Fall 2012 magazine

T e x a s W e s l e ya n U n i v e r s i t yS o u t h E n t r a n c e

s t e r l i n g i l l u s t r at i o n

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF TEXAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY Fall 2012

The Rosedale RenaissanceTransformation begins in spring 2013

{Contents1 Letter from Texas Wesleyan

President Frederick G. Slabach

2 Fort Worth Sister Cities & Wesleyan Music Collaborate in Fabulous Trip to China

4 “Smaller. Smarter.” Hits the Big Time

6 Two Universities Create Partnership to Form Texas A&M University School of Law at Texas Wesleyan University

8 Rosedale Renaissance Project: A Four-Part Transformation Begins with Street Improvements

11 Adding Public Art to Rosedale will be Sweet Indeed

10 J.E. & L.E. Mabee Foundation of Tulsa Issues $500,000 Challenge Grant to the Rosedale Renaissance Project

12 Using Microbiology to Help Make Food Safer

16 Women’s Golf Tees Off its Inaugural Season

23 Skating Principal on a Roll

13 A Kind of Prodigy

18 2012 Alumni Medal Awards

24 Texas Wesleyan Alumna Wins Tony for Porgy and Bess

15 Texas Wesleyan Alumnus Tommy Elliott ’76 Honored by FWISD with his own Field of Dreams

22 Letter from Alumni Association President David D. Martin MBA ’04

31 Gift Continues Educator’s Legacy

28 In Memoriam

32 Tribute Gift Recognition14 Texas Wesleyan Joins Sooner Athletic Conference

21 Playmarket 2013

25 Alumni News

Designs for a new entryway to the Texas Wesleyan University campus are under consideration. The one on the cover is a conceptual design proposed by Freese and Nichols as part of the University’s master plan. The renderings on the cover and on pages 8 to 11 are used courtesy of Freese and Nichols.

On The Cover

1 WWW.TXWES.EDU Wesleyan {

Dear Alumni & Friends,I am pleased to report that U.S. News & World Report once again ranked Texas Wesleyan University in the #1 tier of regional universities in the West. Just as important, our 2013 ranking is higher than each of the previous two years.

On the heels of that announcement, Texas Wesleyan was named to the Military Friendly Schools® list by Victory Media. We take pride in helping America’s military service members, veterans and spouses succeed in the classroom and beyond.

Clearly, this indicates that Texas Wesleyan is moving up in the world. But it’s not just the experts that are taking notice.

Our total enrollment this fall is 3,204, the third highest enrollment in Texas Wesleyan’s history. Undergraduate applications are up 40 percent, and new undergrad enrollment is up 21 percent.

With 412 residents, our dorms are 100 percent full. This is the highest number of students living on campus in recent history.

But we have even bigger plans for Texas Wesleyan. Our master campus plan and the East Rosedale Street Project will combine to improve our student services, our campus entrance, and our community (see page 8).

And to ensure that all of North Texas is getting the word, we’ve embarked on the largest advertising campaign in Texas Wesleyan’s history. Even our brand identity – which most think of as our logo, but it is so much more – has been enhanced to reflect the quality that is inherent in a Texas Wesleyan education.

As we enter the holiday season, we are thankful for all that we have and all that we have to offer.

My family and I wish you a joyous holiday season. May we look forward to a new year filled with promise and opportunity for all.

Sincerely,

Frederick G. Slabach President

PRESIDENT Frederick G. Slabach

EDITOR Laura J. Hanna

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Chuck Burton Deborah Roark David Casstevens Ken Roberts John Fisher Paul Sturiale Laura J. Hanna Darren White

DESIGN COPY EDITOR J.O. Janna Franzwa Canard

PHOTOGRAPHY Glen E. Ellman Chuck Greeson Paul Sturiale

OFFICE OF ADVANCEMENT AND ALUMNI RELATIONS 817-531-4404 | 817-531-7560 (fax) [email protected]

Wesleyan is an official publication for alumni and friends of Texas Wesleyan University. It is published in the fall and spring by the Texas Wesleyan University Office of Marketing and Communications. The views presented are not necessarily those of the editors or the official policies of the University.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Barry Baker ’84 Patsy Clifford ’55 Karen Cole ’99 MBA ’04, vice president Martha Cole ’62 Michael Denis ’74 Martha Earngey ’77, secretary Presley Hatcher ’74 Syndi Hillberry ’86 Hayden Lackey ’08 David D. Martin MBA ’04, president Gladys Moore ’73 Cindy Olivera ’08 Sharon Roberson-Jones ’96 Glen Tuggle ’85, treasurer Jorge Vivar ’76 Kathy Walker ’97 Jerry Wood ’69 Ben Younger ’63

EX-OFFICIO MEMBER Dr. Carl G. Schrader, Jr.

TEXAS WESLEYAN STAFF Joan S. Canty, vice president for university advancement

Gina Phillips ’97 MSP ’07, director of development and alumni relations

DeAwna Wood ’05, assistant director of alumni relations

John M. Veilleux MBA ’04, vice president for marketing and communications

Chuck Burton, assistant vice president for marketing and communications

Laura J. Hanna, director of communications

2 } Wesleyan FALL 2012

Fort Worth Sister Cities & Wesleyan Music Collaborate in Fabulous Trip toBy John Fisher CHINA

The Wesleyan Chamber Singers made a momentous occasion even more memorable. They were part of a 71-person delegation to witness the official signing

of a Sister Cities agreement between the cities of Fort Worth and

Guiyang, located in the Guizhou province of China.

Led by Director of Choral Activities Jerome M. Bierschenk, the Wesleyan

Chamber Singers performed the “Star-Spangled Banner,” which was

followed by singing of the Chinese national anthem by the Guizhou

University choir. Later that evening, the Wesleyan Chamber Singers

performed a full-length concert, alternating selections with the

Guizhou University choir, in a special citywide concert at Guiyang’s

Grand Theatre – the largest commercial performance venue.

Bierschenk and Music Chairman John Fisher led the Wesleyan

entourage and were joined by 41 members of the Sister Cities

delegation from Fort Worth for an eight-day trip through China.

As guests of the mayor of Guiyang, the group was treated to

a VIP experience, including five-star hotels, sumptuous meals,

and first-class amenities throughout the trip.

The Sister Cities delegation was headed by Texas Sen. Jane

Nelson and Fort Worth City Councilman Dennis Shingleton, who

repeatedly expressed their appreciation and thanks to Texas

Wesleyan and said what good ambassadors the students and

faculty had been. They were particularly impressed with the

Wesleyan Chamber Singers evening concert, which concluded

with “Going Home” by Dvorak.

As a bonus, on the return trip through Beijing, the

students had eight hours to visit Tiananmen

Square, the Forbidden City, and a portion of the

Great Wall of China before a farewell Peking

duck banquet and their return to the United

States the next day. They truly felt humbled

to have been a part of this unique and

fabulous cultural experience.

Stone lion protecting the Forbidden City - Beijing


Feature Story

The Great Wall of China

View of downtown Guiyang

Wesleyan Chamber Singers at official signing ceremony - Guiyang Sheraton Hotel

John Fisher and Miao ethnic peoples’ costumes

Chairman Mao - Cultural Building, Guiyang

Jiaxiu Tower - Zhucheng Square, Guiyang


Texas Wesleyan’s bold new marketing campaign is off and running.

“SMALLER. SMARTER.”HITS THE BIG TIME

More than 4 million viewers see us on TV. Another 3.5 million see us on the road. And there’s more.

IT BEGINS WITH STRATEGY

Long before the official launch of the campaign, Texas

Wesleyan’s Office of Marketing and Communications

and the Office of Enrollment and Student Services

teamed up to research an effective enrollment strategy.

Noel-Levitz, a leading higher education consultant,

added the expertise needed to complete a market-

based study that provided the framework for powerful

brand positioning.

John Veilleux, vice president for marketing and

communications, said the initial market research

revealed that only 25 out of 100 people in the college-

bound audience had even heard of Wesleyan.

“We’re going to change that,” Veilleux said. “As our

recruiters go out into the community, we want to know

that people already have a sense of who we are before

our recruiters get in front of them.”

POSITIONING IS EVERYTHING

New graphic standards were developed in consultation

with J.O., a prominent advertising agency founded by

Jennifer Oliver Henderson ’96 (see page 20). Based on

the research findings that prove Texas Wesleyan’s small

size is a strength, the agency developed the unique

“Smaller. Smarter.” positioning statement.

Texas Wesleyan’s signature logo was also modernized

to lend a more contemporary look and feel. This new

visual identity delivers a first-class image that is as

rich in appearance as the message is in relevance. And

to make sure our message resonates with a youthful

audience, cutting-edge TV ads were produced by

Concussion, another award-winning ad agency.

Texas Wesleyan is coming on strong in North Texas. In September, the University launched the largest marketing campaign in its history. And for what is believed to be the first time ever, Texas Wesleyan is reaching prospective students using television commercials. Six different “spots” began this fall and will air again in the spring. The campaign extends to billboards strategically located throughout Fort Worth and Dallas, ads on online radio giant Pandora, and a completely redesigned website.

Above: Smartphones are everywhere, and our ads are there.

Right: (Top) Our website is redesigned to offer a first-class user experience. (Left) Direct mail targets individual prospects while

billboards (right) reach the masses. (Bottom) From NFL Football to Saturday Night Live, from ABC to MSNBC and Comedy Central, our TV

ads are arguably the most distinctive college spots running.

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!

Texas Wesleyan students and faculty were recruited to appear in the television spots. The “shoot” took place on campus, and students experienced a rare opportunity to witness commercial production from both behind and in front of the camera.

Although the finished ads are only 15 seconds long, the production took the better part of a day. Casting calls, direction, and long breaks in between shots were all taken in stride. The finished results accurately depict the close faculty-student interaction that is the hallmark of a Texas Wesleyan education.

So when people ask you about your school, smile with pride and say:

Texas Wesleyan University: Smaller. Smarter.

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Smaller. Smarter.Ranked in the #1 tier of regional universities by U.S. News & World Report

are JUST The BeGinninG.60 programs of study

The no. 1 consideration when selecting a university is academics. That’s true whether you have a passion for a particular course of study or if you are still unsure which major best matches your interests and goals.at Texas Wesleyan University, learning goes beyond classrooms and labs. one-on-one instruction from faculty who care about your success is at the heart of a Wesleyan education. all students get a challenging academic experience. But thanks to intentionally small class sizes, professors not only know you by name, they know when you need help staying on track. our students are:• in other countries experiencing new cultures.• Performing and producing student-written plays.• Participating in undergraduate research projects.

What interests you? chances are we have it. not to mention lots of student activities and athletics as well as financial aid opportunities.

Feature Story

SEE FOR YOURSELF!

