nov06(12-24).qxp

• Beloved Professor and Coach Honored at

Homecoming Dedication

• Whitener Medal Recipients Recognized

• Three Distinguished Alumni Honored

• Recognition of

Catawba’s NFLAlumni

And More...

page 10

See CONSTRUCTION, page 9

ollowing a symbolic

groundbreaking for

Abernethy Village held

September 19, and the

demolition one month later

of the circa-1966 Abernethy

Residence Hall, all is on schedule

and going according to plan with

the construction of five new resi-

dence halls on campus. That

according to Catawba College’s

Director of Facilities Henry

Haywood who said those residence

halls will be ready to use by the

beginning of ’07-’08 academic year.

Summit Development of

Salisbury, which is serving as gener-

al contractor for the project, has

poured footings for two of the resi-

dence halls which will face Summit

Avenue, Haywood said. Electrical

and plumbing for these two halls

also are being installed prior to the slabs being poured for

them. Where Abernethy Residence Hall stood, a retaining

wall is being removed prior to grading of the site which will

prep it for footings for the three other residence halls.

Fall/Winter 2006 / Volume 28, Number 3

Catawba football under the lights

- page 14

Catawba

Couples Contest

In our last issue of CAMPUS, we chal-

lenged our alumni who married someone

they met through Catawba to send us their

‘how we met’ stories. We love the many

submissions and had a hard time choosing

a favorite. Alas, there was an eventual

winner. See below the story submitted by

Stuart Smith ‘77 about his courtship of

Pam Lee Smith ’75, his wife of thirty

years!

In his own words: “In the fall of 1973,

I was a freshman taking an introductory

computer science class. This was back in

the days of punch cards and “IBM

Selectric typewriter” output. Lo and

behold, I spotted this lovely, slender coed

with the prettiest long brown hair who

was working part time in the academic

computer center helping students with

their programming assignments. Pam Lee

was a junior (out of my league) and

See CATAWBACOUPLES, page 23

Symbolic groundbreaking for Abernethy Village

Highlights:

Family member of the late Enoch

Goodman read resolution of

respect

— page 5

Campus construction on schedule

HHoommeeccoommiinngg 22000066

Dr. Frank “Dutch” Meyer

honored

Grady Shoe ’49 (r) receives

Distinguished Alumnus Award from Dr.

Knott and Catawba Alumni Board

President Alison Horner Klopp ’95

Catawba’s NFL ALumni (L-R) L. Drew Brie ’69, David Taylor ’73,

Ike Hill ’70, Bucky “The Claw” Pope ’64, Ed Koontz ’68

CAMPUS, Fall/Winter 2006

tonia black-gold

editor & chief communications officer

laura q. vandenberg

director of graphic services

bridgette e. gibbs ’02

staff assistant & alumni update editor

maegen g. worley

web designer developer

james d. lewis ’89

sports information director

1-800-CATAWBA or 1-704-637-4393

Alumni Updates

: [email protected]

CAMPUS Edi

tor: [email protected]

Cata

wba Homepage: www.catawba.edu

CAMPUS (USPS 087-560) is published

quarterly by Catawba College,

2300 West Innes Street,

Salisbury, NC 28144-2488.

Periodicals Postage rates paid at Salisbury

NC and additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address

changes to CAMPUS, Catawba College, at

2300 West Innes Street,

Salisbury, NC 28144-2488.

n September, the department of Computer Services (CS) achieved a major milestone in its strategic plan to pro-

vide state-of-the-art information technology services to the students, faculty, and staff of Catawba College.

Computer Services moved from the extremely crowded basement of the library into the refurbished lower level

of Hoke Hall, providing not only more spacious, functional, and attractive facilities, but setting Catawba College

on a path towards realizing a first-class Information Technology (IT) Center on campus.

The Hoke Hall IT Center currently includes a secure data center with appropriate environmental controls, a state-of-

the art fire suppression system, a backup generator, and ample room for growth. Future plans for the upper floors of

Hoke call for multimedia workstations and project rooms to support various forms of digital creativity, an instructional

technology training lab for faculty, a 24 by 7 computer lab for students, and a web-based videoconferencing center.

The journey to transform technology at Catawba College began in 2003. After a year of research, planning, and reor-

ganization by the Computer Services team, the Board of Trustees heard in May, 2004, a report on the state of technol-

ogy at Catawba College. This report also articulated a vision and plan for upgrading the technology services to the cam-

pus. Recognizing the importance of this technology plan to the College’s overall strategic plan, the Board of Trustees

established an ad hoc Information Technology Committee, chaired by trustee Dan Bross, to focus on implementing this

plan.

With the trustees providing vital support and funding, and the Computer Services team doing the foundational ground-

work, many major information technology projects have been completed, and many more are well-underway. The

Hoke Hall Information Technology Center stands as a physical reminder of the major advances in IT occurring all across

campus, and a symbol of the College’s ongoing commitment to position itself as a leader in higher education technolo-

gy amongst its peer institutions.

It is essential that technology support the core mission of teaching and learning. To this point, the plan for academic

computing called for upgrading the Blackboard Learning Management System on campus in order to provide more

functionality and make it easier for faculty and students to use. Blackboard is a market-leading academic tool that

enables faculty to supplement the in-class experience with an online presence. Through Blackboard, faculty can post

syllabi and course materials online, engage the students in online discussion forums and surveys, provide students with

a digital drop-box for turning in assignments, and give students access to an online grade book so that the student knows

where he/she stands in the course after each graded assignment.

In other efforts to support and improve teaching and learning, the Computer Services team is presently engaged in a

project to upgrade the projection and sound systems in technology-enhanced classrooms, as well as to double their num-

ber, provide wireless network access, and add digital whiteboard capabilities. Additionally, the CS team is replacing

faculty desktops with laptops that can be easily moved from office to classroom for digital presentations. Specialized

hardware and software tools have been provided to academic departments across campus, including Theatre Arts, the

Sciences, Teacher Education, and Business.

Of course, the administrative offices are also heavily dependent on information technology for automation of time-

consuming business processes, for timely and lower-cost communications with customers, for data analysis and report-

ing, and for self-service web-based alternatives for paper and people intense business processes, such as grade report-

ing and academic advising. The College’s enterprise administrative computing system underwent a significant upgrade,

completed in October 2005, thanks in part to a major grant from the Cannon Foundation. This upgrade enhanced the

functionality and services available to the offices of Admissions, Financial Aid, Registrar, Student Development,

Business, and Development. In 2007, further enhancements to the reporting and data analysis capabilities of this system

are planned.

Through ongoing upgrades to CatLink, the Catawba College web portal, the College is increasingly providing any-

time, anywhere, self-service access to information and business processes. In 2007, plans are underway to provide

online grading to faculty and an online unofficial transcript to students. The CS team also supports the implementation

of many auxiliary systems, such as the new Dining Services system, and upgrades to the Bookstore and Facilities sys-

tems. In 2007, a new event-scheduling and web-based campus calendaring system will be implemented.

Critical to all these services is, of course, the infrastructure on which all of these electronic services run—the systems

and networking framework underlying all information technology services. Beginning in December 2003, the College

partnered with Enterasys Networks to develop a more secure and reliable network. This upgraded system, largely invis-

ible to users, directs network traffic more efficiently, increases network speed, and positions the College to better sup-

port wireless computing, which is steadily being expanded on campus. Systems were put in place to protect the cam-

pus community from the ever-increasing nuisance and threat posed by malware such as viruses and spam. As a conse-

quence of these system and network upgrades, students can now safely and reliably access the internet from their dorm

rooms; all campus users can gain electronic access to the library’s many online databases; the campus community can

access email and personal and campus calendars using Microsoft Outlook or through an award-winning web-based

interface. These upgrades also enabled the ITstaff to increase redundancy and better monitor performance, resulting in

less unscheduled downtime and a more consistent and favorable technology experience.

These major accomplishments could only have been achieved through the strong support of trustees and the admin-

istration, and through the skills, passion, and commitment of the Computer Services staff. The result is an enhanced

ability to recruit, serve, and retain students; an enhanced means of performing administrative operations; and enhanced

access to an increasingly digital and virtual world for Catawba College students, faculty, and staff. Though this virtual

world does not stand still, we are increasingly positioned to move with it, and to make the most of ongoing advances in

information technology.

Joanna Jasper

Chief Information

Officer

Campus technology update

CAMPUS, Fall/Winter 2006

tudent scholarship recipients and their

scholarship donors or donor representa-

tives came together Wednesday, Nov. 8

for Catawba College’s annual Endowed

Scholarship Luncheon held in Peeler

Crystal Lounge on campus.

Senior Lester Sconyers of New Bern, the recip-

ient of the Briggs-Green-Price Scholarship,

spoke on behalf of his fellow scholarship recip-

ients. Sconyers explained that in the words of a

wise man, Forrest Gump, “Life’s like a box of

chocolates, you never know what you’re going

to get.” He added that he had chosen well when

he chosen to attend Catawba and “ended up with

a piece of chocolate that still tastes sweet today,

” thanks in part to the scholarship he received.

“I’ve walked the road of self-discovery at this

college,” Sconyers concluded before

thanking those donors gathered for their

financial support.

Catawba College Senior Vice

President Tom Childress introduced

donors of the 10 new Endowed

Scholarships which were established at

the College over the past year. With the

addition of these new scholarships, the number

of endowed scholarship now available at the

institution totals 212.

New scholarships established this year includ-

ed the Dr. C. Robert and Elizabeth Carlton

Scholarship, established in honor of Dr. C.

Robert and Elizabeth Carlton, both former fac-

ulty members of Catawba College, by their son

and daughter-in-law, Mrs. and Mrs. Kevin D.

Carlton; the N. Windsor Eagle Scholarship,

established anonymously in honor of Windsor

Eagle of Salisbury; the Frances H. Johnson

Scholarship, in honor of Catawba College

Trustee Emeritus Frances “Billie” Johnson by

Insteel Industries, Inc.; the Kelly-Cline

Scholarship, established by Catawba College

Alumni Ned and Linda Kelly Cline of

Greensboro, members of the class of 1964; the

Roy and Alma Leinbach Scholarship, estab-

lished by Catawba College Alumna Alma

Leinbach ’43 in memory of her husband, a 1933

Catawba College alumnus and trustee, and in

honor of their long association with the institu-

tion; the William E. and Virginia Samuels

Scholarship, established by Catawba College

Alumnus William Samuels ’53 and wife

Virginia; the William A. Sherrill Scholarship,

established from the estate of Mrs. William

Sherrill; the Howard Shone Scholarship, estab-

lished in honor of Howard Shone by his son and

daughter-in-law, Catawba College Alumnus

Thomas Shone ’81 and wife Andrea; the Rick

and Cinda Toms Scholarships, established by

Mr. Rick Toms ’74 and wife Cinda of

Hagerstown, Md.; the Jason Walser Scholarship,

established in honor of Jason Walser of

Salisbury, director of the LandTrust of Central

North Carolina; and the John E. Wear

Scholarship, established in honor of Dr. John

Wear, a Catawba College professor and director

of Catawba’s Center for the Environment.

In his closing remarks, Catawba College

President Dr. Robert Knott told donors gathered

that the scholarships they have established help

deserving students afford to attend the institu-

tion. Ninety eight percent of Catawba students

receive some form of financial assistance, he

said. He noted that Catawba’s recent endow-

ment campaign successfully had achieved its

goal of $35 million and with continued support

from donors was nearing $38 million.

Students and donors meet for Catawba’s annual Endowed

Scholarship Luncheon

’43 Alumna Establishes Scholarship

Alma Wagoner Leinbach ’43 of Newton says it

was almost predetermined that she would attend

Catawba College.

To ensure that other students have the same

opportunity that she, and other members of her

family, did, Mrs. Leinbach has established a schol-

arship at the institution. Preference for the Roy E.

and Alma W. Leinbach Endowed Scholarship

Fund will be given to able and deserving pre-min-

isterial students or students from Catawba County

who demonstrate need.

Mrs. Leinbach’s parents, the late B.F. and Jennie

Barringer Wagoner, both from Rowan County,

attended old Catawba in Newton and are counted

among the class of 1901. Her older sister, the late

Margaret Wagoner Davis, graduated from new

Catawba in 1940. When it came Alma’s time to

go off to college, she remembers that there was not

much to discuss.

In a cyclical turn of history, that family tradition

of attending Catawba continued in Mrs.

Leinbach’s own family. Her late husband, the

Reverend Roy Leinbach, earned his degree from

Catawba College in 1933. Then, three of the cou-

ple’s four children continued in their parents’foot-

steps at Catawba. Linda Leinbach Ferguson of

Plymouth, Mich., graduated in 1966; Nancy

Leinbach Laimbeer of Newton graduated in 1968;

and Katherine “Kathy” Leinbach Frye of Catawba

County graduated in 1981. The Leinbachs’ son,

the late Roy William Leinbach, also attended

Catawba briefly.

“Here is a family who seems tied through the

generations to Catawba College,” notes Catawba

College Senior Vice President Tom Childress.

“This new scholarship is a way to assure that

future students at the institution remember and

honor the Leinbach family.”

The late Reverend Leinbach, who died in 1993,

was the minister at the Wagoner family’s church in

Newton, Grace Church. It was from the pulpit

that he first encountered Alma Wagoner. After her

graduation from Catawba, she married this United

Church of Christ minister.

“It was an adventure and we were into a lot of

different things,” Mrs. Leinbach remembers of her

life with her husband, who served for 27 years on

the Catawba College Board of Trustees. “He

loved his work at Catawba, his work at the UCC

Retirement Home in Newton, and serving on the

Nazareth Children’s Home board of managers.

“Roy felt such a closeness to Catawba, even

after all of these years of us being away from it as

we were,” she continues. “I was just thinking

about Roy and thought we needed a way to

remember his work. He never wanted to take

credit when he was living, and I just thought that

he should get credit for the work he had done and

credit in this way.”

Mrs. Leinbach, a retired teacher in the Catawba

County Schools, actively supported her husband’s

work at various pastorates including Newton, and

Startown. She served as organist at St. Paul’s in

Newton, the church she now attends, and was

active in the Sunday school, and various women’s

organizations of the church.

When asked what it was like to come back to

her alma mater with her husband who had gradu-

ated 10 years before her, she remembers: “We had

different friends, but we both just blended right in.

It was something about Catawba – the spirit of the

school that made it so outstanding.”

Endowed scholarships at Catawba College are

established with gifts of $10,000 or more.

Senior Lester Sconyers speaks at luncheon

“I’ve walked the road of

self-discovery at this college.”

- Lester Sconyers

CAMPUS, Fall/Winter 2006

Catawba College Alumnus Kevin Carlton

’85 and wife Wendy of Salisbury have estab-

lished a scholarship fund at the College in honor

of Kevin’s parents, Dr. C. Robert and Elizabeth

Carlton, both of whom are retired Catawba fac-

ulty members. The scholarship will be awarded

to students who demonstrate financial need and

are pursuing education majors in the fields of

mathematics, computer science or music.

“We thank Kevin and Wendy for choosing to

establish a scholarship as a way to honor

Bob and Libby Carlton for all they both have

meant to the life of Catawba,” said Catawba

Senior Vice President Tom Childress. “Not

only will it benefit future generations of

deserving students, but it is a very tangible

way to memorialize his parents and their

respective roles at the institution.”

Dr. Robert Carlton joined the faculty of

Catawba College in 1981 as chairman of the

mathematics department and professor of

mathematics. He came to Catawba from

Georgetown College, Georgetown, Ky.,

where he served in a similar capacity. A

graduate of Georgetown College, Dr.

Carlton received his master’s degree from

Northwestern University and his doctorate

from George Peabody College, now part of

Vanderbilt University.

