Tech ActionS p r i n g 2 0 1 1

Col. Carl Baswell inducted into Hall of Distinction. See pages 4-5.

James Bibler, Lyndall Stout and Jack Hamm inducted into Hall of Distinction.See pages 4-9.

Director of Alumni Relations Kelly DavisCoordinator of Young Alumni Alison ParksCoordinator of Alumni Communications and Activities Kelly Thornton BostickAlumni Office Administrative Assistant Terry Holland-Finley

Tech Action is published quarterly by the Arkansas Tech Alumni Association, 1313 N. Arkansas Ave., Russellville, AR 72801. It is sent to alumni, parents, friends and faculty/staff of Arkansas Tech University. We welcome manuscripts and photographs from our readers. Please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you would like your originals returned. Parents, if your son or daughter attended Tech and is no longer living at this address, please notify our office of his or her new address. Address updates can be submitted to the Arkansas Tech Office of Alumni Services by calling (479) 968-0242 or by sending e-mail to alumni@atu.edu.

Cover Photograph Steve NewbyContributing Photographers Steve Newby, Liz Chrisman, Ashley Schurtz, Shelly Doyle Chuck Lajeunesse, Beth HallE-mail address alumni@atu.eduWeb site www.techties.atu.edu

Editorial Committee Kelly Davis, Jayne Jones, Julie Nebben Morgan, Susie Nicholson, Sam Strasnerpublications/creative Services Felisha WeaverAsst. Director of New Media Carrie Harris Phillips

Philip Alexander ‘89 12/11

Doug Brown ‘06 12/11

Jimmy Cunningham ‘75 12/11

Robert Ford ‘86 12/11

Dixie Gossett ‘70 & ‘74 12/11

Tommy Johnston ‘91 12/11

President: Jim Murphy ‘71 President-Elect: Shirley Drewry Dodd ‘59

Raymond Molden ‘96 12/11

Cara Hammond Witherspoon ‘78 12/11

John Carter ‘02 12/12

Molly Fleming ‘09 12/12

Leslie Miller Harris ‘08 12/12

Ronda Hawkins ‘92 12/12

Ann Irwin ‘83 12/12

Steve Pfeifer ‘71 12/12

Kendall Tabor ‘89 & ‘92 12/12

Angie Wyatt ‘03 12/12

Katherine Nunn Bowden ‘54 12/13

Sue Chiolino ‘68 12/13

Brenda Metcalf Hipp ‘63 12/13

Steve Kesner ‘77 12/13

Tayler Melton ‘10 12/13

Todd Sweeden ‘76 12/13

Jim White ‘78 12/13

Vickie Yates ’79 & ‘89 12/13

Brian Bass, Ozark Campus Rep.

Tech Action, Volume 47, No. 2. Arkansas Tech University Alumni Association, Alumni House, Russellville, AR 72801

Alumni Association Board of Directorstech

catch up with an old friend today

www.techties.atu.edu

Tech Action

It’s not goodbye, it’s a new phase of lifeAs I packed up my office, I became overwhelmed with

all the memories. I rediscovered thank you notes from

many alums who acknowledged my help in organizing

a reunion, hosting alumni events and helping them get

reacquainted with an old roommate or friend.

In hindsight, I should have been thanking them.

Doing all those things have helped make the past six

years working for my alma mater a dream come true.

I’ve resigned as the alumni director so I can stay home

with my eight month old son. Making the decision has

been a hard one. I loved my job. Working with the alumni

of Arkansas Tech has been a joy. But, my son Grayson is

growing up so fast and I don’t want to miss any moments

with him.

I’ll treasure all the memories I’ve made and the

friendships that have formed through the years. I’ll look

back with fond memories of all the alumni scholarships

awarded, Homecomings planned and alumni gatherings

where I’ve fellowshipped with new friends.

I have loved hearing your stories and memories of

why you love Arkansas Tech. While our time on campus

as students has varied over the decades, we all share a

common bond of loving our alma mater.

I’ll leave as alumni director proud of the fact that I had

a hand in implementing a new organizational structure for

the Arkansas Tech Alumni Association Board of Directors

and that we’ve made an effort and continue to do so

in reaching out to young alumni. We also upgraded the

alumni Web site and expanded our presence in social

media.

I’m going back to being a volunteer for the university,

same as I was before I joined the alumni staff.

To the Board of Trustees, the administration, faculty,

staff and alumni....thank you for allowing me to serve as

the alumni director of a great institution. I take away a

new sense of what being a part of the TECH family is all

about.

The alumni association has many great days ahead of

it. If you haven’t gotten involved, it’s not too late to do

so.

See you at a TECH event soon!

Angela DeWitt Bonds ‘95

Director of Alumni Relations 2008-2011

2 Tech Action

Dr. Kenneth G. Kersh

3Spring 2011

Dr. Kenneth G. Kersh, who served as president

of Arkansas Tech University from 1973-93, died on

Wednesday, March 23. He was 83.

In honor of Dr. Kersh and his long service as

president, all classes at Arkansas Tech on both the

Russellville and Ozark campuses were cancelled on

Friday, April 1.

A native of Fort Smith, Kersh was already a veteran

of the U.S. Air Force when he enrolled at Arkansas Tech.

He graduated from Tech in 1954.

Kersh was the first student commander of the Army

ROTC program at Arkansas Tech. He served in that

capacity from 1952-53.

Kersh and Robert F. Merritt received the first second

lieutenant commissions in the history of the Arkansas

Tech ROTC program in May 1954.

Kersh went on to a 20-year career with the U.S.

Army. He served as a Green Beret from 1965-69.

Kersh was also a member of the Wonder Boys

baseball team, served on the staff of the Arka Tech

student newspaper and was president of the Arkansas

Tech Military Club during his time as a student in

Russellville.

Kersh continued his education by earning a

master’s degree and a Ph.D. from the University of

Arkansas. He was serving as chairman of the Hendrix

College Department of Education when the position of

president at Arkansas Tech became available in January

1972.

A year-long search resulted in Kersh being selected

as Arkansas Tech president in December 1972.

The only alumnus to ever serve as president at

Arkansas Tech University, Kersh took office as the 10th

president of the institution on Jan. 1, 1973.

“I do not view Tech as being

my institution, nor does it

belong to the administrators

or faculty,” said Kersh in an

interview shortly after becoming

Arkansas Tech president. “It was

put here to satisfy the academic

needs of the young men and

women of our state.”

Kersh oversaw two major

advances in the early years of his

two-decade tenure as president.

The summer of 1976 saw both of those changes

come to fruition, as Arkansas Tech offered courses

toward a master’s degree for the first time and the

name of the school was changed from Arkansas

Polytechnic College to Arkansas Tech University.

In 1985, the Kersh administration and the Arkansas

Tech Board of Trustees implemented a plan that

reorganized academic offerings at Tech into five schools

– the School of Business, the School of Education, the

School of Liberal and Fine Arts, the School of Physical

and Life Sciences and the School of Systems Science.

Among the major baccalaureate programs founded

during the Kersh administration were nursing, business

education and hospitality management.

Master’s degrees in education, instructional

technology and liberal arts also became part of the

program inventory at Tech on Kersh’s watch.

Tucker Coliseum, Crabaugh Hall, Tech Field, Corley

Hall and the Energy Center are among the major

facilities that were completed, constructed or planned

during the Kersh presidency.

Kersh retired as Arkansas Tech president on June 30,

1993. He was inducted into the Arkansas Tech Hall of

Distinction, the highest honor that the university can

bestow upon an alumnus, in 1994.

IN MEMORIAMDr. Kenneth G. KershArkansas Tech President, 1973-93

4 Tech Action

2011 Hall of Distinction

James Bibler says that he is not an

expert when it comes to computers

and technology. He’d rather drive a

logging truck than work on a hard

drive.

But he does understand and

appreciate the value of change. In

fact, his willingness to grow and

adapt might be the No. 1 reason

that the lumber company he built —

Bibler Brothers, Inc., in Russellville

— grew to become one of the

most progressive and successful

operations of its kind in the United

States.

“Our mill burned down in 1969,”

said Bibler. “Before that, it was a

manual operation. Our technology

had not moved forward. Most of the

people in our company wanted to get

out at that point. They asked me what

I wanted to do — build it back or shut

it down. I said I wanted to build it

back, but we’re not going back to the

same old, same old.

“The chipping saw came along,”

continued Bibler. “It was an in-

line machine that created a much

more efficient process. There was

quite a bit of electronics involved,

rudimentary as it was back then. It

changed how you made lumber. We

put in the first one in the state. It

went from there. Every time a new

piece of equipment would come out,

if it was something that I thought

would work, I wasn’t afraid to put it

in. We had a lot of serial No. 1s. Thank

goodness a lot more of them worked

than didn’t or we wouldn’t be having

this conversation.”

Bibler graduated from Hector High

School as part of a graduating class of

21 students. He enrolled at Arkansas

Tech with a goal of playing football.

There was just one

problem. Hector High

wasn’t large enough

to have a football

team, which left Bibler

without even the most

basic of experience.

“I didn’t know how

to put the uniform

on,” said Bibler. “They

knocked me around

pretty good that first

year.”

Bibler

studied business

administration at

Arkansas Tech for two

years before going to

work for his father, who

was a farmer, one of

the largest landholders

in Pope County and the owner of a

lumber business.

Bibler started out as a lumber

stacker and became president of the

lumber company at the age of 33.

“When your business grows and

you start dealing with people, it’s

valuable to know what it’s like at every

level,” said Bibler of his experiences in

the company. “It is hard for someone

to pull the wool over your eyes. I’d

been there and done that.

