FALL 2012
Volume 2, Issue 2
umobile.edu 1
President | Dr. Mark Foley Vice President for Institutional Advancement | Mr. Brian Boyle Editor | Lesa Moore Copy Editor | Kathy Dean Graphic Designer | Jay Adcock, JWACreative.com Staff Designer | Susie Simmons Staff Writers | Will Drake, Kayla Dutruch, Tonya Gomien, Shannon Mason, Nancy Snodgrass, Trey Taulbee Class Notes | Allison Nelson Photographers | Dan Anderson, G.M. Andrews, Mark Barnes, Kayla Dutruch, Ben Finch, Jubilee Photography, Samantha Parrott, Kate Reali, Ginger Saucier, Michelle Taulbee, Michelle Thomas Editorial Office University of Mobile Magazine 5735 College Parkway Mobile, Alabama 36613 Phone: 251.442.2210 Fax: 251.442.2512 www.umobile.edu Email: umobilemagazine@umobile.edu University of Mobile Magazine is published by the University of Mobile Office of Institutional Advancement, and is distributed free of charge to alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of the university. Issues may be viewed online at www.umobile.edu. Postmaster: send address changes to Office of Institutional Advancement, University of Mobile, 5735 College Parkway, Mobile, AL 36613.
ON THE COVER Center for Performing Arts student, Nicole Barker, serves at a Veteran’s Home during Project Serve. Photo by Kate Reali
FEATURES
32
umobile.edu 1
2 University of Mobile Magazine | FALL 2012
Project Serve 2012
University of Mobile School of Nursing
46
Unbelievable!
Expect the Unexpected at Ram Rush
52
A Close Encounter with Tom Bilbo
Volume 2, Issue 2
Impacting The Community
40 Never Stop Learning
58
FALL 2012
COVER STORY
On The Road Again
Sharing UMobile in Song
32
46
40
52
DEPARTMENTS
ALUMNI
4
President’s Message
70
Ram Run
6
University News
71
Campus Corner
16
Giving
72
Alumni Spotlights
72 72 Dorsett 74 Jerrell 76 Williams 76 Perry 77 Carter
78
Class Notes
81
Alumni Notes
83
16
26
A Word From Advancement
58
74
umobile.edu 3
A Word from the President
By Dr. Mark Foley President, University of Mobile
O
n the third floor of Weaver Hall, University of Mobile students and professors are working hard to solve a crime. They are dusting for fingerprints in a science lab, making a cast of a muddy shoeprint, cataloging evidence and photographing what appears to be a breakin – complete with blood, broken glass, bullet casings and shell fragments. The crime scene is staged, but the scientific processes are real in our new upper-level Forensic Sciences course. This is one of many new classes throughout our academic program that offers students experiences to prepare them for the world into which they will graduate. Rigorous, challenging, creative, world-changing academics is a top priority at the University of Mobile. Engaging students in the journey of discovery and preparing them to succeed in a fast-paced world means our academic program continues to expand. A new concentration in graphic design is now part of the art program, with students using state-of-the-art Apple iMac computers, Wacom tablets and Xante graphics printers in courses that provide hands-on experience. Students want this program – they are looking ahead to careers in areas such as web design and developmental computer graphics. New courses are being added each semester, with plans ultimately to expand the program into a graphic design major. The dramatic changes in journalism and expanding need worldwide for communicators adept in social media led to our New Media Journalism course, where students are using video and social media to develop new ways of communicating what is happening in their world. A new 5-year integrated degree program allows students to earn both a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems and a Master in Business Administration in five years. This program joins other 5-year integrated degree programs in Accounting/MBA, Business Administration/MBA, and B.A. in Theology/Master of Arts in Christian Ministries. New concentrations within the School of Worship Leadership prepare the next generation of worship leaders to know how to use film and theatre, music business and technology to most effectively share the Gospel. These are just a few of the ways we intentionally focus on preparing graduates to be leaders in their professions. Our faculty bring their expertise and innovation into the classroom in ways that take students out into the world for hands-on experiences that are far more than resume-builders – they are the building blocks of learning, faith and leadership that develop world-changers. Hold on tight,
4 University of Mobile Magazine | FALL SPRING 2012 2012
Learning | Faith | Leadership
How will you know what college is like?
Visit Campus!
Earn a $2000* scholarship by attending one of these University of Mobile Visit Days! • November 30, 2012
• February 15, 2013 • March 15, 2013**
**Overnight stay is available only to high school seniors or transfer students on these Visit Days. Additional visit days are available any weekday – just call for an appointment
Schedule your Visit Day today at www.umobile.edu/visit 800.WiN.Rams | 251.442.2222 | umobile.edu facebook.com/umadmissions youtube.com/universityofmobile
twitter.com/umenrollment pinterest.com/umobile
*A $2000 scholarship is available to new traditional undergraduate students who attend a UMobile Visit Day, apply for admissions, and enroll at UMobile. This scholarship awards $250 per semester for up to 8 consecutive semesters, excluding the summer semester. Only one UMobile Visit Day Scholarship is available per person.
umobile.edu 5
University News
University of Mobile
Expands Opportunities for Students in School of Christian Ministries and School of Worship Leadership The University of Mobile has expanded opportunities for students aimed at preparing graduates for Christian ministry in the new School of Worship Leadership and the School of Christian Ministries. Dr. Joe Savage has been appointed executive dean of the School of Christian Ministries and Dr. Al Miller is dean of the School of Worship Leadership. The move expands opportunities for students, with more emphasis on internships; innovation and entrepreneurship in music, Christian ministries and worship leadership; plus new concentration in areas such as church ministry, film and theatre, music business, and technology. “Our purpose is to prepare graduates, spiritually and professionally, to be transforming influencers in the revitalization of Christian faith and character in America and beyond,” said Dr. Mark Foley, president of the University of Mobile. “Because of the rapid decline of Christianity in America, we have developed an intentional process for preparing young ministers who will not simply be educated, but will be humble and highly effective in leading the people of this nation and beyond into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ,” said Savage. “At the University of Mobile School of Christian Ministries, we focus on preparing students who can and will reach America’s upcoming generations to become devoted followers of Christ.” The new schools expand opportunities
6 University of Mobile Magazine | FALL 2012
for UMobile students in Christian ministry and worship leadership. School of Christian Ministries Formerly called the School of Christian Studies, this school includes undergraduate majors in theology and intercultural studies, and a master’s program in Christian ministries. “The best way for students to learn how to effectively lead and do ministry is by actually participating in ministry,” said Savage. “A major addition to our School of Christian Ministries program is an extensive program of required internships and expanded ministry opportunities.” Dr. Joe Savage has been named executive dean of the School of Christian Ministries. He continues as director of the University of Dr. Joe Savage Mobile Center for Leadership and the Twelve23 Movement. Savage has ministry roles for more than 25 years in more than 20 years in ministry, including the Southeast, Midwest and Northeast 10 years as a senior pastor and a ministry United States, and he has taught for and to more than 200 coaches and executives represented UMobile internationally in the National Football League. He has in Central and South America, Africa, developed innovative ministries with Scandinavia, the Pacific Rim, and Europe. a unique ability to organize and equip Dr. Cecil Taylor, professor of Christian others toward putting their faith into ministries, has been named director of action. University Missions. Taylor has served as Dr. Douglas Wilson, professor of dean of the School of Christian Studies Christian ministries, has been named and founded the University Missions dean of the School of Christian program in 1992, which has sent over Ministries. Wilson founded the 130 faculty-led teams on short-term university’s intercultural studies program. mission trips to 46 nations, resulting in He has served in pastoral and church over 13,000 professions of faith.
School of Worship Leadership The university’s popular major in worship leadership has been expanded. The School of Worship Leadership offers a major in worship leadership with concentrations in church ministry, film and theatre, music business and technology. Vocal and instrumental ensembles travel and record, providing students experiences beyond the classroom. Dr. Al Miller, professor of music, is dean of the new School of Worship Leadership. He continues as dean of the Center for Performing Arts/School of Music. Miller directs major productions such as Christmas Spectacular that attracts an audience of over 7,500 during three nights of performance. He has worked with outstanding Christian
“Our purpose is to prepare graduates, spiritually and professionally, to be transforming influencers in the revitalization of Christian faith and character in America and beyond.” Dr. Mark Foley
recording artists, and worked with Roger Breland, dean of the College of Christian Leadership, to develop and expand the Center for Performing Arts. Bruce Earnest, associate professor of music and worship leadership, is assistant dean of both the School of Worship Leadership and the Center for Performing Arts/School of Music.
He directs a study abroad program in Germany that attracts students worldwide to study musical theatre and opera. For more information about the University of Mobile, visit the website at www.umobile.edu or call 251.442.2222 or 800.WIN.RAMS. m
umobile.edu 7
University News
UMobile Graduates Receive Top Awards at 2012 Graduation The University of Mobile’s top two student awards, the William K. Weaver Jr. Excellence Award and the Annie Boyd Parker Weaver Excellence Award, were presented to graduates Andrew Chandler Pouncey of Mobile and Kala Marc Holt of Millerville, AL, during graduation ceremonies May 12. Pouncey graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in music, and Holt graduated summa cum laude from the honors program with thesis, earning a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Bachelor of Arts in humanities, while receiving the area award in humanities. The awards are presented to the most outstanding graduating male and female seniors for exemplifying the mission of the University of Mobile. Selection is made by a secret vote of the faculty and is based on scholarship, Christian character, leadership and service. Pouncey, who received the William K. Weaver Jr. Excellence Award, was cited as “a strongly committed individual” who “has displayed a strong and consistent Christian walk throughout his time at UMobile.” He was awarded a Voices of Mobile scholarship and served as production manager, participated in the UMobile Symphonic Winds, Jazz Band and University Singers, and was involved in the community through his church, First Baptist Tillman’s Corner. He served as a student teacher at Faith Academy during
8 University of Mobile Magazine | FALL 2012
Andrew Pouncey (left) & Kala Holt (above). Photos by Jubilee Photography
spring semester 2012. Holt, who received the Annie Boyd Parker Weaver Excellence Award, was a member of Alpha Chi and president of Sigma Tau Delta honor societies. She was accepted as one of 50 Intercollegiate Studies Institute Honors Fellows in the nation, and was in the charter class of the UMobile Bunker Hill Society.
2012 Shofar Award
University of Mobile President Dr. Mark Foley presented the 2012 Shofar Award to Rev. David L. Hudson of Mobile. The Shofar Award is awarded to an Alabama Baptist State Convention minister for service that may never otherwise be recognized. Rev. Hudson is a native of Chattanooga, TN. He attended Tennessee Temple College in Chattanooga, and served as a youth pastor for Clifton Hills Baptist Church in Chattanooga. He then served the following congregations in succession: Fairhaven Baptist, Cedar Bluff, AL; Ingelnook Baptist, Birmingham, AL; Pleasant Hill Baptist, Decatur, AL; Mt. Vernon Baptist, Sale Creek, TN; Creola First Baptist, Mobile, AL; Berean Baptist,
She has organized and served on numerous national and international mission trips through the university; helped launch a church plant at Coastline Community Church in Daphne, AL; and co-authored and co-directed several plays presented by the English department. m
Mobile, AL; Daphne Baptist, Daphne, AL; and Mt. Vernon Baptist, Meridian, MS. Three months after assuming the pastorate at Mt. Vernon Baptist, Hudson suffered a stroke and had to retire from active ministry. After two years of recuperation, he became a mission volunteer under the North American Mission Board auspices, serving as evangelism coordinator for Mobile Baptist Association. In the last five years Hudson has served five churches in the Mobile area as a volunteer pastor. His aim is to restart churches that are dying and lead them back to fruitful ministry. He and his wife, Delphia, have two daughters. m
umobile.edu 9
University News
CEO to University of Mobile Grads: Faith is Key to a Successful Life Faith is key to a successful life, University of Mobile commencement speaker Frederick T. Stimpson III told the Class of 2012 during ceremonies May 12 at the Mobile Civic Center. “In my opinion, if you learn to approach all instances of your life, including your career, through the eyes of faith, you will have a great shot at a successful life,” Stimpson told approximately 350 students receiving associates, bachelor’s and master’s degrees during the Christian university’s 46th graduation ceremony. Retiring Professor of Biology Dr. Thomas Bilbo carried the ceremonial mace and led the procession into the arena. The ceremony was dedicated in memory of Dr. Kenneth Bergdolt, professor emeritus, who died Dec. 23, 2011. Stimpson, chief executive officer of Scotch Gulf Lumber, shared personal examples of how prayer and obedience to God were vital in bringing his company through tough economic times. “My testimony to you this morning is that, regardless of how difficult circumstances are, the way forward is through faith in our Lord and obedience to Him,” Stimpson said. Stimpson said it was “a great privilege to stand before a group that will take part in shaping the world.” “We need you out there,” he said. “We need you in every aspect of our culture and our economy.” He said the University of Mobile experience would give graduates a solid foundation for the rest of their lives. “Of course you have received an education, but more importantly, you are graduating from a university where a Christian worldview is integrated into
10 University of Mobile Magazine | FALL 2012
all areas of study, where you are exposed to approaching all aspects of your life, including your career, through the eyes of faith,” he said. “I want to tell you that the Lord is preparing you today for a great tomorrow,” he added. Stimpson began employment at Gulf Lumber Co. in 1974, and currently serves as CEO of Scotch Gulf Lumber. He is a leader in many business and civic organizations, having served as president of the Alabama Wildlife Federation, founding chairman of the American Family Business Institute, founding board member of Coastal Land Trust, member of the board of directors and past chairman of Infirmary Health System, past member and chairman of the Salvation Army advisory board, Fred Stimpson at graduation. past chairman of the Southeastern Photo by Jubilee Photography Lumber Manufacturing Association, serves on the current executive committee of the Alabama Forestry Association, and is a member of the UMobile Named Whitney Bank regional advisory board. ‘Military Friendly He is a member of Ashland Place United Methodist Church in Mobile where he School’ serves on the board of trustees. Stimpson holds a Bachelor of Victory Media has named the Science in commerce and business University of Mobile to the Military administration from the University of Friendly Schools list and features Alabama and a Bachelor of Science in UMobile on www.militaryfriendlyschools. forestry resources from the University com. The 2013 Military Friendly Schools of Georgia. list honors the top 15 percent of A native of Mobile, he is married to the universities that ensure the success of former Alicia Snyder and they have three America’s military service members, daughters, two granddaughters and veterans, and spouses. two grandsons. m A full story and detailed list of the schools will be highlighted in the annual G.I. Jobs Guide to Military Friendly Schools and distributed to military personnel. m
May 17, 2013 For information contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at 251.442.2917 or visit www.umobile.edu/mobileclassic.
