Winter 2010
AN ALUMNI MAGAZINE
From Cumberland to the Future
Going Green with Hybrid Vehicle Research
Campus News
Alumni in Technology
Homecoming 2009
Alumni Board Open Letter Tradition Returns Members of the Cumberland Alumni Family, This edition brings back an old tradition of sharing with alumni, an open letter from the Alumni Board Executives. Your 2009-10 President, David Rhodes, ‘80, and President-Elect, Rich Prewitt, ‘80, have each served a full three year term as Board Members. Now they are poised for leading the association. I yield the remainder of my space for you to enjoy messages from these two alumni leaders. Sincerely,
Visit us online: www.ucumberlands.edu/alumni or email us at: alumni@ucumberlands.edu
Dave Bergman, ’89 Alumni Director
We’d love to hear your comments!
Return, Rally, and Reunite = Alumni Rewards UC/CC Alumni, As president of the Alumni Association, I want to welcome you to the winter edition of Cumberland Today. If you haven’t returned to campus recently I want to invite you to some exciting events that will take place this year that perhaps will spark an interest in your desire to visit your campus, renew old friendships and visit with former classmates. A special opportunity is on April 6, when the “Architect” of President George W. Bush’s administration, Karl Rove, will be the keynote speaker for the 21st Century Leadership Program. And, please, please, please mark your calendar for Homecoming Weekend, October 1, 2 and 3. You do not want to miss this opportunity to share “your story” with other alums who will be on campus to reunite. You may also want to donate something of value for our Alumni Auction held every year during Homecoming. It’s a great way to raise money for our alma mater, not to mention a lot of fun! In addition, the Alumni Board is considering a spring golf outing. We anticipate many Alumni will rally in support of this event and hope to have the first golf outing in 2010. Please keep checking with your Alumni Services Office for developing details. One final note, thanks in part to former board member Jeff Barker, we have now established a Young Alumni Association. Recent graduates, please contact the Alumni Office for more information about this program. By getting involved now, your Alumni Rewards await! Again, I want to thank you for reading Cumberland Today and thank you for allowing me to serve as your 2009-2010 Alumni Board President. Please contact me at 859-585-3314 or e-mail me at drhodes@thewalkercompany.com.
May God Bless, David Rhodes, ’80 Alumni Board President
Dear Fellow Alumni, If you are like me, it seems like only yesterday that I would climb out of bed, head across the viaduct, and make my way to the various classroom buildings. As I reminisce, I try to think why those memories are still so vivid after 30 years. It is because it was such a good time in my life. I was moving toward a career in which I could spend my life, and I met my best friend, my wife. I met other friends that are still treasured today. I unknowingly entered into a second family. University of the Cumberlands, along with my mother and father, helped define who I wanted to be. Being fun-loving, honest, caring, and a Christian meant more to me than a piece of paper and the degree. These are just some of the things I took from campus. University of the Cumberlands gave me way more than I gave it. I encourage you to get involved. Do not miss the opportunity to visit campus, come to events, donate, volunteer, encourage future students, or whatever you can do. Do something, anything, to keep that connection to the college. It will bless you in ways you have yet to discover. I would like to thank Dr Taylor not only for his leadership, vision, and management skills, but more for keeping the University of the Cumberlands a family for so many. I hope to hear from you, the alumni, soon. Respectfully, Rich Prewitt, ’80 Alumni Board President-Elect
Choose from more than 40 different majors, minors and pre-professional programs. NEW undergraduate majors in Journalism and Public Relations, Criminal Justice, Human Services, Spanish NEW graduate programs: Master of Arts in Professional Counseling, Master of Arts in Physician Assistant Studies, Master of Business Administration, Doctor of Education ONLINE degree completion for undergraduate major in Business Administration ONLINE graduate programs: Rank 1, Master of Arts in Education, Master of Arts in Teaching; Administrative Certification Program: School Principal, School Superintendent, Supervisor of Instruction, DPP; Add-on Certification Program: Special Education.
Lead. Serve. Grow. 6191 College Station Drive • Williamsburg, KY 40769
Ranked in the “Top Tier” in the South’s Best Baccalaureate Colleges
www.ucumberlands.edu • 1.800.343.1609
UNIVERSITY of the CUMBERLANDS Cumberland College Past Alumni Board Presidents 1966-1967 Conley L. Manning ’54
1991-1992 Ray Lipps, ’70
1968-1969 *Dr. Jerry D. Hayner ’57
1992-1993 *The Honorable Jerry Bryant, ’69
1969-1970 *Robert K. Jones, ’51
1993-1994 **Richard F. Koeniger, ’67
1970-1971 *Meriel D. Harris ’33
1994-1995 Paul P. Steely, Sr., ’49
1971-1972 *Dr. Howard R. Boozer ’42 1972-1973 The Honorable Harry “Gippy” Graham ’50 1973-1974 Ann Hollin Smith ’56
1995-1996 *Doris Jean Spafford ’50 1996-1997 Dr. D. Terrell Bradley ’81 1997-1998 Jimmi S. McIntosh ’81
1974-1975 **Mary Doyle Johnson ’48
1998-1999 Jerry L. Connell ’63
1975-1976 *Tom Warren Butler ’51
1999-2000 Bob Proud ’81
1976-1977 Dr. John R. Heneisen ’65
2000-2001 Nick F. Greiwe ’74
1977-1978 Dr. Chole Chitwood ’49
2001-2002 David Paul Estes ’90
1978-1979 David L. Davies ’55
2002-2003 L.C. Madron ’64
1979-1980 The Honorable Pleas Jones ’34
2003-2004 Ralph Lipps ’70
1980-1981 Fred R. Conatser ’77
2004-2005 (also 1974-1975) **Mary Doyle Johnson ’48
1981-1982 (also 1970-1971) *Meriel D. Harris ’33
2005-2006 V. L. Stonecipher ’66
1982-1983 Lillian C. Galloway ’55
2006-2007 (also 1993-1994) **Dick Koeniger ’67
1983-1984 Mary Farler Rutledge ’56
2007-2008 Dr. Terry Dixon ’68
1984-1985 Dr. James E. Croley, III ’72
2008-2009 William R. Lyttle ’75
1985-1986 Jerry L. Hodges ’71
2009-2010 David B. Rhodes, ’80
1986-1987 Dr. Eleanor M. Behrmann ’36
2010-2011 President-Elect, Richard Prewitt, ’80
1987-1988 Phillip M. Armstrong, JD ’70
CumberlandToday
1989-1990 Kate Smith Hill, ’63 1990-1991 Dr. Jerry Lowrie, ’58
1967-1968 Wanda Bowling Freeman ’61
2
1988-1989 Dr. Arliss L. Roaden ’49
*Deceased **Served twice as President
Winter 2010
UNIVERSITY of the CUMBERLANDS Cumberland College Past Alumni Directors Cumberland College – 1968 Russel E. Bridges ’51 1968-1973 Dr. James H. Taylor ’68 1973-1975 John E. Lancaster 1975-1978 Dr. Oline Carmical, Jr. ’66 1978-1980 John E. Clinton ’78 1980-1984 William H. Lynch ’81 1984-1989 Dr. Brian L. Shoemaker ’79 1989-1990 Patty Evans Bryant ’81 1990-1994 R. Alan Coppock ’87 1994-2005 Dr. Rick A. Fleenor ’85 University of the Cumberlands 2006-present David S. Bergman ’89
2009-2010 Alumni Association Board of Directors
CONTENTS
President
David Rhodes, ’80
COVER STORY
President-Elect
From Cumberland to the Future
Richard Prewitt, ’76
Past President Bill Lyttle, ’75
Secretary
Wheeler Conover, Ph.D., ’87
Executive Director Dave Bergman, ’89
10-12
Board Member Emeritus Mary Doyle Johnson, ’48
Term Expiring 2010 Susan Rice Bradley, ’98 Jimmy Huddleston, ’87 Guy Jones, ’84 Patti Mullins, ’91 V.L. Stonecipher, ’66
Cover photo courtesy of the Kettering University Office of Public Relations and Communications
Term Expiring 2011
Jeffrey W. Davis, ’80 Maureen “Cookie” Henson, ’74 John P. Hollingsworth, Ph.D., ’63 Mike Parsley, ’89 Allen Robbins, ’90
Term Expiring 2012
Jonathan Childers, ’00 Terry P. Dixon, Ed.D., ’68 Melanie Mackey Evans, ’90 Shannon Evans Holt, ’00
Ex-officio Members
James H. Taylor, Ph.D., ’68, President Sue Wake, ’70, V.P. for Institutional Advancement Daphne Baird, Director of Media Relations Paul Steely, ’49, Trustee Liaison Jacob Moak, ’10, SGA President Cumberland Today is published by the Office of Media Relations. Mail contributions, letters and address changes to University of the Cumberlands, Alumni Services, 7075 College Station Dr., Williamsburg, KY 40769.
Graphic Designer Jennifer Benge
Contributors
Daphne Baird Dave Bergman, ’89 Kelly Cozmanciuc, ’08 Justin Durbin, ’12 Robbie Floyd, ’11 Emily Henson, ’10
University Photographers Daphne Baird Dave Bergman, ’89 Jennifer Benge Robbie Floyd, ’11 Jeff Meadors, ’96 Sports Information
Printed by
Progress/Commercial Printing
4-7
Campus News
8-9
The Future and You
10-12
From Cumberland to the Future
13-14
Alumni in Technology
15-23
Homecoming 2009
24-25
Tribute Gifts
26-27
In Memoriam
28-36
Alumni News
37
Cumberland Connection Winter 2010
CumberlandToday
3
CAMPUS NEWS A Dedicated Year During 2009-10, a melody frequently heard on campus has leaders and philanthropists who made the facility possible. been “On Holy Ground,” the hymn that is nearly always sung at The newly renovated building includes several laboratories and Cumberlands’ dedication ceremonies. classrooms, as well as departmental offices Indeed, this has been a year of and offices for the physicians, other dedications. medical professionals and professors who The series of dedications actually will teach there. began in April 2009, when Lenora Fuson During the Founders Day convocation Harth Hall was dedicated. Then, in on January 18, the University dedicated September 2009, the Ward and Regina Cumberlands first building to honor the Correll Science Complex was dedicated, memory of Dr. E.S. Moss, a founder of followed in October by the dedication Williamsburg Institute (now University of the Terry and Marion Forcht Medical of the Cumberlands). The building, Studies Wing of the science complex. which has served as a classroom and In January 2010, the new semester administrative building, is now a men’s began with the dedication of a historical residence hall. It has been called the Ward Correll in front of the Ward and Regina Correll Science building, Roburn Hall, with the addition Complex, named for Correll and his late wife, Regina, faithful Institute, and later, the Old Recitation of the name Moss Hall to honor one of supporters of Cumberlands. Building, but most Cumberlands Cumberlands’ founders. graduates and students know it as Unfortunately, Regina Tartar Correll, Roburn Hall. It is the building that first of Somerset passed away on June 7, 2008, opened its doors to students on January before seeing the completion in December 7, 1889, when students were entering as 2008 of the beautiful facility that bears the builders swept the last debris out the her name and that of her husband, back. Moss was one of those who not Ward. Cumberlands’ newest classroom only raised funds for the school, but also, building is named for these two generous literally built it. benefactors who contributed much to During the dedication ceremony, Dr. help make the building possible. William E. Moss, M.D. and Mrs. Marcia “University of the Cumberlands can Pennington, of Louisville, the grandson boast of a well-earned reputation in and granddaughter of Dr. E.S. Moss, the sciences, and this marvelous new each recounted stories of “Grandfather.” facility will allow the students and Dr. E.S. Moss was a founder and faculty members who work and learn Terry and Marion Forcht are pictured in one of two Patient first chairman of the Board of Trustees here to strengthen that reputation as they Assessment Labs in the Forcht Medical Wing. These labs are of Williamsburg Institute. He was one establish careers and create an impact in vital to the new Physician Assistant program. of the first six trustees of the Institute the region and, ultimately, the world,” appointed by the Mount Zion Association said Dr. Jim Taylor, president, during the on December 31, 1887, and he served as dedication ceremony in September. chairman for fifteen years, although his On October 15, Cumberlands interest in the College continued until dedicated the Terry and Marion Forcht his death in 1943. Medical Studies Wing of the new science He helped organize the Williamsburg complex. The Forcht Wing is the home Baptist Church in 1883, the Bank of of the new Master of Physician Assistant Williamsburg, and the First National Studies program. The wing will also Bank of Williamsburg, where he served house programs to prepare future as president for 31 years. Dr. E.S. Moss medical professionals, including the and his son, Dr. Clive Arthur Moss, many physicians, dentists, pharmacists, class of 1905, practiced medicine in psychiatrists, veterinarians and others Williamsburg for a combined total of who will achieve their pre-professional more than 100 years. education at Cumberlands. It is fitting that the dedication Dr. E.S. Moss with his horse and buggy made house calls The Forcht Medical Studies Wing is throughout the county. (Photo courtesy of Moss Family) ceremonies held this year have honored named in honor of Terry and Marion not only Cumberlands’ bright future but Forcht, prominent Corbin business also its remarkable past. 4
CumberlandToday
Winter 2010
CAMPUS NEWS Four inducted into Athletic Hall of Fame The induction of four new members of University of the Cumberlands Athletic Hall of Fame took place on February 27, 2010, during half-time of the men’s UNIVERSITY basketball game OF withTHE Pikeville. This CUMBERLANDS year’s inductees were:
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
HALL MarkATHLETIC Barrett Class of 1991 OF- Football FAME
Wayne Seivers Class of 1979 - Baseball
Anthony Kabara Class of 2004 - Track
Gareth Wilford Class of 2000 - Track, Cross Country
P.J. Hughes’10 Patriot football star is a winner on and off the field
University of the Cumberlands football standout Paul Jeffrey (P.J.) Hughes, senior linebacker, was the only NAIA player to be named to the 2009 Allstate American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team. From 106 national nominees, the largest number in the program’s 18-year history, only 22 individuals were The Good Works Team in the courtyard at New Orleans’ Wilson Elementary School. Cumberlands’ selected for this prestigious award presented at the 2010 P.J. Hughes is second from right in front row. Allstate Sugar Bowl game in New Orleans. Members of the Good Works Team are honored not for prowess on the field, but for their commitment to working with a charitable organization, service group or community service while maintaining a good academic standing. A senior business administration major from Montezuma, Ga., Hughes holds a 3.93 GPA and has been named to the Dean’s List for six consecutive semesters. For his accomplishments, he has also been named a Mid-South Conference and NAIA All-Academic Award winner. Hughes is well-known for his participation in campus life and his service to the community. He is a STAR, a student leader in the freshman Insights program; an academic peer tutor at the Academic Resource Center (ARC); a Baptist Campus Ministries (BCM) Life Group leader; and an active member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He also volunteers at the local elementary school, at Williamsburg Nursing Home, where he has escorted residents in their annual beauty pageant, and during UC’s Mountain Outreach Gift Day. Additionally, he has participated in missions work in Hollis, Alaska, and with BCM in New Orleans. “I have learned that as an athlete people are always watching everything we do,” said Hughes. “And, I have also learned that our true character is not defined by how we act when people are watching, but by the things we do when no one is around.” Hughes was pleased to have an opportunity to serve in New Orleans again, as the Good Works Team did some volunteer work to help out the community while they were there. “Not many people had heard of UC,” Hughes explained. “I let them know about us though. I wore all my championship gear, shirts, and rings and told them about our football program and our school. I believe the publicity will be great for our school and I was proud to tell people about University of the Cumberlands.” Modest in spite of his many accomplishments, Hughes said, “It’s a great honor, and I feel like I am not deserving of it. “It was an awesome experience and something that I will never forget in my life.” Winter 2010
CumberlandToday
5
CAMPUS NEWS “Our freshmen are good, but our juniors are even better” Every year, Cumberlands’ entering freshmen take either the Measure of Academic Proficiency and Progress (MAPP) or a combination of the California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory (CCTDI) and the California Critical Thinking Skills Test (CCTST) as part of the freshman orientation class. Students take these tests again as juniors, and the results are compared as a measure of the quality of instruction and, more importantly, the extent of student learning, i.e. the value added through education at Cumberlands. “The scores also provide insights about how our students are doing in our commitment to critical thinking across the curriculum,” said Dr. Susan Weaver, director of Teaching and Learning, and director of Assessment at Cumberlands. The MAPP allows Cumberlands to compare scores with those of its peer Carnegie Classification institutions, Masters (Comprehensive) Colleges and Universities Levels I and II. The average scores of entering freshmen during the past 4 years are almost identical with national norms, but the juniors’ averages are higher than those of the Carnegie reference group in virtually every category. In fact, UC juniors score almost 17% higher in critical thinking than juniors
at peer institutions. Furthermore, they score about 9% higher in the highest writing level, and the same as the peers in the highest level in math. “These are really impressive figures, and we have every right to be proud of our excellent students,” said Weaver. “Our freshmen are good, but our juniors are even better, and that certainly says a lot about the quality of a Cumberlands education as well as the caliber of our students.” Results of the critical thinking tests, the CCTDI and CCTST, also show that Cumberlands students are improving. In fact, juniors who took the CCTST in February 2009 scored higher than juniors in all previous years in every standard of critical thinking, including analysis, inference, evaluation, inductive reasoning and deductive reasoning. A specific study of 56 students whose freshmen scores were compared to junior scores reveals statistically significant increases in inference, evaluation, deductive reasoning and total scores from freshman to junior year.