“I always had a passion for the

ground and for planting trees,”

continued Bibler. “When you’re

integrated in the lumber business

it is a long-range deal. I’ve planted

a bunch of trees I’ll never see

harvested. I think one of the things

that kept me interested in it was the

progression of what we were going

through and what the industry was

going through.”

Bibler Brothers, Inc., became a

division of Great Northern Nekoosa

in 1973, but 13 years later Bibler

formed James Bibler Enterprises and

purchased all of the stock in Bibler

Brothers, Inc. His action saved the

mill and the jobs of those who worked

there.

“I didn’t want to see the people

put out of work,” said Bibler. “The

average tenure of our employees at

that time was 15 years. Not only were

they employees; they were almost

like family. That was a big factor in the

decision. We had three employees

who were the third generation of

their families to work at the mill. That

makes a difference. So we bought it

back and started rebuilding it.”

From 1986-98, Bibler led major

renovations at the mill, brought

state of the art equipment online

and oversaw the construction of a

new office facility just south of the

mill on Arkansas Ave. in Russellville.

James BiblerDistinguished Alumnus

5Spring 2011

2011 Hall of Distinction

At one point, the modernization

of the grade reader allowed the mill

to go from producing 94 pieces per

minute to 150 pieces per minute.

The payroll at Bibler Brothers,

Inc., increased from 100 employees

when Bibler reclaimed the

business in 1986 to as large as 256

employees.

“When we started modernizing

that cut the number of employees

back over time, but we never laid

anyone off,” said Bibler. “We let

attrition take care of it.”

Bibler sold 90 percent of the

company to Freeman Brothers, Inc.,

in 1998, but he remains active in the

business.

“This last recession we went

through…we never stopped

modernizing,” said Bibler. “There’s

only one place left in the mill where

a human has to make a decision,

and we’ve got plans on the drawing

board to change that. I’ve never

backed up on computerizing the

mill.

“I don’t know how to turn the

computer on, but I can look at the

end product and tell you whether or

not it’s working,” continued Bibler.

“That’s where the rubber meets the

road. If you know that, you can find

folks to fix the computers. You don’t

get that overnight, and you don’t

learn it in school.”

Today, Bibler serves as chairman

of the Ouachita Timber Purchasers

Group and as a member of the

Southern Pine Inspection Bureau

Board of Directors.

He is a past chairman of the

Arkansas Forestry Commission,

having been appointed to that

board by Gov. David Pryor and re-

appointed by Gov. Bill Clinton.

Bibler is a past president of

the Southern Forest Products

Association and the Arkansas

Forestry Association.

He served as vice chairman

of the public timber division of

the National Forest Products

Association.

“I used to go to these national

board meetings for the forestry

industry,” said Bibler. “I’d be sitting

around a table with people who

graduated from Harvard or Yale,

and they’d ask me where I went

to school. I told them I went to

Arkansas Tech for two years, and

then I went to the school of hard

knocks. Those fellas hadn’t stacked

a lot of lumber.”

A lifelong supporter of his alma

mater, Bibler has shown his affection

for Arkansas Tech by serving on the

College of Business Advisory Board.

His work in that capacity helped the

institution’s accounting program

gain its accreditation. He also

made a gift to the Hindsman Tower

project.

“I don’t know if I’ll be able to

keep the tears out of my eyes,”

said Bibler when asked about his

induction into the Arkansas Tech

Hall of Distinction. “In fact I know

I won’t. I got that from my father.

He was a little emotional, so I can’t

keep from being emotional. It means

a great deal to me.”

2011 Hall of Distinction

6 Tech Action

Traditions are important on

college campuses. At Arkansas

Tech University, no tradition is

more ingrained in the fabric of the

institution than the one-on-one

attention that faculty members

provide to Tech students.

Over the past half century, no

person has done more to preserve

that important Arkansas Tech tradition

than Dr. Jack Hamm.

A 1964 graduate of Arkansas

Tech and a 36-year veteran of the

Arkansas Tech faculty, Hamm served

the university as vice president for

academic affairs from 2001-08.

“I think the one-on-one attention

that our faculty members provide

to our students is the key element

in our success,” said Hamm. “Most

students really need it and all students

appreciate it. We get some students

that are going to succeed under most

any circumstance. They’re just that

good. But there are a lot of students

that really don’t know how good they

are or how good they can be.

“That mentoring and that one-

on-one is what changes them from

an average student to an excellent

student,” continued Hamm. “If I

had to say that there is one, most

important thing for our university,

that’s what it would be.”

Hamm was recruited by legendary

head coach Sam Hindsman out of

Mount Judea High School to play

basketball at Arkansas Tech in 1959.

Those hills north of Russellville

were fertile recruiting ground for

Hindsman, and in Hamm he found a

young man who had quite a Wonder

Boy pedigree.

Hamm’s father, Elmer Hamm, was

a member of the original Wonder Boys

football team in 1920. So was his

cousin, G.W. Hamm. In all, three of

Hamm’s first cousins played football

at Arkansas Tech during the glory days

of the 1920s.

For the younger Hamm, an ability

to play basketball opened the door to

a better life.

“One of the things I learned

through participation in athletics

is that it takes a lot of hard work

and dedication in order to really

accomplish anything,” said Hamm.

“That really carried over to the

academic work. It was an interesting

time, and the fact that I was able to

participate in athletics gave me the

opportunity to earn a scholarship.

Had that opportunity not been

available to me I probably would have

taken a very different road. It has been

a great benefit to me, to have that

opportunity that Coach Hindsman

gave me. I will always be grateful for

that.”

Hindsman was not the only

mentor that Hamm encountered

during his days as a student at

Arkansas Tech.

Claude Padgett, John Ferguson,

Jack Dodd, John Tucker and Alfred

J. Crabaugh were among the faculty

members who helped shape young

Jack Hamm.

But despite the fact that he started

out as a physical education major

and ended up in mathematics and

physics, Hamm counts a one-on-one

mentoring session with an English

professor as a turning point in his

education and in his life.

“I was not one who was prone

to do well in English courses,” said

Hamm. “I liked literature, but it just

wasn’t where I wanted to spend

my time. I should never forget an

experience I had. I guess we’d been

off on a trip playing basketball, and I

had gotten behind in an upper-level

literature course.

“So I went in and talked to Dr.

(Lillian) Massie, who was head of

the English Department,” continued

Hamm. “I went in with a lot of

trepidation. I thought I was really

going to catch heck, because she had

the reputation for really being able to

do that. I had observed that on other

occasions. But she was really nice to

me. She just said ‘son, what you need

to do is get yourself organized.’ She

sat down with me and outlined to

me the things that I needed to do to

improve my academic work. It turned

out to be one of those events that

made a marked impression on me and

made it possible for me to do better

academic work.”

Improved organizational skills

in tow, Hamm saw the trajectory of

his life change dramatically. He went

from making a C in remedial math to

graduating from Arkansas Tech with a

degree in mathematics and physics.

He taught in the public schools of

Texas for two years before enrolling

in the master’s program at the

University of Missouri at Rolla (now

the University of Missouri for Science

and Technology) in 1966.

Jack HammDistinguished Alumni Service

2011 Hall of Distinction

7Spring 2011He earned a master’s degree

(1968) and a Ph.D. (1972) in applied

mathematics from the University of

Missouri at Rolla.

Shortly after earning his terminal

degree, Hamm was offered an

opportunity to return home as

a member of the Arkansas Tech

mathematics faculty.

Over the next 36 years, Hamm

played a large role in helping

Arkansas Tech change, grow and

improve more than anyone could

have imagined.

His leadership as dean of the

Arkansas Tech School of Systems

Science (now the College of Applied

Sciences) from 1982-2001 led to

accreditation for the engineering

programs at Arkansas Tech, the

construction of Corley Hall to

accommodate the laboratory needs

of the engineering and computer

science programs and the creation

of a separate College of Business

at Tech.

Hamm was promoted to vice

president for academic affairs in

2001. It would be his final full-time

assignment as a member of the

Tech faculty, and he used those next

seven years to implement a variety

of initiatives that will benefit the

university for generations to come.

Under Hamm’s leadership

as vice president for academic

affairs, Arkansas Tech attained

Southern Regional Education Board

Level 3 status, a move that put

Tech on equal footing with other

comprehensive regional universities.

Arkansas Tech gained funding

from the federal government to

offer an Upward Bound program

on the Russellville campus during

Hamm’s tenure as vice president.

The program targets students with

risk factors that might prevent them

from completing high school and

provides them with the guidance,

mentoring and tutoring necessary to

help them persist to post-secondary

education.

From 2003-09, 100

percent of the students in

the Arkansas Tech Upward

Bound program graduated

from high school or earned

a GED. Ninety-one percent

of those students went on

to enroll in post-secondary

education.

Hamm retired as vice

president for academic

affairs in 2008, but he has

remained an active member

of the Tech family.

Upon his retirement

he became the first

person in Arkansas Tech

history to earn the title of

distinguished professor.

Hamm was named professor

emeritus of mathematics

at Arkansas Tech in March

2011.

He is currently serving as the

first president of the Arkansas Tech

Alumni “T” Club, a revival of a former

student organization that will work

to recognize the achievements of

current letter winners and maintain

the bonds between former student-

athletes.

“It’s a tremendous honor to be

chosen,” said Hamm of his induction

into the Arkansas Tech Hall of

Distinction. “I don’t know that

there is anything that could have

happened to me that would have

made me feel better, but I also know

full well that while it is given in my

name it actually recognizes the work

of many people.

“If I was ever able to achieve

anything, it was because I had the

help and support of a lot of good

people,” continued Hamm. “I’m

honored. As I told President Brown

when he called to tell me, I’m

overwhelmed. It’s something that I’ll

always treasure.”

