McMahon, “a cosmic, interplanetary experience.” It would seem unlikely that one of the future’s best hammer throwers would come through Warrensburg, yet that is what happened when Heavin Warner arrived on campus.

S ECT I O N S

13 CLASS NOTES 14 AWARDS & HONORS 16 IN MEMORIAM

FE AT URE S

6

SECRET AGENT MAN

FIND US ONLINE AT

Adrian Andrews has lived on high alert, leading federal and state undercover stings and providing protection detail for presidents, vice presidents and foreign dignitaries.

8

UCMO.EDU/UCMMAGAZINE EMAIL US AT UCMMAGAZINE@UCMO.EDU OR CALL 660-543-4545

THE MAJOR GENERAL Rick Mustion, member of a rare group of exceptional leaders in the U.S. Army, operated a global information network supporting more than 710,000 active and reserve soldiers and 17 million veterans throughout the world.

NATIONAL GOLD

10 THE CONTAGIOUS ENTHUSIASM OF POWER

Dan Power has succeeded in three career paths and helped every community where he and his wife, alumna Shirley Barr, lived and raised their family. He’s one of the most enthusiastic and energetic Central Missouri graduates you will ever meet.

31 ANNUAL ST

GO

EDUCATIONA L ADVERTISIN G AWARDS

LD

AWARD

A gold in the 31st Annual Educational Advertising Awards is the third national award for the UCM Magazine, signifying our commitment to bring you the best!

P R ES I D ENT ’S M ES S AG E

MAGAZINE Vol. 16 No. 1, Summer 2016

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Dalene Abner ’09 DESIGNER

Julie Babcock PHOTOGRAPHER

Bryan Tebbenkamp ’15 ILLUSTRATOR

David Babcock

Published by UCM Alumni Foundation. © 2016 by University of Central Missouri.

All rights reserved.

Find us online: ucmo.edu/ucmmagazine Contact the editor at ucmmagazine@ucmo.edu or 660-543-4545. Submit your address updates online to ucmo.edu/mynewaddress, by email to alumni@ucmo.edu or telephone, 660-543-8000 or toll-free, 1-866-752-7257.

UCM Magazine (USPS 019-888) is published quarterly by the University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO 64093. Printed by Lane Press, 87 Meadowland Drive, South Burlington, VT 05403. Periodicals postage paid at Warrensburg, MO, and additional offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to UCM

Magazine, Smiser Alumni Center, University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO 64093.

Commitment to Success Evident in Programs, Alumni

O

ne of the University of Central Missouri’s greatest strengths is its commitment to students’ success. Did you know UCM is the first university to offer scholarships to students who stay on track to graduate in four years? The 15-to-finish scholarship encourages students to stay in college and finish on time. It’s just one of our newest initiatives, in addition to scholarships and opportunities to make college more affordable or internships and team-like learning experiences to provide students with job-ready skills.

Our attention to success means students not only graduate from UCM on time and with less debt but also leave here with the knowledge, skills and attitudes that have a positive impact on their professional lives and in their service to their communities, state, nation and even the world.

This issue of UCM Magazine features several alumni whose successes attest to the university’s positive influence. There are the 2016 Distinguished Alumni recipients who we will honor during this year’s Homecoming in October: Adrian Andrews, a Secret Service agent; Rick Mustion, U.S. Army retired major general; and Dan Power, whose volunteer leadership guided the UCM Foundation through some tough financial times. There’s also May 2016 graduate Heavin Warner. Her success in the hammer throw led to the U.S. Olympic Trials, and I predict a future spot for her on the Olympics Team USA. This is just a sample of what’s in store for you as you peruse the pages of this issue. Meanwhile, many other students, faculty, staff and alumni are continuing to inspire, impress and motivate us through their outstanding work and service.

We look forward to sharing their successes through UCM Magazine.

Joining you in service,

Chuck Ambrose PR ESIDEN T

University of Central Missouri Magazine

1

S TAT S NAM E:

Heavin Warner ACAD EM I C S:

BS Criminal Justice BS Exercise Science (in progress)

H I G H LI G H T S:

SET 6 10 TIME ALL-TIME UCM Records

All-American

Division II Record-holder in Hammer Throw

TOP 15

Throws in Division II History

12TH

Place in the Country in 2015

5TH

Place at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials

2

Vol. 16, No. 1 | ucmo.edu/ucmmagazine

BY JOE HOFFMANN

In many ways, the hammer throw can easily be called the ugly duckling of track and field.

Its very name can confuse outsiders who often wonder, “Where’s the hammer?” In this sport, where event names tend to be literal, the hammer throw elicits more questions than answers.

The hammer throw differs from other throwing events such as the shot put or discus.

Throwers are frequently sent to fields far away for fear of injuries from the flying implement. Given the potential danger, few high schools even carry the sport, so most athletes don’t pick up the hammer until college. That helps to explain why no American has won an Olympic gold in the sport since 1996 and why it wasn’t

authorized for women in the Olympics until 2000.

The biggest and strongest athletes struggle with its more technical aspects. U.S. Olympic athletes Amber Campbell called it “a whirling, twirling dance of crazy” and Kevin McMahon, “a cosmic, interplanetary experience.”

