Keeping Up With You, Our Alumni, Faculty and Staff

1930s-59

Jo Ann Durham (BS ’56) has been included in Who’s Who in American Art, 2001-2002. In September, a painting “Eternal Symbols” was juried into Encaustic Works ‘01 Biennial at the Muroff Kotler Visual Arts Gallery at Ulster County College in Stone Ridge, NY. In October, one work will be exhibited at the Dennos Museum in Traverse City, MI. She will be presented, at this time, the “Nautilus Fellowship” from the International Society of Experimental Artists.
Helen L. Harvey (MED ’58) retired in 1987 after 35 years of teaching. She now works for Westate Research Company.

1960-69

Gary Duncan (BS ’61, MED ’67) reached a milestone birthday on July 28, 2001. Helping celebrate at the home of Danny Duncan (BS ’67, MS ’70) and Janet Duncan (BS ’67, MED ’70), were his wife, JoAnne Reagan Duncan (BS ’60, MED ’70), Charlie Lyles (BS ’60, MED ’60), Anne Lyles (BS ’60), Jack Pirkey (BS ’58, PHD ’70), Beverly Pirkey (BS ’63), and James and Mollie Moore (Former Students). These Ogimas, Artemas, Kalirs, Tooanoowes, friends and family had lots to talk about.
Lawson White (BS ’61) was recently elected secretary/treasurer of the Board of Directors of Texas Electric Cooperatives, Inc., a statewide service organization for Texas’ 79 electric cooperatives. He is CEO of FEC Electric Cooperative.
Joe K. Gordon (BS ’62) is currently serving as president of the Arlington (Texas) Bar Association. He received his JD in ‘1969.
Penny Murphy (MS ’62) will be presenting a lecture/recital, “The Mikrokosmos of Be’la Bartok,” at 4:00 p.m., January 20, 2002 in the University Memorial Auditorium, University of Florida in Gainesville. Her daughter, Kate Murphy, recently graduated cum laude with simultaneous degrees in English and Fine Arts.
Larry Hazal (BS ’65, MS ’66) is assistant professor in the Environmental Science Academy at Southern Arkansas University Technical School in Camden. He has been recognized for teaching excellence with the NISOD Award. He is a Hunt County native.
Gary P. Johnson (BBA ’65) has retired three times, but is back in the rental real estate business in Temple, TX.
Fred A. Haskett (BS ’66, MS ’73) is the director of client relations for the Jessie H. Jones Graduate School of Management at Rice University in Houston.
Suzanne Hickman Jackson (BS ’66) retired in the spring, 1999, from the teaching profession after 28 years. She taught grades three and four, and seventh- and eighth- grade language arts. She has conducted writing workshops for the past twenty years and has taught writing classes at San Diego State University. She and her husband, Bob, have two grown children and three grandchildren.
Edward M. (Mike) Talley (BA ’66, MA ’73) retired on May 31, 2000 after 29 years with the Texas Department of Transportation. He began his work in the Travel Literature Branch, but moved to the staff of Texas Highways magazine in 1976. In 1996, he became the Travel Publications Branch Supervisor. In 1997, he became the first recipient of the Lone Star Award.
Dr. Jack Lassiter (BBA ’68, MS ’69, EDD ’78) has been named executive vice president of the University of Arkansas System. He held the position of chancellor at the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville since1998 and, in his new position, will work closely with all 13 divisions and campuses within the System. He and his wife, Judy, have three children—Joel, Heather and Leigh.
David Hinds (BS ’69) was recently appointed to the North Central Texas Workforce Development Board.
Sheri King Priddy (BS ’69) recently left the University of Houston for a position with Austin Community College as the manager of their San Marcos site. She has anticipated her retirement by opening an RV park in the beautiful Texas Hill Country, catering to individuals wanting a serene, natural atmosphere with deer and other wildlife.
Mary Mozingo Reeves (BS ’69) took an early retirement from teaching in the public schools. She has completed her Master Gardener certification in Baton Rouge, LA. She has also become a member of the Beatrix Potter Society in London, England and serves as a Beatrix Potter reader. Her husband, Dr. Michael Dan Reeves (BS ’70), is president/CEO of the United Methodist Foundation of Louisiana in Baton Rouge. He also serves as an Adjunctive Professor at Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas and lectures nationally for the Christian Stewardship Association. His first book, Extraordinary Money: A Guide to Understanding the Church Capital Campaign, is scheduled for release in March 2002.

1970-79

Dr. Julia Warren Ballenger (BS ’70, MS ’73) is assistant professor in the Secondary Education and Educational Leadership Department at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, TX.
Marvin D. Page (BS ’71, MS ’75) recently graduated from the Auctioneering Institute at Texas A&M University-Commerce.