2011 Hall of Distinction

8 Tech Action

It was about 112 degrees in

Denison, Texas, that day. Lyndall Stout

was a young reporter with a dream to

live the glamorous life of a television

news anchor.

After covering a manhunt for 10

hours in the oppressive Texas heat,

she returned to the station where she

made $14,000 a year to find that the

water cooler had been taken away

because employees were drinking too

much water.

Many people would have cried in

that situation, and Stout admits that

she did. Many others would have quit,

but that wasn’t an option for Stout. It

only strengthened her resolve to keep

putting in the long hours for little pay

in pursuit of a dream that she would

one day live.

“Experiences like that teach you

and you realize pretty quickly that

you love the profession,” said Stout.

“I love this so much. I’d do it for

free. That’s the benchmark — to feel

that you are able to use your talents

to make the world a better place. It

sounds like a pageant answer, but it’s

the truth.”

Stout attended Pawhuska High

School in Pawhuska, Okla. She was

15 years old when she went to a

speech camp at Cameron University

in Lawton, Okla., and signed up for a

15-minute workshop with Faye Hawks,

who at the time was a member of the

Arkansas Tech speech faculty.

“I thought it was so cool to work

with someone from a college from

out of state,” said Stout. “I thought

she was amazing, and I guess it was

mutual because she told me to call

her when I graduated from high school

and she would give me a scholarship.”

Stout didn’t need to wait that long.

She was already sold on Arkansas

Tech, and that feeling was cemented

when she visited the campus following

her junior year at Pawhuska High

School.

“I was just a small-town girl from

Oklahoma who hadn’t been exposed

to much,” said Stout. “I wanted out of

my small town, but I didn’t want to go

somewhere overwhelming. I wanted

to be a news anchor, and I knew there

was broadcasting there. The student

television station appealed to me.

There were about 4,000 students at

that time. It was 4-5 hours from home.

It was a natural fit.”

Stout began working at the

Arkansas Tech student television

station during her sophomore year.

She learned every aspect of the

operation, from running the camera to

producing graphics. She remembers

that graphics weren’t her strong suit,

but that wasn’t her destiny.

She soon became the top anchor

at Tech TV, earned internships in

professional settings and solidified in

her mind that she wanted to make a

career in television news.

“I don’t want to downplay the

importance of what takes place in

the classroom, but in a field like ours,

you need that real-world application,”

said Stout. “It was collaborative. We

were able to make our mistakes and

learn on a small cable station. It was

hands-on learning. I loved it. It laid the

groundwork for my career.”

Stout earned a Bachelor of Arts

degree in journalism and speech

communication from Arkansas Tech

in 1994.

“I love Arkansas Tech,” said Stout.

“It will always have such a special

place in my heart. The opportunities

I was given to grow at that time mean

the world to me.”

After earning a Master of Mass

Communication degree from

Louisiana State University, Stout

began her career in television at KTEN

in Denison, Texas, in 1998.

One year there led to an

opportunity to join the staff at NBC

affiliate KARK in Little Rock.

“When I moved to Little Rock, it

was like coming home,” said Stout. “It

was such a friendly place. Arkansas

has always felt like my second home.”

She stayed at KARK for four-

and-a-half years, filling the roles of

general assignment reporter, weekend

anchor and morning anchor. Stout

was recognized by the Arkansas

Associated Press and was nominated

for an Emmy for her reporting at KARK.

Lyndall StoutOutstanding Young Alumna

2011 Hall of Distinction

9Spring 2011

Her work in Little Rock led to an

opportunity to become the main

anchor for WBRE/WYOU in Wilkes-

Barre, Pa.

Little more than five years

since that dreadful day in Denison,

Stout’s dream of becoming a news

anchor was coming true.

“It was definitely a culture

shock,” said Stout of the move

to Pennsylvania in 2003. “It was a

thrill from a career perspective but

a huge adjustment culture wise. I

moved there in the fall, just as the

weather was starting to change. It

was a lot harder than I thought it

would be to adapt to the culture,

but I took the attitude that I’m

going to prove myself over time.

I wanted to establish myself and

build credibility.

“There is a level of genuineness

that never goes out of style,”

continued Stout. “People will sense

it if you are the real thing and they

will appreciate that in you. I just try

to be myself and be consistent.”

Those principles landed Stout

multiple Emmy nominations and an

opportunity to serve the station as

managing editor over the course of

six years at WBRE/WYOU.

She developed the station’s

newsroom editorial guide and

worked closely with management

and producers on story ideas.

But a funny thing happens to

many of us on the path to our

dream. The process reshapes our

goals and changes our focus.

“Working in television brings

huge sacrifices because you have

to move where the jobs are,” said

Stout. “Between school and career

I was away from Oklahoma for 19

years.

“You have to be willing to work

holidays and take critiques at all

levels to make it in TV,” continued

Stout. “You work with egos and

personalities in very high-stress,

hard-working conditions. And you

have to shine under pressure.

You can’t fall apart during a

live newscast. It takes a certain

personality to do that.”

Stout has the personality to do

that, but she also knew when it was

time to go home.

That opportunity presented

itself on Oct. 23, 2010, when

Stout took over duties as host

and senior producer for SUNUP,

a weekly agriculture television

program that airs on 19 public

broadcasting stations around the

state of Oklahoma every Saturday

morning.

The program is produced by the

Oklahoma State University Division

of Agricultural Services and Natural

Resources.

“Our program is a way for the

Oklahoma Cooperative Extension

Service to communicate with

producers and people in Oklahoma

and beyond,” said Stout. “We talk

about things they can apply to

their agriculture operations. It’s

the first Monday-through-Friday,

8-to-5 job that I’ve ever had, and it

is a slower pace than a newsroom.

I never dreamed I’d get the chance

to live in Stillwater and be on

television.”

And after nearly two decades

of chasing the dream, home suits

Stout pretty well.

“I am always looking for new

challenges,” said Stout. “I look for

ways to grow professionally and

personally so that I can continue

to contribute. I want to challenge

myself, and challenge others around

me who want to be inspired in

similar ways. Moving every couple

of years has always been the

norm for me. I don’t want to move

anymore.”

Alumni News

10 Tech Action

Angela DeWitt Bonds, director of alumni relations at

Arkansas Tech University for the past three years, resigned

from her position effective May 15.

Bonds and her husband, Dr. Dusty Bonds, welcomed

their first child — Grayson Dean Bonds — on Sept. 16,

2010.

“Angela has an awesome personality, and she

possesses a great skill set for the position of director

of alumni relations,” said Jayne Jones, vice president for

development at Arkansas Tech. “We were very fortunate

to benefit from her leadership in that area for the past

three years and her dedication to the alumni office for

the past six years. I am so happy for her, Dusty and

Grayson.”

A native of Danville, Bonds graduated from Tech in 1995

with a Bachelor of Arts degree in speech communication.

Bonds first served in the Arkansas Tech Alumni Office

as coordinator of young alumni from 2005-08. She was

promoted to director of alumni relations for her alma

mater on March 20, 2008.

Since taking the helm of the Tech Alumni Office,

Bonds aided in the planning and implementation of a new

organizational structure for the Arkansas Tech Alumni

Association Board of Directors.

One of the hallmarks of Bonds’ time in the Tech

Alumni Office was a commitment to reach out to young

alumni. She and her staff hosted numerous annual events

around the state of Arkansas that ensured that young

alumni remain connected to Arkansas Tech. The Arkansas

Tech Alumni Office has also upgraded its Web site and

expanded its presence in social media under Bonds’

guidance.

Bonds steps down as director of alumni

Alumni News

11Spring 2011

Kelly Davis was appointed director of alumni

relations at Arkansas Tech University on May 19.

Davis had previously served Arkansas Tech as

director of corporate and athletic relations since 2004.

He succeeds Angela DeWitt Bonds, who resigned in May

after serving her alma mater the past six years.

“Angela provided excellent leadership and recruited

an outstanding staff to the Arkansas Tech Alumni

Office, so I inherit a great situation,” said Davis. “I look

forward to the opportunity to serve Arkansas Tech in

this new way.”

Davis earned a Bachelor of Science degree in

business administration from Tech in 1981 and was

named All-America in 1979 in recognition of his efforts

as a place kicker and punter for the Arkansas Tech

football team.

Since returning to his alma mater as a member of

the Office of Development seven years ago, Davis has

maintained and developed relationships with members

of the local business community on behalf of the

university.

Davis received the highest honor that Arkansas Tech

can bestow upon an individual during Homecoming

2008 when he and 34 other All-America student-

athletes were inducted into the Arkansas Tech Hall

of Distinction under the Distinction in Intercollegiate

Athletics category.

“As an alumnus of Arkansas Tech and a former

president of the Arkansas Tech Alumni Association

Board of Directors, Kelly Davis is well suited for the role

of director of alumni relations,” said Jayne Jones, vice

president for development. “We are fortunate that Kelly

was excited to embrace this new opportunity.”

Davis takes leadership of alumni office

Centennial Convocation

12 Tech Action

A CENTURY FORWARDHarmon focuses on future at convocation

Keynote speaker Major Gen.

William E. Harmon (Ret.) encouraged

Arkansas Tech University to embrace

“new technology, new traditions

and new opportunities” during the

keynote address at the Arkansas Tech

Centennial Convocation on Friday,

April 29, at Tucker Coliseum.

Harmon, a member of the

Arkansas Tech Class of 1960 and a

1990 inductee into the Arkansas Tech

Hall of Distinction, served with his

wife Suzanne as honorary co-chairs of

the Arkansas Tech Centennial.

The celebration of the 100th

anniversary of Arkansas Tech began

on Jan. 14, 2009, with a special event

at the State Capitol in Little Rock

and concluded with the convocation.

It was the first such academic

convocation in Tech history.