The dance comes from building momentum by spinning on your heels and toes to gain up to 60 miles per hour of velocity before letting fly the nearly four foot long, nine pound (16 for men) implement.

The “interplanetary experience” might come from the centrifugal force needed to maintain a seemingly impossible perfect harmony of speed and balance.

University of Central Missouri Magazine

3

TH ROWING A REA

“As someone who ran track throughout high school and college, attending the US Track and Field Championships was more than just a bucket list item.

“Knowing that our own Heavin Warner was going to compete, I had the bright idea to request media credentials, completely unsure if I could even go. After USATF granted my request, I got permission from UCM Athletic Director Jerry Hughes to attend, and the wheels were in motion for my first trip to the Pacific Northwest.

“Stepping onto Hayward Field, I had visions of all the great athletes and races that had taken place here, not to mention memories of my own races. It was hard not to get swept up by the grandeur of it all.

“I’ve been to games with more media attention, but in my book, an Olympic Trials blows away a regularseason NFL game any day of the week.”

Joe Hoffmann,

assistant director of athletic media relations, grew up on Long Island.

His career includes stints with the New York Jets, St. Joseph’s College and Murray State.

4

T HE HAMMER T HROW

Spectators often wonder how a heavy metal ball on a four-foot wire acquired its name. Legend traces the hammer throw to 2000 B.C. and Tara, Ireland, where the Celtic warrior Cú Chulainn gripped a chariot wheel by its axle, whirled it around his head and threw it a huge distance. The use of the sledgehammer is considered to originate in England and Scotland during the Middle Ages.

W E L C O M E T O WA R R E N S B U R G

The hammer is thrown from a circle with a 7-foot diameter.

Competitors may touch the inside of the cage’s rim but cannot touch the top during the throw.

TECH NIQU E

Inside the cage, the athlete gathers momentum by swinging the hammer around their head.

hammer throw. She had improved by more than 35 feet from her freshman season and won her first of three straight national titles.

Her first trip to the U.S. National Championships came a year later. She went to Eugene, ranked 12th in the country and that’s where she finished. In 2016, after winning her third national crown, she became just the 20th woman in NCAA DII history to win three championships in the same event, the 14th to do so in consecutive years and the first to do either in the hammer throw.

Warner has an uncanny ability to shine when lights are brightest and stakes the highest. Having claimed five of UCM’s six outdoor throwing records, she had one last throw to set the only record she didn’t own, the outdoor shot put. In her final throw in a competition for UCM, she broke the record, launching the shot put 53 feet, 3 1/2 inches, the equivalent of a walk-off home run or buzzer-beating three-point shot.

It would seem unlikely that one of the future’s best hammer throwers would come through Warrensburg. Yet that is what happened in 2011 when Heavin Warner joined the UCM track and field team. She came to campus from Benton High School in St. Joseph, MO, where she competed in cross country, soccer, basketball and softball and was even the kicker on the all-boys football team.

She had never thrown the hammer.

Throwing coach Tucker Woolsey says hammer throwers typically need 10 years to reach their full potential. In just five years, Warner has become the all-time NCAA Division II hammer throw record-holder with a 227-feet, 5-inch mark. She has each of the top 15 throws in DII history, holds six UCM records, is a 10-time All-American and the 2016 U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Women’s Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year. In July, competing at the U.S. Olympic Trials, she finished fifth, just two shy of making the trip to Rio. Warner’s storied UCM career is astounding. As a redshirt-sophomore in A BOV E : Heavin Warner and throwing coach Tucker Woolsey celebrate her success en route to her 2014, she competed winning three national hammer throw titles. in her first NCAA RI G H T: Warner also won 10 All-American awards, Championships in the including the shot put, discus and weight throw.

Vol. 16, No. 1 | ucmo.edu/ucmmagazine

TRACKTOWN USA Warner’s presence compels attention.

The way she throws the hammer is almost like a work of art. In her hands, the nearly nine pound ball of steel floats delicately through the air. And like a rock star, her

ADRIAN ANDREWS HAS LIVED ON HIGH ALERT DURING HIS 28 YEARS WITH THE SECRET SERVICE, LEADING FEDERAL AND STATE UNDERCOVER STINGS AND PROVIDING PROTECTION DETAIL FOR PRESIDENTS, VICE PRESIDENTS AND FOREIGN DIGNITARIES.

6

Vol. 16, No. 1 | ucmo.edu/ucmmagazine

RICK MUSTION, AS A MAJOR GENERAL IN THE US ARMY, OPERATED A GLOBAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND SUPPORT NETWORK THAT REACHED MORE THAN 710,000 SOLDIERS AND 17 MILLION VETERANS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

8

Vol. 16, No. 1 | ucmo.edu/ucmmagazine

“ T O S AY T H AT M Y E D U C AT I O N AT U C M W A S I M P O RT A N T TO MY SUCCESSES L AT E R I N L I F E W O U L D B E L I K E S AY I N G I T I S I M P O RT A N T T O B R E AT H E O X Y G E N .

