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Sawdust

“I’ve always admired the grace and beauty of the SFA Repertory Dance Company. This photo says a lot about the demanding work that goes into what they do, and I appreciate the quality of the dances they perform.” -- University Photographer Hardy Meredith

Sarah Caldwell, a 2009 SFA graduate from Houston, performs with the SFA Repertory Dance Company in Turner Auditorium.Hardy’s Pic

Summer 2010 • Volume 37, No. 2

EXECUTIVE EDITORJeff Davis ’02, Executive Director of Alumni Affairs

EDITORAmy Roquemore ’93, Editorial Coordinator, SFA Public Affairs

ARTISTIC DIRECTORRhonda Crim-Tumelson, Commu-nication Coordinator, SFA Alumni Association

ADVERTISING DIRECTORRhonda Minton ’90 & ’99, Director of Marketing and Membership, SFA Alumni Association

STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY is a comprehensive institution dedicated to excellence in teaching, research, scholarship, creative work and service. Through the personal attention of our faculty and staff, we engage our students in a learner-centered environment and offer opportunities to prepare for the challenges of living in the global community.

The SFA ALUMNI ASSOCIATION is a non-profit organization dedi-cated to serving the alumni, friends and current students of Stephen F. Austin State University through programs, scholarships and activities that create an attitude of continued loyalty and support.

SAWDUST is a joint publication of the Stephen F. Austin State Univer-sity Alumni Association and Stephen F. Austin State University. It is pub-lished four times a year in the winter, spring, summer and fall. Subscrip-tions are included in SFA Alumni Association memberships.

ON THE COVER Casey Coff-man ’89, outside Madison Square Garden. Cover photo courtesy of Angela Cranford/MSG Photos. Ad-ditional photos of Coffman courtesy of George Kalinsky for Madison Square Garden.

CAMPUS NEWS 2 Cheerleading Awards 3 New Basketball Coach 4 President’s Message 8 Forestry Conclave 9 Vista Viewpoint

Bear TracksGrad student studies black bears in Michigan

Exit Stage LeftTheatre professor retires after 44 years behind the scenes

New York TimesCoffman brings experience to The Garden

Opening DoorsMurphy provides opportunities for Lumberjacks

5

20

24

10ALUMNI NEWS 15 SFA Connect 16 From the Association 28 Scholarships 29 Chapters 32 Class Notes 35 In Memoriam 40 All Hail to SFA

FEATURES24 10

20

Sawdust2

Campus News

THE LARGE CO-ED cheerlead-ing squad at Stephen F. Austin State University recently secured its 11th first-place victory in the Division I National Cheerleaders Association championship in Daytona Beach, Fla. The SFA pom squad and the small co-ed team each placed third in the Division I competition. This year marks the 18th national victory overall for the SFA spirit program. “We’ve had a remarkable run, putting us on par with the top athlet-ic teams in the nation,” said Michael Preston, director of student affairs and adviser of SFA spirit programs. In the partner-stunt competi-tion, Junior Alec Heffron of Em-poria, Kan., and sophomore Alli Pagnotta of Canyon Country, Ca-

Squads win big at nationalsCheer Champs By Kayli Steger

lif., placed second, and sophomore Dustin Moore of Hoover, Ala., and junior Kaci Wade of Hickory Creek, Texas, placed fifth. After last year’s first place loss by a slim margin of five one-hundredths of a point, the team was determined to reclaim its victory, Preston said. “From the tryouts to the camps and throughout the entire year, they have been working hard with the idea of not only making up those five one-hundredths of a point but also blowing away the competition, and that’s exactly what they did.” ✯

Summer 2010 3

BRANDON SCHNEIDER HAS been named head coach of the SFA Lady-jack basketball program. “We exceeded our expectations for a head coach with Bran-don,” said SFA director of athletics Robert Hill. “Hiring a coach who has just won a national title is huge. His record proves his ability to coach, and we expect him to reignite the community in support of our women’s program. His Texas ties will only strengthen our recruiting in signing players who can keep us on top of the Southland Conference.” The Canyon, Texas, native is the second all-time winningest head coach at the NCAA Divi-sion II level. Schneider comes to Nacogdoches from Emporia State University where he guided the Lady Hornets to a 306-72 (.810) record, and the 2010 NCAA Division II National Championship. The school’s all-time leader in wins and winning percentage, Schneider ranks among the all-time top 10 in fastest coaches to 100 victories and third fast-est among women’s basketball coaches. Schneider was the first Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association rookie head coach to win both the MIAA regular-season and tournament titles. Schneider has spent the previous 12 seasons at ESU guiding the Lady Hornets to 11 NCAA tourna-ment appearances. During that stretch, Schneider’s teams recorded two 30-win seasons and nine 20-win campaigns. Along with the 2010 national champion-ship, Schneider coached ESU to four NCAA Division II South Central Regional Championships, two Final Four appearances, six regular-season conference titles and three league tournament titles. The 2010 Bulletin Women’s Basketball National Coach of the Year and the Women’s Basketball Coach-es Association South Central Region Coach of the Year, Schneider’s players have reaped the rewards of his guidance. He has coached seven All-Americans, including two NCAA Division II Player of the Year se-lections, 13 first-team All-MIAA honorees, eight con-ference MVPs and seven players have gone on to play professionally, including one in the Women’s National Basketball Association. Schneider is well respected for being able to at-tract some of the nation’s top talent on the recruit-ing trail. During his time at Emporia State, Schneider signed six NJCAA All-Americans and four high school All-Americans to play for the Lady Hornets. ✯

New Ladyjackscoach hired

By James Dixon

The SFA spirit program recently earned its 18th national victory at the Division I National Cheerleaders Association championship in Daytona Beach, Fla.

“We’ve had a remarkable run,

putting us on par with the top athletic teams in the nation.

”MICHAEL PRESTON, DIRECTOR

OF STUDENT AFFAIRS

SCHNEIDER

AS ANOTHER ACADEMIC year of record student enrollment at Ste-phen F. Austin State University draws to a close, our faculty, staff, students and alumni have much to be proud of.

The university recently had the honor of welcoming legendary boxer and iconic businessman George Foreman to campus as the first guest in the new Archie McDonald Speaker Series sponsored by the College of Liberal and Applied Arts. The event was very well attended, and the audience was treated to a rare insider’s view of the extraordinary life of the larger-than-life figure. In May, the largest graduating class in the history of SFA received their diplomas to the proud ovations of their friends and families. I, too, would like to congratulate them on their achievement, and I’m hopeful the connec-tion they have with SFA will remain strong as they leave their alma mater to pursue their dreams. Visitors to SFA this summer will notice the main entrance to the uni-versity at North Street and Vista Drive is undergoing a transformation. The streets and traffic signals are being reconfigured to make the main entrance safer for both drivers and pedestrians. Across campus, where Garner Tower once stood, a new 1,000-car park-ing garage is almost complete. The structure will provide much-needed ad-ditional parking spaces as we look forward to the completion of an adja-cent four-story, state-of-the-art freshman residence hall scheduled to open its doors one year from now.

The upcoming SFA football season promises to hold much excitement for Lumberjack fans. On Sept. 4 the Southland Conference Championship team will take on Texas A&M in College Station. And on Oct. 23 the Lum-berjacks will face conference rival Sam Houston State University in the first-ever Battle of the Piney Woods to be held at Reliant Stadium in Houston. I hope you will mark your calendar to join me in cheering on the Lumberjacks at these special events. Lastly, if you haven’t visited SFA in a while, I want to encourage you to do so. You’ll find that while much on our campus has changed, the Lumber-jack spirit you remember remains strong and true.

Axe ’em ’Jacks!

BOARD OF REGENTSMelvin R. White, chair, PflugervilleJohn R. “Bob” Garrett, vice chair, TylerRichard B. Boyer, secretary, The ColonyCarlos Z. Amaral, PlanoScott H. Coleman, HoustonJames H. Dickerson, New BraunfelsValerie E. Ertz, DallasSteve D. McCarty, AltoJames A. Thompson, Sugar LandSydni Mitchell, student regent, Spring

UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATIONDr. Baker Pattillo, presidentDr. Richard Berry, provost/vice president for academic affairsSteve Westbrook, vice president for university affairsDanny Gallant, vice president for finance and administrationSid Walker, vice president for development

OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRSBob Wright, executive director of marketing and public affairsShirley Luna, associate director of public affairs/media relationsHardy Meredith, university photographerAmy Roquemore, editorial coordinator

In May, the largest graduating class in the history of SFA received their diplomas to the proud ovations of their friends and families.