Cumberlands announces Sullivan Awards recipients Katie Faison Riley and Brian Jones have received the 2010 Mary Mildred and Algernon Sydney Sullivan awards for their dedication to education and service The awards are given annually on Founder’s Day to a graduating male and female senior who have demonstrated outstanding spiritual qualities, satisfactory academic achievement, a high degree of leadership ability and a willingness to participate in extra-curricular activities. Riley, the recipient of the Mary Mildred Sullivan Award, is a native of Wilmington, Ohio. She is married to Tim Riley, also a senior at Cumberlands. A communications major with a minor in religion, she has maintained a GPA of 3.97. Riley has been a Star with the Insights program, a tutor for the Academic Resource Center (ARC); and an active member of Cumberlands’ championship speech and debate team and of Pi Kappa Delta honor society. She also serves in the children’s ministry at Pleasant View Baptist Church. Upon graduation, Riley and her husband Tim will direct Lighthouse Christian Camp in Smithville, Tenn. Brian Jones, the recipient of the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, is the son of Truman and Carol Jones of Cawood, Ky. He is a history and secondary education major, and while at Cumberlands, he has maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.9. Jones has worked with the Mountain Outreach program and Appalachian Ministries. He has also been a member of Cumberlands’ varsity track and cross country teams, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Phi Alpha Theta and Kappa Delta Pi, and he was named a Hutton Scholar. Jones completed his student teaching in December and is currently on a mission trip to India. Upon his return, he plans to become a high school history teacher. The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Foundation promotes service to others and service to the broader community, values that were exemplified by Algernon and Mary Mildred Sullivan, the parents of the organization’s founder. The Foundation provides support for financial aid to small private colleges, primarily in the Appalachian region, and also presents awards in memory of the Sullivans at 54 southeastern colleges and universities. 6
CumberlandToday
Winter 2010
Dr. Kirby Clark, associate professor of religion, presents the Mary Mildred Sullivan Award to Katie Faison Riley during Founder’s Day Convocation at University of the Cumberlands. Brian Jones, winner of the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, who is on a mission trip to India, could not be present.
CAMPUS NEWS New programs welcome first classes Cumberlands continues to expand its educational horizons with the growth of its graduate programs. The 2009-10 academic year has seen the inaugural classes of three new programs, the Master of Arts in Professional Counseling, (MAPC) and the Master of Arts in School Counseling (MASC), which began in the fall sememster, and the Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS), which began in the spring semester. Through MAPC, the University’s Department of Psychology seeks to develop clinically and technically competent, as well as ethically responsible, mental health counselors to serve communities in a variety of clinical settings, including private practice, mental health centers and hospitals. To better meet the needs in the region, two program track options are offered. One, a two-year program, is designed for students with a baccalaureate degree who seek to become Licensed Professional Counselors; the second is an advancedstanding track for licensed professionals who seek to add the Professional Counselor license to their resume. Dr. Dennis Trickett, ’79, chair of the Department of Psychology and director of the MAPC program, has said, “We are pleased with our Master of Arts in Professional Counseling program, which will help fulfill UC’s mission to serve the needs of Appalachia by better preparing individuals to provide counseling services in Williamsburg and surrounding communities.” The MASC program is designed for the practicing teachers or administrators and will be delivered by different formats, including the traditional week-night graduate course, weekend courses and online web-enhanced classes. Additionally, 100% of the courses will be available for completion in a strictly online format. Five of the graduate school counseling courses require the advanced candidate to complete field-experience hours. That experience, coupled with the practicum and internship, will provide the non-classroom experiences needed for an outstanding counselor
program. The MPAS program welcomed its first cohort of 28 future physician assistants in January. The curriculum is designed to prepare clinicians to work in medically underserved areas. The profession is one of the ten fastest growing professions, and according to the Department of Labor, employment opportunities are expected to grow for physician assistants by 27 percent through 2016. Cumberlands’ MPAS is one of only two such programs currently offered in the state of Kentucky. “We have been blessed with students from
a variety of backgrounds, each possessing unique skills and life experiences that will enhance the learning opportunities of the program. Each has completed a bachelor’s degree and core course requirements that will prepare the student for an intensive postgraduate course of study. Students are positioning themselves as future members of a health care team practicing medicine under the supervision of a physician in a variety of settings,” stated Dr. Eddie Perkins, director of MPAS. Physician assistants are trained in a medical model and are defined by Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) as health professionals licensed to practice medicine with the supervision of a physician. Within the physician/PA relationship, physician assistants exercise autonomy in medial decision making and provide a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services. For more information about any of UC’s graduate programs, please contact the Graduate Admissions Office at (606) 5394390 or gradadm@ucumberlands.edu.
2009-2010 Alumni Board
Row 1: David Rhodes, ’80, Terry Dixon ’68, Allen Robbins, ’90, Bill Lyttle, ’75, Patti Mullins, ’94, Melanie Mackey Evans, ’91. Row 2: Dick Koeniger, ’67, Jimmy Huddleston, ’87, Jeff Davis, ’80, Rich Prewitt, ’76, Wes Cornett, ’90, Shannon Evans Holt, ’00, Dave Bergman, Alumni Director, ’89. Absent when photo taken: Maureen “Cookie” Thompson Henson, ’74, Wheeler Conover, ’87, Jonathan Childers, ’00, Guy Jones, ’84, V.L. Stonecipher, ’66, Mike Parsley, ’89, Susan Rice Bradley, ’98, Mary Doyle Johnson, ’48, Board Member Emerita.
Winter 2010
CumberlandToday
7
The Future and You “I love Cumberlands, and I want to make a difference in the lives of students—today and in the future. What can one person do?”
Give an Unrestricted Gift Unrestricted gifts allow University of the Cumberlands to continue to provide amazing educational opportunities that have earned praise and confidence both within and without the educational community. This is reflected in UC’s rankings and the heartfelt gratitude of its graduates. Did you know. . . • • • •
that unrestricted gifts allow President Taylor to address the most urgent needs of the college? that if 10 people give $100, UC can provide an emergency scholarship to a student in need? that if 10 people give $50, a UC student could attend a national conference to present research? that giving is easy? To make your secure online gift today, go to www.ucumberlands.edu/give/online.html or send a gift to: University of the Cumberlands President’s Office 6191 College Station Drive Williamsburg, KY 40769
Even small unrestricted gifts help both today’s students and future students who share many of the same traits that distinguished you when you first stepped onto campus. They are bright, eager to learn, a little daunted by the task ahead of them, but also ready to take on the world—just as you were. By contributing to their success, you will help to maintain Cumberlands’ reputation for excellence.
Create an Endowed Scholarship Most Cumberlands’ students receive some scholarship assistance. An endowed scholarship, named for you, your family or someone you admire, is sustaining and will grow over time, continuing to bless students for many years to come. An endowed scholarship fund will allow an individual or family to assist future Cumberlands’ students indefinitely.
Remember Cumberlands You can remember Cumberlands in your will or trust, or you might want to create a Charitable Gift Annuity to provide you with a lifetime income as you assist deserving students. With charitable gift annuities: • The rates are significantly greater than bond rates and certificates of deposits. • Annuity payments are fixed and based on the age(s) of the annuitant(s). • Annuity payments are extremely favorably taxed. • The donor is entitled to an income tax charitable contribution deduction. • Appreciated securities given to Cumberlands for a charitable gift annuity are valued on the date of the gift; capital gains taxes are not immediately due as they are when securities are sold by the donor. • A gift annuity is the simplest of all split-interest planned gifts.
8
CumberlandToday
Winter 2010
University of the Cumberlands offers numerous planned giving vehicles for its graduates and friends, who require a guaranteed income for the remainder of life. Other alumni and friends have established trusts and deferred gift annuities naming a loved one as the income beneficiary. With the low payout rates currently on certificates of deposit (CDs) and the volatility of the stock market, deferred gift annuities are becoming extremely popular for young adults who will not be retiring any time soon but want to plan and secure a steady, fixed income that will begin when they retire. For instance, a 45-year-old can defer a gift annuity for 15 years and receive income at a rate of 9.2 percent. The income tax deduction would be immediate (during working years when your tax bracket is higher) and the income would not begin until you are 60. As with regular gift annuities, the entire amount of the annuity would be backed by all of the College’s assets.
Age
Yearly Rate
Tax Payment
Deduction*
65
5.3%
$ 530.00
$ 3,107.80
70
5.7%
570.00
3,748.20
75
6.3%
630.00
4,324.80
80
7.1%
710.00
4,931.30
85
8.1%
810.00
5,565.50
90
9.5%
950.00
6,136.30
*based on minimum age of 65; a gift annuity of $10,000; figures for annual payment and IRS discount rate of 2.8%, as of June 2009
If you are considering the establishment of a Charitable Gift Annuity to provide life-long income for yourself and vital support for University of the Cumberlands, please contact President Jim Taylor at 606-539-4201 or presoff@ucumberlands.edu. He gladly will answer your questions about all forms of planned gifts for one or two people, including Charitable Gift Annuities, and the importance of making a planned gift now. He can design a plan just for you to meet your needs. Remember, as a financial supporter of Cumberlands, you are encouraging today’s students as you also demonstrate your continuing commitment to the college’s mission to educate individuals for lives of responsible service and leadership.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Sarah Kamalian ’11 AFCEA Educational Foundation STEM scholarship winner
Garnett Chrisman, associate professor of education, presented Kamalian with her scholarship check.
