Class Notes 1980s
Harlan D. Howard ’85 and his wife, Tammy, celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary on June 6. They met on campus in the fall of ’84 and have two daughters, Rebecca and Hannah. Harlan owns Appalachian Insurance, Inc., in Paintsville, Ky. ________________________________________________________________
1990s
Phillip Johnson ’91 retired as continuous improvement manager from the Kellogg Company in June. He took the position of senior financial analyst at Beam Suntory, Inc., in Frankfort, Ky., in August. In September, Stephen Thacker ’92 graduated from Lexington Healing Arts Academy as a yoga instructor. He says it has long been a goal to help people be healthy and feel better about themselves. Thacker works for the Pike County School System and occasionally teaches yoga at Pikeville YMCA where he is gaining experience teaching the physical and mental benefits of yoga as a holistic approach. Robert Staggs ’92, MBA ’20 was recently ordained as a deacon at First Baptist Church Pikeville. He successfully completed treatment in January 2021 for tonsillar cancer. Besides the care he received at Pikeville Medical Center, Staggs credits his survival to God and the prayers and support of his softball team, UPIKE family and countless friends. This spring will mark Staggs’ 20th year as head softball coach at UPIKE. When he isn’t on the softball field, Staggs enjoys golfing, bicycling and spending time with his granddaughters. Staggs and his wife, Nanette ’96, reside in Pikeville. This summer, Gary Justice ’96, MBA ’13 was appointed as UPIKE’s dean of admissions. Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Pikeville Medical Center (PMC) Kansas Justice ’97, MBA ’13 was featured as one of the ‘Top Women in Business’ by The Lane Report. Her primary responsibilities center around ensuring PMC’s more than 3,000 employees have the tools and resources they need to carry out the organization’s mission to advance the health and well-being of the region through comprehensive care in a Christian environment.
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UPIKE MAGAZINE | FALL/WINTER 2021
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