Baker Pattillo ’65 & ’66President, Stephen F. Austin

State University

President’s Message

Sawdust4

Bear TracksGrad student studies black bears in Michigan

By Amy Roquemore

Sawdust6

MY BRAIG SPENDS a lot of her time these days in Black Bear

Country. The 2008 graduate of SFA’s

renowned Arthur Temple Col-lege of Forestry and Agriculture is now working on her master’s degree and recently spent seven months studying the intriguing and elusive predators in Michi-gan’s Lower Peninsula. Braig is conducting a study of the local black bear to esti-mate population abundance and describe its habitat. During the live trapping phase of the project, she captured and marked 57 dif-

ferent bears, the largest of which weighed more than 400 pounds. “The experience of getting up close and personal with these ani-mals has been amazing and some-thing I will never forget,” she said. Once the animals were safely sedated, their weight, heart rate, temperature and respiration were recorded, and they were tagged and tattooed for later identification. Ra-dio collars were placed on a hand-ful of the bears, so their movements could be monitored. She also collected almost 200 samples from hair snares that pro-vided DNA information for the bears, which are legal to hunt in

Michigan. And trail cameras were used to capture hundreds of images of the animals for the study. “The undergraduate education I received at SFA prepared me ex-tremely well for this project, as well as my future career,” Braig said. “All of the professors in the College of Forestry and Agriculture strongly encourage their students to get in-volved in various research projects, so I was already very familiar with these research techniques when I re-ceived my bachelor’s degree.” Braig’s close relationships with SFA professors who are well-respected in the field led to the in-vitation to conduct her study on the

Summer 2010 7

Amy Braig ‘08, a graduate student in the College of Forestry and Agricul-ture, is pictured with a sedated black bear in Michigan where she is working on her master’s thesis. Also pictured is Dr. Daniel Scognamillo, SFA assistant professor of forestry.

“The experience of getting up close and personal with these animals has been amazing and something I will never forget.”

isolated tract of privately owned hunting land in Michigan. “Being a graduate of SFA’s forestry program gives students a foot in the door when it comes to being considered for these types of wildlife studies,” she said. “When people see an SFA degree on your résumé, they know you are going to do a professional job because you have received the best education possible.” Braig said both her present and former professors continue to be a sounding board for her as she works toward her graduate degree. “They want you to accomplish it on your own, but they make sure

you know they are there for support if you ever need it.” Braig will be returning to Mich-igan soon to complete her study and conduct habitat samplings. Once she earns her master’s degree, she plans to pursue a career in wildlife research, consulting or taxidermy. ✯

Sawdust8

A TEAM OF forestry students from Stephen F. Austin State University re-cently placed second at the 2010 Association of Southern Forestry Clubs For-estry Conclave at the University of Arkansas at Monticello. The SFA Sylvans Forestry Club competed in events such as axe and knife throwing, pole felling and climbing, crosscut sawing, log chopping, timber estimation, and wood and wildlife identification. A total of 15 uni-versities accredited by the Society of American Foresters participated in the event. “As always, the Sylvans did an excellent job of representing SFA at the ASFC Forestry Conclave,” said Dr. Michael Fountain, who has served as the team’s adviser for the past 30 years. “Our students take the competition very seriously and practice and prepare vigorously throughout the year.” In order to be successful at the annual competition, teams must do well in both the physical timber sports and the technical events. SFA’s team has placed first or second 23 times during the past 25 years, including eight first-place finishes. “SFA has a long and proud tradition of success at the conclave, which has helped solidify the reputation of our forestry program as one of the very best in the nation,” Fountain said. For more information about the forestry, agriculture, environmental sci-ence or spatial science programs offered by the College of Forestry and Ag-riculture at SFA, call (936) 468-3301 or visit http://forestry.sfasu.edu. ✯

SFA students place second at annual forestry conclaveBy Amy Roquemore

SYDNI MITCHELL OF Spring has been appointed by Gov. Rick Perry to serve as Student Regent for SFA for 2010-2011. Mitchell will graduate from SFA in May 2010 with a bachelor's degree in child and family development and plans to pursue a master's degree in public ad-ministration at SFA. She serves as presi-dent of the SFA Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honor Society and is a member of the Lumberjack Leadership Academy and Society for the Advance-ment of Management. Mitchell works as a student as-sistant in the student affairs office and recently interned for The BIG Event, a service-learning project benefitting the

Nacogdo-ches com-munity. "This is such an a m a z i n g o p p o r -tunity to have the pr iv i lege of serving with the Board of R e g e n t s and being

a voice for the students," Mitchell said. Mitchell replaces Morgan Tomber-lain of Longview. ✯

Mitchell named Student RegentBy Kayli Steger

THE DEPARTMENT OF Computer Science at SFA will host a series of sum-mer youth camps and professional development workshops for teachers de-signed to enhance their technology skills. The Computer Science Summer Program day camps are designed to pro-vide fifth- through ninth-grade students with a broad exposure to a variety of computing topics. Camp sessions will run from June 14 to July 15. The Sum-mer Teacher Workshop Programs include a variety of basic computing topics, plus topics in robotics and storytelling using virtual worlds. Workshops will run June 1 to 10. For more information and a complete listing of class topics and sched-ules, call (936) 468-2508 or visit www.cob.sfasu.edu/camps. ✯

Computer camps offered

MITCHELL

Summer 2010 9

SFA HAS CHANGED my life. Well, maybe “changed” isn’t the right word since I didn’t have an established life to be changed yet. SFA has made my life. Professionally, I have been given many opportuni-ties at SFA I would not have had at a larger university. I worked at The Pine Log, the AARC, Public Affairs, the Alumni Association and Nacogdoches Memorial Hospi-tal. Not only did all of these jobs “beef up” my résumé, but they also gave me valuable experience in the public relations field I wish to pursue. This semester, I enrolled in the Ad Design III class, which gave me more real-world experience by way of designing an entire advertising campaign for a corporate sponsor from scratch for the National Student Advertis-ing Competition. This competition is known throughout the advertising industry, and participation in it is very valuable both for experience and name recognition. I was so proud of our team; we got first runner-up, the best SFA has ever ranked in the competition. We placed higher than the larger universities such as Texas Tech and A&M, and the University of Texas didn’t even participate. So for whoever says SFA does not have the same academic reputation as the large state schools, look at the scores from this competition. SFA has a great reputation in the advertising and marketing industry. Aside from the academic aspect of college, SFA has also impacted my personal life. Through a simple frater-nity party, I met the love of my life. Since then, I have been thrust into a new and ex-citing part of my life. He recently graduated from boot camp as a Marine, and we will get the opportunity to live in different parts of the country and the world. Never did I expect my life to end up like this, although I did always say I was going to marry a Marine. But that was just me having crushes on the recruiters who used to visit during my high school lunches. Because of SFA, I have met many friends I will have for a lifetime. They were my bridesmaids, my phone calls when I was at every extreme emotion and every-thing in between.

At SFA, I learned to conquer my fear of heights when I jumped off the tree branch at Tonkawa Springs and figured out that it is indeed possible to stay up the entire night, but not very pleasant the next day. I also discovered you can have too many t-shirts, even if they are free. So to conclude the final piece I will ever write for The Pine Log, I want to thank everyone at SFA who has gotten me to where I am now, both personally and pro-fessionally. Shirley Luna, Amy Roquemore, Kayli Ste-ger, Hardy Meredith, Robin Johnson and everyone else in Public Affairs–thank you so much for the opportunity to work with you all. I can honestly say it is the best job I have ever had. Rhonda Minton and Rhonda Crim-Tumelson–thank you for the opportunity to work with you in the Alumni Association. Thank you, Kim Barton and Julie Akers, for all you have taught me about public relations at the hos-pital. Thank you to the AARC supervisors and tutors with whom I have spent nearly my entire college ca-reer. Thank you, Pat Spence, for all you have done for me throughout my time on The Pine Log. Thank you to all of my communication and art professors who have taught me the tools of the trade and for the experience you helped me gain. To all of my friends I have met throughout my time here, thank you so much for all of the great memories. My college experience surely would not have been what it was without you. Thank you to God, my en-tire family and my wonderful husband who have all supported me through my academic and personal endeavors. And finally, thank you, SFA, for helping make me who I am and for giving me all the opportunities that got me here. I’m going to miss you! ✯

Vista Viewpoint

Nicole Hall ’10

By Nicole Hall

College, love and free T-shirtsNicole Hall is a May 2010 graduate from McKinney. Her farewell letter was reprinted with permission from The Pine Log.