View the TV commercials at www.txwes.edu/brand

Hear the Wesleyan story told firsthand at www.txwes.edu/smarter


Two Universities Create Partnership to Form

Texas A&M University School of Law

at Texas Wesleyan UniversityAbove: Texas Wesleyan President Frederick G. Slabach and

A&M Chancellor John Sharp at joint press conference.


The Texas Wesleyan

University Board of

Trustees has approved a

letter of intent for Texas

Wesleyan University and Texas

A&M University to enter into a

strategic partnership that would

provide premier legal education in

the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex for

decades to come. Under the proposed

multimillion dollar agreement, the

school would be known as the Texas

A&M University School of Law at

Texas Wesleyan University.

“Last October, Texas A&M System

Chancellor John Sharp approached

me about a unique strategic

partnership,” Texas Wesleyan


said in a press conference at Texas

Wesleyan School of Law on June

26, 2012. “After months of careful

consideration, we both consider

this to be a mutually beneficial

collaboration with limitless

possibilities.”

Among the future offerings would

be a joint law school JD/Texas

Wesleyan MBA program and also

a Texas Wesleyan undergraduate/

law school 3+3 program. These

new programs exemplify how

the partnership would allow for

the development of collaborative

academic programming that will

have a lasting impact on students.

“In creating the Texas A&M

University School of Law at Texas

Wesleyan University, we are finally

expanding the Texas A&M brand

into the field of law with a focus

on emerging fields that require a

growing legal expertise,” Chancellor

Sharp said.

In a press release, Texas A&M

University President R. Bowen

Loftin praised the new arrangement,

saying, “Expanding Texas A&M’s

graduate professional programs is

one of the key tenets of Vision 2020,

our long-range plan to become

one of the country’s top 10 public

institutions by the year 2020. If you

look at the top universities – our peer

institutions – most of them have a

law school.

“We see [this] announcement as the

next step in Texas A&M’s dramatic

evolution from its beginnings as a

regional, military-focused institution

into one of the nation’s largest and

most prestigious comprehensive

universities in a short period of four

decades.”

Under the agreement, Texas A&M

would acquire ownership and

operational control of the law school

as a going concern and all faculty

and staff of the law school would

be employees of Texas A&M. Texas

Wesleyan University would retain

ownership and control of the law

school building and four city blocks

of land at the downtown Fort Worth

campus and would lease the facilities

to Texas A&M.

“The synergy of this strategic

partnership is extraordinary,” said

Kenneth H. Jones, Jr., chairman of

Texas Wesleyan’s Board of Trustees.

“Texas A&M stands to benefit

from an already established, ABA-

accredited law school. Fort Worth

and the Metroplex would lay claim

to an institution poised for first-tier

status. And Texas Wesleyan would

gain new academic programs

that drive our vision of preparing

motivated students for graduate

school.”

On June 29, 2012, the Texas A&M

University Board of Regents, in an

8-0 vote, authorized the chancellor

of The Texas A&M University System

and the president of Texas A&M

University to take any and all action

to investigate and pursue a potential

affiliation with Texas Wesleyan

School of Law and to request

approval of the partnership from the

Texas Higher Education Coordinating

Board. In addition, Texas A&M and

Texas Wesleyan will be providing

notification to the Southern

Association of Colleges and Schools,

as well as seeking acquiescence from

the American Bar Association.

The presidents of the two

universities appointed a Strategic

Partnership Academic Coordinating

Council to advise them on additional

collaborative academic initiatives

that would serve the students of

each campus.


served as dean at Texas Wesleyan

School of Law from 2003 to 2006

and has remained a professor of law

from 2006 to present. John Sharp

was appointed chancellor of The

Texas A&M University System by the

Board of Regents on Sept. 6, 2011.

The agreement is expected to be

executed June 1, 2013.

To see the press conference, go to

http://txwes.edu/tamu.

Feature Story


Jan. ’12 Jan. ’13 Jan. ’14 Jan. ’15

PRELIm / FINAL dESIgN

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UTILITY RELOCATIONSUTILITY dESIgN

CONSTRUCTION THROUgH FALL 2014

SURVEYImPORTANT dATES:• Feb. 21, Citizen Advisory #1• March 22, Citizen Advisory #2• April 17, Public Meeting #1• May 31, Citizen Advisory #3• Sept. 13, Public Meeting #2

East Rosedale Project Timeline



Rosedale Renaissance Project: A Four-Part Transformation Begins with Street Improvements

Renovating and enhancing East Rosedale Street in front of Texas Wesleyan University are just the beginning.

The Rosedale Renaissance Project is a $6.5 million multifaceted project designed to leverage more than $32 million in private and public funding for the benefit of Southeast Fort Worth and Texas Wesleyan University.

The four main components of the project are East Rosedale Street improvements, United Methodist Church Central Texas Conference Service Center (to be located across from campus), a “front door” entryway to Texas Wesleyan, and a Business Incubator Center.

$32 Million for East Rosedale Street Improvements

The $15.5 million first phase of the East Rosedale Street Improvements Project

calls for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the stretch between U.S.

287 and Miller Avenue. A portion of that ($1.875 million) involves significant

renovation and enhancements to four blocks adjacent to the University.

Construction will begin in spring 2013 and will include many major

improvements: promenade-style sidewalks, extensive landscaping, street

lights and benches, curb extensions, additional stoplights, and pedestrian

crossing areas. Two new roundabouts – one at Rosedale and Mitchell and one

at Rosedale and Ayers – will add aesthetic appeal and additional landscaping

opportunities. At the Mitchell location, a public art installation will be at the

center of the roundabout. (See page 11 to read more about the artist.)


Cover Story

Methodist Conference Center Includes Bishop’s Office

The new $3 million Central Texas Conference Service Center will be a 15,000-square-foot office building on the south side of the 3200 block of East Rosedale. The University will be the sole owner of the property, with the Central Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church as the sole tenant. The building will house the Central Texas Conference Center for Mission Support, the Center for Evangelism and Church Growth, the Center for Leadership, and the Office of the Bishop.

This partnership benefits not only the community as a whole, but also Texas Wesleyan students. Through interaction and partnership with faculty, the Central Texas Conference Service Center will advise preministerial students in preparing for seminary studies, as well as advising other students for careers in lay ministries.

The Center for Mission Support trains pastors and laity to minister to the economically disadvantaged. Helping

each conference church have a vital congregation is the primary focus of the Center for Evangelism and Church Growth. With the Center for Leadership, the conference will have improved facilities to train both clergy and laity for significant leadership positions in local churches and the conference overall.

Opening the “Front Door” to

Wesleyan

Creating an inviting “front door” main entrance to the campus will provide a clear direction for visitors and prospective students. Oftentimes, those who are new to campus will drive by without realizing that they were supposed to turn to get to the University.

Located at the intersection of East Rosedale and Vaughn streets, the new campus entryway will create a classic look that would include a clock tower – see proposed rendering on the magazine cover – plus a horseshoe-shaped drive, expanded parking, stone monument signs, landscaped medians, and additional lighting.

This $1.3 million project offers an

exciting opportunity to work in

tandem with local entities through a

private–public partnership that allows

the University to take advantage of

considerable cost savings because the

work is scheduled to be completed

in tandem with the Rosedale Street

improvements.

Wesleyan Students to Benefit from Business

Incubator Center

This project entails a $400,000

renovation of a historic building

located on the south side of Rosedale.

The renovated building will house a

new Business Incubator Center, which

will be managed by the University’s

School of Business Administration

faculty. Texas Wesleyan students

would have the opportunity to work

as interns and provide business

consultation services to assist area

entrepreneurs in creating and growing

their businesses.

Central Texas Conference Service Center



A conceptual rendering of what East Rosedale might look like when work is completed


J.E. & L.E. Mabee Foundation of Tulsa Issues $500,000 Challenge Grant to the Rosedale Renaissance Project

Oct. 9, 2012 – Oct. 1, 2013

At an Oct. 9 meeting, the J.E. & L.E.

Mabee Foundation of Tulsa, Okla.,

considered and approved a proposal

requesting a challenge grant for two

of the components of the Rosedale

Renaissance Project: the United

Methodist Church Central Texas

Conference Service Center and the

campus entryway. Together, the two

projects total $4,365,636.

The Foundation’s challenge grant

of $500,000 requires that the

University raise $3,865,636 toward

the project’s total cost in one year’s

time in order to then be granted the

gift. The deadline is Oct. 1, 2013.

Texas Wesleyan has successfully

fulfilled Mabee Foundation

challenges for several campus

projects. Most recently, the

Foundation gave the University

$450,000 in August 2009 after

fundraising was completed for the

Jack and Jo Willa Morton Fitness

Center. In 2004, the Foundation’s

challenge grant of $213,428 assisted

with the renovation of the Poly UMC

Education Building. In the 1980s,

the Foundation provided challenge

grants in support of the construction

of the Armstrong-Mabee Business

Center and the Brown Lupton

Campus Center.

The Mabee Foundation was formed

in 1948 by John E. Mabee and his

wife, Lottie E. Mabee, with its office

in Tulsa. As stated in its charter, the

purpose of the Foundation is to aid

Christian religious organizations,

institutions of higher learning,

hospitals, and other organizations of

a general charitable nature.

Learn How You Can HelpNeed more information on how you can become a part of this exciting Rosedale Renaissance Project and the Mabee Challenge?

Contact Joan S. Canty, vice president for advancement, at 817-531-4411 or [email protected].


Cover Story

About the ArtistDonna L. Dobberfuhl, a studio sculptor based in San Antonio

She works in a linear fashion,

preferring to create one project

at a time, even though she

sometimes works on as many

as three at once. For large-

scale brick projects such as the

Rosedale sculpture, she carves in

a studio in Nebraska.

Her public art includes a wide

array of subjects: veterans,

wildlife, and religious figures.

Dobberfuhl’s sculpture

installations appear across

the country, from Bellingham,

Wash., to Biscayne, Fla., to

New York City. Her work can

be found throughout North

Texas, including the Veterans

Monument in North Richland

Hills and the Fabric of Frisco.

She has a Master of Fine Arts

from the Graduate School of

Figurative Art of the New York

Academy of Art and is a member

of the National Sculpture

Society and the Association of

Consultants for Liturgical Space.

Adding Public Art to Rosedale will be

Sweet Indeed

By Laura J. Hanna“What’s in a name? that which we call a rose

By any other name would smell as sweet …”

Such were the ponderings of author William Shakespeare in the late 16th century.

In 2012, artist Donna L. Dobberfuhl wondered what the meaning is behind the name Rosedale. Was it a family name? Was the street named for a woman called Rose?

Dobberfuhl, the artist selected for the East Rosedale Public Art Project, likes to incorporate historical significance to her artworks.

Although no definitive answer emerged, the quest for discovery led Dobberfuhl to a “botanicals” theme, which was the basis for her design approach for a sculpture to be placed in a roundabout at Rosedale and Mitchell.

