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1930s-1959

Rheba Martin Icenhower (BS ’50, MED ’52) was recently presented with the Phi Delta Kappa Service Key for her many years of leadership in the A&M-Commerce Chapter. The Service Key is presented by the International Board, upon recommendations of the local chapter, to a member who has leadership and service activity both to PDK and in education. She has been a longtime chapter officer and is a faculty member in the Department of Elementary Education at A&M-Commerce.
Bobby L. Benefield (BS ’60) was recently re-elected as school board representative in Plaquemines Parish, LA. This is his third term.
Marlin “Cooter” Ingram (BS ’58) was inducted to the A&M-Commerce Athletic Hall of Fame Oct. 25. He was a member of the East Texas State Teachers College Lion football team of 1952, which compiled a record of 10-0 in the regular season and was invited to play in the Tangerine Bowl in Orlando, FL, winning the national championship.

1960-1969

Norm “Mule” Hinson (BS ’60) was inducted to the A&M-Commerce Athletic Hall of Fame Oct. 25. He was a member of the East Texas State Teachers College Lion football team of 1952, which compiled a record of 10-0 in the regular season and was invited to play in the Tangerine Bowl in Orlando, FL, winning the national championship.
Jerry Richardson (BBA ’61) lives in Commerce and his daughter, Amy Richardson, graduated summa cum laude with a BA degree from Dallas Baptist University Aug. 9.
Lawson White (BS ’61) is CEO of Farmers’ Electric Cooperative and has been elected chairman of the board of directors of Texas Electric Cooperatives, Inc., a statewide service organization for Texas’ 75 electric cooperatives.
Betty Davis (BA ’62), daughter of Dr. Frances Davis and the late Frat Davis of Sulphur Springs, has moved from New Braunfels to College Station where she will begin teaching at Texas A&M University this month. She will be working with students who plan to pursue a career in the teaching profession and will be affiliated with the Department of Teaching, Learning and Culture in the College of Education. During the 27 years she has devoted to public education, she has served as classroom teacher, department head, assistant principal and assistant to the superintendent.

Dr. Michael B. Atkins (BS ’63, MS ’66) has been selected as the new dean of the Western Michigan University College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. He has served as chairperson of WMU’s Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering since 1998, and in September 2001, he took on additional duties as the college’s assistant dean for external relations and facilities.

Dr. Genevieve Brown (BA ’63, MA ’68, EDD ’79) has been promoted to dean of the College of Education and Applied Science at Sam Houston State University. She has been at SHSU since 1984, serving as acting dean of the College of Education and Applied Science there, as well as professor of education, coordinator of secondary education and chair of the Department of Educational Leadership and Counseling. She also played a pivotal role in establishing the first doctoral program for the College of Education and Applied Science in 1997.
Wesley J. Valek (BA ’63, MA ’65) retired Aug. 31 from Cisco Junior College after 37 years. He served as chairman of the History Department for 34 years.
Dr. Vicki T. Davis (BS ’64, MS ’67) recently retired after 35 years of service at A&M-Commerce in various positions on campus. She most recently served as interim provost and vice president for Academic and Student Affairs.
Dr. Dan I. Ives (MED ’65, PHD ’71) is serving as the interim superintendent of Royal (TX) ISD. He previously was superintendent for Lamar CISD, retiring in December 2001.
Dr. John Costello (BS ’67) opened his OB/GYN practice at Bastrop Medical Center and began serving Smithville Regional Hospital, Smithville, TX in July. He has spent his entire career since 1975 in Fort Worth, with his own practice and at the city’s three large hospitals.
Charles Hale Wickersham (MS ’67) married Shelly Denise Brown Dec. 15, 2001 in Dallas. He is an instructor at Mountain View College.
Judy Kay Crawford Babcock (BS ’68) is the coordinator, Special Education Services, for Region 16 Education Service Center in Amarillo. She was previously Director of Elementary Programs for Canyon ISD, Canyon, TX. She and her husband, Bobby N. Babcock (BS ’68), reside in Groom, TX where he is president and chairman of the board at State National Bank.
Dorothy Hopson (BS ’69) is librarian for Morris Upchurch Middle School in Atlanta, TX. She was previously employed with Arp ISD.