Sawdust10

Summer 2010 11

Theatre professor retires after 44 years behind the scenes

By Amy Roquemore

EXITStage Left

Sawdust12

Matthys remembers stepping over the pine trees that now tower over Turner Auditorium on the way to his car after work when they were newly planted saplings.

grow that ambition into something beyond being a student,” Ward said. “He certainly wasn’t the sole mentor I had at SFA, but he really was the inspiration, the starting point for ev-erything. And I still depend on him for professional advice to this day.” Although Matthys is humble about his own accomplishments, he has no problem bragging on the suc-cesses of his former students, whom he keeps in contact with via the on-line social network Facebook. “I have had the most wonderful students in the world,” he said. “Ev-ery single one of them has been fine and unique, and some of them have been outstanding, truly outstand-ing. They have kept me young, and teaching them has been one of the greatest joys of my life.” In his mind, the students have changed little since he first came to Nacogdoches in 1965 to join SFA’s fledgling theatre program. For the most part, they remained curious, respectful and as eager to learn from him as he was to share his

wealth of experience with younger generations. However, SFA now bears little resemblance to the small institution he arrived at as a young teacher more than 44 years ago, anxious and excited about what the

the curtains closed recently on a remarkable teaching career that spanned more than four decades at SFA, impacting the lives and careers of thousands of theatre students and bearing witness to historic growth and change at the university. Tomy Matthys, associate pro-fessor of design in the School of Theatre, retired after a 48-year ca-reer in education. During his 44 years at SFA, he designed more than 250 theatrical productions and supervised several hundred student productions. He served eight SFA presi-dents, all nine deans of fine arts, and all five theatre department chairs and school directors. But, as one former student attests, his greatest contribution to SFA was in helping his students believe in themselves as much as he believed in them. “Tomy’s door was always open – day or night – anytime I needed something,” said Christopher Ward of Dallas, who graduated from SFA in 2007 with two Bachelor of Art degrees, one in drawing from the School of Art and a second in scenic design from the School of Theatre. Since graduation, Ward has done profession-al design work for ESPN, NBC, Nickelodeon and Starbuck’s, as well as vari-ous professional theatre projects. “Once he was satisfied that I was committed to where I was go-ing professionally and how hard I was willing to work to get there, Tomy was always there to foster and

future might hold. “I was just a 25-year-old kid at the time, and it was just exhilarat-ing to have my own theatre and my own classroom and my own design and work areas,” he recalled. “I was so fortunate, so lucky to step in at

that time. What we had was a theatre about to happen – it hadn’t happened yet. A lot of things have changed, but it’s just as exciting now as it was back in those days.” Matthys remembers stepping

With little fanfare,

Summer 2010 13

“I don’t think there is any possible way we can ever truly replace him. Tomy Matthys is one of a kind.”

over the pine trees that now tower over Turner Auditorium on the way to his car after work when they were newly planted saplings. Over the

years, he has witnessed explosive growth, both in the student popu-lation and in the size of the SFA faculty, and watched new buildings spring up all across the campus. But for Matthys, the most ex-citing changes at SFA have taken place within the theatre program itself. Originally an adjunct area of speech, it evolved into a stand-alone department and eventually into the School of Theatre within the College of Fine Arts. Techno-logical advances also have drasti-cally changed the way theatre is both taught and produced at SFA, although Matthys never stopped in-sisting his students learn to draft by hand before learning computerized techniques. For his part, Matthys went from teaching every aspect of theatre, from costumes to lighting to acting to scene painting – even debate, speech, and freshman and sophomore English in the early days – to specializing in his first love, de-sign and technical theatre. “I’ve been so fortunate to have had a wonderful career, most of which was right here, and it’s be-

cause SFA has always continued to grow, continued to expand. It has never been content to remain stag-nant, and I don’t expect it ever will.” Dr. Richard Berry, SFA provost and vice president for academic af-fairs, said Matthys earned a reputa-tion at SFA for his imagination and creativity, for continuously seeking new challenges and, most important-ly, for always putting the needs of his students ahead of anything else. “He is also just a very memora-ble personality who added a distinc-tive touch to the School of Theatre for quite a long time, and it’s very difficult to imagine it without him there,” Berry said. “I don’t think there is any possible way we can ever truly replace him. Tomy Mat-thys is one of a kind.”

Now that he has left the uni-versity behind, the retired professor says he is enjoying attending SFA fine arts productions as a spectator rather than a participant. His own creative energies are now focused on small painting and sculpting projects that he works on at home, purely for the joy of it. Much of his newfound free time also is spent boating on area lakes, gardening and tinkering with an old wooden grandfather clock. “After 44 years, there’s no way leaving SFA could not be emotional for me. But I’ve done good. And it has been a wonderful time, and I have no regrets, so I can move on and let someone else take it from here.”

Sawdust14 Sawdust

For many future students, working toward their college degree at Stephen F. Austin State University would not be possible without financial support. Currently, nearly 10,000 students are pursuing their education at SFA with more than $110 million in financial aid.

Now, thanks to the generosity of our alumni and friends, future students like Bryce will have the chance to reach for their dreams.

Private support to the SFA Alumni Scholarship Fund has helped make possible the $510,000 in scholarships and assistance recently awarded to SFA students through the SFA Alumni Foundation’s scholarship endowment.

Helping make dreams come true

Help promising students like Bryce, a future firefighter, by supporting the SFA Alumni Scholarship Fund today!

SFA Alumni Scholarship FundSFA Alumni Association • PO Box 6096-SFA Station • Nacogdoches, TX 75962

1-800-765-1534 • www.sfaalumni.com/donations

Bryce, Class of 2028

Interested in establishing or donating to a scholarship? Call the SFA Alumni Association to learn how you can make a difference in the lives of students.

Summer 2010 15

ALUMNI CAN CREATE a person-alized @sfaalumni.net SFA e-mail address by signing up for SFA Con-nect, an e-mail forwarding service. Registration is easy. Visit the SFA Alumni Association’s Web site at www.sfaalumni.com, and click the SFA Connect logo on the home page. Alumni must activate their profile on the association’s Web site before creating a personalized SFA e-mail address. Approval of a Web site profile account takes about one business day, depending on when individu-als submit their information. Each person’s registration is reviewed by Alicia Chatman, gifts and records specialist for the SFA Alumni Asso-ciation, to verify his or her relation-ship to SFA. Once their Web site member-ships have been approved, alumni can return to the SFA Connect page

and proceed to the SFA Connect registration page. Since SFA Connect is a for-warding service, not an actual e-mail account provider, users will need an established, active e-mail account. For example, if John Q. Alum has a personal Yahoo e-mail account as JohnQAlum@yahoo.com, he can create a JohnQAlum@sfaalumni.net e-mail address on SFA Connect and share that personalized SFA e-mail address with whomever he chooses. He will set his @sfaalumni.net ad-dress preferences to have all e-mail sent to JohnQAlum@sfaalumni.net forwarded or re-directed to his Ya-hoo e-mail account. SFA Connect users will need to make sure they keep their SFA Con-nect preferences current in order for the service to work properly. Using the earlier example of John Q Alum,

Alumni News

if John deletes his Yahoo e-mail ac-count or switches to another account (Gmail, AOL, etc.) but doesn’t up-date his @sfaalumni.net address preferences to reflect forwarding to his new address, e-mail will not be re-directed. SFA Connect is a joint project of the SFA Alumni Association and SFA Office of Development and was developed by the SFA Office of Information Technology Services. The project has been in devel-opment for several years, and the association is happy to unveil it as a great way for alumni to show pride with each e-mail they send. ✯

Moved? Changed jobs?

New e-mail?Recently married?

Update your alumni record!www.sfaalumni.com

What’s your story?Sawdust is seeking stories about SFA alumni doing great things. Contact us to share your bright idea.

