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The Columns 1
 The Columns of East Central University
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Fall 2010
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2 The Columns
Has it been a year already?

From the President’s Desk

July 1 marked my first anniversary as president of East Central University. The time has simply
flown as I have been privileged to get acquainted with our students, faculty and staff as well as the citizens of
Ada and many alumni in Oklahoma and Texas.
Kay and I are very happy to be in Ada. People here are great.
I have come to believe that educators have the greatest of all professions. They get to share their knowl-
edge with a new group of young people every year and watch as the light bulbs go on in their minds. I am
convinced that our educators are more approachable and caring than those at almost any other college or
university.
I love working with students. Their spirit and enthusiasm are contagious.
I also love hearing all the stories from alums and friends about ECU. I have my own, of course, but
hearing others’ stories binds us together as Tigers and, I think, shows we are part of something bigger – a
continuum of history and traditions as one generation blends into another.
Did I mention that I love East Central University more than ever?
And one of our own, Gen. James D. Thurman (’75), was promoted to four-star general in June and
took over huge responsibilities for thousands of American soldiers. I am thrilled to announce that he will be
in Ada for Homecoming. He will be our parade marshal and will attend the Homecoming football game. I
want to invite you to be here as well.
This year has been a wonder beyond my wildest imagination.
Enjoy the campus with me – see you at homecoming.

John R. Hargrave, J.D.

President, East Central University

The
TheColumns
Columns 3

Presidential Inauguration Date Set
John Hargrave knew last year
when he was thinking of returning to East Central
University to become its eighth president that, as
Paul McCartney once put, it was time to, “Get back,
get back, get back to where you once belonged.”
Now, after a little over a year on the job, he
will take his turn with the mace and medallion,
ceremonial symbols of leadership and responsibility
entrusted to the president, to continue what he
hopes is the “last job he ever has.”
President Hargrave’s formal inauguration will
take place the afternoon of Nov. 19 in the Ataloa
Theatre, Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center. The
public is invited to the ceremony and reception
which follows in the Bill S. Cole University Center.
“This inauguration is not just for me and my
family, but for the family of ECU,” Hargrave said.
“I look forward to celebrating another page of our
institution’s history.”
Hargrave came to this conclusion a long way
from home.
Traveling last May with Dr. Mara Sukholutskaya,
professor of English and languages, on her 10th
anniversary trip to Ukraine and Russia for ECU
students and community members, Hargrave was
taken with the grandeur and permanence of the
Russian culture.
The artifacts of the czars and the history they
represented made him realize that an institution’s
traditions are all part of the fabric of its history.
“The pomp and circumstance were essential to
show publicly that this is how we do business,” he
said.
The inauguration in the fall would become yet
another piece of the
fabric that is the history
“Get back to where you once belonged.”
of the family of ECU.
Hargrave’s saga at -- Paul
44 The
The Columns
Columns
ECU began in 1973. His four years were typical of
any student, any year.
As a student, he was given the sense that he
was wanted at the university, that he was family
and that he would be taken care of, a sense he
would like to pass on to current students.
Fond memories include rushing to the Memorial
Student Union to make sure he got his favorite spot
in the crowded booths and then finding it hard to
leave to go to class.
“I can still hear the loud voices of the happy
students,” he said. “They are wonderful memories.”
He remembers Billie Floyd not only teaching
him tennis and how to bowl but encouraging him
to take ballroom dancing. He remembers history
professor Dr. James Harris giving him his first
raw oyster and teaching him to approach life as a
gentleman.
“I would like to make sure that our students
have some of those experiences to prepare them
both socially and culturally,” he said.
When ECU broke the barriers for students
with disabilities, he was proud to be a part of that
experience.
“It taught us to be accepting and tolerant to
students with physical challenges,” he said.
If current students tell him that ECU is a
suitcase college and that everyone goes home on
the weekends because there is nothing to do on
campus, he is reminded of the Student Senate’s
attempt to keep students on campus with a “Don’t
Go Home This Weekend, Weekend.”
One of his favorite memories is Gary Childress
running for homecoming queen and the national
media attention it garnered.
At first the administration did not want a man
to tarnish the tradition of homecoming queen, but
mindful of the ensuing uproar, they decided to allow
it. The talk of the campus was who was going to
kiss him if he won. Naturally, the captain of the
football team was out.
“The stadium was on fire with excitement the
evening of homecoming,” Hargrave said. “It was
one of the most exciting things that happened
on campus. It was decided that Student Senate
president Becky Gallup would do the kissing
honors.”
However, the kiss never happened because
Gary was the first runner-up.
President Hargrave left ECU in 1977 when he
graduated with honors with a major in speech and
sociology.
Now as president, one of his main goals is to
expand activities that will not only bring potential
students to campus to become part of the ECU
family and share in their own memories but to
encourage alumni to return and share their favorite
moments.
Hargrave would like to encourage the entire
ECU family to heed
the words of Paul
McCartney and “get
McCartney back” to ECU.
The President’s Circle
round-up
July 16, 2010
Wintersmith Lodge

The
TheColumns
Columns 5
 Dr. Bill S. Cole,
Longtime ECU President Remembered president emeritus of East
Central University, died March
10 in Ada after a battle with
cancer.
His funeral service was
held at the First Baptist Church
in Ada, followed by a memorial
service at Redlands Community College in El Reno
where he also served as president. He was buried
in El Reno.
“The entire ECU family mourns the passing of
Dr. Bill Cole,” ECU President John Hargrave said
after learning of his death. “He was a great leader
with great vision and East Central University has
flourished because of his leadership.”
Cole, 72, was ECU’s sixth president from 1989
until his retirement on June 30, 2006. That was the
first day he had not been president of a college or
university for 30½ years, since 1976 when he was
named president of El Reno Junior College, now
Redlands Community College.
“Dr. Cole loved being a president and he cared
deeply about those who worked for him. His sense of
loyalty and ability to support us had no boundaries,”
said Dr. Duane C. Anderson, ECU provost and vice
president for academic affairs. “I worked for him for
“Dr. Cole loved being president and he cared
deeply about those who worked for him.”
66 The
The Columns
Columns
27 years, and personally, I miss his counsel and
advice. His impact on my professional life was
immeasurable. He was a credit to this university
and to this community.”
Cole came to ECU after budget cutbacks
caused by the oil bust of the early 1980s postponed
maintenance and repairs to campus buildings.
Not only did he have to tackle those problems, he
helped build new academic programs and kept
abreast of the technology revolution, which he said
was the biggest change during his presidency.
He also established relationships with people,
agencies and organizations that helped enhance
the university as it relied more on grants and private
gifts to attract high-quality faculty members and pay
for physical improvements.
He oversaw 21 construction, renovation or
expansion projects, 16 endowments of chairs,
professorships and lectureships, approximately
$100 million in grants, the growth of the ECU
Foundation, Inc. from less than $2 million to
approximately $20 million in assets, and ECU’s
entry into NCAA Division II athletics.
Cole was called a builder because something
on the campus was undergoing either repairs,
renovation or construction most of the years he
served as president.
His construction projects included the
Linscheid Library and the University Center, which
was renamed the Bill S. Cole University Center on
Feb. 26 by the Board of Regents of the Regional
University System of Oklahoma. The largest project,
the $27 million Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center,
was under construction when he retired. Cole was
instrumental in securing a $5 million gift from Hallie
Brown Ford to get that project underway.
Cole, the first person in his family to go to
college, could count about 40 degrees earned by
those in his immediate family and their spouses
when he retired.
He received an associate’s degree from
Eastern Oklahoma State College in 1957, a
bachelor’s degree in education from ECU in 1959,
a master’s degree in natural science from the
University of Oklahoma in 1965 and a doctorate in
education from Oklahoma State University in 1973.
He was born in Stuart and grew up in McAlester.
He graduated from McAlester High School in 1955.
He taught biology at Putnam City High School
from 1959 to 1964 and science at Purcell High
School from 1965 to 1967. He was chair of the
Science Department at Redlands from 1967 to
1975, then assistant dean of instruction until he
was named president in 1976.
Cole held numerous leadership positions,
including two terms as chair of the Council of
Presidents, an advisory council to the Oklahoma
State Regents for Higher Education, and two
Bill S. Cole University Center
terms as president of the Presidents’ Council for
the Board of Regents of the Regional University
System of Oklahoma.
He was a member of the Board of Directors of
the ECU Foundation, Inc. He was a past president
of the Ada Area Chamber of Commerce and served
on the Boards of Directors of the Ada Area United
Way and the Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce
and Industry. He was a member of the Ada Sunrise
Rotary Club (Paul Harris Fellow) and of numerous
professional and civic groups in Ada and El Reno.
The former ECU president was inducted into
the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame in
1996, the Oklahoma Educators Hall of fame in
2005 and the ECU Educators Hall of Fame in 2007.
He received the Distinguished Leadership Award
in 2005 in Washington, D.C., from the Council of
Opportunity in Education for his service to federal
TRIO programs.
Cole is survived by his wife Sondra, their five
sons, Brent, Page, Rhys, Wade and Drew, and their
families, including 11 grandchildren.
The family designated two funds for memorials,
the Dr. Bill Cole Presidential Scholarship Fund
through the East Central University Foundation,
Inc. or the Falls Creek Building Fund through the
First Baptist Church of Ada.
The
TheColumns
Columns 7
 Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. (left) removes Lt. to a four-star general at the U.S. Army Forces Command at Fort
Gen. James D. Thurman’s three stars in order to promote him McPherson, Ga. Thurman was accompanied by his wife Dee.

GENERAL
Gen. James D. Thurman (‘75) Takes Over largest Army Command
By Jill Frye

If he were a civilian, Gen. James D.
Thurman would be the equivalent of the
CEO of a major corporation – a very
major corporation with approximately
245,000 employees in 120 countries
and another 13,000 in the United States.
He travels around the world to talk with
them, attends high-level meetings, makes
operational and budgetary decisions and
develops strategies for success, just like
other CEOs.
But Thurman’s
responsibili-
Cover Story ties go a little
deeper, affect-
ing the very lives
of thousands of Americans,
not to mention national security.
His employees are soldiers who work in
treacherous situations, and he is very much
aware that each one is also someone’s son
or daughter, parent, husband or wife.
On June 3, Thurman, a 1975 graduate
of East Central University, was promoted to
four-star general and took over command
of the U.S. Army Forces Command
(FORSCOM) at Fort McPherson, Ga. It is
the Army’s largest command.
Gen. Thurman will be
parade marshal at
Homecoming on Oct. 9
Basically, he’s in charge of all U.S.
Army troops outside Iraq and Afghanistan.
“My command is responsible
for 237,000 active duty and 560,000
reserve component soldiers,” Thurman
said. “We are responsible for their
training, mobilization, deployment and
sustainability. The bulk of operational
forces inside the Army rests inside this
command.”
FORSCOM, which also has 3,500
civilian employees, oversees three Army
corps and eight of the Army’s 10 divisions.
“Our job is to train that force to send
into Iraq or Afghanistan right now,” he
said. “The bulk of that rests with me. It’s
a huge mission. We provide Gen. Petraeus
with combat units that are properly

8 The Columns
Above: Following Fort McPherson tradition, Gen. James Thurman, Charles Campbell inspect the troops at the change of command
Maj. Gen. Jeffery Hammond, FORSCOM chief of staff, and Gen. ceremony. Below: Gen. Campbell congratulates Gen. Thurman.