umobile.edu 11
University News
Upper Room Theatre Announces Productions for New Season
Quin Hillyer, seated, as Judge Pryor speaks. Photo by Samantha Parrott
11th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Pryor Featured Speaker at University of Mobile 2012 Constitution Day The University of Mobile Departments of History and Political Science hosted the 2012 Constitution Day program featuring 11th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge William H. Pryor Jr. The event, which was free and open to the public, took place Sept. 18 at 11 a.m. in Ram Hall on campus. Judge Pryor made opening remarks and then fielded questions. Nationally syndicated columnist and UMobile writer-in-residence Quin Hillyer served as moderator for the event. The Constitution Day event celebrated the 225th anniversary of the Constitutional Convention. Hillyer said the event is important because, “Young Americans who value their freedom should understand that without the (constitutional) convention’s work, that freedom would long ago have been trampled by oppressive government.” In addition to serving on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, Pryor teaches law classes at the
12 University of Mobile Magazine | FALL 2012
University of Alabama. Initially appointed by President George W. Bush during a Senate recess in 2004, Pryor’s appointment was confirmed by the U. S. Senate in 2005. Pryor served as Attorney General of Alabama from 1997 to 2004. When first appointed, he was the youngest attorney general in the nation. He was later elected and reelected to that office in 1998 and 2002. In his reelection in 2002, Pryor received the highest percentage of votes of any statewide candidate. Pryor has lectured and published widely. He has lectured at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and several law schools and universities. He has published in the Columbia Law Review, Virginia Law Review, Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy, Yale Law & Policy Review, Tulane Law Review, Alabama Law Review, Florida Law Review, Ohio State Journal of Criminal Law, Notre Dame Journal of Law, Ethics & Public Policy, and Cumberland Law Review. m
The Upper Room Theatre announces three productions to be held at the Saraland Center for Performing Arts. Tickets are on sale now. Single performance tickets are $22. Discount tickets for groups of eight or more are $45. The first performance was “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” Nov. 8-11, directed by Keone Fuqua, assistant professor of performing arts/production manager. It is a musical full of romance and comedy. The play takes place in 1850s Oregon, where six brothers kidnap six women from the neighboring town to marry. Next is “Godspell” Feb. 28-March 3, directed by Bruce Earnest, assistant dean of CPA/ School of Music. This musical reflects the life of Jesus, including hit songs “Day by Day,” “Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord,” and “By My Side.” The final performance is “Pirates of Penzance” April18-21, directed by Dr. Patrick Jacobs, associate professor of music. This comic opera is about a young man who serves an apprenticeship to a band of pirates until his 21st birthday. He was born on Feb. 29 so his birthday is every leap year. He falls in love with Mabel, but cannot marry her until he turns 21. To order tickets or for more information, contact Anica Whaley at 251.442.2383 or awhaley@umobile.edu.m
University News
UMobile Professor Legislator Honored for State’s Progress in Tourism University of Mobile Assistant Professor of Music and Alabama State Rep. Randy Davis was named Legislator of the Year by the state of Alabama at the Alabama Governor’s Conference on Tourism. The conference, held Aug. 21, celebrates the best advocates in the tourism industry. Davis, described as a “legislative champion,” has served in the Alabama State House of Representatives since 2002. The Republican serves the 96th district which includes areas of Mobile and Baldwin counties. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music Education from the University of Southern Mississippi, and additional certification from Alabama State University. He served as a teacher/ administrator and executive to the superintendent of the Mobile County Public School System and as public relations coordinator for the Baldwin County Public School System before retiring in 2004. He has served on the Mobile Arts Council, Boys and Girls Club Board, Bounds YMCA Board, U.S. Sports Academy Board and the Board for the Daphne-Spanish Fort Rotary. He is also a performing member and retired conductor of the Baldwin Pops. He is resident conductor for the Baldwin County Pops Band and recently started the North Mobile Community Chamber Symphony. Rep. Davis is chairman of the House Constitution, Elections and Fair Campaign Practice Committee, as well as chairman of the Alabama Sportsman’s Caucus. He has been recognized as Conservationist of the Year in 2010, 2011 and 2012. m
NOBTS President Chuck Kelley, left, and UMobile President Mark Foley.
President Foley Honored by New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary University of Mobile president Dr. Mark Foley was honored as a distinguished alumnus of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary during the NOBTS Alumni and Friends Picnic this summer. The annual award recognizes consistent and unique ministry contributions of NOBTS alumni. Foley was among four alumni honored during the June 20 event on the seminary campus in New Orleans. Also honored were Waylon Bailey, pastor of First Baptist Church in Covington, LA.; Clay Corvin, vice president for business affairs at NOBTS; and Randy Davis, executive
director of the Tennessee Baptist Convention. NOBTS president Chuck Kelley presented the award. Foley has served as president of the University of Mobile since 1998 and is the third president of the university since its founding in 1961. He led the move to intentionally integrate learning, faith and leadership in all areas of university life, while raising academic standards, building new residence halls, establishing outstanding programs such as the Center for Performing Arts and The College of Christian Leadership, and leading the university to national rankings. m
umobile.edu 13
University News
University of Mobile’s Peer Leader Program Helps New Students Adjust to College Life Morgan Menkedick, a freshman from Greensburgh, IN, has come a long way from home and had problems adjusting to living away from her parents. The one thing that helped her get through this situation was her Peer Leader at the University of Mobile. “I can talk to my new friends here, but my Peer Leader is more mature and knows more than they do. After talking to her, I felt one hundred percent better,” Menkedick said. This is what the new Peer Leader Program at UMobile is all about. University of Mobile started the Peer Leader Program for the 2012-2013 school year to help new students and get them involved in campus activities from the beginning. The Peer Leader Program, part of the Student Success Center, is designed to have 12 upperclassmen help incoming students and give them advice their first semester. Peer Leaders assist faculty and staff instructors teaching Freshman Seminar classes, help plan lectures and outside activities, and aim to get new students involved and building relationships with others. The upperclassmen know how scary and different coming into a new school environment can be. Kelsie Ruff, a senior, says that she is a Peer Leader because she “wants to help students start the school year knowing there are people all around who support them and are here to make their college experience one they will enjoy. I would like for incoming freshmen to feel instantly connected and be able to get involved.” Being involved with campus activities is one of many things that tie the campus
14 University of Mobile Magazine | FALL 2012
Morgan Menkedick, left, and Sara Dye. Photo by Kayla Dutruch
community together at the University of Mobile, along with a shared faith in Christ. “Remember that every opportunity you are blessed with at UMobile is a chance to seek the Truth -- to seek Jesus Christ -- and to know Him more intimately than you did before, whether that is in your dorm, at True Spin (campus Bible study), at a campus activity, or in the classroom,” Sara Dye, a senior, says of the Christian environment. Peer Leaders try to impress upon the new students that education is important, and it requires effort. But, they say, don’t ignore the fun aspects of college life and the lessons to be learned from involvement in organizations and events.
Jeremy Crews, a senior, says, “Do as much as you can, but remember that you’re here for an education. Don’t let your education suffer, but remember that you only have a few years at the school. Don’t waste a second of it.” Daniel Moore, a freshman from Winston-Salem, NC, says the Peer Leader Program has helped him to get involved more. “My Peer Leader has kept in contact with me through Facebook and texting. She helps me with my studies and took the whole Freshman Seminar class out for frozen yogurt the other day. My best friends are in Ram Rush and now my Freshman Seminar class. It’s great because I automatically have friends.” m
Sports Calendar Home Basketball Games Dec. 8 Dec. 8 Dec. 18 Dec. 20 Dec. 20 Jan. 4 Jan. 4 Jan. 5 Jan. 5 Jan. 12 Jan. 12 Jan. 24 Jan. 24 Jan. 28 Jan. 28 Jan. 31 Jan. 31 Feb. 2 Feb. 2 Feb. 4 Feb. 4 Feb. 9 Feb. 9 Feb. 14 Feb. 14
Women’s Basketball v. Concordia-Selma Men’s Basketball v. Concordia-Selma Women’s Basketball v. Birmingham Southern Women’s Basketball v. Tennessee Temple Men’s Basketball v. Tennessee Temple Women’s Basketball v. Coastal GA Men’s Basketball v. Coastal GA Women’s Basketball v. Truett-McConnell Men’s Basketball v. Truett-McConnell Women’s Basketball v. Loyola Men’s Basketball v. Loyola Women’s Basketball v. AUM Men’s Basketball v. AUM Women’s Basketball v. Xavier Men’s Basketball v. Xavier Women’s Basketball v. Spring Hill Men’s Basketball v. Spring Hill Women’s Basketball v. Faulkner Men’s Basketball v. Faulkner Women’s Basketball v. Trinity Baptist Men’s Basketball v. Trinity Baptist Women’s Basketball v. William Carey Men’s Basketball v. William Carey Women’s Basketball v. Belhaven Men’s Basketball v. Belhaven
5:00 PM 7:00 PM 6:00 PM 5:30 PM 7:30 PM 5:30 PM 7:30 PM 2:00 PM 4:00 PM 3:00 PM 5:00 PM 5:30 PM 7:30 PM 5:30 PM 7:30 PM 5:30 PM 7:30 PM 2:00 PM 4:00 PM 5:30 PM 7:30 PM 2:00 PM 4:00 PM 5:30 PM 7:30 PM
umobile.edu 15
Giving
By Kathy Dean Photo by Dan Anderson
I
t was 1983, and Grace and Walter Pilot were at a crossroads in their lives. The company Walter helped build for 10 years was in turmoil. The couple had already purchased a house in Atlanta where Walter soon would be transferred as part of a corporate restructuring. But Walter was a self-made man who had his own ideas about how to be successful – ideas that worked. And Grace had the strength of her faith and a belief that, together, they could take a risk and make a better life at home, in Mobile, AL. “I told him, ‘You know who got all the business for that company, and you know what you can do,’” she recalled. Pilot & Associates was born at their kitchen table, where Grace handled
16 University of Mobile Magazine | FALL 2012
bookkeeping and payroll, and Walter built the business with the help of their children. Today, Pilot Catastrophe Services is the nation’s largest catastrophe adjusting firm, employing thousands, with corporate offices in Mobile and offices spread throughout the nation. When Walter D. Pilot Sr. died in 1991, Grace, along with their children, stepped in to help run the family business. Today, she serves as secretary and treasurer. Pilot Catastrophe continues to grow as the Pilot family guides the business based on its foundational values of honesty, integrity and quality control. It is a success story that has earned Grace Pilot the distinction of becoming one of only three women ever to be inducted into the Alabama Business Hall
of Fame since its founding in 1973. In November 2012 she joined an elite list of 160 of the state’s most distinguished business leaders, including UMobile’s first Board of Trustees Chairman J.L. Bedsole, George Washington Carver and William Albert Bellingrath. Among the criteria for selection are business leaders whose accomplishments include making a significant impact on the development of community and state by promoting the free enterprise system and entrepreneurship, demonstrating civic leadership, and philanthropy and humanitarianism toward their fellow citizens. While Grace excels in all areas, it is in the final area – that of philanthropy – that she finds the greatest joy. Among
umobile.edu 17
Giving
those who benefit from her belief in sharing her blessings are students at the University of Mobile. Giving Ways In her modest office at Pilot Catastrophe in west Mobile, where walls and shelves are filled with framed photographs of family arranged sideby-side with awards and honors from organizations across the nation, Grace spoke about being blessed, and sharing those blessings. Born in Choctaw County, AL, Grace was the third eldest of 10 children, growing up in a three-bedroom home where the children slept three to a bed. “We didn’t have anything, but we had love. That’s just the way we grew up,” she said. As a child, she watched her father, grocer Herman Giles, give produce from his 5-acre garden to those in need. One Christmas, after she was grown and married, her father asked for a specific Christmas present from his children. Don’t spend their money on presents for mom and dad; instead, donate whatever they planned to spend to Hickory Grove Baptist Church for the pastorium building fund. “I got my giving ways from my daddy,” Grace reflected. But as the Pilots’ business was starting, there wasn’t much to give. “I’ve always been charitable-minded, but I couldn’t do a lot back then,” she recalled. In May 1983 they started the business with $2,500 in their bank account. She, Walter and two men joining the venture sat around the kitchen table, calculating what they may
18 University of Mobile Magazine | FALL 2012
“I’m very partial to the University of Mobile. A good college education with the right principles and standards means so much to me.” Grace Pilot
need to squeak by for the company in its first year. It would be tight. “I tell people I remember when I couldn’t give you a dime. I want to always remember those days,” she said. A few months later, Hurricane Alicia hit Texas, and the firm was on its feet, supplying adjusters to insurance companies during disasters. With its long history of providing a knowledgeable, trusted and reliable claims processing operation with long-term partnerships with adjusters, insurance carriers and emergency management agencies, Pilot Catastrophe has been described as “the only GOOD thing about a disaster.” The company’s success provided the Pilots with more financial freedom to invest in their passion to help people better themselves. It gave Grace the flexibility to invest her own time and leadership to organizations such as the University of Mobile, Alabama Baptist Children’s Home, JH Ranch leadership programs and ministries in California and Israel, Howard Payne University in Texas where she was an advisor to the president and later awarded the honorary Doctor of Humanities degree, among many others. The list is long. The impact is lasting. The investment is personal. One example: Grace was named the First Lady of Mobile in 2005 by Beta Sigma Phi for her ideas and commitment to others through her daily acts of love, friendship and generosity. Among those acts was baking her special sour cream
and lemon pound cakes for hundreds of employees working long hours in the corporate office, when Hurricane Andrew hit Florida in 1992. Then she baked an extra 40 pound cakes and sent them to employees in Florida affected by the storm. ‘Partial to UMobile’ Sitting on her office credenza is a framed photograph of Grace, pen in hand, with UMobile President Dr. Mark Foley in his campus office. She had just signed the paperwork establishing the Dr. E. Grace Pilot Endowed Scholarship to benefit UMobile students. “I’m very partial to the University of Mobile,” Grace said. “I’ve been so proud of the university and what it stands for. A good college education with the right principles and standards means so much to me.” With nine siblings, college was never an option for her. She doesn’t want that lack of financial ability to limit others. “I think there’s no better way to give back than to do something like that (establish an endowed scholarship). It benefits people who maybe couldn’t go to college, like me. I think back to when I didn’t have a choice, and there was no one to help me,” she said. She said attending the annual UMobile Endowed Scholarship Luncheon gives her an opportunity to meet the students who are benefiting from her endowed scholarship. The students have sent her notes, and she
Share the Experience: Start an Endowed Scholarship
Grace Pilot with her grandchildren and great-grandchild.
sees first-hand how her investment in their lives is paying off. Scholarship recipient Daniel Dearborn sat beside Grace at the 2011 luncheon, and appreciated the opportunity to thank her for making a difference in his life. “The scholarship meant everything to me and to my college career,” the 2012 graduate said recently. “Without it, chances are pretty high that I would not have been able to attend my last semester and, therefore, I would not have graduated when I did.” Grace also sees the university’s impact in her own family – and her family’s influence at the university. Grandson Davis Pilot III graduated from UMobile in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science in business administration with a concentration in managerial entrepreneurship. Currently, he is enrolled in the Master of Business Administration program, serves as a graduate assistant in the School of Business, and is a leader in the awardwinning Students in Free Enterprise program. Daughter Daphne Pilot Fonde
attended Mobile College in the mid ’70s and now serves as a member of the UMobile Board of Trustees as well as a vice president at Pilot Catastrophe. “The University of Mobile is projecting the Christian and godly values that we hold dear. I believe the future of our country lies with our young people. If we grow godly men and women, then we can change this country. It’s time for Christians to stand up. That’s what I believe God is doing at the University of Mobile, raising up those godly leaders,” Daphne said. It is at that intersection of faith and action, of belief and passion, that Grace and the University of Mobile are building a lasting legacy. Moments of Grace One thing underlies all that Grace Pilot is and does, and that is her faith in God. “It’s been the basis of it all. My faith has been what has gotten us through so many times. You pray daily for the business, for your siblings, for your family,” she said. It’s a faith that she shares freely with others, and she counts it as one of
Share the University of Mobile experience with the next generation of students – and generations after that – by starting an endowed scholarship. With an endowed scholarship, your donations are invested and earned interest provides scholarships to UMobile students. You may start an endowed scholarship with an initial gift of as little as $5,000, then add funds throughout the years. A scholarship is fully endowed and scholarships can be awarded when the principal reaches a minimum of $10,000. Endowments are a lasting way to build a strong university and a significant way to: • Honor a loved one • Encourage study in a profession • Assure the growth of a program • Remember a professor who touched your life • Develop Christian leaders in all professions When you endow a scholarship, you directly affect the lives of students who otherwise might not have the opportunity to study, learn and grow at the University of Mobile. If you received a scholarship from the University of Mobile during your years as a student, this is an opportunity to “pay it forward” for future alumni. To learn how you can start or add to an endowed scholarship, contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at 251.442.2906 or email Bill Hart, senior development officer for charitable estate planning, at bhart@umobile.edu.