800.765.1534alumni@sfasu.edu

Sawdust16

DEAR LUMBERJACKS, I hope all of you are having a great summer and getting to spend some quality time

with your family. Make sure you wear your SFA clothing on all of your summer trips so it will be easy for fellow Lumberjacks to spot you during your travels. Alumni are the best ambassadors for our great university, so keep a lookout for all of those opportunities to tell people about SFA. Tickets are on sale now for the Lum-berjack/Aggie football game on Sept. 4, 2010. Contact the SFA ticket office as soon as possible to secure your seat and to show our football players we are behind them 100 percent. Please contact the alumni office if we can be of any service to you or your family. Have a great summer! Here to serve my fellow Lumberjacks, Chuck Tomberlain ’84903.445.2943

From the Association

Alumni are the best ambassadors for our great university, so keep a lookout for all of those opportunities to tell people about SFA.

Chuck Tomberlain ’84President, SFA Alumni

Association

SFA ALUMNI ASSOCIATIONOFFICERS

Chuck Tomberlain ’84 - presidentCurtis Sparks ’85 - president-electMike Harbordt ’63 - past president

ASSOCIATION BOARDWendy Buchanan ’85

Don Cox ’71 & ’76Robin Dawley ’77Ryan Emmons ’03

Karen Gantt ’95Doris Havard

Ron Hunt ’91 & ’94Kent Hutchison ’92

Don Keasler ’61Katie Nelms ’05

Susan Roberds ’75Roger Robinson ’92Phillip Scherrer ’99Steve Whitbeck ’75

Chris Woelfel ’95Student Government Association

Courtney Harvey ’10Student Foundation Association

Cole Tomberlain ’11

SFA ALUMNI FOUNDATION GOVERNORS

Mike Harbordt ’63 - ChairmanBrad Bays ’91

Lewie Byers ’68Ford Cartwright ’69

Shirley Crawford ’58 & ’70James Hamilton ’77

Andy Mills ’91Bill Roberds ’75

Chuck Tomberlain ’84

SFA ALUMNI ASSOCIATION STAFFJeff Davis ’02

executive director of alumni affairs(Fundraising)

Rhonda Minton ’90 & ’99director of marketing & membership(Legislative Affairs & Public Relations)

Mitzi Blackburndirector of alumni activities

(Activities & Events)

Katy Crawfordassistant to the executive director

of alumni affairs(Operations)

Rhonda Crim-Tumelsoncommunication coordinator

Emily Payne ’99 & ’01chapter coordinator

Beverly Smith ’96accountant

(Finance)

Alicia Roland Chatmangifts & records specialist

Mo Davis ’09scholarship coordinator

Summer 2010 17

SFA alumni may purchase discounted tickets for select games during the 2010 baseball season at the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

Purchase tickets online:http://www.texasrangers.com/sfa

(password is rangers)

GRADUATING FROM SFA is quite an accomplishment. To honor our hard-working students, the SFA Alumni Association hosted a party for the Spring 2010 graduating class. Students were treated to food, fun and door prizes. We wish our soon-to-be alums many successes. Axe ’em ’Jacks! ✯

Sawdust18

HE’S NOT LIKE the guys in the movies. Actu-ally, he’s better. Maurice Cook has achieved more than most

lawmen in his career, and he’s still growing and going strong. It’s hard to know which event in his life is the most exciting, for he certainly has had many. The 66-year-old can recall even the smallest detail about the time the Texas Rangers were called to the Huntsville Unit of the Department of Criminal Justice prison when three inmates took hostages. The “Huntsville Siege,” which involved inmates Fred Gomez Carrasco, Rudy S. Dominguez and Ignacio Cuevas, ended when two fe-male hostages and two of the three in-mates were killed by law enforcement. “I was a brand new Ranger, and Rangers get exposed to very few situations with that much involvement,” said Cook. “There were five Rangers on the assault team, and that set the tempo for my career.” He moved up the ranks of the Texas Rangers af-ter starting out as a police officer in Clute and later be-coming a Department of Public Safety officer. He had worked in criminal intelligence and auto theft while with the DPS and became a Ranger in 1973. He later moved up to become the assistant com-mander of the Rangers, and in 1992 became chief with 100 Rangers working under him. It is rare for Rangers to be involved in shooting inci-dents, but instead they are more focused on investigating corruption of public officials. Today, their roles have ex-

panded to include Homeland Security, and two locations are now set up within the state. During the Branch Davidian siege in 1993 in Waco, Cook and his team were involved–not in the incident, but in preparing the case for prosecution.

Cook also was involved in the Johnny Paul Penry case, in which the question of whether to put

to death a mentally retarded man was not resolved until his fourth trial. The result

was that Penry was finally given a life sentence without parole. It started in 1980 and ended in 2008. Today, Cook is a Special Texas Ranger, commissioned fol-lowing his retirement in 1996.

He doesn’t dwell on the past, using it instead to teach students in

his law enforcement classes at Alvin Community College, where he is the di-

rector of criminal justice training. In 2005, Cook passed the Texas Bar examination and earned

a law degree, which has allowed him to practice law and use his knowledge to help his students. He finished law school in two and a half years with-out missing one class. “I do better and enjoy things when I am challenged,” said Cook. His résumé is filled with impressive accomplish-ments. He graduated from the FBI National Academy, earned a B.S. from Sam Houston State University and an M.A. from Stephen F. Austin State University. He served four years in the U.S. Air Force and is a Vietnam veteran. His wife, Sherry, is the assis-tant administrator of the Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission. ✯

A TRUETEXAS RANGER

By Kathleen Holton

Reprinted with permission from the Alpine Sun Advertiser

18

Summer 2010 19

GOLFCHAPTERSCAMPUS

JUNE7 Tyler Alumni Golf Tournament,

Holly Tree Golf Club, Tyler

12 SFA Lumberjack Golf Team Golf Tournament, Forest Creek Golf Club, Round Rock

25 Cally Belcher Memorial Golf Tour-nament, Blake Tree Golf Course, Montgomery

JULY16 Houston Alumni Golf Tournament,

Wildcat Golf Club, Houston

30 SFA Alumni Coaches Luncheon, Nacogdoches

AUGUST6 Longview Chapter/East Texas Exes

Golf Tournament, Wood Hollow Golf Club, Longview

JUNE5 San Antonio Chapter at Missions

baseball game, San Antonio

AUGUST6 San Antonio Chapter Freshman

Send-Off Party, University Bowl, San Antonio

10 Longview Chapter Freshman Send-Off Party, Papacita’s, Longview

15 Dallas Alumni Chapter Freshman Send-off Party, Dallas

15 Houston Chapter Freshman Send-Off Party, Home of Sean and Katy Guerre, Houston

JUNE1 Alumni Awards deadline for Dis-

tinguished Professor, Outstanding Young Alumnus and Distinguished Alumnus

10-11 SFA Orientation

11 Alumni Association Board of Di-rectors meeting

17-18, 24-25 SFA Orientation

JULY22-23 SFA Orientation

28 SFA Alumni Foundation Board of Governors meeting

29-30 SFA Orientation

30 SFA Alumni Coaches Luncheon, Nacogdoches

AUGUST5-6 SFA Orientation

13 Alumni Association Board of Di-rectors meeting

14 SFA Commencement

31 Welcome Week Cookout, Pearman Alumni Center

SaturdaySeptember 4, 2010

SaturdayOctober 23, 2010

@ Texas A&M @ Reliant Stadiumvs vs

LumberjackFootballSAVE THE DATES

*Times and dates are subject to change. Visit www. sfaalumni.com for the most recent information.