She developed several concepts and narrowed to two – The Stamen and The Spire, 34’ and 30’ tall sculptures made of carved brick, mosaic and stainless steel components. Both ideas incorporate botanical elements.

Either would be constructed with a 6” interior steel column surrounded by the brick base. “The weight of these towers starts at 22,000 pounds,” Dobberfuhl said.

To produce art of this magnitude, she works with a brick mason and an engineer. She carves the brick while it is still wet and has to calculate for shrinkage, which is generally 3 to 5 percent, but can be as much as 10 percent, depending on the specific type.

The Next StepsAccording to Anne Allen, FWPA project manager, a final rendering will be presented to the art commission in November and then the artist will begin creating a three-dimensional model.

The sculpture installation is slated for fall 2014, when the East Rosedale Street improvements are finished.

Dobberfuhl’s sculpture will be installed in the center of the new roundabout at the

intersection of Rosedale and Mitchell.

Fabric of Frisco - Photo by Donna L. Dobberfuhl

National POW Memorial - Photo by Eric Leonard


{Here’s a topic you might know a little about:

Food. But how do you know that the

cantaloupe you’re slicing up or the burger you

are about to eat is safe?

Angela Roberts, assistant professor of biology, knows.

She is a microbiologist who studies food safety.

Roberts is Texas Wesleyan’s co-principal investigator

under a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant worth

$2.5 million, split between seven universities. This is the

grant’s second year.

The program speaks to the need for more people –

especially those with doctorate and master’s degrees

– to work in food safety. As part of the grant, she also

holds a workshop that provides area high school

teachers with food safety lesson plans.

Food safety experts are sometimes detectives who use

research to find the root of the problem. They might study

the data – using modern tools like DNA fingerprinting – to

discover a plant worker’s gloves are causing the problem,

or maybe even floor mats in the plant.

Why does that matter?

“We would all like to eat, confident that we’re not going

to vomit,” Roberts said.

Roberts’ scientific desires didn’t begin with food safety.

A Montana native – miles away from any ocean – she

wanted to be a marine biologist.

But as she became more involved with her

undergraduate studies at St. Mary’s College of

California and her graduate work at Cornell University,

microbiology – and food safety – began to interest her.

“I had the experience we’re trying to

give to our students,” Roberts said. “I

worked on a microbiology research

project one-on-one with a faculty

member. It changed my life.”

She says that time at St. Mary’s – a

small school – is one of the reasons

she prefers the learning culture of

Texas Wesleyan.

“Faculty mentorship is really critical for

a student,” Roberts said. “In science,

it increases their persistence. It’s the

epitome of active learning.”

Using Microbiology to Help Make Food SaferBy Darren WhiteAngela Roberts, assistant professor of biology, is working with undergraduate students on hands-on food safety research projects.


You could call Truc Nguyen a renaissance man – but that wouldn’t be quite accurate.Yes, he’s a biology graduate, and he’s currently applying

to medical schools. And yes, he’s a musician who taught

himself guitar and has been studying piano for about

eight years. And yes, he also “dabbles in poetry” and

enjoys the work of masters like Robert Frost and Edgar

Allan Poe.

“I always want to call him a prodigy,” Bruce Benz, professor

of biology, said. “He does so many things very well.”

But talk to Nguyen – or ask anyone who knows him – and

it’s his focus on learning about medicine that stands out.

Maybe it runs in the family. His father, Trung Nguyen, is

a general surgeon in Fort Worth. Or maybe it is because

he’s been intrigued by medicine since he was a child. As

a Boy Scout, he was very interested in first aid and the

medicine and chemistry merit badges. Whatever the

reason, Nguyen says he feels a desire to do something

valuable for the community.

As a biology major, Nguyen was beyond impressive. He

won first place in the microbiology poster competition at

the Beta Beta Beta National Biological Honor Society in

Puerto Rico in May. He was the top senior in his class. He

was a critical thinker who thrived at Texas Wesleyan.

“If you give Truc something to do,” Benz said, “he’s going

to find a way to do it.”

Nguyen said Texas Wesleyan empowered him to

learn and grow. The diversity of discipline his biology

professors had, allowed him to approach problems from

different angles and to succeed as an individual.

“The faculty at Texas Wesleyan helped from day one,”

Nguyen said. “They helped me realize what it would take

to get in to medical school.”

Thanks to the help of Texas Wesleyan, Nguyen said, he

hopes to be helping others very soon.

A Kind of ProdigyAfter winning biology awards,

Truc Nguyen ’12 is preparing for medical school.By Darren White

Student Life


Texas Wesleyan student-athletes will soon be spending less time on the road.With a move to the Sooner Athletic Conference in the 2013-2014

academic year, Rams will be competing in a more geographically friendly

conference, which is based in Oklahoma City.

Texas Wesleyan University and two other Texas schools – Northwood

University and Southwestern Assemblies of God University – are all

longtime members of the Red River Athletic Conference and are making

the shift to SAC next year.

Texas Wesleyan, as well as Northwood and SAGU, have enjoyed their

tenure with RRAC, but are looking forward to what the new relationship

will offer, President Frederick G. Slabach said.

“This move isn’t just about joining a more competitive conference,”

Slabach said. “The closer proximity of other conference schools gives our

student-athletes the benefit of spending more time in class and less time

on the road.”

Having 10 schools in the SAC means the conference will be able to

advance two teams out of the conference to post-season competitions.

“This is an exciting time to be a Ram,” Athletic Director Steve Trachier

said. “We have garnered numerous championships in the RRAC and we

look forward to competing in another conference.”

The athletics department fields teams in baseball, softball, volleyball, and

men’s and women’s teams in basketball, track and field, cross country,

soccer and golf. The women’s golf team is a new addition for 2012-2013.

All of these sports are a good fit for the new conference, Trachier said.

“The competitive environment in the Sooner conference is demanding,”

Slabach said. “But we look forward to the challenge.”

SAC Commissioner John Hudson said the conference is delighted

with the additions of these three great institutions and believes the

move creates one of the strongest conferences in the NAIA (National

Association of Intercollegiate Athletics).

Current SAC schools are John Brown University, Mid-America Christian

University, Oklahoma Baptist University, Oklahoma City University, St.

Gregory’s University, the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma,

and Wayland Baptist University.

Texas Wesleyan Joins Sooner Athletic ConferenceBy Laura Hanna

2013 CONFERENCE

John Brown University

Mid-America Christian University

Northwood University

Oklahoma Baptist University

Oklahoma City University

Southwestern Assemblies of God University

St. Gregory’s University

Texas Wesleyan University

University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma

Wayland Baptist University

RED RIVER ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Rams first year in the RRAC was 2002-2003.

Men’s Soccer: 2005

Women’s Soccer: 2005, 2006, 2008

Men’s Cross Country: 2011

Women’s Cross Country: 2011

Men’s Basketball: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011

Baseball: 2007, 2010

Softball: 2012

Women’s Track and Field: 2012

Men’s Golf: (RRAC did not hold a golf

conference championship in 2003) 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007,

2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012

In addition, the Rams won the RRAC All-Sports Award in 2010-2011 and 2011-2012.

FWISD capped the retirement

ceremonies by renaming AHHS’s

baseball field the Thomas Ray Elliott

Field of Dreams. The event included

accolades from U.S. Rep. Kay Granger

and Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price,

as well as stories and mementos

from colleagues, family and former

players. In addition, Elliott received a

commemorative bat signed by present

and former players.

Elliott was honored by the Texas

Wesleyan Alumni Association in 2011

with its prestigious O.D. Bounds Award.

The award is presented annually to

commemorate lifetime achievements

and the distinguished way an alumnus

represents the University and the

Alumni Association.

During his career, Elliott consistently

led his teams deep into the state’s

baseball 4A division playoffs, including

winning the state championship in

1996. Elliott credits his career success

(730 wins – 305 losses) to former

Texas Wesleyan Baseball Coach Larry

Smith, whom he described as “a

structured, stern disciplinarian” who

helped a lanky, left-handed pitcher

understand what sports and winning

the right way were all about.

“He knew how to organize things. He

had structure and organization, and

he did things the right way. And those

are lessons that I tried to pass along to

my teams,” said Elliott, who joked that

during his four years as a Ram pitcher “I

probably set the career school record for

number of walks.”

Elliott’s career included stops as a

general sports and baseball coach at

three FWISD schools before being

named head baseball coach at Arlington

Heights High School in 1982. During his

stint at Diamond Hill-Jarvis High School,

he met his wife-to-be, the former Marjie

Smith, a 1975 Texas Wesleyan graduate.

Though they never met while at the

University, she watched him pitch several

Ram games. She remembers that he was

“too tall and skinny. But then we met later

and started seeing each other.” She counts

herself and their two daughters, Kayla and

Katie, as Elliott’s “number one lifelong fans.”

Prior to the ceremonies, Tommy mingled

easily with the crowd, frequently

exchanging hugs, well wishes and old war

stories. It was a warm, sunny day that was

perfect for looking back at 30 years of

dedication and service to his school and

his teams.

Is there a special memory? “No. You can’t

just sit there and quantify and qualify

one special moment. It would more

likely be a total body of work. Working

with kids year in and year out,” Tommy

muses. “I get a lot of 30 to 35 and 40 to

45 year olds coming back to the school

and commenting how being in school

and being on the team has been such a

positive influence in their lives. I’d like to

think that I’m part of that equation. We’re

all components of it.”

It also was a day for looking ahead, which

he intends to start doing after the reality

of retirement sets in.

“It’s uncharted waters, a new experience.

We’ll just have to wait and see,” he said.

“But I see myself as continuing to be

involved in education. We’ll just have to

see how it works out.”

Texas Wesleyan Alumnus Tommy Elliott ’76 Honored by FWISD with hisown Field of DreamsBy Paul Sturiale


Athletics

The Fort Worth Independent School District recently joined hundreds of friends, family, colleagues and former players to celebrate Tommy Elliott’s retirement after serving 30 years as Arlington Heights High School’s head baseball coach. Elliott joined the FWISD shortly after graduating from Texas Wesleyan in 1976 with a B.A. in English.


You can tell a lot about a person just from playing a round of golf with them, contends Head Women’s Golf

Coach/Assistant Athletic Director Kevin Millikan. So when he was starting the women’s golf program at Texas Wesleyan from scratch, Millikan sought opportunities to get on the course with potential recruits.

For a high school senior hoping her talent is good enough to earn a spot on a university golf team, a round of golf with the coach can be intimidating. “I try to put them at ease because golf is a really difficult sport,” Millikan said. Unlike basketball or other team sports where one player’s weakness may be compensated by another player’s strength, that’s not true with golf. “It’s just you and the course, and it’s a game where you can evaluate players based on their scores,” Millikan said.

But, it isn’t the score he’s concerned about when he and a recruit play a round. In fact, Millikan may not even keep score. “I’m more concerned about their tendencies and the way they approach the game. Are they confident and self-reliant?

