Alumni News

NUMBER TWO

FALL
2006

COLLEGE ANNOUNCES
PLANS, PROGRESS ON
$78-MILLION CAMPAIGN

Our During

^J^J^M Maryville

// C/ College's

annual Founder's Day Banquet
Oct. 12, board members, volun-
teers and administrators publicly
announced details of the Col-
lege's "Our Window of Oppor-
tunity" campaign, a $78-million
endeavor that focuses on raising
money for four initiatives;

• Construction of the Civic Arts

Center (CAC), a $42-million
partnership facility with the
cities of Maryville and Alcoa;

• Renovation of Anderson Hall

($6 million);

• Growing the College's

endowment ($20 million);

• Strengthening the Annual

Fund ($10 million).

Banquet attendees cheered
at the announcement that nearly
$46 million (or 59 percent) had
been already raised or pledged.

Attendees were treated to a
screening of a new campaign
video and entertainment by
international opera singer
Delores Bowen Ziegler '73;
Dr. Robert Bonham, classical
pianist and professor emeritus;
and student vocalists from the
ensemble Off Kilter.

More information on the
campaign can be found at
maryvillecollege.edu/
ourwindow.

A PUBLICATION FOR ALUMNI & FRIENDS OF MARYVILLE COLLEGE

Alumni News & Notes

MC BESTOWS HONORARY DEGREE ON
'29 ALUMNA

Maryville College bestowed an hon-
orary bachelor's degree on Mary
Swain Wood '29 during a ceremony
held June 2 at the Dallas Country
Club in Dallas, Texas.

President Dr. Gerald W. Gibson,
Associate Dean Dr. Martha Craig and
Vice President for Development Jason
McNeal all spoke at the ceremony,
which was attended by Wood and 20 of
her close friends and family members.

In welcoming guests to the June 2
ceremony, McNeal explained that hon-
orary degrees awarded by Maryville
College's Board of Directors go to
"exceptional men or women to recog-
nize and pay respect for outstanding
service to education, to society' or to
the wodd community."

Despite some strong familial ties to Centre College in Kenaick)', Wood chose to enroll
at Maryville College. (She has MC ties as well, as a descendant of the Willard family for
whom Willard House is named.)

Wood attended MC for three years but left before graduating because of financial strains
brought on by the Great Depression. She became a primary school teacher in Eminence,
Ky, before beginning a successful 21 -year career as an educational consultant for book
publishers. From 1937 until 1944, she worked for the American Book Company, and
from 1948 until 1958, was employed by the Scott-Foresman Publishing Company As an
educational consultant specializing in reading instruction at Scott-Foresman, Wood was
very involved in the publication of the company's popular "Dick and Jane" series.

While working, she continued her education at the Universit\' of Kentucky' and the
University of Chicago.

Despite the professional successes she enjoyed. Wood was always bothered by the tact she
never received her degree from Mary\ille, according to those who know her. But she and
her husband, the late Colonel Alfred M. Wood, belie\'ed in the transforming power of edu-
cation and supported their alma maters and other educational instimtions for many years.

Since Colonel Wood's death in 1997, Mary has continued to support Mar>'\'ille Col-
lege. She is a charter member of the Society of 1819 and a magna cum laude member of
the Maryville College Isaac Anderson Society.

Dr. Gerald W. Gibson, president of Maryville

College, presents a framed diploma to Mary Swain

Wood '29, who was awarded an honorary bachelor's

degree June 2 during a ceremony in Dallas, Texas.

At left is Dr. Martha Craig, associate dean.

I § S IS D S

EDITOR'S NOTE: The College
received information printed
below between Feb. 11,
2006 and Aug. 31,2006.
Notes received after Aug. 31
should appear in the winter
issue of FOCUS.

'31 MEMORIAMS: Sarah Joe
Allen Talley Frier, June 13, in
Maryville. Following graduation
from the College, she taught
high school and elementary
school in Blount County, prima-
rily teaching fourth and fifth
grades at Alnwick School. She
was a life-long Presbyterian and
certified member of the First
Families of Tennessee. Survivors
include husband Maurice, son
and daughter-in-law, Don '61
and Louise Lane Talley '62,
daughter and son-in-law, Ann
and Parks Hitch, Jr; several

grandchildren and great-grand-
children.

E Alice Renegar Porter, Aug 2,
in Frankfort, Ind, She was a
retired teacher at Fern Creek
(Ky.) Elementary School, a mem-
ber of Mt. Washington United
Methodist Church and former
member of Bullitt County Home-
makers. She is survived by two
daughters, one son, 16 grand-
children, 24 great-grandchildren,
brother Edward Renegar '47
and niece Elizabeth Welsh '59
Virginia Rose Carter Tiffany,
Jan. 24, 2005. Survivors include
husband Raphael, three daugh-
ters, Celia Tiffany '66, Virginia
Tiffany '69, and Jean Tiffany
Closz '74, and their families.

'32 MEMORIAM: Laleah Ball

Logan, July 22, in Arlington

MC AGAIN RECOGNIZED BY U.S. NEWS,
SETS NEW ENROLLMENT RECORD

Another academic year began with good news.

In August, the College learned that it was ranked in

two categories in U.S. News & World Report's "Amer-
ica's Best Colleges" 2007 guidebook.
Claiming the No. 3 spot for a second
vear in a row in the "Best Comprehen-
sive-Bachelor's" category for southern
colleges and universities, Maryville Col-
lege can now state that it has been recog-
nized by the magazine for 10 consecutive
years and 12 times since 1994.

For the fifi:h consecutive year,
Maryville College also was recognized as

one of die best values among peer institutions.

And for the fourth consecutive year, the College broke

previous enrollment numbers. Registering for the fall

2006 semester were 1,155 students - the largest suident

body ever in the College's history.

Last fall, 1,146 undergraduates were enrolled; total

headcount for the fail 2004 semester was 1,080.

Heights, III. She earned a bach-
elor's degree from the Univer-
sity of Arizona after attending
Maryville, and went on to teach
in public schools.

'33 Eunice Grant Walsh

recently moved to Gainesville,
Fla., and has been studying
Spanish at the University of
Florida. She writes; "I have
enjoyed traveling this past win-
ter to Alaska and the Panama
Canal Zone."

'36 MEMORIAM: Edmund

Opitz, Feb. 13. Upon gradua-
tion from MC, he moved to the
west coast to study theology
and completed studies for the
ministry at Pacific Unitarian
School (now Starr King School)
in Berkeley, Calif, in 1939, After
his ordination, he served
churches in Massachusetts and
also taught on the high school
and collegiate level. During
World War II, he served as a
Red Cross field director in India.
He became part of the staff of
the Foundation for Economic
Education in 1955, where he
would spend the next 37 years.
He wrote more than 75 Free-
man feature articles and was
also a book review editor His
first book. Religion and Capital-
ism: Allies, Not Enemies, was
published in 1970. In 1994, 20 of
his articles were published in an
anthology entitled. Religion:
Foundation of the Free Society.
His final book. The Libertarian
Theology of Freedom, was pub-
lished in 1999. Survivors include
two daughters.

'38 MEMORIAM: James

Whitt, Aug. 1, in Chapel Hill,
N.C. He was a career Air Force
officer, serving tours of duty all
over the United States and
abroad. He undertook a second
career with the Texas Employ-
ment Commission. He was
active in church and community
activities, often volunteering as
a "greeter" at public events.
Survivors include wife Dorothy,
one son, one brother and their
families.

'40 MEMORIAM: Ruth Mack

Dennis, Nov 10, 2004, in Bed-
ford, Ohio. She served as librar-
ian of Carylwood Elementary
School in Bedford for 13 years
and taught piano to numerous
local young people. Survivors
include husband John, three
children and six grandchildren.

'42 MEMORIAM: Bina Ruth

Brown, March 13, in Laurel,
Miss. She lived in Columbia,
Miss., for 28 years retiring from
Entex Gas Company in Colum-
bia. She was a member of the
Jackson Symphony Orchestra,
where she played viola, and the
Worldwide Church of God. Sur-
vivors include a sister Eleanor, a
brother Kenneth, and a number
of nieces and nephews.