Upcoming Events

Find more chapter events online atwww.sfaalumni.com

Registration informa-tion online at www.sfaalumni.com/events

Sawdust20

Coffman brings experience to The Garden

By Amy Roquemore

Summer 2010 21

Coffman brings experience to The Garden

By Amy Roquemore

Sawdust22

During her nine-year tenure as an attorney at Coca-Cola, she also spent time living and working over-seas in Oslo, Bangkok and Singa-pore and was involved in several key sports-related transactions involving professional sports teams and the Olympics. Coffman says even with her lifelong love of sports and aspirations of becoming an attorney, the career she now en-joys is not exactly the one she envisioned for herself, although it is certainly in the ballpark. “I went to law school to be, A, a sports agent or, B, a politician, and I am not either of those. But I still think there is potential for that one day in the future–at least the politician part,” said Coffman. “I always played sports growing up, and it was a big part of my family life. So it is great being able to work inside this exciting industry.” Coffman said a sports agent she met by chance at a Fellowship of Christian Athletes event while a sophomore in high school was re-sponsible for first putting the idea of law school into her head. “I asked him how I could be-come a sports agent, and he said, ‘I

IDEALLY, WHEN A student goes off to college, the new school serves as a home away

from home. But in some circum-stances, the campus becomes sim-ply: home. Such was the case for Casey Coffman ’89, whose parents moved out of state shortly after she came to SFA in 1986. The physical separa-tion from her family made the bonds she formed with the university that much tighter, and the connection re-mains strong today. “Most weekends and long holi-days I stayed at college, and the fac-ulty and staff were like a surrogate family to me,” she said. “I will al-ways be grateful to SFA and Nacog-doches for providing me with the educational foundation I needed to be successful.” After graduating Summa Cum Laude from SFA in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts in political sci-ence and communications, Coffman went on to earn her Juris Doctorate with Honors from the University of Texas School of Law in 1992. Her successful career as an attorney and sports executive has since taken her around the world, back to Texas,

and, most recently, on to the Big Apple.

In March, Coff-man was named exec-

utive vice president for business de-

v e l o p m e n t and op-e r a t i o n s for Madi-

son Square Garden Sports

in New York City. Madison Square Gar-

den, known as the world’s most famous sports arena, is

home to the NBA’s New York

Knicks, the NHL’s New York Rang-ers and the WNBA’s New York Liberty. Coffman also works with MSG’s Sports Properties area, which includes college basketball, boxing, tennis and all other sports events held at The Garden and other Madison Square Garden-owned venues. If that weren’t enough to keep her busy, an $800 million reno-vation to The Garden is under way. “With three professional sports teams that represent some of the top brands in their leagues, and an ex-citing planned renovation, I know I am joining Madison Square Garden during a time of great momentum,” Coffman said of her new position. “This job is truly a dream come true for me.” Coffman spent the past decade at Hicks Holdings and Hicks Sports Group in Dallas. Most recently she was chief operating officer of Hicks Sports Group, overseeing the day-to-day operations of professional sports organizations, including the NHL’s Dallas Stars and MLB’s Tex-as Rangers. She also served as di-rector of the Center Operating Com-pany, which operates the American Airlines Center, and supervised the Hicks family’s sports-related real estate developments. Previously, Coffman was se-nior division counsel to The Minute Maid Company at The Coca-Cola Company, and she played a key role in the company’s involvement in Minute Maid Park in Houston.

In March, Coffman was named executive vice president for business development and operations for Madison Square Garden Sports in New York City.

Summer 2010 23

think you should go to law school.’ I realized rather quickly after starting law school that I probably wasn’t going to be a sports agent, but now that I am in the sports industry, things have kind of come full circle for me.” Coffman said another key piece of encouragement she received dur-ing her formative years was from legendary Ladyjacks basketball coach Gary Blair after she attended an open tryout for women interested in walking onto the team. “After one practice (Blair) said to me, ‘I think you would really be better in intramurals.’ That was good advice.” Blair was just one in a long line of SFA faculty and staff members Coffman said helped guide her through her years at the university. She fondly remembers her su-pervisors in the university Post Office, where she worked all three years she attended SFA, as well as her politi-cal science and communication professors. Even the SFA president at the time, Dr. William R. Johnson, played a role in her future success, she said. To make extra money during the summer between her graduation from SFA and the start of law school, Coffman picked up a job in a local fast-food restau-rant. Johnson happened to walk in during her first week on the job and was “mortified” to see one of his top graduates standing behind the counter.

“ T h e n e x t thing I knew Dr.

J o h n s o n had lined

up a summer job for me do-

ing research in the general counsel’s office.

(Then general counsel) Robert Pro-van took me under his wing and re-ally prepared me for what the first months of law school would be like. I will always be grateful to both men for that opportunity.” Coffman also credits her in-volvement in many SFA student organizations with giving her the confidence and leadership skills she

needed to succeed in law school and in life. She participated heav-ily in the Student Government As-sociation and was named Miss SFA in 1989. “I was certainly very interested in politics and government, and be-ing involved in SGA and my soror-ity and intramural sports was very important in giving me ideas about what I wanted to be when I grew up,” she said. “Having those experi-ences at SFA and being able to serve as a leader in those organizations helped me tremendously in the ca-reer path I ultimately chose.” ✯

Coffman was therecipient of the 2008 SFA Alumni Association’s Out-standing Young Alumnus

Award. She currently serves on the advisory council for the SFA College of Liberal

and Applied Arts.

Sawdust24

Jimmy Murphy ‘56 is a consistent and loyal supporter

of SFA. He headed the drive to raise $600,000 for the

Tracie Pearman Alumni Center. In 1989 he established a

$1 million endowment, and recently pledged $300,000

to the SFA Alumni Association. The positive financial

impact Murphy has made on Stephen F. Austin State

University totals more than $2 million.

An unlikely candidate for college, Murphy credits caring

mentors for opening doors to his future. >

Summer 2010 25

Sawdust26

– one pair reserved for Sunday. No one in the family had attended col-lege, his parents only having com-pleted the fifth grade. They were a strict, traditional family. “We grew up a lot quicker than kids do now. We had to mature in a hurry. We had to have a job and re-sponsibilities. I carried a paper route in Tyler, worked at the grocery store and mowed yards. We all worked,” Murphy said. He was not sure what his par-ents would think about him going away to school. When Murphy told his mother Craver’s plan, she said, “If he told you to meet him out there, you be out there.” On the way to Denton that Sat-urday morning, Craver convinced Murphy to apply for college. “You might amount to something,” Craver encouraged.Despite his doubts about higher education, Murphy was ac-cepted by North Texas State Univer-sity on a football scholarship. “I never forgot him,” Murphy said about Craver. “He really cared about his students. He could look at someone and see potential, even if they didn’t know they had it.”

A SURPRISE REQUEST“MEET ME AT the end of the road at 5 o’clock in the morning. You’re going to go to college.” D. T. Crav-er, Chapel Hill School superin-tendent, saw something special in Jimmy Murphy. But Murphy wasn’t sure that Craver had the right guy. He was an unlikely student to re-

ceive Craver’s assistance. M u r -phy’s father was not on the school board and the family was not influ-ential in town. The seventh of 10 children, Murphy grew up poor like many other people in Cha-pel Hill. He and his sib-lings walked to catch the bus to school, and each had two pairs of shoes

The SFA Board of Regents

honored Murphy’s dedication

to the university with the

naming of the Jimmy Murphy

Wellness Center in 1998.

Murphy, a former SFA Regent,

presents a $25,000 check to Jeff

Davis, executive director of the

SFA Alumni Association.

“I am indebted to the people who helped me with my education.”

Summer 2010 27

Jeffries’s kindness left an indel-ible impression on Murphy’s life. “Coach Jeffries was one of the great-est people I ever met,” said Murphy, “and I am indebted to the people who helped me with my education. The people here were extra good to me.” After graduation Murphy was drafted to play professional football for the Chicago Cardinals. “Chicago was OK, but I got hurt and the pay was terrible. I got a $500 signing bonus and earned $5,750 per year. So I only stayed for one season.” PAYING IT FORWARDMurphy moved back to Texas and coached high school football for five years. His three younger broth-ers followed in his footsteps by at-tending college, playing football and coaching. “My brothers were very suc-cessful in the school business, but I got out of the school business,” he explains. Leaving the foot-ball field for the office, Murphy founded The Murphy Company, Inc., a financial services firm specializing in insur-ance, business, tax and estate planning. Although he doesn’t c o a c h anymore , he never forgot his roots. “I’m very pro ath-letics. A suc-cessful ath-letic program does more than any-thing to p r o m o t e

enthusiasm on a college campus,” said Murphy, explaining his support of the Lumberjack football and bas-ketball teams. Each summer Murphy hosts a party on his ranch for SFA coaches, administrators and supporters of the football team. “The food is great. Some say it’s the best bar-be-que they’ve ever had,” said Murphy. He acquired the 1,500 acre ranch much the same way he gained success–hard work. “I grew up on a farm and always wanted to have a farm of my own. I started with four acres, then bought a few acres next to those, then a few after that. It eventually became more than a hobby.” Some of his friends from col-lege attend the party, too. “My classmates at SFA became life-long friends. We’ve attended weddings and been pall bearers at funerals. SFA has always been like another

family to me.” ✯

Murphy was the recipient of

the 1987 SFA Distinguished

Alumnus Award

BECOMING A LUMBERJACKMurphy played football at the school one semester before transferring to Tyler Junior College. TJC football coach Floyd Wagstaff became a mentor and lifelong friend to Mur-phy and, later, his younger brothers. Murphy later transferred to SFA in 1954. Although Murphy was suc-cessful in sports, he had not applied himself academically. His plan was simple. He would take a few sum-mer classes at SFA and bring his grades up before the fall semester began. The only problem with his plan was finances. Murphy didn’t have the $20 enrollment fee. Ted Jeffries, SFA head football coach, made sure Murphy could at-tend summer school. “Coach Jef-fries actually loaned me $20 out of his own pocket. If he had given me the money, that would have broken NCAA rules. But it was a loan, and I paid him back,” recalls Murphy. Jeffries’ loan paid off for SFA, as Murphy became a success-ful player, starting his first year as tackle. Captain of the 1955 football team, Murphy received All Lone Star Conference honors.