manned, trained and equipped. While this generation of young people

“We can never send someone’s son differs from others, “I’ve got to tell
or daughter into combat without being you,” he said, “I have observed them on
properly equipped, properly manned or the battlefields, and the men and women
properly led. That’s a rule with this soldier today, they really want to do a tremendous
from southern Oklahoma.” job, and they are doing it.”
FORSCOM is an Army command They understand the Army’s core
responsible directly to the chief of staff values, he said.
of the Army. It also is an Army Service “It’s all about leadership,” he
Component Command that reports to the explained. “How you build units and build
Joint Forces Command in Norfolk, Va. – a winning attitude. It’s amazing to watch
the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines. what they do on any given day.”
“I’m the Army component of that,” the Celebrities who visit troops in Iraq
general explained. “When they need Army and Afghanistan often comment on the the environment they’re going into. We
forces, they come to me.” soldiers’ dedication, patriotism, focus and train a lot virtually now with web-based
Tens of thousands of FORSCOM politeness. software and simulators. As we get
soldiers are deployed ready to send units into
every day to Operation
Iraqi Freedom, En- “ You never stop training, even in combat. You’re Iraq or Afghanistan, they
are getting the very best
during Freedom in constantly conducting an after-action review of what training.
Afghanistan or other you’ve done, and what you can learn from it. This is a “We are more culturally
locales around the aware today,” he added.
world, and in the Unit- requirement in this nature of fighting.
“We’re doing more with
ed States to support
homeland defense by It’s a pretty tough enemy. ” language training. We
have to be culturally adept.
protecting key national Gen. James D. Thurman We are more adaptable,
assets, assisting in civil more agile. I’ve seen a
defense and helping “That speaks to their quality,” huge change.
protect against terrorism. Thurman said. “It gets back to the basic “Everybody has a GPS today. We
They also provide assistance abroad values we have in the Army. We inculcate are fully instrumented today and fully
following such crises as tsunamis and that in every soldier – loyalty, duty, digitized. I’m not using a grease pencil
earthquakes and after hurricanes at home. respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and a map any more.”
By the time Thurman took command, and personal courage. You’ve got to Even mine-resistant vehicles have
FORSCOM had overseen the training, demonstrate that and the warrior ethos: training packages, he said. Soldiers train
readiness and deployment of more than Always accomplish your mission, never with weapons simulators and with trainers
832,000 soldiers since the terrorist attacks accept defeat, never quit and never leave a who have been “in theater” to learn what
on the United States on Sept. 11, 2001. fallen comrade.” is needed for real-time training.
Thurman said training has really “At the end of the
Leadership advanced since he entered the army in day, there’s a
1975.
“Nobody joins the Army to lose,” the
“Our combined training centers are
soldier be-
hind all that.
Cover Story
general said.
“When someone enlists, we’ve got world class,” he said. “They use role I tell everyone
an obligation to provide good training, playing and are fully instrumented. that with confidence
leadership and equipment.” Soldiers train on the ground just like in yourself, confidence in your

The Columns 9
 equipment and confidence in your leader-
ship, you’ll be able to do anything.”
Experience
Thurman was an Army aviator for
15 years, flying AH-64 Apache attack
helicopters. He has commanded at all
levels, up to the top corps level, with most
of his career focused on training.
“I was director of Army training at
the Pentagon, and as the deputy chief of
staff, G-3/5/7, I was operations officer for
the U.S. Army for Gen. George Casey and
the secretary of the Army. As a colonel, I
worked at Fort Irwin, Calif., and ran the
National Training Center.”
He also has served as the commander
of a troop in the 11th Armored Cavalry
Regiment, a squadron in the 2nd Armored
Cavalry Regiment and another in the 3rd
Infantry Division, a brigade in the 3rd
Infantry Division, the National Training
Center’s Operations Group, the 4th
Infantry Division and V Corps in Germany.
His army and joint staff experience
includes serving as assistant to the chief
of staff for plans and policy, Allied Forces
Southern Europe, Regional Command
South in Italy; chief of operations for
the Coalition Forces Land Component
Command C3 in Kuwait; and director of
the Army Aviation Task Force.
His combat assignments were as a
battalion executive officer in the 1st Cav-
alry Division during Desert Shield/Desert
Gen. Casey (center) passes FORSCOM’s
colors to Gen. Thurman (left) during
ceremonies at Fort McPherson. Gen.
Campbell looks on.
Storm from 1990-91; chief of operations
for the Coalition Forces Land Component
Command during Operation Iraqi Free-
dom from 2002-03; and the Multi-Nation-
al Division-Baghdad Commander in 2006.
How It All Began
Thurman played football at Marietta
High School and many of his leadership
analogies relate to building a successful
football team. He also worked for Willis
Choate, publisher of the Marietta Monitor.
“I helped print that paper,” he said.
“I never will forget that. It was one of my
first jobs.”
When it was time to go to college,
Thurman wanted a school that offered
ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps)
training.
“Second, I didn’t want to go to a
big school,” he said. “Third, I went up
there (ECU) and there was a friendly
atmosphere. They had the things I wanted
to study.”
His older brother, J.W. Thurman, was
Soldiers and civilians
of the Army Forces
Command watch in a
FORSCOM building
atrium as Army
Chief of Staff Gen.
George W. Casey
Jr. promotes Gen.
James. D. Thurman in
a ceremony held just
before the FORSCOM
change of command.
Military photos courtesy
of U.S. Army
a captain in the Army who had served in
Vietnam and was going to ECU through
the Army’s Bootstrap Degree-Completion
Program. He is a retired colonel who now
lives in Elizabethtown, Ky.
Thurman majored in history because
it tied in with the military. He minored in
accounting, but didn’t like it as much as he
had expected.
“Dr. (Palmer) Boeger was the director
of the History Department,” the general
remembered. “We had some very good
instructors in history. I ate that up. I
had a very good experience with all my
professors. They were there to help you
learn.”
Thurman enrolled in ROTC and was
offered a scholarship as a sophomore.
“When I got that ROTC scholarship I
was offered the opportunity to go to OU
and OSU. I chose to stay at ECU. I think I
did okay,” he said with a smile.
“If I had it to do over again, I would
come to ECU. I got a very good education.
It was a springboard to move forward to a

‘He had the mark of a good commander’

Jim Hamby once harassed a four-star general.
Of course, James D. “Jim” Thurman was only a freshman at the time and a cadet in ECU’s ROTC
program.
“I was his Cadet Corps commander,” Hamby said. “Now I tell him, ‘All your successes are because
of what I taught you,’” Hamby said with a laugh. “He says, ‘Yeah, right.’”
Thurman was two years behind Hamby at ECU. Hamby was very good friends with Thurman’s older
brother, J.W. Thurman, a decorated Army captain who had come to ECU through the Army’s Bootstrap
Degree-Completion Program.
“J.W. was a helicopter gunship pilot who had done one or two tours in Vietnam. He had been shot
down four times,” Hamby said.
The younger Thurman ran around with the two upperclassmen.
Cover Story Hamby, now the chief executive officer of Vision Bank in Ada, didn’t imagine that James D. Thurman
would become a general, but he knew Thurman had a bright future.
“He had the mark of a good commander,” Hamby said. “He is a leader of men. He’s very smart. He’s
an extremely hard worker. He leads by example and his troops follow him because they respect him.”

10 The Columns
 Command
Philosophy
Thurman’s Six Imperatives –
1. Discipline – you can’t do
anything without that. That goes
back as long as there have been
armies.
2. Training and leader
development.
3. Maintenance – of yourself
and your equipment.
4. Leading – leaders leading
5. Caring about the soldiers
and their families.
6. Risk management – the
ability to protect soldiers, the
human dimension.
very good career.”
Because of his success in his career
and personal life, Thurman was named
an ECU Distinguished Alumnus, the
university’s highest honor, in December
2008. He gave the Commencement address
for fall semester graduates.
As a student, he worked for campus
security and lived in Pontotoc Hall (and
remembers Mrs. Thompson, who “made
sure your room was clean”) until he
married his high school sweetheart, Dee,
in 1974.
“I could not have done this without
her support,” the general said of his career.
“We’ve moved 26 times. We just saddle up
and go.”
There will be another move for
the Thurmans in the near future. Fort
McPherson is scheduled to be closed and
FORSCOM will relocate to Fort Bragg,
N.C., next year.
The Thurmans have two daughters.
Jaime is married to Lt. Col. Miles Brown.
They have two children, Abigail and
Andrew. Carey is married to Maj. Scott
Thomas who is serving in Iraq. They have
two children, Tyler and James.
“We’ve had someone (in our family)
in Iraq since the war started in 2002-03,”
the general said.
A Good Career
Thurman never intended to be in the
Army for 35 years.
Thurman, then a three-star general, visits with ECU faculty members after being named an
ECU Distinguished Alumnus and giving the Commencement address in December 2008.
“There have been times when I thought
maybe I ought to get out,” he admitted. “I
saw (the Army) as a way to get in and get a
good start to progress to a good career.”
That is what motivates many soldiers,
he said.
“Inside Forces Command, we’ve met
our retention goals for the year,” he said.
“A lot of folks are attracted to the military.
You can get a good education and benefits.
They see it as a way to a good career. It can
help you out later in life.
“I was at ECU when they stopped
the draft. I’ve watched us build an all-
volunteer force. We’ve been in nine years
of war and we’re holding it together.”
It all equates back to good leadership
and the right benefits to take care of
soldiers’ families, he said.
“The Army is the place to be. I’ve
learned so much in the Army. The human
dimension is so much of what we do.”
Thurman also earned a master’s degree
in management at Webster University
through the Army.
“As I look back, I would do it again,”
he said. “I would not change one thing I’ve
done. It’s been a challenge, but nothing is
easy.”
The change of command ceremony
on June 3 was held on Hadeiken Field
at Fort McPherson. Thurman succeeded
Gen. Charles C. Campbell who retired
after 40 years of service. Soldiers from the
1st Cavalry Division Horse Detachment,
dressed in 1870-era cavalry uniforms,
led horses onto the field for Campbell,
Thurman and Gen. George W. Casey Jr.,
secretary of the Army, to review the troops
on horseback.
“It was quite a day,” Thurman said.
“Fort McPherson is a historic installation.
It was held on the polo field where they
used to play. They were keeping alive
some of the traditions. All the commands
were represented on the field. It was quite a
deal. Many family and friends were there.
Some of them had never seen anything like
that.”
He said he would build on Campbell’s
leadership and move to the next level.
“As I come into this job, I’m bringing
35 years of experience,” he said. “I
just take this job like all the others – do
the best I can. It’s an honor to serve our
great country, to move up to the level of
leadership the civilian leaders expect.
“You should never take yourself
seriously,” he added. “You can’t change
(just because you have a more prestigious
job).”
Thurman doesn’t know what lies
ahead in his career.
“I haven’t thought about it,” he
said. “I’ve got so much to do. So much
responsibility. At this level you serve at the
pleasure of the chief of staff of the
Army and the president.
You just give it
all you’ve
got and do Cover Story
the best job
you can to provide
leadership.”
The Columns 11
New Business and Confere
East Central University has
taken yet another step in building
for the future.
Plans are in the works for a
new Business and Conference
Center. The facility will not only
enhance the ability of the campus
and community to host conferences
but will house ECU’s school of
business.
Located at the gateway
entrance to campus, the center
will be adjacent to the Hallie
Brown Ford Fine Arts Center
and Centennial Plaza. It will be
within walking distance to the Arts
District of Ada.
Financing for the project is
more than halfway completed.
12 The Columns
“We received a $1.5 million
FEMA grant,” said ECU President
John Hargrave.
The projected construction cost
of the building is $11.1 million.
As of now $7.4 million has been
secured in pledges or gifts. An
additional $3.7 million needs to be
raised.
Sponsorship opportunities are
available for anyone who would
like to contribute to any part of
the center. Classrooms, offices,
lounges, conference rooms, etc.,
can be named after the donor or for
a loved one. Anonymous donations
can also be made.
Currently there are several
major donors involved in the
project.
“In this day and age, there
is no limit to the amount of
technology and costs associated
with a conference center.
Therefore, even long after the
building is completed, there will
be opportunities for sponsorship,”
Hargrave said.
The 51,300 square-foot
building will be three stories high
with the first floor housing a multi-
use conference center capable of
ence Center
banquet seating for 500 people. A
synergistic learning center, small
business development center,
campus police office, food court
and community safe room will also
be located on the first floor.
The second floor will primarily
contain the School of Business
classrooms and student lounge.
Each classroom will be equipped
with state-of-the-art technology.
The third floor will consist of
the dean’s office, faculty offices,
conference rooms, computer labs
and a student work area.
“ECU’s school of business
has long enjoyed an outstanding
reputation as the best in the
area,” Hargrave said. “Having a
modern facility filled with modern
technology and innovative new
approaches will guarantee its
legacy for years to come.”
The added pedestrian traffic the
new center will generate and the
enhanced conferencing technology Hotels and restaurants will benefit.
it will provide will be consistent Everyone will benefit.
with the dream of a viable arts “I look forward to continuing
district. the partnership with the people and
“Enhancing Main Street is organizations that have made the
a priority to the city of Ada and dream a reality,” he said.
the university,” Hargrave said.
“More people will come to Ada.
Two ECU Alums
Return to Campus
Wendell Godwin (‘84), has
been named the dean of ECU’s
School of Business. Godwin was
a senior business executive who
directed all sales functions in an
18-state area for a national For-
tune 1000 company.
Dr. William R. (Rudy) Lewis
(‘62) has been named acting direc-
tor of university advancement at
ECU. Lewis has been in higher
education for most of his profes-
sional career, beginning in the
1970s when he was dean of stu-
dents at ECU.
Together, Godwin and Lewis will help finalize fund-
raising for a new school of business and conference
center. Several naming opportunities are available. For
more information call 580-559-5537 or 580-559-5274.
The Columns 13
TOMPKINS PRESIDENT, CEO OF KANSAS BOARD OF REGENTS
Dr. Andy Tompkins, a 1969 graduate
of East Central University, has been
named president and CEO of the
Kansas Board of Regents, the governing
board for the state’s six universities
and the statewide coordinating board
for Kansas’ 32 public higher education
institutions. inducted into the Kansas Teachers Hall of
Tompkins, called a highly respected
leader in the education community in
Kansas and beyond by Kansas education
leaders, assumed the position on June 1.
His leadership abilities, educational policy
expertise, public service and knowledge
of Kansas higher education were cited for
his selection.
He had been the dean of the College
of Education at Pittsburg State University
since 2007.
Tompkins began his career as a high
school English teacher in Pauls Valley in
1969, became a high school principal and
was the superintendent of three different
school districts from 1977 to 1994. He was
an interim dean and associate professor
at Pittsburg State University from 1994
to 1996, the commissioner of education
for the Kansas State Department of
Education from 1996 to 2005 and an
associate professor at the University of
Kansas from 2005 to 2007.
He was named the Kansas
Superintendent of the Year in 1992 and
Fame in 2001. In 2002 he received the
Governor’s Award from the Kansas State
High School Activities Association and
the Leadership Kansas Alumnus of the
Year Award.
Tompkins received the KU School of
Education Alumni Distinguished Service
Award for exemplary service to the fields
of education or human services in 2004.
The award recognized the outstanding
leadership Tompkins provided throughout
the state and nation on behalf of children,
teachers and public education.
He was inducted into the Mid-
America Education Hall of Fame at
Kansas City (Kan.) Community College
in 2007.
Tompkins also has served as a
Kansas commissioner to the Education
Commission of the States since 1995.
He received a bachelor’s degree
from East Central University, a master’s
degree from Emporia State University
and a doctorate from the University of
Kansas.