'43 Alice Reid writes she
would like to hear from old
Maryville College friends. She
has recently moved, and her
new address is: Mansfield Cen-
ter for Nursing and Rehab, 100
Warren Circle, Storrs, CT 06268.
Marion Avakian Slater is in her
49th year living on the Jersey

2 I Alunini Nem & Notes fall 2006

NEWS&NOTES

shore and is happily living in the
Tinton Falls Erickson Retirennent
Community of Seabrook.
MEMORIAMS: Margaret
McKirdy Sherman, Aug. 27, in
Sackets Harbor, N.Y. Upon
graduation from MC, she com-
pleted graduate work at Syra-
cuse University and went on to
teach history, English and Latin
at Ft. Covington, Tully and
Albion Central School before

retiring in 1975. She wrote
poetry and was a published
author of Pastor to the
Outports, the story of her
father's life. A member of Stone
Presbyterian Church of Water-
town, her hobbies were music
and her church work. Survivors
Include three children, five
grandchildren and several
cousins.
■ Edward C. Vaughn, March 2,

inChapelHill,N.C. A WWII vet-
eran, he served in Germany and
India, then served in the U.S.
Army Reserve during the Korean
Conflict. His career encom-
passed theatre and television
lighting and design. An active
member of New Hope Presby-
terian Church, he sang in the
church choir. Survivors include
wife Anna, two daughters, three
grandsons and one nephew.

'44 Victoria Hoole Doane

writes that she and four class-
mates - Meriam IVIcGaha
Anderson, IVlarion Schanck
Houser, Betty Jane Miller and
Cordelia Dellinger Kidder -
have met for 62 years to remi-
nisce about Maryville College.
The last reunion was in October
2005 in North Carolina
MEMORIAM: Mary Walsman
Van Der Hoven, June 28, in

Twelve among new-student ranks make MC a family tradition

LEGACIES, the children
and grandchildren of
Mai-)'\'ille College alumni,
continue to enroll in high
numbers. This year, 12 fii-st-
year students chose the alma
mater of their parents or
grandparents. They include:

Lauren Harper, granddaugh-
ter of Dick '54 and Peggy
Evans Abbott '54;

Melissa Andes, daughter of
Melinda O'Connor
Andes '79;

Marshall Flora,
son of Mary
Kemp Flora '80
and grandson of
W. Abbott
Kemp '47;

Michael "Tristen" Garner-
Maddox, son of Tracee
Garner '88;

Kelli leruUi, right, daughter
of Tony '80 and Carol
Hurst lerulli '80;

Hanna Lewis, daughter of
Connie Wheeler Lewis '82;

Matthew

Limone,

son of

Jane

Jafvert

Limone -

Rollins

'83 and the late Andrew

Limone '83;

Sierra Kiernan, daughter of
Heather Farrar Kiernan '88;

Nathan Neal, son of Freda
Swabe Neal '78;

Leah Scheafiiocker, daughter
of Bradley Scheafiiocker '72;

Natalie Silva,
granddaughter
of Owen '47
and Lois
Thomas
McGarity '48;

and MoUie
Teaster,
daughter of
Neena
Stallings
Teaster '76.
1 hough not teclinically
considered legacies, approxi-
mately 10 more first-year stu-
dents this fall are tbllo\\'ing
dieir siblings' path to the Col-
lege. In addition to being a
legacy, Kelli lertiUi, whose
name is listed above, is joining
sister Katie, a senior at MC.
Legacies may qualify for
the Mar)'\'ille College Legacy
Award, which is worth up to
$2,500 per academic year.
For more information on the
award, visit the financial aid
pages of the Mar)'\'ille Col-
lege web site.

Ahimni News & Notes fall2oo6 I 3

IS S IS D S

Williston, Vt. During WWII, she
worked for the Signal Corps in
Washington, D.C., decoding
Japanese communications, and
at Oak Ridge National Labora-
tory, working on the Manhattan
Project. She then went to work
at Brookhaven National Labora-
tory in New York, where she was
in charge of the classified docu-
ments section. A conservation-
ist and social activist, she was a
very active member of St. Mark
Presbyterian in Bethesda, Md.,
and Williston Federated Church
in Vermont. She was a longtime
member and officer of the
League of Women Voters In
Maryland. Survivors include two
daughters, two sons, two broth-
ers and their families.

'45 Dorothy Brown DiSte-
fano writes she is "thrilled to
have four new great grandchil-
dren added to the family." One
is the grandchild of David '71
and Christine Van Sant Gritz-
macher '70 IVIartha Jeane
Shaw Oldman donated a copy
of her autobiography, Aurora
Lea: Beautiful Lights on Enter-
ing an Open Place, to the Col-
lege. The book Includes stories
and photographs of her time as
a medical missionary to Tanza-
nia with the Africa Inland Mis-
sion, International. She now
lives in Pleasant Hill, Tenn.

4/ Owen and Lois Thomas
IVlcGarity '48 are enjoying liv-
ing in a great home at West-
minster Manor in Austin, Texas,
near family They write that
they're "proud to have another
grandchild" (Natalie Silva '09,

Fred Morrison '61 has been

appointed and commissioned a
"Tennessee Ambassador of Goodwill"
by Gov. Phil Bredesen. His mission is to
carry best wishes and the message of
Tennessee's hospitality to all people of
other states and other lands. He and
wife Carolyn reside In Raleigh, N.C.

sister of Kellie Silva-Noah '02)

at Maryville.

49 iVlargaret Weaver is living
in a handicapped-accessible
home she had built in 2004 fol-
lowing an amputation of her
right leg in 2000 and amputa-
tion of her left toes and part of
her foot in 2003. She Is still
active in her church and com-
munity activities in Martin, Tenn.
MEMORIAM: Donald Kribbs,
May 9, in Nashville, Tenn. He
graduated from Vanderbllt Uni-
versity School of Divinity after
MC and served Methodist
churches in Tennessee and
Florida. Later In his career, he
entered the field of addiction
counseling and management,
working with regional alco-
holism councils in Nashville;
Cleveland, Ohio; Hartford,
Conn.; and for the state of
Florida. Survivors include wife
Harriett; one son; one daughter;
four grandchildren; five great-
grandchildren; three brothers.
Including Kenneth Kribbs '48;
and one sister Memorials may
be made to the Maryville Col-
lege Development Office.

50 Stuart and Sarah Brown
McNiell '53 celebrated their
50th wedding anniversary on
June 2 with a luncheon at Down-
town Sullivan's restaurant In

Maryville with members of their
original wedding party. Later that
month, they enjoyed a trip to the
beach with their children and
grandchildren. Lambert Stewart
has completed a year and a half
at Bradenton, Fla., Presbyterian
Retirement Community as a per-
manent resident. He writes that
he appreciates receiving the Col-
lege's publications.
MEMORIAM: Charles Parvin,
July 29, in Tampa, Fla. Upon
graduation from the College, he
went to work for Maryville's Daily
Times newspaper, and in 1956
he was hired as an editor for the
Chicago Tribune. He remained
there for 29 years, serving as the
night news editor and night
national/foreign editor, among
other positions. A devoted fam-
ily man, he worked two or three
jobs during a period of time to
pay medical expenses incurred
when his wife was diagnosed
with a terminal muscle and skin
disease. When she was healed,
the two spent a year as mission-
aries in South Korea. He was an
active member of First Presby-
terian Church In Bradenton, Fla.
Survivors include wife Lois
"Debbie" Deobler Parvin '50;
two sons, one daughter and six
grandchildren.

51 David and wife Sue Sum-
mers Grubbs '53 toured Israel,

Egypt and Jordan in May. David
writes: "It was truly an in-depth,
post-graduate learning experi-
ence." Highlights from their trip
included the pyramids and the
Sphinx, Abu Simbol, Petra, and
the major religious sites In
Jerusalem, Galilee and sur-
rounding areas.
MEMORIAM: Elmer Keller,
July 1, in Oak Ridge. Following
graduation from the College, he
did graduate work in chemistry
and management at University
of Tennessee. In 1956, he joined
the AEC, a predecessor agency
of the Department of Energy,
where he rose to division direc-
tor involved in plant operations,
research and development and
operations analysis. Over 30
years, his work took him to
plants In Ohio, New York and
Oklahoma. He also managed a
nationwide program to recover
uranium from manufacturing
scrap. Survivors include wife
Betty; three daughters and their
husbands, including Nancy
Keller Feist '76 and Rich Feist
'74, two stepchildren; seven
grandchildren; two step-grand-
children; six great-grandchildren;
three brothers; and two sisters.

'52 In May Marsha Beebe
Green wrote that she and hus-
band Gordon planned to move
in June Into a Portland, Ore.,
retirement community with
"many stimulating activities to
keep us busy."