Elizabeth “Libby” Carlton joined the

faculty of Catawba College in 1983 as

assistant professor of music. In that

capacity, she not only taught music class-

es to undergraduates, but also founded

and developed the College’s Community

Music Program. She earned two under-

graduate degrees from Georgetown College and

also a master's degree from that institution. A

certified Orff teacher and a nationally recog-

nized clinician, she is also the author of many

articles and the co-author of nine books con-

cerning the role of music and movement in ele-

mentary education. She has served as music

consultant for High/Scope Educational

Research Foundation and is a consulting editor

for the Children’s Music Series, Lifeway

Church Music Resources of the Southern

Baptist Convention. For over 22 years, she has

served as organist at First Baptist Church,

Salisbury.

“My parents spent a good deal of their pro-

fessional lives at Catawba College,” explained

Kevin Carlton. “Ascholarship fund established

in their honor is one way to assure that they will

be long remembered at the institution.”

Kevin is employed as a systems manager

with Wachovia Corporation in Charlotte. He

also spends time as a general contractor build-

ing custom homes, operating a property man-

agement company and working within his

church organizing various sports leagues. His

wife, Wendy, is employed with the Rowan-

Salisbury School System as a teacher assistant

and with Century 21 as a broker/realtor. The

couple has three sons, Wesley, Bradley and

Hunter.

Salisbury couple honored with Catawba Scholarship

ifty-five students, all recipients of Ralph W. Ketner Scholarships,

were feted September 21 at a luncheon at Catawba College. Mr.

Ketner, co-founder and chairman emeritus of Food Lion, Inc.,

and his wife Anne established the scholarships at the College to

assist deserving local students with

the cost of their education.

Two of the students, senior Sherri Hill of

East Spencer and junior Ryan Dayvault of

Kannapolis, spoke on behalf of their fellow

scholarship recipients and expressed their

appreciation to the Ketners. Hill noted that

the Ketner Scholarship enabled her to both

attend and pay for college when her father

died during her high school years.

Dayvault echoed Hill and said without Mr. Ketner’s support “it would

have been hard for me to attend Catawba.” He noted that it was impor-

tant for him to remain in Rowan County where he grew up and where his

family lives, but it was equally important for him “not to be just a num-

ber as I would have been at a large state institution.”

“This college has a bright future ahead and we can all be part of it,”

Dayvault told those gathered. “As Ketner Scholars and Rowan County

residents, we can give back in the service and dedication we provide this

institution.” He offered thanks to Mr. Ketner for “allowing all of us to be

a part of your life’s story.”

College President Dr. Robert Knott explained that one of Mr. Ketner’s

lessons is “that hard work is necessary, but the most important thing is to

be a person of ideas.”

Mr. Ketner spoke briefly at the luncheon, noting that his success grew

out of his need to survive in business. He in turn thanked the students

“for being the people you are.”

Ralph W. Ketner Scholars from Salisbury include Benjamin Aldridge,

Charlie Aldridge, Timothy Ayscue, Andrew Branning, Jason Chapman,

Justin Dionne, Dacia Dryman, Henry Fairley, Mikel Fesperman, Lauren

Flynn, Stacy Suggs Frick, Jessica Jones, Christopher Junker, James

Kesler, Samuel Ketner, Carly Moore, Michael Moore, Kelly Munday,

Taylor Osborne, Ashley Overcash, Jennifer Pitel, Kelly Poole, Leslie

Robertson, Blake Scearce, Shelley Ward, Candance Weathers. Ashley

Wells, Leslie Wilson, and Aaron Young.

Scholars from China Grove included Kevin Biles, Hannah Burleson,

Rebecca Helms, Mitchell McIntosh, Adam Thompson, Lauren Weaver,

and Amanda Wilson.

Scholars from Kannapolis include Angela Bailey, Johnathan Menius,

and William Van Wieren.

Scholars from other locations in the area were Amanda Durham and

Nicholas Kalogeromitros, both of Rockwell; Paul Link and Amanda

McDaniel, both of Cleveland; Justin McIntyre and Adam Taylor, both of

Woodleaf; Jared Gordon, Roger Morris, Aaron Rimer, and Cheng Seng

Thao, all of Spencer; Nicholas Lefko of Faith; Tyler Smith of Rockwell;

Jacqueline White of Mount Ulla; and Robert White of Polkton.

Dr. C. Robert & Elizabeth Carlton chat with College President

Dr. Knott at scholarship luncheon November 8

Ralph W. Ketner Scholars feted at Catawba

“As Ketner Scholars and

Rowan County residents, we can

give back in the service and dedication we

provide this institution.”

- Ryan Dayvault

CAMPUS, Fall/Winter 2006

One hundred and twenty-five needy area families enjoyed a complete

Thanksgiving meal this year, thanks to a Duck Draw Community Service

Fundraiser sponsored by Catawba College’s Residence Life Staff.

Before a small gathering of faculty, staff and students, over 1,000 brightly

colored plastic ducks were set afloat shortly before noon on Monday, Nov. 13

in the fountain outside of the Cannon Student Center on campus. Then at noon,

over 150 ducks were drawn. Each duck that was plucked from the water dis-

played on its bottom a number which corresponded to a $1 ticket purchased by

a member of the college community. These numbers also corresponded to

donated prizes from area merchants, ranging from hair cuts to large pizzas.

This is the third year in a row that Catawba’s Residence Life Staff has spon-

sored the fundraiser. Proceeds from the Duck Draw, along with funds raised

by selling cookies and cotton candy at Catawba home football games, netted

the monies to underwrite the costs of providing the Thanksgiving meals.

In 2005, 90 needy area families were able to enjoy a traditional

Thanksgiving meal. According to Dan Sullivan, Catawba’s dean of students,

the residence life staff works with several county organizations to select fam-

ilies with the greatest need for a Thanksgiving meal. Meals include a turkey,

dressing, a turkey pan, vegetables, bread, rice, and a dessert.

Needy have turkey thanks to ducks

atawba College trustees and adminis-

trators, gathered with family and

friends of the late Enoch Goodman

Monday, October 16, to pay tribute to

the man who served for more than 50

years on the board of trustees and

who through his many financial contributions

to the college earned the distinction of being the

most generous alumni donor in its history.

A portrait of the late Salisbury businessman

and 1938 Catawba College alumnus was

unveiled following a dinner held in the

Kirkland lobby of Abernethy Physical

Education Center on campus. A resolution of

respect, adopted by Goodman’s fellow trustees

at their morning meeting, was read aloud by

College President Robert Knott and also pre-

sented to Goodman’s family.

Goodman, who died on December 28, 2005,

was a Salisbury native, an out-

standing scholar-athlete at Catawba

College, and a partner in B.V.

Hedrick Gravel and Sand, Co. He

was also engaged in many civic

activities. He served on the

Security Bank Board, on the Board

of Trustees for the Rowan

Memorial Hospital, as chairman of

the building committee for Knox

Junior High School, and as a mem-

ber of the Salisbury City School

Board. He was tapped for service by the

Catawba Board of Trustees in 1954 and served

in that capacity until his death.

As a Catawba trustee, Goodman helped

spearhead the construction of six major build-

ings on campus, including the physical educa-

tion center which contains the Goodman

Gymnasium, a gift from him and his first wife,

the late Dorothy Hedrick. He consistently gave

of his time and financial

resources to establish

scholarships and to sup-

port the institution’s annu-

al funds and various capi-

tal campaigns.

According to Knott,

Goodman’s interests in his

alma mater were varied

and matched the pace of

the times. He made dona-

tions to improve the on-

campus computer sys-

tem, to enhance security

and safety for college

community members,

to improve Keppel

Auditorium, and to air-

condition the offices in

the physical education center. In recent years,

his substantial contributions also supported the

Shuford Stadium construction, where the

Goodman Deck is named for him, and to the

institution’s Hayes Field House, where the

Goodman Lobby bears his name. Catawba’s

School of Physical Education and Athletics is

also named for Goodman and his first wife,

Dorothy Hedrick Goodman.

Knott noted that

trustees honored Goodman

“as an outstanding servant

leader, as a generous bene-

factor, and as a man who

lived long, well, and hon-

orably, and gave selflessly

of his time and resources.”

He said that with

Goodman’s death trustees

“both collectively and

individually, suffered the loss of a good friend

and a much respected partner in the ongoing

service of Catawba College.”

Goodman is survived by wife Lois Busby

Goodman; children, Michael Alvin Goodman,

Jeffrey Vance Goodman, and Dorothy Gail

Settle, grandchildren, numerous nieces and

nephews, and other extended family members.

The late Enoch Goodman

honored at Catawba College

Lois Goodman, the widow of Enoch Goodman ’38, stands beside his portrait

Faculty, staff and students anxiously await for the duck draw to begin

“An outstanding servant leader,

a generous benefactor, a man who lived long,

well, and honorably, and gave selflessly

of his time and resources.”

- Dr. Robert Knott

CAMPUS, Fall/Winter 2006

he Catawba College Center for the Environment launched its

Sustainable Communities Leadership Institute in October to

advance sustainability in the state and the region.

The institute is a program designed to educate and

equip current and emerging leaders in the state to become

effective change agents on issues spawned by rapid growth. Its purpose

is to create a network of leaders and community action groups capable

of transforming communities in sustainable ways.

Sustainability is defined as “living so that the current generation meets

its needs without compromising future generations’ ability to meet

their needs.”

Astrong component of the institute includes instruction in intensive

collaborative community leadership. This approach provides leaders

with tools and techniques for bringing diverse stakeholders together to

focus on the vision they have for their communities. David Chrislip,

co-author of Collaborative Leadership: How Citizens and Civic

Leaders Can Make a Difference and co-founder of the Denver

Community Leadership Forum, is working closely with the center staff

to design the leadership sessions.

Catawba students will have opportunities through institute work-

shops and conferences to learn from thought leaders and leaders in the

state who confront sustainability issues on a daily basis.

2006-2007 – Institute’s Planning Year

The institute held a three-day retreat in October for the first partici-

pants, all of whom were leaders in North or South Carolina. During this

retreat, participants explored the environmental challenges the state

faces and the driving forces behind them. The discussion centered on

how to effectively build and promote a network of leadership in North

Carolina that will transform communities toward sustainability.

Two follow-up sessions are scheduled during the winter. Participants

will, among other things, explore the lessons learned from successful

civic leadership development programs and define the workshops and

forums for the spring of 2007.

The general public will be able to join institute participants in four

mini-conferences and a Sustainability Fair during the spring.

Advisory Council

Anumber of state and regional leaders, who share the Center’s goals

of transforming the region toward sustainability, have agreed to serve

as advisors to the Institute. Most of them attended the retreat:

• Katy Ansardi, Executive Director, Sustainable NC

• Philip Blumenthal, President, Blumenthal Foundation

• Bill Holman, Executive Director, NC Clean Water Management

Trust Fund

• Edward Norvell, Legal Counsel, Conservation Trust for North

Carolina

• Dyke Messinger, President, Power Curbers, Inc.

• Linda Rimer, N.C. and S.C. Liaison, U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency

• Larry Shirley, Director, NC Office of Energy

• Wanda Urbanska, President, Simple Living TV Network

In addition, the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation and the Alcoa

Foundation have committed substantial funds to the enterprise.

Catawba Center’s

Sustainable Communities

Leadership Institute begins

Fifteen leaders from North & South Carolina participated in the first

Sustainable Communities Leadership Institute retreat. Several discuss the

issues surrounding sustainability: (clockwise from left) Katy Ansardi,

executive director of Sustainable NC; Larry Shirley, director of N.C.

Office of Energy; Dyke Messinger, president of Power Curbers; Van

Shields, director of the York County Culture & Heritage Museums; and

Jim Beall Graham, former member of the Davidson County Commission

and past president of the LandTrust for Central North Carolina.

Alumni Association Board of Directors

The Catawba College Alumni Association Board of Directors’ purpose is to further the well-being of the College

and its alumni through activities designed to increase the interest of its members in the College and in each other.

Alison Horner Klopp ’95 serves as President with Kelly McKinley Kepley ‘87 as President-Elect.

The following 24 alumni currently serve the college on the Alumni Association Board of Directors: Meredith Knowles Abramson ’96

of Salisbury; Avery Bordeaux ’61of Raleigh; Beth Buford ’06 of Salisbury; Jill Ridenhour Chalmers ’85 of Salisbury; Chuck Farthing ’75

of Harrisonburg, Va.; John T. Graham ’62 of Salisbury; John Gust ’02 of Falls Church, Va.; Vickie Hardy ’81 of Advance; John Hartpence

Jr. ’64 of Salisbury; Kelly M. Kepley ’87 of Powder Springs, Ga.; Alison Horner Klopp '95 of Mooresville; Tony Klubert ’86 of Hickory;

Tameka Lundy ’02 of Temple Hills, Md.; Scott Martin ’92 of Huntsville, Al.; Theresa Wallace Matthews ’79 of Denton; Shannon Davenport

McCoy ’03 of Salisbury; George A. Noble ’53 of Salisbury; Debbie Book Shelton ’71 of Oak Ridge; Dr. Jonathan Slaughter ’00 of

Charleston, SC; Jane Smith-Steinberg ’66 of Salisbury; Randy Southard ’74 of Stokesdale; R. J. Speaks ’99 of Yadkinville; Phil Stillman

’86 of Matthews; and Dr. Charles E. Suber ’96 of Morganton. With the challenge of encouraging classmate involvement, mentoring cur-

rent students, and being resources for the college, Alumni Director Margaret Faust projects great things from the board. “On the Alumni

Board, we are so fortunate to have an incredible blend of enthusiasm, talent, commitment, and passion to see Catawba thrive. It is a won-

derful year for the college,” Faust says.



CAMPUS, Fall/Winter 2006

he Ugly Bug Ball, held Oct. 7, raised

more than $32,000 for the work of the

Catawba College Center for the

Environment, especially for its new

Sustainable Communities Leadership

Institute.

Atotal of 260 people attended the event, which

featured a botanical garden tour; a Buglaoo buf-

fet; “On-Stage,” a humorous encounter with the

environment, by Kent Bernhardt; tunes of

Tommy Dorsey and others by Steve Etters and

the Jitterbugs; and dancing to the music of

“Divided by Four.”

“We could not have had such a successful

event without the hard work of many talented and

dedicated volunteers and the wonderful generosi-

ty of our sponsors,” says Dr. John Wear, director

of the Center.

The sponsors include: Gold – Larry & Susan

Cloninger, Bill & Nancy Stanback. Silver –

Catawba College, Power Curbers.

Bronze – F&M Bank, Kathleen McGill Trust,

Bill & Shari Graham.

Pewter – Fred & Alice Stanback, Alcoa, Dr. &

Mrs. Thomas Carlton, Summit Developers Inc.,

Plantation Ridge Partnership, Lillian’s Library &

Antigues, Silver Eagle Distributors, Debbie

Suggs Catering.

Friends of the Center – Cara Reische, Kent

Bernhardt of Performance Racing Network,

Steve Etters, Mike Miller of Miller-Davis

Studios, Clyde Overcash, Carolina Lily of

Princess Alyssa Klaus, Fine Frame Gallery,

Diversified Graphics and Godley’s Garden Shop.

Carolyn Peck chaired the planning committee

for the event. She was assisted by co-chairs

Susan Cloninger and Joel and Joyce Goodwin.

Others on the committee included Seamus

Donaldson, Lillian Gascoigne, Cathy Green,

Brenda Knott, Elizabeth Langford, Mike

Miller, Susan Norvell, Camille Reische, Katie

Setzer and Rita Watjen.

Ugly Bug Ball raises $32,000 for Center for Environment

Giant butterflies greeted guests as they entered the Center for the

Environment building where the first annual Ugly Bug Ball was held.

Charlotte Mayor marks 50th Birthday while at

Catawba College

His fellow Catawba College Trustees surprised Charlotte Mayor and

Catawba College Alumnus Pat McCrory ’78 on his birthday, Tuesday, October

17th. McCrory’s 50th birthday coincided with the semi-annual meeting of the

Board of Trustees and a decorated cake and balloons marked the occasion.