A veteran of 32 years of

distinguished service to the U.S. Army,

Harmon spoke of the Arkansas Tech

Centennial as a “temporary pause to

remember events, milestones and

individuals” that have allowed the

institution to grow and develop.

Much of his address focused on

the rapid evolution of technology and

how it will change education in the

future. He said that he did not know

what the future holds, but that it will

be “radically different and executed at

a faster pace.”

Harmon said that education must

be “current and applicable.” He stated

that graduates must leave Arkansas

Tech with “advanced skills” and the

preparation that will allow them

to contribute immediately in their

chosen career.

According to Harmon, the

increases in technology may change

society’s current idea of the word

campus.

“Proximity will become irrelevant,”

said Harmon. “There may come a day

when the virtual campus outgrows the

physical campus. I do not see this as

a stretch of the imagination. We can

be an international university with

worldwide legs.”

In closing, Harrmon left the

audience of students, faculty

members, administrators, staff and

alumni with one final challenge.

“Let future generations at

Arkansas Tech say of you that you

laid the foundation for new heights

of excellence and exploration,” said

Harmon.

ABOVE: Bill Harmon delivers

the keynote address at the

Arkansas Tech Centennial

Convocation.

RIGHT: Members of the Tech

faculty participated in the

historic occasion.

13Spring 2011

Centennial Convocation

Arkansas Tech President Dr.

Robert C. Brown opened the

convocation by welcoming several

special guests of the university,

including members of the Chambers

and Hull families.

Three generations of the

Chambers family have served on the

Arkansas Tech Board of Trustees,

including current Board Chairman

John Ed Chambers III of Danville.

Dr. Joseph W. Hull is the longest-

serving president in Tech history.

Hull was nominated for

the presidency by Judge John

Ed Chambers (the current Mr.

Chambers’ grandfather) in 1932,

and Hull maintained that post for

35 years before retiring in 1967.

Hull passed away in 1971, just days

after it was announced that the Hull

Physical Education Building would

be named in his honor.

Dr. Thomas A. DeBlack,

professor of history at Arkansas

Tech, offered a history of the

institution. He spoke of the

challenges in opening the school

due to construction delays in

October 1910. He told of the

development of the institution

under President Hugh Critz

(1918-23), President Hull and the

unprecedented growth of the past

15 years.

“The first 100 years of Arkansas

Tech have seen fires, floods, wars

and depression,” said DeBlack. “The

next 100 years are sure to present

more challenges, but Arkansas

Tech stands better prepared to face

those challenges than ever before.”

The convocation included an

alumni response from Jim Murphy,

president of the Arkansas Tech

Alumni Association; a faculty

response from Dr. Linda Bean,

chair of the Arkansas Tech Faculty

Senate; and a student response

from Travis Flower, president of the

Arkansas Tech Student Government

Association.

Musical performances

highlighted two commissioned

pieces that were written especially

for the occasion of the Arkansas

Tech Centennial.

The Arkansas Tech Symphonic

Band performed “Celebration,”

which was written by Philip Parker.

An associate professor of music at

Arkansas Tech, Parker directed the

performance of the piece.

The Arkansas Tech Concert

Chorale performed “Doors of

Daring” under the direction of

Gary Morris, director of choirs at

Arkansas Tech. The choir piece was

composed by Andrea Ramsey, a

2000 Arkansas Tech graduate.

Hal Cooper Retirement

14 Tech Action

MARCHING INTO HISTORYCooper to retire as Tech band director

Arkansas Tech University has only known three

directors of bands during its 102-year history. The third

man to hold that title has notified the Arkansas Tech

Board of Trustees of his plans to retire.

Hal Cooper, associate professor of music and director

of bands at Tech since 1979, will retire Aug. 13, 2011.

“It is with mixed feelings that I tell you that I must

resign my position as director of bands at Arkansas

Tech,” wrote Cooper is his letter of resignation. “Recent

health issues on my part and the need for youth in the

band position make this the best decision for everyone

concerned.

“The long career at Tech and being a part of such

a strong tradition has been a wonderful experience

for me, and the support from our administration, our

faculty and our students has been above and beyond

any expectation,” continued Cooper. “I look forward to

witnessing continued success from a different perspective.”

The musical tradition at Arkansas Tech was founded

by the first student to ever enroll at the school — Marvin

Williamson. He served as director of bands at Arkansas

Tech from 1913-50 and continued to serve on the music

faculty until 1956.

That tradition was carried on and expanded by Gene

Witherspoon, who came to Tech as its director of bands in

1950 and remained in that role until he died as the result

of a heart attack on Jan. 14, 1979, at the age of 59.

Cooper took the reins of the Arkansas Tech Symphonic

Band and the Arkansas Tech Marching Band, known far and

wide as “Arkansas’ Band of Distinction,” in autumn 1979.

He has served as president of the Southwest Division

of the College Band Directors National Association, a

member of the Arkansas School Band and Orchestra

Association, a charter member and president of the

Arkansas Bandmasters Association, member and

president of Arkansas Phi Beta Mu and district governor of

Kappa Kappa Psi college band service fraternity.

Cooper was named Arkansas Bandmaster of the Year

in 1988, and he achieved membership in the American

Bandmaster Association in 1992.

The owner of two degrees from Henderson State

University, Cooper was recognized by his alma mater as a

distinguished alumnus in 2006.

Arkansas Tech University honored Cooper in May 2009

with the creation of the Hal Cooper Band Scholarship.

The surprise announcement was made during the band’s

annual end-of-year concert to mark the conclusion of

Cooper’s 30th year at Arkansas Tech.

“I can think of no higher honor than for my name

to be attached to the opportunity for someone to be a

bandsman at Arkansas Tech,” said Cooper at the time.

“I must accept this recognition on behalf of the music

faculty and administration at Arkansas Tech, who are

committed to the success of our students.”

Hal Cooper Retirement

15Spring 2011

Memoriesof a

MasterMusician

From those who served with

and studied under Hal Cooper

“On a hot and muggy June day in 1981, my wife D’Anne and I arrived on

the Tech campus. During the interview process, one of the first people to

extend a hand was Hal Cooper. During the course of the day I began to get

the sense that working with this band director might truly be something

special. It did not take long for this feeling to be confirmed. Taking the

Tech band program to new heights of achievement is due in part (as Hal

often says) to administrative support, strong studio teaching and talented

students. The real secret to success however comes down to the man on the podium.

Hal Cooper and his unique gifts as a musician have put the Arkansas Tech Bands

on the map! For that, the Tech community will always be thankful.”

— Dr. Gary Barrow, professor of music, Arkansas Tech

“His strategy was to recruit quality musicians, establish high instrumental music standards and see that future teachers

were thoroughly prepared. Among the qualities that allowed him to be an outstanding teacher are incredibly detailed and

critical listening, integrity in dealings with individuals, a genuine, shared love of music and constant mindfulness of his

family. Tech and countless numbers of graduates are most fortunate to have enjoyed his dedicated efforts. Speaking as

a former colleague and administrator, alumnus and friend, I say congratulations on a job extremely well done and say a

humble thank you for your life work at Arkansas Tech. Bravo!” — Andy Anders, former Music Department head

“I am most proud to have been a part of the Arkansas Tech Band under the direction of Hal Cooper. I graduated in 2001

and every year I have been a teacher, Mr. Cooper has been there for me. Any time I call and ask him to come and work

with my kids or come work with me so that I may pick his brain he is always there. I once remarked to him ‘Mr. Cooper, I’ve

been gone from Tech for 10 years and yet you’re still teaching me.’ As a musician, Mr. Cooper’s artistry in conducting and

communicating the aesthetic beauty of music is unrivaled. On the other hand, Mr. Cooper is a blue collar band director

that can relate to his students the way to build a band program, deal with students, cooperate with administrators and

teach beginning band. Everything I do well as an educator I learned from Mr. Cooper’s example. I cannot imagine where

I would be as a musician, educator or what type of person I would be had it not been for Mr. Cooper’s influence. I am

grateful and thankful to call him my teacher.” — Ralph Brody, band director, Clarksville High School

“Hal Cooper is a band icon. It is truly the end of an era at Arkansas Tech University. It was an honor and privilege

to perform in his bands at Tech from 1987-1992. His passion, insight and extensive knowledge in my undergraduate

training were invaluable tools that have helped me have a successful career as a band director. I still have notebooks and

handouts from Mr. Cooper from college that I use to this day. Not only is Mr. Cooper a band icon, he is a friend. He has

been there over the years for advice, encouragement and just hanging out from time to time. Congratulations, Mr. Cooper,

on a job superbly done!” — Tom Chentnik, band director, Mountain Home High School

Today’s Tech

16 Tech Action

Four earn professor emeritus statusFour retired members of the Arkansas Tech University

faculty who gave a combined 118 years of service to the

institution received the designation of professor emeritus

from the Tech Board of Trustees on Thursday, March 17.

Dr. Jack R. Hamm, Dr. Joseph L. Moore, Dr. Richard S.

Smith and Dr. Thomas P. Tyler were all named professor

emeritus, an honorary title that according to the Arkansas

Tech Faculty Handbook is “reserved only for those who

have given extraordinary and outstanding service to the

university over an extended period of years.”

Hamm (photographed, right)

joined the faculty as an assistant

professor of mathematics in 1972.

He was promoted to associate

professor of mathematics in 1977

and professor of mathematics in

1981.

In addition to his work in the classroom, Hamm also

served Arkansas Tech in an administrative capacity as

head of the Department of Mathematics (1977-82), dean

of the School of Systems Science (1982-2001) and vice

president for academic affairs (2001-08).

The other men granted the title of professor emeritus

on March 17 all served Tech in its College of Business.