Evening of Hono

Dr. Davis D. Joyce, professor emeritus of
history, received the Distinguished Former
Faculty Award. He taught at ECU from 1987
to 2002.
The 2010 distinguished alumni are August Petersen (center
photo), a senior partner, officer, board member, investor and
consultant to numerous Texas business ventures and a faculty
member at the University of Texas, and Randy Grinnell, the
deputy director for the Indian Health Service, part of the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services.

14
14 The
The Columns
Columns
 ECU Helps Hinkle Find His Direction
by Mike Hinkle
There aren’t many people who can
point to a precise moment in time when
their life takes a permanent turn for the
better. I can. It was 10 minutes to four,
Tuesday, June 4, 1974. I was meandering
down the hall of the administration
building at ECU when O.J. Collins
bumped into me as he backed out of the
financial aid office. Lucky for me, this was
the day he had to leave the campus 10
minutes early. Let me back up a minute.
I was just passing through town
that day. I had no job, no fixed place
of residence, no plans, no car and no
money. In the six years since I graduated
from high school, I had been a soldier,
a truck driver, a bartender, a wandering
minstrel, a vagabond, an itinerant grape
harvester in France, a preacher, a part-
time college student and a petty criminal. I
just couldn’t seem to find an occupational
shoe that would fit.
My old friend Fred Ury was working
for Southwestern Bell in Ada and,
returning from some aimless wanderings
around southeast Oklahoma, I decided
ors & Recognition
April 23, 2010 ~ 6 p.m. ~ ECU’s Stanley P. Wagner Ballroom
The Distinguished Family Award was presented to the Clements-Compton
Family, actually two families who are connected by marriage and as former
ECU football players.
to stop on my way to Oklahoma City and
let him treat me to lunch at Folger’s. He
persuaded me to stay a few days and
we’d go to OKC together that weekend.
After lunch, he went back to work and
I spent some time loitering around the
campus. I was winding up my tour of the
campus when I bumped into O.J.
Being the gentleman he is, he asked
if there was something he could do to
help me. O.J. inquired if I’d like to attend
school at ECU.
Timing was perfect as classes started
the day before and I could hit the ground
running.
I explained that I’d love to give East Mike H
Central a try, but I had no money, no inkle
(‘7
place to stay and no job. O.J. laughed novel 7) publish
, “The e
and told me there was plenty of financial Butan s his first
e Gos
aid available and getting a job on campus pel.”
was no problem.
Within 24 hours, I was enrolled, my ago and spend my time writing, speaking
tuition and books were paid, and Fred and traveling.
put me up until I got a job. This was the Thanks, O.J. And thank you, ECU.
beginning of a story that took me to law
school. I retired from the law five years
TheColumns
The Columns 15
 Lights, Came

16 The Columns
era . . . Action
William C. Thrash Television Studio
A series of donations by William
C. “Bill” Thrash and his wife Billie
is allowing future broadcasters from
East Central University and the Ada
community “to keep the bar high.”
The Thrashes completed their
pledge of $50,000 over several years
to the ECU Foundation, Inc. to help
build and furnish the new television
studio in the Hallie Brown Ford Fine
Arts Center.
The William C. Thrash Television
Studio was dedicated July 22. It is the
first true high-definition TV studio in
this part of Oklahoma.
The 1961 ECU graduate is an
award-winning television producer
and the station manager of OETA – the
Oklahoma Network.
Although there are no pending
plans, the ECU studio also could
involve area high school students to
produce public affairs programs or
it possibly could be used to support
community initiatives and local
businesses. ECU students’ work is
broadcast online at www.youtube.
com/ectvhd.
“It is hard work to make good
television,” Thrash said at his
induction July 18 into the Gold
Circle of the Heartland Chapter of the
National Academy of Televisions Arts
& Sciences.
To be eligible for the Gold Circle
Emmy Award, a recipient must have
been in broadcasting for 50 years and
made a significant contribution to the
industry.
He previously was inducted into
the Heartland Silver Circle for at least
25 years in broadcasting.
Thrash was one of 20 people
honored by Gov. Brad Henry at
the 31st Annual Governor’s Arts
Awards in 2006. He received the Bill
Crawford Memorial Media Award
which recognizes an individual
member in the print and/or electronic
media who demonstrates commitment
to the arts in Oklahoma, documented
through public awareness support
and fairness, initiative, creativity and
professionalism in reporting.
He began his broadcast career in
1955, learning the live TV production
business from the ground up at
KTEN-TV in Ada while attending
Ada High School. Since then, he has
brought numerous arts activities into
Oklahoma homes through television,
helping produce or direct some of the
biggest entertainment productions in
state history.
He joined KOCO-TV in Oklahoma
City in 1962 where he produced and
directed numerous specials involving
orchestras and ballet companies
from state universities. One of his
specials was the first Oklahoma City
Symphony concert broadcast on live
television in 1967 from the newly
renovated Civic Center Music Hall.
Thrash moved to Channel 4 in
Oklahoma City in 1971 and directed a
nationally televised series of patriotic
Fourth of July shows, the “Stars and
Stripes Shows,” for NBC with such
entertainers as Bob Hope, Tennessee
Ernie Ford, Kate Smith and others.
He supervised “Danny’s Day” with
Danny Williams and the now-famous
Mary Hart.
He also directed numerous country
music and holiday specials and series
and became Channel 4’s program
manager and station manager.
Thrash joined OETA – the
Oklahoma Network in 1988. He
produced the award-winning historical
series “Oklahoma Passage,” the most
popular nationally broadcast series in
the history of public television. He
develops the Emmy Award-winning
arts and culture television series,
“Gallery.” He also was involved with
OETA’s state centennial productions
in 2007.
The OETA station manager also
produced and directed many Lawrence
Welk television specials for the Public
Broadcasting System, raising more
than $50 million for PBS stations.
Thrash was inducted into the
Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters
Hall of Fame. He received national
attention as the Public Television
Programmer of the Year and has
won several Emmy Awards for his
statewide OETA productions.
When asked in interviews if he has
been in television all his life, Thrash
gives this response, “Not yet.”
For information about donating
to the university, contact Phyllis
Kunze, executive director of the ECU
Foundation, Inc., at 580-559-5514.
The Columns 17
 ECU Alumni Association
2010-11 Board of Directors

G reetings from the President

Tiffany Grant

Alumni Association “ I would like to personally thank

the ECU Alumni Association
Board of Directors for their hard
work and dedication to East
What a busy and exciting time for the Alumni Association and East Central Central University. I am very
University! The spring and summer months were packed with alumni reunions and blessed to have the opportunity
to work with such an amazing
events, including newly added reunions in Denver, Austin and at Wewoka Lake. group of people.” - Tiffany
We hope you had a chance to attend an area reunion and reconnect with friends and
fellow alumni. Join us in 2011 as we plan to expand the area reunions to even more
cities to help us stay connected with our ECU family! President-Elect
The fall semester is in full swing and it’s great to see the new and returning Mark Walters
students, faculty and staff enjoying ECU and the various events going on around
campus and in the Ada community. What an exciting time to be on campus! There
are so many ways to be involved at ECU, I encourage you to check out the campus Vice President
events calendar at www.ecok.edu and get involved with your alma mater. Tommy Vass
We are gearing up for another successful Homecoming. On behalf of the
association, I invite you back to campus for “Aloha Homecoming,” Oct. 8 and 9,

Treasurer
Pat Fountain

Secretary
Tori Petete

Past President
2010. There will be plenty of activities for you and the whole family. Join us for Zeak Naifeh
traditional activities like the golf tournament, 5k Tiger Run, Golden Tiger Brunch
and parade as well as new activities such as a luau and pep rally, La Fragua Other Board Members
Reunion and fireworks after the game! Visit our website at alumni.ecok.edu for more Lance Allee
information and to register for many of the 2010 Homecoming events. Jesse Allen
James Brown
It’s a wonderful time to be a Tiger and I look forward to seeing you on Sam Caton
campus this fall! Kassie Cothran
Monica Cowart
Robyn Elliott
Go Tigers! Hillary Farrell
Brooke Holman
Ronda Martin
Edie McCracken
Maxine McFalls
Barbara Miller
Ray Nicholas
Tiffany Grant, Class of ‘07 Curt Rawls
Joe Sharber
President, ECU Alumni Association Dustin Smith
Beth Vezina
18 The Columns
 2010 Epsilon Omega Alumni Association
4th Annual Reunion
“Once a PIKE, Always a PIKE” is something every PKA member learns from his earliest
days of pledge-ship. With this in mind, a great time was had by all who attended the 4th Annual
Pi Kappa Alpha Epsilon Omega Reunion in Oklahoma City at the Bricktown Brewery on Aug. 7,
2010, sponsored by the Epsilon Omega Alumni Association.
This event is intended as a time when all members, both active and alumni can connect/
reconnect and celebrate our common bond. The guest list encompassed all decades of ECU
Pikes, with over 125 in attendance including over 70 fraternity alumni, spouses/significant others
and distinguished guests such as ECU administrators and Epsilon Omega Alumni, President John
Hargrave (’77), Dr. Gerald Williamson (initiated ‘09) and Wendell Godwin (’84). Many attendees
had not seen each other since their days at East Central University, so there was a lot of catching
up to do.
Members of the active chapter on campus were present to meet and mingle with fraternity
alumni while also handling event registration. Current members Taylor Howard and Isaac Ramirez
gave a brief update on the “state of the chapter.”
Along with fellowship, food and good spirits, there were a few other highlights to the

