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		Dr. Kayla Price
	Director, Alumni Relations; Executive Director, Alumni Association

New employees join Alumni Office

A&M-Commerce has welcomed two new faces to the Office of Alumni Relations. Jane Martyn is the new assistant director of Alumni Relations, and Priscilla Merriman is the new events coordinator.

Jane says she is enjoying her work. “I feel right at home,” she said.

A Greenville resident for 13 years, she worked for Arthur Andersen LLP in Dallas and at Presbyterian Hospital of Greenville before starting work at A&M-Commerce.

While at Arthur Andersen for 13 years, she held various positions focusing on maintaining relationships with former employees to encourage business with them, marketing, employee recruitment, and client relations.

At Presbyterian Hospital of Greenville, Jane served as employment/ compensation coordinator.

Her husband, John, works in sales with DFW Movers and Erectors in Fort Worth. Jane has a son, Chris Manlove of Austin, who is a former A&M-Commerce student; two granddaughters; and three stepchildren.

In her spare time, Martyn is an avid quilter and enjoys collecting fabric and antique sewing machines. She and her husband are members of the Greenville Antique Car Club and are working on restoring his grandmother’s 1949 Dodge Wayfarer.

Priscilla’s duties will include working with some of the University’s most popular alumni events—Homecoming and the Alumni Golf Classic.

Priscilla spent her first few weeks familiarizing herself with the University.

“I’ve been looking back at records to see what has been done in the past and what the traditions are,” she said. “I want to honor University traditions.”

She said she enjoys public relations. “You never get bored with what you are doing,” she said. “And it also involves working with people and volunteers, and coordinating with lots of people, and I enjoy that part of my job.”

Priscilla and her husband live in Sulphur Springs, and they have three grown children. Their oldest son, Michael, is a master sergeant in the Army and is a helicopter repairman. He is currently stationed in Iraq slightly northeast of Tikrit, the place where Sadam Hussein was captured.

Their daughter, Kathleen, earned her B.S. from A&M-Commerce and is currently in the Air Force learning to become a navigator. Their youngest son, Casey, lives at home.

May we leave a legacy as Ken did

In the world of alumni relations, legacies are very important. We commonly think of legacies as the children or grandchildren of our graduates or former students.

Universities love to see legacies matriculate because it reconnects the parents to the university and creates a family of alumni.

Legacy students have the benefit of all their parents’ stories about college life, and they already understand many campus traditions. Theirs is a rich heritage that benefits us all.

There is a second kind of legacy that is also important to a university. My 1958 copy of Webster’s Dictionary defines it as: 1) something coming from an ancestor or predecessor, and 2) a gift of property by will or bequest.

Legacies can be left by faculty, staff, students, friends and employees. They may or may not be monetary.

On Feb. 14, our University lost one kind of legacy and gained another. My dear friend and colleague, Ken Woodall, passed away unexpectedly. As the son of two graduates, Ken was a legacy. He attended East Texas State and later graduated from Texas A&M in College Station.

As a 21-year employee and the associate vice president for Facilities Management, Ken left a visible legacy to our campus. He and his staff worked tirelessly to keep our campus beautiful and functioning properly. Trained as a landscape architect, Ken had an eye for making the University look more appealing.

As we look around campus, Ken’s artistry and good taste are evident in so many ways. He was instrumental in the redecoration of the Heritage House, the design of the Heritage Gardens, and the refurbishing of the Founders Lounge and Heritage Room.

Ken was a key player in the planning of the new alumni center that is detailed earlier in this Pride. It’s difficult to imagine how we will ensure the center is as magnificent as it certainly would have been under Ken’s watchful eye.

Alumni tended to gravitate toward Ken. He was a true people-person, and folks enjoyed talking with him and bouncing ideas off him. He was wellrounded: intelligent, articulate, rugged, refined, visionary, artistic, and determined.

I already miss working with Ken, but I know he has left a permanent mark on the University. For that, we are all grateful.

From Ken, I find two messages defined in his life and passing: 1) Never knowing when they will be taken from me, I should appreciate my family and friends, and 2) The best-lived lives leave a legacy for future generations.

From me, I offer one message to Ken: Thanks for the lovely legacy you left behind for us at A&M-Commerce.

When Alumni spend, Alumni can also earn

By registering your favorite Visa or MasterCard with a marketing company, you can give to the Alumni Association. Here’s how it works:

1. Register your card online. It’s free, easy and secure.

2. Every time you shop and have your card swiped at participating merchants, a refund is created.

3. You get a portion and so does the Alumni Association. It costs you nothing and it is a great way for you to lend financial support to the Alumni Association and its scholarship program and other services. You can register up to four credit cards through our Web page at: www.tamu-commerce.edu/alumni/Support_Future_Gen.htm

Commerce Chapter Christmas party—Dec. 15

The elves of the Commerce chapter met at the home of President and Mrs. McFarland for a bit of holiday cheer. Chapter members toured the decorated home, feasted on snacks prepared by members, and celebrated the season with fellow Alumni.

Alumni Association Executive Board—Jan. 6

The board discussed the agenda for the Jan. 31 meeting.

Commerce Chapter Board—Jan. 22

The board discussed the chapter scholarship and calendar of activities.

Alumni Association Board—Jan. 31

The main agenda topic for members of the Alumni Association board was the proposed alumni center, including building plans and timelines.

DA Chapter Executive Committee—Feb. 7

The Distinguished Alumni Chapter’s executive committee discussed projects, including the bronzing of the 1929 resting lion, a chapter newsletter, and the chapter scholarship.

Dinner Dance Planning Committee—Feb. 12

Committee members gathered in Commerce to write personal messages to social club Alumni.

Dinner Dance Planning Committee—Feb. 23

Members met at Chubby’s in Dallas for a final discussion of details for the Dinner Dance weekend.

Commerce Area Alumni Chapter—Feb. 26

Dr. Thad Anglin, dean of Enrollment Management, was the guest speaker for the meeting held at the Guaranty Bank Community Room.