THE CURRICULUM A N D FA C U LT Y OPENED DOORS IN ALL ASPECTS OF MY LIFE, AND THE SAME O P P O RT U N I T I E S EXIST FOR STUDENTS AT U C M T O D AY. ”

10

Vol. 16, No. 1 | ucmo.edu/ucmmagazine

Light Years Ahead A LUMNI ADVIS OR N E T WO RK ADVAN TAG EO U S F OR 201 6 G RA D UAT E

I

the classes you take, but the hands you shake. This mantra burned into Robert Roloff’s memory as a freshman and stuck with him throughout his years at the University of Central Missouri. It helped him land a long-term internship on campus with Sodexo, the dining services company, by networking with Tau Kappa Epsilon alumni. When it was time for the 2016 graduate to further explore career options, the UCM Alumni Advisor Network was a natural first step.

Though it can be intimidating to reach out to alumni, Roloff believes “connections are huge. [The Alumni Advisor Network] is one of the best and easiest ways to connect with someone. If an alum is signed up, it means they’re willing to help you gain experience or knowledge about their career or industry.”

Roloff wisely took a couple of classes in sales but had no idea where to apply his degree in marketing. Through the UCM Alumni Advisor Network, he contacted Michael “Jerry” Roberts ’86, a senior director at Microsoft, for an insider’s perspective.

T’S NOT AB OUT

THE UCM ALUMNI ADVISOR NETWORK The UCM Alumni Advisor Network, powered by Firsthand, connects students and alumni for one-on-one career advice, mock interviews and resume critiques. It’s quick and easy to join at ucm.firsthand.co.

12

Vol. 16, No. 1 | ucmo.edu/ucmmagazine

alumni was emphasized by both of Roloff’s advisors. Impressed by Roloff’s eagerness to learn and his thoughtfully prepared questions. Roberts said, “If I used this platform when I was a student, I would’ve been light years ahead.”

Ferguson also elaborated on the power of networking. “Who you know makes things happen quicker and easier.

Even if they can’t help you directly, they’ll know someone who does and connect you.” Ferguson said that while he may not know a current UCM student personally, “you have to have the aptitude that no one is a stranger.” He

Roberts told Roloff that marketing goes beyond brand management and involves areas like public relations, operations and technology. “It’s great to have a focus, but keep the doors open,” Roberts advised.

Knowing his degree was suited for many different careers gave Roloff the confidence to begin his job search through a wide-angle lens.

With the UCM’s Career Expo coming up, Roloff looked forward to applying Roberts’ advice. But he also needed a great resume to get his foot in the door and impress the hundreds of companies and job ROBERT ROLOFF ’16 JERRY ROBERTS ’86 ANDREW FERGUSON ’08 recruiters coming to campus.

For a resume critique, and Roloff discovered many common Roloff again turned to the Alumni ties by sharing college memories and Advisor Network, contacting Andrew career goals and reminiscing Ferguson ’08, director of media at North about Warrensburg.

American Savings Bank.

As a recent alum, Roloff is eager to give “Looking at the changes Andrew back to UCM and join the advisor side of made, my resume became much stronger the platform. “If someone is a freshman and more appealing,” Roloff said. He marketing student looking for advice, credits his consultations on the UCM I’d happily give it to them now. I hope Alumni Advisor Network with helping that instead of struggling senior year him land a consulting analyst position to find a job, students learn to with Cerner Corporation. make connections while The importance of the UCM Alumni they’re younger.” n Advisor Network for students and

1950–1959 Norman Brooks ’57 and wife, Wanda (Wood) ’56 celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary July 6 and were greatgrandparents in June. They are both retired from Raytown, MO, where Norm was a middle school principal and Wanda, a business teacher. They live in Green Valley, AZ.

1960–1969 William C. Walton ’66 worked 41 years as a regional sales manager, traveling across five states. He was given early retirement in 2008 and is living in the Lake of the Ozarks area.

1970–1979 Cheryl Aylesworth ’71 has retired as principal of Hillsboro (MO) High School. She earned a master’s in guidance and counseling and a secondary administration certification from Southeast Missouri State University. She has been married 42 years and has three children: Matt of St. Louis, MO; Ben of New York City; and Jate of Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. She has four grandchildren: Ethan, Sydney, Andie and Navy.

Gregory Cecil ’75 was appointed to the Parking Task Force by the mayor and city council of Columbia, MO. Ellie Kunkel ’79 ’83 has been named the dean of the School of Education at Peru State College in Nebraska. Kunkel began working at the college in 2003.

Most recently, she served as interim dean of the School of Education after returning from a hiatus where she was interim coordinator of teacher education at Fortune School of Education in Sacramento, CA. Kunkel’s career spans more than 35 years in education including 15 years teaching physical education in

Missouri high schools and more than 10 years of teaching at the collegiate level. Kunkel has also worked in college administration with service to UCM as the director of NCAA compliance and as interim director of athletics at Peru State College. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UCM before earning an education specialist degree at Middle Tennessee State University and a doctorate from Tennessee State University.