1970-1979

K. Michael Conaway (BBA ’70), CPA, of Midland, has been elected Chair of the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy for 2002-2003.
Jean (Nela Eugenia Jones Garber) Magness (BS ’71) has been elected chairperson of the board of the Miss Texas Organization. She recently completed a one-year term as president of the National Association of Miss America State Pageants, a national organization of more than 100,000 volunteers. She was the third of only three presidents to come from Texas since the Miss American Organization began.
Jean Trout (BS ’71, MS ’82) is principal for grades pre-K through second at Hooks Elementary School, Hooks, TX. She has been with Hooks ISD for 20 years.
Tony Daugherty (BS ’72, MS ’79) is superintendent of Tioga (TX) ISD.
Kerry Garmon (BS ’72, MED ’78) retired in December 2002 from Saltillo (TX) Schools after a 33-year career. He began as a teacher/coach in 1970, was promoted to principal in 1973 and became superintendent in 1986.
Linda LyBrand (BS ’73, MED ’82) retired in August after 30 years in Texas public schools, 13 years as a teacher and 17 years as an administrator in Wills Point and Mabank ISDs. She and her husband, Herschel LyBrand, purchased Pemberton Funeral Home, now called LyBrand-Pemberton Funeral Home, in Commerce Sept. 6.
Robert Dale Miller (BMED ’73, MM ’78) is chair, Department of Music, at Arkansas State University. He is married to A&M-Commerce former student, Nancy Thompson Miller, and they have four children and four grandchildren.
Jo Gudger Murphy (BS ’74, MED ’76) received her EDD from the University of North Texas Dec. 14. She is currently serving as principal of Wilma Fisher Elementary in Frisco ISD. Fisher opened as a new K-5 campus in August 2001. She and her husband, George, live in Oak Point near Lake Lewisville.
Mary Lou Hazal (BS ’75, MPA ’80) received second place in news releases-news and third place in news or feature release-multiple release by the National Federation of Press Women in September.
Mark Weir (BS ’75) teaches geography at Queen City High School in Texas.
Ken Crutchfield (BS ’76) is the Equal Employment Opportunity coordinator at A&M-Commerce.
Lanny Tillery (MBA ’76) is senior account manager for the Gulf Sales Division of Whirlpool Corporation and was recently the recipient of the first annual Whirlpool Industry and Community Service Award, recognizing his leadership excellence in trade associations and community activities. He serves as the associate national director for the National Association of Home Builders and is a life member of the Greater Little Rock HBA Associates Council. He is the only two-time winner of the Associate of the Year for the GLRHBA. He is an NAHB Spike with over 200 membership credits. He resides in Benton, AR.
Suzanne Woodley Carter (BS ’77, MS ’98) left A&M-Commerce as dean of Enrollment Management Aug. 30 to relocate to Marshall, TX. She had been with the University since 1991.
Tim Evans (BS ’77, MED ’85), principal at Mount Vernon Intermediate School, was installed as president of the District VII Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association in July. He is in his 26th year as a staff member at Mount Vernon ISD.
Linda Watkins (MS ’77, EDD ’92) is serving as interim president at San Jacinto College South in Houston. She was previously vice president of instruction and student services at the college.
Curtis Culwell (MED ’79, EDD ‘91) is superintendent of Garland ISD.
Dr. Jay M. Lightfoot (BS ’79) was recently promoted to professor and appointed Chair of the Computer Information Systems Department at the University of Northern Colorado. He has been with the university in the CIS department for 12 years. He and his wife, Nancy, have three children and reside in Greeley, CO.

1980-1989

Larry Goddard (BS ’80, MS ’91) has left A&M-Commerce after 17 years of service with the following job titles: Assistant to the Provost-Special Projects; Associate Vice President-Development; Executive Director-A&M-Commerce Foundation; Director of Development and Development Officer. He has relocated to Tyler, TX.
Curtis Hill (BBA ’80, MS ’95) is counselor at The Victoria College, Victoria, TX. He was previously the tech prep coordinator for Dallas County Community College.
Gary Durham (BS ’81) is coach and athletic director in Ranger, TX.
Linda Timmerman (BS ’81, EDD ’91) is vice president for Institutional Advancement at Navarro College in Corsicana and the executive director of the Navarro College Foundation. In August she was named by Gov. Rick Perry to the Trinity River Authority, which is responsible for developing and conserving the surface water resources of the Trinity River Basin.
Virginia Daugherty (BS ’82) teaches special education at Edgewood High School in Texas.
Dr. Mike Ryan (MED ’82, EDD ’95) is principal on the Senior Campus of Memorial High School in Victoria, TX, one of the largest high schools in Texas. He has 24 years of experience in education.
Paul Allen (BS ’83) is principal for Deport High School, Deport, TX. He has coached and taught for the past 15 years, nine years at North Lamar, eight years at Corsicana and two years at Pearland.

David B. O’Lenick (BS ’83) married Deann Elise Jacobson Nov. 9. He is a senior sales manager for Interstate Hotels and Resorts, Inc. in Irving