Moore (photographed, right)

came to Arkansas Tech as a

professor of economics in 1988.

He retired from full-time teaching

in 2009 but continues to lend

his talents to the university as a

member of its adjunct faculty.

Smith (photographed, right) was

a member of the Arkansas Tech

faculty from 1991-2009.

He joined the university as an

assistant professor of economics.

In 1995, he was promoted to

associate professor and named head of what was then

known as the Business and Economics Department. Smith

was promoted to professor and returned to full-time

classroom teaching in 2003.

Tyler (photographed, right) gave

43 years of service to Arkansas

Tech.

He was hired as an instructor of

economics in 1967, promoted to

assistant professor in 1970, named

associate professor in 1974 and earned professor status

in 1983.

Tyler served three stints as head of the Arkansas Tech

Department of Business and Economics. He was named

dean of the College of Business in 1995, and he held that

position until his retirement in 2010.

Requirements for professor emeritus status for retired

Arkansas Tech University faculty members include 15 or

more years of consecutive service and nomination by any

member of the university community who holds faculty

rank.

Authority to grant professor emeritus status rests with

the Arkansas Tech University Board of Trustees upon the

recommendation of the president of the university.

Biller resigns as VP for student servicesDr. Gary M. Biller, vice president for student services

at Arkansas Tech University for the past 11 years, has

resigned and accepted the same position at Western

Illinois University.

Biller joined the Arkansas Tech administration in July

2000. He was responsible for student housing, health and

wellness, counseling services, public safety and parking,

student activities, student success services, career

services, the disability and testing center, intramural and

recreational sports, Greek life and student government.

“It has been my pleasure to serve as vice president for

student services at Arkansas Tech University,” said Biller. “I

am proud of our efforts to enhance the college experience

for Arkansas Tech students and ensure that they have

the best learning environment possible. I am grateful to

President Dr. Robert C. Brown and the Board of Trustees

for the opportunity to work on behalf of Tech students for

the past 11 years.”

Arkansas Tech will conduct a nationwide search for a

new vice president for student services.

Today’s Tech

17Spring 2011

Burnett appointed to Board of TrusteesGov. Mike Beebe has appointed Eric Burnett of Fort

Smith to the Arkansas Tech University Board of Trustees.

Burnett will serve on the board through Jan. 14, 2016.

He replaces Dean Wilburn of Harrison, who was chairman

of the Tech Board of Trustees in 2010. Wilburn concluded

a decade of service to the board on Jan. 14, 2011.

Burnett is the head boys’ basketball coach at Fort

Smith Northside High School. He was named to that

position in April 2010 after spending the previous five

seasons in the same role at Springdale Har-Ber High

School.

Burnett also has four years experience as the head

boys’ basketball coach at Fort Smith Southside High

School.

A 1994 Tech graduate, Burnett earned four letters as a

member of the Wonder Boys basketball team.

Burnett is Arkansas Tech’s all-time leader in 3-point

field goals made (354). He also ranks among the Wonder

Boys’ career leaders in scoring (6th, 1,981 points),

rebounding (5th, 775), free throws made (7th, 397),

assists (8th, 343), steals (T-8th, 150) and field goals made

(10th, 615).

He was named an NAIA All-American in 1993 and he

was a two-time All-Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference

selection. The Wonder Boys won 83 games and the 1993

AIC title during Burnett’s career.

Gov. Beebe’s appointment of Burnett completes the

five-member Arkansas Tech Board of Trustees for the

2011 calendar year.

Burnett joins fellow board members John Ed

Chambers III of Danville (chairman), Leigh Whiteside

of Russellville (vice chairman), Charles Blanchard of

Russellville (secretary) and Tom Kennedy of Little Rock.

Lamar’s Cromer crowned Miss Tech 2011Brandi Cromer, an agriculture business major from

Lamar, was crowned the 56th Miss Tech on Friday,

Feb. 25, during the 2011 Miss Arkansas Tech University

Scholarship Pageant at Witherspoon Auditorium.

Daughter of Theresa and Terry Cromer of Lamar,

Cromer won the CenturyLink Interview Award and a

share of the lifestyle and fitness swimsuit competition.

She offered a vocal performance of the song “Hurt”

during the talent competition.

When the time came for Miss Tech 2011 to be

announced, Cromer heard her name called by one

of her teachers, Miss Tech Executive Director Dr. Jim

Collins. Collins is a professor of horticulture at Arkansas

Tech.

Cromer’s critical issue is Farm to Table. According to

the national organization’s Web site, the Farm to Table

initiative informs and strengthens the sustainable and

local foods community by providing a collaborative

journalistic forum for the presentation of a unified

voice for small farmers, restaurateurs, consumers and

everyone in between.

“I’m an agri girl, raised on a farm,” said Cromer.

“I just love everything about agriculture and I want

to share that with everyone. I’m very passionate

about that, so if you need help with farming give me

a call.”

Today’s Tech

18 Tech Action

Flower, Grate top 2011 seniors at TechIndividuals who study and participate in public

relations do so because they enjoy celebrating the

achievements of others.

On April 18, a pair of Arkansas Tech University public

relations students got their moment in the spotlight.

Travis Flower of Harrison and Lydia Grate of Atkins

received the top two honors available to students

at Arkansas Tech University during the 2011 Student

Leadership Banquet.

Flower was presented with the Alfred J. Crabaugh

Award, which is given annually to the most outstanding

senior male student at Arkansas Tech.

Grate received the Margaret Young Award, which

goes to the most outstanding senior female student at

Arkansas Tech each year.

Flower was president of the Student Government

Association (SGA) for the 2010-11 academic year.

Flower’s service to the university included work with

the Arkansas Tech Presidential Leadership Cabinet, the

Interfraternity Council (IFC), the Student Activities Board,

the Volunteer Action Council and the Tech Loyalty Fund

class gift committee.

“It’s breathtaking, honestly,” said Flower in reaction

to receiving his award. “I’ve been involved in so many

things on this campus the last four years through student

government, through my fraternity and through Greek

life in general. To receive this award means a lot to me. It

means there is someone out there who realizes that I am

trying to help the university and sees what I am doing.”

The 2009 SGA Senator of the Year at Arkansas Tech,

Flower received the Spark Award in 2009 for his service to

student government and he was twice honored with the

IFC Academic Excellence Award.

“What I have enjoyed most about Travis is his sense

of maturity and responsibility,” said Dr. Hanna Norton,

instructor to both Flower and Grate in public relations

courses. “Those qualities extend to his relationships with

his family and his fellow students. He is a natural leader of

any team that he is a part of.”

Son of Brenda and Mike Flower of Harrison, Flower

graduated with a degree in journalism and public relations

with a minor in business in May. Flower has applied to

graduate school.

Grate served as president and public relations and

recruitment officer for Students In Free Enterprise

(SIFE). She also belonged to the Society of Professional

Journalists, the Public Relations Student Society of

America and the forensics program at Tech.

“It means so much to me just to know that so

many people have believed in me,” said Grate. “I’m so

thankful and grateful for the people who have helped

me and guided me along the way. I’ve learned so much

in the classroom and being a part of so many student

organizations has given me the opportunity to take on

leadership roles and build relationships with my friends

and my teachers.”

Her other affiliations at Arkansas Tech included

student radio station KXRJ 91.9 FM, the Arkansas Tech

student television station, the Student Government

Association, Volunteer Action Council and the university

standing committee for guidance and counseling.

Grate earned the Dr. Robert Edwards Book Scholarship,

a Dean’s Scholarship, a departmental performance

scholarship and multiple Dean’s List awards at Arkansas

Tech.

“One of the especially great aspects of teaching is

watching the personal growth in your students,” said

Norton. “Lydia was obviously a conscientious student

from the time she arrived at Arkansas Tech, and now she

has grown to become a savvy public relations professional

with a wealth of skills. She is never satisfied with good

enough. She is the ultimate role model for her fellow

public relations students.”

Daughter of Glenda Brown-Grate of Pottsville, Grate

graduated from Arkansas Tech in May with a degree

in public relations, broadcast journalism and speech

communication with minors in business and history.

Grate has accepted an opportunity to serve in

the Peace Corps for a period of 27 months following

graduation. She will work in the African nation of Togo.

Travis Flower

Lydia Grate

Ozark Campus News

19Spring 2011

PATH TO PROGRESS

CAMPAIGN

Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus has announced the Path to Progress campaign, a private fundraising initiative that has a goal of raising $100,000 for the construction of a new half-mile walking trail around campus (shown, below).

The walking trail will feature a new entrance marker to the Arkansas Tech-Ozark Campus, a matching marker with donor listing on signage, a water feature, lighting, landscaping and benches. Leigh Burns Whiteside is serving as campaign chair, while Bud and Dr. Jo Anne Harper, Eddie Melton, Lonnie Turner, Don Burns, C.A. Kuykendall and Michael Smith are on the campaign committee.

“As a native of Ozark, a member of the Arkansas Tech University Board of Trustees and chair of this campaign, I am honored to lead this fundraising project for the Ozark Campus,” said Whiteside. “This project will enhance campus life for students, as well as provide fitness opportunities and beautification for the community. We look forward to working with the friends and alumni of the Ozark Campus to ensure the success of this project.”

Call (866) 225-2884 or visit www.atu.edu/ozark to learn more about making a gift to this project.

Development Corner

20 Tech Action

Class of ‘11 Donates $2,000 to loyalty fundMembers of the Arkansas Tech University Class of 2011 made a

collective donation of $2,000 to the Tech Loyalty Fund (TLF).

This was the sixth consecutive year in which members of the

Arkansas Tech senior class formed a committee for the purpose of

asking their peers to begin a lifetime tradition of giving to Arkansas

Tech by making their first gift to the university before graduation.