S

CLAS S NOT ES

A

TU

R DA

Y

R OCTOBED

22N

1980–1989 Russell Hayward ’80 has been hired by the American Industrial Hygiene Association as managing director of scientific and technical initiatives. He serves as a technical expert in industrial hygiene to AIHA staff, bringing a sense of connection to activities of the organization and helping to keep staff abreast of relevant emerging IH issues and other related information that may affect ongoing projects and programs. He most recently worked as the Americas IH manager at ExxonMobil Corporation where he had a 29-year career. Prior to his work at ExxonMobil, he worked as a site industrial hygienist for Dow Chemical Corporation and as an industrial hygiene compliance officer for the Michigan Department of Public Health.

Dwight Tosh ’81 was the guest speaker at Black River Technical College’s Law Enforcement Training Academy graduation in northeast Arkansas in April. Tosh, a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives, retired as captain of the Arkansas State Police after 36 years of service.

He also served as SWAT team leader for the Arkansas State Police where he received two official commendations. He was trained as a hostage negotiator by the FBI and is a graduate of the National Crime Prevention

• 8 a.m., free donuts and coffee at the Alumni Breakfast • 9 a.m., indoor seating for the Homecoming Parade in Smiser Alumni Center • After parade, cheers and fun at our Alumni Tailgate at Achauer House THIS WILL BE OUR MOST POWERFUL HOMECOMING YET! U C M F O U N D AT I O N. O R G / H O M E C O M I N G

Institute in Louisville, KY. He earned his police management skills at UCM as well as Northwestern University where he focused on hostage and highrisk incidents.

Jim Haworth ’84 has been appointed as an independent director of Conn’s Home Stores, a specialty retailer currently operating in more than 100 locations in 12 states: Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. Haworth has more than three decades of retail experience including 20 years at Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., where he rose through the ranks from

assistant store manager to COO. He also served as executive vice president, president of retail services and transformation officer at Sears Holding Corp.

He is the founder and president of Business Decisions Inc., a strategic product marketing firm, as well as chair, president and CEO of C.P. Lotus Corp., an investment holding company with retail interests in China.

Michael Romstad ’86 was promoted to senior vice president of property management with Simon Mills Property Group.

Romstad, who has worked with Simon nearly 20 years, has served as mall manager at many key properties, including Battlefield Mall in Springfield, MO, and

University of Central Missouri Magazine

13

C L AS S NO T E S

The Fashion Centre at Pentagon City in Arlington, VA. In 2003, he was promoted to regional vice president of Simon’s MidAtlantic mall region and oversaw four different regions comprising more than 60 regional malls.

Romstad has also served as the property management point person on 15 mall renovations.

Ray Spadoni ’87 has completed his master of education degree with an emphasis in child development from Drury University in Springfield, MO. He has also been initiated into Kappa Delta Pi and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies and will be pursuing his doctorate in education leadership and policy in the fall.

Mark Schollmeyer ’89 was recently promoted to senior support engineering specialist for the Quality Engineering Division at Honeywell Federal Manufacturing and Technologies in Kansas City. He lives in Blue Springs, MO, with his wife, Patricia, and their two children, Zachary and Maria.

1990–1999 Jeff McLanahan ’90 was recently recognized as a Certified Franchise Executive™ by the Institute of Certified Franchise Executives™. Jeff is vice president of training at Direct Energy, one of the largest retail providers of electricity, natural gas and home services in North America.

Michael Giovannini ’93 ’95 is director of safety for Key Lime Air in Englewood, CO. David Kaibel ’98 and wife, Natalie, announce the birth of their third daughter, Vivian Marie, April 24, 2015. Mom, Dad, Sophia and Noreen are excited about the new addition to the family!

14

2000–2009 LaTanya Buck ’02 ’04 has joined Princeton University as dean for diversity and inclusion. Buck will supervise the directors of the Carl A. Fields Center for Equality and Cultural Understanding; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Center; and the Women’s Center.

Buck previously worked at Washington University in St. Louis and was director of the Cross Cultural Center at St. Louis University. She was assistant director and coordinator for minority student recruitment at Maryville University. She also worked in the Office of Multicultural Student Services at Missouri State University and Morehead State University.

John E. Walje IV ’06 earned a doctorate of education from the University of Southern California.

His dissertation was titled “Special Education Teacher Attrition in a Hawaii School Complex Area.”

Walje earned his associate of arts degree from State Fair Community College in 2004, his bachelor of science in social studies education from UCM in 2006 and his master of science in counseling psychology from Chaminade University of Honolulu in 2009.

He is a school counselor for the Hawaii Department of Education and resides in Haleiwa, HI. Gregg Favre ’08 completed a postgraduate research fellowship at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and School of Public Health, doing an applied research project on leadership and domestic disaster response.

He has a master’s degree from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School and the George Washington University School of Medicine. The 2014 Outstanding Recent Alumnus is a captain with the St. Louis Fire Department.

Vol. 16, No. 1 | ucmo.edu/ucmmagazine

Awards & Honors 1960–1969 Paul Patterson ’65 has concluded a Hall of Fame career as men’s basketball coach at Taylor University in Indiana.