2010
ECU
Alumni
Reunions
evening. Accomplishments of the Alumni Association in 2009-10 were mentioned, including
sending two current members as delegates to the Pi Kappa Alpha International Convention in
Austin, Texas, and the presentation of new PKA letters to the chapter for permanent display on
Pesagi Residence Hall.
Members celebrating 25 years of membership in Pi Kappa Alpha were Greg Flanagan (‘88),
Kelvin Williams (‘88) and Michael Corcoran (‘88).
During the evening $1,000 was raised for the Dr. James R. Harris ('74) scholarship at ECU,
while there was also a "passing of the hat" for donations to help upgrade the PIKE lounge on
campus which totaled more than $800.
Plans are now underway for the 5th annual Pi Kappa Alpha Epsilon Omega Reunion to be
held on Aug. 6, 2011. While the location is still to be determined, this annual event promises to be
a date to circle on your calendars!
For more information on joining the Epsilon Omega Alumni Association or upcoming events,
please visit www.EastCentralPikes.com or email us at Alumni@EastCentralPikes.com.

Are you planning a mini-reunion with your fellow alums?

Send us the photos and we will publish them
in an upcoming edition of The Columns!
The Columns
The Columns 19
19
 l e o f E v e n t s
Sche d u ay ~ Oc
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20 The Columns
 Satu
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5K Tiger R 8 :0 0 a .m .
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Baseball A 2:00 p.m.
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TheColumns
The Columns 21
21
A lumni
What comes to mind when people think of graduates of
East Central University? Teachers? Nurses? Athletes? Well,
how about attorneys?
For students studying at prestigious law schools, hopefuls
taking the bar exam and teachers motivating budding law
students, ECU guided the way.
Dr. Christine Pappas, associate professor of political
science, believes that an ECU education is actually better than
one from a larger university.
“Professors are able to spot student weaknesses and
focus on improvement,” Pappas said. “We spend hundreds of
hours with students. Our letters of recommendation are more
detailed and supportive.”
Getting into law school isn’t easy. Applications far
outnumber available seats in first-year classes. Schools look
at two main criteria in determining whether to admit a student,
undergraduate grade point average and Law School Admission
Test score.
22 The Columns
S potl
“You basically need a pretty good number for both or a
really good number for one or the other,” said Blake Parsons
(‘07), a legal studies major at ECU who recently graduated
from the Oklahoma City University School of Law. “Applicants
can also compensate for a low number in one by writing an
exceptional personal statement explaining to the law school
why they should be admitted.”
Parsons learned at an early age the huge impact lawyers
can have on the lives of others.
“I’ve always wanted to be a lawyer to help ensure that
those huge impacts are good ones,” he said.
According to Thomas Pack, a 2006 graduate in political
science, coming from a small school can be a plus or minus
depending on the school of choice.
“I’m sure OU and OCU prefer candidates from the larger
universities in Oklahoma,” Pack said. “But if you’ve truly
excelled at East Central, then national law schools are quite
interested in increasing their regional and socioeconomic
 diversity with students from less well-known schools.”
Pack is in his second year of law school at Stanford
University in Palo Alto, Calif. Since 1992 Stanford, along with
Harvard and Yale, has been ranked in the top three schools of
law by U.S. News & World Report. Every year from 4,000 to
5,000 hopefuls apply for admission but only around 170 are
accepted into first-year classes.
The American Bar Association does not recommend any
major or course of study before admission to law school,
but recent ECU students lean toward political science, legal
studies, history and criminal justice. However, students found
professors across the campus to be helpful.
“The legal research and writing classes with Dean Peterson
were invaluable, as was civil rights and liberties with Dr.
Pappas,” Parsons said. “Those two professors were particularly
special to me, as they wrote letters of recommendation for my
law school application process. Dr. Pappas was even more
special, as she helped me immensely with writing my personal
statement. Dr. Pamela Jackson’s classes were helpful in
illustrating that some professors enjoy taking your life and
making it their own via voluminous amounts of coursework,
something that all law professors love to do.”
Others found the link to the real world provided by adjunct
professors from the legal profession valuable.
ECU also provided the extracurricular activities crucial
in forming the well-rounded student. The ABA suggests that
students take advantage of any opportunity to develop research
A
and writing skills.
light :
A Journey of three ECU grads to Law School & Beyond
“Any classes or activities that teach you to think critically
and write well will prepare you for law school,” Pack said.
“For me, working at The Journal, ECU’s student newspaper,
was helpful as was my political science and Honors Program
coursework. You don’t need to be a legal studies major. Law
school is the place to learn the law. Undergrad is the time to
learn how to think about big issues in a systematic way.”
The life of a law student can be grueling. Law student
stress and depression are problems that have become national
in scope. While students enter law school suffering from
clinical stress and depression at a rate that mirrors the national
average, this number skyrockets during the first year of law
school.
“To be successful, one must be willing to put law school
before all other priorities, especially the first year,” Parsons
said. “Lawyers frequently say ‘the law is a jealous mistress.’
For me, law school was more like a jealous wife and a couple
of jealous mistresses....just ask my wife.”
Shiloh Renes (‘07), a political science major at ECU who
graduated from OCU with Parsons, said her three years in law
school were pretty much what she expected.
“I read in a book once that the first year they scare you to
death, the second year they work you to death and the third
year they bore you to death,” Renes said. “This is one of the
truest statements I have ever read. The first year is extremely
competitive and terrifying.”
Renes knew that she wanted to be a lawyer from the
moment she was told that she had to dissect a cat in zoology
class. Up until that time, she had been toying between the law
and a career as a veterinarian.
“I had constitutional law with Dr. Pappas and fell in love
with it,” Renes said. “I’m not brave enough to be a soldier in
the army, but I feel like in a much smaller way I am serving
our country by seeking justice for those who can’t find it by
themselves. Plus, my mom always told me that if you have a
job that you love, then you will never work a day in your life.”
Renes and Parsons were joined at OCU’s commencement
by fellow alum Virgil Barksdale, a legal studies major. The three
spent the early part of the summer studying for the Oklahoma
Bar Exam which they took in late July.
Steven Foster, director of academic achievement at OCU,
recommends studying for the bar approximately 600 hours
spread out over the 10 weeks between graduation and the
exam. That breaks down to 10 hours a day, six days a week.
All three students tried to stick to that schedule with a little help
ttorneys
by cathie harding
from family and friends.
“My family has always been very supportive and
understanding,” Renes said. “I had to learn to make the most
out of the time that I had with them. Now that I am out of law
school, I think that I appreciate my family much more and take
them for granted less often.
Though time consuming, it is not all work.
“Earlier in the quarter, my life looks pretty much like a 40-
hour per week job, with a healthy break for some exercise
and California sunshine during the middle of the day,” Pack
said. “There’s usually a speaker and free food during the law
school’s lunch period. During my first year, I heard from both
Chief Justice Roberts of the U.S. Supreme Court and Chief
Justice Yazzie of the Navajo Nation Supreme Court.
Parsons and Pack share similar career interests. Parsons
hopes to practice Native American Indian law. Pack would like
to make it a part of his legal career as well and eventually land
The Columns 23
somewhere in government. Renes is just hoping to find a job
and “get some sleep.” ECU ALUM WINS FULBRIGHT
ENGLISH TEACHING
Jenna Owens, new director of legal studies at ECU, chose
a different path to express her love of the law, a love she has
had since high school government class.
Owens, a direct product of ECU’s legal studies program, ASSISTANTSHIP IN KOREA
graduated from the University of Oklahoma College of Law,
took the bar exam and returned to practice in Ada. When asked
A fascination with East Asian
to speak on a “Women in Law Day” panel at ECU, she learned
history has led a new East Central
that the director position would soon be available and went for
University graduate to become
it.
the university’s first recipient of a
“I thought this would be a unique opportunity to be involved
prestigious Fulbright grant.
in the program that I respect so much and that got me where I
Dianna Kriegh of Vanoss was
am today,” Owens said. “It is unique in that it strikes a perfect
awarded a Fulbright English
balance between preparing students to work in the legal field
Teaching Assistantship last spring
as well as preparing them for law school.”
through the Fulbright U.S. Student
Following in the footsteps of Christine Pappas, former
Program which offers fellowships
director of legal studies and her “most favorite teacher in my
for study, research and teaching
life,” Owens plans to carry on the tradition of learning she
in other countries. She applied to
experienced at ECU.
teach English for a year in South
“I hope to offer students an opportunity to utilize this unique
Korea.
program to its fullest and leave inspired and excited about their
The US. Student Program is
futures as members of the legal community,” Owens said.
one part of the large Fulbright Program, the
Other East Central graduates currently preparing for the
international educational exchange program
legal profession include Megan and Lauren Hensley, both
sponsored by the U.S. government and named
history majors who have been accepted at the University of
for the late Sen. J. William Fulbright of Arkansas.
Oklahoma, and Jacobi Nichols, a political science major who
It is designed to increase mutual understanding
is in her second year at OU. History major Matthew McCready
between the people of the United States and

A S
and political science major John Baca are going to Oklahoma
other countries.
City University in the fall and Ryan Logan, political science,

