Tracey Wolfe, an Alumna who got her bachelor’s and master’s degrees here in 1973 and ’76 has been named chairwoman of the Foundation Board of Directors. She follows Bill Adams, who passed away in January (see p. 12).
Tracey, a Rockwall resident who is president of Wolfe Distributing Company in Terrell, Texas, is a longtime supporter of her Alma Mater. In addition, two new members have joined the Foundation board: Phil Dyer, who is president of Legacy Bank in Plano, and Maxine Flatt of Tyler.

Two Alumna named in new endowment
for early education majors
The Foundation is proud to announce the establishment of the Jill & Virginia Bardwell Endowment. The endowment, which will support students majoring in early childhood education, was recently set up by Dr. Jill Bardwell (M.Ed. ’69), who taught education at A&M-Commerce until her retirement in 1998.
Jill established the fund in honor of her mother, Virginia, who was a double 1950 Alumna, receiving her bachelor’s in May and her master’s a few months later, both in business. Virginia went on to teach business classes at Blossom and Prairiland schools and finally at Paris Junior College.
“We have such a need for people who will become teachers of young children,” Jill says. “It’s my hope that this endowment in my mother’s memory will help at least one person become an excellent teacher who will go out and affect the lives of children—and hopefully more than one such teacher, as we add to the endowment.”
Jill’s drive for teaching the youngest students led her to become one of the first—and youngest—people to hold a Ph.D. in early childhood education in Texas. She was only 27 when she earned her doctorate at Texas Woman’s University.
As the importance of reaching children early in their lives gained widespread attention, Jill was in demand as both a speaker and writer. The reputation she built as an expert in the emerging field resulted in her being named a 1977 Outstanding Young Woman of America and the World’s Who’s Who of Women.
And her accomplishments don’t stop there. She also developed a scale to measure sex-role stereotyping in young children that still is in international use.
Jill holds at least three other firsts, two relating to the fact that she is among the charter faculty at a couple of ET locations: Texarkana and the Metroplex Center. In 1973 she helped open the doors on the ET sister school in Texarkana, and in 1974, she did the same for the Metroplex Center at its original location in Dallas. It was the Metroplex Center where she would stay for 26 years until her retirement in 1998, and actually she has continued to teach several classes there.
The third first is that from 1986 to 1992 she was the first permanent director of the Federation of North Texas Area Universities. The federation is a consortium of A&M-Commerce, North Texas and Texas Woman’s universities established to enrich the variety of graduate degrees available. All three of those three institutions conferred degrees upon Jill—just one of many reasons why it’s easy to see she would be chosen as its inaugural permanent director.
Her passion for the teaching, however, ultimately compelled Jill back to the college classroom full time, where she would mentor two generations of educators.
“I was only 54 when I retired,” Jill says with a laugh. “But it seems as if I hear ‘Dr. Bardwell! You taught my mother!’ all the time.”

Another remembrance
The Foundation has started receiving gifts in memory of Dr. Stephen Razniak (see p. 14.) Many remember Dr. Razniak, an esteemed science professor who taught chemistry here and was recently named a Dean Emeritus. He had served as dean for the College of Arts and Sciences until his 1999 retirement. For information on Dr. Razniak’s, the Bardwell fund, or any other endowment, please contact the Foundation Office at 903-886-5712.

Alumnus help at the helm
A&M System, stepped in for Chancellor Howard Graves during during the chancellor’s illness and surgery to remove tumors from his left lung in mid-January. The System reports that the chancellor has recovered well from surgery and is now undergoing chemotherapy. He is back at work full time, spending most of his time these day

Mr. McBrayer proves pivotal
Under the heading “A Revolutionary Type,” Texas Highways magazine noted the passing of Staley McBrayer (BS ’33), for whom the University’s instructional print facility is named (see the summer ‘02 Pride), as one of the pivotal events in the state last year. Alongside Mr. McBrayer was listed another notable S.M.—Neiman Marcus founder Stanley Marcus.