McCrory’s mentor and political science professor at Catawba, Dr. Sanford

Silverburg, carried the cake into the trustees’ meeting room and jokingly traded

verbal barbs with McCrory before trustees launched into a chorus of “Happy

Birthday.”

Outside of the impromptu birthday celebration on the campus of his alma

mater, McCrory had little to look forward to but meetings on October 17th.

His day began in Greensboro at the annual conference of the N.C. League of

Municipalities, followed by the Catawba College Board of Trustee meeting in

Salisbury, a meeting at Duke Energy in Charlotte, which employs him, and a

Charlotte economic development meeting that afternoon.

In December 2005, McCrory became Charlotte’s first six-term

Mayor and its longest serving. He is married to Ann Gordon McCrory.

Catawba College Application Fee Waiver

Do you know a promising student who

would be a good match for Catawba College?

Then, here is an opportunity to help that student and your alma mater.

Refer a promising student and when they submit their application along with this voucher,

their $25 application fee will be waived. Help Catawba identify students who will

help carry on the Catawba tradition. Refer a promising student today!

CAMPUS, Fall/Winter 2006

ast year, alumni and friends of Catawba College stepped forward to under-

write the Porter and Maria Seiwell Chair for Campus Ministry. Their gifts

already are paying wonderful dividends as those gifts support renewed

efforts to provide religious life and spiritual growth for Catawba students.

…The weekly Campus Worship services have been redesigned and atten-

dance has nearly tripled.

…The retreat ministry which affords students an

opportunity to reflect on values and to plan for the

spiritual growth has been expanded

…The number of students involved in volunteerism

in projects such as the homeless awareness move-

ment, working with habitat, serving elderly in the

community has increased significantly.

…Pastoral counseling has taken on an increased

role.

Funds still are needed for the Seiwell Chair for

Campus Ministry. You may contribute by marking

your gifts for this purpose and sending them to:

Campus Ministry Endowment, Catawba College,

2300 West Innes Street, Salisbury, NC 28144.

Gifts to campus ministry support increased spiritual growth

The following persons not previously acknowledged

contributed to the Seiwell Chair for Campus

Ministry since the last report:

Ms. Treva Wingo McLaughlin

Dr. Etna Palmer McCullough

The Rev. and Mrs. Clarence Stumb

Drs. William and Lisa Schnuit

Mr. and Mrs. Bill Sheeks

Mr. Curtis Risley

Mr. and Mrs. Allen Gantt

Trinity Reformed United Church of Christ

The Rev. Dr. and Mrs. William Johnson

Dr. Dolan Hubbard

Mr. Charles Vaughan

The Rev. Dr. Ken Clapp

M E M O R A N D U M

TO: All Alumni

FROM: Your Alumni & Development Office

We want to be sure that you know about the following:

Catawba Alumni News

Our e-newsletter is free to all alumni. It is sent out four times each

year--the most recent issue went out at the beginning of November. If

you aren’t receiving it, and would like to, all we need is your current

e-mail address. Send an e-mail from the e-mail address you want us

to use to

[email protected], and please include your name

and Class Year. Please put SUBSCRIBE in the subject field. We’ll

include you for the next issue!

True Blue Alumni Society

True Blue: a person of unswerving loyalty. Making a gift of any amount

to Catawba College for the past three consecutive years qualifies you

as a member of our new alumni donor recognition society, the True

Blue Alumni Society. We are delighted to have the opportunity to honor

our loyal alumni donors for their faithful support! Don’t forget to main-

tain your True Blue status by making a gift of any amount during the

College’s fiscal year, which ends May 31st. A number of our alumni will

become eligible for True Blue when you make a gift this year!

Include Catawba College in your calendar year-end giving

As you review your year-end giving for 2006, don’t forget to consider

a gift to the Catawba Fund to help our students and support the

scholarships and programs the College provides for them! Gifts can be

made online at www.catawba.edu/giving, our secure, easy-to-use

giving site, or send your check in the mail by December 31st to the

Development Office at Catawba College, 2300 West Innes Street,

Salisbury, NC 28144!

Dates

Remember

Chiefs Club Ladies Night-

Friday, March 30, 2007

Blue/ White Spring

Football Game-

Saturday, March 31, 2007

Sports Hall of Fame

Golf Tournament-

Friday, April 27, 2007

Sports Hall of Fame

Induction Ceremony-

Saturday, April 28, 2007

Homecoming Weekend -

October 26-28, 2007

CAMPUS, Fall/Winter 2006

CONSTRUCTION.... (continued from front page)

“Every other Tuesday, contractors, engineers, project managers and

college personnel meet to discuss problems, change orders, and needed

revisions from either the architects or engineers so we can continue to

stay on track with deadlines and budget,” Haywood explained. “This

two-way communications between the institution and those assisting us

with this project is essential to its success.”

Hoke Hall

Across the campus from the residence halls construction site, a

transformation of Hoke Hall is in progress. Its lower level has been

completely renovated to create a new server room and office space for

the College’s Information Technology (IT) Department. Housed for

years in the basement of Corriher Linn Black Library, the IT

Department now enjoys state of the art equipment with a generator

back-up for the server room, new furniture, a conference room for meet-

ings, and a computer training lab..

This renovation occurred over a three-month period which began in

late summer, Haywood said. To make way for the IT move, the Lerner

Wellness Center and the Sayakini office, were relocated. Fitness

equipment from the Wellness Center was relocated to the gymnasium,

while the Sayakini office moved to the third floor of Hoke.

Walls and ceilings on the lower level of Hoke then were demolished

and the electrical service was upgraded to include new wiring and light-

ing. New air-conditioning units were installed in the server room for

redundancy and a new fire-suppressant system also was installed there.

Now, work is underway on the second floor of

Hoke Hall to ready it for the temporary relocation of

the College’s library staff and resources. Computer

and phone drops, as well as enhanced electrical

work, are in process to accommodate this relocation

which is scheduled to occur over the Christmas hol-

idays, Haywood said.

“Due to weight of the library stacks, the existing

floors in Hoke are not adequate to support the

weight load,” Haywood explained. “To house these

resources and to make them available to our students

and faculty during the renovation of the library,

we’ll be bringing four mobile units onto campus.

Three of these units will be located between Hoke

and Stanback, and the remaining unit will be locat-

ed behind the library. Plans are to house books and

other resources from the library in the mobile units

during this period, while the library staff will occu-

py the second floor of Hoke. In effect, Hoke will

become the temporary home on campus for our

library for the next year.”

The Corriher Linn Black Library and the Cannon Student Center

The first order of business in the Corriher Linn Black Library will be

to safely and completely address the environmental issues there, Haywood

said.

The Salisbury-based architectural firm of Bill Burgin and Associates,

which has worked with Catawba over the past several years on plans for

the library renovation, is now finalizing the construction drawings so the

work can be let for bids.

“In months prior to this, we completed facility use surveys with facul-

ty, staff and students which brought us to this point of final construction

drawings,” Haywood continued. “Looking ahead to the renovation of our

student center, we have begun some preliminary meetings with students,

faculty and staff to access their wants and needs in an upgraded facility.

This is same sort of due diligence we completed for all of the construction

and renovation projects which we have underway on campus.

“The renovation of the Cannon Student Center will complete this

phase of projects associated with the College’s master plan projection.”

Students watch a track hoe make quick work of demolishing Abernethy Hall

Demolition of Abernethy Hall begins

Doug Stanley, a member of the I.T. staff, stands in new computer training lab.

CAMPUS, Fall/Winter 2006

r. Frank “Dutch” Meyer, a retired wrestling coach and profes-

sor in Catawba College’s physical education department,

held court on Saturday, Nov. 4, Catawba’s Homecoming.

More than a hundred of his former students, colleagues and

friends lined up to greet him before the start of a 10:30 a.m.

ceremony which dedicated the Auxiliary Gymnasium of the Abernethy

Physical Education Center to him. Though wheelchair-bound, Meyer,

with wife Maggie by his side, shook hands, shared laughs, and seemed

to thoroughly enjoy the attention directed at him.

Catawba College Senior Vice President Tom Childress, a former

student of Meyer’s, recalled taking a summer gymnastics class under

him at Appalachian State in 1963. “I thought I was going to earn a

‘gimme A,’” Childress remembered, “but instead I got a hard-earned

‘B’and felt lucky to get it.”

College President Dr. Robert Knott said of Meyer that “his intensi-

ty was something we all understood – helping young people succeed.”

He told Meyer that the dedication ceremony was just an example of

“how dear we hold you in our hearts and minds.”

The comments and remarks of Dr. Patricia “Pat” Whitley, a col-

league of Meyer, carried those gathered from laughter to tears. “It’s a

good day to work!” she said loudly, mimicking Meyer’s well-known

motto. “Get your cognitive going!” “Keep it simple, stupid!” she

added, citing two other of Meyer’s much-used phrases.

Calling Meyer “a pioneer,” Whitley remembered that many of

Catawba’s firsts were directly due to his hard work, dedication, blood,

sweat and tears. “He has fought many battles trying to do what is best

for his staff, students, and wrestlers,” she said. “Because of you, Dutch,

among us are graduates with careers in corrective therapy, health edu-

cation, physical education and teacher certification, athletic training,

sports management and recreation.

“Because of his tireless effort and determination to be the best

teacher and coach possible, he has had knee replacement, rotator cuff

surgery, and multiple injuries incurred demonstrating every skill to be

mastered and modeling a physically fit person.

“On the wrestling mats, he wrestled at every practice, going against

some of the best, doing the takedowns and moves, some of which I feel

sure he invented,” Whitley continued. “Because of family circum-

stances, he had to give up coaching, but he has never given up the

dream that someday wrestling will return to Catawba as one of the win-

ningest sports.”

Anative of Omaha, Nebraska, Meyer earned his bachelor’s degree

from the University of Nebraska, his master’s degree from the

University of Colorado, and his doctorate from the University of West

Virginia. He joined Catawba College in 1969 as a professor in the

Physical Education Department. A member of that academic depart-

ment until 2005, he served as its chair from 1969 until 1990. He initi-

ated the institution’s Athletic Training Program.

He served as Catawba’s wrestling coach from 1970 through 1983,

and led his team to 13 winning seasons. In 1983, he was tapped as the

NAIA’s Wrestling Coach of the Year for District 26, and served as the

area representative for wrestling in NAIAArea VII between 1971 and

1974.

His honors and recognitions are numerous. He received the Herne

Swink Award as Catawba’s outstanding classroom teacher in 1982, the

Phi Epsilon Award for campus leadership and outstanding character in

1988. In 1997, he was inducted into Catawba’s Sports Hall of Fame.

He was recognized by the N.C. Athletic Association as the recipient of

its Distinguished Service Award.

Active in the community, he started the cardiac rehabilitation

program with Rowan Regional Hospital using Catawba College’s

facilities.

He and wife Maggie, whom he married in 1955, are longtime

members of John Calvin Presbyterian Church and parents of three

children.

Beloved professor and

coach honored at

homecoming dedication

Three Distinguished Alumni

honored at Homecoming

Three Catawba College alumni were honored as recipients of the College’s

Distinguished Alumnus Award during a barbecue luncheon held Saturday, Nov.

4 in the Goodman Gymnasium of the Abernethy Physical Education Center

before the football game against Presbyterian College.

College Alumni Grady Shoe ’49 of Mooresville, Larry Cloninger ’74 of

Salisbury, and Tom Childress ’64 of Salisbury were recognized with these awards

are made annually at homecoming by the College Alumnus Association to indi-

viduals who have served their community, distinguished themselves in their pro-

fession, and served the College community.

Grady Shoe ’49

Shoe, who enjoyed a long career in the automotive industry, recently stepped

down as owner and operator of several Ford dealerships, including Mooresville

Ford. Active in the Mooresville community, he served as the first chairman of

Mooresville’s ABC Store Board and for 30 years, from 1969 to 1999, he served

as an elected commissioner for the Town of Mooresville. He is credited with

being one of Mooresville’s community leaders who successfully lobbied for busi-

ness diversification during a time when textile industries in the Piedmont area

were going out of business.

In 2004, Shoe was the recipient of the State of North Carolina’s highest civil-

ian honor, the Order of the Long Leaf Pine. His other honors include Jaycees

Boss of the Year, Kiwanian of the Year, Mooresville Outstanding Citizenship

award, the Ford Motor Company’s President’Award, and the Time Magazine

Quality Dealer Award, which Shoe was the only N.C. automotive dealer to

receive. He serves on the board of directors for BB&T in Mooresville and is a

member of the Carolinas Transportation Compact. He has served as past chair of

the Lowrance Hospital and taught Sunday school at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church

in Mooresville for more than 30 years.

Shoe has long supported the College’s annual fund, various capital cam-

paigns, the Shuford Stadium campaign and more. Recently, he made a $100,000

gift to Catawba to establish an endowed scholarship and to endow the institu-

tion’s annual Orientation Program for new students.

Married to wife Frances, they are parents of four adult children.

Larry Cloninger ’74

Anative of Gaston County, Cloninger is president of Cloninger Ford-Toyota

of Salisbury and serves on the Catawba College Board of Trustees. He has co-

chaired the Salisbury Chamber of Commerce’s capital campaign and is support-

ive of many community organizations including the Boy Scouts, the Salisbury-

Rowan Symphony, Waterworks Visual Art Gallery, Salisbury Academy and the

Cannon School of Salisbury.

He and wife Susan recently established the Cloninger First Family

Scholarship fund at Catawba. The couple also made a substantial gift to furnish

and maintain the College’s guest house which was the 2004 Salisbury-Rowan

Symphony Guild’s Designer House. That house, which the Cloningers’ gift

helped furnish and maintain, is now named the Cloninger Guest House in their

honor.

Distinguished Alumnus Larry Cloninger ’74 shakes Dr. Knott’s hand as his wife,

Susan, looks on.