umobile.edu 19
Giving
her most precious blessings that her children also have a strong faith. “She is the anchor that holds us together,” Daphne said. “She’s the one who always took us to church. She’s the cornerstone of our family, the cornerstone of our business. She’s the prayer warrior. She’s always been on her knees – she’s always been our example.” As a family, the Pilots put their faith into action through a variety of philanthropic projects, in addition to the University of Mobile. Many of the projects bear Grace’s name, as a testament to her faith, influence and love. There are two Grace Chapels, Pilot House for women in crisis, and a large cross stands at the peak of Grace Mountain in California, providing a serene setting for prayer and reflection. Then there is Camp Grace in Mobile, started by son Davis Pilot Jr. Camp Grace is a privately owned and operated property of over 220 acres in Mobile County complete with cabins, recreation center, pavilions, a lodge and activities such as swimming, boating, archery, inflatables, ropes course, horseback riding, athletic courts and more. Grace serves on the board of Camp Grace, which hosts four special-needs, week-long residential summer camps in cooperation with area agencies: • Camp M*A*S*H* (Make Arthritis Stop Hurting) for ages 7-17, in partnership with the Arthritis Foundation, Southeast Region • Camp Rap-A-Hope for ages 7-17 battling cancer, in partnership with the Medical Society and the Alliance to the Medical Society of Mobile County • Camp SMILE for ages 5-50 with and
20 University of Mobile Magazine | FALL 2012
Photo by Dan Anderson
without disabilities, in partnership with United Cerebral Palsy of Mobile • Camp Sugar Falls for children with diabetes, in partnership with Southeastern Diabetes Education Services. Camp Grace is also the grounds for Outback America’s events in Mobile, which is a non-denominational ministry designed to build, restore and strengthen relationships. The many projects have one thing in common – they provide a variety of people in a variety of circumstances with moments of joy, encouragement, support – and grace. Beyond Comprehension The success of Pilot Catastrophe is “beyond my comprehension,” Grace said. It took hard work, sacrifice, and a family pulling together to work long
hours. It is that family – five children, 16 grandchildren and one great-grandchild – that makes the hard work worthwhile. Also beyond comprehension is the impact that she continues to make through her faith, her giving nature, her passion for life and for helping others to live their own lives to the fullest. “Phenomenal,” said Daphne, when pushed to describe her mother in just one word, but the words continue to flow. “She’s dignity. She’s special. She’s loved. She has passion. She gives it her all. She loves the Lord and loves everybody around her.” But maybe, Daphne said, there is one word that fits. “The word that describes her most is her name – Grace.” m
umobile.edu 21
Giving
By Tonya Gomien “Rolling fairways and tight greens, spring-fed lakes, meandering streams and stands of mature trees” – this is the way Lakewood Golf Club in Point Clear, AL is described – and just some of what you will experience at the 16th annual University of Mobile Classic in May 2013. The University of Mobile Classic was established 15 years ago with the hopes of engaging more alumni and friends of the university in a fun and creative way. What began as a small alumni event
22 University of Mobile Magazine | FALL 2012
grew in popularity and dollars raised. Catfish Junction owner Paul Stanley has been a faithful supporter of the tournament since 2004. “It is an honor to be the title sponsor for the University of Mobile Classic,” said Stanley, a member of the UMobile Board of Trustees. “So many in our community benefit from the Christian education Photos by Mark Barnes
offered at UMobile, and I am proud to be a small part of making that education affordable for many young people.” Proceeds from the University of Mobile Classic go toward the university’s annual fund, which helps support student scholarships. The 16th Annual University of Mobile Classic will be held
Friday, May 17, 2013 at Lakewood Golf Club. Registration begins at 7 a.m. with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. Last year, 24 teams participated and organizers are already registering teams for the upcoming tournament. To register your team or for more information, contact Tonya Gomien in the Office of Institutional Advancement at 251.442.2917 or email tgomien@ umobile.edu. Information and online registration are also available at www. clinic before tee time and offer “swing umobile.edu/mobileclassic. coaching” at a designated hole at the Spring 2012 marked the first year the tournament. Stepney also serves as tournament was held at Lakewood The 15th Annual University of Mobile Classic,atpresented chairman PhysioLinX Wellness Centers Golf Club. by Catfish Junction, was held Thursday May 3, 2012 at Education and chairman at Sports “The service provided by the facility Lakewood Golf Club in Point Clear, Leadership Alabama. Golfers enjoyed Foundation. was impeccable and the food, provided a great day on the greens, lunch by Catfish Junction, and Prizes are also part of the fun. Last by title sponsor Catfish Junction, was awards and prizes. Thanks to all who participated and year, all participants were entered in a prepared fresh on-site. It was definitely sponsored this successful event. drawing for a Samsung, 40-inch 1080P a great day of fellowship on the greens flat screen television valued at $1,099. for all who participated,” said Brian For information on future golf tournaments, contact Drawings were also held for gift cards Boyle, vice president for institutional the Office of Institutional Advancement at 251.442.2917 from local businesses such as Best advancement at the University or visit www.umobile.edu/mobileclassic. Buy and Outback Steakhouse, and a of Mobile. donated round of golf from Lakewood Anthony Stepney, a PGA Class A Golf Club. The University of Mobile gave Teaching Professional, will attend away more than 30 door prizes as well. the 2013 event. He will lead a brief
Comparable prizes will be awarded during the 2013 tournament. “We are always appreciative of Mr. Paul Stanley and Catfish Junction, Process Pump Repair Inc., Parkway Machine & Metal Works Inc. and Wise Technology for their faithful support of the UMobile Classic and the University of Mobile overall,” Boyle added. “We look forward to another exciting year of phenomenal golf and great giveaways and prizes.” m umobile.edu 23
Giving
Photos by G.M. Andrews
Thanks to all who supported this year’s Sporting Clay Shoot held Friday, Oct. 12 at Taylor Creek Shooting Range in Theodore, AL. We enjoyed having our special guests and UMobile alumni, Joe Espada, third base coach of the Florida Marlins, and J.C. Romero, winning pitcher in the 2008 World Series and currently with the Baltimore Orioles. Watch for information on next year’s event at www.umobile.edu!
24 University of Mobile Magazine | FALL 2012
Photo by Doug Mitchell
umobile.edu 25
Giving
26 University of Mobile Magazine | FALL 2012
O
By Kathy Dean
n a vacation to London in the early 1980s, Mobile musician Tom Cherry and his wife, Anne, dropped by Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club. One of the most notable jazz clubs in the world, Ronnie Scott’s was the site where The Who premiered Pete Townshend’s rock opera “Tommy.” Jimi Hendrix gave his last live performance at Ronnie Scott’s, and internationally famous saxophonists and jazz musicians regularly dropped in for jam sessions. The couple hadn’t reached their seats yet when someone called out from the band stage, “Hey, there’s Tom Cherry coming in the front door!”
Photo by G.M. Andrews
Practicing with Greatness “Our students sat in the practice room with greatness,” said Dr. Roger Breland, executive dean of the College of Christian Leadership and vice president for project development at the University of Mobile. A phenomenal musician, Tom played saxophone and guitar with country music and jazz saxophone great Boots Randolph for nearly 25 years. He toured the country, appearing on Nashville-based television shows, leading and arranging music for Boots’ band, and arranging pieces for prominent musicians and bands of all sizes. His last gig before his death in 2008 following knee surgery was at the University of Mobile, where he taught improvisational and commercial guitar. It was the highlight of a career filled with highlights, according to younger brother Joe Cherry. “He enjoyed every minute of teaching those students,” said Joe. A self-taught musician, Tom “never thought he had the credentials to teach at the college level.
umobile.edu 27
Giving
Note the name Boots Randolph scratched on Tom Cherry’s saxophone case. Below the name was scratched a phone number for Boots in case the instrument was lost. Photo by G.M. Andrews
Tom Cherry, seated center, at age 16 in his first band.
I remember when he told me he was going out to interview at the University of Mobile. He was just thrilled to death to be accepted. “I think he was more proud of that than any of his other musical accomplishments,” Joe said. A First-Call Musician On his desk at International Wire Rope Corp. in Mobile, where Joe has been president and owner for more than 30 years, lay photos of Tom playing saxophone with Boots Randolph, performing with Joe and outstanding local musicians in the regional rhythm and blues band The Nite Riders, and surrounded by family at special events. “People locally knew he was good, but they didn’t know to what degree. He had a talent that few had,” recalled Joe. “Most of his recognition was with other professional musicians.” Randy Davis, assistant professor 28 University of Mobile Magazine | FALL 2012
of music, who played trumpet a few times with The Nite Riders, said Tom was “as close to a prodigy as I’ve ever known. “He was a first-call studio jazz musician in Nashville,” Davis said, explaining that meant Tom was among the top-ranked musicians other artists would call first when recording an album or performing. Saxophone, guitar, upright bass, drums, banjo, flute – almost any instrument – Tom could play them all with enviable proficiency. Joe told about one time when a fellow Nite Rider band member visited Las Vegas and stopped in to hear renowned jazz trombonist Carl Fontana perform. Fontana has been hailed as one of the all-time great trombonists and developed a unique “doodle-tonguing” technique that allowed him to smoothly execute runs on a slide trombone that people didn’t think possible. The trombonist, who performed with Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Bennett, Wayne Newton and the Benny Goodman Orchestra, obviously had great respect for Tom Cherry. Joe said their Nite Rider friend went backstage and told Fontana he played with Tom Cherry. Joe said Fontana replied, “I’m glad of one thing. I’m
glad that he never decided to play trombone.” ‘Be as Good as You Can Be’ Tommy, as he was called by family and friends, grew up surrounded by music, with a variety of musical instruments always around the house. The middle son, he and brothers Hugh and Joe played guitar by ear. The Cherry boys lived way out in the country – on 20 acres that is now west Mobile suburbs – and learned music by playing with family members or listening to the radio. Family gatherings always included music. “Daddy would say, ‘Get the instruments out, boys, and play for everybody,’” Joe remembered. Excellence was expected. “Mama and Daddy always told us that whatever it is, you be as good as you can be. We became pretty good,” Joe said. At one point, their parents tried to get Tommy and Joe some formal training. They went to a music store for their first lesson with Mr. Luke Morris. “When Mama and Daddy came to get us, Mr. Morris said, ‘I can’t do these boys any good. They play better than me,’” Joe said The boys learned their music lessons from their elders. “Playing music can sometimes take you places that you ought not to go,” Joe said, laughing. Some of those places
“The amazing thing about him and his musical knowledge and ability was that everything he knew, he taught himself.” Joe Cherry Joe and Tom Cherry
were nightclubs and restaurants around Mobile, playing music with adults who had years of experience that they gladly shared with the youngsters. “Mama and Daddy didn’t particularly like that. The understanding was you could play there, but you better be at home in time to go to church in the morning and sing in the choir,” he remembered. When Tommy graduated from Murphy High School in 1953, he enlisted in the Army and was sent to South Korea as an infantryman. Hostilities had just ended, but there were still tensions and an American presence. Tom had been in South Korea a short while and was out one day with his rifle guarding the military compound when his career took a dramatic turn. As he told brother Joe, an officer asked, “Are you Private Cherry?” “Yes, I am,” he responded. “Come with me,” he was told. A band was being put together to entertain the troops and back up entertainers from the United States. They needed a guitar player. For nearly two years, Tom played guitar and immersed himself in learning music – how to read it, arrange it, play it on a variety of instruments. Everywhere there was a library, he studied music. He learned from fellow band members. He listened to recordings, soaked up knowledge from the notable entertainers flown in for the troops. The band needed a saxophone player, so Tom picked up the horn and learned to play the instrument for which he would become best-known. “The amazing thing about him and his musical knowledge and ability was that everything he knew, he taught himself,” Joe said. Once back at Fort Benning, GA,
Tom would travel home to Mobile on weekends to play with the new rhythm and blues band that Joe had joined, The Nite Riders. They traveled throughout the southeast, playing fraternity parties and college events. “Music, to me, was always a side job,”
‘Most Wondrous of All’ Cherry’s father had passed away, and his mother had cancer. After his mother died, Tom and Anne sold their house and most of their belongings and moved to Nashville. By that time, Tom was playing
Annel Robayna plays one of his most prized possessions, Tom Cherry’s guitar. Photo by Dan Anderson
Joe explained. After Tom left the Army, both he and Joe held day jobs and played music at night. They both married and started raising children. But Tom wanted to do more with his music. “Music was so important to him. He wanted to see if he had what it takes to make it,” Joe said. Tom left his family in Mobile and went to Las Vegas, making contacts, playing in lounges, seeing if he could make a living with his music. His family joined him in a few months, and they stayed in Las Vegas for about three years, with Tom making a name for himself among serious musicians. But it wasn’t a good environment to raise a family in, so they returned to Mobile.
saxophone more than guitar. He went to a club where musicians congregated, jammed with the band on his alto sax, then sat at a table to hear other musicians. He felt somebody tap him on the shoulder. It was Boots Randolph, already a big name. “Boots said I enjoyed hearing you play, and I hear you play guitar, too. I’m forming a new band…” Joe recalled. Boots’ multi-million dollar hit, Yakety Sax, was a TV theme song for British comedian Benny Hill, and Boots played with greats such as Elvis Presley and was a major player in helping create “the Nashville sound.” Boots was putting together a new big band, and Tom Cherry was his first pick. For nearly 25 years, Cherry led the band,
umobile.edu 29
Giving “One of the things I see as a constant is the greatest musicians I ever met are the most humble, and Tommy was the most humble.” Annel Robayna
arranged most of the music, traveled across the country, and made a name for himself as a musician’s musician. A 1993 review in Sumter, SC newspaper The Item said time had not diminished Boots’ musical abilities, and gave a special mention of Tom. “Randolph was backed by four accomplished band members, each allowed to solo from time to time. Gary Weaver was at the piano, Ike Harris at bass, Ray Von Rotz at drums and, most wondrous of all, Tom Cherry at guitar and alto saxophone. “As an ensemble, the five guys would occasionally wander miles from the melody and then, predictably and ingeniously, get back on track. A highlight was the teaming of Randolph and Cherry on double sax versions of ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame’ and ‘Georgia on My Mind.’” One story has it that, when Boots was tired or not at his top game, Tom would sit behind him and play the lead while Boots essentially “lip-synced” on his sax. God-Given Talent Annel Robayna ’07 took two years of guitar with Tom Cherry at the UMobile Center for Performing Arts/School of Music. “He was one of the best musicians I’ve ever known. He had an amazing talent,” said Annel, now a church planter and minister of missions at First Baptist Church of Foley and the Baldwin County Baptist Association. He also teaches guitar lessons on the side. But Tom was more than that, Annel said. Knowing Tom Cherry was “one of the greatest blessings I’ve ever had.” “I learned a lot about arranging on the spot, being creative and exploring the harmonic possibilities of the instrument,”
30 University of Mobile Magazine | FALL 2012
Annel said. “Every time I would ask him how he created a spectacular arrangement, he would point his finger to the sky and say God just gave it to him.” Annel said he learned not only from the class, but from Tom as a person. “One of the things I see as a constant is the greatest musicians I ever met are the most humble, and Tommy was the most humble,” Annel said. He said Tom became family to him. When William Thomas “Tom” Cherry died at age 72 on Aug. 5, 2008, his family asked Annel and student Trey Hill to play a jazz standard Tom had arranged for his students, ”Pick Yourself Up.” Annel played on Tom’s guitar, an Epiphone semi-hollow body. A gift from Tom’s family, today it is one of Annel’s most prized possessions and “one of the greatest honors I’ve ever experienced.” Tom was honored during the 2008 Christmas Spectacular, when Hill and Dave Denton played a guitar duet titled “The Christmas Song.” Mrs. Cherry was presented with a plaque in honor of her husband’s impact on students at the University of Mobile. Chris Lockwood ’05, now a member of contemporary Christian band 33Miles, said he looked forward each week to lessons with Tom. Chris, who has studied jazz on his own for a number of years, said, “Literally, our lessons were more like jam sessions than anything. We just had a good time. He was such a sweet spirit and genuinely a nice guy. Typically, the ‘great’ musicians are always the most humble, solid people you will ever meet. Tom Cherry was that kind of guy – quietly confident. He was fabulous.” Like Tom, Chris went to Nashville to
pursue his dreams. He has just finished recording a worship album, “Let it be Glory,” with 33Miles, their fourth studio album, set to release in Summer 2013. He has just recorded/released his debut solo EP, “Coming Alive” (available at www.ChrisLockwoodMusic.com), and has plans to record a jazz project in a few months, “just for fun,” with fellow UMobile graduates Ryan King ’02 and Nathan Woodward ’09. “Playing jazz is not necessarily about trying to break into the jazz scene for me – it’s about good times with great players and having the freedom to express yourself through music. Jazz is such a great medium to do that through. Being able to play with someone like Tom Cherry is an honor and an inspiration to keep jazz alive and in my musical repertoire. Having the opportunity to work with musicians like Mr. Cherry are the experiences I’ll forever treasure,” said Chris. ‘Some Kind of Thrilled’ Roger Breland recalls that, even when Tom’s increasing health problems confined him to a wheelchair, he would come to Martin Hall to teach or just be around students. “Everybody loved Tom Cherry,” Roger said. When Tommy died, he was survived by a family who loved him tremendously: Anne, his wife of 48 years; five children, eight grandchildren, a step-granddaughter and a greatgrandson. His older brother, Hugh, had died several years before. Joe and Tom were always close, and Joe cherishes the last few years when the brothers played together at restaurants around town.