In 34 seasons, his teams compiled 734 victories and a .662 winning percentage, totals that at the time ranked 11th alltime among men’s basketball coaches and made Patterson the all-time wins leader of any college head coach in Indiana.

Patterson was selected Coach of the Year 12 times, including being named the NAIA National Coach of the Year in 1991.

Patterson, who is a member of the NAIA, Hanover College, Grant County and Indiana basketball halls of fame, left Taylor after amassing 28 winning seasons and 23 campaigns with 20 or more victories. He guided Taylor through one of the most successful 10-year stretches of any collegiate program, steering it to 10 consecutive seasons of at least 25 victories from 19841985 through 1993-1994. That span put Taylor in the company of UCLA, UNLV and Lipscomb as the only men’s basketball programs to accomplish that feat. In addition to coaching, he was an associate professor for the physical education and human performance department at Taylor. He also oversaw the TU Basketball Camp, which has more than 65,000 alumni, and was an active member in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and FCA camps.

1970–1979 Patricia N. Long ’78 has been inducted into the University of Kansas Women’s Hall of Fame. She was honored during a celebration April 13 by the Emily Taylor Center for Women

and Gender Equity. Long, the first female president at Baker University in Baldwin City, KS, retired in 2015. A firstgeneration college student, she understood the importance of sharing her successes to build the successes of others.

A dedicated civic leader, Long served on several boards, including the United Methodist General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, Kansas Independent Colleges Association and the Douglas County Community Foundation.

She received her bachelor’s degree from Southwest Baptist University, master’s from then Central Missouri State University, and doctorate in educational policy and leadership in higher education from Kansas University.

1980–1989 Paul Rutherford ’84 ’93 received the 2016 School of Education Outstanding Adjunct Teaching Award at the University of Missouri Kansas City. He also was honored as a UMKC Outstanding Alumnus.

After a lengthy teaching career, he founded and taught in the Summit Technology Academy. The National Science Foundation also awarded him the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching, the profession’s equivalent of a Nobel Prize.

Rutherford has directed professional training and development for the Kansas City Missouri School District’s elementary science instructors.

Kirk Pedersen ’89 was inducted into the Hall of Honor at the Missouri / Kansas All Star Track Meet held June 15 at Grain Valley (MO) High School. He

CLAS S NOT ES

was selected for his years of dedication to the sport of track and field.

1990–1999 Becky Belland ’90 was inducted into the MIAA 2016 Hall of Fame in June. Belland is considered one of the best players ever to wear a Jennies’ volleyball uniform. A three-time First Team All-American, she capped her outstanding four-year career by earning NCAA Division II Player of the Year honors in 1990, the only Jennies’ volleyball player to ever receive that award. As a freshman in 1987, she was a member of the Jennies’ DII

ranks 18th in NCAA DII history.

Her 938 career blocks, 366 solo blocks and 572 block assists are also tops in UCM history. Her 3.93 kills per set is third all-time at UCM. She owns the second, third and 10th highest singleseason kill totals in program history and she is third all-time in hitting percentage at .369. She was in double figures in kills in 119 of her 177 career matches, most all-time at UCM.

2000–2009 Delanie Walker ’05 was inducted into the MIAA 2016 Hall of Fame in June. He was a two-time AllMIAA and All-Region selection

GET

SMARTER ABOUT

BACK-TO-SCHOOL Visit libertymutual.com/ucmo or call 1-800-981-2372.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL CAN SNEAK UP ON YOU, buying school supplies, reorganizing morning routines, tuning up cars for extra miles and passengers.

To be ready for whatever the school year may bring, contact your Liberty Mutual agent. You can also request a free no-obligation quote.

runner-up team. She is the only UCM volleyball player to receive first-team All-America honors three straight years (1988, 1989, 1990) and was the MIAA Most Valuable Player in 1989 and 1990. The Jennies were 156-21 during her career, winning MIAA titles and earning NCAA bids each of her four seasons. Her total of 2,189 career kills is the UCM and MIAA career record and

in his two years with Mules Football and earned Honorable Mention All-America honors as a junior. He has the third and 10th best single-game reception totals in program history and the seventh highest single-season pass reception total. He was selected to play in the Las Vegas All-Star Classic following his senior season. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 2005

NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers and played in Super Bowl XLVII with the team. He just completed his 10th season in the NFL, playing for the Tennessee Titans. He has 340 career receptions for 4,014 yards and 24 touchdowns. Walker was named to his first NFL Pro Bowl this season after leading all NFL tight ends with 94 receptions for 1,088 yards and six touchdowns. He set Titan records for tight ends in catches and receiving yards in 2015. He launched the Delanie Walker Gives Back Foundation to provide inner-city and lowincome children with educational opportunities and resources.

He was named a finalist for the NFL Players Association Byron “Whizzer” White Award, which recognizes players for their community service and was a finalist for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award for his community service.

He was the 2013 Tennessee Titans Community Man of the Year for his work with Mothers Against Drunk Driving and is an ambassador with the Tennessee Governor’s Highway Safety Office “Booze It and Lose It” campaign.

Amber Oliver ’07 was named by the National Association of Professional Women as a 2015-2016 inductee into its VIP Woman of the Year Circle.