“I look for the makings of a competitor and whether or not I think they will be a good fit for my coaching style and a good fit for Wesleyan. I also try to determine if they’re willing to put in the time and effort to get better.”

A good fit with the coach and university and a willingness to work hard are characteristics all intercollegiate coaches seek in their recruits. When you’re starting a new program, those traits are especially important because there is not a core of experienced student-athletes to mentor new recruits and help them transition from high school to intercollegiate competition.

To meet the challenges that come with beginning a new program, Millikan put together a team of 11 women, four sophomores and seven freshmen. They

came from as far away as Ramona, Calif., and West Monroe, La. Most are from Texas, including Wesleyan’s first-ever women’s golf recruit, Jessica Liptak.

Liptak hails from nearby Haslet, a small community north of Fort Worth. “I first met Jessica through The First Tee of Fort Worth – a youth golf program – where she was one of their earliest members,” Millikan said.

Home-schooled through high school, Liptak’s involvement in The First Tee allowed her to meet the state’s P.E. requirements. Millikan said she has “quite a bit of competitive experience” gained through junior tournaments. She also participated in high school tournaments with students from public and private schools.

The First Tee was also the catalyst for Liptak’s interest in Wesleyan golf. The men’s team volunteered at The First Tee events in recent years and provided tips and instructions to the young golfers, Liptak said. Through the men’s team’s association with The First Tee, she learned about the program’s success and wanted to help build a similarly successful women’s program.

As the team’s first-ever recruit, Liptak has been placed in the position of de-facto representative for the new program. “Jessica really impressed me,” Millikan said. “She is very knowledgeable about the game. She is also a well-rounded person. She’s interested in art and photography, and she served in leadership roles with The First Tee and represented them at national events.”

“I am very honored to be the first person in the program. I’m really looking forward to the future of our team. I knew it would be special when I decided to come here and, so far, it’s been great,” Liptak said at the conclusion of the fall season.

{Women’s Golf Tees Off its Inaugural SeasonBy Ken Roberts

Jessica Liptak

Your Donation Makes a Difference.

The President’s Council represents Texas Wesleyan’s leadership donors who annually give $1,000 or more. The Council is made up of Wesleyan alumni, parents and friends who believe in and support the University’s mission. Members forge a special relationship with the University. Benefits include:

• Invitations to special events held at Texas Wesleyan throughout the year • A spring luncheon with the president in celebration of membership in the President’s Council • Listing in the University Honor Roll • A personalized brick in the Donor Brick Walkway • Texas Wesleyan car decal and magnet

Donate today at www.txwes.edu/makeagift

“Giving back to Texas Wesleyan is my way of giving back to all the professors, staff and fellow colleagues there who encouraged me to do well with my business ventures, while doing good in the community. My successes are because of the experiences and relationships I’ve formed through my years at Wesleyan and beyond.”

Jennifer Oliver Henderson ’962012 Wesleyan Service Award Winner

For more information on the President’s Council, contact Christine Spencer at 817-531-5803 or [email protected]

Join the President’s Council.

Texas Wesleyan Honors its Best & Brightest at Annual DinnerBy Ken Roberts

2012AlumniMedal Awards

In the early 1950s, students Rufus Earl and Juanell Gilmore met on the Wesleyan campus. She was majoring in education and he in math. It was the start of a love affair—with each other and with their University—that would last a lifetime. And longer.

Rufus graduated in ’51 and went to work as an aircraft mechanics instructor in Wichita Falls, and Juanell had one more year to complete before graduating. Rufus returned to campus several times that year to see Juanell, marking the beginning of many trips they would make to their alma mater over the next 60 years.

Following her graduation in ’52, Juanell accepted a teaching position in Clifton, doubling the distance Rufus had to drive from Wichita Falls to see her. To eliminate the long hours on the road and interminable days spent apart, Rufus, quite naturally, asked Juanell to marry him. She said yes and they wed in 1953.

Soon after they were married, Rufus enrolled in the Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas and Juanell taught in that city’s schools. The Earls returned to Fort Worth after he completed dentistry school. She continued teaching, and he started his dental practice that would last 23 years.

The Earls credited Texas Wesleyan with establishing a love of learning and providing an educational foundation that made it possible for them to enjoy productive, successful careers. So impactful were their undergraduate years, the Earls endowed the Rufus H. and Juanell G. Earl Scholarship Fund that provides, and will continue to provide, scholarships for students “studying education and who have promise and potential, but would not be able to pursue a college degree without the benefit of this type of support.”

It was not uncommon to see the Earls on campus. Earlier this year they attended ceremonies during the presidential inauguration of Frederick G. Slabach, and they were regulars at the Alumni Reunion Weekend events and participated in last spring’s reunion.

In August, shortly after the Earls were notified they had been named this year’s Alumni of the Year award recipients, Juanell died unexpectedly. The love Rufus and their daughter, Rhonda, have for Juanell continues. Just as their love for Wesleyan continues and will perpetuate indefinitely through the scholarship that bears their name.

A lumni of the year award

Dr. Rufus ’51 and Mrs. Juanell ’52 Earl

Awarded to an outstanding alumnus or alumna whose service and loyalty to the University, community involvement and personal accomplishments merit the honor.


Alumni

Max Wayman leads a life to rival that of Agent Carl Hanratty - the federal agent Tom Hanks portrayed in the 2002 movie, Catch Me If You Can. But instead of being a fictional composite, Wayman’s adventures are very real.

He attended Wesleyan on a dual baseball-basketball scholarship, with the hope of becoming a professional baseball player. That changed when a recruiter from the U.S. Treasury Department came to campus looking for just the right person to join the ranks of federal agents. The recruiter found Wayman, and Wayman found his calling.

His athleticism served him well during the Secret Service’s rigorous 22-week basic training. Wayman achieved expert level marksmanship, and learned self-defense and karate. He also learned how to analyze financial transactions, search and seizure techniques, and how to locate hidden assets. His career began as a special agent in the criminal division of the Internal Revenue Service. Because the Secret Service is also part of the Treasury Department, he served on the

details of President Jimmy Carter during his 1980 re-election campaign and presidential candidate Walter Mondale in 1984.

Following Wayman’s career as a federal agent, he founded Max M. Wayman & Associates Inc. in 1985. From his Fort Worth office, his work has taken him to five continents, sometimes traveling to perilous locations and uncertain situations. On a case in South America, armed military personnel guarded him as he investigated an embezzlement that siphoned $1 billion from a bank. The trail in this case led him to the Island of Curacao. It’s a small island, and the driver who picked up Wayman at the airport had recently chauffeured the primary suspect. Piecing together clues from his investigation and what he was able to discern from the driver, Wayman put his hands on a briefcase containing records that had been deleted from the bank’s computer.

Standing beside him through all his adventures is Wayman’s wife of 30 years, Michelle. They have two adult children, Preston and Chelsea.

In the early 1970s, while serving as a religion lecturer at Emory University’s Oxford College in Atlanta, Ga., Dr. Ron Ballard was a recurring cast member on the television series, Planning for Tomorrow, which was produced at Channel 5 in Fort Worth. Ballard, whose intellect and expertise in biblical studies is combined with a sincere, approachable personality, caught the attention of leaders at Wesleyan and TCU during his trips to Fort Worth. After interviewing, he opted for a faculty position with Wesleyan in 1971.

“I just felt I was a good fit at Wesleyan. I’m an ordained Methodist minister and I knew many ministers throughout the Methodist Conference,” he said.

The religion professor has been called to serve in several capacities during his 40 years at Texas Wesleyan. Roles such as dean of the School of Science and Humanities and assistant to the president for United Methodist Relations took Ballard out of the classroom for

a period of time. The University even loaned him to the Association of Higher Education in North Texas for a year when he served as that organization’s vice president.

Regardless of the title on his office door, Ballard has always been a Wesleyan ambassador. The combination of intellect and personality that first caught Wesleyan’s attention has made him a sought-after speaker. Churches, corporations, members of Congress, and higher education conferences have asked him to deliver keynote speeches, lead seminars and workshops, and facilitate international dialogue. They seek his diverse expertise in biblical studies, the Middle East, ethics, and interpersonal relationships.

Although Ballard enjoys the lecture circuit, and he was honored to serve as dean and assistant to the president, his star shines brightest in the classroom. “The main purpose and real thrust of my career is being a professor. That’s what I enjoy.”

istinguished alumni award

esleyan flame award

D

W

Max Wayman ’74

Dr. Ron Ballard

Awarded to a Texas Wesleyan graduate whose achievements have distinguished him or her in a broad (national or international) sense.

Presented to a current faculty or staff member whose commitment and dedication to the University and its students exemplifies the Wesleyan mission and traditions.

onorary alumni awardH esleyan

service awardW oung alumni

achievement awardY

Dr. Carl Schrader Jennifer Oliver Henderson ’96 Mark Ma ’04

W

Awarded to a non-alumnus whose contributions to students, alumni and the life of the University merit special recognition.

Awarded to a Texas Wesleyan graduate whose service to the University and its alumni has contributed specifically to the success of the

Alumni Association and its programs.

Awarded to an undergraduate alumnus or alumna within 10 years of graduation

to recognize outstanding personal or professional achievement.

Dr. Carl Schrader has been doing it all – serving as educator, mentor, advisor, advocate and friend – for Texas Wesleyan almost 50 years. A former English professor, his career began in 1965. After a brief hiatus in the late 1960s to pursue a Ph.D., he returned to Wesleyan in 1971 and stayed until his retirement in 1999. He sponsored student organizations, including Sigma Tau Delta, the English honor society; Alpha Chi, an academic honor society; and Sons of Sakkara, a local social and service organization that predated the arrival of Greek fraternities and sororities on campus. He was also the founding faculty advisor for Wesleyan’s chapter of Alpha Phi Omega, a national service fraternity.

Despite his extensive participation outside of the classroom, he always kept his English students and instruction as his top priorities. “I always looked forward to coming to work. The students, the interaction with faculty, and the subjects I taught. Every day was enjoyable,” Schrader said.

The enjoyment he received from teaching was evident to his students who, on several occasions, awarded Schrader the Order of the Golden Rule recognizing “faculty who go above and beyond.”

Schrader’s contributions to the University continue in retirement. Since 2006 he has served as the faculty representative on the Alumni Association Board of Directors. He is also a standing member of a small, informal group of alumni and former faculty who meet for lunch the first Friday of every month at Julie’s Fresh Kitchen, a Fort Worth restaurant owned by alumnus Jody Helton ’79. His students were such a big part of his professional life, Schrader said, that seeing them now, as adults pursuing their own careers, makes him as proud as a parent.