“When he died, it’s a shame all that musical knowledge goes to the grave,” Joe said. His brother didn’t leave much in the way of solo recordings for people to continue to enjoy. Because he had not sought out fame and glory, the extent of his talent wasn’t truly known, Joe said. He wanted to do something to help keep the memory of his brother alive. He met with Roger and Brian Boyle ‘94, vice president for institutional advancement, to talk about ways to honor his brother. “I always felt there should be somewhere for people to see, just his name somewhere, so it doesn’t just fade away,” Joe said. “Tommy was an extraordinary human being.” The Tom Cherry Jazz Band Room was established on the second floor of Martin Hall. It is a dedicated space for the UMobile Jazz Band, made possible through a donation from Joe Cherry. In addition, Joe donated Tom’s Selmer baritone saxophone – one of the best instruments made – along with the case Tom carried. The case, held together with duct tape, has Boots Randolph’s name and phone number scratched on the top in case it was ever lost on the road. The band room will be marked with a plaque bearing Tom’s likeness and a brief biography. Students will pass it every day as they enter the band room. “There ought to be something somewhere where a person gets mentioned every now and then, that he was a good guy and he loved people, that he did what he did – something that’s not just in the past,” Joe said. The new Tom Cherry Jazz Band Room is where young musicians are learning to play jazz, keeping the art form alive through generations to come. Joe said it is a good way to honor a brother, best friend and great musician whose music and humble personality touched so many. “Tommy would be some kind of thrilled,” Joe said. m
Hear rare recordings by Tom Cherry at
www.umobile.edu/magazine
Photo by Dan Anderson
The Tom Cherry Jazz Band Room Kenn Hughes, assistant professor of music and director of the instrumental program at the University of Mobile, stood in the new Tom Cherry Jazz Band Room. “What a shot in the arm for our band kids!” he said enthusiastically. “This room has changed our lives. There are no distractions; everybody can hear everybody else. It’s not just a room. It’s the Tom Cherry Jazz Band Room. What we do here matters.” Previously used as a multi-purpose room for make-up, wardrobe and storage for the Upper Room Theatre before the theatre program expanded to the Saraland Performing Arts Center, the area has been returned to its original purpose as a music rehearsal room. The room was made possible by a donation from Joe Cherry in memory of his brother, Tom Cherry, an exceptional professional musician who performed with legendary Boots Randolph and was a beloved adjunct guitar instructor at UMobile. Hughes said the donation will make it possible for the university to purchase instruments such as a piano with bench and stand; amplifiers for piano, bass and guitar; drum set with drum throne, drum hardware, cymbals and cases; and a sound system with speakers, microphones, mixer and amplifier. Hughes said the donation is part of a bigger picture. “There’s something special going on in this department. There is an expectation level that is much higher, and what is required of each student is at a much higher level as well,” he said. The UMobile Jazz Band played at First Baptist Church Atlanta for Dr. Charles Stanley’s birthday. The group will play during Christmas at Bellingrath Gardens, along with other performances throughout the year on campus at Ram Hall and in the community. The program is promoting jazz in other ways as well. Area middle and high school bands are invited to play at the UMobile Jazz Festival in April. Hughes said Joe Cherry’s donation was “a God-send” and a boost to the jazz program. “Not many groups in this part of the country are taking back this American art form and promoting it like we want to promote it,” he said. The 21-member Jazz Band is part of an instrumental program in the Center for Performing Arts/School of Music that also includes the 50-member Symphonic Winds and 25-member RamCorps. This year the university became a Conn-Selmer school, which positions the Center for Performing Arts as a flagship school available for workshops, clinics and educational seminars. The designation enables the school to obtain high-quality instruments at reduced cost. Hughes said there is a lot of hard work and dedication going into the instrumental program, “and we are seeing God doing what only He can do.”
umobile.edu 31
By Lesa Moore
I
nstead of practicing for the next game, athletes spent the day building homes for needy families. Rather than attending class, math students served the homeless at Tent City, education students participated in music therapy with deaf and blind children, and art students painted a mural for a Kid’s Worship area at a local church. This is just a sample of the impact that 1,200 UMobile students, faculty and staff had at over 60 locations throughout Mobile and Baldwin counties during the second annual University of Mobile Project Serve.
Baseball players and coaches help build a home through Habitat for Humanity. Photo by Dan Anderson
2012 32 University of Mobile Magazine | FALL 2012
umobile.edu 33
Center for Performing Arts students spend time singing with nursing home residents. Photo by Michelle Thomas
School of Business students work on landscaping projects for Dumas Wesley Community Center. Photo by Lesa Moore
34 University of Mobile Magazine | FALL 2012
(Top left) Science students help build science exhibits for children to learn from at the downtown Exploreum. Photo by Kate Reali
The event took place on Friday, Sept. 21, beginning with breakfast and a rally in front of Bedsole Library. Dr. Mark Foley, president of the University of Mobile, encouraged participants to make a personal difference in the lives of the individuals they would meet throughout the day. After prayer led by Coach Mike Jacobs and a group photo, teams departed to various locations to serve. Service projects were chosen based on the specific talents and expertise of each academic area or department as well as ideas that were meaningful to that group. Center for Performing Arts and Worship Leadership teams visited assisted living facilities, nursing homes and veteran’s homes, spending time with the residents and engaging them in an old-fashioned choir rehearsal. Arts and Sciences students and faculty donated school supplies
Q&A
Art students paint a mural for the Kid’s Worship area at Cottage Hill Baptist Church. Photo by Lesa Moore Education students work with elementary children at the Mobile Magnet School for Math, Science and Technology. Photo by Kate Reali
to children at USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital, painted facilities at AltaPointe and the Home of Grace rehabilitation center for women, helped build science exhibits for children at the downtown Exploreum, worked with children at Daphne Elementary School and planted
Photo by Dan Anderson
umobile.edu 35
“To also see ministry students praying personally with and for every person who was in attendance before they left was very powerful for both students and guests.” Dr. Joe Savage
(Top) UMobile student prays with a family attending the Pack the Pack Bash. (Above) UMobile students spend time with residents at a nearby assisted living facility. (Left) Center for Performing Arts students entertain children at the Pack the Pack Bash at BayBears Stadium. (Bottom left) Nursing students assist with landscaping at Westside Baseball Park. Photos by Dan Anderson
community gardens to benefit area food banks. The School of Nursing provided renovations and maintenance work for Westside Baseball Park in order to promote healthy lifestyles and prepare for special needs children who will be using the park. School of Business teams partnered with the Dumas Wesley Community Center to provide a variety of services. 36 University of Mobile Magazine | FALL 2012
Projects included landscaping, creating and planting gardens, painting, cleaning, playing games with residents and much more. Education faculty and students worked with the Regional School for the Deaf and Blind, Saraland High
School, and the Magnet School for Math, Science and Technology. Teams worked individually with children, organized supplies, and provided general clean-up and maintenance work where needed. Campus Life staff led student teams to SeaBreeze Nursing Home, the Salvation Army and L’Arche Mobile, while a variety of UMobile staff departments served at locations such as the Bay Area Food Bank, Penelope’s
Education students work with young children at the Regional School for the Deaf and Blind. Photo by Lesa Moore
umobile.edu 37
m
Campus Life students spend time with residents at L’Arche Mobile. Photo by Samantha Parrott
38 University of Mobile Magazine | FALL 2012
Kathy Sims
Mobile Magnet School of Math, Science & Technology “I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you did to help us at our school today. WOW! The hours of help from your faculty and students impacted us in so many ways. Mrs. Aplin, our librarian, has a smile that goes on for miles! I know she appreciated all the help so much. Other teachers who were helped were so excited to have bulletin boards up, closets organized, papers filed, bodies traced and traced and traced and also cut out! Then there is the outside! All the weeding of the flower beds, window washing and the cleaning up of our playground just makes us all so happy! I just could not let this day go by without thanking you! “Please pass these ‘thank yous’ to your staff and students. Their hours of hard work, their professionalism and friendliness reflect the wonderful education and leadership they are receiving from the University of Mobile. May God bless you all!”
Project Serve 2012 Rally Photos by Dan Anderson
Closet, Ronald McDonald House, Wilmer Hall, Ransom Cafe, assisted living facilities, and more. The day concluded with a family fun night “Pack the Pack Bash” starting at 6 p.m. at Hank Aaron Stadium. The Senior Bowl, GoDaddy.com Bowl, Mobile BayBears, 19 area churches and 15 local nonprofit organizations partnered with the University of Mobile Center for Leadership and College of Christian Leadership to provide families with a free meal, entertainment, prayer and a chance to hear the Gospel of Christ. Over 1,200 children received a backpack of school supplies during this event. “The most memorable aspect personally was seeing people line up at the gate an hour and a half before the gates opened,” said Dr. Joe Savage, executive dean of the School of Christian Ministries and director of the Center for Leadership. “To see the number of UMobile students
Jillian Nicole Kimmel
University of Mobile Facebook Page
serving in such a variety of ways was incredible. The integration of musicians, face-painters, servers, greeters and entertainers all using their personal skill was awesome. To also see ministry students praying personally with and for every person who was in attendance before they left was very powerful for both students and guests.” m
“I work at Eastern Shore Rehabilitation and Health Center in Daphne and a group of your students just left our building and we were sad to see them go! What a blessing they were for the residents and patients and even the residents’ family members who attended. I wanted to share a story that they may have not been aware of. I believe strongly in the effects of music with dementia patients and for this reason. Your group sang the “Old Rugged Cross” and a resident who only answers yes/no sang the entire song! This is a HUGE deal and we thank you for being a part of the progress at our facility not only physically but spiritually! What an awesome God we serve. Come back any time.”
Watch the Project Serve video at
www.umobile.edu/magazine
umobile.edu 39
I
40 University of Mobile Magazine | FALL 2012
By Lesa Moore
F
‘And what did you learn today?’
or the Buscaglia family of Italian immigrants, this was the focal question asked each night at the dinner table. The youngest of four children, author Leo Buscaglia grew up listening to his father insist that to avoid the trap of complacency, one must learn at least one new thing each day. Dr. Jan Wood read some of Buscaglia’s works while she was in college and was captivated by this concept. It is a philosophy the new dean of University of Mobile’s School of Nursing shares with students. “I tell our students this same thing,” she said. “It is important to seek out new information, embrace the challenges that we face and use them as character-building experiences. It is so gratifying to see the positive outcomes that are a result. “There is always room for improvement – always things to learn,” Wood added. “I don’t believe we should leave our area of employment without identifying what we have learned that day.” The learning that takes place in the School of Nursing is aimed at producing positive outcomes through graduates who are highly competent healthcare professionals. The program combines
Dr. Kathy Sheppard, right, works with a nursing student in the Springhill Medical Center dedicated Nursing Lab.
Photos by Kathy Dean
umobile.edu 41
Dr. Jan Wood, Dean, School of Nursing
academic and technical expertise with hands-on experience and caring for the complete well-being of others. Hands-on Learning Having worked directly with nursing students for the past 26 years, Dr. Kathy Sheppard ’85, ’03, associate dean for the School of Nursing, advises incoming students that they should expect to put in a lot of hard work. “I help students try to understand that from the day they enter the clinical nursing courses, they will spend the next two years studying very hard,” said Sheppard. “But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. They will be prepared for a career – a ministry – they have only begun to dream about. The price is high, but the reward is even greater.” Part of what makes the nursing program at the University of Mobile unique is the small class sizes that allow for personalized attention from faculty. “I truly enjoyed getting to know my classmates and instructors while attending the University of Mobile,” said UMobile graduate Paul Read 42 University of Mobile Magazine | FALL 2012
’98. “The school isn’t so huge that an individual gets lost within the student population. As a registered nurse, the skill of critical thinking is a necessity in providing excellent patient care. The format utilized by the nursing instructors allowed us, the students, to develop or improve these skills.” Wood said University of Mobile graduates are well received and sought-after in area hospitals and have consistently been successful on the national licensure exam. In addition to the stringent program in the classroom and throughout clinicals, students are required to complete 144 hours of work, specializing in an area of their choosing, during their senior year practicum. During this process, students work hands-on with a nurse in an area hospital. “There has never been a better time to be a nurse,” said Diann Carithers, associate professor of nursing at UMobile. “There is so much progress in the profession. The faculty members here are committed to equipping our students with the knowledge and skills they need to ensure that they can find diverse and
exciting careers in this evolving health care system.” While clinical exercises are held in several hospitals, the majority of the time is spent at Springhill Medical Center, where the hospital has dedicated an entire lab to the University of Mobile nursing program. This lab includes the latest technology in a real-world setting for nursing students to learn. The education process is enhanced by several “SimMan” devices representing adult and pediatric patients, as well as a birthing center. Each “SimMan” provides highly realistic patient simulation which prepares students for a wide variety of scenarios that could occur in real life. “The technology that is available for today’s nursing students to assist them in learning is fairly remarkable,” said Read, who is currently vice president and chief nursing executive for Springhill Medical Center. “The clinical simulation manikins along with the SMH Nursing Lab allow the instructors to put a student in any imaginable scenario with the feel of being in a critical care environment. “Within the nursing lab are five rooms completely simulating the look and feel of an ICU,” he added. “The students become familiar with monitors and equipment utilized during patient care. They also have the ability to learn and utilize an electronic medical record. I believe the skills lab allows the student to become comfortable with their surroundings as well as their ability to work the equipment.” “I frequently work with undergraduate students who, in their first clinical courses, know so little about what they will be doing in their career,” said Sheppard. “By the time they get to the last semester,
most have not only academically and clinically matured, but already secured their jobs.” Lifelong Learning In addition to the traditional Bachelor of Nursing (BSN) and Associate of Nursing (ADN) degrees, the University of Mobile offers a Master of Science degree in Nursing (MSN) and an RN-to-BSN program designed specifically for adult nurses. The American Nurses Association encourages hospitals to satisfy certain criteria in relation to the quality and strength of their nursing by awarding Magnet status to those who qualify. Wood said as more hospitals are seeking this status, there is a greater demand for nurses with bachelor’s and master’s degrees. The UMobile RN-to-BSN program, offered through the Center for Adult Programs, promotes Friday-only classes to meet the needs of those students who are working full time and want to continue their education. Many of these students are now choosing to stay in school and earn their master’s degree right after graduation. “We have a strong focus in the MSN program with a dual concentration in administration and education,” said
“The technology that is available for today’s nursing students to assist them in learning is fairly remarkable.” Paul Read ’98
Wood. “This program is unique to UMobile and combines the strongest components of both concentrations into one to fill a need for students who would like the option to pursue either direction.” Project Serve The knowledge that UMobile’s nursing students receive is not just academic in nature. “The most important thing I would like for students to learn is that every
day they are caring for someone’s child,” said Sheppard. “They should deliver care to each person the way they would want it delivered to their loved ones.” UMobile faculty stress that this caring should not only be shown in the healthcare setting, but through a life of service to the community. The University of Mobile Association of Nursing Students (UMANS) organizes a variety of service projects each year including Thanksgiving baskets and jacket drives for the homeless, and participation in cancer walks. This year nursing students are partnering with Westside Baseball Park in Mobile to help with a program for special needs children. “Our nursing students will be ‘big buddies’ with the special needs children throughout next semester,” said Jenelle McElroy ’08, instructor in nursing. “Each student is paired with a child to help them with activities such as running bases during baseball and just spending time with them umobile.edu 43
at the park.” McElroy took this partnership a step further by making Westside the service location for the School of Nursing during the annual UMobile Project Serve. “As a nursing group, we wish to encourage families to have an active lifestyle to promote wellness,” said McElroy. “We feel it is essential that family activities such as baseball are promoted in this initiative.” The University of Mobile’s second annual Project Serve was held Friday, Sept. 21 when more than 1,200 faculty, staff and students traveled to approximately 60 locations throughout Mobile and Baldwin counties.
