Delta Currents

24 Pages·1999·1.7 MB·English

by  Don Skelton, Director of Alumni and Foundation

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The Magazine of Delta State University
Volume 5, Number 2 Spring loc
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^The
Wyatt
Years
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|
1975-1999
"Quality Without Compromise
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/Delta
Currents £\
ontents
Spring 11>W Vol.5, No. 2
President
Dr. KentWyatt
Vice President for University Advancement Features
Dr. Lerov Morganti
7 Leadership Letters
©Copyright, 1999 Delta State University.
TheDi'/fn Currents is published two timesayearbytheOffice 17 The Wyatt Years: 1975-1999
ofAlumni/Foundation withspecialassistancefrom theOffice
"Quality Without Compromise"
of Public Information,P.O. Box3104,Cleveland, MS38733
[email protected]
Design & Layoutby Creative Visions
Departments Page 17
Cleveland, Mississippi
Alumni/Foundation Staff 4 Staff Notes
Executive Director .... Dr. Don A. Skelton
Assistant Director .... Felicia Applegate 5 Editor's Notes LA
Alumni Coordinator .... DebbieC. Davis Campus News
6
DevelopmentCoordinator Keith Fulcher
. .
Alumni Secretary ... Missy Pearce 8 Alumni News
Page 16
Foundation Secretary ... Gracie Harkins
11 Philanthropy
DevelopmentSecretary ... Susan Derby
Bookkeeper .... Wendy McClain 15 Sports Update
Public Information Staff 18 With the Classes
Director .... Jody Correro 20 Baby Statesmen
Photographer .... Bill Moses
Sports Director .... Bryan Roller 21 Wedding Bells
Secretary .... Gloria Enriquez 22 In Memoriam
Board of Directors
Delta State University Alumni Association On the cover
Dr.JimAvery,president;CharlesHolmes,president-elect;Robert
Taylor, vicepresident; Beth Embry,secretary;ArthurJohnston, trea- Thisissueisdedicated to Dr. KentWyattwho,after24yearsofser-
surer;MickeyRobinson,past-president;MellanyEvans, Dist. Irep.; viceasDelta StateUniversityPresident,hasannounced hisretirement
CraigVerhage,Dist. IIrep.;BillyMorehead,Dist. Illrep.;Chris effectiveJune30, 1999.
Kelley. DistIVrep.;GeorgeBassi,Dist. Vrep.;CarolePleasants,
Out-of-staterep.;Brian Walley; EddieGong;MarkGraham;Chip
Zooper; TammieBeamon;Dana Warrington; ViolaSanders;Marshall
Hughes;LisaEllis;ChristenAguzzi;JohnAguzzi;NedMitchell.
Boardof Directors
Delta State University Foundation, Inc.
NedMitchell,president;Peterjernberg. vicepresident;LarryLewis,
secretary/treasurer;BillyNowell,past-president;BillCrump;Frank
Drennan;Calvin Dye;DonaldGreen;Dr. JimAvery;Carolyn
Manning; VirginiaPepper;MikeSanders; Ron Tubertini;George
Walker;LouisBaioni;ElenaBarham;Curtis Buchanan;TerrellCobb;
l StacuDavidson;LarniEifling;HarryFlowers;GaryGainspoletti;
ButchScipper;Paul Watson;PaulArttnan;ReginaldBarnes; Travis
Casanova;Pauljanoush;EdKossman;Jon Lrvingston;jimmy
Newquist;RussellStewart;jimmyUnderwood;Dr. BennieWright;
HunterCade,investmentadvisor;John Quon,facultyrepresentative.
Four In A Row!
DeltaState Universitydoesnotdiscriminateon thebasisofrace, TheDeltaStateUniversityCheerleadingSquad wonitsfourthconsecutive
religion,sex,age,disability,orveteranstatus. Division II National Championship at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando,
FL,onJanuary7-9.
tPdtaCurrents
g
Notes
taff
Who
Vargas Completes Internship Look Stopped By!
Delta State University has
an active internship program in
mam' fields of business as well
as in the arts and sciences. The
Career Services and Placement
office is partnering with faculty
and employers to expand that
program even more in the
future.