For Jennifer Oliver Henderson, Texas Wesleyan has long been an important part of her life. While pursuing a fine arts degree, Henderson worked on campus during her freshman year. Little did she know, the people she was meeting and the things she was learning – in the art studio, classrooms and campus offices where she worked – would influence and motivate her long after graduation. The professors and staff members who mentored her continue to inspire her professionally as a marketer and designer, and personally as a painter.

Following graduation, Henderson found success in the highly charged world of professional advertising. She relished the energy and excitement, but she wasn’t completely satisfied with the direction her career was taking her. That changed suddenly with a single phone call from her alma mater. Would she be interested in being the art director for the University? The move would provide her the opportunity to return to the campus she loved and work with her creative inspirations. Henderson jumped at the chance. And before long, she was promoted to director of communications.

“I’m so glad I did. Working at Wesleyan really helped me to grow up professionally. My co-workers gave me a sense of responsibility and professionalism. They trusted me and gave me lots of opportunities and experiences,” she said. “The people who surrounded me at Wesleyan were very supportive. Really, they were like a family. They helped mold me into who I am today.”

Today, Henderson is the owner of J.O. (formerly JODesign, LLC), a growing Fort Worth public relations and marketing agency. She is also embarking on a new venture developing a separate not-for-profit entity to serve J.O.’s expanding list of nonprofit clients.

“Be very respectful of those who teach you: your elders, your teachers and your professors.” Those words, delivered from his father years ago, remain audible to Mark Ma today. They motivate him to give back to the University he credits with helping him succeed as a student and as a business leader.

Ma serves as the chief executive officer of ALEG Inc., a Dallas-based fertilizer company intent on expanding the use of organic agricultural fertilizers. Ma’s company is developing fertilizers that improve soil conditions and increase drought tolerance. Working farms across the United States serve as the labs and proving grounds for the fertilizer. Following 2011’s record-breaking heat wave and the persistent drought, ALEG’s fertilizers are outperforming other products. Farmers are experiencing faster crop growth and increased per-acre yields despite the uncooperative climate.

Born in the People’s Republic of China, Ma has facilitated travel for faculty and students studying abroad. He also lends his global expertise to the International Studies program.

Because Wesleyan spent time and energy cultivating him as a student, Ma said he takes very seriously his responsibility to give back to the University. One professor in particular, Dr. Ibrahim Salih, made a life-altering impact on Ma during his sophomore year. Ma was tardy to one of Dr. Salih’s classes, and he soon received a handwritten note from the professor telling Ma he was a good student, but that if Ma was late again, he would drop him from the class. Ma said that one gesture caused him to become more mature, responsible and disciplined. The very qualities now pushing Ma to develop better farming practices that benefit earth and its inhabitants.

alumni.txwes.edu/reunion

All alumni are invited to help celebrate these class anniversaries: 2008, 2003, 1993, 1988, 1983, 1973, 1963 (Golden Anniversary) and 1953.

Make plans now to join the fun at the 2013 Alumni Reunion!April 19-20 | Texas Wesleyan University Historic Campus

Return • Remember Reconnect

Playmarket 2013

Theatre Wesleyan’s Playmarket has been part of the regular season since 1999 and has

showcased more than 20 original

scripts, both on campus and in

New York. Last year, the opening

production of the 2011-2012 season

was Lycanthrope by alumnus Chuck

Fain ’11, the 2011 Playmarket winner.

Lycanthrope was first presented as a

reading in New York and then given a

full production on campus during the

fall semester.

This year, Theatre Wesleyan is

continuing its tradition of showcasing

original work by students and alumni

with two productions. Certificate of Death, by alumnus Walter Wykes ’92,

was presented Nov. 8-18, 2012, in

the Thad Smotherman Theatre. This

original script was the winner of

the Wesleyan Playmarket in 2009

and initially received a reading at

Rattlestick Playwrights Theater in New York’s West Village. The November production here on campus featured student actors, designers and technicians and was directed by theatre Professor Connie Whitt-Lambert.

The search for the 2013 winning script, which will be the second production, is currently under way. Students and alumni submitted scripts through

Nov. 15, and the winning script will

be announced in March 2013. This

original script will then be presented

by the theatre department in New

York in May.

For more about Theatre Wesleyan’s

Playmarket, please visit the

department’s website at

www.txwes.edu/playmarket.

From the New York reading of Certificate of Death: standing Chase Burnett ’10, Michael Kreitzinger ’10 and Cari Watson; seated Ben Phillips ’09 and Alfredo Martinez ’09


I bring you greetings from the members of the Alumni Association Board

of Directors. Fall has arrived and we are enthusiastic about the school year

as there are many great things happening at our alma mater. We are very

excited about the East Rosedale Street Project, which will enhance the

Rosedale corridor from Highway 287 to Stalcup Road. The project will bring

many changes to the look of Texas Wesleyan, including a new entryway

to the University at Rosedale and Vaughn. In addition, new retail shops

adjacent to the campus are anticipated.

The Alumni Association hosted a day at the Rangers Game on Sept. 16,

and despite the rain delay, everyone had a great time at this sold-out

event. If you were unable to attend, we hope you will join us next year.

Be sure to save the date for these upcoming events. On Nov. 11 at 4 p.m.,

the association will host a cookout for students at the SUB on campus.

The association will participate in the annual Fort Worth Parade of Lights

with a Texas Wesleyan-themed float on the evening of Nov. 23. We

always need volunteers to help us build the float. If you are interested

in participating, please contact the alumni office. Plans are under way

for the spring reunion to be held Friday and Saturday, April 19-20. I am

confident that this year’s reunion will be bigger and better than ever!

The GOLD (graduates of the last decade) alumni group continues to

host mixers and is having great success in staying in touch with recent

graduates. You can always check the alumni website for all of the

wonderful happenings at Texas Wesleyan.

Please join me in thanking President Slabach and members of the

Texas Wesleyan campus community for their support of the Alumni

Association. Additionally, a great big THANKS to the members of the

Texas Wesleyan University Alumni Association Board of Directors for

their generous contributions of time, talent and financial support.

This is an exciting time to be a part of Texas Wesleyan University. I look

forward to seeing you soon.

With Ram pride,

David D. Martin MBA ’04

Alumni Association President

Dear Fellow Alumni,

Son of Tournament’s Namesake Wins Hole-in-One PrizeHole-in-one winner Ken Bounds (son of O.D. Bounds), at left, and Ben King ’94 (who donated the prize) at the O.D. Bounds golf tournament in September.

The 15th annual O.D. Bounds Golf Classic featured an auction for a golf outing with golf legend Lee Trevino HON ’81. This is the second consecutive year that Trevino has participated.

Proceeds from the auction are split between the Lee Trevino Endowment for Golf at Texas Wesleyan and the Fort Worth Junior Golf Association.


Alumni

W hen Al Hemmle ’89 played third base at Texas Wesleyan, he fielded a

variety of hit balls – bunts, popups, line drives, one-hoppers – with practiced ease and grace.

Today the 50-year-old principal at Midlothian High School might describe himself, in an infielder’s terms, as a slow roller, although that’s not entirely accurate.

During class periods, when the mall-sized campus isn’t clogged with the foot traffic of 2,300 students, Hemmle will swing his arms and sway side to side, quickening his pace, and sail freely, happily, up and down the shiny linoleum-floored hallways.

On roller skates.

Hemmle stays on his feet, most of the time.

“He’s had his share of gravity events,” Superintendent Jerome Stewart said, smiling.

But Hemmle is resilient, and not easily embarrassed.

For several years he patrolled the 540,000-square-foot campus on foot, logging up to six miles per day.

On skates he discovered he can go from one end of the school to the other – a half mile – in a fraction of the time it took him to walk.

Hemmle’s novel mode of travel

reflects who he is – an efficient,

energetic, slightly quirky educator

on the go.

“I know it’s a bit unconventional,”

Hemmle said. “But kids need to

know that you don’t have to fit a

certain image. Not everybody has to

conform to the norm. You are who

you are. Be yourself. Kids see me [on

skates] and maybe think, ‘Hey, he’s not

a stuffed shirt.’”

A former star athlete at Arlington

Sam Houston High School, Hemmle

received a baseball scholarship to

Wesleyan. He played three seasons

(1981-1983) under Rams coach

Frank Fultz. Realizing his chances

of playing professionally were slim,

he dropped out of school, over the

objection of his step-father.

Three years later, after working a

variety of construction jobs, Hemmle

had a heart-to-heart talk.

“What am I good at? What am

I passionate about?” he asked

the searching face in the mirror.

“Teaching and coaching are the

same thing, in my mind.”

Hemmle returned to Wesleyan,

married, and in 1989, at age 27,

earned his undergraduate degree

in physical education. He began his

rewarding career in education in

Midlothian as a sixth-grade science

teacher and coach. After earning

a master’s degree at Texas A&M-

Commerce, he then received his

doctorate from Nova Southeastern

University.

Hemmle served as a middle

school principal and assistant

superintendent before being named

principal at Midlothian High School

six years ago.

Summer before last, the principal

opened a closet at the high

school and found a pair of used

roller skates. He tried them on.

Surprisingly, they fit, like Cinderella’s

glass slipper. As a youth Hemmle

spent every weekend night at Big

Wheel Skateland, where he and

friends skated for hours.

Hemmle had this sudden brainstorm.

Why not wear them at school?

When the father of three shared

his plan with wife Kara, she gave

him this you’re-joking-right? look.

Kara Hemmle is an insurance/

benefits specialist at the school

district and handles workers’

compensation claims.

Hemmle never got to turn a double

play in the major leagues, although

he did face pitching great Roger

Clemens in college – “I struck out

three times.” But he is a happy man.

“This is the best job I’ve ever had,”

said the principal, glancing at his pair

of size 9 1/2 skates.

“Some people give me this funny look,

but that’s okay. The older I get the less

I care about what other people think.

There is some freedom in that.”

{Skating Principal on a Roll By David Casstevens

Photos courtesy of Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Joyce Marshall

Alumni

Lucio, a producer of The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, said months after winning the award in June, “I look at my Tony and I just giggle.” She can giggle now, but the night of the awards show was very “nerve racking.” While honored to be a part of a nominated musical, Lucio thought Porgy and Bess was an “underdog” and unlikely to take home the Tony. Other nominees in the Best Revival category were Evita, Follies and Jesus Christ Superstar; with Follies having already won multiple theatre and industry awards leading up to the Tonys. “Everyone who worked on Porgy and Bess had this sense and hope and belief in our show, but we knew the odds were against us,” she said.

Long before its name was called at the Tonys, even before the show opened, there was controversy about taking this revered American opera, written by George and Ira Gershwin in 1935, and adapting it for a 21st century Broadway audience. Eight-time Tony Award winner Stephen Sondheim actually took to the pages of The New York Times to express his displeasure with efforts to update the musical. Despite, or perhaps because of, the controversy, the revival took renewed inspiration from the novel that inspired the Gershwin brothers, Porgy, written in 1925 by DuBose Heyward, and Porgy and Bess returned to Broadway in 2011. A new generation of theatergoers was introduced to Heyward’s story and the Gershwins’ musical score.