44 University of Mobile Magazine | FALL 2012
For this community baseball park in West Mobile, the need was great. Over 250 UMobile nursing students and faculty renovated the park by cleaning, painting and performing general maintenance. “As a result of our work, the park was given a gleaming face lift from front to back,” said McElroy. “The board members at the park were astonished by how much work was done and how genuinely committed our students were.”
Photos by Dan Anderson
“Being a part of Project Serve was an extremely rewarding experience,” said Jessica Carter, a senior nursing student from Fairhope, AL. “To know that I was making a difference with each stroke of my paintbrush was life-changing. Project Serve reminded me that I need to take a step back from my crazy schedule, and put the needs of others first.” Learning by Example UMobile nursing faculty lead by example when it comes to individual care. “One of the most important aspects of the UMobile education is the emphasis we place on the
whole student,” explained Wood. “Combining high academic standards with an emphasis on individualized student-oriented education from a Christian perspective is what makes us truly unique.” “We value excellence and innovation in preserving and advancing the nursing profession,” said Carithers. “UMobile faculty strive to be positive role models and caring practitioners that incorporate Christian worldview in both the academic and clinical settings. We are proud of our profession and are appreciative of the opportunity to train future nursing practitioners and leaders.”
“As our students walk across the stage to receive their diploma, I know them,” said Sheppard. “I know about their families and the challenges they have overcome to get there. I enjoy that feeling of pride that they have succeeded. They have learned many lessons both academically and personally that will prepare them for a ministry of serving Christ through serving others.” These are lessons students can then share with others in their career, or at the dinner table, for years to come.m
umobile.edu 45
46 University of Mobile Magazine | FALL 2012
W By Trey Taulbee
Photos by Dan Anderson
hen new students and their families step onto the University of Mobile campus for the first time, there is an infectious excitement in the air. Returning students and staff members warmly greet families with open hands, assisting with belongings and dorm decorations. Doughnuts are in the lobbies, music is in the air, and Ram Rush is only a few hours away from becoming the most unforgettable first-year experience for the new student class.
umobile.edu 47
Not the Average Orientation Ram Rush is the University of Mobile’s new student orientation hosted every August, beginning on move-in day. The Campus Life department hosts this week of activities, including athletic events, concerts, giveaways, games and massive amounts of free food. Students are encouraged to immerse themselves in this unique experience designed to connect them with new friends and their new life at UMobile.
48 University of Mobile Magazine | FALL 2012
Upon registering for classes, students are placed in a “Ram Fam” group that corresponds with their Freshman Seminar class. This group provides them with instant friends to walk with them through their first year at UMobile. While many of the groups are specifically composed of freshman residential students, there are also groups for transfers and commuters. Most importantly, Ram Rush is formulated to make all new students feel welcome and part
of a “family.” Ram Rush was initiated in 1994 under the direction of current Director of Student Relations Sara Parker. At the time, there was no program in place to orient new students to college life. Parker, who was serving as director of campus ministries, wanted to change that. “I love to dream and start new programs, so I went to Kim Leousis (vice president for enrollment services, campus life and athletics)
and shared an idea of OTC—Off To College week.” The first Ram Rush reflected humble beginnings, with some events being held in Leousis’ backyard. Yet, the tradition grew in popularity and was renamed Ram Rush under the leadership of former Director of Student Activities Elizabeth Finch. Neal Ledbetter, current director of campus life, has been in charge of Ram Rush since 2009. Then, Ram Rush lasted over the course of move-
in weekend and events weren’t tied in to a purpose. Ledbetter, however, saw incredible potential for student engagement and involvement. “I felt like it could be more of a production, more of an experience,” says Ledbetter. “I felt like it could be more representative of everything they could do as a UMobile student.” So, with a new vision and an eager student committee, Ledbetter set out to redefine this new student experience. He planned to accomplish
three things: orient new students to life at UMobile, build lasting relationships, and develop ways for students to get involved. A Positive Distraction Students often enter college with fear, anxiety and apprehension. The new environment brings increased academic challenges and different relationships. In addition, many students find it difficult to transition from living at home to independence.
umobile.edu 49
Ram Rush helps students forget about these issues and eases them into college life. “We want them to be distracted from all of that. So, we keep them busy; we keep them engaged, and we keep them involved and entertained. All of that is a way to keep them distracted from the concerns and worries they have so they can focus on making a successful transition,” Ledbetter says. The experience is positively overwhelming, to say the least. Oncampus students arrive during movein day to set up their rooms and say one last goodbye to their parents. After a few hours of mingling and dorm exploration, students head to openingnight festivities. Through the years, this night has featured fire-breathers, a carnival, a petting zoo, aerial artists, concerts and even a live giraffe in Ram Hall. If that isn’t enough shock for one night, students spend the rest of their week engaging in other Ram Rush traditions. Some include the dress-up dance party “Goodwill Gala” and UMobile’s version of “Minute-to-WinIt” game show, where students win giveaways and prizes. Other traditions like UM Expo and Dinner on the Run expose students to area businesses, churches and non-profits to help them establish connections outside of UMobile. Even parents have noticed the 50 University of Mobile Magazine | FALL 2012
week’s impact on their students’ transition. Rod Pittman, father of current freshman Caleb Pittman, said that Ram Rush “really worked!” “It was one of those ‘hold your breath’ moments as a parent,” says Pittman. “Already our son misses the campus when he is away and can’t wait to get back in order to be a part of the university’s atmosphere and student body. He feels like he is part of a big family.” These experiences give students a better picture of college life and prepare them for future involvement. Developing Leaders While Ledbetter directs Ram Rush, it wouldn’t be fully successful without his team of student representatives. This group spends the entire year brainstorming and planning for one
week of events aimed at exceeding the expectations of incoming students. “We spend a lot of time thinking through things and why we do them,” says Ledbetter. “This time, planning and focus leads to familylike relationships among the Ram Rush leadership group, and in turn they recruit students who seek to do the same.” Over time, this method has built a consistency throughout the committee, making each Ram Rush leadership transition smooth. “They replicate themselves – it’s an awesome leadership model,” says Ledbetter. “The older members invest in the younger and guide them along. They have to evaluate and take criticism – it’s a huge learning experience.” Even for local student Rachel
Tillman, Ram Rush has played a defining role in her experience at UM. “I loved everything about Ram Rush,” says Tillman. “They had all of these opportunities to meet people and feel comfortable, like you’re at home.” Tillman was selected to be a Ram Rush committee member just a few months into her freshman year. She spent that next year brainstorming with the committee, not realizing the joy she would feel when their Ram Rush plans were brought to life. “It’s cool to see that year’s worth of work finally happening,” she says. Now as an upcoming graduate, Tillman believes her experience planning Ram Rush has prepared her for leadership opportunities in the future. She says, “I’ve definitely learned that you’re going to mess up – but what are you going to learn from it? How are you going to fix it? I think it’s one of the coolest things ever.”
“They had all of these opportunities to meet people and feel comfortable, like you’re at home.” Rachel Tillman Exceeding Expectations Campus Life seeks to make the best first impression for new students and their families. From the minute details of the move-in process to the grand opening attraction, the secret purpose behind every Ram Rush event is to give students more than they could ever expect. “We want to blow people’s minds,” says Ledbetter. He recalls two specific instances that exemplify this mantra. During a circus-themed Ram Rush, he and the Ram Rush Committee hid a live giraffe in one of Ram Hall’s storage closets. The giraffe was brought out to roars of student applause during the opening attraction. At another event, students were
watching the baseball-themed movie “The Natural” at Jacobs Field. At the apex of the movie, when Robert Redford’s character sends a ball bursting into the outfield lights, an array of fireworks exploded simultaneously across the baseball field. Ledbetter proudly recalls that as one of his favorite moments at UMobile. “I was sitting in the back row when I saw a freshman guy jump out of his seat, exclaiming, ‘Unbelievable! That was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen! I’m going to send my grandkids to this school!’ We want students to say that. If we can get that kind of reaction and ‘buy-in’ out of everything we do, I feel like we’re being successful.” m umobile.edu 51
Dr. Bilbo demonstrating electricity in UMobile science lab. Photo by Dan Anderson
52 University of Mobile Magazine | FALL 2012
By George Kamel Dr. Bilbo, circled, in scene from “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.”
T
By Kathy Dean
here is a scene in Steven Spielberg’s 1977 classic science fiction film, “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” in which lab-coated scientists crammed shoulder-to-shoulder peer intently out as an alien spacecraft lands. Freeze the frame. Look closely at the tall man entering the picture from the left. He’s about 32, wears sunglasses and a white lab coat, and is jockeying for a prime spot from which to observe the first close encounter of extraterrestrial life. For a nano-second, Dr. Tom Bilbo is immortalized on the big screen. It’s a bit part, these “extras” who briefly flirted with fame and the famous like Spielberg and Richard Dreyfus during the summer of 1976 when Hollywood came to film in a couple of aircraft hangars at Mobile’s Brookley Field. umobile.edu 53
Bilbo said he was in several additional scenes, repeatedly climbing up and down ladders to observe the “spacecraft” for take after take. Most of those cinematic moments must have ended up on the cutting room floor, he surmised. But the summer job was simply a precursor to the starring role that Bilbo would have for the next 36 years as a science professor at the University of Mobile. A Special Moment Carrying the University of Mobile Ceremonial Mace, Dr. Bilbo led the procession of faculty and students into the Mobile Civic Center for graduation exercises May 2012. It is an honor reserved for a retiring professor who has served the university well, whom colleagues respect and students love. It was a special moment. “It was more emotional than I thought it would be,” Bilbo said, admitting he was misty-eyed as he walked at the head of the procession then stood at attention on the stage, mace in hand, watching the 2012 graduating class file in. “I thought back over my 36 years at the university, all the faculty and students I worked with. I thought about colleagues like Dr. Elizabeth French, Dwight Steedley, Billy Hinson, Ted Mashburn, and all the others. I felt like it was an honor to work with them and teach with them,” he said. He thought about the students – 36 years of science majors who are now pathologists, science teachers, doctors – 36 years of students who took a few science courses such as meteorology simply to fill an elective requirement, but learned also about encouragement, passion and caring. 54 University of Mobile Magazine | FALL 2012
“There was never a dull moment in his class. You were either laughing or intrigued by what he was saying.” Meghan Dove ‘08 “I was just thinking back over the years. I was 32 when I started here and I had never worked any place more than three years before that. It just felt like home after awhile,” he said. As the last notes of the processional faded away, Bilbo’s thoughts turned to a more practical matter. “I was wondering if I was putting the mace in the stand right, and hoping I didn’t blow that,” he said with a laugh. A Cherished Honor Before he arrived at the University of Mobile, then Mobile College, Dr. Bilbo had earned a Bachelor of Science in science education from Mississippi College, a master’s in science education from Auburn University, and received a National Science Foundation grant to earn his master’s in combined sciences from the University of Mississippi. After obtaining this degree, he took mobile science labs to middle schools in Harrison County, MS, and conducted labs at schools that were damaged by Hurricane Camille and without adequate facilities or scientific equipment. He then earned a doctorate in science education and biology from the University of Southern Mississippi. He heard from a friend about a job opening at Mobile College, and arrived just in time to participate in the city’s fascination with extraterrestrials and Hollywood.
When classes began in fall of 1976, Bilbo was a biology instructor in the Division of Natural Science – a department that included only five faculty and encompassed biology, chemistry and mathematics. He taught anatomy and physiology, ecology, general biology and labs. During his career, Bilbo was honored with several awards from the school, including the Circle K Division Teaching Award in 1978 and the “Uncommon Fox Award” in 1984, given in recognition of uncommon, unusual and unrelenting service by a faculty member. He received the prestigious William A. Megginson Teaching Award in 1997 for demonstrating excellence in teaching. But his most cherished honor occurred in 1980, when he met Jerre Kannon. Jerre recalls it like this: “In January 1980, Dr. Eugene Keebler (academic vice president and dean) was speaking at an evangelism conference in Valdosta, GA where my dad was a pastor and in attendance. At the conclusion of his talk, Dr. Keebler put out a request to pray for nursing instructors that he needed to hire. “At the end of the session, my parents went down to speak to Dr. Keebler and told him that I was in my last semester at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and they were
“I was wondering if I was putting the mace in the stand right, and hoping I didn’t blow that…” Dr. Tom Bilbo wondering where I was going to get a job. The Lord answered prayer in an amazing fashion! I was hired and began teaching nursing and religion at the University of Mobile in summer 1980,” she said. That summer, Tom met Jerre. They were engaged in September, married by Christmas, and will celebrate their 32nd anniversary this year. Jerre was an instructor in nursing and religion from 1980-85, took a break from the classroom to be a stay-at-home mom, then taught for another stint in the School of Nursing from 2002-2007. Meteoric Rise Bilbo reprised his brief cinematic appearance in 2009, appearing in the YouTube classic “University of Mobile 12 Days of Registration” promoting early registration. Wearing a white lab coat, carrying a colorful model of the sun, earth and moon, the professor is seen hurrying across the screen as students sing “On the second day of registration I really meant to go and get Meteorology with Dr. Bilbo.” The jingle played off the wellknown fact that Bilbo’s popular meteorology class was one of the first to fill up during registration each year. Meghan Dove ’08, said students signed up for meteorology thinking it would be an easy class, “but you really had to work at it. It was easier to comprehend compared to biology and chemistry. It’s something you can use in everyday life.” A member of the UMobile golf team from Canada, Dove said she took the class because her teammates told her it was the best class to take to educate Canadians on hurricanes and tornadoes vs. snowstorms. “There was never a dull moment
University of Mobile Ceremonial Mace The University of Mobile ceremonial mace was unveiled on April 27, 1999, during inauguration of the university’s third president, Dr. Mark Foley. The ceremonial mace represents the life, strength and character of the University of Mobile. Since the 14th century, ceremonial maces have become traditional symbols of a university. The ceremonial academic mace first appeared in European universities and was a composite of two much older devices – the regal scepter and the medieval battle mace. Each facet of the staff is symbolic. The UMobile mace was designed and created by Charles M. Clark, retired dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and professor of art. Clark creates exquisite porcelain pieces which grace the homes of such dignitaries as retired Gen. Colin Powell and former Vice President Walter Mondale. The UMobile mace reflects our university’s history and traditions, and its ties to the community. Many of the elements of the mace are antique pieces discovered in the Mobile area by Clark. It is approximately 5 feet in height. At the top is a cross made of oak from our campus. The cross symbolizes our Christian heritage, and the oak wood is a symbol of strength. Superimposed over the cross is the college seal made of brass. The flame on the torch of the seal protrudes above the top of the cross, symbolizing the illuminating light of our faith and of education. Next is an orb, an original design meticulously crafted from porcelain by Clark. The orb is a traditional symbol of the world. The top and bottom are black porcelain flecked with dots of 24-carat gold, representing the thousands of men and women touched by the University of Mobile. These bright points are connected by gold overlay done in a tracery style, representing the threads of academic and spiritual life which connect us. Encircling the middle of the orb is a lighter band of porcelain on which are inscribed the words: “Changing Lives... To Change The World.” The orb is framed and held in place by a sterling silver acanthus-leaf ornament, resting atop a polished brass stanchion. Acanthus leaves date back to Greco-Roman times as a symbol of the liberal arts tradition. The wood of the staff is from the tropical cocobolo tree, representing the world and the far-reaching impact our university has through our graduates. Bisecting the wooden staff, at the point where it is held, is a brass sleeve. Engraved on that sleeve is Dr. Foley’s signature phrase, “Hold On Tight.” The wooden staff continues and the mace ends in a brass point.