MARRIAGE: Jim Callaway to
Van Harwell, June 3.
MEMORIAM: Shirley Schue
Pettit, Jan. 21, in San Clemente,
Calif. A native Hoosier, her 35-

4 I Aiiiiiiiii Neit's &■ Notes fall 2oo6

I i s la D SI

year career as a teacher began in
South Bend, Ind. She also taught
in schools in Utah and California,
where she moved in 1956. She
earned a master's degree in
education in 1978 from the Uni-
versity of Redlands. Survivors
include husband Richard, one
son, sister Sarajune Schue
Owen '67 and their families.

'53 Florence Clark Raynal is

living in Harrisonburg, Va., and
has two grandsons, ages 3 and 1 .
MEMORIAM: F. Conrad Eaddy,

April 19, in Winter Haven, Fla, A
gifted vocalist and minister of
music, he served churches in
Maryville; Charleston, W.Va.;
Kissimmee, Fla.; St. Petersburg,
Fla.; and Winter Haven. He was
also an active member of the
symphonies and orchestras in
the cities he resided, serving as
director of the Charleston Civic
Chorus from 1967 until 1972. Sur-
vivors include wife Ruth Ann; one
daughter; one son; six grand-
children; one great-grandchild;
and brother John Eaddy '62

'54 MEMORIAM: Kenneth E.

Shepard, May 7, in Maryville.
After graduating from MC, he
worked as assistant football
coach at MC while working on a
master's degree from University
of Tennessee-Knoxville. He held
numerous positions as teacher,
coach, athletic director and
principal in several schools,
including Maryville High School,
Valley Point High School (Dal-
ton, Ga.) and Lanier High
School. He completed his
career with the Blount County
school system as supervisor in

1990. In 2002, MC honored him
with induction into the Maryville
College Athletic Wall of Fame.
Survivors include wife Jan, three
sons, one daughter, one
brother, one sister, and several
nieces and nephews.

'55 Mary Ann Thompson

wrote that her mother, Irene
Cates Thompson, passed away
Nov. 29, 2005, in Arvada, Colo.
She served as the weekend sec-
retary for New Providence Pres-
byterian Church for several
years, aided by Ms. Jane Mook,
another longtime resident of
Maryville.

MEMORIAM: Robert Sangster,
Jan. 27, in Annapolis, Md. He
was a retired naval officer. Sur-
vivors include wife Dixie Con-
ner Sangster '55 and two
daughters.

'56 Marcia Williams Kling

was recognized in May with the
2006 Mary Lou Wojcik Memorial
Angel of Giving Award. Given
by the Partnership for Families,
Children and Adults at its
annual fundraiser. Market Bas-
ket, the award is given to those
individuals who have "given
time and energy to make a dif-
ference in the lives of people in
the Tennessee Valley."

'58 Bill Wallace and wife Alice
Ann celebrated their 50th wed-
ding anniversary June 1 1 with a
reception in the ballroom at
Maryville's Regal Towers, where
they live.

'60 In December 2005, Ralph
Ayers and wife Donna opened

a second art gallery "The Light beginning his second year as

House Art Space" in Port Isabel, chair of El Paseo Arts Founda-

Texas, and are now renting exhibit tion for the Laguna Madre area

space to local artists. Ralph is of the Rio Grande Valley

COLLEGE MOURNS PASSING OF
TWO FORMER STAFF MEMBERS

lRGARET T. SHERER, professor of
m at MarAaiUe College from 1966
f83, passed away Aug. IS in
ie. She was 88.

ive of Oklahoma, she graduated fi-om
na ASdSii with a bachelor's degree in
tation in 1945. Following a move to
jauglit elementary school art at Fort Craig,
School and Sam Houston Elementar)r. She
1 master's degree in 1953 from the University' of
Tennessee and a doctorate in 1967, also from UT. As
chair of the department for several years, she organized
classes for community children at the College and in a
"School of Wheels" project.

Active in Delta Kappa Gamma, she held local-, state- and
national-level offices in the honoran' teacher's societv' and
received the state's "Achievement Award." She was a long-
time member of New Providence Presbjterian Church.

Sm'X'ivors include daughter Gaye Guinter, two gi-and-
sons and one sister and one cousin.

TOM CRONAN, head of the College's physical edu-
cation department from 1984 until 1986, died Aug. 18.
He was 64.

A 1965 graduate of Louisiana State University', he
earned a master's degree from Northwestern State Col-
lege of Lomsiana in 1968 and a doctorate in exercise
physiolog\' from tlie University' of Tennessee in 1972.

Before joining die fticult)' at Mar)%'ille, he taught at the
Citadel in Charleston, S.C, and at UT. In 2004, he retired
from Carson-Newman College in Jefferson Cit\', Tenn.

Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer 20 days after liis
retirement, he continued to be an avid atUete and out-
doorsman. In Apiil, he rode across the country on a
motorcycle to raise awareness about cancer and the sup-
port networks for its victims and survi\'ors.

Survivors include wife Joan and two daughters.

Alumni News &" Notes fall 2006

NEWS&NOTES

COLLEGE LOSES SARAH JANE
HARDRATH KRAMER, ART HISTORY
INSTRUCTOR AND ACTIVE ALUMNA

SARAH JANE HARDRATH KRAMER '74, an art his

tory insti-uctor at the College and former president of the
executive board of the Mar)'\'ille College Alumni Associa-
tion, died Sept. 2 in Knox"\'ille. She was 54. Her life was a
remarkable journey.

Following graduation from MC, she studied at North-
\\'estern Universit}' and the Uni\-ersit\' of Tennessee-
Knox\'ille, where she earned a master's degree in art
education in 1980. She served for 17 years as the curator
of education at the Knoxville iVIuseum of
Art. After leaving her position in 1997,
she continued to serve on the museum's
board of trustees.

Acti\'e in dvic and community' groups

and at First Presbyterian Church in

|B ^^^^ Knoxville, she served on numerous
Hi boards and advisory councils, including

the Communitv Schcjol for the Ai'ts, the Knoxville Junior
League and the Tennessee Arts Commission. Honors
include the YWCA Tribute to Women in the Arts, a Pres-
idential Citation from the American Institute of Archi-
tects/Tennessee Society and the Arts iit Education
Award from the Arts Council of Greater Knoxville.

Sarah brouglit a smile to every event and a special bright-
ness to all the people with \\'hom she worked. Abo\'e all,
she was dedicated to her tamily, who lo\ed her as dearly
as she loved them.

Survivors include husband Wayne Russell Kramer '74,
(for whom Sai'ah was die joy and lo\'e of his life) grandson
of longtime MC president Ralph W. Lloyd '15, and sons
Russell Reitan Ki'amer and John Reed I<j-amer; parents
Halbert and Marjorie Hardrath; sister Sue Hardrath '73
and brodier-in-law Sam Troutman; brother-in-law Lloyd
Kramer '71 and sisters-in-law Gwynne Pomeroy and Alice
Hood. Knoxville-arca survix'ors include Sara Heliums
Kramer '40, Roy '51 and Sara Jo Emert Kramer '51,
Jackson and Elizabeth Ki'amer, Steven ancJ Tina Kramer,
Sara Gray Ki'amer and their families, as well as many
other aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws.

Memorial gifts may be given to the Sarah Jane
Hardrath Kramer Fund at Maryville College.

'61 Dyrk and Carolyn Hill
Couser '63 write their oldest son
Ryan is doing well at the Naval
Academy after serving time in
Iraq. His brother, Nick, also a
Marine, has applied to the Acad-
emy also. They were excited to
welcome their 15th grandchild,
Kendell Alexandra Couser, into
the world on April 1 1 . Eugenia
Durham is still serving two Epis-
copal congregations in south-
east Arizona, She received a
doctorate of ministry degree in
congregational development in
June from Seabury Western The-
ological Seminary in Evanston, III.

'62 Virginia Pratt CasI lives in
Sacramento, Caiif., and is hop-
ing to retire this year or early
next year. She writes that she is
interested in her class' 45th
reunion. Clyde Flanagan writes
that he has a new grandson,
Conor Ross, born Nov. 1 1 , 2005.
In May, it was announced
that Roger Nooe had been
appointed to implement a joint
Knoxville-Knox County (Tenn.)
plan to end chronic homeless-
ness. He is a professor and for-
mer associate dean of the
University of Tennessee's Col-
lege of Social Work and has
conducted numerous studies
on the number of homeless
people in Knoxville as well as
the underlying causes.
MEMORIAM: John Mitchell,
Aug. 19, in Minneapolis, Minn.
Upon graduating from MC, he
went on to earn his master's
degree in English from the Uni-
versity of Tennessee and also
joined the Peace Corps, serving
in Liberia. Passionate about

poetry writing and film, he
began as an English professor
in 1968 at Augsburg College in
Minneapolis, Minn., and later
took a two-year sabbatical to
study film at San Francisco
State University He returned to
Augsburg and continued to be
an English professor until his
death. In 1995, he helped open
the Oak Street Cinema, a Min-
neapolis theater that showed
classic films. Survivors include
wife Jean, one daughter, one
son and one sister.