lumni pot
and Jeremy Cumbie, criminal justice, are currently attending
Approximately 7,500 Fulbright grants are
OCU. Greg Roller, political science, is at Washburn University
awarded annually in a number of categories
in Topeka.
for students, scholars, teachers, professionals,
Graduates of ECU populate the legal landscape across the
artists, musicians and scientists.
country including John Hargrave, president of the university,
The goal of the English Teaching
and his father Rudolph justice of the Oklahoma Supreme
Assistantship is for foreign students to improve
Court.
their English language abilities and knowledge
Hargrave and Dr. Pappas are in the process of reviving
of the United States while American students
the ECU Lawyers Alumni Association. For more information,
enhance their knowledge and language skills of
contact Pappas at 580-559-5640 or cpappas@ecok.edu.
their host country.
Kriegh wanted to go to Korea to learn to
speak the Korean language. The South Korean
government wants its children to learn to speak
English fluently.
“There is a big demand in Korea for native
English-speaking teachers,” Kriegh said. “They
want all their high school graduates to be able
24 The Columns
 to speak fluent English. They want them to have the proper
pronunciation and accent. Native Koreans can’t teach the
proper pronunciation and accent.”
She was one of 90 English teaching assistants chosen to
go to South Korea. She left the first of June for six weeks of
orientation at a university before being placed in a rural area.
She learned in August that she will teach at Seondeok Girls'
High School, a private school in Gyeongju, and should return
to the United States toward the end of July 2011.
Fulbright pays for her travel and some other expenses.
Her Korean school furnishes her housing, which she expected
to be with a family, and pays her a stipend of 1.6 million won
each month, or $14.
“In Korea, teachers are very respected. There is no
disrespect in their school system,” Kriegh said. “It is a very
strict system, a rote system, what we try not to do here.”
She is expected to teach 40 students 20 hours per week,
in addition to spending 20 to 30 hours planning, grading papers
and helping Korean teachers.
“Their schools go pretty much year-round,” she said. “They
have a longer school day, from eight to 10 hours each day. The
students get out at 5 or 6 p.m. Since the school systems are
so highly competitive, and future jobs depend on the school
system they are in, many students go to special academies in
the evenings. School is a 24-hour job.”
Because the academies and universities are expensive,
many South Koreans go to high school and college in other
countries, Kriegh said.
T
The Fulbright teaching assistants are not required to know
the Korean language.
tlight :
“I’m a lot better reading and writing Korean. My
conversational skills are pretty much nil. It’s kind of scary,” she
said before she left.
Kriegh completed her student teaching at Roff last spring
and graduated from ECU with a bachelor’s degree in history
with teacher certification. She plans to earn a graduate degree
in East Asian history, hopefully at the University of Pittsburgh.
“I’ve always loved history,” she said. “I want to know as
much as I possibly can. I got intrigued with East Asian history.
It’s as different, compared to U.S. history, as you can get.”
One of her ECU roommates was from South Korea, and
one thing led to another.
Kriegh needed a foreign language component to qualify
for graduate school. One of her history professors directed her
to a Korean language course last summer at the University of
California at Berkley.
“If I hadn’t done that,” she said, “I wouldn’t be doing this.”
That’s where she found out about and considered applying
for the South Korean government’s TaLK program in which
Americans teach English for six months to two years.
Back at ECU, she learned about the Fulbright Program
and decided to apply.
Kriegh was notified by email in January that she was a
finalist, but heard nothing more until she received a contract in
the mail on April 22.
The hardest part was waiting to find out, she said. Since
she was about to graduate from ECU, she worried mainly about
what to do if she didn’t receive the Fulbright grant. She didn’t
apply for the graduate school she wants because it’s highly
competitive, and if she had to turn it down to go to Korea, she
could lose that opportunity.
Now, she sometimes thinks, “Oh, my gosh, I can’t believe
I did this. But I’m really looking forward to it.”
There is a little fear of the unknown, she admitted. What
concerns her most, though, is that she won’t be allowed to
leave South Korea until July 2011.
“That’s a long time to be gone from home.”
Kriegh had a 4.0 grade point average at ECU and was one
of the finalists for the Nigh Award presented annually to the
top graduating senior. She is a member of Alpha Chi national
honor society and presented a paper in March at the Alpha Chi
Super-Regional Convention in Little Rock, Ark. She also is a
member of Phi Alpha Theta history honor society and the ECU
Honors Student Association.
eachers
ECU GRADS NAMED
TEACHERS OF THE YEAR
LaDeanna Andrews (‘98, ‘01), Roff School
Churee Chaffin (‘95), Lone Grove High School
Brandi Dickson (‘95, ‘00), Cross Timbers Elementary in Tecumseh
Matt LaHue (‘00), Shawnee High School
Greg Lovelis (‘04, ‘07), McLish Middle School
Billy Marquard (‘73), Maud Middle School
Syrena Moreland (‘01, ‘05), Tishomingo Elementary School
Janice Parrott (‘08), Parker Intermediate Center in McAlester
Jerry Raper (‘73), Davis High School
Elizabeth Smith (‘93, ’97), Byng Junior High in Ada
Susan Walker (‘96, ’08), Maud High School
The Columns 25
 ECU Educators Hall of Fame
Induct Three
Three educators who began their successful careers
at East Central University were inducted into the Gene and
Evelyn Keefer Educators Hall of Fame on April 14, 2010 in
ECU’s Danley Hall atrium.
The inductees are Dr. Donnie Nero, president of Connors
State College in Warner; Dr. Joe Parsons of Ada, retired ECU
professor and administrator; and Dr. Jimmy V. Scales Sr.,
superintendent of Hamilton County Schools in Chattanooga,
Tenn.
Their photographs will be displayed in the Hall of Fame in
the Education Building along with those of past inductees Dr.
Bill Cole, Clarence Oliver, Marvin Stokes, Pat Kellogg Roller,
George Abshire, Stephanie Canada, Kenneth Murphy, Billie
Floyd, Leon and Mary Pauline Lanoy, Ray Stout and John
Zimmerman.
The Educators Hall of Fame is sponsored by Janice
Diamond and Paul Keefer, the children of Gene and Evelyn
Keefer, to recognize ECU-prepared educators at any level who
have made a significant contribution to the field of education.
The Hall of Fame is dedicated to the Keefers and other
parents like them who could not afford to go to college but who
made it a priority that their children have that opportunity.
Inductees in the Keefer Educators Hall of Fame can be
a support staff member, teacher educator or administrator.
They must have completed a program of preparation at the
bachelor’s or master’s degree level or have taken significant
course work toward completion of an education degree or
certification program at ECU.
The inductees are:
Dr. Donnie L. Nero
Dr. Donnie L. Nero has been president
of Connors State College in Warner, which
also has campuses in Muskogee, for 10
years. He was a secondary teacher and
administrator in Sapulpa for 12 years and
held numerous positions for 15 years,
including provost, at Tulsa Community
College’s Southeast Campus.
Nero has been a program analyst for Rockwell
International in Tulsa. In 2002 he received the Department
of Human Services Trailblazer Award and was named ECU’s
Distinguished Alumnus and the Phi Theta Kappa Distinguished
CEO for the Oklahoma/Arkansas Region. He also received the
2007 Progressive Award. He is a board member of the Office
of Juvenile Affairs, Communities Foundation of Oklahoma,
Governor’s CLASS Task Force and the Oklahoma Community
Institute.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in health, physical
education and recreation at ECU and both his master’s degree
in educational administration and his doctorate in occupational
and adult education at Oklahoma State University.
Nero has also has been president of the Muskogee Area
Educational Consortium, the Indian Capital Technology Center
and the Muskogee Rotary Club. He also has served on the
boards of the Muskogee Chamber of Commerce, Greater
26 The Columns
Muskogee Development Corporation, Tulsa Area United
Way, Volunteer Center of Tulsa, Broken Arrow Chamber of
Commerce and Big Bothers and Sisters of Tulsa.
Dr. Joe Parsons
Dr. Joe Parsons, who has always been
known for his caring spirit, quick wit and
dedication to education and ECU, was a
student at ECU when World War II began.
He was a veteran of the D-Day invasion on
Utah Beach in France and participated in
all the major European campaigns.
He returned to ECU and completed
his degree in business education in 1948. He also received
master’s and doctoral degrees from Oklahoma State University.
He taught a year at Pharoah High School, his alma mater,
then was principal of Graham High School before moving to
Weleetka Public Schools where he served as principal and
superintendent of schools.
In 1966, Parsons joined the ECU Department of Education.
He later served as vice president of student services; vice
president for development, university services and personnel;
and executive director of the ECU Foundation, Inc. He was
interim president of ECU during the year preceding the
selection of Dr. Bill Cole as president in 1989.
Parsons was a member of the Ada City Council for five
years and served as mayor one year. He was active in civic
and public affairs and served terms as president of the Ada
Chamber of Commerce and the Ada Lions Club.
His late wife, Harol Deane, also an educator, and his three
children, Paula, Penny, and Patrick, all graduated from East
Central University.
Dr. Jimmy V. Scales Sr.
Dr. Jimmy V. Scales, Sr., a nationally
recognized educator, civic and social
leader, is superintendent of Hamilton
County Schools in Chattanooga, Tenn. He
was one of the first two African American
football players at ECU in 1963.
He was a teacher, coach and principal
of Millwood High School in Oklahoma City
and McLain High School in Tulsa before becoming deputy
superintendent of the Dallas Independent School District and
superintendent of the College Station (Texas) Independent
School District.
Scales was the first African American appointed to the
Oklahoma State School Board in 1984 by Gov. George Nigh. In
1984, Millwood High School received the National Exemplary
School Award from the United States Department of Education.
He received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Booker
T. Washington High School in Idabel. He is a former trustee of
Hillcrest Hospital in Tulsa and Texas College in Tyler. Scales is
an avid supporter of the United Way of America. He also is a
Rotarian and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. and
Grand Boule’ Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity.
 Helping ECU
by
Remembering
East Central University Business School graduate
Craig Scheef, former College of Education faculty
member Don Kellogg and ECU Distinguished
Alumnus, the late Lee Horne, have combined for
decades of loyalty to the university. They or their
families have recently made commitments to The
ECU Foundation, Inc. Through their caring
and generosity, students in the future will have
an opportunity to enjoy and gain from the ECU
experience.
Craig & Christy Scheef
East Central University has
received a gracious commitment
from Craig and Christy Scheef.
Through planned giving, the
Dallas couple included the
university in their estate plan
by committing one half of their
accumulated wealth to ECU.
A native of Plano, Texas,
Craig was recruited to Tigerland to play football for Coach Pat
O’Neal. He earned a marketing degree from the East Central
University School of Business in 1985. Craig continued his
education at the University of North Texas, where he completed
his MBA and met his wife, Christy, who is an elementary
schoolteacher in the Dallas area. Together they share a love of
raising boxers.
Craig has spent the past two decades in the banking
industry. In 2008, he started Texas Security Bank and currently
serves as CEO, president and chairman of the board.
Craig has remained in close contact with his alma mater,
serving on the ECU Foundation Board of Directors and
as a member of the President’s Circle. He has also been a
generous supporter of the athletics program as well as the
School of Business. In 2004, Craig was honored with the Milam
Award, which honors a former Tiger football player who has
distinguished himself in his chosen field.
The Scheefs’ bequest will be used to enhance funding
for the East Central University football program. “This was
an easy decision for Christy and me,” Craig says about their
legacy to ECU. “East Central provided me so much at the time
I needed it the most. As time passes, I’ve realized what an
excellent job the School of Business and East Central athletics
did in preparing me for my
career. The relationships
created while I was at East
Central continue today. My ECU Foundation, Inc.
hope is that East Central will
continue to grow and prosper
for generations to come.”
The Columns 27
 Evan Lee Horne
Lee Horne, a former ECU
football player for the legendary
Elvan George, a former coach at
Cameron University, president
of the ECU Foundation, Inc.
in 1998 and the Distinguished
Alumnus in 2000, left a legacy at
ECU that will last forever. After
his untimely death in September
2009, his family established an
endowed scholarship that will
be used to defray educational expenses for an upper-level or
graduate student in the ECU football or basketball program who
is pursuing a career in coaching or business. As a long-time
generous supporter of ECU Athletics, the School of Business,
and the ECU Marching Band, Lee was passionate about ECU
and the relationships that he developed while attending school
there.
One of his long-time friends, Ken Johnson, stated, “Lee
always talked about the wonderful experiences and the great
relationships that he established at ECU. After his graduation,
his main goal was to repay his debt to the University.” Another
friend and fellow coach, Pat O’Neal, noted that “Lee was a true
gentleman, 100 percent for ECU not only while in attendance
but for the remainder of his life. The University was of utmost
importance to him.” And Grace George, also a lifelong friend,
stated that “Lee was one of the most loyal and dedicated best
friends that Elvan George and ECU has ever had!”
Because of Lee’s generous donations throughout the
years, combined with his family’s contributions and continuing
donations from friends and alums, future students will benefit
in the best way possible: by gaining an excellent education at
one of the premier regional universities in Oklahoma.
Don & Jane Kellogg
For 25 years, Don
Kellogg taught aspiring math
and science teachers at East
Central University.
For 20 years, Don
Kellogg has been a retired
ECU faculty member.
Forever, Don Kellogg’s
generosity will help recruit,
recognize and reward East Central University students pursuing
degrees in math or science education through a scholarship
endowment he set up with the
ECU Foundation, Inc.
ECU Foundation, Inc. Don donated a life insurance
policy he purchased in 1975
to the foundation. By naming
the foundation as owner and beneficiary of the policy, he’s not
only helping ECU students, but he also receives a significant
income tax deduction. By donating the insurance policy, Don
and his wife, Jane, were able to fulfill their dream of helping to
increase the number and quality of science and math teachers.
28 The Columns
The Kelloggs have also named the foundation in their
estate plans. The inclusion of the endowment in their estate
will assure that qualified and deserving students preparing
to teach math or science will forever have a resource to help
defray the cost of attaining a degree at ECU. Don says, “This
is an excellent way for Jane and me to be able to see some of
the results of our contributions.”
Helping ECU
leads to
Unique Donations
ECU gets $100,000
endowment from Masonic
Fraternity
A new $100,000 endowment fund will be bringing more
cultural enrichment programming to East Central University.
The endowment was established at ECU by the Masonic
Fraternity of Oklahoma in May.
"The Masonic charities called us totally unsolicited and
said they had an endowment scholarship and asked us what
we'd like to use the money for. They're just so generous - it's
very heartwarming to know these people are everywhere in
Oklahoma,” ECU President John Hargrave said.
The $100,000 endowment will help fund new cultural
enrichment programming at ECU's new Hallie Brown Ford Fine
Arts Center. The $28 million center was completed about a year
ago and ECU administrators say this endowment will help fulfill
the building's potential by expanding the programming inside.
"With the additional programming needed to really utilize
the versatility of this building, we felt like that would be the best
use of the money,” Hargrave explained.
The university is still planning how it will spend the interest
from the endowment, but Hargrave said it will fund programs
across the arts and will touch as many students as possible.
The Masonic Fraternity of Oklahoma said this endowment
is one of six going to regional universities.
"We know what great students go to these universities,
and we just feel like they need to have some of the same
opportunities that the large ones do,” explained Charles
Belknap, grand master of the Masons of Oklahoma.
Hargrave said the endowment will benefit students across
the campus and people in the community. It will bring in notable
speakers and fill the stage with headline performances for
everyone to enjoy.
 Donations fund centennial
Gateways
Dr. Duane C. Anderson, interim The gate at the northeast corner of
president of ECU during its Centennial year, campus (across from Tiger Comons) honors
had a 15-year-old vision of three memorial Dr. Joe Parsons as an ECU faculty member,
gateways to mark the boundaries of the vice president for student services, dean of
campus. From the date that he issued a students, vice president for development/
“challenge” for construction of the gates university services/personnel and interim
until the funds were raised was less than president. Parsons
six weeks, and from was also inducted into
his “challenge” to final ECU’s Educator’s Hall
construction was less of Fame in April 2010.
than nine months. It This gift was provided
was apparent that by Parsons, his three
his “vision” belonged children, Paula Kedy,
to the University, its Penny Martin, and
faculty, staff, students, Pat Parsons and their
and alumni. families.
The Centennial The third gate
Gateways were constructed at a cost of $15,000 each. The one at the southeast corner of the campus (by Married Student
at the southwest corner of the campus (by the tennis courts) Housing) was funded by a gift from Louise Young, a 1969
was funded by the ECU Alumni Association, which made the graduate of ECU, and Vivienne Armstrong, a 1974 graduate.
first donation, and honors all alumni from 1909 through 2009.