See DISTINGUISHED, page 12

CAMPUS, Fall/Winter 2006

Former Whitener Medal recipients include:

Margaret Balford Bell ‘27

Carey Hart Bostian ‘28

Frances Carolyn Decker ‘29

Unknown in 1930

Clyde Irwin Blackman ‘31

George Andrew Rader ‘32

Virginia Davis Foil ‘33

Williams Lamont Smith ‘33

Ella Mae Daniel ‘34

Carl Hammer, Jr. ‘34

Eleanor Fowler ‘35

Porter William Seiwell ‘35

Carrie Bell Strayhorn ‘36

Arthur Wilson Cheek ‘36

Paul Elwood Strauch ‘37

Melva Peifly Strauch ‘37

Helen Arthur Pritchard ‘38

William David Schnebly ‘38

Laura Eleanor Barber ‘39

John Edward Lundholm ‘39

Elizabeth Mowery ‘40

Paul George Bode ‘40

Madeline Herbert Hudson ‘41

Robert Thornton Henry, Jr. ‘41

Helen June Williams ‘42

Joseph Starrette Ferebee ‘42

Olif Miller Staley ‘43

Donald Leonard Whitener ‘43

Barbara Louise Brown ‘44

Carl Theodore Daye ‘44

Junia Evelyn Keppel ‘45

Melvin Thomas Hamm ‘45

Cecile Elizabeth Rowe ‘46

Thomas Charles McGinnis ‘46

Bessie Lovelma Greer ‘47

Clyde Wilson Biggers ‘47

Geraldine Rahill ‘48

Ben Hudson Bridges, Jr. ‘48

Gwen Roberts ‘49

Robert Alvin Keppel ‘49

Martha Lentz Black ‘50

Paul Nevin Marsteller ‘50

Marion Talley Lefler ‘51

Robert George Peeler ‘51

Jacqueline Stuart Bost ‘52

John James Kelly ‘52

Daphne Jean Fisher ‘53

James Luciana ‘53

Harriet Virginia Leonard ‘54

Douglas Harold Turner ‘54

Grace Elizabeth Greer ‘55

Allen Keith Clark ‘55

Mary Lou Eshleman ‘56

William Lacy Swing ‘56

Lois Ann Harkins ‘57

Jesse Lee Williams, Jr. ‘57

Esther Louise Long ‘58

Gene Kenneth Fleming ‘58

Martha Janet Kirkland ‘59

Arlen Gilbert Yokley ‘59

Sandra Sue Allen ‘60

Joseph Frederick Corriher, Jr. ‘60

Shelby jean Galloway ‘61

Coy Lee Ludwig ‘61

Darlene Rubie Landis ‘62

Arlan Warren Mantz ‘62

Beverly Lynn Corelle ‘63

Donald Stuart Frank ‘63

Sarah Ann Lanier ‘64

James Castevens Dayvault ‘64

Kathleen Elizabeth Reinbold ‘65

Ronald Eddie Nantz ‘65

Carolyn Louise Brown ‘66

Williams Arthur Pruitt ‘66

Martha Ann Rohrbaugh ‘67

Richard Joslin Seiwell ‘67

Susan Louise Miller ‘68

Eddie Hilbert Myers ‘68

Donna Poloff Lewis ‘69

George Michael Fouts ‘69

Sallye Anne Howard ‘70

Kenneth Wayne Clapp ‘70

Toni Paulette Coggins ‘71

Robert William Reindollar ‘71

Karen Mora Bean ‘72

Douglas Ray Dadisman ‘72

Jessica May Briggs ‘73

Thomas Clarence Hoke ‘73

Virginia Gaye Cook ‘74

James Ellis Bishop ‘74

Carol Frances Giles ‘75

Randall Scott Crumpler ‘75

Sara Rebecca Gabriel ‘76

Thomas Arthur Smith ‘76

Melinda Weikert Melhorn ‘77

Michael Paul Bist ‘77

Kendra Anne Biddle ‘78

Joe Allen Wild ‘78

Fredia Voncelle Williams ‘79

John Stanley Arrowood ‘79

Blanche Bissel Jourdan ‘80

Kenneth Brandon Batts ‘80

Sarah Scott Day ‘81

Mark Roland Hess ‘81

Claude Shuford Abernethy, III ‘81

Melanie Leigh Smith ‘82

Jill Marie Fink ‘83

Calvin James Cary ‘83

Julie Irene Ramseur ‘84

Michael Allen Carrick ‘84

Lori Anne Bowen ‘85

William Edward Fowler ‘85

Jamie Helen Morris ‘86

Benjamin Ray Hamm ‘86

Laura Leilani Ashley ‘87

Mark Kevin File ‘87

Sally Annelle Eury ‘88

Billy Burke Osborne ‘88

Jennifer Lynne Archer ‘89

Daniel Willing Dutterer ‘89

Lisa Erin Ray ‘90

Dewey Lee Yeatts ‘90

Julie Ann Rummel ‘91

Jeffrey Jones Loving ‘91

Sonya Yvette Hopkins ‘92

Jason Robert Connelly ‘92

Angela Lynne Harbour ‘93

Andrew Earl Allvine ‘93

Heather Leigh Zeger ‘94

Thad Eugene Tucker ‘94

Denise Marie Laughlin ‘95

James Heath Atchley ‘95

Amy Elizabeth Hansen ‘96

Richard Allen Wainright, Jr. ‘96

Ashley Dyan Noble ‘97

Patrick Thomas Winters ‘97

Amanda Leigh Deal ‘98

Daniel Martin Martyniuk ‘98

Andrea Caroline Smith ‘99

James Tyson Stumpf ‘99

Rebecca Bianka Rhodes ‘00

Zachary Scott Mabe ‘00

Avery Faye McGuire ‘01

Christopher Steven Montanaro ‘01

Emily Constance Cline ‘02

Christopher Todd Bullers ‘02

Meredith Brown Jones ‘03

Michael Justin Beber ‘03

Antonia Michelle Bowden ‘04

Christopher Scott Slaughter ‘04

Cristyn Nichole Harrison ‘05

Justin Luke Samples ‘05

Summer Kari Zuck ‘06

Andrew Robert Sufficool ‘06

Group shot of former Whitener Medal recipients present at November 3 ceremony

Nearly 40 of 111 living former Whitener Medal recipients returned to campus to be

recognized during a ceremony held Friday, Nov. 3 in Omwake Dearborn Chapel as part

of Catawba College’s homecoming activities.

College President Dr. Robert Knott called the evening an opportunity “to remem-

ber and celebrate one of the special treasures of Catawba College.” He explained that

the Whitener Medals were awarded annually to the male and female in the graduating

class who combine in themselves, in the highest degree, the qualities of character, lead-

ership and scholarship. The Whitener Medals are given in memory of the late Dr. Edgar

Whitener of High Point who served as president of the Catawba College Board of

Trustees from 1925-1944.

Knott said that the Whitener name, formerly Widener, had long been associated

with the institution beginning with its founding in 1851 in Newton. By keeping the

name alive at Catawba College through these annual awards, the institution “captures

the very best of Catawba’s liberal arts educational tradition.”

Following their graduation, the Whitener Medal recipients “have gone on to high-

ly distinguished careers and created much toward making the world a better place,”

Knott said.

Whitener medal recipients recognized

CAMPUS, Fall/Winter 2006

Tom Childress ’64

A native of Mt. Airy, Childress currently

serves as Catawba’s senior vice president respon-

sible for development and athletics. He joined the

College in 1995 as athletic director, but only

spent one year in that position before moving to

his current post.

Under his leadership, between the 1996/1997

academic year and the 2005-2006 academic year,

$101.6 million dollars has been raised for the

institution - $63.3 million of that in gifts, $31.4

million in deferred gifts, and $6.9 million in open

pledges. Additionally, the College endowment

has increased by $10 million in the last 10 years

and now stands at $36.2 million.

Last year, the College saw its highest number

of donors contributing to the institution – 3,427,

with a 30% alumni participation. It also saw

President’s Circle membership at its highest point

ever – 378 members. The institution’s Tower

Society members more than doubled from just 80

individuals in 1998-99 to 179 in 2005-2006.

Chiefs Club membership last year was also at its

highest level ever – 449 members. Additionally,

the number of First Family and Endowed

Scholarships at the institution numbered 281.

Childress coached at East Surry High School

and served as assistant coach at Appalachian

State University before becoming head basket-

ball coach at Pfeiffer where he spent 14 years. In

that capacity, he led his team to two conference

championships and a conference tournament

title. He was named Carolina Conference Coach

of the Year five different times.

He served as athletic director at Pfeiffer from

1977 until 1990. During his tenure, Pfeiffer

expanded from nine varsity sports to 14 and

developed facilities for tennis, softball, lacrosse

and field hockey. Childress instituted Pfeiffer’s

Sports Hall of Fame into which he was inducted

in 1992, and he was inducted into Catawba’s Hall

of Fame in 1998. In his hometown, in recogni-

tion of his own athletic prowess and his work to

promote athletics, he was inducted in 2006 into

the Mt. Airy Sports Hall of Fame.

He and wife Judy ‘65 are parents of four

adult children and eight grandchildren.

DISTINGUISHED... (continued from page 10)

atawba College Alumni who played in a regular

season game of the National Football League

were also recognized Saturday, Nov. 4 during a

barbecue luncheon held in the Goodman

Gymnasium.

Those gathered for the luncheon were wowed by the NFI

Alumni who included Bucky “The Claw” Pope ’64, Ed

Koontz ’68, Drew Buie ’69, Ike Hill ‘70, and David Taylor

’73. Pope of Washington Crossing, Pa., played for both the

Los Angeles Rams and the Green Bay Packers. Koontz of

Pensacola, Fla., played for the Boston Patriots. Buie of

Winston-Salem played for both the Oakland Raiders and

the Cincinnati Bengals. Hill of Oak Park, Ill., played for

the Buffalo Bills, the Chicago Bears, and the Miami

Dolphins. David Taylor of South Pasadena, Fla., played

for the Baltimore Colts.

Each had kind words and warm feelings for their

alma mater which they shared with the crowd:

“I feel like it’s déjà vu all over again,” quipped

Taylor.

“It’s always great to come home,” Hill said.

“You wouldn’t be here if Catawba wasn’t a

special place to you,” Buie explained.

“Thank you for keeping it (Catawba) like it is

and for keeping the spirit going,” Koontz said.

“Somehow, some way, we remain connected to

this little college,” Pope noted, before recalling

how many individuals had approached him over

the years to ask, ‘Are you the Catawba Claw?’

“Yes, indeed I am,” he said he would always

respond, before admitting to those at the lunch,

“I’m pretty doggone proud to be the Catawba

Claw!”

Recognition of

Catawba’s NFLAlumni

L-R: A few members of the class of 1956 gather at the Golden Club meeting

L-R: Anna Mary Faust ’ 36 and Elaine Richards ’ 42

HHoommeeccoommiinngg 22000066

CAMPUS, Fall/Winter 2006

L-R: Tim Hawley ’01, Jeff Hartley ’02, Ben West Moreland ’02 and

Tim Rigsbee ’01 enjoy the golf tournament!

Rori Godsey being crowned the Catawba College 2006

Homecoming Queen.

RJ ’99, Melissa ’01 and Ella Speaks enjoy

homecoming events.

The gals from ’61 are always faithful to Catawba Homecomings.

The Marshalls, all Catawba alumni. L-R: Nancy ’76, Philip ’71 and

Barbara Marshall ’72

“Macy Abramson, daughter of Meredith Knowles Abramson ’96,

gets to pet a calf at the Alumni Block Party.

CAMPUS, Fall/Winter 2006

he last time Catawba College played

football under the lights in Shuford

Stadium was 1974, but the institution

broke its 32-year hiatus on Saturday,

August 26. At 7 p.m. that day, Catawba

played its season opener against Winston-Salem

State University under the lights.

Fans attending that August 26th game were

treated to a special after-the-game fireworks show,

sponsored by Wachovia Bank, N.A. of Salisbury

and orchestrated by Melrose Pyrotechnics of

Catawba, S.C. It even included some Catawba

blue and white fireworks during it.

Lights Were a Grassroots Effort by Fans

That first evening game, one of three sched-

uled for the 2006 season, marked a milestone for

hundreds of Catawba Indians fans who participat-

ed in a grassroots effort to fund the stadium lights.

Five individuals, all loyal Chiefs Club members

and Salisbury residents, led the “Light Her Up”

campaign to raise $150,000 in gifts and pledges.

These individuals included Summersett “Summie”

Carter and Frank Goodnight, along with Catawba

College Alumni Bill Hall ’66, Charlie Little ’64

and Dick Smith ’56. Collectively, they persuaded

nearly 200 donors to support their cause.

“When Shuford Stadium was rebuilt in 2002,

there were many fans who felt like something was

still missing,” explained Dick Smith, who also

sits on the board of the Catawba Chiefs Club.

“We needed lights to truly have a state-of-the-art

facility, and many of us were willing

to put money and time into an effort

to get them. When we asked folks to

help us, it was almost a groundswell

of support with people saying,

‘We’ll give.’

“With Catawba only having

afternoon games in recent years, we

were in total competition for fans

with the big schools,” Smith contin-

ued. “When we had had lights years

ago, many fans would go to see the

Big 4 schools (UNC, Duke, NCSU

and Wake Forest) play and then come

back to Salisbury to attend Catawba’s

night games. Now, we think the

same thing can happen again.”

Catawba College Senior Vice

President Tom Childress lauded

those donors for helping to make

the stadium even better and safer.

“Each year, we grew more and

more concerned with the health

and welfare of our athletes on the

playing field in the midday heat

and our fans sitting out in the hot

sun. These lights give us some new

flexibility in when we use the facili-

ty, and they allow and create more

opportunities for people from both the College

and the Rowan-Salisbury community to use the

stadium.”

The names of donors who made gifts of

$1,000 or more to support the stadium lighting are

displayed on a bronze plaque in the concourse area

of the stadium.

Catawba football under the lights

Out with

the old...

...and in with

the NEW!

You’ve Wanted. You’ve Waited.

Now You’re Gonna Get it!

The NEW

GoCatawbaIndians.com!

(Coming December 2006)

Along with a brand new look

and improved content, you’ll also

get news, profiles, updates,

schedules, scores, fan polls,

LiveStats, RSS feeds and more!

(Stay tuned for details!)

The Catawba men’s soccer team made it

three straight years with an NCAA II Regional

appearance as the squad was selected as the #4-

seed in the Appalachian Region Tournament.

The Tribe returned only 10 players from last

year’s region finalist, but came on strong in its

final matches to move into playoff contention.

Falling to 8-7 after dropping five matches

in a row, the men won three straight which

included handing #10 Lincoln Memorial its first

loss of the season with a 2-1 decision at Frock

Field. Senior Nathan Zuzga stepped up in the

final week, notching three assists in a 3-1 win

over Francis Marion and scored both of the

goals in the upset of Lincoln Memorial. He

continued his hot play in the post-season, scor-

ing the lone goal in a SAC first-round win over

PC and got both tallied in a 3-2 loss to #5

Lenoir-Rhyne in the regional semifinal.

Zuzga was one of four players to earn all-

league honors. He was an all-conference per-

former all four years at Catawba and was a first-

team pick his last three. Joining him on the all-

conference team were second team selections

Ryan Villiard, a junior, and two freshmen,

Andrew Landry and Matt Halton.

Fall roundup

In other fall sports action, the Catawba

women’s soccer team just missed its fourth

straight regional bid, finishing fifth in the

region after a 12-4-4 campaign. The ladies lost

the South Atlantic Conference Tournament final

in a penalty kick shootout to Carson-Newman,

the region’s top team.

Senior McKenzie Burman

was named first team All-

SAC, while fellow seniors

Kim Crowley and Leigh

Telzrow, along with junior

goalkeeper Kathleen Blake,

earned second team honors.

Burman and freshman Julie

Wilson shared the team with

lead with five goals. Catawba

scored 30 goals on the year

with 13 different players get-

ting at least on tally. The

defense allowed just 18 and

recorded eight shutouts.

The football team spent

time among the top 25 in the

country before some injuries

set in. A banged up offen-

sive line made it tough to

create a running game,

averaging just a little over

50 yards per game, but jun-

ior quarterback Brad

Roach helped pick up the

slack as one of the nation-

al leaders in both passing

yards and total offense.

Junior receiver Brent

Johnson had a monster

day against Tusculum

with a dozen catches for

196 yards.

The Tribe defense

has been solid, ranking

among the nation’s best in

both total and pass defense.

Junior end Ron Ellington has

recorded nine sacks and

ranks among national leaders in sacks and tack-

les for loss. The defense came up huge in a late-

season win over Presbyterian,

scoring twice on fumble

returns and getting a

game-sealing intercep-

tion at the goal line by

senior linebacker Lester

Sconyers in the final

minute of play.

The volleyball team

picked up a third-place

finish in the SAC, com-

piling an 11-3 league

mark just a game behind

the leaders. A pair of

sophomores led the way

with Melissa Griffith and

Melissa Powers each

recording over 400 kills.

Griffith was second in

digs with 395, while

Powers was the team’s

block leader with 87.

Powers was named

first team all-confer-

ence and was joined on

the first team by junior

libero Missy

Bartholomew. Bartholomew had 502 digs and

served up 19 aces. Griffith and junior setter

Andi Henderson garnered second team all-

league honors for the second straight season.

Henderson registered 1,247 assists with 40 aces

and 39 blocks. Mai Zoua Lo was named to the

All-Freshman Team.

The women’s cross country team ran in the

regional meet after finishing fifth at the confer-

ence meet. Senior Rori Godsey finished ninth

and made the All-Southeast Region team for

fourth time. She was a second all-conference

runner along with freshman Maleah Cole. Cole

missed the Freshman of the Year by just one

second.

On the men’s side, senior Ryan Willis bat-

tled back from his injury of a year ago and was

24th at the league meet. Sophomore Chris

Haney was 30th for the men, who finished in

sixth place.

Catawba’s field hockey team, which had no

seniors, earned three wins this season.

Sophomore Susan Hearn led the team in scoring

for the second straight year with eight goals.

Sophomore Nikiah Knox scored four goals.