Robert Vargas (pictured), a
(Left toright)PaulMancini. FelisliaRobinson,
1998 management and comput- SenatorTiiadCochran,andSarati Deason
er information systems gradu-
ate recently completed an Delta State students Paul Mancini , Jr. (Indianola), Felicia Robinson
internship with FedEx in (Shelby), and Sarah Deason (Cleveland) shared a photo opportunity
Memphis in the internal audit Robert Vargas with SenatorThad Cochran duringa recentvisitto the Cleveland area
department. Robert feels that and the Delta State UniversityAlumni-Foundation House.
Delta State prepared him for his job by not only giving him infor-
mation, but also by teaching him how to think and problem solve. Warren Completes Training
He also found that the experience gained through his internship
helped to prepare him for the real world ofbusiness.
For more information on hiring Delta State graduates, contact
Vicki Fioranelli, DirectorofCareerServices and Placement, at (601)
[email protected]. Checkthewebpageat
www.deltast.edu/placement.
Can You Identify Them?
Tonya Warren, a 1998 graduate and former student worker in the
Alumni-Foundation Office, has completed training for her private
pilot's license.
Creditforphoto toAnnMcGrath, Photographer,TheTunicaTimes
Everyone Enjoys "Pig Pickin"
Thishusband and wife team were a popular Delta Statecou-
ple. Hewas the firstSports Hall ofFameinducteeand sheis
a former"OutstandingAlumna." FeliciaApplegate,AssistantDirectorofAlumni&
Foundation,andSenatorBobDearingvisitat "PigPickin."
/DeltaCurrents
Notes
ditor's
Check Us Out!
s always, we are happy to receive your many notes and
messages. Thanks for keeping us informed. The next time you travel the information superhighway, make it a
point tostop by DeltaState'swebpage.
• Four(4) DSUgraduateswerehonored as 1998AlumnioftheYear
http://iviviv.deltast.edu
bytheirrespectivecommunitycolleges. Viola Sanders ('41)bv
MississippiDelta;Dr. RonChance('68)byNorthwest;Jim Golden Oursitewill provideyou with information on the following:
('82)byHolmes; and Nick Clark('68)byEastMississippi.
• Alumni Activities
• Thanks toChrisWilson ('95) fornotingourmistakein incorrectly • Sports Events
listinghisjob locationinthefallissue. ChrisisCityAdministrator • Bologna PerformingArtsCenter
forSouthaven,MS. • Delta State University'sonlineadmissionapplication
• ClassSchedules
• ArepleasedthatEllaLucas, former"FirstLady"atDSUandUSM, • Tuition& Fees
wasa 1998inducteeoftheUSMAlumniHallofFame. ClassLady! • Faculty,Staff, &StudentDirectories
• DSU Bookstore
• Col.Thomas Moore ('82), USMC,wasthecommandingofficerin • Plus much more
chargeofevacuating 105Americancitizensand 61 international
So the next time you are surfing the information superhighway,be
personnelfromtheAfricancountryofEritrea. Accountsofthis
sure touse theaddress aboveand GetLinked With Delta State!
successful operationweredetailed on theflooroftheU.S. Senate
andrecorded in theCongressionalRecordonJuly20, 1998.
Awards Nominations Sought
• Dr. BillJenkins (70) ofMorton,sentusacopyofhisbook, Two
HundredYearsofHeritageandHope. Hewrites, "Overtheyears, Nominations for the S. E. Kossman Outstanding Teacher Award
Ihaverealizedthevalueofagoodeducation,andfeelIgotthebest and the H. L. Nowell Outstanding Support StaffAward are currently
available. 1am aproudproductofDSU!" beingaccepted by Delta State University.
You are encouraged to send letters of nomination to Dr. Frank
• SamAdams(36)isaco-authorofacollectionofshortstoriestitled McArthur or Dr. Leroy Morganti, Kethley Hall, Delta State
Persons, Places&Things,whichisareflectionofSam'slifelong University, Cleveland, MS38733.
interestinpeople-watching.
• Appreciated receivingacopyof1848-1998, TheHistoryoftheFirst Alumni Dependent Scholarships
BaptistChurch, Kosciusko,MS,donatedtotheDSU Libraryby
Cadmonand Anne Hughes Porter('55). Available
• Havenoticed thatElizabeth Shown Mills' ('65) latestbook, ApplicationsfortheHughEllis WalkerScholarships,givenannual-
Evidence!CitationandAnalystsfortheFamilyHistorian,released in lytoselectedchildrenofactivedues-payingmembersoftheDeltaState
1997,isalreadyinits4thhardbackprinting. University Alumni Association, are available at the alumni office.