She was recognized with this prestigious distinction for leadership in public transportation. NAPW is the nation’s leading networking organization exclusively for professional women with more than 850,000 members and 200 operating local chapters.

Amber is a warranty supervisor and quality control technician at Regional Transportation District, which specializes in managing warranties for products and

technical contracted public transportation. Her skills and areas of expertise include managing warranties for products over $25,000, on-site maintenance enforcement for shelters, and Park and Ride.

The Regional Transportation District is the regional authority operating public transit service in eight of the 12 counties in the Denver, Aurora, Boulder combined statistical area in Colorado. It operates over a 2,340-square-mile area, serving 2.87 million people.

2010–2019 Eric Czerniewski ’10 was inducted into the MIAA 2016 Hall of Fame in June. Czerniewski won the 2010 Harlon Hill Trophy as the top football player in Division II, the only player in UCM history to win the award. He was a First Team All-American by every publication; the national, regional and MIAA Offensive Player of the Year; and set the then NCAA-II record with 5,207 passing yards his senior season.

He led the nation in touchdown passes (46), total offense (5,203) and set 20 school records that season. He threw for more than 300 yards 10 times during the 2010 season and finished his career fourth all-time in Division II with an MIAA record 12,847 passing yards. He set MIAA single-season records for passing yards, completions (447) and touchdowns (46). He was a threetime All-MIAA honoree, was MVP of the Cactus Bowl Division II AllStar Game, and won the Vernon Kennedy Award as UCM’s top male senior student-athlete. He holds the MIAA career records for passing touchdowns with 107. He was a four-time MIAA Academic Honor Roll member and a CoSIDA Academic All-District selection.

University of Central Missouri Magazine

15

IN M E MO R I A M

1940–1949

1960–1969

1970–1979

College High

Houston D. Wilson ’40 Leona E. (Rice) Duckworth ’43 Verda “VeeVee” (Vaughn) Vansandt ’44 E. Louise (Roop) Gregg ’47 Frances E. (Duzan) Herndon ’48 Lloyd B. McFerren ’48 Ruth L. (Swigert) Smith ’49

Mary I. Foster ’61 Mary C. Marcks ’61 Leslie D. Holland ’62 Neva A. (Horn) Minshall ’62 Thelma L. Shakespeare ’62 Carl R. Yessen ’62 Dortha L. (Haldiman) Ryland ’63 Jon A. Wentz ’63 Linda J. (Fox) Ashley ’64 Willa C. (Denton) Bates ’64 Loretta J. (Dowler) Bliss ’64 Dorothy J. Brown ’64 Alice A. (Dyer) Hassler ’64 Walter E. Pyle Sr. ’64 Margaret E. Doll ’65 Donald L. Higgins ’65 Bob Laytham ’65 Robert R. Pendleton ’65 Marthajane (Rhoades) Rodman ’65 Norrene V. (Zyskowski) Salonimer ’65 Eliese M. Songer ’65 Steven M. Larue ’66 Charles W. Yates ’66 Gary E. Hill ’67 Barbara J. Speers ’69

Bill Douglas ’71 Frank R. Boehm ’73 Kay (Matthews) Elliott ’75 Robert C. Turner ’75 Curtis W. Anderson ’76 Grover H. Parks ’77 Bill Dampf ’78 Karen D. (Harness) Ferbezar ’78 Jane (Forbes) Bates ’79 Estyl N. (Cowgill) Bowers ’79 Gregory J. Creese ’79

Billy J. (Halley) Stevens ’48

1950–1959 Marian L. (Griffith) Hart ’51 Bill Stevens ’52 John H. Novak ’56 Ruth Ferrel ’57 C. Todd Marcott ’58, ’62 Kathryn A. (Neale) Zumsteg ’58 Carol L. (Eves) Bowley ’59 William E. Chandler ’59 Bonna D. Fisher ’59 Inabeth R. (Rolf) Hoskins ’59

Kathryn Baker Kathryn Lou Baker, 88, a former professor in UCM’s Harmon College, died Wednesday, July 20, 2016. She was born April 14, 1928, to Ralph Charles and Gertrude (Bales) Baker. She was a 1946 graduate of Hale High School, where she was valedictorian. Baker accepted her first teaching job at Blue Mound from 1946 until 1948 while she worked on a degree at the University of Central Missouri.

She taught in New Mexico from 1951 to 1962 and returning to Missouri, received a master’s degree in 1961. Following a doctorate from Indiana University, she joined UCM as assistant professor of office administration.

She also was a member of Delta Zeta sorority and was in Delta Sigma Pi, an honorary academic organization.

Robert Baldwin Robert Lester “Bob” Baldwin, 89, of Warrensburg, a founder of the campus’ Missouri Safety Center, died Tuesday, July 12, 2016.