Freshmen Dana Dolbow and Aly Halter each

had three goals.

CAMPUS, Fall/Winter 2006

Nathan Zuzga led the men’s soccer team back to the regionals for the third

straight year. Ryan Villiard was named to the All-SAC second team.

Men’s soccer gains

NCAA II regional berth

Melissa Griffith grabbed All-SAC honors for the second straight season.

CAMPUS, Fall/Winter 2006

Men’s and Women’s 2001-2005 soccer alumni

Catawba womens soccer alums watch current team play at Frock Field

MEN’S BASKETBALL REUNION

February 9 & 10, 2007

(more details mailed in November)

MEN’S & WOMEN’S TENNIS REUNION

March 24, 2007

(more details mailed in January)

MEN’S FOOTBALL REUNION

September 7 & 8, 2007

(more details to come)

Soccer Reunion - Fall 2006

reunite with old friends and teamates

CAMPUS, Fall/Winter 2006

Ida “Tib” Truesdale

Poovey of Charlotte died

Sept. 23.

She and her late husband,

Charles Earl Poovey, owned Charlotte

Realty Company for many years. She

was active in the Piedmont Kennel

Club, the Charlotte Humane Society,

and was known for her love of animals

and wildlife.

Survivors include sisters Mary

Truesdale Norman of Columbia, S.C.,

and Rose Truesdale Burrage of Ft.

Mill, S.C., stepson Kenneth M.

Poovey of New York, N.Y, several

nieces and nephews, and three step-

grandsons.

Josephine Francis Owen

McCombs of Winston-

Salem died Sept. 28.

After her graduation

from Catawba, she completed gradu-

ate work at UNC-Greensboro and

UNC-Chapel Hill. In 1955, she began

a 20-year career as a high school

teacher at Granite Quarry High

School. She moved to East Rowan

High School in 1959 and taught there

until her retirement in 1975.

She was preceded in death by hus-

band James A. McCombs and a sister,

Capitola Kalb of Pittsburg, Pa.

Survivors include sons Joseph Brent

McCombs of Christianburg, Va., and

James T. McCombs of Ocean Isle

Beach; four grandchildren and four

great-grandchildren.

Helen Holthouser Patner

of Mocksville died Oct. 14.

She was a retired teacher

in the Davie County

School System and a lifelong member

of First Presbyterian Church in

Mocksville. She was a longtime mem-

ber of Eastern Star #173.

In addition to her parents, she was

predeceased in 1971 by husband

Joseph J. Patner, Jr. and daughter

Marsha Ann Patner. Survivors include

three first cousins.

Cleo Mae Sullivan Thomas of

Burlington died Oct. 10.

She was retired, having served as a

middle school teacher in Winston-

Salem and Elon. She was a member of

First Presbyterian Church.

She was predeceased by her husband,

Alton Bradley Thomas. Survivors

include several nieces in Cranston, R.I.

The Rev. Claude W. Kelly

of Hamilton, Ohio, died

May 18.

A retired minister, he

earned his divinity degree from

Lancaster Theological Seminary. He

was pastor emeritus of First St. John

United Church in Hamilton, Ohio.

Survivors include wife Katherine

and three daughters, Claudia Kelly,

Cynthia Bare and Priscilla Barnett.

Dr. Donald Leonard Whitener of

Davidson, formerly of Winston-

Salem, died Oct. 28.

He graduated from Johns Hopkins

School of Medicine in 1946 and

served his internship at Southern

Baptist Hospital in New Orleans in

1947 and 1948, and his residency in

obstetrics and gynecology at N.C.

Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem

from 1948-1951. He practiced medi-

cine in Winston-Salem from 1951

until 1988 and was co-founder of

Lyndhurst Gynecologic Associates.

He was a member of the medical staffs

of Forsyth Memorial Hospital and

Medical Park Hospital, and a clinical

associate professor at Bowman Gray

School of Medicine from 1973 until

1988. A U.S. Army Medical Corps

veteran, he was a diplomate of the

American Board of Obstetrics and

Gynecology, a Fellow of the

American College of Obstetricians

and gynecologists, a member of the

Forsyth County Medical Society, the

N.C. Obstetrical and Gynecological

Society and the South Atlantic

Association of Obstetricians and

Gynecologists.

A member of Highland

Presbyterian Church, he served as a

Deacon and Elder. After his retire-

ment, he volunteered with The

Shepherd’s Center, Forsyth County

Audubon Society and Meals on

Wheels.

He was predeceased by daughter

Ellen Marie Whitener. Survivors

include his wife of 50 years, Elizabeth

Graham Getaz Whitener; daughter

Elizabeth Graham Whitener Goode of

Charlotte; brothers The Rev. Sterling

H. Whitener ’42 and Dr. Robert H.

Whitener ’50 , both of Greensboro;

and two grandchildren.

Sarah Jane Binkley

Miller of Wilmington,

Del., died Sept. 6.

She was retired as a chil-

dren’s librarian in Baltimore, Md.

Survivors include her husband

Edward and two daughters.

Sara DeLong Clemence of Ann

Arbor, Michigan. died in 2006.

She was retired as a nursing

instructor.

She was preceded in death by hus-

band Randall Clemence. Survivors

include her daughter, Mary Clemence.

Mae Frances Kluttz

Johnson of Salisbury died

June 20.

Until her retirement after

30 years of service, she was employed

as office manager by Rowan County in

the tax office. She was a member of

Neel Road Baptist Church.

She was predeceased by son Steven

Clinton Johnson in 2003. Survivors

include her husband of 63 years,

Clinton J. Johnson; daughter Angela

Johnson Lane of High Point; four

grandchildren; and three great-grand-

children.

Merrea Smith Weinhold of Salisbury

died June 25.

She and her husband operated The

Framing Gallery before retiring. She

also ran a Peter Pan Kindergarten in

Monroe, served as president of

Women in Construction, was a book-

keeper for Carroll Fisher Construction

Company, and was a member of Wix

In Memoriam

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Catawba Alumnus and Trustee Emeritus Dies

Dr. Robert Alvin Keppel ’49 of Taylorsville, the son of former

Catawba College President Dr. Alvin R. Keppel (1942-1963), died

July 7.

After his years at Catawba, Dr. Keppel graduated in 1953 from

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine before serving an intern-

ship and residency in general, thoracic and vascular surgery at Duke

Hospital. Two years of his residency period were spent serving in the

U.S. Air Force Medical Corps where he was chief of the Surgical

Service at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico. He was honor-

ably discharged at the rank of captain.

He set up surgical practice in Hickory in 1961 as an associate of Dr.

Glenn R. Frye at Richard Baker Hospital (now Frye Regional Medical

Center). He served as secretary of medical staff for years, chief of sur-

gical service, and president of the Hickory Surgical Clinic and the

Catawba County Medical Society. He was a member of numerous

regional, national and international surgical associations and was board

certified in general surgery. He was a fellow of the American College

of surgeons for over 30 years.

Active in his community, he was a Kiwanian, past president of the

Hickory Community Theatre, the Catawba Science Center, and the

Carolina Moonlighters. He had sung in various barbershop quartets

since 1961 and was a member of the Hickory Choral Society. He was

past regional chair of the Red Cross Blood Program, past member of

the Consistory of Corinth United Church of Christ, a member and for-

mer choir member of the Episcopal Church of the Ascension in

Hickory and a member of the Catawba College Board of Trustees.

Survivors include wife Sharon Ennis Keppel, children Dr. Timothy

A. Keppel of Calli Colombia, South America, Dr. Kenneth R. Keppel

of Sarver, Pa., and Dr. Jane Keppel Benson of Blacksburg, Va.,

stepchildren Ms. Natalie Cannon Cooney of Charleston, S.C., and

Robert Shawn Keppel of Hickory, sister Junia Keppel Jones ’45 of

Sarasota, Fla., and eight grandchildren.

Two Former College Employees Die

Dr. Janet Sisk Horne, a former communication arts professor at

Catawba College, died July 21 at her home in Salisbury, Md.

She served as an associate professor at Salisbury University until

her death, and had served as a communication arts professor at the

University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa prior to that.

Mary Frances Williams Adams of Salisbury, retired as an employee

of the Development, Theatre Arts and Admissions Departments at

Catawba College, died June 18.

An active member and volunteer with First United Methodist

Church of Salisbury, she was a member of the Daisy Hedrick Sunday

school class, Circle 2, and the Celebration Choir. She volunteered with

the Salisbury Chapter of the American Red Cross and Rowan Regional

Medical Center.

She was preceded in death by husband Walter M. Adams, Jr.

Survivors include son Walter M. Adams III ’78 of Salisbury, daughters

Pamela Adams Harvey of Greensboro, Dr. Carol Adams Erickson of

Arlington, Va., and Bobbi Adams Eschenbach ’81 of Sarasota, Fla.,

five grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

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CAMPUS, Fall/Winter 2006

Buildings. A member of St. John’s

Lutheran Church, she was active as a

Sunday school teacher, choir member,

and served as a Scout leader for Cub,

Brownies and Girl Scouts for more

than 20 years. She was a member of

Women of ELCA and volunteered at

the Lutheran Home.

She was preceded in death by her

son Donald Weinhold, Jr. and his fam-

ily, including his wife Pat, son Brandt,

and daughter Melena. She is survived

by her husband of 61 years, Donald L.

Weinhold, Sr.; daughters Donna

Painter, Jan Weinhold and Toni

Johanson, all of Salisbury, and Claudia

Moore of Plant City, Fla.; brother Paul

Smith of Salisbury; 11 grandchildren;

and one great-grandchild.

William Luther Noell, Jr.

of Salisbury died May 13.

A U.S. Army veteran, he

attended N.C. State

University before graduating from

Catawba. He was vice president of

Taylor Clay Products for 40 years until

his retirement in 1992. A member of

First United Methodist Church, he was

a member of the Golden Rule Sunday

school class, served on the church

administrative board, the board of

trustees, and participated in several

mission trips. He also volunteered

with Meals on Wheels and Habitat for

Humanity.

He was preceded in death by wife

Peggy Sue Smith Noell in 1997.

Survivors include his children William

L. Noell, III of Salisbury and Sue Noell

Wilson of Kings Mountain; and four

grandchildren.

Jean W. Dunham of

Salisbury died July 22.

She attended Catawba

College and graduated

from Salisbury Business College and

Brevard Community College in

Cocoa, Fla. She was employed for 40

years as an accountant, office manager

and legal stenographer. She was a

charter member of Messiah Lutheran

Church in Cocoa, Fla., and was a

member of Haven Lutheran Church in

Salisbury and its Missionary Circle and

the Minnie Phillips Circle.

She was preceded in death by hus-

band James Patterson Dunham in

1994. Survivors include daughter

Claudia Jean Taylor ’71, son James

Patterson Dunham, Jr., and two grand-

children.

Holland W. Holton of Winston-Salem

died Jan. 17, 2006.

He was retired as division manager

with Sears & Roebuck.

Survivors include his wife, Billie,

and two children.

Marvin Buchner of Jericho, N.Y. died

in December 2001.

He earned his law degree from New

York University Law School and had

enjoyed a long and successful career as

an attorney.

At the time of his death, survivors

included his wife Phyllis, son Alan

Buchner, daughter Caryn Coville, four

siblings, and four grandchildren.

R. Derwood Bost died

Sept. 2

A U.S. Air Corps and U.S.

Army veteran of World

War II, he saw action in the Pacific

Theatre from 1943 until 1946, and

attained the rank of Sergeant Major.

After his discharge, he entered

Catawba College and earned a degree

in accounting.

A lifelong resident of Kannapolis,

he was employed by Cannon Mills

Company for over 40 years, the major-

ity of the time in management. He

retired in 1987 and established an inde-

pendent CPA practice that he continued

until 1994. He was an advocate and

promoter of his community, serving on

the board of the Kannapolis City

Schools for almost a dozen years, and

as its chairman for four years. He was

also a Kannapolis City Councilman for

13 years. In 1996, the City of

Kannapolis honored him as its

Community Volunteer of the Year.

He was a member of Organ

Lutheran Church, serving as a Sunday

school teacher for 48 consecutive

years. He served as the N.C. Lutheran

Men State Loan and Gift Fund treasur-

er for 20 years, as the Kannapolis

Volunteer Fireman’s Retirement and

Relief Fund Treasurer for 19 years. A

member of the Kannapolis Rotary

Club for more than 30 years. He was

twice honored by the Kannapolis

Rotary Club as their Distinguished

Rotarian of the Year. He served on the

board of directors at NorthEast

Medical Center for 16 years, nine of

those as the board chairman. In 2002,

he received the Trustee of the Year

Award from the N.C. Hospital

Association.

Survivors include his wife of 58

years, Gail Lumsden Bost; children

Philip E. Bost and Deborah Gayle Bost;

four sisters; and three grandchildren.

Alfred Grady King of

Asheboro died June 12.

A native of Randolph

County, he was a U.S.

Army Air Force veteran of World War

II. He earned his master’s degree from

the University of North Carolina at

Greensboro and taught in the Randolph

and Moore County Schools and the

Asheboro City School systems. He

served as principal at Balfour and Guy

B. Teachy schools and as an instructor

at Randolph Community College.

He was an active member of Cross

Road Baptist Church where he served

as church treasurer and a Sunday

school secretary. He was a former

member of the board of directors of

Cross Road Retirement Community.

Survivors include wife Mary King,

son Don King of Sykesville, Md., and

two grandchildren.

Joe Wray Martin of

Raleigh died Sept. 3.

John F. Tompkins of

Danvers, Mass., died

July 6.

A U.S. Air Force veteran,

he served between 1952 and 1055. He

had been employed as a credit analyst

by Sylvania Electric.

He is survived by wife Mary.

Dr. William W. Lowder of

Kannapolis died Aug. 7.

A veteran of World War

II, he was also a graduate of

Sholls School of Podiatry in Chicago,

Ill. He practiced podiatry in

Kannapolis from 1954 until 2004.

He was preceded in death by wife

Neydelle Lynch Lowder ’42.

Survivors include daughter Lisa Love

of Salisbury, son W. Lynch Lowder of

Kannapolis, brother Jack Lowder ’49

of Jacksonville, Fla., sister Ruby Arey

of Salisbury, five grandchildren,

four step-grandchildren, five

great-grandchildren, and a niece.

Larry Meacham Rhye of

Charleston, S.C., formerly

of Mooresville, died Sept.

16.

Retired from American Home

Products, he was active in his commu-

nity, serving as an Iredell County

Commissioner and chairman of the

Mitchell Community College Board of

Trustees. He also was chairman of the

Mooresville Planning Board and

served as a Governor appointee on the

N.C. Liability Insurance Commission.

An active member of First Baptist

Church in Mooresville, he served as a

deacon, taught the senior adult Sunday

school class and took part in mission

building trips with the church. He vol-

unteered for 12 years at Genesis Elder

Care and at Summit Place.

Survivors include his wife of 52

years, Betty Rogers Rhye ’56, sons

Terrell Rhye and Ken Rhye, and four

grandchildren.

Harold W. Carter of Wingate died

June 28 of 2005.

As a high school football player, he

was selected to play in the East-West

All-Star Football Game, the Shrine

Bowl, and on the High School All-

American Football Team in 1950. He

continued his success on the field at

Catawba and was selected to the 1952

All-American Team. He was inducted

into both the Catawba College Hall of

Fame and the Davidson County Sports

Hall of Fame years later.

He earned his master’s degree from

East Carolina and was retired as a

teacher and coach, having served at

Piedmont, Forest Hills, and Monroe

High Schools. He was on the Senior

Amateur golf circuit.

Survivors include his wife of 52

years, Dianne Hargett Carter ’55;

sons Brad and Rick Carter and brother

Curtis Carter.

Lottie Mae Snider Miller Glisson of

Nashville, N.C. died July 4.

She was a retired school teacher

with Rocky Mount City Schools. She

was a member of Nashville United

Methodist Church, Nashville Lions

Club and Home Economics Club.