'63 Ann Kuykendall Gillespie

writes that she is enjoying
retirement and her new home in
the mountains of North Geor-
gia. J. Fred Kren and wife
Sandy visited the College in
May to hear his "best man,"
Robert Mahley, give the com-
mencement address. The cou-
ple also enjoyed a mini reunion
with Fred's classmate, G. Scott
Bucher, and Fred's brother and
wife James '52 and Patricia
Love Kren '51

'64 MEMORIAM: Charles R.

Thomas, Aug. 4, in Maryville. He
was a lifelong farmer, an avid
golfer and had retired from
Rohm & Haas Company of
Knoxville with 35 years of sen/-
ice. A stand-out college athlete
and captain of the 1963-1964
football team, he was inducted
into the MC Wall of Fame and
later served on the Wall's selec-
tion committee. Survivors
include wife Brenda; one son,
one daughter, and their
spouses; five grandchildren; and
sister Carolyn Thomas Bair '60

6 I Aliiiinii News cr Notes fall 2006

NEWS& NO'T

Charlotte
Sherrod
Coppin '68

(second from left)
was recently treated
to a surprise birth-
day party in Chicago
when former classmates (1 r) Denise Meruy Rose

'68, Susan Rowley '68 and Kathy Bishop

Burrow '68 all met there. It was the first time that all
four college friends had been together since 1966!

'66 For their 40th wedding
anniversary, Eric and Sue Halde-
man Bergman were treated to a
trip to Rome by their children
and Sue's mom. Sue retired from
her position as executive direc-
tor of South Bethlehem (Pa.)
Neyhborhood Center on June
30. The Bergmans are enjoying
time with their five children and
20 grandchildren. Stanford
Long has just accepted a posi-
tion with Warwick Mills Corpora-
tion, marketing safety gloves in
North America. Wife Sally is
recovering from successful colon
cancer surgery. They have eight
grandchildren and live in New
Hampshire.

67 Fred and Francine
Resnick Abramoff have been in
private business for 26 years. He
joined the Miami-Dade Police
Department over five years ago
as administrator in capital
inventory and quartermaster.
She is presently a comptroller at
an architectural firm in Coral
Cables, Fla. They have one
grandchild. David Berry retired
as principal from Maryville's
Foothills Elementary School in
May The students and faculty

feted him with gifts, including a
television and framed Terry
Chandler print. Music students
performed an original song,
"Dr. Berry Is Our Principal," at
the celebration.

68 Vicl<i IVIadsen Lang is liv-
ing in Denmark and writes that
she is interested in getting in
touch with Sally Bradshaw,
Sandi Combs, and all other
friends from her class. Linda
Giesselmann Driver-Machen is
an editor for the U.S. Depart-
ment of Energy in Oak Ridge.
She and her husband now live in
Maryville. Randall Smith was
voted into the International
Academy of Trial Lawyers. Mem-
bership is limited to 500, and he
is only one of two members in
his state of Maine, reports
proud father E.B. Smith '40.

69 K. Ann Bridges still works
for the U.S. Postal Service as a
bulk mail technician, and hus-
band William works for Blount
County maintenance. They both
look forward to retirement and
travel. Brian Childs spent two
weeks with the Red Cross in
Gulfport and Pass Christian,

Miss., serving as a mental health
worker following the devasta-
tion of Hurricane Katrina.
MARRIAGE: K. Ann Bridges to

William Walker, October 2005.

'70 Barbara Fritz Baker is liv-
ing in Sinclairville, N.Y., and has
established a digital conversion
business. Baker Productions,
LLC Emmy Marian Ezzell was
named assistant director for
production at the University of
Oklahoma Press in December.
This closes a circle that began
with her first publishing job at
the same press in 1976, took
her to the University of New
Mexico Press for 19 years, and
then to Indiana University Press
for the past six years. Jennifer
Blair Wetter is a teacher at
Mother of Good Counsel
School in Louisville, Ky.

'71 In January, R. Dana Paul
was named dean of admissions
and financial aid at Berry Col-
lege in Georgia. For the last
eight years, he served as vice
president for enrollment and
dean of admissions at Presbyter-
ian College in South Carolina.

'72 Caroline Munn Best was

one of six persons from five
churches in East Tennessee
Presbytery who participated in
Steps Toward Peace, an educa-
tional event in Israel and Pales-
tine from April 5 until May 25.
The program convened 97 peo-
ple from 31 presbyteries to
embark on an important faith
journey together to Bethlehem.
Richard Boyle is living in Albu-
querque, N.M., and working as

a medical inspector for the U.S.
Air Force.

'73 Kent Smith is currently
the lead Java architect for the
National Ground Command
Intelligence Center in Char-
lottesville, Va. Additionally he
owns Augusta Gunworks and
operates a working blacksmith
forge in central Virginia.
Delores Bowen Ziegler
recently received a promotion
to full professor of voice at the
University of Maryland.

'74 Terry Holley, the East Ten-
nessee Foundation's senior vice
president for programs and
regional development, was one
of 10 recognized at an Honoring
TEN Tribute Dinner in Atlanta,
hosted by the Southern Rural
Development Initiative in May.
Honorees were selected for their
"notable service and significant
contribution to rural communi-
ties." Leanne Moore received a
master's degree in management
in June. She lives in Alexandria,
Va., and is a management ana-
lyst for Defense Threat Reduc-
tion Agency Thomas Radice
reports that his consulting firm,
Guttman Development Strate-
gies, is successful and growing,
internationally. He and his wife
are having renovations done on
their 1895 New Jersey home.
Two years ago, he completed a
CD of poetry accompanied by
cello and other instruments.

'75 Stephen Ayers has four
films getting ready for release,
including projects with Kevin
Costner, Demi Moore, Malcolm

Alumni News &■ Notes fall 2006

I @ l^Ul D B

McDowell and Haley Joel
Osment. From July 27 through
most of August, he starred live
at the Cumberland County
(Tenn.) Playhouse in director
Abigail Crabtree's stage produc-
tion of the stirring drama, One
Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.
Barbara Strong Ellis is now the
director of library services at the
Hershey Public Library in Her-
shey. Pa. She and husband
Gene, who were married at MC
in 1974, continue acting and
directing in community theatres
in Lancaster County, Pa. In June,
Steven Yuhasz directed a con-
cert reading of a new musical
revue that he conceived called

"Lover, Liar, Lady... the women
of Kander and Ebb" at the
Stamford Center for the Arts in
Stamford, Conn. He began with
a cannon of 85 songs with music
and lyrics by John Kander and
Fred Ebb and selected 32 songs
representing the complicated
characters who inhabited their
Broadway shows. The show was
performed at the Provincetown
Theatre in Massachusetts Aug.
22 through Sept, 3,
BIRTH: Charles Alsmeyer and
wife Sharon, a son, Dylan Ben-
nett, Dec. 30, 2005.

76 Susan Coram Hind still
owns and operates the Rich-

mont Inn in Townsend, Tenn.,
and just celebrated 1 5 years
there. She has finished champi-
onship on five West Highland
White Terriers, "true to the Scot-
tish tradition," and plans to
have a sixth champion soon
from the latest litter of five pups.

7 7 E. Keith Goodwin is now

an assistant principal in
Oglethorpe County (Ga.) Mid-
dle School, while wife Lisa
Mongoven Goodwin '79 is an

India adoption coordinator for
"HOPE for Children" In Atlanta.
They have two sons enrolled at
the University of Georgia, a
third son who's in seventh

grade, and one daughter, who's
in third grade.

78 Betty Carol Zinavage has

been principal keyboardist with
the Knoxville Symphony Orches-
tra for 21 years. She has worked
with Henry Mancini, Marvin
Hamlisch, Doc Severinsen, the
Moody Blues and last year, was
onstage with Martin Short. She
also teaches piano at the Com-
munity School for the Arts, an
after-school arts program aimed
for lower-income kids, where
she founded the "Keys for Kids"
program, which seeks out good
quality, used upright pianos and
delivers them to students'

Lloyd-Sidle '74 selected to edit book celebrating women's ordination

IN THE PREFACE of Cdcbmtms Our
Call: Oi'dination Stories of Prcsb)tcrinu
Women (Gene\a Press 2006), Patricia
Lloyd-SidJe '74 shares a memory of her
own ordination at Mar\'\'ille's New Pro\i-
dence Church in 1980 - and of seeing her
grandfather, alumnus and longtime MC
president, Ralph W.