Science education major Sarah Zarrie Kamalian received a 2009 $2,500 scholarship for Math and Science (STEM) Teachers from the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) Educational Foundation. Kamalian, a junior, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mehdi Kamalian of Springboro, Ohio. She has worked in the Academic Resource Center as a tutor for other students, served as an ambassador in the Admissions Office and served as a STAR for the Insights program. In addition to these activities, she is active on the junior varsity soccer team and is a member of the Kentucky Beta Chapter of Kappa Mu Epsilon (Mathematics Honor Society) and the Alpha Delta Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi (International Honor Society in Education). The scholarship for Math and Science (STEM) Teachers is awarded annually to two students who are pursuing an undergraduate education degree for the purpose of teaching science, mathematics or information technology (STEM subjects) at a U.S. middle or secondary school. Applicants must have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0. The AFCEA Educational Foundation was established to promote educational excellence, encourage professional development and recognize academic achievement. Each year, more than $450,000 in scholarships and awards are granted to outstanding students majoring in science and engineering. Winter 2010
CumberlandToday
9
Photo courtesy of the Kettering University Office of Public Relations and Communications
James Gover, ’59
From Cumberland to the Future
10
CumberlandToday
Winter 2010
T
he community of Bronston, Kentucky, lies on the banks of Lake Cumberland in Pulaski County. When the lake was impounded in 1952 to provide flood control and hydroelectric power, James Gover was a boy growing up on a farm in that community. The development of the lake changed the lives of thousands by bringing electrical power to rural communities. As Gover witnessed this phenomenon, graduated from Burnside High School and came to study at Cumberland College in Dr. Jim Gover, ’59 1957, he had no idea that someday he would be part of a technological advancement with the potential to affect the future as much as the construction of Lake Cumberland. Today, Dr. James E. Gover, professor of electrical engineering at Kettering University in Michigan, is a leader in the research and development of hybrid vehicles and in hybrid vehicle education. Recently Kettering received a grant of $500,000 from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that will provide for the creation of additional courses in hybrid electronics, batteries and green power and help in the creation of a new hybrid vehicle/power laboratory that will upgrade the teaching of three currently existing hybrid vehicle/power electronics courses. Gover authored the proposal that resulted in the grant. Kettering University’s Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Michael Harris describes Gover, “Professor Gover always approaches engineering problems from a ‘big picture’ point of view. He has an amazing ability to grasp not only the engineering details behind a technology but also its social, economic, and political aspects. He is well-informed on a variety of subjects and he brings that knowledge to the campus community.” Before joining Kettering’s faculty 12 years ago, Gover retired from Sandia National Laboratories after thirty-five years in a career that included energy subsystems research and development, pulsed-power technology for weapons’ firing sets and radiation effects studies on weapons components and systems. He was named an IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Fellow for his work in radiation effects. He also worked in public policy research and served Senator Pete Domenici, the House of Representatives Science Committee, Senator Bill Roth, the Department of Energy and the Department of Commerce as an IEEE Congressional Fellow and IEEE Competitiveness Fellow. IEEE-USA awarded him its Citation of Honor for his policy research. After leaving Cumberland, Gover earned his B.S. in electrical engineering at the University of Kentucky and his M.S. in electrical engineering and Ph.D. in nuclear engineering from the University of New Mexico.
“My work at Sandia led me to switch my graduate study from electrical to nuclear engineering, do my doctoral research in mechanical engineering on nuclear materials and take many graduate courses in physics. These resulted in my broad technical interests,” he said. He is also interested in political science and economics and said, “I now find the politics of nuclear weapons to be more challenging and of more interest than weapons’ technology.” As a noted expert in his field, Gover sees great possibility in the future of electric vehicle technology and understands the various options that the U.S. faces for stationary electric power generation and mechanical power generation for transportation. He readily admits, “The future of fuel cells, high energy density batteries and other energy technology will depend on regulations, such as how energy is taxed. In problem solving, engineers cannot simply address technical issues but must consider economic, political and social issues as well.” Dr. Gover had the opportunity to learn firsthand the significance of these non-technical issues during the five years he and his wife Lois Jean lived in Washington, when he worked as an IEEE Congressional Fellow and Competitiveness Fellow. “It was enlightening to work for Congress and witness its focus on constituents, compromise and innovation and we had the opportunity to see all the cultural and historical features the region offers. It’s a very intellectual environment. It took me about 6 months to adjust to the Congressional culture, which differs from that of a national laboratory. It strongly affected the way we see the world today; it broadened our interests and it had a profound effect on my wife and me,” he said. Dave Bergman, director of Alumni Services, recalls that in 1988, Dr. and Mrs. Gover were the hosts of the Greater Washington alumni gathering. Reflecting on the occasion, Bergman, then coordinator of alumni gatherings, says, “This event turned out to be one of the best attended celebrations of Cumberland College’s centennial year.” Gover credits much of his professional success to the educational foundation he received at Cumberland College. “Cumberland
Photos courtesy of the Kettering University Office of Public Relations and Communications
Above & left: Dr. Jim Gover examines the battery connection in the Ford Escape Hybrid vehicle Kettering currently uses for student and faculty research projects. Opposite page: Dr. Jim Gover examines a set of nickel metal hydride battery cells used in hybrid vehicles.
Winter 2010
CumberlandToday
11
provided not only an excellent education for my colleagues and me but also offered an opportunity for us to overcome inadequate high school education experiences. Of the 16 courses I took at Burnside High School, only four (two years of English, algebra and plane geometry) were useful to helping me succeed in college. I came to Cumberland with no classes in high school chemistry, physics, trigonometry, or calculus; my biology class was little more than memorization of names for body and plant parts, and I had never written a paper. My first and only speech in high school was my valedictorian’s address, which took 2 minutes and 34 seconds to read in a perspiration-rich environment. I was 16 years old, painfully shy, socially inexperienced, disconnected from the ‘big picture,’ and I lacked confidence in my intellectual potential. A large public university chews kids like me up and spits us into the sewer on a daily basis; Cumberland slowly nurtured our confidence while demanding that we perform at a Photo courtesy of the Kettering University Office very high academic level.” of Public Relation s and Commun Dr. Jim Gover (le ications ft), Flint Mayor He also considers the significant impact that Da yn e impact the new Walling (middle) lab will have on and Mich. Gove his fellow calculus students had on his intellectual the developme rnor Jennifer Gr nt of longer-lasti anholm discuss ng batteries for the development, and he states, “The thing I remember hybrid vehicles . most is the students. They were conscientious and really good kids whom I still respect and admire. When I started in the and 2007 to speak to physics two-year pre-engineering program, classes about nuclear power. “I about 72 of us began, but at the also discussed the importance beginning of the second year, only of attending a small private eight were allowed into calculus. We university,” he said. He was very worked together, studied together pleased to learn that 25% of and joked together. We were serious Cumberlands’ current students about school, but knew how to have are pursuing majors or minors in fun without spending money. Of mathematics, physics, chemistry, those eight members of my calculus or biology. When he returned to class, one became a mathematician and Homecoming 2009 to celebrate taught math. The others all became his 50th class reunion, he was engineers, really good engineers.” amazed to see the new Correll Gover said that his favorite subject Science Complex that provides in high school was English, but he had a state-of-the-art learning environment for these students a distant cousin who was an electrical and those who will follow them. “The Correll Science Complex is an engineer and influenced him to choose that extraordinary facility and is evidence of the ability of Dr. Jim Taylor, career path. He went on to to do what a university president is hired to do, raise funds. That is say, “Also, Dr. Valandingham especially challenging today when public institutions are spending so taught calculus from an much money on fund raising and using their considerable political engineering application point muscle to get federal funds.” of view.” Gover hopes this trend continues and that other students will Gover has retained much discover that Cumberlands is an excellent foundation for an that he learned at Cumberland, engineering career as he did. “I hope to help promote Cumberland as he recently stated, “In as a university that prepares graduates for a career in engineering and December 2009, a student came science,” he said. “And after they finish at Cumberland, I invite them to me for help on a subject that to attend Kettering University.” I last saw in Dr. Val’s calculus “After attending Cumberland and teaching at Kettering University, class in 1958. I was so proud but doing the remainder of my undergraduate education and all of that I was able to use what he my graduate education at public universities, it is clear that the public had taught and help the student. universities cannot compete with the quality of private universities,” Dr. Val would have smiled.” he stated. The author of numerous articles Dr. and Mrs. Gover are the parents of two daughters, Dr. Angela in distinguished publications Gover McQuade, mother of Maya Jean McQuade and resident of Jim Gover and a well-known and respected Denver, Colorado; and Tamela Maria Patterson, mother of Maria Jean Class of 1959 presenter and speaker, Gover Somerfield Patterson and resident of Albuquerque, New Mexico. returned to campus in 2006
“I hope to help promote Cumberland as a university that prepares graduates for a career in engineering and science...” - Dr. Jim Gover
12
CumberlandToday
Winter 2010
Alumni in Technology At most colleges, students pursuing majors in science, technology, pre-engineering or math (STEM) represent 5-7% of the student body, but currently, STEM majors comprise 29% of Cumberlands’ enrollment. While the numbers may be greater than ever, Cumberlands has a long history of educating professionals in these fields, as demonstrated by these alumni, as well as Dr. James Gover, ’59, and the late Dr. Charles J. Barton, ’29 (see page 26), and many, many others.
Brant Poore, ’94 Brant Poore, who earned bachelor’s degrees in political science and computer information systems (CIS), is the founder and CEO of Information Capture Solutions, LLC (ICS), which provides customers the latest technology available for categorizing, capturing, and extracting their vital business data into usable pieces of information, allowing them to focus on their core business functions. Integrating hardware and software applications into a tightly integrated data capture workflow process allows customers to access necessary data more efficiently, which enables them to make better, quicker business decisions. “We give our customers the tools and technology they need to gather their critical business information sooner and more cost effectively, which enables them to drive their product to market sooner and more economically,” said Poore. Poore credits his Cumberlands education for his preparation to compete in an ever changing business environment. His CIS degree gave him a good foundation in various programming languages, techniques, and data structures. He learned, however, that technology changes at a much quicker pace in the business world than it does in an academic setting, so students must be prepared to learn when they leave school. “My college experience taught me that my years at Cumberland were really the beginning of my education and not the end. In the ever changing IT industry, if you ever think that you have learned everything there is to know, you quickly become outdated and your competition will pass you by,” said Poore. He is also pleased that his connections to Cumberlands continue with mutual benefits. ICS currently employs several Cumberlands alumni and Poore believes that those individuals have played key roles in the growth and success of the company. Recently, ICS installed content management and archive software at Cumberlands. This product will store digital images of all student records and allow responsible staff members to access, store, search, and retrieve records from their desktops, thus eliminating the need for multiple copies of records, reducing the amount of paper being used, shortening retrieval time, and eliminating the possibility of misplacing paper records. Poore believes that his growing company will continue to affect the future of the region. ICS is in the process of building a new headquarters building, which will provide the capacity to employ more than 150 people in a three-shift day. “We have been blessed with the ability to employ residents of Southeastern Kentucky, which in turn benefits the communities where those individuals live and work,” Poore said. Enabling businesses and government agencies to provide better products and services to their customers will positively affect the future for everyone. Poore resides in Williamsburg with his wife Jennifer and sons, Eric, Alec and Evan. Winter 2010
CumberlandToday
13
Bill Roark, ’82 Bill Roark is co-founder and CEO of Torch Technologies, Inc., an employee-owned, rapidly growing small business in Huntsville, Alabama. Torch provides aerospace and engineering services primarily to Department of Defense (DOD) agencies, with an emphasis in: weapon system performance analysis; modeling and simulation, primarily engineering level simulations; information technology; manned and unmanned aviation systems engineering, requirements definition and performance analysis; test and evaluation; and advanced technology research and development. Under Roark’s leadership, Torch has been named one of the Top 100 Fastest Growing Companies in America by Entrepreneur Magazine, and consistently listed on Inc Magazine’s Inc 5000, which recognizes the fastest growing private companies. The company has twice received the Better Business Bureau Torch Award for outstanding business ethics and has been recognized as the Huntsville Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year. Locally, Torch has been named one of the Best Places to Work in Huntsville/Madison County, and nationally, the Principal Financial Group has named it one of The Principal 10 Best Companies for Employee Financial Security. Roark credits much of the company’s success to the employees who not only work there but also own the company, and he believes that Torch helps to make the DOD stronger, both defensively and offensively. A new advertising poster in his office proudly proclaims, “Lighting the pathway to sustain our nation’s freedom.” Roark believes that Cumberland laid a good foundation for his successful career. A native of Leslie County, he liked the environment, with its small classroom size, high quality education and faculty members who cared about the success of their students. “Cecil Morris and Chester Nevels oriented me in the right direction and individually helped me go forward,” he states. While Roark earned a Bachelor of Science in mathematics, he pursued a minor in physics, and then went on to earn a master’s degree in physics from University of Kentucky. At Cumberlands, in addition to meeting friends that are still a part of his life, Roark met his wife Brenda Napier Roark, ’81, who worked in the dean’s office. The Roarks have two daughters, Amy, a law student at University of Alabama, and Kaitlynn, a junior at Birmingham Southern College.