Contact FeliciaApplegate formore information, 1-800-468-6378,ext. 6.
• Charlene BaughJones (76),editorofTheComputerTimesin
Bardstown,KY,scanseachissueofCurrentsforfamiliarnamesand
faces. Shewrites, "1havenoticedovertheyearsthatthequalityof Orientation Dates
Delta Currentshas increasedappreciably."
June 15 Transfer Orientation
• Dr. Patricia Anderson (75), EastCarolina Universityprofessor,
writes, "JhavemanyfondmemoriesofTomMerritt, Eloise Walker June 21-22 Freshman Orientation I
andothershelpingmegrowand learn. Icarry their'badgeof
honor'into myownclassesandstrive tobe thekindof June 28-29 Freshman Orientation II
professional they wereduringmy time atDelta State." July 9 Parent Orientation
• Joanna Harvey Bearden ('65)and Gaines Bearden('64)ofDenver, July 12-13 Freshman Orientation III
COinvitetheirfriendstocontactthemat [email protected].
/PeltaCurrenLs
News
ampus
(^
Greenville Higher Education Center Distinguished Professor
Comes To Life Named
Local and state officials were on hand Delta State University
Friday, December 4, 1998 to participate in has announced that John
groundbreaking ceremonies for the new Quon has been named the
Greenville Higher Education Center. Plans initial John Yurkow
call for the $12 million, 75,000 square foot Distinguished Professor.
facilitytobeconstructedsouth ofthecity. Quon,amemberoftheDSU
The realization of this center is a com- Accounting Faculty since
bined effort of local officials, the area's leg- 1971, was recently named
islative delegation, and the three academic "Outstanding Educator of John Quon
institutions (Delta State, Mississippi Valley theYear" by theMississippi
and Mississippi Delta Community College) Society ofCertified PublicAccountants. Having
responsible for implementing curriculum. MayorPaulArtmanandDr. Kent Wyattshow received numerous recognitions and honors, he
CurtisBuchanan,chairmanoftheGreenville otherdignitarieshowit'sdone! was the recipient of the South Central Bell
Chamber of Commerce and member of the PhotobyDavidLush Outstanding Faculty Teaching Award (1992), the
DSU Foundation Board of Directors, said that the center "is a long-term dream that has S.E. KossmanOutstandingFacultyAward (1992),
become a reality. It is the result ofa lot ofhard work. With this project, there was a unity PanhellenicOutstandingFacultyAward ('89,'92),
amongourpeoplewe'veneverseenbefore." and the Robert W. Harrison, Jr. Distinguished
Delta State's Vice President for Business Affairs Dr. Bob Nettles, who will serve as the Faculty Award ('93). A past member of the
contactpersonontheproject,pointedoutthatthecenterwillbeathree-story,L-shapedstruc- Faculty Senate, Quon currently serves as the fac-
ture with 25 classrooms, faculty offices, administrative area, computer labs, two distance- ulty representative to theDSU FoundationBoard
learning classrooms and large multi-purpose room with catering facilities. It is anticipated ofDirectors.
thatconstructionwilltakeuntilNovember2000withclasses tostartasearly2001.
Aspecial thankstoDavidLushandtheBolivarCommercialfortheir
permission touseexcerptsfromanearlierarticle. Flight Team Tops Again
Campus Updates
DeltaStateUniversity'sPrecisionFlightTeam
once again has taken the top spot in the Flying
• Jan Cooper, CIS and Business Education instructor and coordinator of Business Education, Events Team championship event and John
completed certification requirements as a Certified Novell Administrator (CNA). She was also
Bowen of Pearl earned runner-up honors in the
namedpresident-electfortheMississippiBusinessEducationAssociationand willbehostingthe
MBEAStateConferenceatDeltaStateinSeptember1999. individual competition in the National
• Carolyn Elkins, assistant professor of English, was recognized as the 1998 Mississippi Intercollegiate Flying Association Safety and
HumanitiesCouncil TeacheroftheYear. Shealso won thePoetrySlam for the third consecutive FlightEvaluationConference(SAFECON)Region
yearattheWildacresWriter'sWorkshopinNorthCarolina. IV competition in Temple, TX. The win assures
• Dr. Samuel Faulkner, associate professor ofBiological Sciences, published several articles in the team of a slot in this spring's national cham-
1998,includingthreeinthehorticulturemagazineTheGrowingEdge. pionship inSelina, KS. Itmarksthe 10thstraight
• Dr. Stephen King,assistantprofessorofSpeech,receivednoticethathisarticle,"TheCo-oper- year Delta State has earned an invitation to the
ationofa "Revolution" Rastafari, Reggae, and the Rhetoric ofSocial Control," willbepublished nationalevent.
in theMay 1999editionoftheHowardJournalofCommunications.