umobile.edu 55
in his class. You were either laughing or intrigued by what he was saying,” said Dove, now social community coordinator in the marketing department of The Royal Bank of Canada in Toronto. John Blackwell ’01 said in a post on the University of Mobile Alumni Facebook page that Bilbo was a fun professor. “Humility and accessibility were traits that he exemplified,” said the associate pastor and minister of music at Bayou Sara Baptist Church in Saraland, AL. “He was a very kind and caring professor! A tremendous man of character.” Debby Faught ’12, an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer serving in Tuscaloosa, AL as media and public relations coordinator with United Saints Recovery Project, said, “Dr. Bilbo is a very passionate person and you can tell that by the way he teaches. Not everyone can talk about clouds and weather patterns for hours and keep people interested. He prepared countless labs that let us put the text into practice.” Bilbo said he loved teaching meteorology – a course he started teaching around 1985. “Once I taught it once or twice, I realized it brings all the sciences together,” he said. Bilboisms Then there are the Bilboisms. In addition to a propensity to talk about the weather in Yuma, AZ, Bilbo was known for his flat delivery of witty sayings, dry sense of humor and puns. If you weren’t listening closely, you were likely to miss them, so students paid attention. Dove recalled Bilbo’s approach to asking questions or imparting information. “He would make a statement kind 56 University of Mobile Magazine | FALL 2012
“I’ll always remember that, even years after I had his class, he remembered who I was and was genuine in his concern about how I was doing.” Derek Dupuis ‘08 of like in the form of a question. Then he’d give the answer, and he’d say ‘Riiiggghhhht.’ If there was no reaction from us, he’d say the other ‘Riiiggghhhht.’” “He’s a lot of fun to be around,” said Derek Dupuis ’08, 7th grade math teacher at Faith Academy in Mobile. “He liked to give his ‘seal of approval’ and make the noise a seal would make – urrrk, urrrk, urrrk – and clap his hands like a seal,” Dupuis said. Bilbo recalled the time he decided to stop with the seal of approval. It was during a dinner at the Grand Hotel celebrating UMobile President Mark Foley’s decade anniversary at the school. Bilbo had been the faculty member representative on the presidential search committee that recommended Foley, and he and Jerre were at the celebration dinner. Bilbo gave Foley his seal of approval. “He just smiled and acknowledged it,” Bilbo recalled, adding he realized as he was giving his seal of approval that it might not be the most appropriate setting. Encouraging Words Smoothing over embarrassing moments – helping students learn despite a wrong answer in class – this is part of the approach Bilbo takes in class and why his trademark
“Riiighhhhht, Riiighhhht” is so often lovingly mimicked by students. “Usually I try to smooth over the wrong answers,” Bilbo said. “I’ll say, good answer, good answer, but let’s go with…and I’ll say the right answer. I hate to put anybody down or embarrass them for the wrong answer. “I want them to respond in class. If you are negative or cut them off and embarrass them, they will never do it again. You want them to talk. You want to encourage them, not discourage them. “I think it’s probably the most important thing I did while I was at the university, both for students and beginning faculty. Everybody is unsure of themselves – and faculty needed encouragement just like students need encouragement. They all knew I had their best interest at heart.” Dr. Larissa Parsley Walker, chair of the Department of Natural Sciences and assistant professor of biology, said Bilbo is “a wonderful blend of both experience and enthusiasm, which earned him respect from his students and friendship with his colleagues. “If I could describe him in one word, it would be ‘encourager.’ He encouraged his students to do their best in everything they did, not just in the classroom. He genuinely enjoyed getting to know students, and he would chat with them about football as often as he may give them advice
about a personal situation in their lives. They valued his opinion, and this motivated them in a great way.” Walker said Bilbo encouraged his colleagues just as much as he did students. “Personally, I consider Dr. Bilbo to be my mentor, the seasoned and wise professor who always had time to talk with me about the good days and the bad. Like his students, I knew he believed in me, and that gave me confidence in my first years at UMobile.” Associate Professor of Biology Steve Carey describes Bilbo as “a true Southern gentleman. He always treated his students and co-workers with respect and had a genuine concern for the welfare of his students.” Dupuis said some of the lessons he learned from Bilbo had more to do with how the professor approached teaching – lessons Dupuis uses now in his own classes. “You have to care about your students, and you have to let them know that you care. When they know you care about them, they are willing to go above and beyond and work harder for you in class. It was always clear that he cared about me as a student,” Dupuis said. “I’ll always remember that, even years after I had his class, he remembered who I was and was genuine in his concern about how I was doing.” Encountering the Future Bilbo said he never thought he’d work at one place for so long. “It’s hard to believe. It sneaks up on you,” he said. He prepared for retirement by taking an art class from Phil Counselman, associate professor of art, to revive a long-held interest in
painting. He and Jerre have already taken one trip to visit family, and plan more. One trip from years past sticks in his mind, when they stopped by Devil’s Tower National Monument in Wyoming, where part of “Close Encounters” was filmed. He gave his movie I.D. badge to the museum there. He’s been back on campus some this fall.
“I don’t want to make a nuisance of myself, but I want to be back from time to time. I miss everybody,” he said. Former student Dupuis said he’s sorry future UMobile students won’t get to experience Bilbo’s “hilarity.” But he has no doubt that Bilbo’s impact will be remembered. “He’s kind of a legend,” Dupuis said. “He lives up to his legend.” m umobile.edu 57
58 University of Mobile Magazine | FALL 2012
I
By Kathy Dean
t all started with the Mobile College Choir in 1963. Then there were the breakout ensembles like Chamber Singers, Sound Spirit , Witness, Company, and one of the first boy bands in the 1970s, Trust Company. But the real genesis of today’s Center for Performing Arts traveling vocal and instrumental ensembles was the Mobile College Singers, aka MC Singers. Along with worship ensemble AWANA, these early 1980s groups under the direction of the music department used their talents to worship God while spreading the word about a college where God reigns. The ’90s belonged to Vision, a vocal and instrumental ensemble that traveled under the direction of the Admissions Office
umobile.edu 59
AWANA, 1981
“Getting one’s hands and feet to do different things at the same time presents a problem, and George Beck asks: ‘But suppose you’re uncoordinated!’” Rampage 1979
with the intentional aim of introducing the university to more people, more places, and more prospective students. When Dr. Roger Breland joined the university – bringing with him 31 years of founding, directing, and traveling with groundbreaking contemporary Christian group TRUTH – Vision returned to the music department, now the Center for Performing Arts/ School of Music. Today, the CPA/School of Music has expanded, with the 194-member University Singers and 20 traveling and performing ensembles. While all groups can trace their lineage back to those early years, the two groups that share the most in common with their predecessors, 60 University of Mobile Magazine | FALL 2012
MC Singers, 1979
MC Singers and Vision, are Voices of Mobile and Impact. Just last year, those two groups combined performed more than 130 times, toured 13 states and two foreign nations, sang to well over 20,000 people, and logged more than 10,000 miles crossing the continental United States. That is the quick, direct version of how the University of Mobile came to be known for the quality and professionalism of its performing groups such as Voices and Impact. But while taking the highway will get you to your destination in a fastpaced blur of people and places, it is the leisurely side trip down memory lane that brings the journey into focus with lingering views of special
moments. Pack the amps and guitars. Are your uniforms pressed? Bring along a textbook to cram for that history test on Monday. Don’t forget your pillow to catch a few moments of sleep propped up in the van. Hop in. Let’s go for a ride. Mobile College Singers The Mobile College Singers made their first on-campus appearance in 1978 at the annual Thanksgiving feast. According to the 1979 Rampage yearbook, “practice, practice, practice – is what makes a great performance, but it doesn’t increase pay. The group performs free but will accept donations.” The group was directed by Dr.
Kenneth Bergdolt, then associate professor of music, and voice instructor Cherri Fussell. Collette Herring directed choreography, and MC students providing backup were Rory Elmore on bass, Greg Burleson on drums, and Tonya Green at the piano. Fifteen auditioned for that first group of six, which consisted of George Beck, Brenda Isbell, Scott White, Cherri Fussell, Elizabeth Munger and Sammy Flores. The standard program lasted about 20 minutes and included a medley of songs called “Winds of the Sixties” including “Can’t Help Loving” and “Everybody Rejoice.” Beck ’81, a full-time contractor and part-time minister of music and administrator at Crawford Baptist Church in Mobile, said the Mobile College Singers “were kind of a songand-dance-type thing.” He recalls choreographer Herring “tried to make us walk and sing at the same time.” The yearbook pointed out that “getting one’s hands and feet to do different things at the same time presents a problem, and George Beck asks: ‘But suppose you’re uncoordinated!’” “We pulled it off,” Beck said today. The group was mainly a publicity arm for the school, he said, and had a Broadway-style repertoire they took primarily to area high schools and junior colleges. Beck was also a member of AWANA, which was mentioned for the first time in the 1981 Rampage. AWANA took its name from 2nd Timothy 2:15, “All Workmen Approved Not Ashamed.” “AWANA was more of a worship leading type of group. We were trying to be the TRUTH wannabes,” Beck said.
Vision, 1995
umobile.edu 61
But it was the Mobile College Singers that had the most lasting legacy. The 1983 Rampage refers to the group as MC Singers, and later yearbooks would go back and forth between the abbreviation and the full name of the college. The growth in members reflected the growing popularity of the ensemble. In 1984, the Rampage noted the group was sponsored by the Admissions Office and “they do a wonderful job recruiting new students for our college. During Spring Break they toured jr. colleges, large high schools, and Baptist churches.” TRUTH held a concert on campus in 1985 to help the Singers raise funds for the choir. Breland remembers the concert being held at Pharr Gym. The Rampage cited the concert as one of the highlights of the year. According to the yearbook, “The MC Singers sang with TRUTH. It was definitely a night to remember. The group had the opportunity to experience what it was like to be swamped for autographs….” A cryptic addition to the description continued: “…and that cashew nuts can contribute to the excitement of a concert.” The Mobile College Singers earned a two-page spread in the yearbook as they performed on the Moorer Auditorium stage in Martin Hall. Performing, working on choreography, traveling to schools and churches in Alabama, singing with TRUTH – all created wonderful memories. For Marsha Roberts Scarborough ’85, her most favorite memory she posted on the University of Mobile Alumni Facebook page was: “Dr. B, of course.” Allen Harrison remembered one gig where MC Singers played one
62 University of Mobile Magazine | FALL 2012
Vision, 1997
night of the Miss USA Pageant, which was being held in Mobile. He was drummer his freshman year, 1988-89. “I really wasn’t that great of a drummer, but they needed a drummer. I got talked into it, and I’m glad I did,” he said. Allen said the encouragement he received during that year helped give him the confidence to later follow his dreams, go to flight school, and become a pilot. Janeice Hales DeLange ’89 said being a member of MC Singers was special – being a representative for the school, making music, ministering to different churches and traveling. “I’m still really good friends with a lot of people in the group that year,” she said. Friendships formed during the long rehearsals, hours of travel, mishaps and funny moments are friendships that continue. Kim Burgess Leousis ’86 remembered the Mobile College Singers as a well-regarded group. “People that were in the group were all very likeable, prominent students. I don’t know that they had the exposure that Vision had (later), to have a broad following. The student body enjoyed them, and they sang in chapel and locally.” Leousis, now vice president for enrollment services, campus life and athletics, said changing musical tastes
brought changing times for the MC Singers. The music they performed was starting to be dated as the contemporary Christian music scene gained prominence. Leousis said then-president Dr. Mike Magnoli ’67 wanted the music to change. “He wanted them to travel and be more public-oriented.” Vision Herman Shoemaker arrived at the University of Mobile in 1987 as assistant to the president for enrollment management. He came to the school after a successful career wearing a variety of hats in the Mobile County Public School System, from principal to state lobbyist to overseeing maintenance for the state’s largest school system. It was his first time to be responsible for recruiting students at a college campus. He had been on board only a few weeks when he was called to Dr. Hazel Petersen’s office, then academic dean. “I was up in my office, minding my own business,” Shoemaker recalled. He walked into Petersen’s office in Weaver Hall, where the dean and a young man were sitting. Shoemaker recalled the conversation vividly. “She said, ‘This is Kim Noblitt. He’s your director of
the MC Singers.’ I said, ‘Ma’am, who are the MC Singers?’” It was the first time Shoemaker knew his recruiting team included a singing group. “I went back to my office and sat down and said, ‘What am I doing here? I don’t know one note from another!’” Shoemaker remembered. Fortunately, Kim Noblitt did. Noblitt had just come off the road after eight and a half years with TRUTH, the longest of any vocalist, and he knew what it would take to bring the group to the next level. He said he asked the students what they wanted
to do, and was told, “We want to be a TRUTH group. We want to recruit and travel for the school.” He started the process, arranging music specifically for MC Singers, purchasing coats for outfits that mirrored the edgier TRUTH look, and dropping what he described as “oldschool madrigal” singing from their performance. “The big deal was we had guitars and plugged them into the wall,” Noblitt recalled. He said there was some resistance, both on campus and in churches, to the idea of MC Singers performing contemporary Christian music, complete with electric guitars, but Shoemaker “was in my corner.”
The quality and professionalism of the group earned them respect. “Everywhere we went, the reaction was they couldn’t believe a college group is doing this,” Noblitt said. Now founder and CEO of G3 Music Publishing and a worship leader helping churches around the country, Noblitt remembers his time at the school as “a lot of fun. To see them want to do it, and then they went out and did it.” The pattern for the next decade was set. A year later, new director Keith Martin changed the group’s name to Vision, and a new era began. The Admissions Office would hire a local music minister to direct the group. Directors such as Kent Vincent,
Impact 2012. Photo by Ginger Saucier
umobile.edu 63
“Now those students have turned into people who have some really key positions in the church world and music world.” Kim Burgess Leousis ’86
Alicia Williamson, Chuck Newman and others poured their knowledge and heart into developing the group throughout the years. The Admissions Office would evaluate where they wanted to try to increase recruitment and get the school’s name out. Students auditioned and were selected by the Admissions Office, trained during the fall semester, and traveled every weekend during spring semester and a week into the summer. They earned partial tuition in exchange. A student leader was responsible for traveling, and enrollment counselors would meet the group at various locations. They recorded cassettes, and later CDs. They traveled beyond the state’s borders. In 1991, Martin took Vision to the Christian Artists Seminar of the Rockies at Estes Park, CO. They were named Grand Champions. As part of the honor, Vision returned the following year to lead worship for the 1992 competition. Martin poured his life into mentoring young people, said his 64 University of Mobile Magazine | FALL 2012
wife, Lee Ann. “He loved all those kids,” she said. Martin was serving as worship arts pastor at Woodland Baptist Church in Bradenton, FL at the time of his death in July 2011. Leousis said the mentoring and professional development training that took place from music ministers like Martin was an unexpected benefit to students. The hands-on, on-theroad practical experiences taught students more about communicating and reaching people with the Gospel message. “Now those students have turned into people who have some really key positions in the church world and music world. In terms of an ambassador program, that’s far more lasting than any song,” Leousis said. Brett Burleson ’93, lead pastor of
Dayspring Baptist Church in Mobile, sang in Vision his junior year and had the experience of performing on the last trip to Colorado. Martin asked him to be student director the following year. “I embraced that task. It meant being in churches week after week after week and, on my end, that involved being a spokesperson for the group. If we did evangelistic events, I would present the Gospel. Practically speaking, I was in front of people a lot and speaking a lot, which was good for me, particularly since that is what I do now,” Brett said. He said the group itself functioned almost like a small church. “The way Keith had it structured, every week at rehearsal he would sit down with every one of us and ask us which scripture we memorized for the week, how much time we spent with God. He invested in us, and made sure we spent quality time with God and reading the Bible. We
MC Singers, 1983
Herman Shoemaker, pictured with Vision memorabilia in his home, was instrumental in the group’s success as a ministry and as a recruitment effort for UMobile.