Sawdust28

The Louise Grimes Simmons Memorial Scholarship

The Louise Grimes Simmons Memorial Scholarship benefits qualified SFA students with a grade-point average of at least 2.0. Simmons was born Nov. 9, 1921, in Nacogdoches, the daughter of the late William Dennis and Nancy Ella Ward Grimes. She graduated from Nacogdoches High School and attended SFA. Simmons was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Nacogdoches. She was employed as a telephone operator at Southwestern Bell and retired in 1966. Her hobbies included the garden club, Sunday school and church activities. She enjoyed playing dominoes with her friends and family and gardening. Simmons spent time at the Nacogdoches Treatment Center, the Senior Citizens Center and previously taught a Sunday school class at Calvary Baptist Church.

Make the decision to help secure educational opportunities for generations of future SFA students.Contact us to find out how to start creating your legacy today.

Stephen F. Austin State University Alumni Association P.O. Box 6096, SFA Station Nacogdoches, TX 75962-6096

Phone: 936.468.3407 Toll Free: 800.765.1534 Fax: 936.468.1007E-mail: alumni@sfasu.edu Web site: www.sfaalumni.com

THE CAUSE OF LIBERTYStephen F. Austin was a man of great vision. Tempered with diplomacy, his relentless pursuit of liberty for early Texas colonists trans-formed an unsettled badlands into a thriving state. He made a difference in the lives of many by way of his philanthropy, ambition and hard work. Austin’s legacy embodies the cornerstone ideals for his namesake – Stephen F. Austin State University. As SFA moves toward a century of opportunity for young scholars, a keystone of much-needed financial aid is in place. The SFA Alumni Association and SFA Alumni Foundation have provided millions of dollars in scholarships and awards for deserving students. These funds help diminish financial obligations, giving students the freedom to learn. Much like the early Texas settlers, bright scholars need a place to develop and flourish. But each year, many worthy applicants are turned down due to lack of funds. By helping a student experience the intellectual environment at SFA, you can liberate a great mind.

CREATING YOUR LEGACYAs a scholarship donor through the SFA Alumni Foundation, you will ensure your name lives on through your endowed scholarship. The endowment will be held in perpetuity; only the endowment earnings will be used, securing educational opportunities for genera-tions of future SFA students. SFA Alumni Association endowed scholarships may be created with various charitable giving vehicles, including: •Cash Gifts •Gifts of Property/Minerals •Corporate Matching Gifts •Charitable Trusts •Gifts of Stock/Bonds •Bequests & Estate Gifts •Life Insurance Policies •Memorial Contributions

“Ours is most truly and emphatically the cause of liberty, which is the cause of philanthropy, of religion, of mankind; for in its train follow freedom of

conscience, pure morality, enterprise, the arts and sciences, all that is dear to the noble minded and the free, all that renders life precious.”

~Stephen F. Austin, 1836

Summer 2010 29

REGIONAL CHAPTERS

SPECIAL INTEREST CHAPTERSAfrican American NursingAgriculture ROTCInterior Design RugbyTau Kappa Epsilon To find your local SFA chapter, visit www.sfaalumni.com and click on chapters, or contact Emily Payne, chapter coordinator, at emilypayne816@yahoo.com or call (800) 765-1534.

The SFA African American Chapter hosted a reunion April 30 through May 2. More than 150 attendees enjoyed socializing during events on campus and around Nacogdoches.

Stay connected. Get involved.

Have fun.Join a chapter!

Happy HoursNetworkingTailgating

Freshman Send-OffsService Projects

LuncheonsFamily Picnics

Golf Tournaments

Visit our Web siteto find chapter events.www.sfaalumni.com

Austin Coastal BendDallas DenverHoustonLongview NacogdochesOhio

Oklahoma OregonSan Antonio SE TexasTarrant County Tyler Victoria

Alumni Chapters

Sawdust30

“It’s never too late to do

it again if you don’t do

it the first time.”

-Kathryn Taubert

Summer 2010 31

SAWDUST: Your jazz career started at SFA as a singer for the dance band. Tell us about that experience.

TAUBERT: I was just 18 or 19, and I had never sung professionally before. In the school newspaper, I saw a little blurb by the music department, and they were looking for somebody to sing with their dance band. So, I went over there and tried, and they selected me for it.

SAWDUST: What did you do after you graduated?

TAUBERT: I’ve had a rather checkered career. Most people that know me as a singer don’t realize that I was a profes-sional fundraiser for the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation, and then I ended up in management for them. Then I went to work in the insurance industry.

SAWDUST: How did you get back into singing?

TAUBERT: It’s really serendipity. I never expected to be doing this again. To make a long story short, the late Claude Rhea, a piano player, convinced me to do a few tunes with him, and he hired me on the spot. And it sort of took off from there. It was like right out of a novel. This is the man who also convinced me to do my first CD. SAWDUST: Are you surprised to be singing again?

TAUBERT: Yes! I’ve been actually sing-ing in the shower for some 30 years. But I found that it is something like riding a bicycle. You have to practice a little to get your pipes back in order, but Claude helped me do that.

SAWDUST: Do you perform live now?

TAUBERT: Yes, I do, and I have been since that fateful night that Claude con-vinced me to sing. But I do it part time because at my particular stage in life, it’s even harder now for me to stay up past 10 at night.

SAWDUST: You were nominated for an international jazz award. Which category?

TAUBERT: In the Latin Afro-Cuban Jazz category. And it blew me away. I just never expected this. I just wanted to sing once in a while when I started this. When I saw my name on the list with people like Tony Bennett, Nancy Wilson, Michael Buble and others, I was just floored.

SAWDUST: One of our favorite songs on your latest album is “Brazil.” It’s beautiful.

TAUBERT: That’s a great song, and I’m glad you like that because we did that arrangement which is as close to the original that was written in 1937 as you’ll hear. Normally, you don’t hear that recorded. Many artists aren’t re-cording that song anymore because I think they’ve lost track of the original arrangement.

SAWDUST: Are you fluent in Portu-guese and Spanish?

TAUBERT: Not really. I can understand if somebody speaks to me. I grew up in South Texas where Spanish is very often heard, and my older sister who is also a jazz musician speaks it fluently. Once you can speak Spanish, the romance languages like French and Italian and Portuguese come more naturally to you because they have very similar sounds.

SAWDUST: The songs on your most recent album are somewhat biographi-cal. Did you pick these songs, or did they pick you?

TAUBERT: I think it’s a combination of things. I asked my fans on my Web site to give me their favorite tunes, and I would choose at least a third of the songs on my CD directly from that list. People ask me, “Well how do you write lyrics?” I say the lyrics kind of write themselves. The songs tell me what they want to say; sometimes the songs choose me, and sometimes I choose them.

SAWDUST: Who are your biggest fans?

TAUBERT: You would think it would be an older demographic, and that cer-tainly is true, but I’m finding that there are an awful lot of younger people now. I’d say anybody who likes great music with lyrics that tell a story that you can identify with and that you can quite simply understand.

SAWDUST: What advice do you have for SFA music students?

TAUBERT: I’d say get your degree. And if you decide to take on another career, keep your music handy. That is some-thing you can always do. It’s never too late to do it again if you don’t do it the first time. And secondly, I’d say that for those of you who decide to make mu-sic a career, you really want to push. An unknown like me would never have achieved the recognition she did with-out the Internet. Don’t quit. Just decide where you want to put it in your list of priorities.