Annie Saylor, ’72, Ph.D. Annie Saylor is the executive vice president of SimTech, Simulation Technologies, Inc., in Huntsville, Ala., which provides radar and infrared simulations and systems engineering services to the U.S. Department of Defense as a small business prime contractor and subcontractor. In the early 1980’s, Saylor was one of a group of scientists and engineers who realized that small companies offer flexibility and incentives for technical creativity that are not possible with larger businesses. The group organized SimTech in 1983 to emphasize technical excellence, and the company has grown to include highly educated engineers and scientists with specialty areas such as electromagnetics, digital signal processing, optics, systems engineering, and software and hardware design. “Our work helps the Department of Defense develop and test missile systems needed for the future,” said Saylor. Saylor came to Cumberland after winning the 1969 math contest held on campus and receiving a math scholarship. “Chester Nevels [math professor] and Cumberland College provided me the opportunity to attend college when my parents were unable to pay,” she said. “My parents helped me build the desire to learn and the discipline required to achieve.” She also worked as Nevels’s assistant and received National Defense student loans to help pay for her college education. “The math professors at Cumberland were instrumental in my attending graduate school at the University of Kentucky,” Saylor explained. After earning her doctorate at UK, Saylor moved to Huntsville to teach. Four years later, she helped to found Simulation Technologies, Inc. She is pleased to be part of a company that not only addresses America’s future technology needs but also employs engineers who are caring for their families and preparing their children for the future. Saylor, whose parents and extended family still live in Harlan County, Ky., credits her success to her upbringing. “My instincts for business management have come through my experience as the daughter of a coal mine operator. My father taught me to love hard work, and that lesson has taken me far in life,” she says. 14
CumberlandToday
Winter 2010
CUMBERLANDS
HOMECOMING
2009
Winter 2010
CumberlandToday
15
HOMECOMING Red carpets could be seen everywhere as University of the Cumberlands welcomed returning alumni and current students, as well as their families and friends and community members to Homecoming during the weekend of October 9-11. From the kickoff golf outing and team reunion on Friday to the Sunday morning worship service, participants enjoyed this year’s event, “Now Playing” which featured “star-studded” entertainment for the entire family in a weekend filled with movie-related fun. A special welcome greeted the “stars” of the event—this year’s reunion classes: ’59, ’64, ’69, ’74, ’79, ’84, ’89, ’94, ’99, ’04, and ’09, as well as former members of the Judo teams. On Friday, members of the Creech Boswell Club and the class of 1959 walked the red carpet into their reunion dinner at Cumberland Inn, and the Music Department’s annual Homecoming concert and the USA Break Dancers performance drew large crowds. Saturday morning’s rain could not dampen the enthusiasm of the campus community, although it did drive the carnival from Briar Creek Park into the Intramural Gym. The rain subsided just in time
for the Patriots to meet the Union College Bulldogs in ‘the Battle for the Brass Lantern,’ which Cumberlands won 24-12. “It is unusual for the brass lantern game and the homecoming game to coincide, but it resulted in an especially exciting game this year,” said Randy Vernon, athletic director. Ironically, 2010’s Brass Lantern game also falls on Homecoming. Following the game, alumni, students and their families enjoyed either The Red Carpet Alumni Dinner at Boswell Campus Center, the Red Carpet Buffet at the dining hall or the special Homecoming Buffet at Cumberland Inn, followed by a wonderful fireworks show, presented by Pyro Shows of Lafollette, Tenn., with additional fireworks provided by Thunder Sam’s Fireworks of Jellico, Tenn. Like the carnival, the day’s last event, the screening of “Up,” a fun movie for the entire family, was moved into the Rollins Center because of weather. The weekend wrapped up with a student-led, spirit-filled, Sunday morning worship service.
Cumberlands Homecoming Royalty The halftime highlight of the University of the Cumberlands’ Homecoming game, was the crowning of Homecoming Queen Amanda Jean Howard, and the naming of Homecoming King P. J. Hughes. Howard, a senior from Salyersville pursuing a double major in public health and health, exercise and sport science, has served as a Patriot cheerleader for four years. Hughes, a linebacker for the Patriot football team, was represented by his father, Bobby Hughes, of Marietta, Ga., during the halftime festivities. A senior business and communication arts major, he is also a member of Baptist Campus Ministries and participated in the Sunday Homecoming worship service. P.J. Hughes and Amanda Howard are the 2009 Homecoming King and Queen at University of the Cumberlands.
16
CumberlandToday
Winter 2010
HOMECOMING
Speech given at the 2009 Creech-Boswell Dinner by Marcella Faulkner Mountjoy, ’43, president of the Creech-Boswell Club Now, we’re here today because we love this place. It’s so exciting to see different ones see each other, sometimes even for the first time since graduation. Because we all have a common heritage, we have so many memories. I’ve seen a face like Leonard Pierce, who grew up in Williamsburg for a while, and it brings back so many memories of growing up. I love it when you talk about how pretty the campus is. I feel so fortunate that I live here and I can drive through the campus every day and see all of the new things that are going on. It’s such a treat to bring out-of-town guests who come here, just to say hello and reminisce a little bit and to show them what the campus is like now, and it’s just really thrilling. I feel very blessed by my association with this college because it’s been for almost all my life. I started here in the third grade. Okay, you act surprised. Cumberland had an elementary program when my family moved back here from Pineville. I was supposed to go to the second grade. I’d just had one grade. That little elementary school had just a few students, but they didn’t have anybody for the second grade, so they just stuck me in the third grade, and I held on. Cumberland also had an academy for many, many years, and I entered that academy, so I had four years of high school here on campus. Almost all of my classes were in the Gray Brick, which is now the Bennett Building. We were there with college students, and we had the same teachers. Then I had two years here in the junior college, so I had a period of six years that just all kind of run together in my mind, so I’m not sure whether a particular event happened in high school, or whether it happened in college, it was all here and practically all in the Gray Brick and in the gymnasium. Now yesterday , I was trying to explain what Creech-Boswell Club really was to someone who hadn’t lived here very long. It occurred to me, that I did have a class under Dr. Creech, and I told Jake, “I may be the only person there that ever had a class under Dr. Creech. Anybody have a class under Dr. Creech?... Aaahh. Well my husband just said “Now you see how old she is.” Well ,see I can’t remember whether it was in high school or in the junior college, and I don’t remember the name of the class, but he talked a lot about phrenology. He kind of said it “free knowledgy.” And, I wasn’t really sure what that was, but a few years later, I thought, ‘You know, that’s what we talked about -- all those things about the head. So, I feel like I’m kind of unique and honored that I had a class under Dr. Creech. I don’t remember exactly when Dr. Boswell took over. It was sometime in the early forties. I can remember that Dr. Boswell did leave college during the war, that’s the Second World War, you know. And he came back once for a visit in his beautiful white dress navy uniform. He was very handsome. And, sometime later he became president. I wanted to tell you though, why the college means so much to me. Both of my parents attended Cumberland College. My father came here in 1914 from up Poplar Creek. Now, that’s a community between here and Pineville, so we all just say, “It’s up 92.” My father came from Poplar Creek, because back then there were county schools but they went no further than the sixth grade or perhaps the
eighth grade, and his parents wanted him to have college, or high school, as it was at that point. So he came in 1914; he was here two years, and then later entered the Marine Corps, because it was World War 1. Now, my mother came here from out at Clio, which is between here and Corbin, and her parents wanted her to have an education, and she came in to live in the dormitory. She spent five years here on campus. She came 1918, and she graduated from the academy in 1922, and had one more year of college. But, I’ve got to tell you, about Mother’s roommate. When she came here and boarded in the dormitory, her roommate was Flora Bryant from Poplar Creek. Flora was a doctor’s daughter, and Flora had to take Mother home with her to spend a weekend a few times, and guess who Mother met? She met John Wesley Faulkner, who had been here at Cumberland before her. They were married, and I’m one of the products of that marriage. I must say that my mother’s father had only a fifth grade education but he was so determined that his two daughters would be educated that he sent Mother to Cumberland and his other daughter to a business school in Knoxville. Now, I’m going to come forward a little bit in time and say that I graduated in 1943 from the junior college. And while I was in school -- I was in school for the whole of World War II -- Pearl Harbor was 1941, and victory day was in the summer of 1945. I was in college that whole time. While I was in college, I didn’t know that there was a person from Danville, Kentucky named Jesse Barkley Mountjoy, who was out in the Pacific, in the U.S. Navy, in the North and the South Pacific. When he was discharged in 1946, and he came home, he decided that he would take advantage of the G.I. Bill, which was offered to all the returning servicemen. And, he chose to come to Cumberland College. His main interest was basketball. I don’t think that he was too strong on academics at that time, ‘though he became more serious about it. But, our paths crossed as I was here as a piano instructor at Dr. Boswell’s invitation. I taught piano in the same building where I had entered Winter 2010
CumberlandToday
17
HOMECOMING
the third grade. It was Dixie Hall, a large frame white building just about where the Gatliff Building is now. I had grade school there. I had piano lessons there, and I ended up teaching piano there. Jake and I met somehow, and we were married in 1948, and we’ve been married for 61 years, so you see, I can be old enough to have had a class under Dr. Creech. Now I’ve got to tell you, fast forward a little bit. Our younger son, and our third child, John David entered Cumberland in 1968, and there was a pretty girl here from Shepardsville and her name was Teresa Caudill. She was here in the nursing program. Well they met; they later married and they had two children, two sons, both of whom are here at Cumberland this semester, one as an undergraduate, and one as a graduate. So you see, that goes through four generations. Now, all of you can’t say that, but all of you can say what a great influence this college has been on your life. We had teachers that cared. We were not just numbers in a book. We were special and we absorbed that as we left this campus and went on with our lives. I feel so blessed with my life. So many good things have happened, and I feel that so much of it is coming from a Christian education. Education had always been important in Williamsburg. If you go back with me to 1818, there was a group of people that came through this part of the state looking for a place to put a new county seat and have a new county, separated off from Knox County, which was too big. Now this committee came down to a house right beside the river, just right downtown where it is today. This man named Samuel Cox had a big two story house. He’d already applied to the state for permission to build a ferry across the Cumberland River
there, and he was waiting for that permission. But the committee came to his house because not only was it a residence, it also was a tavern -- an inn, and it had an upstairs, and the committee stayed there. He offered them some of his land for lots, and a place to build a courthouse and maybe treated them to a little something from his tavern, and they accepted his offer, and from 1818 and on, this site was chosen to be the seat of justice, now that’s what they called it back then. We call it the county seat today. Williamsburg became the seat of justice in 1818, and this became the center of Whitley County. Education was important, because Samuel Cox took a part of the upstairs of his house for a school room for his children and any other children that were living in the community. From that time on, education has been important. It grew and grew, and it has finally peaked today in a university that continues to grow and to offer a wonderful education. I’m blessed. I feel that you think you are too. I thank you for coming, some of you have come a long distance to show that you want to support and love this college. I have [invitation response] letters from several people, and one is a very interesting letter from Willard White. Now, he was the middle son of the three White boys that lived up on Eleventh Street, and he wrote thanking me for the letter, saying that his health wasn’t too good. He lives in Jupiter, Florida, and he’d love to be here, but he said “You know my class was really unique. One member became a federal judge and one member served time in a federal prison.” Again, Thank you for coming and welcome to Williamsburg and to our campus.
An Alumnus at Last Fifty years after Cecil Moses should have graduated from Cumberland College, University of the Cumberlands has named him an honorary alumnus. The presentation came at the CreechBoswell Club Dinner on October 9, during Homecoming activities on campus. The Creech Boswell Club is comprised of Cumberland alumni who have celebrated the 50th anniversary of their graduation. Following the presentation, Moses shared some of his story of growing up on Little Wolf Creek in Whitley County and his life as an FBI agent as well as his pleasure at finally becoming a “graduate” of Cumberland. According to Dr. Jim Taylor, “It is truly fitting to bestow this honor on Cecil Moses, whose youthful dream was to attend Cumberland and who has demonstrated a continuing interest in the University and all its endeavors.” Upon his graduation as valedictorian from Pleasant View High School in 1956, Moses was all set, with the approval of President J.M. Boswell, to attend Cumberland, which was then a two-year college. However, before he could begin classes, his father lost his coal mining job as traditional mining gave way to strip mining. The family moved to Cleveland, Ohio, in search of work. Instead of enrolling at Cumberland, Cecil became a clerk with the FBI in Cleveland, where he later was promoted to codes clerk, handling sensitive material. While working full-time for the bureau, Moses earned a bachelor’s degree in personnel management and labor law from Cleveland State 18
CumberlandToday
Winter 2010
Dr. Jim Taylor, president, right, presents a plaque to Cecil Moses, naming him an Honorary Alumnus of University of the Cumberlands.
University. He has also pursued graduate studies at the University of Virginia and the University of Alabama. After an illustrious career as an FBI agent, which culminated in his appointment by President Ronald Reagan to the bureau’s prestigious Senior Executive Service, Moses retired in 1989. He then served as the police chief of Madison County, Ala. until a second retirement in 1999. Moses and his wife, Penny, currently reside in Mulberry, Tenn. He continues to serve as a consultant and lecturer on criminal justice and homeland security matters through C & M Consultants, LLC, d.b.a. The Moses Group, of which he is a partner.
HOMECOMING
Robert “Mike” Duncan, ’71, Former RNC Chair, speaks to fellow alumni Although Robert “Mike,” Duncan is a well-known national political figure, the alumni attending the 2009 Alumni Dinner welcomed him as a member of the class of 1971, a former campus leader and classmate, rather than as the former chairman of the Republican National Committee. Recalling his campus years, he spoke of “The Five People I Met at Cumberland,” bringing to memory former President J.M. Boswell; classmates, J. Lynn Singleton, ’70, and Tim Henderlight, ’71; and professor, Jerry Davis. The fifth person he mentioned was Nelda Barton Collings, ’78, who introduced Duncan at the dinner and had influenced him in his political career and interests. Duncan said that Boswell instilled in him a sense of service. Singleton, who is a gifted storyteller and a Tony Award-winning producer, taught him to look at life with humor and that we are all connected. Through Henderlight, he learned not only patience but the importance of loyalty and of being a good friend. Davis, who is now president of College of the Ozarks, taught him that passion for excellence in education and a love of students are vital. Collings led him to seek adventure in life and taught him networking skills. Although he said that these five people had played important roles
Bill Lyttle, ’75, Alumni Board President ’08-’09, swears in David Rhodes, ’80 as the 2009-2010 president, while Dave Bergman, ’89, director of Alumni Services, looks on.
in his development at Cumberland, he also stated, “I could easily substitute many other names, some of whom are here tonight,” and he wove some of those stories into his main theme. Duncan did not name President Jim Taylor, because he said that he had met Taylor before coming to Cumberland. When Duncan was a high school senior in Oneida, Tenn., Taylor, then a student, who worked in the admissions office, encouraged him to come to the Williamsburg school. Now the university’s president, Taylor has said, “One of my proudest accomplishments is that I recruited Mike Duncan for Cumberland. He has exemplified the leadership and service that we strive to instill in all our students.” After receiving his bachelor’s degree at then Cumberland College, Duncan graduated from the University of Kentucky School of Law in 1974, along with his wife, Joanne. The Duncans are the principal owners of two Southeastern Ky. banks, with five branches. Duncan serves as president of Inez Deposit Bank in Inez, Ky., and he has served as president of the Kentucky Bankers Association and as the director of the Cincinnati branch of Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank. He is chair of the board of the Tennessee Valley Authority, chairman of the board at Alice Lloyd College, past chairman of the Center for Rural Development A thirty-year, veteran political strategist, Duncan has served as a delegate to six national conventions and as a member of four standing convention committees. He has served on the campaigns of five Presidents: Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush. He also was assistant director of public liaison at the White House under President George H. W. Bush. Prior to being elected the 62nd chairman of the Republican National Committee in 2007, he served as treasurer and general counsel to the RNC.