He was born Feb. 28, 1927, the eldest son of Glen and Bessie (Goff) Baldwin and grew up in Sioux Falls, SD. When he was 17, he joined the U.S. Navy and fought in World War II. He was stationed in the Philippine Islands from 1944-46. In 1968, he moved his family to

16

Vol. 16, No. 1 | ucmo.edu/ucmmagazine

Former Students

1980–1989

Martha A. (Fensome) Aguilar Daniel M. Barger Mattie C. (Garner) Greer Robert H. Hoff Vernon L. Horn April D. Noland-Sapp Arnold E. Semsch Donald E. Sherwood Tony R. Snyder Jason T. Watkins

Gloria J. (Radmaker) Baun ’81 Philip J. Young ’86

Friends

1990–1999 Arnel “Spanky” Monroe ’91 Thomas F. Fraccascia ’94 John R. Hammond ’95

2000–2009 Randy George ’02 Peggy S. Mountain ’07

Warrensburg, where he helped to establish the center and school bus transportation safety for the nation.

Laura Barr Laura L. (Raker) Barr, 91 died Sunday, April 17, 2016. She was born Aug. 17, 1924, to Joseph Hall and Nellie Blanche Jett Raker.

She graduated from Holden High School, and juggling farming and children, pursued a lifetime love of learning, completing a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Central Missouri. She taught for the Independence School District and retired from the Odessa R-7 School District in 1979. Among her countless volunteer activities, she served on the Farm Bureau Board, was a 4-H leader and a member of the Retired Teachers Association.

Memorials are suggested to the Laura L. Raker Barr Scholarship for Teacher Education with gifts made online at ucmfoundation.org/give or mailed to UCM Alumni Foundation, Smiser Alumni Center, Warrensburg, MO 64093.

Evelyn Bates Evelyn Bates, 89 of Overland Park, died Friday, May 13, 2016. She was born Nov. 21, 1926, and was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Larry Bates. She graduated from Paseo High School and later in life earned a degree

Frank P. Barker Blaise J. Brazos Jewel J. (Graue) Ernst Paul C. Gilbert Richard I. Langston Donna E. Linhardt Doras J. (Duncan) Mahnken Lucille M. (Corbin) McClure Barbara E. (Baker) Midgley Jim T. Myers

from the University of Central Missouri.

Memorials are suggested to the Larry T. Bates Scholarship for Mules Basketball with gifts made online at ucmfoundation.org/give or mailed to UCM Alumni Foundation, Smiser Alumni Center, Warrensburg, MO 64093.

William J. Baumgarden William “Bill” Baumgarden, 100, who once worked for UCM Athletics, died Sunday, May 29, 2016. Born to Eli and Jane (Shryer) Baumgarden, he was raised on the family farm near Collins.

He worked for the athletic department from 1962 until he retired in 1979. He was the equipment manager and traveled with the football team to away games. His wife, LaVerna, who preceded him in death, was secretary to Dr. Hollis Chalquist, dean emeritus of men.

Drake Bell Drake Bell, 87, professor emeritus of physics, died Sunday, Feb. 20, 2016 at his home in Warrensburg. He held bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees from Oklahoma State University.

Alta Jean Damron Alta Jean Damron, 92, of Warrensburg, died Monday, Feb. 8, 2016, at her home. She was

I N M EM OR I AM

born March 27, 1923, to John Elliott and Rose Alma (Sailer) Glancy. She was brought up in Ft. Morgan, CO, where she graduated high school.

She served in the U.S. Navy WAVES during World War II and after being honorably discharged, returned to finish her bachelor’s degree at William Jewell College, where she also helped to found the Alpha Gamma Delta chapter. Her career included serving as assistant librarian at UCM. She retired in 1988.

R.G. “Rusty” Enzor R.G. “Rusty” Enzor Jr., 84, of Warrensburg, a member of the UCM Football chain gang, died Sunday, June 5, 2016. He was born Oct. 31, 1931, to Roscoe Grant and Ina (Maude) Enzor Sr. He attended school in Topeka where he was the Golden Glove champion at age 16.

At 17, he joined the U.S. Navy and served on the U.S.S. Frank Knox in Japan and Korea until 1954. He resided in Atchison, KS, before he, wife Loretta and their family moved to Warrensburg. For his 33 years’ service to the chain gang, he was inducted into the UCM Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012.

Memorials are suggested to UCM Athletics at ucmfoundation.org/giving or mailed to the UCM Alumni Foundation, Smiser Alumni Center, Warrensburg, MO 64093.

Frank Fendorf Frank W. Fendorf, 91, of Overland Park and 2013 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, died Thursday, June 2, 2016. He was born in Tuscumbia, MO, on Jan. 16, 1925, to Frank E. and Icie Fendorf.

He graduated from Eldon High School in 1943 as the Best All Around Student and with a full scholarship he earned a bachelor of music education degree in 1947 from the University of Central Missouri.

As a student, he was an active member in band, orchestra, choir, Sigma Phi Epsilon and Student Government. He also was the second person to receive the Charno Award as the outstanding student of his graduating class.

Fendorf served in the National Guard for three years, where he met and married Barbara Brassfield, the daughter of his commanding officer. They had one son, Fred, in 1951.

After being honorably discharged, he taught music in Warrensburg, then became band director for the Chillicothe Public Schools. In 1965 he became a partner with Wingert-Jones Music, eventually becoming the firm’s vice president.