This was not Lucio’s first time to experience Porgy and Bess. Touring Russia with the Wesleyan choir in 1993 she fell in love with the show’s music. Performing with various city orchestras in that nation, songs from Porgy and Bess were featured in the choir’s repertoire. One maestro was so moved by the beauty of Summertime, the show’s signature song, he had the choir sing it a second time during the performance.

When asked to join the Broadway revival’s production team, Lucio recalled how much she loved performing the songs at Wesleyan and couldn’t refuse the opportunity. An experienced actor, Lucio said “producing is gratifying in such a different way. It sort of defined me and found me. And, once it found me, I knew it was something I’d love.”

Producing Porgy and Bess was like “creating a universe,” she said. “You see this world flourish because you brought it to the stage. It’s a microcosm of a village. Everyone is working together: stage managers, actors, the writer, director and producers, to create this show.

“For one brief shining moment, no matter how long it lasts, we created this really beautiful thing.”

Texas Wesleyan Alumna

Wins Tony for Porgy and Bess“As soon as the presenter said ‘The’ I started screaming because I knew we won,” Meredith Lucio ’93 said recalling her reaction to winning the American Theatre Wing’s 2012 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical.

U.S. News & World Report Gives Top Regional Ranking to Texas WesleyanFor the third consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report has ranked Texas Wesleyan University in the #1 tier of regional universities in the West.

“This reflects not only on our institution, but also on the faculty and staff who are at the heart of our university,” Texas Wesleyan University President Frederick G. Slabach said. “U.S. News & World Report’s external validation reflects the quality of our programs and the commitment of those who implement them.”


AlumniAlumni

Alumni News1950s

don Benton ’52 was honored for his years of ministry and service at the 90th anniversary celebration of the founding of the C.C. Young Retirement Community on Oct. 16. He was also a recipient of the “Centennial History Maker” awards from SMU on Oct. 25.

B.J. Stiles ’54 was editor in residence at Boston University School of Theology throughout the month of October 2011. While there, he carried out research and wrote about his eight years as editor of the award-winning Motive magazine.

1960s

Frankie (Norcross) Russell ’60 received her third consecutive Top Recruiter of the Year Award for her district at an Avon President’s Club Tribute held in Corpus Christi. While maintaining an Honor Society level of sales for the last seven of her nine years with the company, she also reached Advanced Unit Leader with 40+ representatives in her unit.

Jerry Weaver ’62 and his wife, Celia, took a 12-day tour of Scotland and Ireland. The scenery and sites were amazing, and they even saw the Loch Ness Monster.

Bill Leonard ’68 delivered the Ray Frank Robbins Lecture at Samford University in March.

1970s

Thomas Calhoun ’70 was recently voted president elect of the Association of Black Sociologists at their annual meeting in Denver in August. Tom also serves as interim dean and professor of sociology at the College of Liberal Arts at Jackson State University in Mississippi.

Rev. Raymond H. Lowe ’74 m.div. was called to be the transitional senior pastor at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Glennville, Ga.

debbie Biondi Brangan ’76 retired after 36 years of teaching and coaching at Boswell High School in the Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD.

FWISD celebrated Tommy Elliott’s ’76 retirement after 30 years with Arlington Heights High School by renaming the school’s baseball field the Thomas Ray Elliott Field of Dreams.

david gauvey ’76 received an award from the Fort Hood commanding general for Volunteer of the Year. He was recognized for his work with Santa’s Workshop and his devotion to volunteer and serve the III Corps and Fort Hood community.

gary Cox ’78 recently published On Track Job Search Book: One Stop Resource for the Serious Job Seeker. He hopes “this book acts as a clear guide for the job seeker trying to cope with an increasingly volatile job search environment.” Publishing this book is one of Gary’s many accolades. Gary’s father, G.D. Cox, also graduated from Texas Wesleyan with a degree in science and education.

Lacey Freeman ’78 mAPC ’05 received her LPC-I and is proud to have received both her undergraduate and master’s degrees from Texas Wesleyan.

Jack Lewis ’78 served in the USAF at Carswell AFB, Fort Worth. He was quality control manager at Howell Instrument and retired after 37 years. Jack was elected to Haltom City Council in 1979 and served as council member and mayor for 13 years. He was then elected to the Texas Silver Haired Legislator in Austin for four years and introduced the current

freeze on homestead property tax of the elderly and disabled in Texas.

Steve ’78 and diane ’78 Pokluda retired from teaching at the end of the 2012 school year. Steve retired from Fort Worth ISD and Diane from Crowley ISD.

michael Skipper ’78 produced a show called Re-Animator The Musical at the New York Musical Theatre Festival. It is based on a 1980s cult horror film classic and features George Wendt. The show moved to Scotland for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August. It ran for six months in Los Angeles last year winning the LA Weekly Award for Best Musical of the Year among other awards.

george Warner ’79 was named a 2012 Five Star Wealth Manager. His selection was a result of research including a regulatory and consumer complaint review and an evaluation of objective criteria associated with wealth managers who provide quality services to their clients.

1980s

Rev. John Kent Berry ’82, elder and member of the Central Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church, recently retired from the USAR as a lieutenant colonel and is currently the pastor of the Valley Mills and Cayote United Methodist churches. Rev. Berry’s daughter, Brittany, transferred from Hill College to play volleyball for the Lady Rams this fall.

dr. Victor Test ’86, who was honored as Alumnus of the Year last fall, presented the commencement speech to our May 2012 graduates at the Fort Worth Convention Center.

Ann (diakis) Shaw ’87 recently opened Shaw’s Patio Bar & Grill in Fort Worth, and the bar is finally open. Amenities include six TVs, beverage and food service, great staff, nonsmoking environment and lots of specials!


Trustees for the FWISD Board of Education approved the selection of Joe Ralph martinez ’89 as the representative for the newly created District 8. Ralph was administered the oath of office by School Board Executive Secretary Faye Daniels and took his seat at the beginning of the session.

1990s

Sam Hatcher ’91 is designing a 43,000- square-foot interactive facility for SEGA and the BBC. Next he’s off to the Captain Morgan Visitors Center on St. Croix immediately followed by a two ocean flight to Hawaii to play with a Sesame Street Exhibit in Oahu. After that, he will oversee an installation of Disney’s latest retail offering at the SkyTree Tower in Tokyo.

Kris Lamorte ’92 recently played the role of Stanley in The Glass Menagerie for the Tennessee Williams Festival in New Orleans and directed Born Yesterday for Delgado Community College.

Bob mcIntire ’90, michele (Bodine) mcIntire ’90, Carol Pollard ’92, Beth (Sills) miller ’92, Robin (Thompson) Husband ’92, Jill (Crane) Kersh ’92 and Jamie deel ’91

The group of Wesleyan alumni above reminisced by the cottonwood tree on campus that was saved by the students from being cut down when they attended Wesleyan. Thanks to Carol Pollard ’92 for sharing.

meredith Lucio ’93 received a Tony Award at the 66th annual Tony Awards ceremony on June 10 for Best Revival of a Musical, The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess. Meredith was one of the producers of the show. She is currently working on two productions: Grace on Broadway, starring Paul Rudd, Michael Shannon and Ed Asner; and Bedlam Theater Company’s rotating repertory of Saint Joan by George Bernard Shaw and Hamlet by William Shakespeare off Broadway. Meredith is also the program director of the Producer

Development and Mentorship Program for Theater Resources Unlimited. The PDMP was established in 2007 to provide mentorship opportunities for aspiring professional producers.

michael Rose ’94 published a book, ROE Powers of ROI-The Ultimate Way to Think and Communicate for Ridiculous Results. He is currently booking speaking engagements and his book can be found on Amazon.com, 800-CEO-READ and his website.

Jan Pettigrew Wilde ’94 made her belly dance debut on May 6 at Fort Worth’s Mayfest as part of the Texas Belly Babes, directed by Nacheska Gentry-Combs, owner of Over the Top Costume Shoppe and Dance Studio in Southlake. Jan danced as a beginner student in the event and was thrilled to celebrate in Mayfest’s 40th celebration.

Amy Tate-Almy ’95 was ordained a deacon in full connection with the United Methodist Church at the annual conference in Waco on June 5. She graduated from seminary in 2000 and has spent recent months in an intensive residency program.

Christy (davidson) Collard ’96 is proud of her theatre students at Aledo High School who entered Dallas Summer Musicals’ first-ever High School Musical Theatre Awards with Fiddler on the Roof. The cast and crew were nominated for all but one category, including Best Musical. With 15 awards and 30 schools competing (mostly 5A schools in Dallas), Aledo HS walked away with three that night: Best Supporting Actor, Best Featured Actor, and the entire cast and crew won Best Ensemble. The Aledo theatre students also competed at state competition with their

UIL one-act play Cockeyed Kite directed by Christy and Stephanie Carlberg ’07.

William giron ’97 was honored at the annual Forty Under Forty awards ceremony on May 23, hosted by the Fort Worth Business Press.

Katherine Krieger ’98 received a master’s degree in public administration from the University of New Mexico (where she currently works) and was inducted into Pi Alpha Alpha, the National Honor Society for Public Affairs and Administration. She applied for a presidential management fellowship and was selected as one of 1,200 semifinalists from more than 9,000 applicants. While she did not make the final cut, she enjoyed the experience.

Sandy myers m.Ed. ’98 is proud to share that her son, Chris, signed his first Broadway contract! He finished the Mama Mia national tour on Aug. 27 then flew to New York to start rehearsing on Aug. 31.

Jennifer Sullivan ’98 teaches fifth-grade math at Brawner Intermediate in Granbury, Texas, where she resides with her husband, Frank, of almost 11 years, and her two daughters, Katherine and Emily.

Alma Arriaga ’99 and her husband, Raymond, welcomed their third baby. Nicolas Leo Arriaga was born on May 12 at 2:36 p.m. in Austin, Texas. Nico Leo weighed 6 pounds, 5 ounces and was 20 inches long. He joins big brother Ray and big sister Julia.

2000s

Andrea Cedillo, daughter of Jerry ’00 and Alice ’96 mSC ’08 (garcia) Cedillo, was awarded the Ella McFadden Endowed Scholarship at Freshman Scholarship Day. In June, Andrea graduated from Fossil Ridge High School and traveled to Mbabane, Swaziland, with Fort Worth Sister Cities. She is majoring in biology at Texas Wesleyan this fall in the hopes of pursuing a career in the medical field. Her parents are proud she will be a second generation Texas Wesleyan graduate.


Alumni

Kristina (Adams) mcQuaid ’00 and husband Declan McQuaid celebrated their 10-year wedding anniversary in April. The couple also welcomed a daughter in May. She weighed 7 pounds, 12 ounces and was 21.75 inches long.

daphne Brookins ’01 was appointed by Gov. Rick Perry to the Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities. The committee is devoted to enhancing the quality of life for Texans with disabilities.