During the Alumni Dinner, Coach John Bland, center, presented 2009 Midsouth Conference Championship rings to Lloyd Abdoo, ’80, left, and Ray Lipps, ’70, right. They were honored for their extraordinary dedication and support of Patriots football.
Winter 2010
CumberlandToday
19
HOMECOMING CREECH BOSWELL Row 1: Jim Ford, ’48, Marcella Faulkner Mountjoy, ’41, Mary Dale Sproule Freeman, ’42, Doris Bennet Pierce, ’48, Leonard Pierce, ’47 Row 2: Clint Taylor, ’44, Leo Taylor, ’44, Bill Freeman, ’49, Paul Martin, ’43, Paul Steely, ’49
CREECH BOSWELL Row 1: Carol Miller Yunker, ’50, Peggy Cooper Inks, ’55, Stella Davidson Steely, ’50, Virginia Jones Logan, ’49 Row 2: Cecil Moses, Hon., ’09, Bill Lyttle, ’75, Arliss Roaden, ’49, Robert C. Jones, ’50, George Roberts, ’50, Paul Steely, ’49
20
CumberlandToday
Winter 2010
HOMECOMING
CLASS OF ‘59 Row 1: Pattie Greene Herr, Margaret Narramore Lewis Row 2: James Gover, Paul Roberts, Ortis Burns CLASS OF ‘59 John Crockett , Harry Siler
CLASS OF ‘69 Row 1: Jackie Schwinn Campbell, Debbie Smith Hurt, Sharlene Proffitt Brody, Becky Gross Hicks, Skip Hicks Row 2: Steve Schwinn, Earl Brady, Warren Gagner, Linda Brown, Richard Hurt
Winter 2010
CumberlandToday
21
HOMECOMING
CLASS OF ‘79 Debbie Harp, Lori Lowmaster, Keith Sherrill, Elizabeth Adkins
CLASS OF ‘84 John Harris, Erica Broome Harris, Sharon Greene Oberschlake, Brian Oberschlake
JUDO REUNION Ben Baird, Zafer Roback, Terry Dixon, Doug Fortune, Bill Stadtlander, Richard Hurt
22
CumberlandToday
Winter 2010
HOMECOMING
CLASS OF ‘89 Hans Warkman, Denise Bender Sesler, Daphany Early Prewitt, Ann Gillfillan Hansen, Kelly Hull Ferguson, Dave Bergman
CLASS OF ‘64 Arthur Walters, Jimmie Lou Manning Rice
CLASS OF ‘74 Umbelina Rodriquez Jalowski, Doug Fortune (not pictured, Maureen “Cookie” Henson)
CLASS OF ‘04 David Wilson
CLASS OF ‘94 Jeff Barker, Andy Abbot, Hunter Barber
CLASS OF ‘09 Brooke Mack (not pictured: Brittney House)
Winter 2010
CumberlandToday
23
Tribute Gift Program
Honor or Memorialize a Loved One
What is a Tribute Gift?
A Tribute Gift shows love and respect for the person being honored or memorialized. It says to others that the world is a better place because of this person. Through a Tribute Gift to University of the Cumberlands, a memory of the past or an honor of the present is tied to the future, as it is made to live on in the lives of our students. The size of the gift you send is up to you. Many send the amount they would spend on floral arrangements or presents. Gifts generally range from $15 to $1,000, but the right amount for you is the one your heart tells you to send.
What is an Honor Gift?
An Honor Gift is a tribute gift, which shows admiration and respect for a loved one or friend on a significant day in that person’s life, such as a birthday, anniversary or other milestone.
What is a Memorial Gift?
A Memorial Gift is a tribute gift in memory of a departed loved one or friend. It is a wonderful way to express sympathy and high regard or as a means to remember birthdays, anniversaries or other special days in the life of a deceased loved one.
How are Tribute Gifts Acknowledged?
For a Memorial Gift, an appropriate card is sent, on the same day the gift is received by the university, to the family of the one you wish to memorialize. Then the name of the giver and the deceased will be listed in the next issue of Cumberland Today. For an Honor Gift, the honoree is sent an appropriate card listing the name of the giver, as well as the occasion for the honor. Then the name of the giver and the name of the honoree will be listed in the next issue of the Cumberland Today.
How will your Tribute Gift help?
Your gift will provide a lasting legacy for our students as it is used to help provide scholarship and workship assistance, books, supplies, food, housing and many other supportive services. If you would like to send a gift to be included in our Tribute Gift Program, please send the gift along with the appropriate additional information to: Tribute Gifts University of the Cumberlands 6191 College Station Drive Williamsburg, KY 40769
Listings reflect the Tribute Gifts received July 1, 2009 through January 31, 2010. In preparing this list, every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and completeness. If a mistake was made in the way you are identified, or if your name was omitted, we apologize. You can help set the record straight. Please notify the President’s Office regarding any changes in the way your gift should be recorded in future reports. Thank You.
University of the Cumberlands Tribute Gifts Name as you wish it to appear
Phone Number
Address
City
In Memory of:
Please Notify:
In Honor of:
Address:
On the occasion of:
24
CumberlandToday
Winter 2010
State
Zip
TRIBUTE GIFTS
In Memory Of In Memory Of: Clyde Bennett Given By: Mr. & Mrs. Clyde V. Bennett, III In Memory Of: My Father, Howard Boozer Given By: Mrs. Claudia R. Boozer-Blasco In Memory Of: Velma Childers Given By: Mr. & Mrs. Fred G. Karem In Memory Of: My Husband, Lt. Col (Ret.) Theodore Wilford Clarke & My Son, Sgt. Kenneth Theodore Clarke Given By: Mrs. Gwendolyn T. Clarke Perritt In Memory Of: My Brother, Ltc.Joseph Derwood Early Given By: Dr. Jack Early In Memory Of: Reverend Guy Etter Given By: Dr. & Mrs. John David Broome
In Memory Of: Edna M. Stewart Given By: Mr. & Mrs. Norman William Harp, Jr. In Memory Of: James H. Taylor, II Given By: Mrs. Alice Bowling Dr. & Mrs. Michael Bruce Colegrove Mr. & Mrs. Charles Mayer Dupier, Jr. Mrs. Claudia Kay Manning Dr. & Mrs. Wallace R. Maples Ms. Sherry E. Roaden Dr. & Mrs. Eric L. Wake In Memory Of: My Husband, Thermon Taylor Given By: Mrs. June Taylor In Memory Of: Dr. Harold Wortman Given By: Mr. & Mrs. Robert W. Surplus Mrs. Lois Wortman
In Memory Of: Patty Alexander Golden Given By: Bill, Fred and Wanda B. Twyford
In Honor Of
In Memory Of: Ralph M. Hickey Given By: Mrs. Verna Lee Bruce Occasion: for his birthday, 12-18-09 for Christmas, 12-25-09
In Honor Of: Dr. John Broome Given By: Mr. Jeemes Lee Akers
In Memory Of: Billy Hurt Given By: Dr. & Mrs. Howard Chitwood In Memory Of: Robert K. Jones Given By: Mrs. Phyllis A. Jones In Memory Of: Alfred & Henrietta Link Given By: The Reverend & Mrs. H. Marlowe Link In Memory Of: Nate Pilant Given By: Dr. & Mrs. Walter Blaine Early, III In Memory Of: Erna L. Skeen Given By: Chaplain Major & Mrs. Kenneth Earl Harp Mrs. Naomi Harp Mr. & Mrs. Norman William Harp, Jr. Mr. Don Sears Mr. & Mrs. Melvin Skeen
In Honor Of: Josephine Cochran Given By: Mrs. Joanne C. Huddleston In Honor Of: Naomi Harp Given By: Chaplain Major & Mrs. Kenneth Earl Harp Occasion: At Christmas In Honor Of: Naomi Skeen Harp Given By: Mr. & Mrs. Norman William Harp, Jr. In Honor Of: Dr. Jerry Lowrie Given By: Petrey Memorial Baptist Church In Honor Of: Kelli Harp Mulberry Given By: Mr. & Mrs. Norman William Harp, Jr. In Honor Of: Sue Wake Given By: Mr. & Mrs. Robert Wyatt Occasion: Birthday Winter 2010
CumberlandToday
25
Dr. Charles J. Barton,’29 1911-2009 Charles J. Barton, of Oak Ridge, Tenn., passed away January 31, 2009, at NHC Healthcare in Oak Ridge, at 97 years of age. A native of Jellico, Tenn., Dr. Barton developed an interest in chemistry while he was a student at Cumberland. He went on to earn a B.S. in 1933, and an M.S. in 1934, from the University of Tennessee, and in 1939, he received a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from the University of Virginia. Dr. Barton worked as a chemist for TVA testing the quality of the concrete that went into the Norris Dam, Industrial Rayon in Cleveland, Ohio and International Minerals in Bartow, Fla. He transferred to Oak Ridge National Laboratories in 1950, where he was a pioneer in molten salt reactor research, developed techniques for the safe handling of plutonium and worked extensively in health physics before retiring in 1977. Dr. Barton was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Ruth Grant Barton and son, Michael Lee Barton. He is survived by his wife Anna Kate Teague, sons, Charles Barton, David Barton, Ben Teague and Tom Teague, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Owsley Stanley Combs,’40 1914-2009 Owsley Stanley “Stan” Combs, 94, passed away on November 27, 2009 in Atlanta, after a short bout with pneumonia. One of seven children, Combs was born in Manchester, Ky., on December 12, 1914, the son of Stephen G. and Martha Jones Combs. After graduating from high school in 1931, “college was delayed” as Combs explained to family, due to The Great Depression. He worked from 1933-35 with the Civilian Conservations Corps (CCC) and earned enough money to follow in the footsteps of older brother, Bert, and a cousin by enrolling at Cumberland College and working his way through. After graduating from Cumberland in 1940 with a degree in business, he joined the U.S. Navy and earned the rank of Lieutenant Commander during World War II. He earned a degree in law from the Jefferson School of Law and worked as an attorney for the Veterans Administration in Louisville for thirty-four years. In the early 1960s, Mr. Combs, a widower with a young son, Gary, met his second wife, Alice Holladay. He retired from the V.A. in 1973 and moved with his family to Niceville, Florida where he enjoyed fishing, coaching Little League, gardening, the stock market, and his beloved dogs. Upon the death of Mrs. Combs in 2003, he moved to Atlanta to be near his children and grandchildren. Mr. Combs is survived by a daughter, Lisa Combs Jern and twin granddaughters, Katherine and Elizabeth; twin sons, Stephen Combs and Bert Combs and their wives, Jill and Chanta, respectively, and grandsons Davis, Parker, and Henry; as well as many nieces and nephews. Mr. Combs was the youngest brother of the late Honorable Bert T. Combs, ’30, a dear friend and generous supporter of University of the Cumberlands. 26
CumberlandToday
Winter 2010
Herbert Gabhart Former pastor of Williamsburg First Baptist Church, Herbert C. Gabhart, died September 10, 2009. Following his tenure at Williamsburg, Gabhart served at McClean Baptist Church in Memphis, Tenn., and then went on to devote 50 years to Belmont University, Nashville, Tenn., serving as president from 1959 to 1983 and as the university’s chancellor 26 years. While Gabhart was president, Belmont’s student body grew from 360 to more than 2,000; the budget increased from $480,000 to $8 million and nine buildings were added to the campus. The academic department grew as well, adding new majors and degrees such as music, nursing, and business. Larry Thrailkill, a Nashville attorney and long-time friend of Gabhart said that Mr. Gabhart had provided encouragement to the people around him. “He had a ‘don’t give up’ kind of spirit that was contagious. He believed God truly had a mission for Belmont, and that faith gave him courage and perseverance when times weren’t good and a reason to be joyful when things were great. It was easy to do your best around him.” He also said that Mr. Gabhart was still attending Belmont basketball games at the age of 95. Gabhart has served as president of the Association of Southern Baptist Colleges and Schools and was a member of the executive committee of the Southern Baptist Convention. He was a long time member of the Nashville Kiwanis Club, the Chamber of Commerce, Belmont Heights Baptist Church, and First Baptist Church of Nashville.
Michael D. Hayre,’74 1952-2001 The Alumni Services Offices recently learned that Dr. Michael D. Hayre,’74, passed away in August 2001, in Memphis, Tenn., one day after being struck by a vehicle while he was jogging near his home. Dr. Hayre was a renowned research advocate who was among the country’s foremost experts in the field of laboratory animal medicine. Following his graduation from Cumberland, he received his Doctor of Veterinarian Medicine degree from Tuskegee University in 1978. He began his career in the Army as the chief of veterinary services for the 3rd Infantry Caisson at Arlington National Cemetery. He attained the rank of major and served a tour of duty in the Republic of Korea. At the time of his death, Dr. Hayre was the vice president of comparative medicine at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis and a member of its Executive Management Committee. He also was the chairman of the board of Americans for Medical Progress. Prior to that, he served as director of the Laboratory Animal Resources Center at Rockefeller University in New York City. An expert in comparative medicine, he was a diplomate of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine and a member of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science; the American Society of Laboratory Animal Practitioners; the New York State VMS; and the Tuskegee University Laboratory Animal Medical Society. From 1994–1995 he served as president of the metropolitan New York branch of the AALAS. The Americans for Medical Progress Fellowship in Public Outreach is named in his honor. Winter 2010
CumberlandToday
27
ALUMNI NEWS
Alumni News
CLASS NOTES
Thank you to the many alumni who submit information for the Alumni News section of the Cumberland Today. We enjoy sharing your news. If you have something to submit, please complete and return the form below, or email your news to alumni@ ucumberlands.edu. Have photos? Just mail your prints or cd, or email you photos to our alumni office. Send all materials to: University of the Cumberlands, Alumni Office, 7075 College Station Drive, Williamsburg, KY 40769 or alumni@ucumberlands.edu.