Janis Black Carloy (BA ’72, MS ’80) was named Teacher of the Year for 2001-2002 at McCulloch Intermediate School, Highland Park ISD. She is the fifth- and sixth-grade Language Arts Department chair. She is in her 23rd year of teaching sixth graders at McCulloch and her 27th year of teaching middle school.
Ben Craver (BBA ’72) was recently appointed to the position of director of development at Wayland Baptist University, Plainview, TX.
Mary Noreen T. Hayes (BA ’72, MS ’79) has a private practice as a LPC, is partially retired and is enjoying life.
Alton Biggs (BS ’74, MS ’79) is biology teacher at Allen High School. He has written the top-selling biology textbook for 1991, used by 45 percent of all Texas school districts. His accomplishments were highlighted in a July 2001 article in the Dallas Morning News.
M. T. Hartman, Jr. (MA ’74) was named director of the Chattanooga Office, US LEC of Tennessee in 2000. He recently moved to Walden, Signal Mountain, TN with daughter Ashley.
Virginia Hurse (BS ’74) teaches kindergarten for the Perryton ISD.
Dr. Marvin D. Kuehn (EDD ’74) was recently honored by the Teachers College, Emporia State University, Emporia, KS for outstanding achievement in the areas of instruction, service and scholarly activity. He is professor in the Department of Counselor Education and Rehabilitation Programs.
Judith (Judy) Cranford Summers (BS ’74) has accepted the position of vice president for Health Promotion and Advocacy for the Arthritis Foundation, North Texas. The Foundation serves 29 counties in North and East Texas (including Hunt Co.). Her area covers educational programs for patients, the public, and healthcare professionals; the volunteer program; all marketing, public and community relations; local, state and national advocacy efforts and professional training programs.
Nancy Bell (BA ’75) is a mystery writer and has had several books published by St. Martin’s Press. Her books have been mentioned in People Magazine and several other media. She resides in Pittsburg, TX.
Dr. John Carter (BS ’75, MS ’76, EDD ’95) was recently named principal at West Rusk High School, New London, TX.
Johnny Hicks (BS ’75, MA ’77) is teaching Spanish for the Mount Vernon ISD, Mount Vernon, TX.
Nan Brewer Sulser (BS ’75) received recognition for 25 years of service as a teacher for the Chapel Hill ISD. She is the Family Consumer Science Career Preparation teacher and is the assistant director/costumer for the One-Act Play.
Terri Procell Bowen (BS ’76) received recognition for 25 years of service as a teacher for the Chapel Hill ISD. She teaches Theatre and is the One-Act Play director. The play advanced to State competition during 2000.
Pamela Jo Powell Bryant (BS ’76, MED ’78, MED ’00) is beginning her second year as principal at Cheatham Middle School in Clarksville, TX. Over the past 25 years, she has held the positions of special programs facilitator, TAG teacher, high school cheerleader sponsor, kindergarten, second-grade teacher, and sixth-grade math teacher.
Mary Hicks (BS ’76, MED ’81) is the high school counselor at the Mount Vernon ISD, Mount Vernon, TX.
Vincent Lum (BS ’76, MS ’82) is the superintendent for the Allison (TX) ISD. He has 26 years of experience in education.
Lew Blackburn (BMED ’78, MED ’89) was sworn into office for District 5 (East Oak Cliff and West Dallas) of the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees in June 2001. He has 15 years of experience in education, beginning as an instrumental music teacher with the Dallas ISD at Johnston Elementary School in Oak Cliff, and later serving as an assistant principal at Edison Middle Learning Center in West Dallas. Since 1999, he has been on the faculty at Texas A&M University-Commerce in the Department of Educational Administration teaching graduate courses.
Boyce N. Pearson (MM ’78) has been teaching music education for 21 years in the Little Rock, AR school district. He coordinated the 2001 summer “BOOST” program for the district.

Don Petty, II (BA ’78) works as a freelance photographer in the Dallas area. His work has led him to cover the Davidian tragedy in Waco, the 1984 National Republican Convention in Dallas, and an assignment outside Caracas, Venezuela. His assignments include those for government officials, as well as one for a governor in Mexico. He has sold cityscapes of Ft. Worth and Dallas nationally. He is married, has two daughters and lives in the Dallas Metroplex.
Terry Singleton (BS ’78) is the vocational agriculture teacher with the Azle ISD.
Sylvia Clemons (BS ’79, MED ’81) helped to establish and now serves as vice president of The Oasis, A Life Skills Center in Odessa, TX. She had previously been in private practice as an LPC and LCDC for 13 years. The Oasis focuses on helping people achieve positive changes in their lives through interactive classes for adults and adolescents.
James Lile (BA ’79, MA ’82) is the artistic director for the Cultural Center, which will be developed at Cooper Lake. He was chosen for this position from a pool of 21 applicants from across the United States.
Carolyn McCain (MS ’79) was recently named secondary Teacher of the Year by the Chisum ISD, Paris, TX. She has 30 years of teaching experience.