• Albert Nylander, assistant professor of Sociology, was named chair of the Department of
Check Us Out!
Sociology.
• Dr. Maureen Prospt, dean of the DSU School of Nursing, received the 1998 Mississippi
AssociationofStudentNurses'DeanoftheYearaward. Delta State has a Web Page!
• Dr. Michelle Roberts,directorofInstitutionalResearchand Planning,wasselected topartici- Lookfor us at:
patein theMississippi EconomicCouncil's 1998-99LeadershipMississippi Program.
• Bill Spencer,professorofEnglish,waselectedvice-presidentoftheCormacMcCarthySociety http://www.deltast.edu
attheirannualconferencein El Paso,TX. >Z ^/,
• Dr. Grady E. (Ed) Williams, professor of Biological Sciences, has been named chair of the
Division of Biological Sciences. He is to succeed Dr. Wayne Walleywho is retiring at the end of
\
the 1998-99academicsession.
JDeltaCurrents
eadership Letters
J
DSU Foundation President's Letter
Dr. KentWyatt'sannouncementthathewillberetiringasPresidentonJune30, 1999,wasunwelcomenewsfor
theentire Delta State family. Heis a greatleaderand holds the respectand admiration ofeveryonewho hasany
connection with or knows about Delta State University. His years as President have been the most successful in
Delta State's history and the University has attained heights that could not have been dreamed of24 years ago.
TheClarion Ledgersays, "hisgreatestachievementmayhavebeen his longstandingsteadyhand atthehelm." 1
agree with and echo this, but must add that his vision for the University, his incredible ability for superb fiscal
management, his total dedication and love for the University and most of all his unquestioned integrity - these
things,along with thatsteadyhand, allcongregatetobecomehisgreatestachievement.
TheWyattyearsofleadershiphavebroughtustounparalleled heights,andasweenterour75thyearandstart
toward ourCentennial, I envisionourinstitutionasbeingona plateau. Weneed tousethisplateau asa trailhead
tobegintheclimbformoreandmoreachievement. TheFoundationisready,throughitspartnershipwiththeinsti-
NedMitchell tution, tohelp take the lead in thisclimb forsuccess through its privatesupportefforts.
As Delta Statebecomes75yearsoldandventures into itsnextquartercentury ofopportunity, I would liketo
see our University be the catalyst that sparks an economic, educational and cultural renaissance in the middle
south. Wecan be successful in this questbyuniversally promoting theschool,by increasingourstudent popula-
tionand interacting more and more with ouralumni and friends, while interfacing with the interests ofthecom-
munities and businesses in oursphere of influence. The Delta State University Foundation stands ready to help
makeourgoalsa reality.
Sincerely,
NedA. Mitchell
President
DSU Foundation, Inc.
DSU Alumni Association President's Letter
On behalfof the Delta State University Alumni Association, I want to thank you for the continued sup-
portexhibited during 1998. Thanksto thededicatedeffortsofMickey Robinson,Association PastPresident;
Dr. Don Skelton, Executive Director; and the DSU Alumni Association staff, the Association was successful
in manyareas during 1998.
Each year the DSU Alumni Association faces new challenges. The first challenge for 1999 is the retire-
ment of Dr. Kent Wyatt after 24 years of leadership as President. Dr. Wyatt's accomplishments during his
tenure are well chronicled in this issue. The most impressive has been his ability to guide the University
through the severe fiscal problems of the late 1980s and the potential consequences of the Ayers' case and
have the University emerge strongerand even morevital.