During the Evening of Honors and Recognition on April 23 Centennial Gate donors were recognized. Pictured
from left: President Hargrave, Zeak Naifeh, Duane Anderson, Tiffany Grant, Gerald Williamson, Paula Kedy,
Phyllis Kunze, Vivienne Armstrong, C.J. Vires and Louise Young.

ECU Foundation, Inc.

The Columns 29
 It
was an undergraduate summer research
program that determined which fork in the
road Courtney Karner (’04) would take. The
East Central University scholar-athlete also
known as “Moose” was majoring in biology, trying to decide
whether to go on to medical school or graduate school.
Then in the summer of 2002 he was selected to participate
in the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience at the
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma
City and discovered how much he enjoyed research. That
sealed the deal.
Today he has a Ph.D. in developmental biology from the
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas,
one of the foremost medical research centers in the world –
and in May was awarded the highest honor bestowed by the
university’s Southwestern Graduate School of Biomedical
Sciences.
Karner received the Nominata Award which is presented
annually to a senior graduate student who has demonstrated
academic excellence and an exceptional level of research
achievement. The award includes a $2,000 prize and the
honor of presenting the last seminar of the University Lecture
Series. Other speakers for the weekly lectures are prominent
scientists and speakers from UTSW and across the country
and the world.
TIGER
Karner’s lecture, titled “Canonical and Non-canonical
13 Sports...1 Team
Athletic Alumni
COURTNEY KARNER (’04) RECEIVES PhD,
PRESTIGIOUS RESEARCH AWARD
Wnt9b Signaling Regulates Kidney Progenitor Expansion,
Differentiation and Tubule Morphogenesis,” was based on
research he conducted for his doctoral dissertation.
“I was shocked (to get the award),” he said. “I still don’t
believe they picked me.
“I’m borderline between being confident and cocky,” he
explained. “I probably toe that line often. Every time I submit a
poster at a meeting, I expect to win. But I know the people who
won this thing the last two or three years, and it’s so shocking
that I won – to say I’m on the level of those people.
“Hopefully, they haven’t realized they made a mistake,” he
Join the ECU Athletic Alumni Association
Former ECU Athlete? Join the revitalized Athletic Alumni Association today for just $50 and receive a t-shirt, e-mail
updates and more. Call Brian DeAngelis at 580-559-5604 or e-mail him at bdeangls@ecok.edu.
30 The Columns
said with a chuckle.
Karner completed require-
ments for a bachelor’s degree
in biology in 2003, but a glitch in
the enrollment process at another
graduate school kept him at ECU
for another year. That allowed
him to take additional ECU cours-
es and minor in chemistry, math
and physics as well as continue
playing football for the Tigers as
a starting right tackle and deep
snapper.
He was named an academic
All-American his senior year and received the Lone Star
Conference Male Scholar Athlete Award in 2004. He won the
Tri-Beta Biological Honor Society’s Frank G. Brooks Award for
excellence in undergraduate research.
His graduate mentor at UTSMC, Dr. Thomas Carroll,
assistant professor of internal medicine and molecular
biology, has said Karner’s intellectual curiosity, work ethic and
excitement about science set him apart. In a UTSMC story,
he described the ECU graduate as “completely fearless about
tackling a new technique or idea,” and said it was fun to have
back-and-forth conversations about his research.
Karner went to UTSW in 2004 and completed his doctorate
last November. In December he began work in a postdoctoral
program at the Washington University Medical Center in St.
Louis and married Brittany (Vawter) Karner of Southlake,
Texas. She is a 1st grade teacher who completed her school
year in the Dallas area before moving to St. Louis in June.
They met when one of her childhood friends married one
of Karner’s football teammates, Stephan Langford.
Karner said he still maintains his ECU friendships.
“I keep in touch with the majority of people in my class
for sure, and some others. It’s mostly by phone,” he said. “I’m
not into Facebook and those kinds of things. There are a few
 Courtney Karner (far left) delivers a
lecture on his research as the winner of the
Nominata Award at the University of Texas
Southwestern Medical Center. A framed
announcement (left shared the stage with
Karner. He demonstrates (below) how he
grew cells associated with wound healing in
2002 at the OU Health Sciences Center.
people I talk with weekly.”
It takes between five and six
years to complete a PhD in his
research field, Karner said. Most
of his former teammates who
have been coaching for several
years needle him for staying in
school so long.
“They laugh at me because
they make twice as much money
as I do and I just got out of
school,” he said.
Someday, maybe it will pay off, he added.
Because he always made good grades, people would tell
him he should be a doctor, but that’s not what he wanted to do.
“I couldn’t see racking up $200,000 just for tuition and
books over four years,” he said “I thought that was asinine.”
In research, however, graduate students are paid between
far I can take this thing. See if I can thrive at the top.
“But, I like to fish and hunt, things like that. That’s not really
accepted, and the effort and time it takes to be successful is
not conducive to having a life outside the lab.
“As you can see, I haven’t figured that out yet.”
Realistically, he said, he will never find the cure for any
diseases, and that’s not where his interests lie.
“I’m more interested in how I or you have developed. How
we go from a single cell to a couple trillion cells. I’m more
interested in what regulates that. How does an organ form?
How does it know to turn into a specialized organ rather than
something else?”
At UTSW he investigated the molecular regulation of
stem cell maintenance, mesenchymal to epithelial transition
and epithelial morphogenesis during the development of the
kidney. His work under the original grant led to a million-dollar
grant for his mentor.
From his first undergraduate research experience through
his “long, interesting journey” to his doctorate, Karner has been
quick to praise the broad-based education he received at ECU.
“I always felt I was much better prepared (than other
students) for everything we faced in graduate school,” he said.
“That was attributable to the education I received at ECU. No
one else had that type of education. Everyone had part of what
I had but no one had the whole picture.”
Karner grew up in Altus. He is the son of
Dawnelle Karner, who now lives in Broken
Arrow, and the late Dr. Miles Karner, who

$20,000 and $26,000 per year and have health insurance, “a

was the area entomologist
nice alternative,” Karner said.
and state cotton specialist
Karner also was offered postdoctoral positions at Harvard,
for Oklahoma State
Columbia, the University of Texas, Stanford and the University
University’s Cooperative
of California at Berkley but chose a postdoctoral position at
Extension Service in Altus.
Washington University Medical Center in St. Louis to study bone
Karner donated his
development and its role in the development of hematopoetic
father’s 49 reference
stem cells.
and technical books on
“I went from working on the kidney to bone systems,”
entomology to ECU in 2006.
he said. “A postdoctoral position is supposed to enrich your
experience and prove that you’re versatile enough to produce
knowledge in different areas,” he said.
It also is supposed to be training for researchers to run
their own labs, but, Karner said, they just do more research
and don’t run anything or supervise anyone.
He has five years, under National Institutes of Health policy,
to be a “postdoc.” The title could be changed to instructor, he
said, but the aim is for the postdoc to find his own position.
That will be the next fork in the road – either stay in the
research world or teach.
“Some days I want to shoot the moon,” he said, “see how

Continue to be a TIGER!
The Columns 31
 ECU softball Desiree’ Nordie (.314), freshman outfielder Laura Loughmiller
(.306) and junior outfielder Cassandra Nordie (.300).
Junior third baseman Kasey Barber batted .295 with six
squad stages homers and led the team with 41 runs batted in.
The team’s only senior, second baseman Hillary Hughes,
memorable 2010 season was named to the All-LSC Second Team for the second year

It
was a season to remember for the 2010
East Central University softball team.
Posting their most successful
campaign in school history, the Lady Tigers
flourished to a 34-21 record and reached the
finals of the Lone Star Conference Championship Tournament
for the first time.
In fact, it was ECU’s first appearance in the tournament
since the 1998 season.
“This is something we had been building. These girls
knew we had potential to be this good and kept working and
working,” said Lady Tiger head coach Destini Anderson, who
wrapped up her fourth season at the helm. “Team chemistry
was strong and we meshed well together.”
The three major ingredients – hitting, pitching and defense
– came together for ECU as the team finished with a combined
.296 batting average, compared to the opponents’ .277. The
Lady Tiger pitching staff also had a combined earned run
in a row after finishing with a .979 fielding percentage for the
season (with only three errors). She also batted .237, drove in
18 runs and doubled five times.
Simmons and Barber were honorable mention all-
conference picks for 2010.
The Lady Tiger pitching staff had a solid 1-2 punch in junior
right-handers Wanda Malone and Randee Crockett. Malone,
who was named LSC Newcomer of the Year and a Second
Team All-LSC North honoree, posted a 15-12 record with a
2.48 ERA while Crockett earned a 15-4 mark with a 3.69 ERA.
The strikeout to walk ratio was also impressive as Malone
struck out 153 batters and walked only 35 while Crockett
fanned 122 batters and issued just 19 free passes.
Defensively, ECU had a .960 fielding percentage,
compared to a .951 clip for the opponents.
“With Randee we’ve had a strong pitcher the last couple of
years and then we add Wanda to the mix. I thought our pitching
was real deep this year. Offensively, we had more hits with
runners on base and, defensively, we got better as the season