Survivors include husband Don G.

Glisson, daughter Maria Miller

Pfannkuch of Warrenton, Va., son

Stanley Miller of Sumter, S.C., a sister,

two step-children, two grandchildren

and two step-grandchildren

Dorothy Louise Sechler

Helms Fabrizio of

Salisbury died Aug. 18.

She was retired as a biol-

ogy and chemistry teacher with the

Rowan-Salisbury School System, first

at South Rowan High School and later

at West Rowan High School. A mem-

ber of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, she

was a former Bible and Sunday school

teacher, church council and choir

member, and volunteered preparing

Wednesday night meals.

Survivors include husband Vincent

James Fabrizio, daughter Ruth Helms

Jacobs, stepson Lance Fabrizio, step-

daughters Jill Jackson and Susan

Anderson, brother Clinton Sechler, sis-

ter Carol Wright, seven grandchildren

and three great-grandchildren.

Richard Harold Long of

Elmer, La., died July 10.

A U.S. Army veteran, he

worked in the insurance

industry for many years. He was a

member of Saint Clair Baptist Church

of Gardner, La., and Sunday school

teacher, a member of the church choir,

and a volunteer choir director.

Survivors include wife Martha; chil-

dren, Rick Long, Kris Lineberger,

Patricia Ashley and Danny Newton;

brothers Earl Long, and Morris Long;

nine grandchildren; and numerous

nieces and nephews.

The Rev. Eric Bernard

“Cookie” Woods of

Lexington died Aug. 3.

He had been employed at

Livingstone College as dorm director

and was of the Baptist faith.

Survivors include his mother, Agnes

Woods Gray; brothers Kenneth L.

Woods, Reginald Woods, and Johnny

Arnold; sister Yvette W. McGill; and

numerous nieces and nephews.

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CAMPUS, Fall/Winter 2006

Jane Thomas Anderson,

who played on the men’s

golf and women’s field

hockey teams as a Catawba

student, sent in the following story. Jane

writes that she would like students to

know that “what one does in college car-

ries over later in life.....even at age 77!”

Saturday, October 14, 2006, twelve

girls from LPGA-USGA Girls Golf,

Pauma Valley, California made a trip

over the mountain to watch Lorena

Ochoa compete in the Palm Desert

Samsung tournament. Their first time

at a tournament (for some, first time on

a golf course); what a thrill it proved to

be. Lorena adopted them as her person-

al “bomb squad” and marched them

into the Media Center to participate in

her post match interview with national

television.

Next came a personal chat session

and an autograph for each of their caps.

She suggested that one of these years,

she expected to be a spectator for one of

them in competition golf, perhaps some

similar event. Her fabulous finishing

round establishes Lorena as the new

buzzword at Pauma School for many

weeks to come.

Lorena’s time and dedication for our

kids clearly places her amongst the

finest that can come from the game.

Anne Haldeman Daly

would like friends to reach

her at annedon1@sudden-

link.net.

Ned Parker retired after 40

plus years of teaching,

coaching, and being the

Athletic Director in high

school.

Bob Waller received North

Carolina’s highest civilian

award -- the Order of the

Long Leaf Pine. The honor

is presented to individuals who have a

proven record of extraordinary service

to the state. Their contributions to their

communities, extra effort in their

careers and many years of service to

their organizations are some of the

guidelines by which recipients are

selected. Waller was appointed to the

City Council in 2002. He is married

with three children and three

grandchildren.

The Rev. David E.

Nabinger was ordained

and installed as the new

pastor at Grace Lutheran

Church in Arcadia.

Johnny “John” Karriker

became the director of the

Gardner-Webb University

campus in Statesville in

January 2005 after retiring from

Mitchell Community College in 2001.

He continues to teach environmental

science at various off-campus centers.

Cynthia Workman Sfanos

and husband Michael are

relocating from Maryland

to Seattle, Washington.

Their son, daughter-in-law, and grand-

son live there and their daughter recent-

ly moved to Portland so they ar joining

their children in the Great Northwest.

She plans to retire from IBM at years

end. She invites any Catawba alumni in

the Seattle area to send along an e-mail

to [email protected].

William “Bill” Green is

now in his eighteenth year

as the Associate Pastor of

First United Methodist

Church in Cary, N.C. Bill helped to

start a prison ministry in 1999 that has

grown to include 60 prisons throughout

N.C. Over 800 inmates are enrolled

each year in the Disciple Bible Study

program. Bill leads a weekly study at

the N.C. Correctional Institute for

Women in Raleigh. Since Bill’s

appointment to First UMC in 1989, the

church has grown from a membership

of 1,600 to over 4,000 members. Bill

would like to hear from fellow class-

mates and teammates at wgreen@fumc-

cary.org or (919) 460-7115.

Maurice “Mo” York retired from

HagemeyerNA on January 1, 2006. He

recently started an energy management

consulting firm, York Energy Solutions

LLC. Mo and his wife Linda live on

the Isle of Palms near Charleston, S.C.

They have two daughters, a grand-

daughter and a grandson.

Dan Redding has accepted

the defensive line coach

position at Southeastern

Louisiana.

Karen Dutson Wood was one of five

finalists in the 2006 Bank of America

Award for Teaching Excellence.

Boris Miloradovich says,

“Good friends are always

welcome! Vegas is a rock-

ing town and full of excite-

ment.” He can be reached at bmilo-

[email protected].

Colonel William “Bill” Russell was

promoted on July 1, 2006.

Steve Tucker’s wife, Jamie, just retired

on July 1, 2006. They have sold their

house in Lutherville, Md. and moved to

their home on the Great Wicomico

River on the Northern Neck of Virginia.

They enjoy boating, fishing, crabbing

and life on the River.

Elizabeth Pappas recently

retired from Pennsville

School District as

Supervisor of Athletics and

Health and Physical Education. She

moved to Pennsylvania in March 2006.

Steve Smith is OVER the

snow. He reports he has

moved from Colorado to

Palm Coast, Florida. He

may be contacted by e-mail at vrei-

[email protected].

M. Katherine Grimes and

Lana Whited adopted

Brandon in September

2005. Katherine continues

to teach English at Ferrum College.

Friends can reach her at

[email protected].

Donna Samuels has a new address;

1072 Christmas Place, Greensboro, NC

27410. She is still in Greensboro, still

teaching kindergarten. She seems to

always be very busy, but is enjoying

working on her new townhouse.

Shea Melton Carroll

recently moved to

Pinehurst, N.C. She has

been teaching preschool for

the past ten years, and aerobics and

yoga classes for the past seven years.

Now that her family has moved, she is

currently a stay at home wife and moth-

er. Her oldest son graduated this past

spring from UNC-Chapel Hill. She

would love to hear from some of her

friends from Zartman Zoo at

[email protected].

Todd Edmiston has become vice pres-

ident for development at Fruitland

Baptist Bible Institute.

Tim Moore has changed

careers after 25 years in

public accounting. He is

now the Vice President for

Finance at The Shooshan Company, a

commercial real estate developer in

Arlington, Va.

Charlie Coiner is the tight

end coach for the Buffalo

Bills football team.

Louis “Skip” Kraft gradu-

ated in May 2006 from

UNC-Charlotte with a

Master’s degree in School

Administration. Skip is currently

Assistant Principal of Southeast Middle

School in Salisbury. Lisa ’82 is the

Planning and Evaluation Coordinator

with Smart Start Rowan. They have

three children: Elizabeth (17), Julia (15)

and Louis (12).

Bill Gilmore has moved to

Los Angeles, California and

is creating movie trailors

and DVD bonus features with Mill

Creek Productions.

Randall Sailor announces that he is a

silent partner in formation of Classic

Finish Golf Academy, located in Port

St. Lucie, Florida. He would love for

Catawba classmates and other alumni

to check for further information at

http://www.cfgolfacademy.com. To

contact Randall directly, e-mail him at

[email protected].

Robert and Nicole

Shappell Hales ’95

announce the birth of a son,

Corbin Robert on May 31,

2006. He weighed 5 lbs. 12 oz. He has

a brother, David Cole (5) and a sister,

Kary (3).

Sheryl Sisk Schelin, for-

mer in-house counsel for

the Horry County

Department of Airports,

announces the formation of the Law

Office of Sheryl Schelin, with an

emphasis on consumer, bankruptcy, and

employment litigation matters. Ms.

Schelin also offers consulting services

to public law offices and

municipal/county attorneys.

She can be reached via mail at 773

Main Street, #358, North Myrtle

Beach SC 29582, via telephone at

843.283.4840 or via email at

Sheryl@schelinlaw.com. Her website

can be found at http://www.schelin-

law.com, and she also publishes two

blogs - the South Carolina Consumer

and Bankruptcy Blog

(http://www.scbankruptcyblog.com)

and the South Carolina Employment

Law Blog (http://www.scemployment-

law.com ).

The Law Office of Sheryl Schelin is

a federally designated debt relief

agency and assists clients with their

debt management needs, including

when appropriate filing for relief under

the bankruptcy provisions of the United

States Code and the U.S. Constitution.

Jennifer Stark Baker and

her husband Jeff are proud

to announce the birth of

their daughter, Brandon

Eleanor. Brandon was born on

February 21, 2006, she weighed 10 lbs.

and was 22” long. Jennifer and Jeff still

live in Hopkins, S.C. and Jennifer

would love to hear from friends. She

can be reached at jennbaker03@bell-

south.net.

Leslie Cathey can be reached at

leslie.cathey[email protected].

Anne Cote Hoffman and Marc

Hoffman are pleased to announce the

birth of their first child, a daughter,

August Ruth, born April 16, 2006. In

2004, Anne received a Masters in

Counseling from University of North

Classnotes

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CAMPUS, Fall/Winter 2006

Carolina at Charlotte and is currently

employed by Rowan-Salisbury

Schools. Marc just completed scoring

the independent film “The Mill”

(www.themillthemovie.com) and is

scoring two additional films this year.

For more information visit www.mar-

choffman.com or www.salis-

buryschoolofmusic.com. Anne would

like to hear from friends, 1215 S. Main

St., Salisbury, NC 28144 or

anne@marchoffman.com.

Anita Kolb-Martin just wanted to say

hi to all her friends who went to Cat-U.

She wanted everyone to know that she

and her husband Randy moved to

Lexington, Kentucky. She would love

to hear from old friends at

[email protected].

Tracey Scruggs has been named

Director of Basketball Operations for

the new expansion ABA basketball

team that started play in November.

Annette Kruse has been

named an assistant principal

of Tyro Middle School.

Kruse taught at Tyro Middle

School from 1992-2005.

Karen Weed Owens is married to her

wonderful husband Tom. She has three

great children; Ryan (8), Jonathan (6),

and Alexis (5). She is a Nurse

Practitioner in Women’s Health, prac-

ticing in Richmond, Va. She would like

to hear from old friends at

[email protected].

“Thomas” Travis Smith, an excep-

tional children’s teacher at West

Davidson High School since 1999, is

the new assistant principal at North

Davidson High School. He is working

on his master’s degree in administration

from Gardner-Webb University.

Ashley Lamb Smith and

her husband Ron would like

to announce the birth of

their daughter, Reagan. She

joins big brother, Blasie (4). Ashley can

be reached at

ashleypsmith@carolina.rr.com and is

living in Harrisburg, N.C.

Shannon Evans Williamson has

accepted a position as Office

Manager/Media Buyer with Kelley &

Associates in Memphis, Tennessee.

Janet Steinert Burr is

remarried and living in

Louisville, Kentucky. In

May 2006, she had her first

child, a perfect little boy named Joseph

Carl. He was born premature but is

doing well now. She is looking forward

to hearing from old classmates and

friends at [email protected].

Tammy Clontz DeVitto and John G.

DeVitto ’91 and announce the birth of

a daughter, Hope Marie. She was born

on June 19, 2006. She weighed 7lbs.

3oz. and was 20” long. Hope has two

older brothers, Evan (6) and Ryan (4).

The family can be reached at jtdevit-

[email protected].

Angela Habour Mayfield was elected

to The South Atlantic Conference Hall

of Fame. She was inducted, along with

four others, into the SAC Hall of Fame

as part of the South Atlantic Conference

Annual Meeting in Asheville on June 8,

2006.

Curtis Evans and Jessica

Day Evans were united in

marriage on Saturday, June

17, 2006 at Longhurst

United Methodist Church in Roxboro.

He is employed with Lowes Foods in

Durham. She is employed with

Subway in Roxboro. They reside in

Roxboro, N.C.

Wendy Kuhne completed her Ph.D.

degree in Radiological Health Sciences

in August 2006. In September 2006,

she began a post-doctoral research posi-

tion at the Medical College of Georgia

in Augusta. Her position is in the

Institute of Molecular Medicine and

Genetics, where she is focusing on

genomic instability and DNA repair.

She is back on the east coast for a few

years, so visit her in Augusta.

Matt McGrath, Jr. received his

Doctorate of Theology from

Fundamental Baptist Bible College on

June 24, 2006.

Dr. Katherine “Katie” A. O’ Connor

and her husband Colin would like to

announce the birth of their daughter,

Brogan Grace. Brogan was born on

May 21, 2006 and weighed 6lbs. 9oz.

Delaney Isabella is performing all “Big

Sister” duties with charm. Katie is a

tenure track faculty member at East

Carolina University. Colin is the direc-

tor of development for the College of

Business and College of Technology

and Computer Science at East Carolina

University.

Major Ian Brinkley and

Dawn Kuehne Brinkley

were married on Saturday,

June 24, 2006 at Gold Hill

Historic Park. He has been on active

duty with the United States Marine

Corps since 1996 and is currently serv-

ing as an AH-1W Cobra Instructor Pilot

with HMT-303 based at Camp

Pendleton, Calif. She is employed as

the Lead Project Coordinator for Sierra

Contracting. They reside with their

children, Marcus and Gavin Kuehne, in

Temecula, Calif.

Michael Drumwright and Jennifer

Yates announce their engagement. The

wedding is planned for March 24, 2007

at Glenwood United Methodist Church.

He is employed as a deputy with the

Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.

She is employed as a nurse at

FirstHealth Richmond Memorial

Hospital.

Michael and Megan Howell Feller ’99

would like to announce the birth of their

second son, Adam Christopher. He was

born on August 18, 2006 weighing 8

lbs. 3 oz. and was 21.5 inches long.

Joe Westendorf earned his MBA in

June 2006 from the University of

Miami. Joe and Michelle would like to

announce the birth of their son, Carter

Joseph on December 28, 2006.

Renee Reasinger Wildman, husband

David, and children Hannah and TJ

would like their friends to know that

they have moved. They can be reached

at 547 Graffius Avenue, Punxsutawney,

PA 15767 or

r[email protected]. Renee

would love to hear from old friends!

Brad Wylde and wife Kate are pleased

to announce the arrival of their beautiful

daughter, Makenna Kathleen. She was

born on June 21, 2006. The Wylde

family, of Matthews, N.C., is doing

great.

Kristen Leatherman

Brace of Mt. Pleasant, S.C.

announces that she became

happily married to Chris

Brace in June 2005. Kristen taught first

grade at Palmetto Christian Academy

for three years. She is currently staying

at home with baby, Isaac Saunders. He

was born on September 11, 2006. He

weighed 8 lbs. 8 oz. and was 21.25”

long. Kristen would love to hear from

friends at [email protected].

Martti Nelson has co-produced, co-

written, and co-starred in his own pilot

that won Best Educational Pilot at the

2006 New York Television Festival.

Tara Pensabene Setzer and husband

Glenn are pleased to announce the birth

of their daughter, Tyler Anne. She was

born on February 17, 2006. They are

living in Lake Norman, N.C.

Robert Van Geons has had a busy

summer. As Executive Director of the

Stanly County Economic Development

Commission he recently earned the des-

ignation of Certified Economic

Developer (CEcD), a national recogni-

tion that denotes a mastery of principal

skills in economic development and a

commitment to personal and profes-

sional growth. The CEcD exam was

administered by the International

Economic Development Council

(IEDC) on August 19th and 20th in

Atlanta, GA, in partnership with The

Georgia Economic Developer’s

Association and the Georgia Tech

Enterprise Innovation Institute. Also in

August, Robert has completed the

requirements for his Masters degree in

Economic Development from the

University of Southern Mississippi.