Please publish this Alumni News in the Cumberland Today magazine. Name: Maiden name:
Class Year:
Here is my news:
1950’s Bernice Beach Meyers, ’52, resides in Glencoe, Ky. After leaving Cumberland College, Bernice received her master’s degree from Baylor University and was a professor in the Nursing Program at Northern Kentucky University for several years. 1960’s John Clifton, ’67, recently became the new principal of Whitley East Elementary School. He has served as interim principal at Whitley East since November 11, 2008, replacing Otis Reeves. Mr. Clifton has 40 years of experience as an educator working in Ohio, Tenn., and Ky. He previously served as principal at Boston Elementary School for seven years. After graduating at the top of his class at Cumberland College, he moved on to University of Tennessee, serving as graduate administrative assistant on the staff of then head football coach, Bill Battle. While at U.T. Mr. Clifton received the highly competitive and prestigious Orin Graf Fellowship for Education Administration. Zafer Roback, ’65, and Ann Faulkner Roback, ’66, live in Knoxville, Tenn., with their five children, Kelley, Keshia, Kephanie, Rashed, and Zafer. Zafer is in the real estate business and his website is www.themorelman.com. Ann is a teacher at Concord Christian School. They would like to hear from their classmates. Their email address is zafer@tds.net.
Photo enclosed:
Yes
No
Please update my records: Current Address:
1970’s Frank Bizjack, ’75, and Denise L. Taylor Bizjack, ’76, reside in Ocala, Fla., where Frank is a vocational education teacher, and Denise is in her 26th year of teaching in the Marion County Public School System. This year she teaches fourth grade math and science.
Email: Telephone:
Jerry Rickett, ’72, was recently inducted into the Kentucky Administrators for
Cell phone: 28
CumberlandToday
Jackie Lee Sears, ’66, lives in Keavy, Ky. He has retired from teaching and administration and now owns his own insurance business.
Winter 2010
ALUMNI NEWS at Los Lunas, on an Indian Reservation. She returned home to Va. and started working at Mountain Empire Community College teaching computer programming. Her immediate plans are to read all the books she can and to do a “grand tour” of Europe, Asia, Africa and return to Australia to visit friends of 35 years.
Economic Development Hall of Fame at the annual conference in Bowling Green, Ky., on November 12, 2009. Gregory Scot Rose, ’77, has recently retired after 32 years of working at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in, Oak Ridge, Tenn. He now lives in Atlanta, Ga.
1980’s Dr. Michael L. Clark, ’85, now lives in Kettering, Ohio, with his wife of 20 years, Stephanie and their four children, ages 5 to 15. He has joined the OB/GYN staff at Kettering Medical Center. After training at Wright State University OB/ GYN residency Dr. Clark spent 13 years with his family in Darke County, Ohio as a solo practitioner, in a group practice and for a Federal Qualified Health Center, all in Greenville, Ohio. From there he was invited to practice with one of the doctors he trained under during his residency. Dr. Clark and his wife plan to spend their 20th anniversary in Thailand.
Martha Susan Wynn Thompson, ’76, and William Frank Thompson, ’77, are back in the United States after serving 15 years in Taiwan as missionaries. They reside in Bristol, Tenn., where they are both on the staff of Euclid Avenue Baptist Church. They have three children and five grandchildren. Regina Fern Lefevers Warren, ’74, now lives in Pennington Gap, Va., with her husband Roger Warren. After leaving Cumberland she went to Australia where she taught high school in Cobram, Victoria, for four years. After returning to the United States, she obtained an MBA at Eastern New Mexico University and taught school
Amy Lynn Mulfinger Huss, ’87, resides in Cincinnati, Ohio, with her husband and two children, Alyssa Lyda Huss born May 5, 2005 and Ethan Edward Huss born June 30, 1997. Amy owns Amy’s Art Academy and Amy Mulfinger Huss Rental Properties. She is active with their church, volunteers in Boy Scouts of America and A Caring Place, a pro-life group, as well as Milford Schools, where her children attend school. She also has two Security Licenses, Series 7 and Series 63 and she is an Ohio Notary Public. Amy graduated with a BS in business administration from Cumberland College, with a minor in English, and an MBA in financing and marketing from Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio. Lura Hurt Janbakhsh, ’82, and her husband Hassan Janbakhsh now live in Somerset, Ky., They have three children: Michael, 21; Daniel, 19; and Kayla, 15. Diana Dugan Warmoth, ’87, lives in Wyoming, Ohio, where she is a resident
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
John McCauley ’82 Alumnus named to USDA’s Farm Service Agency
John McCauley recently has been named to serve as Kentucky State Executive Director for the Farm Service Agency at the USDA. The agency oversees federal disaster assistance, conservation projects and operating loan programs. It also buys commodities from farmers for low-income food programs. Most recently the managing member of JWM Consulting Service for seven years, McCauley brings twenty years of public service experience to his new position. He has served as director of the Division of Pesticide Regulation in the Kentucky Department of Agriculture; on the governor’s Commission on Literacy; in the Kentucky Labor Cabinet; in the Kentucky General Assembly; and on the staff of former U. S. Senator Walter D. Huddleston. USDA’s Farm Services Agency works to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for rural Americans. Some of the agency’s efforts include facilitating income support, disaster assistance and conservation programs, providing operating loans for the procurement of farm equipment, seed and fertilizer, as well as offering ownership loans to help new and veteran producers purchase a farm. FSA also works to procure various commodities to benefit low-income families through domestic food assistance programs. “John McCauley has a solid understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing our rural communities and will help build on the Obama Administration’s efforts to rebuild and revitalize rural America,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. McCauley’s agricultural roots go back to his grandparents’ farms in Muhlenberg County and in the hills of eastern Kentucky. However, at Cumberland, he chose to pursue a bachelor’s degree in business administration, with an emphasis in economics and management. He went on to complete graduate work at Kentucky State University and the University of Louisville. Winter 2010
CumberlandToday
29
ALUMNI NEWS life specialist at a retirement community in Mason, Ohio. Her oldest son started college this past fall at University of Cincinnati, and her daughter is now a sophomore in high school. 1990’s Valerie Lynn Beshear Clark, ’95, married Christopher Clark in August 2008. They live in Calcium, N.Y. Christopher is on active duty with U.S. Army Aviation in Ft. Drum, N.Y. Jeff Garmon, ’92, has recently made the decision to step down from a 17-year career with the Corbin Redhounds baseball team. He is going back to his hometown of Glasgow, Ky., to have more time with his parents and siblings. He hopes there will be an opportunity to serve as an assistant baseball coach at Glasgow. Travis James Masters, ’99, and his wife Sherry Clark Masters,’00, live in Xenia, Ohio, where Travis is working for the U.S. Government Accountability Office at Wright Patterson Air Force Base as a senior defense analyst. They have two children, Caleb who is four years of age and Madilynn who is two years of age. Robert Monestel, ’91, and his wife Julie have moved their family to Dhaka, Bangladesh, where Robert is a regional medical officer for the U.S. Department of State, taking care of embassy employees overseas. Julie and Robert have three children: Tyler, Celine and Austin. Jason H. Padget, ’97, is currently the project director of Tennessee Lives Count. Previously, he was director of Community and Grassroots Outreach for the Suicide Prevention Action Network. He directed two national programs aimed at advancing public awareness and public policy. Before relocating to Tenn., he was the administrator of the suicide prevention program at the Kentucky Department for Mental Health and Mental Retardation Services. Padgett holds a master’s degree in public administration from University of Kentucky’s Martin School for Public Policy and Administration and is working on a second master’s degree in project 30
CumberlandToday
Winter 2010
management. Jason and his wife Robyn live in Nashville, Tenn.
the winning track.
Michelle Williams Pray, ’93, was recently inducted into the Southeast Kentucky Volleyball Hall of Fame for her accomplishments as the head coach at Perry County Central High School and for her contributions as a representative of the 14th region and co-organizer of the Southeast Kentucky Volleyball All-star Game that recognizes the best players of the 13th, 14th and 15th regions.
Engagements, Marriages, and Anniversaries
Chris L. Sears, ’90, now resides in Corbin, Ky., where he is a yard master for the CSX Railroad. Cindy Joann Moore St. Germain, ’96, lives in Toledo, Ohio, with her husband Mark and three children, Madeline , born in 2002; Joseph, born in 2004; and Benjamin, born 2008. She received her Master’s degree in music in 2001 from The University of Toledo and is teaching elementary music and beginning band in Point Place, Ohio. Amy Denise Cummins Wilhelmus, ’95, married Mark Wilhelmus in April, 2004. She works as Director of the Moore Activity Center in Covington, Kentucky. They have one child, Corran Michael born in January, 2008. 2000’s Tyrhon Crawford, ’02, is residing in Winter Haven, Florida where he was recently named Head Coach of the men’s Basketball team at Webber International University. Bob Lawson, ’03, ’05, has recently been chosen for the position of head football coach at Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School in Lexington, Ky. He played football while a student at University of the Cumberlands and was an assistant coach for four years before going to Pelham High School in Alabama where he ran the defense for former Elizabethtown coach Brett Burnett. Mr. Lawson was the associate head football coach and defensive coordinator at Henderson County School the last three years. He is looking forward to getting the Bulldogs’ program back on
1990’s Dr. Joshua Eric Nichols, ’98, and Arynda Lea Cogburn announce their marriage of June 27, 2009. Joshua is the son of the Reverend and Mrs. Larry Nichols of Somerset, Ky., and his bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roger Cogburn of Maryville, Tenn. She is a teacher at Pulaski County High School, and Dr. Nichols is the owner of two optometric offices, Eye Health of Somerset and Eye Health of Stanford, Ky. Angela Colleen (Starnes) Swain, ’95, announces her marriage to Matthew Fuller Swain on July 14, 2007. They reside in Louisville, Ky., with their son John-Franklin Swain, who joined their family in August 2008. Angela is a stay-at-home mom. She works part-time coordinating televised chapel services at Southern Seminary. She also teaches voice, piano and supervises ministry programs at Boyce College. 2000’s Alan Wolanin, ’07, and Brittani Newman, ’09, were married on September 5, 2009. Brittani is the daughter of Frank and Melissa Newman of Barbourville, Ky. Alan is the son of Regis and Diane Wolanin of Brook Park, Ohio.
BIRTHS 1990’s Christiane Kelly Herndon, ’98, and her husband Jeremy, along with big brother Braxton, age two, announce the birth of a new family member. A baby girl, Sydney Mae, was born on December 17, 2009 in Nashville, Tenn., where the family resides. Nathan and Mykie Brinegar Howard, ’98, recently welcomed their second child, a daughter, Ainsley Rose, into their family. Ainsley was born on January 3, 2010. The Howard family lives in Morehead, Ky.
ALUMNI NEWS 2000’s Kelly Michelle Hutchens Foreman, ’04, her husband Jason and their four-year-old daughter Shiela Faith welcomed into their family Micah Thomas, born December 4, 2009. The Foreman family resides in Richmond, Ky. Brad and Amanda Pennock Godbey, ’01, announce the birth of their second child, Alex Bradford, on July 4, 2009. His twoyear-old brother Blake welcomed baby Alex into the family. Jeremiah, ’03, and Carol, ’05, Tudor have a new addition to their family. On June 6, 2009 they welcomed Eli David.
FOND FAREWELLS Former Faculty/Staff Silas G. Branham, age 86, of Winfield, Tenn., passed away January 26, 2009 at his home after a lingering illness. He was a retired custodian at Cumberland College. He is survived by one daughter, Treda Kay Branham Muse, and a son, Arnold Bowling, three sisters and one brother. Edna L. Lawson, age 93, of Atlanta, Ga., passed away June 10, 2009. She was preceded in death by her husband Curtis Lawson, her father M.L. Cooper and her mother Beulah Medaris Cooper. Ms. Lawson was the great niece of the Reverend Robert Medaris, one the co-founders of Cumberland College. She is survived by her daughter, JoAnna, one sister, Faye Smith, and one brother, W. C. Cooper. Opal Croley Mahan, age 91, of Williamsburg, Ky., passed away January 3, 2010 at the Williamsburg Nursing Home. She was the daughter of the late G. B. Croley and Molly Reynolds Croley. Ms. Mahan was an honored retiree of Cumberland College with 27 years of service in the dining hall, and she was a commissioned Kentucky Colonel. She is survived by her daughter, Loretta Begley of Dayton, Ohio, son, Larry Mahan Mason, Ohio, seven grandchildren and 12 greatgrandchildren.