Lloyd

, crying

\,^<^'

"W^iat depth of gratitude and sorrow
did those tears at my ordination service
reflect?" wTote Lloyd-Sidle, who served as
volume editor for the publication. "He
was proud of course. Was he also remem-
bering the many women he had accom-
panied as they stiaiggled to serve God in
a church that blocked or belittled them?
"Certainly he knew how \'ery fortu-
nate 1 was to ha\'e a fimily of strong
women and lox'ing men, to ha\'e wise
mentors and multiple role models ot
women leaders, and to be educated in
institutions that encourage women in
leadership," she continued.

Lloyd-Sidle was recruited to ser\'e
as \'olume editor of Celebi-ntiiijj
Our Call after it was suggested
that the Presbyterian Publishing
Corporation (PPC) publish a
book commemorating, in 2005-
2006, the three-fold anniversary
celebration of women's ordination:
100 vears as deacons, 75 veai's as elders

and 50 years as Ministers of the Word
and Sacrament.

The co-editor of Teaebuijf Mission in a
Global Context (Westminster John Knox
Press 2001 ), Lloyd-Sidle, a mission
coworker in the PC(USA)'s World\\ide
Ministries Dix'ision, \\'as already well-
known in PPC circles and had also con-
tributed se\eral articles to Horizons, the
magazine for Presbnerian women.

"PPC Acquisitions Editor Da\id
Maxwell and 1 . . . started out thinking
about essays that would be more theo-
logical in the academic sense," she
explained. "But when the encrg)' really
started bubbling with the idea of women
telling their stories, we knew that was the
right approach."

They sought out autobiographical sto-
ries that would "illustrate the changing
attitudes about women in leadership, the
obstacles foced h\ women but also the
many wonderfttl mentors, friends and
supporters along the way," Llo\'d-Sidle

8 I Alumni News & Notes fall 2006

lii i i£i n i

homes. She and partner Emily
Schoen live in an arts and crafts
bungalow in Knoxville. They
have three cats and one dog
and enjoy traveling and camp-
ing in their popup camper.

'80 Peter Gardzina, a lieu-
tenant colonel in the United
States Air Force, was deployed to
northern Iraq from April to Sep-
tember 2005 and was awarded
the Bronze Star for action.

'81 Catherine Carter-Stiles

and husband John found their
dream mini-farm of six acres: in
Kingston Springs, Tenn., outside
of Nashville. Catherine writes

that she is the business man-
ager of her family's golf course,
is doing freelance stained glass
work and Border collie rescue
work and "supporting husband
John in his attempt to learn
how to live with Parkinson's dis-
ease."

82 Tim Fitzgerald and family
are living in Gumming, Ga.,
They are in their third year run-
ning their own public relations
business, Fitzgerald PR.

83 Susan Spence Hill was

recently named the athletic
director at the Florida School for
the Deaf and Blind in St. Augus-

tine, where she has been work-
ing since 1995 Bryan McFarland
wrote and performed his song,
"Lyrical Freedom Riders," in
Birmingham in June at a campus
ministry for the Presbyterian
Ghurch (USA), The song can be
heard at www.folkalleycom. In
May, Mike Wortman, a science
teacher at Maryville Middle
School, was selected as one of
16 educators from across the
U.S. for teacher development in
July at the Keystone Center's Key
Issues Institute in Golorado. He
was nominated for the program
by ALCOA, Inc.'s Tennessee
Operations and received a
$3,000 grant.

85 Kevin O'Reilly is the clini-
cal educator/nursing supervisor
at Peninsula Psychiatric Hospital
in Louisville, Tenn., and was
recently awarded the American
Psychiatric Nurses Association's
"Nurse of the Year" award for
the state of Tennessee. After
working as a visiting faculty
member for a year. Mack
Paschall has accepted a contin-
uing contract with Florida Gulf
Coast University as an assistant
professor of assessment and
research method classes in both
the undergraduate and gradu-
ate programs in the university's
College of Education. Melissa
Walker recently co-edited a

said. Church leaders who were invited to
share their stories were elders as well as
ministers of various ages, races and eth-
nicities and were serving the church in
various parts of the country and world.

As editor, Lloyd-Sidle said she com-
municated with the authors and ser\'ed as
a "sounding board" as they shaped their
stories. Once completed, she edited each
chapter for length, clarit}', consistency,
accuracy and flow.

Cekbratinjf Our Call has been calleci
"liistorically significant" and "hard-to-
put-down" in reviews. For Lloyd-Sidle,
the project was insightfLd. "Women are
creative and gutsy," she said, reflecting
on what she learned. "They have always
found ways to serve God and their com-
munities in spite of the limitations placed
on them."

The paperback book, which retails for
$19.95, can be purchased through the
Presbjterian Publishing Corporation or
Amazon.com.

SEVERAL MC ALUMNAE ORDAINED AS MINISTERS
OF THE WORD AND SACRAMENT

In 1955, the General Assembly of the PC(USA) voted to approve the ordina-
tion of women to the office of Word and Sacrament. It was approved by the
presbyteries and, in 1956, the first woman was ordained in the tradition that
is now the PC(USA). This year, the church celebrates the 50th anniversary of
women ordained as Ministers of Word and Sacrament.

Below is a listing of Maryville College alumnae who have been, according to
our records, ordained as Ministers of Word and Sacrament. This listing may
be incomplete. If you are an alumna and minister in the Presbyterian Church
(USA) but do not see your name listed below, please contact Rebecca Davis
in the Office of Church Relations at 865.98L8209 or rebecca.davis@maryvil-
lecollege.edu.

Anna Baker '63

Linda Messer Burger '60

Betty Goshorn Dax '73

Ellen Dozier '62

Susan Guyer-Blrch '78

Elizabeth Brown Hale '59

Deborah Kirk '78

Elizabeth Knott '57

Genie Varker Martin '79

Susan Sterling Montgomery '74

Donna Laubach Moros '61

Margaret Wilkinson Muir '57

Barbara Coates Rooker '59

Patricia Lloyd-Sidle '74

Janet Schmitt Snow '71

E. Gayle Walker '68

Rachel Winter '95

Judith Martin Wrought '65

Sharon Youngs '79

Alumni Nnvs & Notes fall2006 I 9

I S g 10 0 s

book published by the Univer-
sity of Missouri Press entitled
Work, Family, and Faith: Rural
Southern Women in the Twenti-
eth Century. A collection of
essays covering the full scope
of southern rural w/omen's lives,
"the book will be of particular
value to anyone interested in
sociology, women's studies or
southern history," a release
from the Missouri Press read.

'86 In May, Amy Ralston

Vagnier was named principal of
Foothills Elementary School in
Maryville. She had been the
school's assistant principal.

'87 MARRIAGE: Lori Suggs to

James Martin, Nov. 26, 2005.

88 Eric Bollman transitioned
to John Wieland Homes &
Neighborhoods in late spring
and is enjoying "building
homes with a great company."
His wife Ginger continues to
grow her stained glass business,
"A Touch of Glass." They live in
Rolesville, N.C. Lisa Harvey
Burkett is now unit chief of
training and oversight in the
FBI's Directorate of Intelligence.
Craig Hurst, a music instructor
at Mary Blount Elementary
School, was selected to attend
the 2006 Tennessee Arts Acad-
emy in July on the Belmont Uni-
versity campus in Nashville.

'90 Neal Atchley joined Blount
Memorial Hospital's active med-
ical staff and is practicing with
the East Tennessee Medical
Group in Alcoa. Previously, he
worked as a missionary physician

with the International Mission
Board of the Southern Baptist
Convention, sen/ing in the
Republic of Niger, West Africa.

'91 Scott Snyder was recently
recognized as the "NSCAA
2006 Coach of the Year" for the
state of Georgia. He led the
Westminster Schools soccer
program to the 2005-2006 AAA
State Championship in Georgia.
BIRTH: Kathleen Anderson
Dudinsky and husband Michael,
a daughter, Kayla Nicole, May 5.