Queen Latifah?
How about Queen Candace!!

Candace Minor, a junior education major, is one of the lucky homecoming queens in the nation chosen to be featured in the April issue of Ebony magazine. Queen Latifah may claim the cover, but it’s our own Queen Candace who steals the inside show. When Candace showed up for her photo shoot by University photographer Dave Walvoord, she was royally attired from head to…um, ankles. To see the more glamorous version, go to page 148 of the Ebony feature “Black College Queens 2003.” There you can see for yourself that she’s the fairest of them all.

Many A&M-Commerce Alumni among those making play possible for children at center, in housing

New playground structures at the Children’s Learning Center and Family Housing were made possible by many in the University and Commerce communities, including a number of Alumni.
The structures, valued at $10,000 each, were installed at the Learning Center and in the family housing area.
Donators are recognized as Playground Patrons, Friends, or Supporters determined by the level of funding they gave. Playground Patrons are Jimmy Mack & Amy Doster, First United Methodist Church Foundation, Kappa Delta Sorority, Kiwanis Club, Keith & Nancy McFarland, Mike & Debi Moses, Pan-Hellenic Council, A&M-Commerce President’s Office, Jim & Claire Reynolds, A&M-Commerce Foundation,and Wal-Mart. Playground Friends are ARAMARK Corporation, Russell & Lee Armstrong, Dale & Betty Bedgood, Cypress Bank, Brent & Melissa Dyer, Dyer Insurance Agency, Inc., Kendall Healthcare Products, Phillip & Leslie Kilgore, Janice King, Kenneth & Joyce McCord, the Provost’s Office, and Dr. Tom Selvaggi.
Playground supporters include Afflatus Culture Club, Aglaia Culture Club, April Showers Florist, Bank One, Michael & Renee Bates, Eddie & Roberta Brister, Brookshire Grocery Company, Carillon Culture Club, Jay & Dianna Champion, Coterie Culture Club, Ted Crim, Scott & Diane Downing, Drake Furniture, Danny &Janet Duncan, Don & Stacy Dyer,

Shirley Erb, Phyliss Flash, and Jeanette Foust. Also, Kenneth & Evelyn Foust, Harry & Virginia Fullwood, Dale & Carol Funderbunk, Millie Gadlin, Gamma Phi Beta Sorority, Jack & Gladys Gray, Guaranty Bank, Don & Marcia Hakala, John & Debra Harper, Paul & Julie Harris, David & Luann Huffman, Ron & Jan Huffstutler, Jerry & Sandra Hutton, Inwood Bank, Jan’s Hallmark, Hoyle & Ann Julian, and Mathew & Rebeccah Kanjirathinkal. Also, Gary & Loretta Kibler, Mrs. H.M. Lafferty, Derek & Rhonda Lambert, Howard & Freda Lambert, Jerry & Joan Lambert, Latson’s Printing Company, Lions Club, Lone Star Pizza Works, Louise Drake Garden Club, Bill Martin Jr., Bill & Adele McCarron, McDonald’s Restaurant, F.H. “Bub” McDowell, Carolyn McFarland,Mark & Rhonda McFarland, Joe & Jody McIntier, Jerry & Marilyn Morris, Taddy Morrison, Beatrice Murphy, and Finnie & Deborah Murray.
Also, Chuck & Dottie Myers, Jo Ann Thompson Parkman, Robert & Janet Peek, Jack & Beverly Pirkey, Sue Porter, Trezzie & Peggy Presley, Psychology Club, Rotary Club, Michael & Mary Beth Sampson, Rick Selvaggi & Tina Fletcher, Philippe & Georgia Seminet, Steve & Glenna Siebenhausen, Sigma Chi Fraternity, Bud & Wendy Smith, Charles & Sharon Smith, Pete & Mary Smith, Frances Street, Temerario’s Mexican Restaurant, Thalian Culture Club, Dixie Turman, Mark & Robin Von Schwarz, Williams Motors, Inc., and Christopher & Kathy Yancy.