TIGER
average of 3.37, compared to the opposition’s 3.44. ECU went along,” Anderson said.
13 Sports...1 Team

Athletics
also committed 18 less errors (77-59) than the
opponents.
Offensively, the Lady
Tigers had six players hit The Lady Tigers

.300 or better, led by junior capped off the season

outfielder Nicole Sanchez,
who batted .380 with four
homers, five triples, 12
doubles and 21 runs batted
while hitting in the leadoff
spot. Sophomore first
baseman Emily Kennemer
was next at .342 with six
home runs, 14 doubles and
34 RBIs.
Sanchez and Ken-
nemer were named to the
All-Lone Star Conference
North First Team and both
were also voted to the LSC
All-Academic Team for their
success in the classroom.
Also hitting .300 or
better were freshman
shortstop Shelby Simmons
(.337), sophomore catcher
with a surprising and
magnificent run in the LSC
Postseason Tournament,
going 3-2 and earning
three victories over
NCAA Division II regional
qualifiers. ECU entered
the tournament as one of
the two lowest seeds after
finishing fourth in the LSC
North Division.
ECU opened play
in the tournament with
a stunning 6-1 win over
11th-ranked West Texas
A&M, the No. 1 seed
from the South Division,
Lone senior Hillary Hughes (kneeling with flowers) poses with her behind the pitching of
teammates on senior day before the last home game of the season on Crockett, who allowed no
April 27. The Lady Tigers finished second overall in the conference earned runs off six hits
tournament this year. with only two walks and

32 The Columns

Former Lady Tiger Softballers Hold
Reunion in June
Pictured Back Row (left to right): Tammy Muncrief
Odom (‘94 & ‘04), Stacie Becker Wartchow (‘99), Tina
Blankenship (‘02), Shawn Richmond (‘99), Erin Regier
(‘98), Coach Ron Miller (‘78), Staci Tompkins Trenary
(‘98), Paije Fauser (‘00), Carey Vestal (‘99), and Jennifer
Sperling Jones
Front Row (left to right): Teresa Thompson (‘99), Mandy
Caster (‘98), Shawna Melton (‘01), Tammy Daniels
Arthmann (‘00), Jennifer Landrith Russell (‘98)
eight strikeouts. Simmons went 3-for-3 in the game and scored
three runs while Desiree’ Nordie was 2-for-3 and knocked in
two runs.
In the next round, the Lady Tigers shocked the No. 2
seed from the North in Central Oklahoma 5-4 as the sister
combination of Cassandra and Desiree’ Nordie homered while
Sanchez and Kennemer drove in another run apiece. Malone
allowed six hits, walked two and fanned four in the win.
That led to the winners’ bracket finals in which the Lady
Tigers fell to Angelo State 4-1. ECU’s only score came off
Courtney Gaines’ single down the right field line, scoring
Barber from second base.
But as was the case through most of the season, the Lady
Tigers bounced back in an elimination game as ECU, trailing
1-0 entering the bottom of the seventh and final inning, strung a
two-out walk with three consecutive singles to stun UCO again,
2-1.
A Barber walk and a Cassandra Nordie single set the stage
for Gaines’ RBI single down the left field line to tie it up. Then
Hughes came through with a walk-off game-winning single to
center, sending the Lady Tigers to the tournament finals.
Unfortunately, ECU was no match for Angelo State in the
title game as the Rambelles cruised to a 9-1 victory. ASU, the
only team to defeat the Lady Tigers in the tournament, also
advanced to the regional playoffs.
Through the course of the season, ECU earned seven
victories over regional-qualifying teams, beating UCO three
times and West Texas A&M twice while topping Midwestern
State and Angelo State one time apiece.
ECU Names new
men’s basketball coach
East Central University has named Joe Redmond as its
new men’s head basketball coach.
Redmond, 36, brings a wealth of experience to Ada as an
NCAA Division I assistant and Division II head coach.
Redmond most recently spent three seasons as an
assistant at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington. The
NCAA Division I Seahawks made vast improvement during
his second season there, going 20-13 in 2007-08 after a 7-22
finish in 2006-07.
Prior to that, Redmond was at Henderson State University
(Ark.) for six seasons, the first three as an assistant and the
next three as head coach.
“We’re excited about having someone of Joe’s experience
and character join our Tiger family,” said ECU Director of
Athletics Brian DeAngelis. “His background in Division II and
recruiting in this region will be a valuable asset to our basketball
program and help propel it toward future success.”
ECU President John Hargrave agreed.
“I appreciate Joe’s enthusiasm about the future of our
basketball program,” Hargrave said. “He is ready to go to work,
and we are looking forward to the next Tiger basketball season
under his leadership. He brings with him
head coaching experience. He is known
for teams that play a disciplined and
rugged defense.”
In his first season as head coach at
Henderson State in 2003-04, he guided
the Reddies to a 23-7 record, the Gulf South West Division title
and their sixth straight NCAA South Regional berth. His teams
went 13-14 in 2004-05 and 15-12 in 2005-06.
His overall head coaching record on the Division II level is
51-33.
“I’m extremely excited. There’s a wealth of potential for the
basketball program here. The interest, energy level and overall
excitement from the president on down is intriguing,” said
Redmond. “I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work.”
As for the style of play, it all depends on returning personnel
and recruiting, according to Redmond.
“We will be a man-to-man defensive team and a good one.
I know that,” Redmond said. “I really need to try and evaluate
who is returning and see what holes we need to fill. I know we
need to add as much post depth as possible.”
As Henderson State’s top assistant, Redmond helped
guide the team to a 30-5 finish as the Redddies captured
Western Division and Gulf South Tournament championships in
2002-03. That team went on to advance to the South Regional
finals.
In his six-year span at HSU, the Reddies earned two GSC
titles and three GSC West Division crowns while making four
NCAA Division II Tournament appearances and reaching the
regional finals twice.
The Columns 33
 Redmond, a native of Parsons,
Kan., was also a head coach at Labette tiger athletics
Community College (Kan.) for three fall 2010 HOME SCHEDULEs:
seasons. for a complete athletic schedule
He played football at Independence listing check out the athletic
website @ www.ecutigers.com!
Community College (Kan.), before
transferring to Pittsburg State (Kan.).
DATE Sport TIME
While completing his degree at Pittsburg
9/6 volleyball 5 p.m.
State, Redmond coached freshman
9/11 Football 6 P.M.
basketball at Pittsburg High School.
9/16 volleyball 7 p.m.
He spent one season as a graduate
assistant at the now defunct Phillips 9/18 volleyball 2 p.m.
University in Enid. 9/21 volleyball 7 p.m.
Redmond and his wife Carla have 9/25 volleyball 1 p.m.
The weather
an 8-year-old daughter, Mae. 9/25 Football 6 P.M.
9/26 soccer 2 p.m.
Didn’t dampen the
9/28 soccer 4 p.m. competitive spirit
Charles Terry named 10/1 soccer 4 p.m. of the players and
Assistant Coach 10/9 Football (homecoming) 6 P.M. host Gil Morgan at
10/14 soccer 4 p.m.
this year’s Tim Green
New East Central University men’s 10/14 volleyball 7 p.m.
head basketball coach Joe Redmond 10/16 football 2 P.M.
All-sports golf
has announced that Charles Terry will 10/16 volleyball 7 p.m. tournament
join his staff as the 10/17 soccer 2 p.m.
team’s top assis- 10/18 volleyball 6 p.m.
10/23 Cross country 9 A.M.
10/26 volleyball 7 p.m.
10/28 volleyball 7 p.m.
10/29 soccer 3 p.m.
10/30 volleyball 11 a.m.
10/30 football 2 P.M.
tant for the 2010-
10/31 soccer 12 p.m.
11 season.
Terry most re- Home games are located at:
cently served as head basketball coach Football: Norris Field
Volleyball: Kerr Activities Center
at Lincoln (Mo.) for six years. Prior to Soccer: Soccer Field
that, he spent three years as the head Cross Country:
coach at Oklahoma Panhandle State Pontotoc Technology center, Ada
University in Goodwell.
Terry also had assistant coaching
stops at Fayetteville High School (Ark.),
Little Rock McClellan High School (Ark.),
University of the Ozarks (Ark.) and Drury
(Mo.).
He is a 1972 graduate of Emporia
High School (Kan.) and was a junior col-
lege All-American at Hutchinson Com-
munity College (Kan.) where he played
for the legendary Gene Keady.
After his two-year stint at Hutchin-
son, Terry played two seasons for an-
other legend, coach Eddie Sutton, at
the University of Arkansas. Terry was a
two-time All-Southwest Conference se-
lection for the Razorbacks.
“Coach Terry brings a wealth of ex-
perience,” said Redmond. “We’re lucky
to have someone of his caliber on our
staff. We look forward to working with
him.”

34 The Columns
Tiger Tracks
See What’s Happening With Your Fellow Alums
Jennifer Diane Putman Lesley Ann Claxton
(’07) and Christopher
and Jarrod Anthony
Tollett (’00) exchanged Ian Cottrell exchanged
wedding vows on Dec. wedding vows on June
26, 2009 at the Bennett 5, 2010, at the Walnut
Church of the Nazarene in Norman. Jennifer Creek Chapel. Lesley is
graduated from Little Axe High School in 2001 a 2003 graduate of Ada
and from Seminole State College in 2008 with an High School and a 2007
associate’s degree. Jarrod graduated from Ada graduate of ECU where
High School in 1995 and from ECU in 2000 with she received a bachelor
a bachelor’s degree in history. of science degree in
nursing. Christopher is 1997 graduate of Carl
Lacy Soward (’08) and Albert High School and a 2001 graduate of Rose
Cody Grammer (’01) State College.
exchanged wedding
vows on April 21, 2010, Amy Lynn Cox (attending)
at Shalimar Wedding and Stephen Joel
Chapel in Las Vegas. McDonough (’04)
Lacy is a 2004 graduate exchanged wedding
of Ada High School and a 2008 graduate of ECU vows June 5, 2010, at
where she received a bachelor of science degree the Central Church of
in business administration/finance. Cody is a Christ. Amy graduated from Ada High School in
1996 graduate of Lone Grove High School and a 2001 and is a student at ECU majoring in nursing.
2001 graduate of ECU where he received a Stephen is a 1995 graduate of Sulphur High
bachelor of science degree in business School and a 2004 graduate of ECU where he
administration/management. received a degree in art.