Dr. Wyattwill be remembered both as an effective administrator and as a loyal champion ofDelta State
University. Since serving as the first full-time director ofthe Alumni Association, he has remained actively
Dr.JimAvery engaged with theAssociation. Although his presence will be sorely missed, weapplaud his ability to leave
trulyatthetopofhisgame. TheDSUAlumniAssociation Board ofDirectorswill doeverythingin itspower
to provide positive input into theselection ofhissuccessor.
Realizing that the volunteering of one's time is one of life's most precious gifts, I ask that you "get
involved" by becomingan active volunteerfor Delta State and theAlumni Association. We need your help
aswe prepare fora new millenium.
Sincerely,
/^v.
Jim Avery
President
DSUAlumni Association
/DeltaCurrents
News
umni
y^l
DSU Graduate Heads Corporate Change
Steve Suhowatsky attended dollar company. And I want to put in place a system for the develop-
DeltaStatefrom 1961 to 1964. Inaddition ment ofmanagement and peopleskills thatismoreorganized thanwe
to being an excellent student during that have today .. so that when I walk away I'll leave a healthy, well-man-
time, he was also a member of the aged companybehind."
Statesmen basketball team. There is a Following his graduation from Delta State in 1964 with a Bachelor
good chance he occasionally heard his ofSciencedegreeand majorinaccountingand afterreceivinghisMBA
coachesrefertotheimportanceofathletes from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1966,
developing their strength, speed, agility Suhowatsky began his professional career as assistant treasurer with
and endurance. Eagle Picher Industries. He was named Syracuse Supply Company's
When Suhowatsky, president of president after serving seven years (1975-82) as president of Eagle
Syracuse Supply Company since 1983, PicherBearings.
SteveSuhowatsky envisioned a new name and new organi- Activeincivic,socialandprofessionalorganizations,Suhowatskyis
zation for the company, he recalled those qualities which had con- apastchairmanand memberoftheBoard ofDirectors fortheSyracuse
tributed to the survival and success ofthe 114 year old company. The Chamber of Commerce, the Metropolitan Development Association
qualitiesthatcametomindwerestrength,speed,andagility. Today,the and chairman ofthe LakefrontDevelopmentCorporation. He was the
companv'snameisPanthusCorporation. 1998 chairman for the Syracuse Boy Power Campaign with the Boy
While the above-mentioned qualities have played important roles, Scouts of America and currently sits on the board of directors for
heconsidersthemostsignificantattributetobethecompany'sabilityto numerousbusiness and healthserviceorganizations.
changeasthemarketchangesand toanticipatethechanges. Alsopara- For his contributions, he was named an Entrepreneur of the Year
mount to the survival of Panthus has been its history of integrity. Finalist in 1994, recognized as Chairman oftheYearAGC NewYork in
"There is a long history of a high degree of integrity with our con- both 1984 and 1989, and received the Rebuilding America Award in
stituents .. vendors, customers, and employees, and the business com- 1998.
munity in general .. companies thathave the highestdegree ofintegri- Listed in "Who's Who in Finance and Industry," "Who's Who in
tyarethemostsuccessfulovera longperiod oftime." America"andWho'sWhointheMidwest,"hewasnamedDeltaState's
As to the future of Panthus, Suhowatsky says, "Today we're look- "OutstandingAlumnus" in 1984.
ingatsomewherebetween 10-and20-percentgrowthperyearbasedon Heandhiswife, the formerGailHartnessofIndianola,a 1965 DSU
our core businesses (equipment distribution and technology services). graduate,have three children and currentlyresideinFayetteville,N.Y.
And we're looking at acquisitions to expand that growth even more."
Astohispersonalgoals, "IwanttogetPanthustoatleastahalf-billion-
Home NASA
Bruckner At With
Bobby Gene Bruckner, a Drew native now agement and technical direction ofpreflight checkout and integration of
residing in Merritt Island, FL, graduated from Space Shuttle and expendable vehicle payloads. This includes customer
Delta State in 1966 earning a bachelor's degree payloads, Spacelab, special structures, deployable payloads, and upper
with honors in mathematics. He would later stages. He meets with visiting Heads of State and other foreign digni-
(1971) receive his master's degree in electrical taries, as well as the United States corporate dignitaries regarding pay-
engineering from Florida Institute of loads.
Technology. His wife, the former Marilyn Among Bruckner's many honors are NASA's Exceptional Service
Everitt, graduated from Delta State in 1967with MedalandNASA'sLeadershipMedal. Healsoreceivednumerousletters
BobbyGeneBruckner a bachelor's degree in biology and went on to ofappreciationforhisorganization'sroleinsupportoffinalassemblyand
receive her medical technology degree. Both launchofpayloads includingtherecentMarsPathfinderProbe.