SAWDUST: Are you going to make another album?

TAUBERT: Well, I’ve been asked that question a lot lately, and I haven’t decided against it. I do have something cooking in the back of my mind. ✯

Since moving to Florida in 2004, Galveston native and 1968 SFA graduate Kathryn McDonald Taubert has recorded two internationally recognized CDs as a jazz vocalist.

Still performing special events with her band, All That Jazz, she also teaches swimming lessons, is a PADI-certified SCUBA divemaster, coaches computer learning for seniors, is a

long distance swimmer and volunteered for five weeks last summer, living with the Ewe Tribe in Ghana, West Africa, for an African economic development program. “Life in the Slow Lane,” her popular blog for the Naples Daily News, consists of Taubert’s observations on just about everything.

Sawdust recently spoke with Taubert about her career as a musician.

Photo courtesy of Vanessa Rogers

Sawdust32

1950C.L. Nix ’56 of W h i t e -house and his wife P e g g y were cho-

sen to serve as Mr. and Mrs. YesterYear.

1970 Stephen Horlander ’77 of Kilgore is senior vice president for Kilgore Na-tional Bank.

N e i l s o n Davis ’74 of Center is execu-tive vice president for Farm-

ers Bank.

Jean Jostes Bryant ’76 of Beaumont was a recip-ient of the Reaud Excel-lence in Education Award presented by the Beau-mont Foundation. Four-teen other recipients also received the prestigious award at the ceremony

Class Notesat the John Gray Library on the Lamar University –Beaumont campus.

1980 Jacquelyn Cleverdon ’88 of Nacogdoches is an RN at Nacogdoches Me-morial Hospital.

Renee Berchey ’87 of Nacogdoches is an MCT at Woodland Heights Medical Center.

Kay Wag-goner ’81 & ’84 of G r a p e -vine is the G r a p e -vine-Col-

leyville ISD superinten-dent.

Stuart Stanley ’88 of Center is the media and broadcast director for Carthage ISD.

Paul and Kimberly Ca-pers Kucherka ’88 & ’02 of Houston announce the Feb. 7 birth of son McCoy Andrew.

1990 David A. Reed ’95 of Nacogdoches is a youth minister at First Baptist Church.

Jeff Jef-fers ’99 of Freder-i cksburg serves as a city coun-cilman.

Angela Shannon ’95 of Nacogdoches is the re-gional president for Agri-Land.

Terry Allen ’94 of Center is senior vice president for Farmers Bank.

Dot Golding ’96 of Center is retiring from Green Acres.

Chris Davis ’91 & ’01 of Rusk is serving a second term as Cherokee County judge.

Dr. Karen Guenther recently received two awards from Mansfield University, where she is a professor of history. She received an award as Outstanding Senior Mentor, nominated by one of the university’s outstanding senior

students, and was commended for her efforts in helping the student achieve her goal--to become a his-tory teacher. In addition, Dr. Guenther received a North Hall Faculty Schol-arship Award for her book, Sports in Pennsylvania.

DR. KAREN GUENTHER ‘80

NIX

• Denny Autrey ’76• Angela Autrey attended SFA ’74 - ’76• Richard Stovall ’02• Amber Autrey Stovall ’03• Julie Autrey Welch ’04• Stephen Welch ’06• Jack Denny Stovall, future Lumberjack

• Haley Autrey, sophomore at Blinn College in Bryan. (The whole family almost disowned her–she wants to be an Aggie.)

A FAMILY OF LUMBERJACKS

NEILSON

WAGGONER

JEFFERS

Summer 2010 33

Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital.

Mary An-d e r s o n ’09 of Na-cogdoches is an assis-tant man-ager at

Chevy Chase Apartments.

Alyse Emerson ’09 of Nacogdoches is employed by Grant Thornton.

Kevin Cota ’09 of Lufkin is an agent for Farm Bu-reau Insurance.

Larry Brooks ’01 of Houston is a real es-tate broker at Brooks and Davis real estate firm.

Michael Johnson ’01 of Irving is a sergeant for the Texas Department of Public Safety.

L o g a n Fountain ’09 of H o u s t o n is a sales executive for Vice

Runner, responsible for commercial accounts in the Conroe and Wood-lands area. Kimberly Conway ’06 of Pennington is county horticulturist for Chero-kee County Commission-ers.

Mark Leach ’03 of Cen-ter is vice president for Farmers Bank.

R o b i n Johnson ’99 of Na-cogdoches is the inter-nal com-m u n i c a -

tions specialist for the SFA Office of Public Affairs.

Lea Ann Gilbert ’94 of Irving has been named to the Texas Library Associ-ation’s Maverick Graphic Novels Committee to se-lect exemplary graphic novels for students in grades 6 through 12.

Doug Parker ’94 of Windsor, Calif., is a dep-uty district attorney for Mendocino County, Ca-lif. He will head the Elder Abuse, Environmental and Consumer Fraud pros-ecutions for the office.

D e a n a Patterson S h e p -pard ’92 of Hous-ton is the associate

vice president of Centers at Lone Star College-Cy-Fair, providing leadership for one off-site campus and another in the con-struction phase.

2000Kevin Martin ’09 of Na-cogdoches is a sales asso-ciate at AT&T.

Arturo P. Rios ’03 of Al-buquerque, N.M., is a for-estry technician with the U.S. Forest Service.

Alicia Lacy ’09 of Na-cogdoches is a GN at

ANDERSON

Dr. Gregory S. Powell, president of Panola Col-lege, has been selected as the 2010 recipient of the National Council for Learning Resources’ Administra-tive Leadership Award. The NCLR, one of the affiliated councils of the American Association of Community Colleges, presents the award each year to one com-munity college administrator in the nation whose ef-forts have resulted in significant support for a learning resources program. “I am truly humbled to be named the 2010 recipi-ent of the National Council for Learning Resources Ad-ministrative Leadership Award,” said Powell. “The M.P. Baker Library is the heart of Panola College, and it has been my privilege to work with many talented people championing the expansion and renovation of this vital asset. Within months of its completion, Zeny Jett, our library director, reported that visits to the Library climbed from 500 each month to more than 6,000 each month. Our library is viewed by our community and our students, faculty, and staff as the place to be on campus.” The award was announced April 18 at the NCLR program during the AACC Convention in Seattle, Wash. As the 2010 recipient, Powell received a com-memorative award and a scholarship in his name in the amount of $500, which will be awarded to a Panola College student. Powell is a member of the East Texas Workforce Development Board, Carthage Rotary Club and the Panola County Chamber of Commerce. He is the immediate past chairman of the East Texas Higher Education Regional Council and serves on the Execu-tive Board of the Texas Association of Community Colleges. Nationally, he serves as a Commissioner for the AACC and as an evaluator for the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Powell also has served as president of several organizations, including the Region XIV National Junior College Athletic Association, the Panola County Economic Development Foundation and the North-east Texas Consortium of Distance Learning.

DR. GREGORY POWELL ’80

SHEPPARD

FOUNTAIN

JOHNSON

BROOKS

Sawdust34

7587 – Joseph A. Eaglin ’02, BS BIO, Houston

7588 – Lisa L. Lowe ’87 BBA OAD /’88 MED SCED, Nacogdoches

7589 – Jerry A. Mullins ’92 BA HIST/’08 MED SCEC, Crockett

7590 – William A. Boozer, Friend, Nacogdoches

7591 – Kymber B. Boozer ’86 BBA MKT, Nacogdoches

7592 – Laura A. Bovo ’94 BSIS INST, Rosharon

7593 – Stephanie G. Hayman ’07 BSIS INST, Dayton

STEVE STAGNER ’91

Leading specialty bedding retailer Mat-tress Firm announced changes to the com-pany’s management team, which included the promotion of five SFA graduates, includ-ing the elevation of Steve Stagner to the position of president and chief executive officer. “Our company’s

success depends on our people, so I am incred-ibly thankful to have this talented team during this transitional period to help support the growth of the Mattress Firm brand,” said Stagner. “The strategic promotions of our sales, merchandising and advertis-ing talent will help facilitate Mattress Firm’s growth in brand awareness and market share.” Stagner has been with Mattress Firm since 2005 when his franchise group, Mattress Firm Elite, merged with Mattress Firm corporate. Named president in 2006, Stagner’s leadership role has included opera-tions, merchandising, sales, marketing and training. In the last three years, Mattress Firm has made six acquisitions, opened five new markets and opened more than 200 stores under the Mattress Firm banner. Under Stagner’s expanded role, he will oversee the day-to-day operations of Mattress Firm and maintain an aggressive growth strategy. “Currently, we have approximately 70 SFA gradu-ates who are part of the Mattress Firm team across the country. We have a long-standing relationship with Stephen F. Austin State University, and we enjoy visit-ing campus several times a year to recruit for our sales and management program,” said Stagner.