Brian matlock ’01 made partner with Rothstein Kass last month. Brian is responsible for the Commercial Services group in the firm’s Dallas office and serves as one of their energy practice leaders for both public and private companies.

Nellie Lucano ’02 is proud to announce that her daughter, Stormie Santiago, is attending Texas Wesleyan this fall and majoring in music education. Stormie recently graduated cum laude from Southwest High School.

doris mcKelvey m.Ed. ’02 had her first book signing at Hastings in Longview on April 14.

Lark Wallis Johnston ’03 is the new education director for Stage West and is the booking coordinator for its traveling children’s show, A Kite’s Tail.

James m. Lind ’03 received his doctorate from UNT. He is currently teaching at TCC and serves as the choir director at Polytechnic United Methodist Church.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram published a feature article about letters written by the great-grandfather of Louella Baker martin HON ’03, which were showcased in the Galveston Exhibit at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History.

Brian Reagan ’03 and his wife, Jill, welcomed their baby girl, Lainey Grace Reagan, via adoption, on Aug. 16. She weighed 5 pounds, 5 ounces. Brian also won the YMCA-McKinney Father of the Year award for 2012 and finished #1 in the nation for sales for the Better Business Bureau in fiscal year 2012.

Shay (dial) Johnson ’05 and her husband welcomed their baby boy, Sylvester Jewel Johnson, III, into the world on May 5. He weighed 6 pounds, 6 ounces and was 19.5 inches long.

deAwna Wood ’05 performed at the State Fair of Texas on the Chevy Main Stage with her band, Maiden Texas, on Oct. 3.

Robert A. Fitzpatrick ’06 recently started his own law firm, practicing criminal defense in Tarrant, Dallas, Collin and Hood counties.

ginny Hoelscher ’06 married Andy Johnston on April 1 at the YWCA in Fort Worth. The couple now resides in Saginaw, Texas.

Lisa Ramos BBA, mBA ’06 and Kevin doskocil ’09 participated in the BNSF United Way Golf Tournament and showed their Wesleyan pride as they promoted the University.

Aledo High School theatre students competed at state competition with their UIL one-act play Cockeyed Kite directed by Stephanie Carlberg ’07 and Christy (davidson) Collard ’96.

Tanisha Sherrie gaylord ’08 graduated from the University of Phoenix on June 2 with an M.S. in psychology.

Kevin doskocil ’09 and Lisa Ramos BBA, mBA ’06 participated in the BNSF United Way Golf Tournament and showed their Wesleyan pride as they promoted the University.

Ben Phillips ’09 appeared in Jubilee Theater’s production of the musical Company from July 13-Aug. 12 and directed Arsenic and Old Lace at the Plaza Theatre Company in Cleburne from Sept. 14-Oct. 13.

Lashay (Simon) Faulk ’10 received her Certificate of Training in IT Fundamentals Basic from the U.S. Air Force Training School at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi.

Julie murphy ’10 is excited to share that she has just signed with Molly Jaffa of Folio Literary Management as a young adult writer.

Joakim Soederbaum ’10 is currently at the top of his class at Texas Wesleyan School of Law and recently received a full tuition scholarship for his remaining two years at the law school.

michelle Yates m.Ed. ’10, a science lab

specialist at Coder Elementary School

in Aledo ISD, was named one of two

2012 Region XI Teachers of the Year at a

special awards banquet in August.

Andrea gonzales ’11 was on the front

page of the Panorama. This was her first

published article for her art work. She is

currently working on her largest mural yet

in a private home.

Alejandro Hukill-Arias ’12 married Dana

Duryee on July 14. He was also recently

promoted to campaign assistant for state

Rep. Lon Burnam.

James M. Dunn ’53 and Bill J. Leonard ’68 Making News at Wake ForestBill J. Leonard ’68, professor of church history, has been named as the first James and Marilyn Dunn Chair of Baptist Studies at the Wake Forest University School of Divinity. Dunn was the founding dean of the School of Divinity.

The established chair honors James M. Dunn ’53, resident professor of Christianity and Public Policy at the Wake Forest University School of Divinity, and his wife. Both have been active supporters of the divinity school, and James Dunn, longtime leader of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty and the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission, joined the faculty in 1999.


In Memoriam

Juanell Earl ’52, Aug. 19, 2012, Gatesville

Juanell “Mama Nell” Earl, 81, of Turnersville and

Fort Worth, passed away Sunday, Aug. 19, 2012.

Juanell was a 40-year breast cancer survivor.

She was born Nov. 24, 1930, in Turnersville, to

Douglas and Grace Rice Gilmore and married

Rufus Earl ’51 in 1953. Juanell was a 50-year

member of Order of the Eastern Star, The

Woman’s Club and First United Baptist Church

of Fort Worth. She also enjoyed being involved

in the Dental Auxiliary, serving as state president

from 1990-1991. She taught school in Clifton,

Dallas, and Fort Worth. Recently, Juanell and

Rufus endowed a substantial scholarship at

Texas Wesleyan for students in the School

of Education. The Earls received the Texas

Wesleyan Alumni of the Year award at the

Medal Dinner on Oct. 19. Juanell and Rufus

enjoyed attending Wesleyan events, especially

the annual spring reunion and musical. Juanell

enjoyed organizing Earl family gatherings and

Thanksgiving reunions. She was a loving wife

and mother, and she will be dearly missed.

Leonard C. Radde ’58, May 24, 2012, Cleburne

Dr. Leonard Carl Radde died Thursday, May 24, 2012, in Fort

Worth. Leonard was born in Big Spring on Sept. 27, 1935, to Sam

and Doris Radde and was the grandson of pioneer West Texas

ranch families. Leonard graduated from high school in Meridian,

attained an associate of agriculture degree from Tarleton State

University, his American Farmer degree from Future Farmers of

America, a bachelor degree from Texas Wesleyan University, a

master of theology from Southern Methodist University, and a

doctor of ministry from Drew University. Leonard’s life vocation

was in ministerial service to the United Methodist Church.

He served the following appointments: Turnersville, Bluff

Dale, Morgan-Kopperl, Meadowbrook (associate), Covington-

Osceola, Ash Crescent, Springtown, Gordon-Santo, Itasca,

Coleman-Novice, Ennis, Killeen, Burleson, Meadowbrook, and

St. Mark Cleburne. Leonard retired from the active ministry in

1996. He served in a variety of positions with the Central Texas

Conference: Council on Finance & Administration, statistician,

Conference Personnel Committee, Conference Council on

Ministries, Conference Committee on Communications,

Conference Board of Trustees, Conference Board of Global

Ministries, Committee on Education, UMCOR Disaster Response,

Volunteers in Mission, Task Force on Evangelism, Board of

Pensions, Board of Evangelism, Committee on Town and

Country Work, and the boards of Walls Hospital and Aldersgate

Enrichment Center. Leonard organized the Central Texas

Chapter 16 of the National United Methodist Campers serving

as wagonmaster and national president. Leonard traveled on

five continents visiting Methodist mission projects. He also

pioneered TV broadcasting of worship services for 11 years

in three churches with more than 30,000 viewers weekly.

Memberships included Lions Club (50 years) and the Aircraft

Owners and Pilots Association. Other interests: watercolor

painting, aircraft piloting, RV camping and ranching.


Alumni

1930s

Lamartine Storey ’36, Aug. 10, 2012, dallasLamartine graduated from Texas Wesleyan in Fort Worth. She married the love of her life, Leland Storey, in 1933. As a substitute teacher for many years in the Highland Park elementary schools and a member of several clubs, she made many lifelong friends and cherished each of them deeply. She loved greatly and was greatly loved.

1940s

Benjamin Thomas Tribble ’48, march 19, 2012, BurlesonTom graduated from Texas Wesleyan in 1948 with a degree in religion. He married Jeannine Forston on Aug. 18, 1950, in Bardwell. Tom served as a Methodist minister for 46 years. He proudly served on the alumni board at Texas Wesleyan University. Tom was an eternally optimistic man who was greatly loved by his family and many friends.

Claude T. Brockette ’49,July 17, 2012, HoustonClaude entered Texas Wesleyan College and graduated in 1949 with a degree in history and physical education. While at Wesleyan, he met and married Bennie Lee Darby ’48. After his retirement from Geico in 1991, he achieved his American dream, living on his farm in Grandview, raising Black Angus cattle and later miniature donkeys.

1950s

John L. Friday ’56,July, 27, 2012, Fort WorthIn 1952, John accepted a scholarship from Texas Wesleyan College to play basketball. It is there he met Frances Gee, and after graduating with his B.A., they married the next day at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Fort Worth. In 2011, Coach Friday was inducted into the Nolan Hall of Fame.

martha A. Schow ’58,April 29, 2012, HoustonMartha went into business full time specializing in antique china. Over the next 30 years she became widely known as “The Antique Haviland China Lady,” developing a faithful following of friends and antiques lovers all across Texas. While at Texas Wesleyan, she enjoyed basketball and theatre. Martha was also a recipient of the Golden Shears Award.

1960s

Betty L. Hodges ’62,July 15, 2012, granbury Betty graduated from Texas Wesleyan with a Bachelor of Science degree. She taught school at Granbury ISD for 27 years. She had been a member of Granbury First Baptist Church since 1953, where she was very involved in the activities. Betty loved basketball and baseball, enjoyed blue grass music and traveling in Colorado. But her favorite thing was spoiling her grandchildren.

donald B. Copeland ’66,march 13, 2012, Fort Worth After Donald served four years in the Air Force, he attended Texas Wesleyan, where he was named Outstanding Business Student in his senior year. He was elected president of Phi Beta Lambda while at Wesleyan. Donald was co-founder and retired president of R&D Plastics. Since semi-retiring in 2003 he worked brokering thermoplastic resins with American Polymers Corporation in Akron, Ohio.

Lynne marko ’67,July 11, 2012, Fort Worth Lynne spent approximately 20 years working in the retail advertising field as a layout artist and copywriter. Her second career began after age 40, working with her husband in the lodging industry. Her pastimes were mainly seeing movies, reading, cooking, and keeping up with the news, especially watching Montana Public Television.

Carter L. Lambertson ’69,march 24, 2012, LipanCarter was the owner and operator of Lambertson’s General Store in Lipan for 35-plus years. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge for many years and was a Scottish Rite Mason. Carter served his community very well and was a people person. He was very generous in helping many organizations.

1970s

Sharon Basden Frankenfield ’70,June 2, 2012, Fort Worth Sharon’s passion was teaching and she taught for the last 18 years at All Saints’ Episcopal School. She loved her students and they loved “Dr. B.” The light of her life was her son, Chris, and her husband, Gary Frankenfield ’71.