Beverly Medcalf (’04) and

Cody Weaver (’05, ’07)
exchanged wedding
vows on June 26, 2010,
at Weaver Acreage in
Noble, Okla. Beverly is a
2000 graduate of Latta
High School and a 2004 graduate of ECU where
she received a bachelor of science degree in
biology. She is also a 2008 graduate of the
SWOSU College of Pharmacy. Cody is a 2001
graduate of Noble High School and a 2005
graduate of ECU where he received a bachelor of

Bayne Bonner Davis Hargrave

Son of Paige Orstad (‘10) Grandson of
John (‘77) & Kay (‘78) Hargrave

The Columns 35
 arts degree in rehabilitation counseling. He also bachelor of science degree in education. Nicholas
ECU Professor wins earned a master’s degree in rehabilitation is a 1999 graduate of Plano East Senior High and
award counseling from ECU in 2007. a 2001 graduate of New Mexico Military Institute.
Dr. Karen Williams, He is also a 2009 graduate of ECU where he
professor of physics Mary Kathryn Beam and received a bachelor of science degree in
James Andrew Scivally (’04) sociology
Grads in the News....see the full stories at alumni.ecok.edu/news

at East Central
exchanged wedding vows
University, has
June 26, 2010. Mary is a 2007 Rachel Rayburn (’05)
received the Winter
graduate of Texas Christian and Wiley Barnes
2010 American
University where she received exchanged wedding
Association of Physics Teachers
a bachelor of science degree in vows on July 10, 2010.
Distinguished Service Citation...
nursing. James is a 2004 Rachel is a 2001
graduate of ECU where he received a bachelor of graduate of Pauls Valley
EMsa names lehman science degree in business administration. High School and a 2005
as vp of financial graduate of ECU where she received a bachelor
services Zack Womack (‘04), of science degree in education. Wiley is a 1996

former ECU football player, graduate of Ponderosa High School in Parker,
EMSA has named Angie Lehman
has been named ECU’s Colo., and a 2001 graduate of Oklahoma State
(‘96) as vice president of financial
new director of strength and University.
services. Lehman will work out of conditioning.
EMSA’s Oklahoma City office.... Womack played three Tiffany Denise Moreau and
seasons as a running Brent Matthew Williams
lorene rocker earns back for ECU from 2001- (’05) exchanged wedding
degree at 80 03 after transferring from vows on April 17, 2010, in
Pittsburg State University (Kan.). As a Tiger, the Slade Methodist
“You gotta Womack scored 14 career touchdowns, eight on Chapel in Orange, Texas.
live until pass receptions and the other six off rushes. He Tiffany graduated from
you die,” finished with 50 career receptions for 526 yards Little Cypress High School
says Lorene and had 177 career carries for 657 yards. in Orange. Brent graduated from Ardmore High
Rocker, A native of Davis, Womack earned his School and from ECU in 2005 with a bachelor’s
which bachelor of science degree from ECU in 2004 degree in environmental health science.
explains why and completed 12 hours in the exercise and
she finished sports science master’s program at the University Nicole Burnett (’06) and
her bachelor’s degree at ECU this of Memphis. Mark Elkins (’10) exchanged
summer – at age 80 and with 13 wedding vows on June 5,
great-grandchildren... Tammi Lea Fry (’05) and 2010, on the beach of
Nicholas Doyle Jones Nassau Bahamas. Nicole
Retired educators (’09) exchanged graduated from Coalgate
Association honors wedding vows June 5, High School in 2002 and from ECU in 2006 with
huggins 2010, at the First United a bachelor of science degree in biology. Mark
Maudie Huggins of Davis is the Methodist Church in graduated from Ada High School in 2002 and
2010 Very Important Member of the Plano, Texas. Tammi is from ECU in 2010 with a bachelor of science
Murray County Retired Educators a 2000 graduate of South Gray High School and degree in kinesiology.
Association... a 2005 graduate of ECU where she received a

Angie Sherrell (‘84)

named one of most
powerful women in
texas Jadyn & Colton Howard
The Texas Diversity Council hosted Daughter & Son of
its sixth Annual Diversity and Joe & Kellie (‘95) Howard
Leadership conference April 7-9,
which included the Most Powerful
and Influential Women of Texas
Breakfast...

Caroline McBride, Marshall McBride

& Matthew Hooser
Children of Christi (‘10) Carruth

36 The Columns
Semah Yekzaman (’06) is High School and the University of Oklahoma. Rosa Mae Harrison
in Bulgaria as a volunteer Christopher is also a graduate of Ardmore High (attending) and
for the Peace Corps. school and a 2008 graduate of ECU with a Easton Dakota Dale
She will be there for 27 bachelor of science degree in business Denton (attending)
months. Three are for administration/finance. exchanged wedding
training and learning the vows on June 5,
language, followed by Kasi Jordan Darbison 2010. Rosa is a
two full years of living in a (attending) and Brandon graduate of Porum
community to work as a volunteer in social work. Hopstein (’09) exchanged High School and a
Semah graduated from ECU in 2006 with a wedding vows May 14, current student at
bachelor of social work degree and then earned a 2010, at Fossil Creek ECU where she is
master of social work degree from OU Tulsa. Ranch. Kasi is a 2006 pursuing a degree in early childhood education.
She will be helping underprivileged children in graduate of Ada High Easton is a graduate of Konawa High School and
Bulgaria. School and a current a current student at ECU pursing a degree in
student at ECU majoring in family & consumer communication studies.
Sarah Danielle Johnson and sciences/retail merchandising. Brandon attended
Chad Lee Henry (’07) Seminary High School in Seminary, Miss. and is Danna Howry (attending)
exchanged wedding vows a 2009 graduate of ECU where he received a and Jonathan Borntrager
June 4, 2010, at the First degree in kinesiology/exercise science. exchanged wedding
United Pentecostal Church vows May 22, 2010.
in Ada. Sarah is a 2005 Michelle Krzywda (’10) Danna is a 2007
graduate of Byng High School and a 2009 and Zachary Campbell graduate of Ada High
graduate of Gateway College of Evangelism with (’10) exchanged School and a current
a bachelor’s degree in music. Chad is a 2000 wedding vows May 24, student at ECU majoring in elementary education.
graduate of Vanoss High School and a 2007 2010, aboard the Jonathan is a 2005 home school graduate and
graduate of ECU where he received a bachelor’s Carnival Cruise Ship attended the College of the Ozarks in Branson,
degree in criminal justice. Ecstasy while in port at Galveston, Texas. Mo.
Michelle is a 2006 graduate of Norman North
Katrina Elaine Miller (’07) High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in Danli Mills (attending)
and Jeffery Todd Brown elementary education from ECU in 2010. and Cowboy Sanford
exchanged wedding Zachary is a 2005 graduate of Ada High School (attending) exchanged
vows on May 27, 2010, and earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology wedding vows on
at Provodencialse, Turks from ECU in 2010. March 12, 2010 at
& Caicos Islands. Bethel Free Will
Katrina graduated from Ada High School in 2002 Pfc. Rachelle Higgs and Baptist Church in
and from ECU in 2007 with a bachelor of science Ronald Lee Black II Allen. Danli is a 2009 graduate of Allen High
degree in kinesiology. Jeffery graduated from (attending) exchanged School and currently attends ECU where she is
Ada High School in 1985 and from Oklahoma wedding vows on April 4, majoring in accounting. Cowboy is a 2007
State University in 1991. 2009, at the Arbuckle graduate of Holdenville High School and currently
Wedding Chapel. Rachelle attends ECU where he is majoring in criminal
Amy Byrd and Christopher graduated from Lone Grove High School in 2009 justice.
Hopper (’08) exchanged and serves in the United States Army at Fort
wedding vows on June 12, Gordon, GA., as a private first class. She is a
2010, at the First United communications signal specialist. Ronald
Church of Ardmore. Amy is graduated from Dickson High School in 2005 and
a graduate of Ardmore is a current student at ECU.

Jordan & Makai Blades

Grandchildren of
Donnie (’71) & Shirley (’71) Nero

Adryn & Brayden Ingle

Sons of Daniel & Kassie (‘09) Ingle Caleb Allen
Son of Amy (‘10) Allen

The Columns 37
Kaci Patton (attending)
a n d Tr e v o r A n g e l In Memoriam
The ECU family offers our deepest sympathy to the
(attending) exchanged
wedding vows on July families of the alumni and friends we have lost.
24, 2010, at Abba’s
House Worship Center. Lorita Bonifield, attended Mabel Jones, 1939
Kaci is a 2006 graduate Jane A. Bullard, 1987 & 1990 Richard Lee Jones, attended
of Vanoss High School and is currently attending Nathan Burris, attended Willie Lawson, attended
ECU where she is pursuing a degree in business Beth LaTrell Burwell, attended Leola Lindley, 1969
administratio/finance. Trevor is a 2009 graduate
Nancy Campbell, attended Leatrill Lockhart, attended
of CCS and is currently attending ECU where he
Josie Christian, attended Don James Loveless, 1951
is pursuing a degree in kinesiology.
Dr. Bill Cole, 1959 Muriel Edwards Lowrance, 1954
Phoebe Kate Price President Emeritus (1989-2006) Roger McCracken, 1951
(attending) and Jeffrey Paul Dorothy June Schafer Cox, 1978 Charles McKenzie, attended
Barron (attending) Wayne Leroy Craig, 1953 Hermie “Totsie” McKinney, attended
exchanged wedding vows William Edward “Ed” Denny, attended Alta Meneffee, 1959
May 15, 2010, at the Percy Dale “Leo” Dittemore, 1953 Blanche Marie Sanders Monroe, 1938
Chickasaw Lake Club in Cecil “Blair” Easley Jr. 1965 Syble Moore, 1955
Ardmore. Phoebe graduated Iris Faye Gaar, attended Judson “Jud” Porter, 1964
from Ardmore High School in 2007 and is Mary Jean Gaffaney, attended Frances Virginia Rhoads, attended
currently attending ECU where she is a Joan Ganus, attended Bill Rodebush, 1964
communication studies major. Jeffrey graduated Annetta Beth Gibson, 1974 Margie “Pepper” Sands, attended
from Schulter High School and is a current Jim Clark Gillispie, attended Roy K. “Ted” Smith, 1948
student at ECU majoring in business James Goddard, attended Mary Lou Southerland, attended
administration. James Harold Haines, 1952 Pat Summers, attended
Henry Lee “Hank” Heiskill, 1979 David Taylor, 1975 & 1995
Former ECU cross coun- Mark D. Hendon, 1983 Billye Verticchio, attended
try runner Josh Stewart (at- Glossye Isaacs, attended Lawrence Waggoner, attended
tended) won the 10th Annu- Gary Jackson, 1980 Lorene Wallis, 1942
al Oklahoma City National Carroll Ray Johnson, 1998 Winna Jo Gray Wilmer, attended
Memorial Marathon and Kay C. Johnson, attended Patsy Young, 1971
John Sutrick (‘08)
finished 10th. Stew-
Josh
art, who just com-
Stewart
& pleted his senior
Hayley
Jennings
season of cross
country at Cameron We Want to Hear From You!
University, clocked
in at 2:34:26. Sutrick, who wrapped up his ca-
reer at ECU in 2009, posted a time of 2:50:35. Send us your Tiger Track information today!
ECU cross country alumnus Matt Aguero Log on to: alumni.ecok.edu
(‘03), who is the current men’s head cross
country coach at Cameron, won the 2005 race
with a time of 2:31:42. As an alum your child and/or grandchild is a
Legacy and very important to us.
Hayley Jennings (attending) finished third
We want to send a FREE t-shirt to them, and if you share your
overall in the Oklahoma City
National Memorial Women’s
photo, we’ll publish it in an upcoming edition of The Columns.
Half Marathon in Oklahoma
City April 25. Jennings,
who just completed her
Don’t Forget!

rookie campaign La Fragua

with the ECU
women’s cross
country team,
John
Sutrick
Reunion
finished the half- &
marathon race
Matt Oct. 9, 2010
Agureo
(13.1 miles) in (after Homecoming)
1:29:36 as she took first in the 19-and-under
age division. 9:00 p.m.
Elks Lodge

38 The Columns
2010 ECU Quick Facts
Enrollment – 5,705 (highest enrollment ever!)
States/Countries Represented: 20/30
Average Class Size: 21
Student-faculty ratio – 18 to 1
Male/Female Ratio: 6:10
Campus Size: 38 buildings, 140 acres
Total faculty – 278
Full-time faculty – 168
Part-time faculty – 110
Percent of faculty with advanced degrees – 65%

* * * * *
There are several ECU alums who
*
“Hire A Tiger”
The ECU Career Development Center’s mission
provides educational services, student learning opportunities
and programs enhancing the overall experience for those
we serve. The Center is dedicated to helping students and
alumni identify, develop and implement their career goals
over a life span for success in a rapidly changing and
culturally diverse society.
Services provided for current
students & alumni:
• Career Services • Mock Interviews
• Online Assessments • Job Shopping
• Placement Services • Tiger Mentoring
• Online Job Board • Career/Job Fairs
• Resume & Cover Letter • Alumni Speakers
Templates • Clinics/Workshops
• Resume Development • Networking Events

For more information visit: www.hireatiger.org

Follow
us on:

The Columns 39
 Non Profit
Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 162
Ada, OK
East Central University
1100 E. 14th Street, PMB Y-8
Ada, OK 74820

40 The Columns