had accountability, community and fellowship, and, with Keith, we had an actual pastor among us.” It’s where Brett met April Williams, a freshman who would become his wife when he went to seminary the next year. Recently the couple had occasion to think back on those years. Their church small group session included a question about what mile markers in their lives contributed to their spiritual growth, and April spoke about her year in Vision. “I know it had a great impact on those of us who were in it,” Brett said. A lot of us are in music ministry, or are student pastors or lead pastors. It wasn’t just the musical influence; it had a ministry influence. We were in churches and saw how they functioned. We saw the good, the bad and the ugly. We saw the climate of church life, and saw what the church
needed.” Shoemaker said Vision accomplished its recruitment mission. The first year after Vision went on the road, enrollment grew by 156 students. The group was representing the university well, and university students were proud to have them perform in their home churches. There was one new student in particular that he remembered – Joy Dickson. “When she was in high school, she came to my office one day and said, ‘I want to be in Vision and I’m ready to try out today.’ She stood right there and sang a song in front of me,” Shoemaker said. Joy said she remembered the audition with Shoemaker and two
more administrators as “pretty frightening. It is easier to sing to a sea of people than to sing to a few people who are only inches away from you – especially when they are determining whether or not you can do what you are aspiring to do.” Joy Dickson Lockwood ’01, the 1998 Miss UM, met her future spouse, Chris, when both were members of Vision. Chris Lockwood ’05 has gained recognition through his group umobile.edu 65
“We would get letters from churches about how it changed people’s lives and changed the church.” Chris Bell ’00 33Miles and as a Nashville musician. “God confirmed to me in Vision that this sort of ministry/lifestyle would definitely play an important role in my future,” Chris said. “Performing was always fun, but my ability to adapt and connect with church leadership as we traveled from place to place is probably the greatest thing I was able to take away from my time with Vision.” Chris said he was asked to be road manager during his last year with Vision. “I hated it at the time because I never really wanted to do it and felt I was ill-equipped (and I was), but little did I know that God was preparing me for decisive leadership down the road in my own company, 33Miles,” he said. Joy said the most moving thing was that “Despite our youth, God’s hand was always on the Vision concerts. I was privileged to pray with people at the end of our concerts, moved and humbled by their heart cries to the Voices of Mobile, 2012. Photo by Ginger Saucier
66 University of Mobile Magazine | FALL 2012
Father, leading some to Christ for the first time. You can’t help but grow and mature in Christ when you can visibly see His hand using something you are a part of.” Chris Bell ’00 said Vision was more than a music group – it was a ministry. Chris was lead singer, road manager and platform speaker from 1995-2000. “We would get letters from churches about how it changed people’s lives and changed the church. In those five years, we had literally hundreds and hundreds of people come to Christ in those concerts. My favorite memory was seeing people respond to the Gospel message.” Chris is lead pastor of Church on the Eastern Shore, one of the fastest-growing churches in Alabama with campuses in Fairhope and Thomasville, AL, and Gautier, MS, with more planned. The church’s worship pastor is former Vision member Zack Adamson ’09. “Whatever success I have today comes from those five years of
preaching and singing,” Chris said. In one weekend, the group might perform at a Saturday night youth event, a Sunday morning worship service in a Baptist church, and a Sunday night service at an Assembly of God church. “Being in all those different environments forced me to be a better communicator. It taught me how to be comfortable in front of any audience in any situation. On any given weekend, you had no idea what you were about to walk into. We could be in front of 10 people or 2,000 people,” Chris said. During those five years, Vision recorded three albums and traveled thousands of miles. “The value of that for the college is one thing – it gets the word out about University of Mobile in such an effective way,” Chris said. “The value of it to the people in that group is just amazing. When other guys at other places were just studying theology, I was going out and preaching every
weekend. It was a unique opportunity for me to get better at what God called me to do.” Chris said Shoemaker became like a grandfather to him, and continues to have an impact on his life today. “He really believed in Vision, and he believed we could be a ministry. For me, when you have someone who believes in you, that’s powerful. And Mr. Shoemaker believed in me. He taught me a lot about life and leadership,” Chris said. Alicia Morris Atcheson ’02 said it was an incredible experience to be able to be part of the ministry of Vision. “It’s hard to pick just one memory that stands out. There were soooo many–funny, serious, life-changing, souls won to the Kingdom, hearts being ministered to (often times our own). God really used Vision to help me become more like Him and to fuel a passion for ministry,” she said. Shoemaker took a personal interest in setting the performance schedule,
hiring the director and helping decide the stage dress. “I just enjoyed the kids. I would go over sometimes and listen to them rehearse,” Shoemaker said. Brian Boyle ’94, now vice president of institutional advance and former admissions director, at one point was in charge of Vision. He said Shoemaker would attend as many concerts as possible. “He was the biggest cheerleader of Vision, and they loved him,” Boyle said. Leousis, who oversaw the group when she became vice president for enrollment services, said the ensemble kept getting better and better. “Every group that came along, every single year, you would think, ‘this is the best one ever,’” Leousis said. Boyle said the group’s nickname was “Little TRUTH” because of the similarities in style and performance to Breland’s award-winning group. When Breland joined the UMobile faculty, it was a natural fit to move
Vision back to its beginnings as a part of the music program. Voices of Mobile & Impact Breland, now executive director of the College of Christian Leadership and vice president for project development, said Vision’s role as ambassadors for the school and worship leaders continues – but in a different form. Voices of Mobile and Impact have their genesis in MC Singers and Vision. Kara Jones, a senior majoring in early childhood and elementary education, said she is in her third year as a member of Voices of Mobile. “I think Voices has shaped and further defined the call the Lord has placed on my life,” she said. Steven Stewart is student director of Impact and a worship leadership major. “You put everything you learn in the classroom into practice, especially groups like Impact where you’re literally doing your degree every weekend,” Stewart said.
umobile.edu 67
Singing UMobile’s Praises The quality of performing groups over the years has parents and students singing the university’s praises – and bringing them to campus. Stacy Miller Hart ’98, who holds a master’s in marriage and family counseling from UMobile, said she first heard about Mobile College when Vision performed at her high school in the early 1990s. “I later attended Centrifuge and wanted to go to college there even more. I went to a local college for my undergraduate degree then decided to attend UMobile for graduate school. I got a master’s degree and a husband out of the deal, so it worked out pretty good!” Hart said. Twin brothers, Robert and Madison Copeland said they first heard about UMobile when Vision played at a 5th Quarter in Andalusia, AL. It was their 10th grade year, and they noticed the large UMobile display. “The Lord used the band’s appearance to influence us in two ways,” Robert said. “First, the band enabled us to see the school’s ministry in action. It made us think, ‘Here’s this really cool praise and worship band performing, and it’s made up of Christian college students who attend a Christian school and seem to love what they’re doing. That sounds like a school we would like to attend!’ Second, the fact that the 68 University of Mobile Magazine | FALL 2012
band had promotional materials for the school helped us to find out more information about UMobile.” Madison added, “Talking to an admissions counselor is one thing, but having a student give you information and speak from their heart about their UMobile experience means a great deal. It’s almost like taking UM Expo on the road, except you don’t have to be admitted first!” The twins originally planned to double major in worship leadership and theatre, then changed their majors to theology with minors in computer information systems. They graduated with bachelor’s degrees in ’09 and Master of Arts in religious studies in ’11. The owners and operators of Copeland Computer Solutions have since applied for a doctoral program in theology. Sarah Calhoun, an elementary education major and member of the women’s soccer team, heard about UMobile when Voices of Mobile came to her church in Jacksonville, FL, first in 2009 then again in 2011. As she wasn’t interested in majoring in music, Calhoun said the concert
MC Singers, 1985
itself didn’t seal her decision to attend UMobile – “but the people I met and what they told me about it made the school sound amazing, and it definitely is. I got all the information I needed from the concert and they answered any questions I had.” The recruitment strategy that began with Shoemaker has come full circle. One day in October, Seth Peacock walked into Roger Breland’s office. His parents, Shane and Susan Knight Peacock ’91, were bringing him for a campus visit and to learn more about the School of Worship Leadership and a concentration in film and theatre. For Susan, it was a return to memories of touring choir, Dr. B, and a chance to recall her years as a member of Vision. “We had lots of fun, lots of amazing ‘God moments,’” she said. “It was just a wonderful time in my life. Now, to think about my son considering this school, I am excited about the opportunities he would have here.”m
Looking for that perfect Christmas present for your friends and family? Give them the opportunity to hear Tim Tebow at the University of Mobile’s 8th Annual Leadership Banquet. Call 251.442.2917, and order this great stocking stuffer today!
April 18, 2013 | 6:30 p.m. | Mobile Convention Center 251.442.2917 | www.umobile.edu/banquet2013
umobile.edu 69
Ram Run
Ram Run 2012 Oak Mountain State Park June 23, 2012
Oak Mountain State Park in Pelham proved to be the perfect venue for our 5k Ram Run with 38 runners participating. It was a beautiful day and a great opportunity to reconnect with alumni and meet new friends. Winners for the Ram Run include: Female Overall - Elly Gay, 24:27 7:53 Male Overall - Tom Hill, 18:51 6:04 Female Masters Overall - Kim Graham, 32:05 10:20 Male Masters Overall - Larry McPherson, 24:41 7:57 Female Grand Masters Overall - Afsanah Regimand, 44:34 14:21 Male Grand Masters Overall - Bob Regimand, 44:35 14:21 More runner times can be viewed at www. productionsbylittleredhen.com. We are especially thankful for our title sponsor, Acosta Sales, as well as Food for Less, DEX Imaging, McNellage and Assoc., Inc., AllState (Martin Dorsett), Chick-fil-A, Surgical Association of Mobile PA, Speaks & Associates Consulting Engineers, Inc., and Anesthesia Services PC. Thanks to all our alumni and friends who participated this year! For information on the UMobile Ram Run and other alumni events, contact the Office of Alumni at 251.442.2226.
2013 Dates: March 30, 2013 Ram Run University of Mobile Campus June 22, 2013 Ram Run Oak Mountain State Park, Pelham, AL
70 University of Mobile Magazine | FALL 2012
Campus Corner
Bedsole Commons Recent renovations to the first floor of the J.L. Bedsole Library plus an outdoor patio has added more gathering areas for students and faculty. Bedsole Commons includes the Java City coffee shop; UMobile Spirit Shop selling items such as Rams t-shirts, coffee mugs, and gift items; a study area with iMac computers and color printers; a small stage and snack items. It has become a great place for students to gather, take a break from class, study or just grab a coffee to go! Take a moment to visit the Bedsole Commons next time you are on campus! Photos by G.M. Andrews
umobile.edu 71
Alumni
Nothing is Impossible Patricia Dorsett ’81 By Lesa Moore When Pat Dorsett ’81 sets her mind on a goal, she pursues it with the determination of knowing that nothing is impossible. As a little girl in Knoxville, TN, she dreamed of one day becoming a nurse. Even as a child, she was determined to make this dream a reality, writing to various nursing schools to find out which classes she should take in high school to prepare her for this career. She completed the diploma program from University Hospital in Birmingham in 1957 and began working as a registered nurse. By the late 1970s, Pat realized that she wanted to be a clinical nursing instructor and took a job at Southwest State Technical College in Mobile (which later merged with Bishop State Community College). It did not take her long to decide that she needed to pursue an advanced degree in nursing to benefit her students the most. Balancing a full-time job and a family with four children, Pat began taking classes at Mobile College. “If you want something bad enough, you can do it,” she said. “Nothing is impossible if you stay focused and put your trust and faith in God.” By 1980, with the encouragement and support of her husband, George, Pat took a leave of absence from her job and focused on being a full-time student. “Everyone on campus was so helpful,” she recalled. “I felt like I was right at home. My education experience at Mobile College and memories about the difficulties I faced during that time make me so thankful for the superb quality education I received.” Pat went from being a clinical instructor and mentoring students to the one being instructed. She found herself wearing a student nursing uniform
72 University of Mobile Magazine | FALL 2012
and being assisted by her own clinical instructor. “I could not have been successful had it not been for the faculty at Mobile College,” said Pat. “Dr. Hilda Reynolds took me under her wing and helped me so much in planning my schedule. Dr. Eugene Keebler (dean of students) gave me so much advice and was outstanding in assisting this nontraditional student. Receiving so much personal assistance and encouragement made me want to work hard to accomplish my goal.” Pat graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Mobile College in 1981 and went on to complete her master’s degree from the University of Alabama in Birmingham a year later. She resumed her position as a clinical nurse instructor where she served until she retired in 1992. Immediately following her graduation from Mobile College, she joined the alumni association. Recalling fond memories of alumni meetings, theatre productions and music programs such as Christmas Spectacular, she has continued to stay involved in the University of Mobile ever since. World Changer Prominently displayed on a bookshelf in her study are numerous awards bestowed to Pat from the University of Mobile. Included is the Alumni Award for Outstanding Achievement in Healthcare awarded in 1993; the World Changer Award presented in 2000; and the Door Opener Award dated 2006. “We are so proud to have an alumna like Pat Dorsett,” said Brian Boyle, vice president for institutional advancement. “Her influence has been deliberate in recruiting students, supporting events and promoting the mission of the
university. She has been successful not only in her profession, but in the positive, intentional influence she has made in the lives of those around her. She is a great example of a graduate who has made an impact by ‘changing lives to change the world.’” One way she has made a difference in the lives of others is through an endowed scholarship. “My husband felt like he was part of the university, too,” Pat said. “He encouraged me to stay involved. Before he died, we discussed setting up an endowed scholarship at the University of Mobile.” The George and Patricia Dorsett Scholarship for Religion and Nursing was established in memory of George and benefits students wishing to pursue careers in Christian ministries or nursing. “I am so proud that my family can be a part of assisting a student to gain a Christ-centered education at the University of Mobile,” she said. Dr. Mark Foley, president of the University of Mobile, appointed Pat to the Board of Trustees in 2002. She continues to serve in this capacity today. “I enjoy returning to campus for board meetings and occasionally to just have lunch in the cafeteria,” said Pat. “I have developed many friendships at UMobile and am so grateful for my education experiences there.” Leaving a Legacy “There is something about driving up the front entrance toward Weaver Hall,” she said. “It brings back so many memories. If not for UMobile, my life would be so different. I will always be appreciative to the University of Mobile.” The love and appreciation that Pat has for the University of Mobile has
“Nothing is impossible if you stay focused and put your trust and faith in God.” Pat Dorsett ‘81 Photo by Dan Anderson
spread to family members as well. Her son, Dr. Wayne Dorsett ’76, graduated from Mobile College and is now serving as pastor of Westside Baptist Church in Warner Robbins, GA. Granddaughter Erin Dorsett Vaughn ’00 graduated from the University of Mobile with a Bachelor of Science in psychology. Another son, Martin Dorsett, currently serves on the UMobile Board of Trustees. Pat’s determination and persistence in pursuing her education has been an inspiration to those around her and will continue as students follow in her path. “I have watched the changes take place over the years on this beautiful campus,” Pat said. “I am so pleased with the influence the University of Mobile has had on the state of Alabama and to students beyond the state. I believe it is truly the best Christian university in the country.” m
Pat Dorsett with son Wayne, and granddaughter Erin. Photo by Kathy Dean
umobile.edu 73
Alumni
That and a Whole Lot More Jay Jerrell ‘98 By Trey Taulbee For many, college will bring changes in one’s knowledge, major and relationships. But for Jay Jerrell ’98, it inspired a vibrant faith, a redefined calling and a transforming marriage. Jerrell moved from Birmingham in 1994 to attend the newly named University of Mobile. His initial experience with UMobile exceeded his expectations. “It was everything that I was hoping it would be,” he says. In addition to his friends from home that were attending UMobile, Jerrell met many students that shared a similar faith background. Yet, there was something about them that stood out, causing him to question his own faith. “Even though I had grown up in church, I met a lot of people who claimed the same thing that I claimed – being a follower of Christ – but there was a big difference between me and them,” says Jerrell. “It changed the way they lived, thought, talked.” Jerrell spent his first two and a half years at UMobile searching for the genuine faith that he saw in his friends. During Christmas break of his junior year, Jerrell put his hope in Christ. This transformative experience was born out of seeing authentic examples of Christianity. “I had friends who introduced me to Christ even though they didn’t know that’s what they were doing. It brought me to a point of realizing that I needed Jesus,” he says. Through the rest of his junior year, Jerrell sensed God’s calling into vocational ministry. At the end of that next semester, Jerrell changed his major from history to sociology and finished his degree in four years. Lifetime Friendships Jerrell reflects on his time at UMobile as one that reshaped his outlook and future. “So much of what my life is now is a result of the university,” says Jerrell. “It was everything I was looking for in a school, and I found that and a whole lot more.” During the time Jerrell was on campus, there were only four residential areas and limited school-sponsored activities. “It was up to us to create something to do,” he says. So, Jerrell and his friends spent their time on homemade slip-and-slides or playing tennis-court football. Yet, it was these random, goofy moments that helped him establish lifetime friendships. “The best friends in my life right now are people that I met at
74 University of Mobile Magazine | FALL 2012
UMobile,” says Jerrell. “It was a tight-knit community.” One of these ‘friends’ would later become his wife. While Jerrell was working in the mailroom, he met Jill Nahrgang ‘00. Nahrgang worked in the former day care program at the Oakdale Center. “First day I saw her come around the corner, she caught my eye and I introduced myself,” says Jerrell. Since Narhgang could only get the mail around 4:45 p.m. each day, Jerrell would hang around an extra 15 minutes to talk to her. This began a close friendship that would eventually lead to a dinner-date some three and a half years later. Jerrell reflects, “All of the sudden, one night you eat frozen lasagna and watch politics, then never spend a day apart after that.” A Holy Restlessness Upon graduating from UMobile in ’98, Jerrell moved to New Orleans for seminary. But the next summer, he came back to UMobile to work as the Mission Fuge housing coordinator. Former Vice President for Enrollment Services Herman Shoemaker saw potential in Jerrell and offered him a job as an enrollment counselor for the following year. “I had a great experience working there,” says Jerrell. “I learned a lot.” The job was a perfect fit. Jerrell was back in the environment that he loved, working with his friends and building relationships with prospective students. It also allowed time for him to pursue ministry. Jerrell played at Disciple Now events and other retreat weekends for youth, while also filling in as guest speaker for area youth ministries. As he continued to pursue ministry opportunities, Jerrell sensed a “holy restlessness.” “The (enrollment) job was a great buffer to get back into the real world,” he says. “But I knew what God was calling me to overall.” Jerrell followed the call to Birmingham, where he landed an interim youth ministry position at the church in which he grew up. Then, he spent three years at a church in Bibb County before moving to Fort Worth, TX to pursue his Master of Arts in church music. “I always felt like I would end up in worship ministry, it would just be a matter of time,” says Jerrell. “Even when I was in student ministry, I was still leading worship.”