Zachary C. Tucker ’76,

may 1, 2012, denton

Zachary was a member of Lambda Chi

Alpha Fraternity and learned that people

can care for one another. Zach was an

active member of the Texas Wesleyan

Alumni Association, serving on the

alumni board and attended the annual

reunion every spring. He spent the past

years in the banking industry in Denton

and was an active member of many local

organizations.

gary Shippy ’79,

march 28, 2012, Fort Wayne, Ind.

Gary graduated from Texas Wesleyan

College and played four years of

baseball. He enjoyed coaching his sons

in basketball and baseball. Gary was

inducted in the Wall of Fame at Garrett

High School. He also enjoyed fishing,

golfing, taking care of his blue birds,

and was passionate about his landscape.

Gary loved his little granddaughters and

was so proud of his sons.

1990s

Frank P. gloss ’96,

July 27, 2012, Knoxville, Tenn.

Frank was a nurse anesthetist working

at Fort Sanders Hospital in Knoxville.

He was an active member of Concord

Yacht Club and a former member of the

Atlanta Kayak Club. Frank maintained a

relationship with his high school swim

team and enjoyed frequent reunions.

While living in Jackson Hole, Wyo., Frank

was a ski instructor.

2000s

madelynn Brooks ’01,

Aug. 12, 2012, dallas

Madelynn earned her bachelor’s degree

from Baylor University and obtained

a master’s in education from Texas

Wesleyan University. Madelynn taught

home economics and English as a second

language at both junior high and high

school levels. She was known for her book

reviews, church work and sewing skills.

A Legacy of Excellence

By naming Texas Wesleyan as a beneficiary in your will or establishing a planned gift, you can provide long-term benefits for generations to come. To learn more about how your gift can make a difference in the lives of our students, contact:

Mac McLain Director of Major Gifts

817-531-4494 [email protected]

“For 35 years, the Texas Wesleyan faculty, staff and especially its students have been my family and a major part of my life. It only makes sense for me to remember my family in my estate planning as well as yearly in my annual fund gift. Family is everything.”

Joe “Pro Joe” Brown Dean of Freshman Success

Your planned gift benefits generations.


Gift ContinuesEducator’s LegacyBy Ken Roberts

Educator.Civil rights leader.Humanitarian.

Hazel Harvey Peace made a lasting impact on Fort Worth during her life. So important and far-reaching were her contributions that Texas Wesleyan awarded her an Honorary Doctorate of

Humane Letters in 1972.

Education was always at the center of Mrs. Peace’s life. Born in 1907, she graduated from what was then called Fort Worth Colored School at the age of 13.

She left Fort Worth the following year, headed to Washington, D.C., and enrolled in Howard University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education. Just 16 years old and with an education degree in hand, Mrs. Peace returned to Fort Worth and the high school she attended – but this time as a teacher.

At the time, her African-American students were not allowed to visit the public library; so she took it upon herself to acquire books for her students.

Today, in stark contrast and as a testament to the societal and educational changes Mrs. Peace not only witnessed but also helped bring about, the Fort Worth Public Library’s Hazel Harvey Peace Youth Center honors her life’s work educating and nurturing children.

Upon her death in 2008, just shy of her 101st birthday, Mrs. Peace left a gift of $350,000 to Texas Wesleyan, thus ensuring her contribution to education in Fort Worth will continue. Mrs. Peace made exact bequests to her alma mater, Howard University, and the Fort Worth Library Foundation.

Wesleyan’s first Hazel Harvey Peace Scholarship will be awarded for the 2014-2015 academic year, said Joan Canty,

vice president for advancement. Mrs. Peace asked that the

scholarship be awarded to a freshman or undergraduate

student, preferably a Texas resident, and someone in need

of financial aid.

“Consider how important her gift is,” Canty said. “Because she

stipulated that it go to undergraduate students with financial

needs, the Hazel Harvey Peace Scholarship will help make it

possible for so many students to attend Texas Wesleyan.”

Louis “Mac” McLain, director of major gifts, said gift

bequeaths to the University are extremely beneficial. They

can be used in many ways to support the University and its

students, including underwriting scholarships or building

upon the University’s endowment.

“Planned giving is the easiest way to give to Wesleyan,”

McLain said. It’s as simple as stating in your will that a

designated dollar amount or percentage of your estate be

given to the University.

To learn more about how you can make a lasting gift to

Texas Wesleyan, contact McLain at 817-531-4494. “We

always encourage people to contact us because it helps

us to get an understanding of how the giver wants the gift

to be used,” McLain said. “This ensures Texas Wesleyan’s

actions best reflect the donor’s wishes.”

Unquestionably, the Hazel Harvey Peace Scholarship

represents its namesake’s wishes.

“Look at what we’ll be able to do with this scholarship and

what it means for students,” Canty said. “You can do amazing

things by making an endowment gift to Texas Wesleyan.”

Hazel Harvey Peace


IN HONOR OF

Dennis Camp ’64 to the Wesleyan Fund Ben ’63 & Kaye Younger

Class of 1942 to the Tribute Scholarship Fund Margaret A. Kimmins ’42

Wallace Graves (posthumously) to the Wesleyan Fund Ben ’63 & Kaye Younger

Silas ’65 & Linda ’65 Hughes to the Wesleyan Fund Ben ’63 & Kaye Younger

Larry ’63 & Carolyn ’63 Kitchens to the Wesleyan Fund Ben ’63 & Kaye Younger

James ’03 & Richard ’04 Lind to the Tribute Scholarship Fund John & Barbara Lind

John Maddux ’59 to the Wesleyan Fund Ben ’63 & Kaye Younger

Lewis Marchbanks ’64 to the Wesleyan Fund Ben ’63 & Kaye Younger

John Rudolph ’63 to the Wesleyan Fund Ben ’63 & Kaye Younger

Bill ’62 & Pat ’63 White to the Wesleyan Fund Ben ’63 & Kaye Younger

Kaye Younger to the Wesleyan Fund Ben Younger ’63

IN MEMORY OF

Gene Burge ’54 to the Wesleyan Fund, Basketball Restricted, Athletics Expansion Fund, New Campus Entryway Project Ann Burge ’54

Fred & Ruth Darnell to the Carol Corley Library Employee Fund Steve & Tish Deffenbaugh

Brad Denson to the Carol Corley Library Employee Fund Steve & Tish Deffenbaugh

Alta Lewis Dollar ’66 to the Alta Lewis Dollar Endowed Scholarship David Dollar ’85

Jana Eudy Graves to the Carol Corley Library Employee Fund Steve & Tish Deffenbaugh

Christine J. Houghton to the Carol Corley Library Employee Fund Bob & Shirley Corley

Rev. Frank Leach ’53 to the New Campus Entryway Project Alumni Association

Rev. Frank Leach ’53 to the Tribute Scholarship Fund Dr. Jay ’64 & Mrs. Millie L. Beavers Gene & Mary ’60 Chamness Karen Cole ’99 MBA ’04 Robert ’62 & Anneta ’60 Conway Jerden ’68 & Edna Davis Gilbert ’44 & Dorris ’47 Ferrell Barbara Leach John ’59 & Linda Maddux Polytechnic United Methodist Church Glen Tuggle ’85 University United Methodist – Sterck Sunday School Class

Rev. Frank Leach ’53 to the Alumni Association Fund Ann Burge ’54 Patsy Warren Clifford ’55 Bill ’57 & Linda Lee ’02 Hailey David ’00 & Synthia ’86 Hillberry Gina Phillips ’97 MSP ’07

Tim Russell ’64 to the Wesleyan Fund Wanda Russell ’64

Gary E. Shippy ’79 to the Wesleyan Fund Maureen T. Shippy

Gary E. Shippy ’79 to the Baseball Program Dr. Carl Schrader

Gary E. Shippy ’79 to the Wesleyan Fund Larry Zerante ’78

Michael Snelson to the Carol Corley Library Employee Fund Steve & Tish Deffenbaugh

Rev. Elden D. Traster to the Elden Traster Scholarship Fund Craig Lidell

Rev. Wesley Williams to the Wesleyan Fund John W. Williams ’71

GIFTS IN KIND

Neal Cornett Martha Earngey ’77 Presley Hatcher ’74 David D. Martin ’04 Anna Mumford ’80 Carol Sullivan Glen Tuggle ’85 Kathy Walker ’97 Charles & Barbara Weidler Erwin C. Whitney

Tribute Gift Recognition A gift to a charitable organization is a wonderful way to recognize someone of importance in your life. Texas Wesleyan is honored to receive gifts in memory or honor of alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends. These gifts acknowledge the relationship individuals have with the University and the community. We are pleased to recognize these gifts and the role each honored person and donor has in the lives of our students.

We gratefully acknowledge the following donors for their tribute gifts received from 4/1/12 through 9/30/12.

Upcoming Events November8-18 Theatre Wesleyan presents “Certificate of Death” by Walter Wykes, Thad Smotherman Theatre, call 817-531-5867 for show times

December2 A Festival of Lessons & Carols, Polytechnic United Methodist Church, 7 p.m.

14 Fall 2012 Robing Ceremony, Polytechnic United Methodist Church, 11 a.m.

14 Fall 2012 Graduation Commencement, Fort Worth Convention Center, 4 p.m.

February14-24 Theatre Wesleyan presents “Dead Man’s Cell Phone” by Sarah Ruhl, Thad Smotherman Theatre, call 817-531-5867 for show times

March1 17th Annual President’s Honors Concert, Nicholas Martin Hall, 7:30 p.m.

19 Guest Recital, Ava Pine, soprano, Nicholas Martin Hall, 7:30 p.m.

April18-21 Theatre Wesleyan presents the 59th Annual Spring Musical “Into the Woods” Book by James Lapine; music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, Thad Smotherman Theatre, 7:30 p.m.

19-20 All Alumni Spring Reunion Historic campus – events begin Friday, continuing on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. and throughout the day, ending with the evening musical and Afterglow party

30 Wesleyan Chorale Concert, Nicholas Martin Hall, 7:30 p.m.

May10 Spring 2013 Robing Ceremony, Polytechnic United Methodist Church, 11 a.m.

11 Spring 2013 Graduation Commencement, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2 p.m.

For a full list of events, go to www.txwes.edu/calendar

Mark Your Calendar!You don’t want to miss these basketball events!

Dec. 1, 4 p.m. Texas Wesleyan vs. Huston Tillison in the Clifford Classic

Dec. 15, 4 p.m. Texas Wesleyan vs. University of St. Thomas in the Burge Alumni Classic

1201 Wesleyan StreetFort Worth, Texas 76105-1536

Friday, March 1, 2013 | 7:30 p.m.Nicholas Martin Hall

Reception to follow in Lou’s Place

The President’s Honors ConcertA showcase of our talented music students

For more information, call 817-531-4404.

Documents

Fall 2012 magazine