Jayne Jones (far right), vice president for development, accepted

the donation on behalf of the Arkansas Tech Foundation. Also

photographed are Class of 2011 TLF committee members (from left)

Keyvan Sierra, Tesa Murray, Danielle Jolie, Lydia Grate and Dana Florian.

IN MEMORY/HONOR OF (October 1, 2010 through April 30, 2011)The following individuals made gifts to Tech in memory or in honor of a friend or loved one

In Honor of Bill AbernathyFaye Abernathy

In Memory of Susan AdamsRoss and Rita Adams

In Memory of Heartsill and Polly BartlettBill and Suzanne Harmon

In Honor of Dr. Linda BeanMike and Kandis Croom

In Honor of Kenneth BowdenBill and Suzanne Harmon

In Memory of Firman BynumTravis and Lou AdamsBill and Suzanne Harmon

In Memory of Bernice ClaytonDavid and Dana Moseley

In Memory of Justin CollinsLyle and Lisa Wheeler

In Honor of Sarah CottonDavid and Dana Moseley

In Memory of Jason CroomJoseph CroomMike and Kandis Croom

In Memory of Joyce DempseyTravis and Lou AdamsAgnes AlfordMarshall and Betty ColeBetty LienhartJohnny and Julie MorganDavid and Dana Moseley

In Memory of Nona DirksmeyerCarol Martin

In Memory of Michael DuranFabricio and Karen Duran

In Memory of Samantha HaleMike and Shauna Donnell

In Honor of Bill and Suzanne HarmonJohnny and Julie Morgan

In Memory of Sam HindsmanFerne Shinn Anderson

In Memory of Sandra HodgesJames CollinsJohn GilbreathErnest and Jamie HodgesCarol MartinRobert and Dorothy NorthupBob and Judy TaylorJames and Lea Witt

In Memory of Kenneth KershJeffrey CookJacqueline GardnerTom and Jayne JonesTomela KeenanMary Ann Rollans

In Memory of Jim Ed McGeeJohnnie and Carolee Hamilton

In Memory of Gordon and Joyce McLerranArnold and Katherine Bowden

In Memory of Harlan McMillanBryn and Tracy BagwellRichard and Mary CohoonDavid GarrettJohnnie and Carolee HamiltonHelen HawkinsBill Pullen

In Honor of Phil ParkerRobert and Susan Dunn

In Memory of Lena RexingerDolores Beene

In Memory of Selma SmithBill and Suzanne Harmon

In Honor of Timothy SmithRobert and Susan Dunn

In Memory of Elgin SpenceJohnny and Julie MorganDavid and Dana Moseley

In Memory of Christina StinnettJoann HaysCharlotte LinchRonald and Joanne OwnbeyBobby and Linda Rush

In Memory of Audrie StonecipherJohnny and Julie Morgan

In Memory of Reggie TalleyMary Ann Rollans

In Memory of Thomas TateBarbara Tate

In Memory of Roy and Mary TaylorMary “Doy” Branch

In Memory of Ewell WelchLaVoy Welch

In Memory of Gene WitherspoonJohnny and Julie Morgan

In Memory of Mike “Bear” WomackNelda Womack

Miss the Winter 2011 Action?Due to an unexplained failure on the part of the U.S. Postal Service, many Arkansas Tech alumni and friends

did not receive the winter 2011 issue of Tech Action. Arkansas Tech has maintained an ongoing dialogue with the

U.S. Postal Service in an attempt to avoid similar situations in the future.

In the meantime, please visit www.techties.atu.edu to read the winter 2011 Tech Action online.

Class Notes

21Spring 2011

Dr. Sean McDougal (BIOL ’88) and Shannon Moon

(ENGR ’91) were married Aug. 12, 2010. Sean served

on the Tech Board of Trustees from 1997-2007.

Sarah Fink (HIM ’07) and Donald Johnson were

married March 12, 2011.

Saira Khan (CRWR/ENGL ’07 & M.A. ENGL ’10) and

Shane Hendrix (PHYS SCI ’08) were married April 9,

2011. They live in Russellville.

Ashley Watts (M.A. EDU ’10) and Dillon Carr (BUS

’10) were married March 19, 2011. Ashley is a teacher

at Russellville High School.

Marriages Ryan Davis (AGBU ’04) and Sarah Milam Davis

(ECON ’08), a son, Wyatt Hudson, April 12, 2011.

Ashlee Giles (PSY ’04 & M.S. CSP ’07) and Robert

Giles (RPA ’06), a son, James Todd, Oct. 7, 2010. J.T.

has one sister, Shelby Denise. Ashlee is admissions

and post secondary advisor at Cossatot Community

College of the University of Arkansas in Nashville.

Robert is a park ranger at Cossatot River State Park.

They live in Wickes.

April Patterson Clark (MED ASST ’05) and her

husband, Nathan, a daughter, Hayden Isabella,

March 28, 2011. Hayden has one sister, Lillie (3).

They live in Clarksville.

Justus Bowman (SOC ’06) and Andrea Parton

Bowman (FR ’07), a daughter, Ruth Ellen, March 5,

2011.

Natalie McMillen Jones (’06) and her husband,

Chaz, a son, Peyton, April 4, 2011.

David Kern (MGMT/MKTG ’06) and Meghan Bailey

Kern (’09), a son, Christopher Paul, April 5, 2011.

Gina Parker Rockwell (SPH ’06) and Garren

Rockwell (M.Ed PE ’07), a daughter, Gabriella

Elizabeth, April 12, 2011.

Clint Mainer (MGMT/MKTG ’07) and Kendra Powell

Mainer (HEPE ’09), a son, Jake Lee, April 12, 2011.

Drew Chronister (MGMT/MKTG ’08) and Kari

Bryant Chronister (REHAB SCI ’08), a daughter,

Adalynn Presley, Feb. 9, 2011. Adalynn has one

brother, Brayden Dane (3). They live in Russellville.

Edward Wayne Palmer (MGMT/MKTG ’08) and his

wife, Jenny, a son, Kamden Allen, March 19, 2011.

Kamden has three siblings: sister Taylor (11) and

brothers Landon (6) and Carson (6).

Ozzy Dean Picton (EMTB ’09) and his wife, Jaime, a

son, Brysyn Dean, April 8, 2011.

Chandra Lanelle Smith (AGBU ’10) and Jonathan

David Smith (ALUM), a daughter, Harper Lanelle,

April 4, 2011. Harper has two siblings: sister Calin

and brother Maddox. They live in Russellville.

David Conley (BUAD ’94) and his wife, Heather, a

daughter, Mayden Lynn, April 4, 2011. Mayden has

three siblings: sisters Destiny (14) and Ashton (10)

and brother Taylor (6).

Greg Woolf (’95) and his wife, Kelly, a daughter,

Brenley Kiel, March 24, 2011. Brenley has one sister,

Mailey (7).

A.J. Burk (BUAD ’97) and Natalie Wheat Burk (RPA

’03), a son, Bear Andrew, March 20, 2011.

Bryan Fisher (NTRL SCI ’99) and Paige Cooley Fisher

(ENGL ’03), a son, Jett Anderson, March 10, 2011.

They live in Russellville.

Eric Pratt (FW ’02) and his wife, Stephanie, a

daughter, Adalyn Kambyl, April 18, 2011. Adalyn has

one sister, Averie Klaire (2). They live in Russellville.

Josh Buchanan (AGBU ’03) and Irene Flores

Buchanan (MGMT/MKTG ’09), a daughter, Mia

McKenzy, Feb. 15, 2011. They live in Dardanelle.

Brittany Claunch Lehman (MGMT/MKTG ’03) and

her husband, Tim, a daughter, Ellie Madison, Feb. 23,

2011. They live in Benton.

Sandra Elaine Miller (SPAN/SPH ’03) and her

husband, Samuel, a son, Simeon Tim, Feb. 22, 2011.

Simeon has three siblings: sister Abigail (2) and

brothers Gabriel (6) and Maximus (4). They live in

Morrilton.

Births

Class Notes

22 Tech Action

1950s

Ruben H. Johnson (AGRI ’50) was honored when the

city of Magazine named its rural fire department the

Ruben H. Johnson Fire and Rescue Complex. Ruben

served with the University of Arkansas Cooperative

Extension Service for 34 years and retired at the rank

of colonel from the Arkansas Army National Guard. He

and his wife, Charlotte, celebrated their 60th wedding

anniversary on Dec. 15, 2010.

Dan McGuire (ENGR ’58) was elected president of the

Plastic Pioneers of America. The organization consists

of 250 members who have spent at least 25 years in the

plastics business and made noteworthy contributions

to the industry.

Elbert T. “Tommy” Townsend (HIST/POL SCI ’59)

received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine from Gov.

Beverly Perdue of North Carolina on March 16, 2011.

The Order of the Long Leaf Pine was established

in 1965 as a way for North Carolina to recognize

extraordinary public service. Tommy was the longtime

head of the New Hanover County Veterans Council

and is a past president of the North Carolina Veterans

Council. He was also a founding board member and

treasurer for the Cape Fear Literacy Council.

1960s

Killian Middleton Smith (LANG/LIT ’63) and her

husband, Tim, were awarded the community hero award

for environmental change at Arabia Mountain Nature

Preserve in DeKalb County, Ga., on April 10, 2011.

Dr. Jim Edson (CHEM ’65) was honored as the 2010

University of Arkansas at Monticello teacher of the year

by the Monticello-Drew County Chamber of Commerce.

Jim is a professor of geology at UAM and has served on

the faculty there since 1977.

Barry Birkhead (BIOL ’67) was appointed to the State

Emergency Response Commission (SERC) by Gov. Mike

Beebe of Arkansas.