He was a musician his entire life, playing in jazz bands, brass choirs, the UCM Alumni

Band (which he helped to establish), the American Legion Band and the Overland Park Civic Band, which he directed for 41 years. He was choir director for St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church in Overland Park. In 2013, at the age of 88, he was recognized at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts as the oldest performer in Tuba Christmas, playing alongside his oldest grandson, Derek.

Memorials are suggested to the Frank and Barbara Fendorf Endowed Scholarship in Music or the Marching Mules Endowed Scholarship by going online to ucmfoundation.org/give or mailing a gift to the UCM Alumni Foundation, Smiser Alumni Center, Warrensburg, MO 64093.

Laura Fetters

Robert Lovell Robert Earl Lovell, 80, professor emeritus of English, died Wednesday, April 6, 2016. He was born Nov. 2, 1935, to Martha Elizabeth Monday and John Claud Lovell. He completed his secondary education in 1953 in Stamps, AR. In 1956 he graduated from Ouachita College and for the next 10 years taught in secondary schools, including three years in Kenya. In 1967, after attaining his PhD in English from the University of Texas at Austin, he came to Warrensburg where he taught English for 10 years at University High. He joined the UCM faculty in 1974 and retired in 1997 after 30 years of service.

Roberta “Bert” Simpson

Laura Madalyn “LM” Fetters, 85, of Windsor, MO, for many years the organist for UCM convocations and other special occasions held in Hendricks Hall, died Monday, July 18, 2016.

She was born Oct. 15, 1930, to John Edwin Mills and Margaret Elizabeth (Burkarth) Mills. After graduating from Warrensburg High School in 1948, she attended the University of Central Missouri, majoring in music. She was a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority.

Roberta “Bert” (Jenkins) Simpson, 86, died Wednesday, March 16, 2016. She was born May 23, 1929, to Robert and Getta B. (Blevins) Black. She was a graduate of Fairfax, MO, High School. For many years, she worked as a clerk at the university bookstore.

Memorials are suggested to the Mel Jenkins Photography Scholarship Endowment through a gift online at ucmfoundation.org/give or mailed to the UCM Alumni Foundation, Smiser Alumni Center, Warrensburg MO 64093.

Vernon Harriman

Maureen Smith

Vernon J. Harriman, 88, former UCM professor of chemistry, died Tuesday, July 5, 2016. He was born Oct. 7, 1927, to Joseph and Gladys (Hach) Harriman and grew up in Iowa, graduating from Polk Elementary School and Franklin High School. He later attended the University of Iowa where he received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He earned his doctorate degree from the University of Missouri in Columbia.

Maureen Faye Smith, 83, of Overland Park, KS, formerly of Raytown, MO, died Sunday, May 15, 2016. She was born in Carrollton, MO, on July 2, 1932, to Ernest Morrison and Lulu (Bingham) Morrison. She was preceded in death by her husband, Claude, recognized internationally as a composer, conductor, music educator and French horn performer.

Memorials are suggested to the Claude T. and Maureen Smith Scholarship, which she and her daughter, Pam Smith Kelly, also a UCM alumna, started after his death. Gifts may be made online at ucmfoundation.org/give or mailed to the UCM Alumni Foundation, Smiser Alumni Center, Warrensburg, MO 64093.

John S. Hollyman John S. Hollyman, a former member of the UCM Foundation Board of Directors, died Thursday, June 16, 2016. He was born April 4, 1915, to Rev. Jonathan C. and Anna Margaret Hollyman and grew up in Oklahoma and Missouri. He graduated from the University of Central Missouri with a degree in English. He earned a doctor of dental surgery degree from what is now the UMKC School of Dentistry in 1940 and served in the Coast Guard as a dentist in World War II. He practiced dentistry for 41 years, then sold real estate for 17 years.

He was a 60-year member of the Shawnee Mission Rotary Club.

Ida Jane Thurman Ida Jane Thurman, 79, of Kansas City and a former UCM employee, died Tuesday, June 7, 2016. She was born July 4, 1936, in Pacific, MO, to Ira Nelson Williamson and Claralee (Page) Perry. She graduated from Warsaw High School in 1954. She worked as secretary for the Warrensburg Water Company and then for UCM Men’s Health and Physical Education and Recreation Department for 10 years. She was the former owner of Pathway Travel and a member of Beta Sigma Phi sorority.

University of Central Missouri Magazine

17

P.O. BOX 8 0 0 WA RRE N SB U R G , M O 6 4093- 5 038

Stay connected with us through your favorite social media platform at ucmo.edu/social

SAVE THE DATE! SATURDAY, OCT. 1, 2016 FOR A LOUD, FUN, FAMILY EVENING!

JOIN US AT ARROWHEAD STADIUM, HOME OF THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS, FOR THE

13TH ANNUAL FALL CLASSIC It will be a first appearance for our Mules who take on the national defending champions, Northwest Missouri State Bearcats. The kickoff is at 5 p.m. to coordinate with the Royals’ 3:15 home game.

Photo by Andrew Mather

Visit ucmathletics.com/FallClassic for tickets, tailgating and other fan information.