LIFE MEMBERS The SFA Alumni Association would like to thank the following alumni who recently became life members. We appreciate your support.

R ich ard and Kris-tin Para-dis ’03 of Nacogdo-ches an-n o u n c e

the Jan. 8 birth of son Jay Alexander.

Miguel A. Hernandez ’08 of Kingwood joined the U.S. Marine Corps.

Lisa Spencer ’06 of Na-cogdoches is a fifth-grade teacher at Nacogdoches ISD.

Robert Smith ’07 of Na-cogdoches is a teacher at Raguet Child Care.

Andrea Tate ’07 of Montgomery is an athlet-ic trainer at North Mag-nolia High School.

Scott O. Stephens ’03 & ’04 of Houston is a teach-er and coach at Houston ISD.

Katie Snyder ’03 of Jacksonville will lead a new agriculture pro-gram at Lon Morris College.

PARADIS

Brittany Green ’09 of Quinlan is an admissions counselor for SFA.

Chris James ’08 of Kingwood is the senior account executive for the Dallas Cowboys.

Amy K. Anderson ’05 of Albuquerque, N.M., was recognized by the New Mexico Music Educators Association with the 2010 John M. Batcheller Award for Excellence in Elemen-tary Music Teaching.

Amyjo Measles ’00 of Fort Worth received a Master of Science in Stra-tegic Communications from Texas Christian Uni-versity in May.

Estrella “Star” Munoz ’09 of Nacogdoches is a pre-k teacher for Nacog-doches ISD.

Brian ’06 and Laura Mahoney ’04 & ’06 of Spring announce the Jan. 14

birth of son Liam Neal.MAHONEY

Summer 2010 35

In Memoriam

Barbara J. Arwood ’58 & ’60, of Huntsville died March 23. She was born Oct. 19, 1918, in Rusk to Grace Guinn Cross and Robert Eggleston Cross, Sr. Arwood lived in Dallas as a child and later in central Texas in the town of Lott where her father was a bank offi-cer. She and her family performed with the community band in Waco. Her par-ents moved to Troup, enrolling her in the demonstration junior high and high

school at SFA where she performed as principal clarinet in the col-lege band. Following her marriage to Aaron Smith and the birth of her two children, Robert Aaron Smith and Barbara Carol Smith, Arwood completed two degrees in English grammar and literature with a special emphasis in mythology at SFA. Arwood was a member of First United Methodist Church, the FUMC Sanctuary Choir, the FUMC Women’s Circle of Nacogdo-ches, Cum Concilio Club and the Newcomer’s Club. The Aaron E. and Barbara Cross Smith (Arwood) Music Schol-arship is endowed through the SFA Alumni Association.

Neal Barton Sr. ’53 & ’54 of Lumberton, March 11.

Blanch C. Biggar ’77 & ’79 of Center, March 5.

Lt. Col. Richard G. Courtney of Nacogdoches, March 20.

Pamela E. Davidson ’81 of Nacogdoches, Feb. 7.

Rev. Donald Carter Dodge ’68 of Marshall, March 7.

Virginia D. Evans ’72 & ’73 of Longview, Feb. 16.

Barbara Hamilton ’73 of Lufkin, Feb. 1.

Jason D. Huffman ’95 of Dallas, April 7.

Charles S. Medley Jr. ’74 of Nacogdoches, March 2.

William S. Mercer ’63 of Seguin, April 4.

Scott W. Owens ’84 of Joaquin, Feb. 25.

Nancy M. Paul ’68 & ’69 of Troup, April 8.

Donald J. Peters ’62 of Longview, March 2.

Robert “Budgie” Romines ’71 of Longview, March 29.

Jerry P. Seilhan ’66 of Dubach, May 3.

Grace A. Shore ’73 of Longview, March 9.

Ila Mae Hancock Simon of Nacogdoches, Feb. 11.

Cathy Lee Streetman of Jacksonville, Nov. 29

Marie A. Westerman ’54 of Lufkin, March 23.

The In Memoriam section in the spring issue incorrectly

listed John Streetman ’71 as deceased. Sawdust regrets

the error.

L. Bruntze Boudro of Nacogdoches died March 11. He was born Oct. 5, 1926, in Batson to Erly Jane Spillers and Joseph Sylvester Boudro. He was hon-orably discharged from the U.S. Navy in 1945 and retired from Exxon where he worked for more than 30 years. Bou-dro was past master of Utopia Masonic Lodge and a member of Milam Lodge No. 2. Boudro was a 32nd degree Scot-tish Rite Mason. Being a faithful Chris-

tian, he loved his Sunday school class and leaves behind many be-loved friends. The Bruntze and Lorine Boudro Scholarship Fund is endowed through the SFA Alumni Association.

Lauren Alston ’10 of Lufkin died March 7. She graduated with hon-ors from Lufkin High School in 2006. Alston was pursuing a degree in hospi-tality management at SFA. She was a member and officer of the Phi Upsilon Omicron Honor Society and volun-teered with numerous charitable organi-zations in Lufkin and Nacogdoches. She grew up attending First United Method-ist Church of Lufkin.

One of her favorite quotations comes from C.S. Lewis, “If I find in myself a desire which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only probable explanation is that I was made for another world.” Alston knew Jesus and through her actions shared His love. The Lauren Alston Scholarship Fund is endowed through the SFA Alumni Association.

Sawdust36

Join us for a pre-game tailgate at Reliant Stadium.

Reserve your room at the J.W. Marriott – Galleria Area$99 per night (SFA Fan Rate)

Call (713) 961-1500 or book online at http://tiny.cc/reliant

Summer 2010 37

Sawdust38

Summer 2010 39

SFA Alumni AssociationPO Box 6096, SFA StationNacogdoches, TX 759621-800-765-1534 • (936) 468-3407Fax (936) 468-1007 • alumni@sfasu.edu

ONE Scholarship

ONE New Member

ONE Donation

ONE Proud Family of Lumberjacks

Join the SFA Alumni Association today and make a difference in the life of an SFA student! Are you the one?Power of ONE

The Stephen F. Austin State University Alumni Association understands how the power of one can make a difference at SFA.

Association Membership• $25 Current Student Annual• $25 First-Year Grad Annual• $50 Annual Member• $75 Joint Annual (Husband/Wife)• $400 Student Life Membership (for students & first-year grads)• $750 Life Membership• $1,000 Joint Life (Husband/Wife)• $500 Senior Life (65 years+)• $750 Joint Senior Life Membership

Visit www.sfaalumni.com for the list of membership advantages

ADVERTISEIN SAWDUST

Place your business in front of thousands of SFA alumni.

Call to find out more about advertising opportunities in Sawdust magazine.

800.765.1534www.sfaalumni.com

caps | gifts | drinkware | tote bagsclothing | auto accessories | and more!

GET YOURSFA GEAR!

www.shopsfa.com

A portion of the proceeds from ShopSFA goes to support the SFA Alumni Association

Sawdust40

Sawdust would like to know more about this SFA photo. If you can help, please contact:

alumni@sfasu.edu800.765.1534

All Hail to SFA

We received many calls and e-mails about the All Hail

photo in the spring issue of Sawdust. We will share the

details in the upcoming fall 2010 issue.{

Summer 2010 41

World-renowned artists andsuperb university talent are

showcased throughout the year in our art galleries and on our concert and theatre stages.

Check out our full line-up at

www.finearts.sfasu.edu

or call 888.240.ARTS

Follow us on Twitter @SFAFineArts

COLLEGE of FINE ARTS

STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITYNAC O G D O C H E S, T E X A S

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PAIDStephen F. AustinState University

Stephen F. Austin State UniversityAlumni Association P.O. Box 6096, SFA StationNacogdoches, Texas 75962