'92 Kipp Martines has

accepted a position as the
director of human resources at
Elm Creek Nursing Home in
West Carrollton, Ohio. Kelly
Smelser graduated magna cum
laude from East Tennessee
State University and with a 4.0
GPA from Chattanooga State
with a degree in radiation ther-
apy. She is employed as a radia-
tion therapist at Emory's
Winship Cancer Institute in
Atlanta, Ga. After his fourth sea-
son at Notre Dame High
School, Charles Wiggins, head
coach of the Notre Dame High
School (Chattanooga) football
team, was named the Stump on
Sports "Pete Potter Coach of
the Year," the Region 3-3A
Coach of the Year and the Chat-
tanooga Times Free Press
"Coach of the Year (for the sec-
ond year in a row). He writes
that his greatest honor from
2005, however, was being
named "The Heart of Notre
Dame." The award recognizes a
Notre Dame employee who
most represents the values

embraced by Notre Dame, a
person who exhibits leadership,
excellence, service and rever-
ence within the Notre Dame
community.

'93 Laura Stephens Shockley

and her family have moved to
Knoxville. In August 2005,
Michelle Snyder-Williams was
named director of education
and volunteer services at the
Norfolk (Va.) Society for the Pre-
vention of Cruelty to Animals.
BIRTHS: Melissa Suder Arp
and husband John, a son,
Matthew, April 22, 2005 Eliza-
beth Steverson Mattingly and
husband Charles, a daughter,
Brittain Elizabeth, June 15.
Laura Stephens Shockley and
husband Brian, a daughter,
Ainsley Danielle, Dec. 14, 2005.
MEMORIAM: Charles Bedoian,
Aug. 24, in Marysville, Ohio.
Survivors include wife Toko.

'94 April Millsaps Gonzalez

was recently named the associ-
ate director of employer con-
nection programs with the
career center at the University
of North Carolina-Charlotte.
Jeff Rosa was one of three Col-
lier County (Fla.) High School
coaches honored with the 2006
State Farm Good Neighbor
Coaches Sportsmanship Award.
The honor came with a $1,000
stipend. He coaches volleyball
and baseball at the school. Lori
Schirmer is an assistant profes-
sor in the pharmacy practice
department at the College of
Pharmacy at Drake University in
Des Moines, Iowa. She also has
a clinical practice in surgery/

trauma at Iowa Methodist Med-
ical Center.

'95 BIRTH: John Nichols and

wife Audrey a daughter, Han-
nah Grace, Feb. 7.

'96 Terri Dean is a training
specialist at Compass Bank in
Hartselle, Ala. Kelli Jackson
Graham and her family recently
relocated to Augusta, Ga., from
Poughkeepsie, N.Y. She
accepted a position as Baby
Signs program coordinator. In
July, she was interviewed by
CNN's Paula Zahn about the
research and benefits of signing
with infants.

'97Thad and Monica Black-
burn Alsup have recently
moved to Baton Rouge, La.,
where Thad has been named
operations manager for the
Louisiana regional office of
Safety and Ecology Corpora-
tion, He received his profes-
sional engineering certificate in
July 2005. Monica owns her own
Premier Designs Jewelry busi-
ness and is able to stay at home
with their two children during
the day. Dee Bell resigned as
MC women's basketball coach
in July to accept a position at
NAIA Reinhardt College in
Georgia, He amassed a 107-37
overall record and an impres-
sive 59-3 conference mark over
his five seasons as coach at MC.
Kathryn McDonald Devine was
recently hired as a genealogy
and local history reference
librarian with the Washington
State Library in Olympia, Wash.
Kyle Duke recently moved to

10 1 Alumni News ZS' Notes fall 2006

NEWS& NOTES

Nashville and has taken a new
job as an accountant with
Frasier, Dean & Howard, PLLC.
Tiffany Rudicil Greer and hus-
band Thomas taught for three
years in Kuwait and have moved
to Jordan to teach for two
years. Chee Hill is an analyst
with the Michael Baker Corpo-
ration, an Atlanta-based engi-
neering firm dedicated to
modernization of FEMA's flood-
plain maps and protection. She
has one dog, one cat and has
gone back to school for a
degree in civil engineering.
BIRTHS: Thad and Monica
Blackburn Alsup, a daughter,
Natalie Elizabeth, June 1 , 2005.
Joey Cody and husband Zak
Weisfeld, a daughter, Beatrice
Louise, Oct. 9, 2005. Kyle Duke
and wife Allison, a son, Nicholas
Burgess, May 23. Sarah Steven-
son Hatfield and husband
Scott, a son, Elias Anderson,
Feb. 2. Jason Lay and wife
Katie Brehmer Lay '99, a son,
Joshua Miller, Jan. 18. Jason
Thompson and wife Alisha, a
son, Samuel Baine, March 10.

98 Andrew Ballou completed
a master's degree in American
history at the University of Col-
orado and recently enrolled in a
Ph.D. program in American his-
tory at Boston University. Dara
Di Giacomo Case was named a
candidate for the National
Board of Professional Teaching
Standards by Prince George's
County (Md.). The year-long
process involves self-examina-
tion and critique of her teaching
style and effectiveness. She was
also named choir director at

SCOTTY HERRELL '01, a teacher and
coach at Clinton (Tenn.) Middle School,
was pleasandy surprised during a school
assembly Sept. 7, when he learned that he
was the grand-prize winner of ING's
Unsung Heroes awards program.

The award, for which more than 1,100
educators across die
country applied, car-
ried with it a
$25,000 check. One
oflOO initial $2,000
award winners, Her-
reU's total $27,000
prize money will
fiand his 2 -year-old
"Extreme Makeover:
Middle School Edu-
cation" service pro-
gram.

According to a
press release issued
by ING, Herrell's
program will teach
students how to use
engineering princi-
ples for civic pur-
poses in their
community and
beyond.

"The project will
help improve the
homes of those
touched by tragedy
through the applica-
tion of carpentry,

landscaping and design skills by his stu-
dents," the release reads. "Participating
students will complete projects after school,
on weekends and on breaks. Students will
also aid in the selection of makeover appli-
cants, showing their involvement through-
out the entire process. Key learning skills
will be addressed over the course of the
program as students apply math, science,
and pre-engineering principles to their

Herrell named

Vnsun^f Hero/

wins $27,000 for

sehool pro£fram

''His dedication and excitement

about the program provides our

students the opportunity to

experience the excitement of

learning and service and has a

lasting impact on the community. ''

— PRINCIPAL SUE VOSKAMP

design and construction ideas.

"In the future, Herrell would like to
expand the program so they can purchase a
dilapidated house and fix it up from start
to finish and then sell it to a low-income
family for a reasonable amount," the
release continues. "He then wants to

donate the proceeds
to continue training
centers in the area.
Not only will Her-
rell's program
redesign homes for
tiiose in need, it will
redesign students
into community
change-agents ready
to makeover the
world."

Sue Voskamp,
principal of Clinton
Middle School, said
Herrell's service pro-
gram has boosted
students' excitement
and motivation for
learning.

"His dedication
and excitement
about the program
provides our stu-
dents the opportu-
nity' to experience
the excitement of
learning and ser\ace
and has a lasting
impact on the community," she said.
"Scott^f sets high standards for his students,
and works very hard to see that they are
met. I have never known a finer and more
dedicated teacher than Scott)' Herrell."

ING is a global financial institution of
Dutch origin offering banking, insurance
and asset management to over 60 million
private, corporate and institutional clients
in over 50 countries.

Alumni News & Notes fall 2006 I 11

I s g m D g

Clay '98 and StacI Kerr

Stalcup '98, triplets,
Holland Olivia, Seth Eugene

< and Aiden Claire, April 17.
(Sadly, they lost Holland

a Olivia at 6 weeks of age.)

Northminster Presbyterian
Church in Reisterstown, Md.
Mitsunobu Hanyu is living in
Tokyo, Japan and working as a
researcher with Toshiba. He is
currently working on a new hard
disk drive that will go into the
Guinness Book of World
Records as the world's smallest
HDD. David McGreal was hired
July 13 as head boys' basketball
coach and junior varsity volley-
ball coach at Gulf Breeze High
School in Florida. Clay and Staci
Kerr Stalcup are both family
practice physicians with Chero-
kee Health Systems in Seymour,
Tenn. After earning a master's
degree in urban and regional
planning from the University of
Tennessee, Sarah Wagner went
to work as a community planner

for ihe Department of the Navy
in Charleston, S.C. Instrumental
in the rebuilding of damaged
military installations following
hurricanes Ivan and Katrina, she
received numerous awards as a
first responder Recently, she
was selected as base planner for
30th Civil Engineering
Squadron, 30th Space Missile
Wing, at Vandenberg Air Force
Base in California.
MARRIAGE: Nikolai Curtis to
Rachael Knupp, July 27.
BIRTHS: Mitsunobu Hanyu and
wife Akemi Carina, a son,
Keisuke, Feb. 3, John and
Wendy Wimbrow LaForest, a
son, William John, Sept. 24, 2005.