“The best friends in my life right now are people that I met at UMobile,” Jay Jerrell ‘98
Jerrell graduated from seminary in 2009 and was immediately called by Faith Family Fellowship in Spanish Fort, AL as worship pastor. “It feels like we came home,” he says. “We love our church, we love the people – we’ve built great relationships.” Giving Back Because of Jerrell’s love for UMobile, he currently serves as UMobile’s Alumni Board President. He and his wife find it a rewarding way to keep connected to those with an appreciation for the school. He encourages alumni to attend UMobile functions such as concerts, tailgates and the annual Project Serve in September. “Mobile gave so much to me and I would love to give something back,” he says. Jerrell believes UMobile alumni all around the country have an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of students today through giving of their time, money and influence. “I know there are a lot of people who have a similar experience to mine at the university,” he says. “They can be a part of ensuring that the University of Mobile continues to be that positive experience for each new class of students.” m Photos by Michelle Taulbee umobile.edu 75
Alumni
Jeff Williams
Tramaine Perry
As a college student, Jeff Williams had no desire ever to be a senior pastor at a church. His vision was for a career of service through children’s or student ministry. But God had a different vision for Jeff. When the senior pastor retired from the church in Florida where Jeff served as children’s minister, church leaders encouraged him to step into the leadership role. That’s when he discovered that the education he received at the University of Mobile had prepared him not only to do what he thought he wanted to do – it also prepared him for what God planned for him. Now, as senior pastor at a church in Arkansas with a Sunday worship attendance of about 2,500, Jeff is helping people have a Kingdom mindset to reach the community and world for Jesus Christ. At the University of Mobile, Jeff found the academic preparation for seminary, the spiritual preparation to grow and serve, and the close relationships with professors and friends who continue to nurture and encourage him today. From playing flag football on the intramural team to hanging out with friends on campus or cheering on the university’s basketball team against its arch rival, Jeff had a special college experience that shaped him into a leader prepared to answer “Send Me” when God opened the door. m
As the University of Mobile men’s basketball all-time leading scorer, Tramaine Perry knows that success comes in meeting challenges and exceeding expectations. That’s why he appreciates the challenging academic courses and high expectations of professors at UMobile that prepared him to succeed in a career in banking. Today, Tramaine is still passionate about being successful, and he knows what it takes to be a leader in life. His college education included more than academic coursework and basketball drills. The long talks with professors, coaches and school administrators about learning, faith and leadership prepared him to remain in the spotlight long after his college basketball career had come to a close. As a successful leader in the banking industry and community, Tramaine knows the true definition of success isn’t dependent merely on baskets scored or tests passed. He says that success is being happy with what you are doing, because you are making a difference. m
Class of 1994 Major: Religion Currently: Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church of Geyer Springs, Little Rock, Arkansas
76 University of Mobile Magazine | FALL 2012
Class of 2005 Major: Computer Information Systems Currently: Assistant Vice President & Branch Manager, Compass Bank, Mobile, Alabama
Courtesy of the Mobile Press-Register 2012. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission. Published May 10, 2012
Young Entrepreneur Graduates From University of Mobile By Renee Busby
Jami Leigh Carter always wanted to open a boutique. So she went to the University of Mobile to study business, hoping it would help her reach her goal. Not only did her studies at the university help her, but the 22-year-old Carter started her business before finishing school. Following in the path of her father, who owns an insurance agency and graduated from college with a degree in business, she applied what she learned watching her dad and the principles she learned in business school to start an online boutique called Lace. Wearing an outfit she sells at her online store, Carter said she would help friends with their clothing styles. “Everyone always told me, ‘You put good outfits together,’” said Carter. Despite achieving her goal to open a business, she remained in school to further her education. A member of the Class of 2012, Carter received a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of Mobile. Carter has been busy the last four years. Despite taking a full college load and running her own business, she works for the Cunningham Bounds law firm 35 hours a week and volunteers at the Dumas Wesley clothes closet with the University of Mobile Students in Free Enterprise, or SIFE. Carter said she has learned a lot from her classes that she has been able to incorporate into her own business. “That class is what made me realize I could do this,” she said. Carter credits the university with helping her “learn the key points of business.” She researched what she needed to do to start her own business, which she runs from an office in her father’s building. The first thing she did was go to the bank for a loan, which was co-signed by her father. Borrowing money made her realize that she was on her way to being a business owner, she said. She sells to customers as far away as New York and California.
Photo by Victor Calhoun
“I hand pick all of the clothes from designers online,” said Carter. “It’s almost as if I’m styling all of my clothes,” she said. Carter said she would continue to sell online instead of opening a store. “I feel like online is not going to go away,” said Carter, adding, “Online sales are up.” Plus, she said, “I don’t have the overhead.” After graduating, she is spending more time on her business. “Four years add up to this one moment,” Carter said of graduating from college. “I’m glad I stuck with it.” (Visit Jami’s boutique online at lace-boutique.com) m
umobile.edu 77
Class Notes
‘60s
Richard Leedy ’68- Taught at Polk State College for 23 years and at other colleges for an additional 14 years. He has three children: Adam, Tosha and Gabbie.
‘70s
Debra Poole ’76- Author of “No Email in Heaven,” a humor book. She graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1993 and has published poetry in several literary magazines. Juliette (Judy) Melton Patrick ’77Earned a Doctor of Educational Ministry in 2003 specializing in women’s ministry from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. She is an online adjunct professor for the religion department at the university. Betty Kirkley Campbell ’79- Has three daughters, seven grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. She enjoys traveling to visit her children and participate in mission trips. Jackie Blackmon Whitehead ’79Received her doctorate in educational leadership from Jones International University in Colorado. She heads the drama department at Theodore High School and is a member of the American Research Society where she researches the transitions of environments for high school students.
‘80s
Henry Creel ’85- Works with the Volunteers of America Southeast where he is the program manager. Tony Higginbotham ’87- Worship pastor at Eastern Shore Baptist Church in Daphne, AL. Todd Stearns ’88 and Sonya Simmons Stearns ’89- Having served churches in Alabama, Missouri, and Texas, they are now serving at First Baptist Church of Naples in Florida where Todd leads worship.
78 University of Mobile Magazine | FALL 2012
‘90s
Eric Grizzle ’91- Recently wrote his first novel, “Frederic,” which is about the hurricane that hit the Gulf Coast in 1979. Garry Morrison ’95- Earned a Master of Arts in biblical studies from Covington Theological Seminary in 2010. He is the director at Foothills Hispanic Ministry in South Carolina. Bob Hochstetter ’95- Has been married for 42 years. He works at VT Halter Marine Inc. where he is the chief engineering planner and scheduler. Bob is planning to retire at the end of this year. Keith Stewart ’98- Recently left employment with the Department of Human Resources in Baldwin County and became the satellite director at Bethany Christian Services located in Spanish Fort, AL. Bethany is an international and domestic Christian child-placing organization.
2000s
John Blackwell ’01- Served as minister of students at Bayou Sara Baptist Church in Saraland, AL, for nearly six years. He also served as associate pastor of students and worship at First Baptist Olive Branch, MS. He is now back at Bayou Sara Baptist Church as the associate pastor and minister of music. John received his master’s in religion from Liberty University. He is married to Heather Kyser Blackwell ’01. They have three children: Ethan, 9; Jonah, 7; and Kara Beth, 2. Rob Laliberte ’04- Worship pastor at Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler, TX. Rob and his wife have three children. Tara Arneman Serrano ’07- Special education teacher in Brooklyn, NY. Tara received her master’s in ’09 in special education, birth to second grade. She has been teaching for four years. Joey Cochran ’07- Pastor to students and families at Marble City Baptist Church in Sylacauga, AL. Joey has three
children: Carys Grace, Anna-Kathryn and Lillian Hope. Michelle McDevitt ’07- Returned from an 18-month deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom out of Fort Bragg, NC. She graduated from the combined logistics captains career course, was on the president’s list and has now taken command of Echo Company 1/507th Parachute Infantry Regiment. Mona McDonald Lusk ’08- Works at the Dream Center in Los Angeles, CA, which has adopted 135 blocks of the city. She serves over 40,000 people per month by distributing over a million pounds of food.
Births
Jeffrey Henderson ’12 and Jessica Henderson announce the birth of their first child, Olivia Ana, on Sept. 14, 2011 at 10:43 a.m. She was 7 lbs. 13 oz. and 21.5 inches long. Lauren Colvin Zwitt ’04 and Matthew Zwitt announce the birth of their third child, Elijah Moses. He was born on Nov. 7, 2011. Moses was 9 lbs. 2 oz. and 21.5 inches long. Moses has two older brothers, Abraham and Josiah. Rebecca Reeves Robinson ’05 and Jason Robinson were blessed with their first child, Carter Michael. He was born on Feb. 28, 2012. Carter was 8 lbs. 6 oz. and 20 inches long.
We want to hear from our Alumni! Marc Mahan ’05 and Elizabeth Prater Mahan ’04 announce the birth of their second child, Chelsey Anne. She was born on July 13, 2012 at 5:34 p.m. Chelsey was 8 lbs. 5 oz. and 21 inches long. Charlie Turner ’03 and Melissa Smith Turner ’02 welcomed their fourth child, Hal Smith, on July 20, 2012. He was 8 lbs. 3 oz. Hal was also welcomed by his brother Dean, 7, and two sisters, Millie, 6, and Stella Belle, 4. Lori Clearman McCarty ’04 and Omar McCarty were blessed with their first child, Nora Maeve, on Aug. 31, 2012 at 6:04 a.m. She was 8 lbs. and 19 inches long.
Marriages Tara Arneman Serrano ’07 was married to Anthony Serrano on Aug. 26, 2011. They live in Queens, NY.
Wallace Dupuis ’08 was married to Rebekah Hubson Dupuis on April 6, 2012. They live in Mobile, AL.
Josh Bugg ’12 was married to Joey Beth Luttrell Bugg ’12 on May 5, 2012. They live in Orlando, FL.
Kyle Patton ’12 was married to Jessica Dykes Patton ’12 on June 10, 2012. They live in Nashville, TN.
Would you like to be included in a future edition of Class Notes? Just send us the latest information on you and your career accomplishments, weddings, births, and/or adoptions. High resolution (300 dpi) photos may be emailed to umobilemagazine@umobile.edu; please include your contact information in the email. Class Notes are printed on a space-available basis. Mr. Mrs. Ms. Miss Dr. Name____________________________ Maiden Name_____________________ Spouse Name_____________________ UMobile Graduation Year____________ Major____________________________ Degree Earned_ ___________________
Ryan McPhail ’12 was married to Amanda Roach McPhail ’12 on June 16, 2012. They live in Memphis, TN.
Home Address ________________________________ City_ ____________________________ State_ _______ Zip_________________ Country__________________________ Home Phone______________________ Cell Phone________________________
Joseph Gibbons ’12 was married to Kristen Griffith Gibbons ’12 on June 30, 2012. They live in Mobile, AL.
Email Address ________________________________ Employment Information: Company_ _______________________ Title_____________________________ Address__________________________ ________________________________
Bethany Arndt Acquafredda ’09 was married to Joey Acquafredda on July 7, 2012. They live in Elkhorn, WI.
Jessica Williams McLeod ’11 was married to Ben McLeod on July 28, 2012. They live in Chickasaw, AL.
Work Phone_ _____________________ Other Information: _________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ Please list any news you would like to share with us. Copy and fax this form to 251.442.2512 or mail to: University of Mobile Alumni Office 5735 College Parkway Mobile, AL 36613 Or submit the online form at www.umobile.edu/ClassNotes
umobile.edu 79
Class Notes
To purchase an advertisement in upcoming issues of the University of Mobile Magazine, please contact Brian Boyle, vice president for institutional advancement, at 251.442.2287
80 University of Mobile Magazine | FALL 2012
Alumni Notes
There are so many ways to get involved at the University of Mobile this year! Mark these dates on your calendar: Miss UM Pageant
Feb. 2, 2013 Location TBA Contact Campus Life at 251.442.2563 for ticket information
Ram Run
March 30, 2013 University of Mobile Campus 10K, 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run June 22, 2013 Oak Mountain State Park Pelham, AL 5K Register online at www.umobile.edu/ramrun
8th Annual Leadership Banquet A Conversation with Tim Tebow April 18, 2013 Mobile Convention Center For sponsorships and tickets, visit www.umobile.edu/banquet2013
As you can see, many events are taking place and there is lots to look forward to this year. I am always looking for volunteers for these events. If anything interested you, please contact me, and I will get you plugged in. Don’t forget to check out the University of Mobile Alumni Facebook page and UMobile website for other events and special information. Any time you are close to the campus, I would love to see you and show you around. Every day goes by so quickly. Take the time to slow down and catch up with your Alumni Family! We would love to see YOU!! Allison Nelson ‘06 Director of Alumni Relations 251.442.2226
University of Mobile Classic Golf Tournament May 17, 2013 Lakewood Golf Course Point Clear, AL For more information, visit www.umobile.edu/mobileclassic
umobile.edu 81
University of Mobile Office of Institutional Advancement
Brian Boyle Vice President for Institutional Advancement 251.442.2497 bboyle@umobile.edu
Claude Bumpers Development Officer for Business and Government Relations 251.442.2587 cbumpers@umobile.edu
Bill Hart Senior Development Officer, Charitable Estate Planning 251.442.2223 bhart@umobile.edu
Hali Givens Director of Development for Research and Stewardship 251.442.2212 hgivens@umobile.edu
Tonya Gomien Director of Annual Giving 251.442.2917 tgomien@umobile.edu
Allison Nelson Director of Alumni Relations 251.442.2945 anelson@umobile.edu
Robert Bartlett Development Officer for Community and Foundation Relations 251.442.2286 rbartlett@umobile.edu
82 University of Mobile Magazine | FALL 2012
A Word from Advancement
Gratitude. It’s something so important to express, and something so often overlooked. As I enjoy the privilege of driving onto our campus each day, I am filled with such a deep feeling of gratitude for the opportunity to be a part of what The Lord is doing in and through the University of Mobile. I am grateful that I can look back to those faculty, staff and students that helped lay the foundation of our beloved Mobile College, and grateful for being able to build upon that same foundation today as the University of Mobile. I am also grateful for those friends and family who support this university with their prayers and financial resources. This place truly could not exist without them. Finally, I am grateful to The Father for His guiding hand, protective hedge, and anointed purpose for the University of Mobile. As you reflect upon our Alma Mater, I hope you will experience memories with warm fondness, joyful emotions... and gratitude. Gratefully,
Brian Boyle Class of ‘94
umobile.edu 83
5735 College Parkway Mobile, Alabama 36613
84 University of Mobile Magazine | FALL 2012