Robert Dale (MATH ’68) was honored with a retirement

reception at First State Bank on April 14, 2011. Robert

is stepping aside from full-time duties as senior vice

president of mortgage lending, but he will continue

to be associated with First State Bank on a consulting

basis.

Jean Jewell Moreno (ART EDU ’73) was named 2010

teacher of the year at Elberta Middle School in Elberta,

Ala. Jean has taught for 20 years, including 15 years in

Baldwin County, Ala.

Charlie Sorrels (HEPE ’76) stepped down after 24 years

as head football coach at Atkins High School, but he

will continue to serve the school district as director

of athletics. Charlie compiled a record of 176-95-1 as

head football coach at Atkins. He led the Red Devils to

eight conference championships and 19 berths in the

state playoffs.

Donnie Whitson (HEPE ’79) resigned as principal at

East Hills Middle School in Greenwood effective June

30. Donnie served in the Greenwood School District for

30 years. He was named the 2009 Arkansas Association

of Educational Administrators Middle School Principal

of the Year.

1980s

Scott Smothers (BIOL ’81) was named lead medical

staff associate at CSL Plasma in San Antonio, Texas. He

and his wife, Shirley Henderson Smothers (ALUM), will

celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary in July 2011.

Dr. Randall Wight (PSY ’81) will assume the duties of

dean of the Ouachita Baptist University W.H. Sutton

School of Social Sciences on July 1, 2011. Randall has

served as chair of the Ouachita Baptist Department of

Psychology since 2003, and he has served on the OBU

faculty since 1986.

1970s

1990s

Tom Berryhill (BUAD ’91) accepted the position of vice

president and branch manager for the First State Bank

branch near Arkansas Tech in Russellville.

Rodney Parks (ECON ’91) was elected vice chairman of

the Arkansas State Banking Board on April 21, 2011.

Dr. Cora Jones (MUED ’94) completed a Master of

Science degree from the University of Phoenix in

December 2010. She adopted twin boys — Kendrick

Antwone Columbus Jones and Kenneth Cortez William

Jones — on Aug. 16, 2010. Cora has been employed by

the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services for

more than 10 years. She was recently assigned to the

juvenile justice division.

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Class Notes

23Spring 2011

Roxanne Cox Benincosa (ACCT ’97) was promoted

to senior manager for Beall, Barclay and Co.

Roxanne is a certified public accountant. She lives in

Bentonville.

Leah Richardson (NURS ’97) accepted a position

as nurse educator at the University of Arkansas at

Little Rock. Leah lives in Conway with her husband,

Michael, and their son, Brady.

Jared Wood (ECON ’97) and Dr. Jeneen Wood (RPA

’99) welcomed Parker Sloan Wood to their family on

Feb. 23, 2011. He was born on April 18, 2010.

James Brashear (MATH ’00 & ACCT ’06) was

promoted to senior accountant for Beall, Barclay

and Co. He recently received his certified valuation

analyst designation from the National Association of

Certified Valuation Analysts. He lives in Fort Smith.

Josh Masters (ACCT ’00) was promoted to senior

manager for Beall, Barclay and Co. Josh is a certified

public accountant. He lives in Lavaca.

Jason Wallace (HEPE ’00) was named head girls’

basketball coach at Mount St. Mary’s Academy

in Little Rock. Jason was previously the assistant

girls’ basketball coach at North Little Rock High

School, where he helped NLRHS head coach Daryl

Fimple (HEPE ’97) win the 2010 Class 7A state

championship and put together a 59-game winning

streak from 2009-2011.

Matthew Dillman (RPA ’01) was hired as head

golf professional at Thousand Hills Golf Resort in

Branson, Mo. Matt is a PGA of America Class A

member.

Melissa Kelly (JOUR ’01) was promoted to

assignment manager for television stations KHBS/

KHOG and 4029tv.com in Northwest Arkansas and

Fort Smith. She has worked at KHBS/KHOG since

2002, rising from associate producer to reporter to

co-anchor of the station’s morning program.

David N. Wyatt (ACCT ’01 & ECON ’03) was

promoted to in-charge accountant for Beall, Barclay

and Co. He lives in Barling.

2000s

Rebecca Freyaldenhoven (SPAN ’02) is employed

by the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences

and the Arts through the Office of Distance Learning

as a Spanish teacher. She works from her home in

Russellville.

Melissa Schriver (REHAB SCI ’03 & A.S. ECED ’05)

was named director for Kidz University in Conway in

January 2011.

Patricia Ann Whorton (ECED ’04) welcomed her

fourth grandson, Israel Christopher Such, on April

4, 2011.

Chris Taylor (ACCT/ECON/MATH ’07) was promoted

to serve as an in-charge accountant in the tax

department for Beall, Barclay and Co. He lives in

Fort Smith.

Kari Powers (HIST ’05 & M.LA ’09) assumed the

duties of state drug court coordinator for the

Arkansas Supreme Court in February 2011.

Sara Milam (HEPE ’06) was promoted to manager

for seven corporate wellness programs for Cooper

Corporate Solutions in Dallas, Texas.

Nathaniel Scott (ELEC ENGR ’07) was promoted

to general manager of Sentinel Power Services, a

consulting service in Tulsa, Okla.

Katherine Harst (MUED ’09) was named Big

Brothers and Big Sisters of Arkansas Big Sister of

the Year. She is an elementary music teacher for the

Russellville School District.

Kirsten Boyd (ACCT & MGMT/MKTG ’10) accepted

a position as staff accountant with BKD, LLP in its

Rogers office. She received the Arkansas Tech College

of Business Ambassador Award in April 2011.

Ronald D. Hudson (M.S. CSP ’10) received the 2011

Dr. Jim Ed McGee Award as the most outstanding

graduate student at Arkansas Tech University. Ron

has performed three tours of duty overseas as a

member of the Arkansas National Guard. He serves

as coordinator of student recruitment at Arkansas

State University-Beebe.

2010s

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Obituaries

24 Tech Action

tech Friends We’ll MissJohn Rankin (AS ’37) died April 12, 2011. John served

in the U.S. Navy during World War II. A former mayor

of Russellville, John resigned that office to accept a

position with the Bureau of Land Management in the U.S.

Department of the Interior. Following appointments in

Washington, D.C., and Denver, Colo., John was transferred

to the Bureau of Land Management New Orleans Outer

Continental Shelf office and began a 25-year career in

the development of minerals and then transportation

systems in the Gulf of Mexico. He presided over the

first $1 billion sale of oil and gas leases in the Gulf of

Mexico. John retired in 1985 and was presented with the

U.S. Department of the Interior Award for Excellence of

Service, Meritorious Service and Distinguished Service.

John lived in Russellville. He was 92.

Olen Raymond Churchill (’38) died Feb. 27, 2011. He

served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Olen was

later superintendent of the Hector School District and

coordinator of secondary instruction for the Arkansas

Department of Education. After his retirement Olen

served as executive director of the Arkansas Association

of Secondary School Administrations. He served as

president of the Arkansas Tech Alumni Association in

1956-57. Olen lived in Little Rock. He was 83.

J.C. Noggle (AGBU ’48) died Jan. 29, 2011. J.C. earned a

Ph.D. from the University of Maryland in 1965 and spent

his career in agriculture research. J.C. lived in Vilonia. He

was 84.

William “Billie” Taylor (’48) died April 4, 2011. Billie

served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He later

visited 50 different countries as part of a team of WWII

pilots who transported missionaries to posts around the

world. He wrote about those experiences in his book “The

Ambassadors.” Billie also worked in his family’s business,

Taylor Flowers of Russellville, from the time he was a child

until it was sold. Billie lived in Clearwater, Fla. He was 86.

Samuel H. Jones (’51) died Jan. 23, 2011. Sam served

in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and was

retired from a career as a lineman for AT&T. Sam lived in

Russellville. He was 86.

William N. Abernathy (’59) died April 29, 2011. A veteran

of the U.S. Army, Bill served as Pope County sheriff from

1971-76 and as Pope County judge from 1983-88. Bill

lived in Russellville. He was 77.

Roberta “Nan” Carnahan Cocke (MATH ’64) died June

16, 2010. Nan served as editor of the Arka Tech newspaper

and played on the extramural women’s tennis team during

her time as a student at Arkansas Tech. She joined the

staff of the Warrensburg Daily Star-Journal newspaper in

Warrensburg, Mo., on Nov. 1, 1978, and stayed there for

nearly 30 years. She served as editor for the Daily Star-

Journal from 1984-2008. Nan lived in Warrensburg, Mo. She

was 67.

Arch M. Jones (HEPE ’64) died March 25, 2011. Arch

played basketball under head coach Sam Hindsman

at Arkansas Tech. He went on to a 45-year career in

education, including serving the University of Central

Arkansas as its assistant men’s basketball coach (1981-

90), assistant athletic director (1990-93), head men’s

basketball coach (1993-99) and interim men’s athletic

director (1999-2000). He completed his tenure at UCA as

a member of the intramural sports staff before retiring in

2010. Arch lived in Conway. He was 68.

Martha Ann Julius Pearson (ACCT ’78) died April 21,

2011. She was retired from a career as a certified public

accountant. Martha lived in Clarksville. She was 55.

Judy Hood Taylor (PSY ’79) died March 15, 2011. She

earned a master’s degree and a Doctor of Education

degree from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville

following her undergraduate education at Arkansas Tech.

Judy lived in Russellville. She was 71.

Margaret L. Harp (REHAB SCI ’86) died April 11, 2011.

She worked as an alcohol rehabilitation counselor and

as an instructor at Arkansas Tech. Margaret lived in Fort

Smith. She was 82.

Mona Diane Hiemer (M.Ed. ELED ’98) died April 3, 2011.