Laura Emily Marsh Nutter, of Mount Lookout, W. Va., formerly of Lancaster, Penn., passed away May 30, 2009. She was 96 years of age. She was an associate professor of nursing at Cumberland College. She is survived by a son, Thomas M. Nutter and his wife, Deborah of Mount Lookout, West Virginia, five grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Dr. Leon Simpson, age 72, of Florence Township, Ohio, passed away October 27, 2009 in Community Health Partners West after a sudden illness. He was born in Mountain Park, Okla., on July 28, 1937. His family moved to Panhandle, Tex., where he graduated from Panhandle High School. He continued his education and received degrees from Texas Tech University, the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Ill., and the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. After completing his education, Dr. Simpson taught at Cumberland College, was an assistant to Dr. W. A. Criswell at the First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, and he was President of Clear Creek Baptist Bible College in Pineville, Kentucky. He also worked as editor at Lifeway Christian Resources in Nashville, Tenn., before moving to Florence Township, where he served as pastor of the Firelands Church for 14 years. He is survived by his wife of 45 years Marilyn Simpson and one daughter Noelle Simpson, of Florence Township, two sons and five grandchildren. Stephen Craig Jones, of Lexington, Ky., passed away October 18, 2009. He was 60 years of age. His is survived by his wife Judy Land Jones of Lexington, Ky. He was the son of Polly Jones Schewe of Lexington and the late Carl E. Jones of Williamsburg. Mr. Jones graduated from St. Camillus Academy in Corbin and attended Sue Bennett College and Cumberland College. 1920’s Carl Lawson, ’29, age 86, passed away October 21, 2009. 1930’s Mary Ellen Roberts Campbell, ’36, of Lenoir City, Tenn., passed away November 14, 2009. She is survived by a daughter Ann Campbell, granddaughter Stephanie,
one son Jim Campbell and sister-in-law Mary Annie Campbell. She taught for the Lenoir City School System for 43 years before retiring. C. Clayton “Doc” Lowery, ’38, 91 years of age, passed away April 23, 2009 at the Methodist Hospital Yellow Rose Hospice Unit in Indianapolis, Ind. A native of Bell County, he graduated from Indiana University School of Dentistry in 1942. He worked his way through dental school as a bellhop for the Claypool Hotel in downtown Indianapolis, at a funeral home and for a suit tailor. He joined the Naval Reserves in 1941, served active duty from 1943-1946 and remained in the Reserves until 1955. He retired in 1992 after 50 years of dentistry. Survivors include daughters, Mary Anne (Ray) Bayer and Sandy (Dennis) Sunderman and Sherri Carney, eight grandchildren and 11 greatgrandchildren. William T. Malone, ’39, age 93, of Nashville, Tenn., passed away February 6, 2009. Malone was a musician and business owner and a veteran of WWII. He graduated from Cumberland with a business degree and became Cumberland College’s first band director. Malone was an active musician, playing with many local bands as well as his own band, The Collegians. He was a charter member of The Establishment, the big band comprised of businessmen and professionals, who support scholarship funds. He owned and operated Roy Warden Piano and Organ Company and was one of the first inductees into the MTSU Band of Blues Hall of Fame. Malone is survived by three daughters, one son, one brother, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Frances B. Martin, ’30’s, of Lebanon, Tenn., passed away March 14, 2009, at University Medical Center. She was 91 years of age. Survivors include one daughter, one sister, three grandchildren and seven greatgrandchildren. 1940’s Stellian Virgil Anderson, ’43, of Central City, Ky., passed away April 13, 2009 at Owensboro Medical Health Systems. He Winter 2010
CumberlandToday
31
REMEMBER WHEN “Do you remember when, we used to sing. . .” In December 2009, Cumberlands hosted its forty-second Madrigal Dinners, which have become a community and campus staple of the Christmas season. The event, begun by Dr. Harold Wortman, features the Chamber Choir as well as instrumentalists from the Music Department. Pictured are performers from one of the earliest Madrigal Dinners. One singer is unidentified and some class years are unknown, so anyone who can identify them or provide additional information is encouraged to contact the Alumni Services office.
From left to right: Hal Haynes, ’?; Donna Foley Colegrove, ’71; Jean Staggs Canter, ’72; Unidentified; Cyrus Bush, ’72; Nancy Metcalf Harris, ’71; Doug Pennington, ’?; Myra Davis, ’73; Terry Landis, attended in ’71 (deceased); Britta Theren Helgesson Anders, attended in ’71; Karen Gale Kidd Lovett, ’71; Sandy Phillips Roberts, ’74.
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Reecia Samples ’74 Alumna chosen as superintendent of schools
The 2009-10 academic year in Clay County, Kentucky, began with a new superintendent of schools, Reecia Samples, taking the helm. A native of Clay County, Samples has dedicated her career to serving the educational needs of children in her home area. “I’ve been around education all my life, says Samples. “It’s as all I know. So I want us to have a system the entire community can be proud of, where everyone feels welcome.” After graduating from Clay County High School in 1974, Samples earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration at Cumberlands, followed by a master’s degree in education at Union College. She then received her Rank-1 certification at Eastern Kentucky University, and later, her superintendent certification at Cumberlands. “I sort of ended up where I began, at University of the Cumberlands. I went full circle,” explains Samples. Samples’s career began in career development, and as computers became a part of everyday life, including education, she taught computers, data processing and programming at Clay County High School. In 1995, she was appointed district coordinator, and later became an instructional supervisor. Named assistant superintendent in May 2009, she became superintendent in July 2009. As she assumed her new position, Samples created a strategy to reach numerous goals for Clay County Schools, including increasing the graduation rate and improving communication among parents, students, teachers and administrators. She stated, “I want three guiding questions to remain at the forefront of our goals: What do we want each student to learn? How will we know when each student has learned it? And how will we respond when a student experiences difficulty in learning?” “I thank the Board of Education for giving me this opportunity, but I thank the Lord above anybody else,” says Samples. “The Lord has put a lot of good people in my life.” Most of all, Samples says she is thankful for being given the opportunity to serve her community. Samples’s husband is Roger Samples, ’77, who teaches at Clay County Middle School. Their family consists of their son and his wife, Brandon and Celia, and a granddaughter, one-year-old Daisy Parker Samples. 32
CumberlandToday
Winter 2010
ALUMNI NEWS worked for Kentucky Utilities Green River Power Station, and he was also a World War II veteran. Mr. Anderson is survived by his wife of 57 years, Anita Baxter Anderson, three sons, 13 grandchildren, two great grandchildren and one brother. Virginia Whitcomb, Brumbach, ’42, passed away January 7, 2007 after a lengthy illness. She was 84 years of age. Dr. Brumbach taught school for 60 years for several different schools. She was selected as Woman of the Year by the Garland area American Business Woman, served as president of Delta Pi Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, was Outstanding Phi Theta Kappa sponsor and Outstanding Faculty Member nominated for the Piper-Stevens award from Eastfield College. She is survived by twin daughters Dr. Mary Brumbach of Garland, Texas, and Margaret Bolding of Ft. Worth, Texas. Anna Baker–Cormier, ’49, 79 years of age, passed away August 16, 2009 at her home in Canton Mich., where she had been under the care of Saint Joseph Hospice. She is survived by her husband Norman, her son Dr. Ronald Baker, her daughter Peggy Kemeny and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Herbert Lee Reeves, ’47, passed away November 7, 2009, at Baptist Village Retirement Communities after an extended illness. He was a well-known teacher, coach and principal in local and area public schools for 40 years and was a noted professional baseball pitcher. He enrolled in Cumberland Junior College in 1945 after serving two and a half years in the U.S. Navy as a seaman second class on a destroyer in the Pacific. He quickly became the basketball team captain and the top pitcher for Cumberland’s baseball team. He was on the Kentucky Junior College Championship basketball team when Cumberland won that title, and then went on to win the Southeastern Junior College Championship by the defeating Alabama Junior College Championship team by a score of 53 – 52. He was an all-around outstanding athlete. Mr. Reeves is survived by his wife of 58 years Margaret Warren Reeves, one son and one daughter.
Eula Mae Roaden, ’41, 87 years of age, of Greenville, S. C. passed away April 11, 2009. She was born in Williamsburg, Ky., to the late Charles and Minnie Smith Nicholson. She is survived by her husband of 67 years Jesse Roaden, four sons, seven grandchildren and seven greatgrandchildren. Dr. C. R. (Pete) Smith, ’43, of Winchester, Ky., passed away August 15, 2009. He practiced dentistry in Winchester for 48 years and developed land for Stoney Brook, Stonecrest and Fort Estill subdivisions. He was also a farmer. In addition to his wife of 62 years Josephine S. Smith, he is survived by a son and two daughters and their families. Wilma Jean Helton Trotto, ’49, born in Corbin, Ky., passed away November 7, 2008 in Casco, Mich. She is survived by her husband Arthur Trotto. 1950’s Mary Ruth Beasy, ’51, passed away October 1, 1995. She was 76 years of age. Clarence Edward Bunch, ’52, of Williamsburg, Ky., passed away June 26, 2009, at the Oaktree Hospital in Corbin, KY. He was 81 years of age. Mr. Bunch was a veteran of the United States Air Force. He is survived by two sisters. Reverend Roy Lee Cox, ’57, of Wolf Creek River Road passed away December 28, 2009, at St. Joseph Hospital in Lexington, Ky. He was 72 years of age. Reverend Cox served in the Kentucky National Guard in 1954 and joined the United States Army in 1960, and served until 1963, when he suffered a heart attack. He later rejoined the National Guard. In 1970 he started preaching on the radio, and he was the assistant pastor at Mountain Ash Church of God, where he taught Sunday School for 25 years. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Lois Dean Moses Cox, three daughters: Lisa Haun, ’88, Irma Ivey (UC Development Office) and Jennifer Smith, ’02, five grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren. H. Ray Ledbetter, ’57, passed away.
Johnnie Hall Terry, ’59, passed away December 23, 2007. 1960’s John Elmer Melzoni, ’64, of Clinton, Tenn., passed away October 1, 1997, at Fort Sanders Hospital in Knoxville, Tenn. Mr. Melzoni was born August 6, 1939. He was a member of Popular Creek Baptist Church. He is survived by his parents Pete and Betty Melzoni, a son, John Melzoni, Jr., four daughters, Cory Watts, Jessica Melzoni, Kim Melzoni and Kelly Melzoni, a brother and two sisters. Daniel A. Palmer, ’68, of Brewster, N.Y., passed away June 19, 2009. Mr. Palmer was an educator for 33 years with the Port Chester School District and taught in Kennedy and Park Avenue Schools. He was a member of the Port Chester Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Port Chester Knights of Columbus. Mr. Palmer is survived by his life partner, Leslie Xavier of Brewster, N.Y., one son, Anthony Palmer, one daughter, Jessica Palmer and two grandsons. He is also survived by his extended family, Joseph Xavier, Dana Xavier and two grandsons. Jane Delano Plumlee, ’62, of Etowah, Tenn., passed away May 17, 2009. She was 70 years of age. She is survived by her husband Horton Plumlee, three daughters, three grandchildren, one brother and one sister. Jack Wade Scalf, ’62, of Lexington, Ky., passed away November 6, 2009, at the VA Medical Center in Lexington. He was born in Corbin on July 14, 1926 to the late S. McKinley and Lula Sutherland Scalf. He is survived by his wife Eula M. Kersey Scalf, four children, four grandchildren and three sisters. Antonia Smith, ’62, passed away August 20, 2009, at her residence in Lexington, Ky. She was 83 years of age, and she was a retired school teacher for the Fayette County School System. She is preceded in death by her parents Karl and Anna Bogenstatter from Munich, Germany. Survivors include one daughter Michelle Brummer of Lexington, three sons, Eric Smith of Richmond, Ky., Aaron Smith of Lexington and Manfred Winter 2010
CumberlandToday
33
ALUMNI NEWS Smith of San Diego, Calif., and her beloved husband Seamus. Reverend Lawrence Edward Tew, ’69, 67 years of age, passed away February 19, 2009, at his home. He is survived by his wife, Betty J. Tew, one daughter, one son, four sisters, four brothers and two grandsons. Gary L. Veach, ’68, passed away January 18, 2010, at the Baptist Regional Medical Center in Corbin. He was 63 years of age. He is survived by cousin and best friend, Doug Young and Dessie Neeley, both of Corbin, and two aunts. Fernie D. Williams, Jr., ’67, passed away October 8, 2009. He was well known for his love of music and his love for teaching. He was named Teacher of the Year in 1989. 1970’s Randell B. Baker, ’70, 60 years of age, passed away February 8, 2009 at Madison County Hospital in London, Ohio. He is survived by his wife Gail A. Baker one son Christopher C. and Carrie of Maumee, Ohio, his father Bolivar Baker of Dayton, Ohio, his special friend John (Wendy) McCance of Dayton, Ohio, and Murphy, his beloved ShihTzu. Kay Silcox Hill, ’71, passed away December 30, 2009. After receiving her BS degree in education from Cumberland, Ms. Hill continued her education at Union College where she received her MA in elementary education. She taught in Campbell County Schools for 12 years and 13 years in Loudon County, at Eaton Elementary and Greenback School. Gorman Stanley Jones, ’75, passed away November 20, 2009, as a result of complications from cancer. John D. Ledford, ’79, age 48, of Hamilton, Ohio, passed away February 24, 2009. He is survived by his children Rocky Abbott, Megan Stubbs, Allie Stubbs, and Jacob Williams, two grandchildren, six brothers and five sisters. Reverend Donald Glen Petree, ’79, age 57 34
CumberlandToday
Winter 2010
of Caryville, Tenn., passed away December 14, 2008 at his home. He is survived by his wife Jane Petree two sons, two brothers, and three sisters. Reverend Petree was pastor of Fairview Baptist Church in Oak Ridge and was an interim pastor for several churches. He was a volunteer Chaplin for the LaFollette Police Department, EMS and Ridgewood Fire Department. He was preceded in death by his son Timothy Petree and parents Lee and Edith Bailey Petree. James “Jim” A. Taylor, ’75, age 59, of Inverness, Fla., passed away July 11, 2009, at Hospice of Citrus County Hospice House in Lecanto, Fla. Mr. Taylor was born in Detroit, Mich., on September 22, 1949, to the late Benjamin and Lida Jones Taylor and moved to Inverness from Williamsburg, Ky. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War and graduated from Cumberland College. He taught kindergarten at Inverness Primary School for 21 years. James was the first male kindergarten teacher in Citrus County. He is survived by his wife of 23 years Cathy Taylor one son, a brother, two sisters, three grandchildren, four nieces and two nephews. He will be missed by his entire family and many friends. Warren D. Waddell, ’75, 55 years of age passed away at his home in Science Hill, Ky., January 2, 2009, after a long illness. He is survived by his two daughters and their mother, Marie Waddell, a twin sister Wilma Gayle Waddell Jones, a brother, two nephews, two step-nephews, one step-sister and one step-brother. 1980’s Lois C. Terrell Meadors, ’82, of Meadow Creek Road, Rockholds, Ky., passed away January 7, 2010, at Baptist Regional Medical Center in Corbin. She was 50 years of age. She is survived by her husband Jim Meadors, twin daughters Natasha Lynn Meadors Parsons and Jessica Leigh Meadors Jackson, one grandson Levi Perry Jackson, her mother Arlene Terrell, three sisters and one brother. 1990’s Pamela Hamblin Dixon, ’92, (’96 graduate) passed away January 13, 2010,
as a result of complications from by-pass surgery. She was 39 years of age. She is survived by her parents Ronald and Shirley King Hamblin, her husband Reverend Bruce Dixon and their children, Courtney Brooke and Caleb Josiah all of Pine Knot, Ky. 2000’s Rebecca S. (D’Ambrosia) Freeman, ’05, passed away October 14, 2009, in Phoenix, Az., at the Phoenix Baptist Hospital after a difficult battle with cervical cancer. She was 27 years of age. Becky is survived by her husband Stephen Freeman, her parents Frank X. and Susan Kay D’Ambrosia, two stepsons, Mason and Stephen Freeman, Jr., a grandmother, Sylvia D’Ambrosia, two brothers and a nephew. Becky graduated from Ayersville High School in 2001, where she won the United States Girls Wrestling Association National Tournament. She earned her B.S. from Cumberland and was working on her master’s degree at Argosy University in Phoenix when she was diagnosed with cancer. Becky will be sorely missed by everyone who knew her. Marcus Wesley, last year attended 2006, passed away July 20, 2009 in Tampa, Fla. Marcus played football for University of the Cumberlands, and in 2006, he was named to the All-Conference 1st Team Defensive squad. He helped lead the Patriots to a 6-4 season, recording 92 tackles on the season, 45 of which were solo. He also had 14 ½ tackles for loss, totaling 67 yards, four and a half sacks and three interceptions. Marcus was also named to the NAIA South All Region team in 2006. He had a four-year old daughter and a host of friends, as well as his Cumberland family, who will sorely miss him.