99 John Chiles is a revenue
assurance analyst for Cingular

On July 28, Andrew J. "A.J." Ballou '98

married Angela Menke in Evergreen, Colo. Groomsmen

included (I r) Paul Weaver '97, Mark Hatfield
'97 and Eric Obermiller '97.

Wireless in Greenville, S.C. Sam
King is a process manager for
Woodbridge Group in Chat-
tanooga. Wendy Wimbrow
LaForest earned a master's
degree in nursing from the Uni-
versity of Tennessee in Decem-
ber 2004. She is now a
registered nurse and certified
pediatric nurse practitioner
Rachel Roe-Dale was hired as
an assistant professor of mathe-
matics at Skidmore College in
Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Gabe
Whittenburg is employed as a
senior manager, benefits admin-
istration, of Convergys Corpora-
tion's Employee Care Division.
Serving as the North American
Benefits Tower Lead, he sup-
ports the Global Functional
Process Lead for Benefits
Administration. In May, he wrote
that he was involved in "the
largest implementation in the
history of the HR business
process outsourcing industry,"
which is estimated to be worth
over $1,1 billion and will provide
a comprehensive suite of HR
transactional services for more
than 60,000 employees and
102,000 retirees in 70 countries.
MARRIAGE: Joel Shields to
Julie Seligson, Aug. 20, 2005.
BIRTHS: Michael Clark and wife
Michele, a son, Brandon
Michael, May 26. Rachel
Howard Cloud and husband
Jamie, a son, Michael Anthony
May 1 3. Lucretia Sleeper Myers
and husband Matt, a son, Landon
Scout, May 21 .

'00 Andy and Casey Ander-
son Bartow recently moved to
Tampa, Fla., with their family.

Andy is self-employed, running
Black Dog Mastering Studio,
and Casey is a contracts analyst
with Tech Data Corporation.
Clinton James works in the
development and research
department at Jewelry Televi-
sion in Knoxville. Tim LeRoy
graduated from the Eastern
Carolina School of Medicine in
May and has started residency
at the Mayo Clinic in Jack-
sonville, Fla., in the surgical spe-
cialty of urology David Moss
was presented with the Defense
Meritorious Service Medal while
deployed to the Detention Hos-
pital, Joint Medical Group,
Joint Task Force, Guantanamo
Bay, Cuba. The medal, the
third-highest peacetime
defense award, is specifically
intended to recognize excep-
tionally meritorious service per-
formance and to honor an
individual's accomplishments
over a sustained period.
Melanie Shepherd finished her
master's in school counseling
from Lincoln Memorial Univer-
sity and is currently working as a
career tech counselor for
Loudon County and Greenback
high schools in Tennessee. Anuj
Suri finished medical school in
May and is pursuing a career in
gynecological oncology at the
University of Texas in Houston.
Melissa Wright Reyes was
recently promoted to order set-
tlement analyst with Kimberly-
Clark in Knoxville. She and her
husband live in Kingston.
MARRIAGES: Tim LeRoy to
Kimberly White, March 18.
Melissa Wright to Carlos
Reyes, June 11.

12

Alllllllli News &" Nous FALL 2006

I s s

Sarah Bozeman Lewis '00 gradu

ated widi honors from the West Virginia
. School of Osteopathic Medicine with the
' \ degree of doctor of osteopathic medicine on
: May 27. While attending WVSOM, she
ii^jreceived the Glasgow- Rubin Achievement
ion from the American Medical
tSociaQon and the Southern Medical Associa-
arship. She plans to intern at Mere)' Hospital of
Pittsburgh, Pa., iii internal medicine.

BIRTHS: Daren Cox and wife
Hope, a daughter, Emily Grace,
June 24, 2005. Melissa Walker-
Perry and husband Paul, a son.
Lane Edward, Nov. 8, 2004.
Paige Morefield Wright and
husband Pete, a son, Hayden Eli,
March 15.

01 Katrina Atchley passed
the Tennessee Bar Exam and is
now working as an associate at
Ogle, Gass, & Richardson, PC, in
Sevierville. Brand! Grimes
Magee is a first grade teacher at
Highland Park Elementary in
Lenoir City. She is also currently
pursuing her master's degree in
instructional leadership from Ten-
nessee Technological University.
MARRIAGE: Jesse LaPrees to
Lindsey Tyre, Oct. 22, 2005.
BIRTH: Valerie Malyvanh
Jansen and husband Timothy, a
daughter, Hannah Laura, May 5,
2005.

02 Sarah Berkemeler is

studying for a master's degree
in counseling psychology at
Lewis & Clark College and is
working as a co-apartment man-
ager with her husband in Port-
land, Ore. She recently

completed an Olympic triathlon
in partnership with the
Leukemia and Lymphoma Soci-
ety Rachel Bowman graduated
from the University of Tennessee
College of Medicine in Mem-
phis, receiving an M.D. She has
begun her three-year residency
in family medicine at the Univer-
sity of North Carolina-Chapel
Hill. Heather Hendricks Byrd
was named "Teacher of the
Year" at Northwest Elementary
School and was nominated for
"Teacher of the Year" for Murray
County Schools and the state of
Georgia. Kelly Cannon gradu-
ated from the University of Ten-
nessee's College of Veterinary
Medicine and is now working in
Atlanta as a veterinarian. Sarah
Stutzman is working on her
master's degree in choral con-
ducting at the University of Ten-
nessee-Knoxville.
MARRIAGE: BreAnn Daniel to
Justin Kidd '04, June 24.
BIRTH: James Dunbar and wife
Allyson Pierce Dunbar, a
daughter, Rachel Elizabeth, Oct.
13,2005.

03 Megan Cheatham Coates

completed her post-baccalaure-

ate work to receive her teaching
certification in biology for
grades 7-12 in May. She is now
teaching science at Gibbs High
School in Knoxville, Rachel
Garza is an ESOL teacher for
the Albemarle County (Va.)
schools. Kenneth Kirby gradu-
ated from Duke University's
Doctor of Physical Therapy Pro-
gram in May and is currently an
employee of Carolina Physical
Therapy Associates, Inc. David
Kirkland is an investment repre-
sentative with Edward Jones
and is living in Maryville. Jessica
Kone graduated from the Uni-
versity of Flonda-Levin College
of Law in December 2005 and
passed the state's bar exam.
She was sworn in as a member
of the Florida Bar on April 21
and is now practicing as a cor-
porate attorney in Miami, Fla.
Jennifer LeBar is a kinder-
garten teacher in the Charlotte-
Mecklenburg School System in

Louis Belva '00 and
wife Kasey Ellen

Belva '02, a son, Willlam
Louis, Nov. 15,2005.

Charlotte, N.C. Christina Fisher

Ragain received her master's of
science from Yale University in
May and will be starting as a
lecturer of chemistry at Univer-
sity of Texas at Tyler. Misti Rea-
gan has joined the technical
team of Materials and Chem-
istry Laboratory Inc., in Oak
Ridge, Tenn., as a specialist in
sample preparation. Her experi-
ence includes sample prepara-
tion for organic, inorganic, and

Christopher McCarty '01, right, graduated

from the UT College of Law and was voted to speak on
behalf of the graduating class during its hooding cere-
mony on May 1 1 at the Kno.vsille Convention Center. In
March, he and his trial team partner won the UT Ray
Jenkins Intramural Moot Court Competition. He was
nominated by law faculty to the Order of Barristers, a
national honorary organization that recognizes graduat-
ing law students. He has accepted a position at Lewis,
King, Krieg & Waldrop in BCnoxville.

Alumni News &■ Notes fall 2006 I 13

NEWS&NOTES

radioactivity analyses. Heather
Everett Shamblin is a regis-
tered nurse at Blount Memorial
Hospital.

MARRIAGE: Lindsey Blair to
Aaron Woods, March 20, 2004.
Kathy Braden to Mike Jones,
April 29. Jessica Trent to
Edward Pierce, Oct. 22, 2005.

BIRTH: Danielle Williamson
Hope and husband Wes, a
daughter, Madilynn Rebecca,
Aug. 16, 2005. David Kirkland

and wife Nychole, a son,
Zachary David, July 25.