Mona taught at Dover Elementary School for 28 years.

Mona lived in Russellville. She was 51.

Dr. E. Sue Doss (FMR FACULTY) died April 19, 2011. She

served on the English faculty at Arkansas Tech from

1956-93. Sue succeeded Dr. Lillian Massie as chairman of

the Division of Languages and Literature at Arkansas Tech

in 1963 and maintained a leadership position in what later

became the Department of English and Foreign Languages

until 1980. She held the title of professor emeritus of

English at Arkansas Tech. Sue lived in Russellville. She was

88.

Tech Athletics

25Spring 2011

WALKING AWAY A WINNERGolden Suns leave GSC as champions

Two years ago, Arkansas Tech women’s basketball

coach Dave Wilbers put together a deep and talented

recruiting class with a goal in mind — beat Delta State,

reclaim the upper hand in the greatest rivalry in NCAA

Division II women’s basketball and win championships.

Mission accomplished.

The Golden Suns won the Gulf South Conference

West Division title, the GSC Tournament crown and

the NCAA Division II South Region championship for a

second consecutive year during the 2010-11 season.

After losing 12 consecutive women’s basketball

games against Delta State from 2005-10, Arkansas Tech

was 6-2 against the Lady Statesmen over the past two

seasons. Four of those six wins came in the postseason

— twice in the GSC Tournament championship game

and twice in the NCAA Division II South Region final.

“Everybody always told me you can’t beat Delta

State, you can’t overcome that,” said Wilbers. “These

girls did that. They are a bunch of Arkansas kids

who wanted to come to Arkansas Tech, and they are

winners.”

Arkansas Tech’s 85-77 triumph over Delta State in

the 2011 NCAA Division II South Region championship

game might have been the sweetest of them all because

it was the last time that the Golden Suns and the Lady

Statesmen are guaranteed of meeting on a basketball

floor.

Arkansas Tech will move forward to the new NCAA

Division II Great American Conference in fall 2011.

That transition will close an era of regular match-

ups between the program with the highest winning

percentage in NCAA Division II women’s basketball

history — Delta State — and the program with the

second-highest winning percentage at that level —

Arkansas Tech.

The 2010-11 Golden Suns saw their NCAA

Tournament run come to an end with a 69-58 loss

to eventual national runner-up Michigan Tech in the

national quarterfinals at the St. Joseph Civic Arena in

St. Joseph, Mo.

Arkansas Tech completed the 2010-11 women’s

basketball season with an overall record of 30-3, and

the Golden Suns were 61-6 over the past two seasons.

JOIN A WINNING

TEAM

Check out the back

cover of this issue of

Tech Action to learn how

you can join the

Green and Gold Club

and help Arkansas Tech

continue its winning

ways in the new

Great American

Conference!

ABOVE: Shaquilah Davis,

who was injured in the GSC

Tournament championship

game, accepted the NCAA

South Region championship

trophy on behalf of the

Golden Suns.

Tech Athletics

26 Tech Action

Doug Karleskint could be a head coach for many years

before he is involved in more dramatic finishes in critical

games than he was in his first season as the head men’s

basketball coach at Arkansas Tech.

The Wonder Boys earned their second consecutive Gulf

South Conference West Division championship and made

their third straight trip to the NCAA Division II Tournament

during the 2010-11 season.

Arkansas Tech finished with an overall record of 25-6,

giving the Wonder Boys a cumulative record of 96-28 the

last four years. Tech suffered through seven consecutive

losing men’s basketball seasons before its current run of

prosperity.

The Wonder Boys won their first 13 conference games

of the season, including a 72-71 overtime win at Harding

on Feb. 24 to clinch the GSC West title.

The Bisons got their revenge with an 80-61 victory

over Arkansas Tech in the GSC Tournament championship

game, but the Wonder Boys earned an at-large bid to the

NCAA Tournament and headed to Huntsville, Ala., for the

NCAA Division II South Regional.

It was there that senior point guard Laithe Massey, who

completed his career ranked second in school history in

steals and fourth in school history in assists, hit one of

the greatest and least likely shots in Arkansas Tech men’s

basketball history.

His 3-pointer with three seconds remaining — which

was just his eighth 3-pointer of the season — gave the

Wonder Boys a 61-58 win over Benedict College in the first

round of the NCAA Tournament.

Arkansas Tech’s second-round game against regional

host Alabama-Huntsville was equally thrilling, but this

time it was the Chargers who came up with the big plays

at the big moments.

UAH outscored the Wonder Boys 9-0 over the final 1:08

of overtime to earn a 74-71 win and end Arkansas Tech’s

March Madness dreams.

Karleskint was named GSC West coach of the year and

Massey was named All-NCAA South Region in recognition

of their efforts during the 2010-11 season. Massey was

joined on the All-GSC West honor squad by teammates

Johnie Davis and Jeremy Dunbar.

GSC West men’s basketball title goes to Tech

Saturday, Sept. 3 *at Arkansas-Monticello Monticello, Ark. 6 p.m.Saturday, Sept. 10 at Southwest Baptist Bolivar, Mo. 6 p.m.Saturday, Sept. 17 Delta State Russellville, Ark. 6 p.m.Saturday, Sept. 24 West Alabama (Family Day) Russellville, Ark. 6 p.m.Saturday, Oct. 1 at Central Missouri Warrensburg, Mo. 1:30 p.m.Saturday, Oct. 8 North Alabama Russellville, Ark. 6 p.m.Saturday, Oct. 15 *at Southern Arkansas Magnolia, Ark. 2:30 p.m.Saturday, Oct. 22 *SE Oklahoma State (Homecoming) Russellville, Ark. 6 p.m.Saturday, Oct. 29 *East Central (Senior Day) Russellville, Ark. 2 p.m.Saturday, Nov. 5 *at SW Oklahoma State Weatherford, Okla. 2 p.m.

2011 Arkansas Tech Football Schedule

*Denotes Great American Conference game | Times are Central and are subject to change. | Home games are played at Thone Stadium at Buerkle FieldAll games broadcast in the Russellville area on KWKK 100.9 FM and around the world at www.athletics.atu.edu

Arkansas Tech advanced to the final day of the Gulf South Conference Baseball Tournament

for the first time in a decade during the 2011 event at USA Stadium in Millington, Tenn.

The Wonder Boys came out of the elimination bracket with three wins in three days, but

a 4-3 loss to Harding on the final day of the tournament ended Tech’s GSC title dreams one

game short of the championship contest. Head coach Dave Dawson and the Wonder Boys

finished the 2011 season with a 32-19 record. Matt Johnson (photographed) hit .454 with nine

home runs and 50 runs batted in to become Tech’s first GSC West baseball player of the year.

He set new single-season school records for hits (99), runs (79) and stolen bases (37).

Millington magic: Wonder Boys reach final day

Doug Karleskint

Laithe Massey

Tech Athletics

27Spring 2011

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Please make checks payable to the Arkansas Tech Foundation and write Alumni Scholarship in the memo field of the check.

Donations may be mailed to the Arkansas Tech Foundation, 8820 Tech Lane, Russellville, AR 72801

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mail class notes to Tech Alumni Office, 1313 N. Arkansas Ave., Russellville, AR 72801 or e-mail to alumni@atu.edu.

Golden Suns dethrone 5-time GSC championsArkansas Tech is leaving the Gulf South Conference with the league’s

women’s golf championship trophy under its arm.

Head coach Amy White and the Golden Suns posted a final-round score

of 310 on April 18 to run away from a nine-team field and post a 16-stroke

victory in the 36-hole tournament. Tech had a two-day total of 636, while five-

time defending champion West Florida finished second with a score of 652.

It is the first conference championship in the 10-year history of the

Arkansas Tech women’s golf program, and it comes in Tech’s final year of

membership in the GSC. Arkansas Tech will move forward to the new NCAA

Division II Great American Conference in fall 2011.

Tech takes third GSC West softball crownArkansas Tech was picked by league head coaches to finish

fifth in the Gulf South Conference West Division during the

2011 softball season. So much for preseason polls.

The Golden Suns amassed a 34-19 overall record and a 23-7

record in GSC games on their way to winning the GSC West

softball title for the third time in the last four years. Arkansas

Tech won 21 of its last 27 regular season games on its way to

the regular season league title.

Tech ActionArkansas Tech UniversityAlumni AssociationAlumni House1313 North Arkansas Ave.Russellville, AR 72801

Arkansas Tech University Alumni Association

Volume 47 No. 2

2011-12 Green & GoldMembership Form

Your Name_____________________________________Company Name_______________________________

Address ___________________________________________________________________________________

City____________________________________________ State __________________ Zip_________

Home Phone________________________________ Business Phone ________________________________

E-Mail Address______________________________________________________________________________

Name As I Wish It To Appear in Football Game Program_____________________________________________

r I wish to make my donation by check. A gift in the amount of $___________ is enclosed.

r I wish to make a donation of $______________, and I wish to charge my gift to my credit card:r Visa r Master Card

r Discover r American Express

Account #______________________________________

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Signature Required________________________________

Make checks payable to: Arkansas Tech Foundation(Write Green and Gold Club on memo line)

Green and Gold Giving Levelsr Platinum ($5,000) r Diamond ($3,000) r Emerald ($1,500)

r All-American ($1,000) r Captain ($500)

r All-Star ($250) r Tech ($150)

r Check here for membership with game ticketsr Check here for membership with no tickets

Designate My Gift For: r Specific Sport__________________

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Your gifts support Tech Athletics.

Thank you for aiding the Wonder Boys and

the Golden Suns.Mail Completed Form To: Arkansas Tech Foundation 8820 Tech Lane, Russellville, AR 72801

Consult your tax advisor to determine how this applies to your tax situation.