E SAVE THE DAT O CRUISE BACK T CUMBERLAND 2010 HOMECOMING
October 1 -3
ALUMNI CHAPTER MEETINGS Alumni chapter meetings provide an excellent opportunity to re-unite with classmates and get to know alums from different class years who also love Cumberland(s). Two recent meetings demonstrate how different these meetings can be. In August 2009, Richard and Janie Kagy, both class of ’72, welcomed alumni to their home for a meeting of the Florida chapter. The gathering allowed alums to reminisce and reconnect in a warm, informal atmosphere. In addition to the Kagys, alumni in attendance were Eloise Sullivan Mitchell, ’50, Ronald Mitchell, ’51, Dr. Willard White, ’56, Glenn Bennett, ’67, Darrel Wininger, ’51, and his wife Marge. Pictured (top right) are Darrel and Marge Wininger looking at a yearbook, with Dr. Willard White in the background. The Bluegrass chapter met in Georgetown in the fall, when the Patriot football team met the Georgetown Tigers for Cumberlands’ only regular season loss for 2009. In spite of that fact, several alumni enjoyed the game and the chance to get together. In attendance were (bottom right): Row 1: (from left to right) Emma Kate Bergman, future alumna, Kristie Lyons, ’79, Laura Keown, ’82, Jim Ford, ’48; Row 2: Dave Bergman, ’89, Andy Abbott, ’93, Mary Doyle Johnson, ’48, Garnett Beach Jones, ’50, Carol Miller Yunker, ’50, Jim Taylor, ’68. These are just two examples of the many possibilities for alumni chapter meetings. Any alum who would like to coordinate a meeting in his or her area should contact Dave Bergman in the Office of Alumni Services at 606-539-4355.
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Dr. Azmy Ackleh ’88
Cumberlands Graduate receives Distinguished Professor Award Dr. Azmy Ackleh, professor of mathematics at the University of Louisiana, Lafayette, (UL) was one of three educators chosen to receive the UL Foundation’s Distinguished Professor Award in 2007. When Ackleh arrived at Cumberlands in 1984 from his home in Nazareth, Israel, he had two major goals – to earn a bachelor’s degree in computer science and get a job. However, he changed directions when he visited his brother Essam Ackleh,’86, a graduate student at the University of Tennesee. A visit to a mathematics lab and encouragement from his brother and a UT faculty member turned him toward graduate school and a career in education. “With my brother’s encouragement, I decided I would take a shot at a master’s degree,” Ackleh stated. As a graduate student at UT, Ackleh discovered an interest in mathematical biology, an interdisciplinary field of study. He earned a master’s degree and a doctorate in mathematical biology from the University of Tennessee. Ackleh taught at the University of Tennessee and North Carolina State University before joining the faculty of the University of Louisiana in 1995. Since 2007, he has held the Dr. Ray P. Authement Eminent Scholar Endowed Chair in Computational Mathematics. As a professor of applied mathematics, Ackleh has a special interest in using mathematical models to predict population trends. Ackleh endeavors to balance his work load and states. “I try to do my best in all areas.” In addition to Essam and Azmy, the two remaining Ackleh brothers, Loay, ’96,and Samer, ’92, also graduated from Cumberlands. Winter 2010
CumberlandToday
35
25th Football Reunion Save the Date University of the Cumberlands will celebrate 25 years of football when the Patriots meet the Georgetown Tigers in the first home football game of the season. The date is Saturday, September 18, 2010, and kick-off is at 1:30 p.m., at James H. Taylor, II Stadium. Watch for details of the25th Football Team Reunion and Gala in the summer issue of Cumberland Today and at www.ucumberlands.edu.
“It’s Not Easy Being Green.” So, we need your help.
Provide us with your email address, and we will send you Cumberland Today electronically. Not only will we save thousands of trees by reducing the number of printed magazines we produce but we will also reduce the amount of ink used and prevent many pounds of paper from ending up in landfills. On top of that—we will save money for printing and postage that can be put to better use providing outstanding learning opportunities for Cumberlands’ future alumni! Please visit us at www.ucumberlands.edu/alumni/update and update your contact information. You can let us know what’s been going on in your life—and you can send us your email address. With your help, it will be easier to be “green” here at Cumberlands. 36
CumberlandToday
Winter 2010
CB Club 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
ALUMNI CLASS AGENT EMAIL
Mrs. Marcella Faulkner Mountjoy Ms. Lola Miles Oliver Mr. Harry Siler Mr. Bob Cain Dr. Edsel West Mrs. Dorothy Meadors Morris Mr. Frank Burns Mr. Edgar Bryant Mr. Alvin Sharpe Mr. V. L. Stonecipher Mr. Richard “Dick” Koeniger Dr. Terry Dixon Dr. Tom Frazier Mr. Ralph Lipps Dr. & Mrs. Michael & Donna Colegrove Ms. Linda Carter Mr. David Gay Mr. Floyd Stroud Mr. Bill Lyttle Mr. Richard Prewitt Mr. Alfred Apple Dr. Michael Smith Dr. Dennis Trickett Mr. David Rhodes Mr. Crayton Ellison Ms. Laura Keown Mr. Chris Keegan Mr. & Mrs. Paul & Lisa Jackson Mr. Craig Mack Mr. Russell Jones Dr. Wheeler Conover Mr. Jeff Davis Mrs. Denise Bender Sesler Mr. Gary Averill Mrs. Patti Mullins Dr. Paul Chitwood Mr. Mark Anderson Mr. Jeff Barker Ms. Melissa Irvin Mrs. Amy Jacobs Liddle Mrs. Jill Gross Arvanitis Mrs. Susan Rice Bradley Mr. Kenny McKinney Mr. Jonathan Childers Mr. Kevin Weihe Mr. Josh Moses Mrs. Alaina Allen Gibbs Mr. Joe Salvato Mrs. Jessica Anderson Shearer Ms. Katie Bowers Mr. Brandon Creech Ms. Jordan Patton Ms. Brittney House
170joy@bellsouth.net lolamilesoliver@webtv.net harrysiler@yahoo.com bobc1012000@yahoo.com hannahwest@marykay.com bdmorris589@roadrunner.com fstormyb@aol.com edgarb@kih.net alvin.sharpe@ucumberlands.edu vstoneci@acs.ac dkoeniger@seidata.com drtpd@aol.com tom.frazier@ucumberlands.edu alumni@ucumberlands.edu michael.colegrove@ucumberlands.edu linda.carter@ucumberlands.edu dcgay@iwrkz.com floyd.stroud@ucumberlands.edu bill49ers07@yahoo.com richard.prewitt@whitley.kyschools.us drives@kih.net otridge@bellsouth.net dennis.trickett@ucumberlands.edu drhodes@thewalkercompany.com tellison2410@yahoo.com laura.keown@centre.edu CKe8009542@aol.com lisa.jackson@ucumberlands.edu mack7335@bellsouth.net tireruss@aol.com ewconover@yahoo.com jeffd@cedlexington.com denisesesler@bellsouth.net gaverill@southernwine.com patti.mullins@whitley.kyschools.us pchitwood@fbcmw.org mark.anderson.goodz56@statefarm.com jkbarker@woh.rr.com melissa.irvin@ucumberlands.edu liddlehouse@gmail.com jillarvanitis@yahoo.com Susan.Bradley@homefederaltn.com KmcKinney9@yahoo.com jchilders@infocapsol.com keviny_14@yahoo.com alumni@ucumberlands.edu daisy_john8_32@hotmail.com cumberlandjoe@yahoo.com jessica.shearer@ucumberlands.edu awesomeangel_02@hotmail.com b20creech@hotmail.com jep2004@yahoo.com bhouse1256@ucumberlands.edu
CUMBERLAND CONNECTIONS
Maureen“Cookie” Thompson Henson ’74
Maureen “Cookie” Thompson Henson, ‘74, and Bob Jones, ‘50, are pictured above at the 2009 Creech Boswell Alumni Dinner during Homecoming.
Bob Jones ’50
Breaking Barriers Bob Jones,’50, and Maureen “Cookie” Thompson Henson,’74, first met in 1958, when Jones became pastor of the Beattyville Baptist Church. The congregation ministered to two African American families with a total of ten children, of which Cookie was one. Her father and his brother, both single parents, were raising their children together to conserve expenses. During a revival meeting, Cookie accepted Christ and was baptized by Jones. Later, Jones moved away to take another pastorate, and Cookie’s family moved back to Clay County. As Jones continued to serve churches throughout the region, Cookie grew up, graduated from Clay County High School and Cumberland College and became a popular teacher at Clay County High School. Along the way, she learned sign language and interpreted for the deaf in church services; served as a trustee at Eastern Kentucky University and on the Board of Control of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association. She is a current member of Cumberlands’ Alumni Board. The two alums saw each other only twice during the 50 years after the Joneses left Beattyville, until the Creech-Boswell Dinner during Homecoming 2009. Jones was amazed to meet the grown-up version of the youngster he had known so long ago. “I never dreamed that when I baptized an 8-year-old girl she would become such a beautiful and successful person,” said Jones. Jones, who earned a bachelor’s degree at Georgetown and a divinity degree at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, served the Kentucky Baptist Convention as director of missions for twenty years; mountain missions director for seven years; and director of missions of the Pike County Association for more than four years. In addition to Beattyville, he ministered to churches in Bowling Green and Stephensport, Ky. and in Petersburg, W.Va. He retired in 1995. A faithful alumnus of Cumberland, he has served as the class agent for the class of 1950 and as president of the Creech Boswell Club. In 1976, he was named Outstanding Alumnus. “Pastor Jones was my inspiration in times when life was hard, but I really and truly did not know or feel the hatred in the world because of the love that Bob Jones and his family gave to ten little black children. My life was blessed because God saw fit to bring this family to a small town in the mountains of Kentucky. His plans for me began then and there. I thank God for His many blessings in my life,” said Cookie. “I am so proud of Cookie, who overcame tremendous odds to rise above poverty and became an outstanding person, said Jones. “Now, ready to retire as a teacher, she is an example of a person who, through grit and determination, made something of herself. Cumberland has played a great part in her life and in mine.”
TEE AT DA HEE D TH SSA VEE T AV
OMING 2010 C E M O H D N A L O CUMBER CRUISE BACK T October
1 -3
NON-PROFIT US POSTAGE PAID OWENSBORO, KY 42301 PERMIT #241
UNIVERSITY of the CUMBERLANDS Office of Alumni Services 7075 College Station Drive Williamsburg, KY 40769
LEADERSHIP in TODAY’S ECONOMY with
Karl Rove
Tuesday, April 6, 2010 at 7 p.m. Reserve your free ticket(s) by calling the University of the Cumberlands ticket line at
(606)539-4432.
• Former Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to President George W. Bush • Author, “Courage and Consequence” • Fox News Contributor • Wall Street Journal Columnist • Newsweek Columnist
Rove has been described by respected author and columnist Michael Barone in U.S.News & World Report as “…unique…no Presidential appointee has ever had such a strong influence on politics and policy, and none is likely to do so again anytime soon.” Fred Barnes, executive editor of The Weekly Standard, has called Rove “the greatest political mind of his generation and probably of any generation… He knows history, understands the moods of the public, and is a visionary on matters of public policy.”