04 Stacey Blevins graduated
from the University of Alabama

Marriage proposal
enlivens soeeer matehes

Soccer brought them both to Mary\'ille College and sub-
sequently brought them together, so it seemed fitting to
Nick Bradford '06 that he should propose to sweetheart
Elizabeth Rushwortli '05 on die MC soccer field.
On Aug. 26, the

College
in\ited
alumni play-
ers back to
compete
against the
current
squads. In
between the
women's and men's
games, Rushworth was
called to the center of
the field, where Bradford
met her, falling to one knee for die proposal.

Few people knew of Bradford's plan prior to Aug. 26,
but he did share it v\'ith liis former coach, Pepe Fernan-
dez. "I asked iiim: 'Nick, what ai-e you going to do if she
says 'No?'" Fernandez said. "He said, 'Coach, I'm just
going to turn and sprint for die woods.'"

Bradford was able to save his energy for the game;
Rushworth's answer was "yes." And although she couldn't
believe he had chosen such a public venue for such an
intimate moment, she wasn't upset.

"It was really fLin to share the experience with my fam-
ily, coaches and all the soccer alumni," Rushworth said.

The couple is planning a June wedding. She is cur-
rendy enrolled in the Universit)' of Temiessee-Chat-
tanooga's doctor of physical dierapy program. He is
student teaching.

at Birmingham School of Nurs-
ing in May and has accepted a
position as registered nurse in
the Regional Neonatal Intensive
Care Unit at University Hospital.
Gary Drinnen lost his bid for
the Republican nomination for
Tennessee's 18th House District
seat, but along the way, he
picked up endorsements from
business owners, former state
senator Ben Atchley and
Knoxville's Metro Pulse. Mered-
ith Elliott received her master's
degree in foreign language-ESL
education from the University of
Tennessee-Knoxville and is cur-
rently teaching English as a sec-
ond language at Lenoir City
Elementary School. Andrea Fra-
zier Heaton is a graduate stu-
dent in nursing at UT-K Kristin
Johnston Reed was the primary
assistant for Dr. John D. Ster-
rett's research on the root sur-
faces of teeth. Their results were
accepted for publication in the
Journal of Adhesive Dentistry.
Their study took about six
months to complete, and it
served as a senior study for
Reed, who is now a third-year
dental student at the University
of Tennessee Dental School in
Memphis Michael Rickman was
an assistant hall director at UT-K
for the past two years and is
now working as an area coordi-
nator in the Residence Life and
Housing Department at Clark
University in Worcester, Mass. In
May, he wrote that he was plan-
ning to graduate with a master's
degree in Deaf education at the
end of the summer term. He is
also working as a freelance
interpreter for the deaf.

MARRIAGES: Brandon Black-
burn to Katherine Findley, May
20. Abby Guider to Samuel
Thomas, June 24. James Hayes
to Sarah Phillips, Oct. 1,2005.
Andrea Frazier to Josh Heaton,
May 14, 2005. Christie Latimer
to Wade Knapper '05, Aug 26.
Mary Rose Linker to Timothy
Williams, Jr., May 13.

05 Amanda Brown com-
pleted her master's degree in
sports studies in May and has
accepted an assistant volleyball
coaching position at Webb High
School in Knoxville. Darren
Dachelet completed his require-
ments for a bachelor's degree in
engineering from Auburn Uni-
versity in August 2006. He is now
pursuing a master's degree at
Auburn. K. Amanda Davis is a
graphic designer for Ruby Tues-
day Inc., in Maryville. Melinda
Stewart is the administrative
manager at Sea Ray of Knoxville.
MARRIAGES: Stephanie Bum-
balough to William Sweet, June
10 Elizabeth Davis to Morgan
Smith, June 17 Rachel
Huffines to John Goode, June
18,2005 Michael Wilhoit to
Loren Rion '06, June 10.

06 Robert Floyd is a botany
student and teaching assistant
at Jacksonville State University
in Alabama. Nicole Geerlof
Robinson is living in Col-
legedale, Tenn., and working
with AmeriCorps for one year.
She is currently a volunteer
coordinator for the Area
Agency on Aging and Disability.
MARRIAGE: Nicole Geerlof to
Trevor Robinson, May 24. Wta

14 I Alumni News & Notes fall 2006

A

i&ii.

ELIZABETH S. ''LIBBT'' WELSH, LONGTIME
MC EMPLOYEE, RETIRES AFTER 47 TEARS

IN THE SPRING OF 1959,

with her Maryville College gradua-
tion date looming before her, Eliz-
abeth S. "Libby" Welsh '59 had

no employment plans, no personal
goals, no particulai^ direction.
Fort>'-seven years later, her retire-
ment is follov\ing a similar" pattern.

That isn't to say her life between
1959 and 2006 went without pur-
pose. Quite the opposite.

Welsh found meaningflil work -
and great satisfaction - holding
various positions in Mar\'\'ille Col-
lege's admissions, alumni,
advancement and development

offices, and the College celebrated her accomplishments
and dedication during a luncheon and reception held in
her honor June 23.

Mar\'\'ille College President Dr. Gerald Gibson pre-
sented Welsh with a kev to the College - the first he said
he'd e\'er given - and $500 to use for travel expenses.
He \\'ent on to announce that a student award at the
College was being established in Welsh's name. Welsh,
who said she was "stunned" by many of the arrange-
ments that were made without her knowledge, was feted
by a crowd of alumni, firiends, family and current and
former faculty and staff members.

Speaking at the luncheon, four administrators at the
College praised their colleague's \\'ork ethic, persever-
ance, exceptional writing and editing skills and sense of
humor; they also shared stories of working with her and
"Libby-isms."

NO REGRETS

An English major who came to Mar^TiUe College fi-om
Louisville, Ky, in 1955 because her grandparents and
parents were alumni ("It never da\\'ned on me to con-
sider another school"), Welsh today has no regrets about

her choice for higher education,
her saying "yes" to the employ-
ment offer Raymond I. "Brick"
Brahams '49 made to her back in
1959 or working four years past
her 65di birthday.

"Just like the rest of my life, I
really hadn't made any plans [to
retire]," Welsh explained. "And
being diagnosed with cancer years
ago, I didn't really tiaink I'd live to
see 65. Wlaen 1 heard 'cancer,' I
thought I'd be gone in six
months. But surviving that, my
outlook changed and I realized,
'Hey, I'm likely to live to 65. What
am I going to do?'

"As I approachetJ that year, I realized that I didn't
want to leave," she continued. "I liked my job, Hked the
people and thought I could still be a worthwhile con-
tributor. And I didn't ha\e any plans for what I was going
to do after retiring, so I didn't."

Eventually, other health issues played a factor in
Welsh deciding to finally hang it up this summer. She
believes she's lea\'ing the work in good hands.

"iVIost of the staff are )'oung enough to be my grand-
children. They all get along so well and are so strong in
what they do," she said. "I thought this was a good time
to retire. And I wanted to leave at a time of year before
the staff and department put together annual plans."

As someone who began working flill-time during the
summers of her high-school years, Welsh said curiosity'
also got the better of her.

"I decided that I want to find out what it's like not
to get up and go to work at 8 o'clock every morning."

To read the entire story, which includes Libby's memories
of the early years of the Admissions and Advancement
projjrams and her thoitffhts on the Maryville College of
2006, visit marwillccollcijc.cdii and search on "Welsh.''

MAKE PLANS TO ATTEND

THE ANNUAL FEBRUARY MEETINGS

AT THE COLLEGE FEB. 2223.

THE CHURCH AS PEACEMAKER

THE RT. REV. KEN NEWELL, former moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, will be the
featured speaker of the 2007 February Meetings. His work with Father Gerry Reynolds, a Catholic priest in the
Redemptorist Order, was recognized by Pax Christi, the international peace movement, in 1999.

FEB, 22 11 a.m. Fine Arts Center Music Hall

5 p.m. Fine Arts Center Music Hall

FEB. 23 8:30 a.m. Center for Campus Ministry

1 1 a.m. Fine Arts Center Music Hall

Watch the Mar\'\'ille College web site for details.

Since 1877, Febriinvy Mectinjjs Imve offered the College and local cnmniHiiitt' an annual opportunity to reflect on Christian faith

and action. In years past, j^iiest speakers and special music have been hijjhlij^hts of the condensed lecture series, which is open to all

members of the College community, people in the area, and visitors, Maryville College, one of 65 collejjes related to the Presbyterian

Church USA, remains in a voluntary covenant relationship with the Church. Many faiths are represented in the student body.

^^

Maryville fill

•/ COLLEGE I II III

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Mar\-\'ille, Tennessee 37804-5907

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