Lastly, he was presented the Munro

Petroleum Award for Excellence in

Economic Development by Southern

Mississippi at the national conference

of “ACCRA - The Council for

Community and Economic Research”

during their national conference held

this summer in Charlotte. Endowed by

Munro Petroleum founder and

Southern Mississippi Alumnus Thomas

Munro, this award recognizes exempla-

ry performance in the areas of leader-

ship, research and professionalism.

Janay Austin-Carlson and

her husband Roy just moved

to Washington, DC. She

would love to meet up with

old friends in the area or hear from old

friends in general at

[email protected].

Lara Marie Taggart Baum and hus-

band, Kevin had a daughter, Sophie

Taylor, on September 15, 2006. She

was 7lbs. 7oz., and 20.5” long. She

joins her brother, Cameron Robert (20

months old).

Mike Jacobs recently married Amy

and has a three year old stepson. He is

working as a criminal defense attorney

and is expecting to make partner in

2008. He can be reached at mikeja-

[email protected].

Kara Kilpatrick and her finance Josh

are expecting a baby girl, Trinity Faith

on December 5, 2006. Karalynn wish-

es to hear from old friends Heather

Stewart, Susan Bowers, and Danielle

Figueroa at

[email protected].

Stacey Kimmer Lewis and Patrick

Lewis were married on September 8,

2006 at Shooter’s Sporting Club in

Turnersburg. She is employed by

Lutheran Services for the Aging in

Salisbury. He is self-employed in rail-

road maintenance.

Matthew Beyhl would like

to announce his engagement

to Holly Bolton of Trenton

Falls, N.Y. Their wedding is

planned for September 2007. Matt

would like friends to contact him at

[email protected].

Julia Stolzer Conti married David

Conti on Sunday, September 3, 2006 in

North Wildwood, N.J. Catawba Alums

Ann Collins ’99 and Lindsey Suggs

’99 helped celebrate the day.

Christina “Chrissy” Greene Cooke

and husband, James have moved to

Japan for three years for his work with

the Air Force. She would love to hear

from friends at [email protected].

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Will Dwiggins has been selected as

Treasurer for the Northwest Piedmont

Chapter Board of Directors of the

American Red Cross. He is the branch

manager for SunTrust in Mocksville.

He is also chair of the Davie Chamber

of Commerce and vice president of the

Mocksville Rotary Club.

Michelle Kuhlman has just finished

her first year serving as the pastor of

Grace Lutheran Church in Carrollton,

Georgia. She would love to hear from

friends and classmates. Her e-mail

address is

[email protected].

Daphane Olmstead married Matthew

Suffecool on July 1, 2006 at the

Homestead in Hot Springs, Va. After a

two week honeymoon in Bora Bora the

couple resides in Harrisonburg, Va.

Charles “Bryan” Surratt and Melanie

Brewer Surratt were united in marriage

on Saturday, August 26, 2006 at

Omwake-Dearborn Chapel. He is an

Account Executive with Emerald Care

Home Health of Gastonia. She is a

Registered Dental Hygienist with Drs.

Mello and Van Lanen of Charlotte. The

couple resides in Salisbury.

Kristin Gerner Vaughn and husband

Michael were married in April of 2005.

They now live in Cummings, Ga. and

are expecting their first child, a boy, in

December. Kristin is the associate pas-

tor for Pilgrimage UCC in Marietta, Ga.

Cassandra Birdsall-

Malgiero and her husband

Karl Malgiero would like to

announce the birth of their

daughter, Eleanor “Nora” Elizabeth

Malgiero on March 8, 2006.

Patrick Freeman and Maegan Parsons

Freeman were married on October 7,

2006 at The Fork Stables in Norwood.

He is employed as a CPA with Leeper,

Kean and Rumly, LLP in Greensboro.

She is employed with Randolph County

Schools as a science teacher at Trinity

High School.

Christopher “Kube” Kubik has

recently graduated with his first

Master’s Degree in Exercise

Physiology from East Carolina

University. He is now beginning his

second Master’s program at the

University of Georgia. He is studying

Motor Behavior in line to achieving his

dream of becoming a strength and con-

ditioning coach at the college/university

level.

Olivia Norred would love to share

with everyone her engagement to

Corey Petersen of Marshfield,

Wisconsin. There is a wedding set for

June 16, 2007 in Powder Springs,

Georgia at 7:00 p.m.

Kristen Wiseman and Rob Beecham,

Jr. are engaged to be married on

December 2, 2006 at Mount Tabor

United Methodist Church in Salisbury.

She is a first-grade teacher at Koontz

Elementary School. He is employed by

ProLogix East of Charlotte.

Susie Ahlfeld is the new

volunteer coordinator at the

N.C. Aquarium on Roanoke

Island.

Michael Cabana has been appointed

the head men’s and women’s tennis

coach at Wingate University.

Robyn Lawson Foote and Brandon

Foote were united in marriage Saturday,

August 26, 2006 at Alhambra Hall. She

is a sales coordinator for Lennar. He is

a project manager for Gulfstream

Construction. The couple will make

their home in Mount Pleasant.

Christopher Guthrie is the Associate

Artistic Director at the Know Theatre of

Cincinnati, OH.

Don Moore and wife, Sabrina, are

proud to announce the birth of their son,

Noah Thomas. He was born on June

22, 2006 at Palmetto Baptist Hospital in

Columbia, S.C. Noah weighed 6 lbs. 7

oz. and was 20” long. Noah has one sis-

ter, Elizabeth Grey (3 years old).

Amy Johnson Murphy married

Patrick Joseph Murphy on June 17,

2006 in Cape Cod, Mass. The wedding

was at Our Lady of Victory Parish and

the reception was held at Ballymeade

Country Club. The Matron of Honor

was Sara Surkin Widener ’01.

Bridesmaids were Stephanie Bostian

Mesimer ’01, Shelley Stock (attended

97-99), and Brittany Littleton ’02.

Amy is a Public Relations manager in

Manhattan. Patrick is a Electrical

Mechanic for ConEdison Electric

Company in Manhattan. The couple

honeymooned in Jamaica and are resid-

ing in Brooklyn, N.Y. Amy would love

to hear from her friends at

[email protected].

Valerie Powell and Terry DuPont got

engaged on October 5, 2006. They

plan to get married on October 25,

2008. Friends can contact Val at

[email protected]. or valpow-

[email protected].

Amber Rady Stanley and Doug

Stanley ’04 were married at

Omwake-Dearborn Chapel on July

1, 2006. Amber is the Assistant

Cross Country Coach and Assistant

Swim Coach at Catawba College.

Doug works in the Computer Service

Department at Catawba College. They

reside in Salisbury, N.C.

Michelle Fleshman Cross

and Joseph Cross were unit-

ed in marriage on July 29,

2006 at Omwake Dearborn

Chapel. A reception was held at the

Crystal Lounge. Catawba alumni

who served as attendants were Amber

Wagner ’02, Sarah Drinkard ’02,

Vanessa Randazzo ’02, Catherine

Healy ’03, Kim Hodges ’00. Jasika

CAMPUS, Fall/Winter 2006

1970s Close-up

Forry “Buck” Buckingham ’76 was in the first group if inductees

to the Sparks Hereford Athletic Hall of Fame on May 19, 1006.

Hereford has a rich history of many championships in a number of

sports going back to the original high school, Sparks, in 1909. Buck

gave credit to an incredible faculty, coaches and teamwork.

This solid sense of teamwork gave Buck the tools to appreciate

an enchanted college experience. He very much enjoyed playing

basketball at Western Carolina University his first year, but meeting

John Scott the former Catawba All-American quarterback while vis-

iting New Jersey gave him a more exciting dream. Scott who had

been drafted by Buck’s hometown Baltimore Colts was heading to

Catawba to be an assistant coach. “That was the best thing to happen

to me, because I became motivated to earn a shot at a pro sport. What

I discovered was an outstanding college that gave me the opportuni-

ty to do things I never imagined.” Back in his college days, Buck

would find himself working out with David Taylor also a former All-

American for the Colts during the summers. A major success on the

gridiron and later in the business work, David

also illustrated what Catawba

College could produce. “Dave

would catch up on our dynamic

business professor Millard

Wilson and coaches that really

cared about their players’ entire

college experience.”

“Catawba College was a

dream experience for me. Head

coaches Bill Faircloth, Warren

Klawiter, fellow students and

teammates are cherished friends

that inspired me in Salisbury the

way David inspired me back in

Baltimore.” Even though he was needed at the defensive nose guard

position and not the tight end which he had originally anticipated,

Buck loved the opportunity to contribute to the teamwork. He served

as a graduate assistant for the incoming new football coach Warren

Klawiter. With the guidance of the late Dr. Maynard Rich, he dou-

bled his psychology major to include business administration. After

that successful year as a grad assistant Buck was recruited by Cannon

Mills, Inc. to live and work in Manhattan. There he would discover

his great professional passion: acting. Although he was only in one

small part in a Catawba comedy, he never missed enthusiastically

attending every production. Buck has been an active member of the

Screen Actors Guild since 1980 successfully working in Manhattan,

Los Angeles and New England. “It was high school basketball that

gave me confidence for life, but it was my Catawba experience that

prepared me for life.” He and Beth [Holy Cross ’77], his wife of 19

years, are raising their son Matthew in Acton, Massachusetts.

“The most incredible people from so many different states and

countries were pivotal in giving me the greatest college experience I

could imagine.” Last December, Buck attending the New York based

alumni reception with President Knott and the staff. “It was so

impressive to reconfirm, that for as great as Catawba has been to so

many, it is so oriented to continuing to be one of the strongest col-

leges for people with eclectic passions.”

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’02

Pruitt ’02 and Larry Whitfield ’04

were vocalists during the ceremony.

Michelle is a Spanish and theatre-arts

teacher for Davidson County Schools.

Joseph is a senior clinical research asso-

ciate with PRA International.

Ben Foti and Kelly Rudder were mar-

ried on May 27, 2006 at Saint James

Catholic Church in Henderson, N.C.

He is employed with the Kerr-Tar

Regional Council of Governments in

Henderson. She is employed with the

Person County Council on Aging in

Roxboro. The couple lives in Roxboro.

David Hamilton and Yakina Green

were married on Saturday, August 12,

2006 at Zion Hill AME Zion Church.

Angela Stancar Johnson and Adrian

Johnson were married on September 9,

2006 in Southern Pines, N.C. The cou-

ple now makes their home in London,

England, where Angie works for

Jostens. Friends can reach her at astan-

[email protected].

Josh Jordan has been hired as an assis-

tant baseball coach at Appalachian

State University. He will coach ASU’s

hitters, outfielders and catchers and be

heavily involved in recruiting.

Christina Thomas Jung and

Brandon Jung ’05 were united in mar-

riage on Saturday, June 17, 2006 at Our

Lady of Victories Church. She is a fil-

ing supervisor with the Law Firm of

Hogan, Longo, Mocant & Dunst. He is

a media supervisor at Best Buy at East

Brunswick, N.J.

Tara Hinson Parker and Justin Parker

were united in marriage on Saturday,

September 23, 2006 at Grace Bible

Church in Rockwell, N.C. She is

employed by Rowan-Salisbury Schools

as a fifth-grade teacher at Faith

Elementary School. He is an electrical

engineer at Schweitzer Engineering

Laboratories.

B.J. Robertson and Hollis Mendenhall

Robertson were married on September

16, 2006 at Wesley Memorial United

Methodist Church in High Point, N.C.

He is employed at Traffic Control

Devices Inc. in High Point. She is

employed at Furnitureland South in

High Point.

Margaret Overcash White and Don

White, Jr. were married on October 14,

2006 at Phillips Chapel in Greensboro,

N.C. She is employed as a speech-lan-

guage pathologist at the Cheshire

Center in Greensboro. He is a manag-

ing partner with Cellular Sales of

Knoxville Inc. The couple resides in

Greensboro, N.C.

Renee Bradshaw was

recently welcomed as First

National Bank and Trust Company’s

new mortgage loan officer in Cabarrus

County, including the new Kellswater

Bridge subdivision.

Stephanie Walden Gault and Derek

Gault '04 were united in marriage on

July 15, 2006 in Omwake-Dearborn

chapel. Bridesmaids included Jen

Werner ’03, Nicole Beal ’03 &

Heather Cummings ’05. Lana

Pieczyinski ’92 was organist/pianist

and Margaret Wilson Faust ’89 was

the Wedding Director. After spending a

week in Jamaica the newlyweds moved

into their new house in Winston-Salem.

Stephanie would love to hear from

friends - [email protected].

Jenn Ropp Sotriffer and Christopher

Sotriffer ’04 were married on July 22,

2006. They reside in Winston-Salem,

N.C.

Toby Stark is a contractor for the

Department of Defense (DOD). He is

responsible for the constant information

technology support of over 1,000 users

on the military base of Fort Monmouth,

located in New Jersey.

Bob Walker is living in NYC pursuing

his acting career and getting into as

much trouble as possible.

Danielle Thomas Winebarger and Ike

Winebarger ’02 were married on May

20, 2006. They bought their first home

just north of Winston-Salem in Rural

Hall, N.C. They would love the hear

from any and all of their friends from

Cat-U at

danielle.winebar[email protected].

Sonshine Allen is perform-

ing in the cast of Wicked on

Broadway.

Robert Ambrose and Jennie

Rosamond Ambrose ’04 married on

September 17, 2005. They bought their

first home in Garner, N.C. Robert is

working for a small Accounting Firm

located out of Garner. Jennie is an

Assistant Manager for the Bombay

Company in Raleigh.

Taylor Steedley Corl and Bradley Corl

were united in marriage on Saturday,

August 19, 2006 at Omwake-Dearborn

Chapel. She is a registered nurse at

Rowan Regional Medical Center. He is

employed by Pathways Home Care.

The couple makes their home in

Salisbury, N.C.

Anne Drake recently earned a master

of science degree in gerontology from

the University of North Carolina at

Greensboro. She is now working in

Chapel Hill at Carolina Meadows

Retirement Community as the Care

Coordinator of a new memory support

unit. Anne is living in Burlington, N.C.

Amanda “Amy” Holloway was com-

missioned as Ensign in the United

States Navy on October 21, 2005. She

attended Officer Candidate School in

Pensacola, Fla. After six months of

Intelligence School in Virginia Beach,

Va. she is now stationed for two years in

Washington, D.C. at the Office of Naval

Intelligence. Amy can be reached at

[email protected].

Vivian Lee Koontz and Michael

Koontz ’03 were united in marriage

Saturday, June 3, 2006 at Spencer

Library Park. She is a Youth Tobacco

Prevention Manager for Rowan County

Health Department. He is employed by

Feightliner. They make their home in

Spencer.

Kristen Prather writes that in August

she began pursuing her Juris Doctorate

at Capital University School of Law in

Columbus, Ohio. Friends may contact

Kristen at divapr[email protected].

Rebecca Wike is engaged to be mar-

ried to Walter Winiger II in October

2007. She is also expecting a baby boy

in November 2007.

Peter Arnold has moved to

Boone, N.C. and will be

attending Appalachian State

University for graduate

school working towards a masters

degree in higher education administra-

tion.

Sean Bloom began his job as park

ranger at Boone’s Cave Park in

February.

Elizabeth Ingle DiNardo and Daniel

DiNardo were united in marriage on

July 22, 2006 in a private ceremony.

She is a sales representative for

Ultradent Products. He is a motion

graphics designer with D.A.D. Studios.

The couple makes their home in

Atlanta, Ga.

Jason Evarts is the assistant technical

director of the Florida Grand Opera for

their 2006-2007 season.

Hope Miller Greene and Matt Greene

of Newton, N.C. were married on

August 19, 2006. Hope graduated in

May with a masters degree in account-

ing from North Carolina State

University. She works in Raleigh, N.C.

with McGladrey and Pullen, an

accounting firm.

Joshua Houghton and Stephanie

Overcash Houghton were united in

marriage on Saturday, June 17, 2006 at

Trinity Wesleyan Church in Salisbury.

He is employed by Rowan Helping

Ministries. She is a registered nurse at

Rowan Regional Medical Center. The

couple makes their home in Mount

Ulla, N.C.

Donna Tulloch is doing graduate

study with The Actor’s Studio at Pace

University.

Michael Beers and Kelli

Schenk Beers were united

in marriage Saturday,

August 12, 2006 at

Omwake-Dearborn Chapel. He is

employed with Resources on call as

an MRI technologist. She is

employed by Dr. T. Wayne Wilson.

The couple makes their home in

Alexandria, Va.

Michelle Haynes Brillant and Jason

Brillant were united in marriage on

June 24, 2006 at Faith Baptist

Church. She teaches at West Rowan

High School. He teaches Spanish at

East Rowan High School.

Greg Hannold has worked for the

Spencer Police Department for 11

years. He is a master police officer

ranked as detective. He is a firearms,

taser, and rapid deployment instruc-

tor. He has earned his Advanced Law

Enforcement Certificate. He is work-

ing on his Masters of Justice

Administration at Methodist College.

Sydney Holleman is managing the

People’s Improv Theatre, near

Madison Square Garden, NYC.

Holly Fesperman Lee and Dustin

Lee were united in marriage on May

20, 2006. She is a reporter for the

Salisbury Post. He is employed by

Frank Dennis Jr. Trucking of

Albemarle. The couple makes their

home in Albemarle, N.C.

Ryan Musil is doing post graduate

work in Italy with Accademia

Dell’Arte.

Briana Raymond designed the sets

for “Nunsensations: The Nunsense

Vegas Revue,” a rollicking new ver-

sion of Nunsense. She is also touring

with Rags to Riches, a professional

children’s theatre out of Durham,

N.C.

Jon Robertson joins The Daily

Journal/ Daily Messenger staff. He

will be working as a general assign-

ment reporter with specific responsi-

bilities for covering the City of

Seneca and the Westminster commu-

nity. You can reach him at jon@dai-

lyjm.com.

Jeffery Smith is attending Old

Dominion University in Norfolk, Va.

while getting his master’s of educa-

tion in athletic training. He is also a

graduate assistant in the athletic

training department assisting with

Women’s Soccer and working with

Wrestling as an Athletic Trainer.

CAMPUS, Fall/Winter 2006

’03

’04

’05

’06

CAMPUS, Fall/Winter 2006

seemed a lot more interested in the senior guys

who were hanging out in the computer room.

Though I often needed help without any addi-

tional “effort” on my part, I started bungling my

computer programs more in an attempt to get

her assistance and, ultimately, her attention. It

worked! Our first date was a concert on campus

by the late comedian pianist Victor Borge.

Despite our being two years apart, we ended up

taking a few classes together and, due to friend-

ly competition, both ended up with A’s in all of

them. I still recall trying desperately to keep up

with her in Mr. Gibbons’ differential equations

class and camping out all night on the science

building with the astronomy class to observe a

meteor shower.

Pam graduated in ’75 and did me the great

honor of marrying me in May of 1976, just after

my junior year. We lived in married student

housing that the college owned in what was

once the Lowery Hospital, on what is now the

site of Bank of America. We just had our 30th

anniversary.

After working a few years as a computer

programmer for the county, Pam now runs the

Bible Book Store in Salisbury, which we own. I

work as an IT consultant – I guess she did a

good job of straightening out my programming

problems!”

Selections from other great

Catawba stories:

John ’92 and Mary Fuentes-Lukowski ’93

met on Mary’s first day at Catawba College. He

was a Resident Assistant then and a group of

friends gathered in a dorm room to watch

movies. A few favors offered when John’s car

was being repaired led to a first date at a foot-

ball game. It seems they’ve been together ever

since!

Chris ’94 and Stephanie Gudger Jacobs ’94

met each other the first day they both became

Catawba students, although Stephanie spent

most of that first semester trying to get him to

go out with a friend of hers. When she realized

that they should be the ones dating, friends

doubted her. A trip to the beach, grad school in

Boston, back to North Carolina, a wedding, liv-

ing in Georgia; it seems to be working out beau-

tifully! Just ask their daughter Caroline

Woodson . . . yes, named after their freshmen

dorm, Woodson Hall.

Dating for Victor ’52 and Loreta Anderson

Stover ’50 began when Vic invited Reta to go

on a day trip to Myrtle Beach with another cou-

ple. The only concern was that it was the week

of final exams before graduation for Reta! No

problem, she left the dorm early in the morning,

chemistry book in hand, and hopped in the con-

vertible. That night she snuck back into the

dorm after hours. Who knew that would be the

beginning of a lifetime of fun together?

The wonderful marching bands of Catawba

College were beneficial to more than just our

athletic teams. Walt ’49 and Hilda Troxell

Ramseur ’50 credit their “fatal” closeness to an

away game trip to Lenoir Rhyne. It happened to

be Hilda’s birthday and a round of kisses from

the boys was suggested by one of the male stu-

dents. One guess who stole TWO kisses? After

a lovely marriage and three fine daughters, who

are all Catawba alumnae, Walt now claims to

know what too much kissing can lead to . . . and

he sure is glad!

Sterling ’42 and Barbara Brown Whitener ’44

almost never got the chance to date. Though

suggested by a friend, Sterling chose an oppor-

tunity to see the Hell Drivers at the fairgrounds

over a date with Barbara. Well the Hell Drivers

plans fell through and the offer to set him up

with Barbara was not repeated. In December

they did have their first formal date, which led

to many more over the next four years. But

Sterling’s call was for mission work in China,

where he had grown up, and Barbara’s belief

that college years were for meeting and dating

other guys. Thankfully all was resolved. They

did go to China but sadly, Sterling has yet to see

the Hell Drivers!

Ron ’72 and Susie Brooks Riggs ’72 could

convince you that pizza is the best meal after a

long day of Christmas shopping. Susie had been

shopping with a friend and stopped at

Pasquale’s Pizza for dinner. A few male stu-

dents from S-R dorm were there, including her

Florida hometown friend Jody Richards. When

joining their table she met a good-looking fel-

low who sat several rows behind her in biology

class. The good-looking Ron ended up asking

Susie out for a date a few days later. Besides

one short break-up as students, they’ve been

together ever since!

Brandon ’05 and Chrissy Thomas Jung ’02

know that the fishing is good in the Catawba

environmental preserve . . . if you are fishing for

a spouse that is! One Saturday night, Chrissy

was prepared to stay in her dorm room and

think about a recent break-up with a boy she

had been dating. The same night, Brandon was

content to stay in his room and watch television.

Their friends, however, convinced them to get

out and go to an informal gathering of friends in

the environmental preserve. They hit it off, even

though Brandon stole Chrissy’s chair! They

talked well into the night and have been togeth-

er ever since.

Aaron ’02 and Mandy Adcock Isaac ’03 will

assure you that chivalry is always in style! After a

statistic class study review, Aaron walked Mandy

across campus to her car. The first true date com-

bined a Catawba football game, dinner at a

Mexican restaurant and even a trip to the movie

theatre. In 2004, Aaron suggested a trip to the

campus bookstore for a Christmas gift. They

drove around campus reminiscing and parked in

front of the library where they first studied togeth-

er. It was then and there that Aaron pulled out a

little box holding a ring and proposed. Mandy

reports that the rest is history . . . in the making.

Joe ’85 and Patti Hall Crossen ’86 had so

much in common, how could they not meet and

fall in love? Joe asked Patti to his senior

Homecoming dance. She agreed, but had

already made plans for the day after with anoth-

er date. She had no idea just how much she

would enjoy her time with Joe during

Homecoming! The next day during her other

date, how awkward when she walked into the

home where she and her date were to cook din-

ner and there was Joe with another friend. She

left early and apologized the next day to Joe for

the uncomfortable situation. Joe understood,

and after discovering both had Italian moms and

Irish fathers, both raised Roman Catholic, both

from New Jersey, how could they not date and

live happily ever after?

Bob ’50 and Elizabeth Curlee Gore ’49 met

when Bob noticed her beautiful shiny black hair

during the first day of speech class. After class

he walked her to the Student Union and bought

her an ice cream cone. Bob was a year behind

Lib due to prior military service but that didn’t

stop him from marrying her with a year of

school to go. They rented an apartment and

were able to socialize with former First Lady

Mrs. Howard Omwake and faculty members.

Coach Kirkland provided meal tickets for cam-

pus dining for Lib. Bob recalls “it was a great

year”.

Matt ’98 and Joanna Mullins’ story does not

involve a class together or even dating during

college. Matt was friends, teammate and even-

tual roommate with Joseph Coleman ’97.

Joseph’s younger sister had a crush on Matt dur-

ing his college days but Matt was taken, for

then. Fast forward to 1999 when Matt was invit-

ed to Joseph’s wedding. Joseph called Matt ask-

ing if he was available as his sister was request-

ing a date for the wedding. Matt called Joanna

Coleman and talked frequently during the next

four weeks. They met once for dinner, hit it off,

married and the rest is history. Their first child

was born in September!

Alan ’62 and Jay Mizeras (Greensboro

College ’64) are most appreciative of Bob

Wilson ’62 and John Calvin Presbyterian

Church. As Alan’s suitemate, Bob persuaded

Alan and others to join him at John Calvin

Presbyterian Church for a college age fellowship

program just a few blocks from campus. Jay, a

Catawba freshman in 1960, came from a long

line of Presbyterians and attended that same fel-

lowship group since it was within walking dis-

tance to campus. Jay comments that the group

met in the basement of the church and “there was

no place to go but up!” Jay and Alan celebrated

their 42nd wedding anniversary this past June.

Thank you to all alumni who shared

your wonderful stories of how you

met!

– Margaret Faust, Alumni Director

CATAWBA COUPLES.... (continued from front page)

CAMPUS, Fall/Winter 2006

or the past 21 years, farmer John Peeler of Davie County has driven

to the Catawba College campus on Monday and Wednesday

evenings for martial arts class. But the 55-year old father of four

says he hasn’t participated in class simply to learn to fight and defend

himself, but rather to stay in shape, keep limber and alleviate back

problems.

Peeler’s one of about a dozen students who have participated for more than

20 years in the biweekly Chayon Ryu martial arts classes offered on campus

by Master David Mitchell, a seventh degree black belt, and Master Bobby

Knott, a fifth degree black belt.

“The physical and mental training helps me stay limber, keeps my reflexes

sharp, and keeps me healthier as I age,” Peeler explains.

But, the classes haven’t just helped Peeler, but rather they have come to

involve every member of his family. His wife is a black belt in Chayon Ryu

and his three daughters went through the classes which Peeler contends

“helped them.”

“I enjoyed seeing them (my daughters) go off to college as more confident

in themselves,” he recalls.

Now, Peeler’s 10-year-old son Holden is enrolled in the classes with his

father, and Peeler says his son is being transformed. “I’ve watched a timid

young man become self-confident. There are a lot of role models in that class

that I want him exposed to.”

Chayon Ryu Classes Begin at Catawba

It was Knott’s father, Catawba College President Robert Knott who origi-

nally helped establish the Chayon Ryu martial arts classes on campus when he

was provost at the College in 1984. He felt the Chayon Ryu system’s art and

philosophy would be a good fit with the educational mission of the institution.

Bobby Knott, who enrolled in the classes beginning at age 13, still consid-

ers himself a student of Chayon Ryu despite his fifth degree ranking. He is sure

that his training in Chayon Ryu has helped change and positively direct his life.

Knott had had some bad martial arts experiences before coming with

brown belt in hand at age 13 to Mitchell’s classes at Catawba. “It was after

those experiences of taking other martial arts classes and being physically hurt

that made it so great to meet Master Mitchell,” Knott recalls. “With Chayon

Ryu, he (Mitchell) didn’t build you up by tearing you down. He was an edu-

cator.

“The whole focus of Chayon Ryu is higher learning,” he continues, “and

the reason we train is to become a better person. Martial arts that stress compe-

tition are great exercise, but games come to an end. With Chayon Ryu, the edu-

cation never stops.”

Mitchell agrees. “We’re always trying to attain self-awareness and self-

knowledge, so we can reach enlightenment,” he says. “We’re not a substitute

for religion and religion is not taught in class, nor is politics. You can travel at

your own level of fitness and this will help strengthen you.”

About 80 percent of the students in class are adults “who are growing into

instead of out of martial arts,” Mitchell notes. “The forms and techniques

taught are very old, but the way we practice has been modified so people are

able to do them for a lifetime.”

Master David Mitchell

At his core, David Mitchell is an educator. By day, he teaches fifth graders

at Isenburg Elementary, and by night, he’s master (and adjunct instructor) of his

martial arts classes at Catawba. However, Mitchell took a very circuitous route

through martial arts territory before he discovered Chayon Ryu and its founder

Grandmaster Kim Soo in 1973 at Kim’s martial arts school in Houston, Texas.

Mitchell, who grew up in Salisbury, began training on his own at age nine

before beginning formal training in 1967 with a South Korean instructor who

came to Salisbury and offered classes. He says he had the mistaken idea early

on that martial arts were all about fighting. Marriage brought Mitchell to

Texas, where he soon located Kim Soo’s martial arts class in Houston.

Sheepishly, he recalls his first appearance in Kim Soo’s class. “I was ready

to fight and win,” he remembers. He says Kim Soo seemed disappointed in

him after that first encounter, until Mitchell loped up to him after class and told

him he would sincerely like to train under him.

Kim Soo must have seen the diamond under Mitchell’s rough and tumble

exterior, because train him he did, creating a worthy student who in turn

became a teacher and perpetuator of Chayon Ryu martial arts techniques half

a continent away from Houston.

“We train how not to fight,” Mitchell explains. “Once people have a high-

er level of consciousness, you realize you’re only in competition with yourself

and that the true enemy is inside.

“Now, I’m like a shepherd with my flock and I’m very protective of them.

I’ve come to realize that your students are the trophy and even I am the trophy

of my own efforts.”

To date, Mitchell, through the classes he teaches, is responsible for the

training of 18 black belts, ranging from first degree to fifth degree. His two

adult sons, Josh and Matt, are among these black belts, with Josh holding a

third degree, and Matt, a second degree.

The Transformative Power of Chayon Ryu

Practitioners of Chayon Ryu are convinced of its educational

benefits, including 53-year-old Lane Graham, a special education

teacher at Cleveland Elementary School who works with children

diagnosed with attention deficit disorders. He’s been a student in

Mitchell’s classes since 1984 and holds a fourth degree black belt.

Graham, who is pursuing his doctorate in curriculum instruc-

tion and specialized education services at the University of North

Carolina at Greensboro, has chosen Chayon Ryu as the topic for his

dissertation. “My premise is that Chayon Ryu is a complimentary

intervention that may have positive effects when used with other

treatment strategies such as medication in children with ADHD.”

To prove his premise, Graham is in the progress of monitor-

ing students who are enrolled in martial arts class at an undisclosed

site in the county. He has biweekly contacts with these students

and is also conducting pre- and post-class interviews with the stu-

dents and their guardians to assess and document changes in their

behavior due to the Chayon Ryu classes. He expects to have his

dissertation complete late next spring.

“Chayon Ryu promotes a positive teacher/student relation-

ship and I believe it is an effective prescription for life and living,”

Graham says. “It’s not about fighting. It’s about strengthening

the whole body and mind.”

For more information about enrolling in the Chayon Ryu

martial arts class at Catawba, contact David Mitchell at

704-636-8809 or by e-mail at [email protected]

Chayon Ryu martial arts class at Catawba marks 22nd year

Master Bobby Knott, a fifth degree black belt, spars with Chayon Ryn founder, Grandmaster Kim Soo