Marilyn and Bobby graduated from Drew High School and were both AmemberofIEEE(InstituteofElectronics&ElectricalEngineers)and
valedictoriansoftheirrespectiveclasses. theNASA-KennedyManagementAssociation,Brucknerhasheld numer-
Immediately following graduation from Delta State, Brucknerjoined ouscivicorganizationleadership positions,includingservingasthe 1997
NASAinJune 1966, as an engineer, responsible fordeveloping telemetry Vice Chairman of the Space Congress and past chairman ofthe Brevard
and data displaysystems used in thetestand checkoutofApollo/Saturn County Combined Federal Campaign. In addition, he has served as an
launch vehicles. He laterserved as Director of Payload Ground System. adjunctprofessoratFlorida InstituteofTechnology,UniversityofCentral
Asa seniorexecutiveatNASA, Brucknerisnow responsible fortheman- Florida, and Brevard CommunityCollege.
/DeltaCurrents 8
From Russia With Love
Alumni Chapter News
1998
Sept.24 The S.E. Miss.Chaptermetat the Dunhopen Inn in
Hattiesburgwithentertainmentprovided by Miss
Delta, Missy Pitts.
— iiiniaiaia"r»
•'•iiiaVe«•VaalYlf-' Sept.24 The Black Alumni held a phon-a-thon to increase
i •in membership.
Oct. 2 MembersoftheClass of1948were inducted into
What a difference a year makes! Robert ('83) and Marjorie the Golden Circleata dinnerat theCleveland
Taylor ('85) and theirnewbabies,Spencerand Lauren,candefinite- CountryClub.
ly say that after celebrating their family's first Christmas and New Oct.21 MembersoftheDSUSciencefacultyandstaffmetin
Year's holidays together in their recently remodeled home in Jackson with DSU alumni attending University
Cleveland. Medical School.
Remodeling the house proved a much easier task than the red
tape experienced by the Taylors as they sought to complete the Oct.22 WashingtonCountyAlumnihadapoolsidegather-
ingatthe Ramada Inn inGreenvillewithentertain-
adoptionprocessforLaurenandSpencer. Applyingforadoptionin mentprovided by Renaissance.
April, 1998,theprocessbeganwithreviewofvideosofRussianchil-
dren available for adoption. Spencer was the first to be accepted Oct. 31 Thealumni officecoordinated analumni trip to the
and approved. Then came the delays as the couple waited for SouthernArkansas football game in Magnolia,Ark.
videos of little girls to arrive . "It wasn't the easiest thing to get Nov. 5 Alumni from Leflore,Carroll, and Montgomery
videos in," said Taylor. "At first it seemed real easy, but the rules Counties had a dinnermeetingat theGreenwood
changed as the game was played and it became harder to get the CountryClub withentertainmentprovided by
children'svideos." Renaissance.
Leaving for Russia on Octoberl5, theTaylors began their trip to Nov. 6 The DSUTravel Group attended Mistletoe
meet the babies with a lengthy flight to the city ofVladivostok via Marketplace inJackson.
Moscow where they met their adoption agency representative.
Soon after arriving in Vladivostok, they were taken to see Lauren. Dec. 8 Membersofthe Inter-Alumni Council attended a
Not used toseeing peopleand havingneverseen a manbefore, the meeting inJackson.
meeting proved stressful for both Lauren and the prospective par- Dec. 10 TheAlumni-FoundationOfficehosted aChristmas
entsasshecried throughout their visit. On October 18, theTaylors party for DSU retired facultyand staff.
were taken to see Spencer who was in a children's hospital wing Dec.11 The DSU Music Alumni held theirannualmeeting
that served as an orphanage. Spencer had spent the eight months on theMississippiGulfCoastwith Marshall
since hisbirth inside thiswing. HughesandJim McCutcheonservingashosts.
FollowingabriefappearanceincourtonOctober20togaincus-
Dec. 14 DeltaStateand Mississippi Valleyco-hostedan
tody of the children, the Taylors were able to get Spencer the next
Inter-Alumni Council Reception forarea
dayand Laurenadaylater. Following thecompletionofarequired legislatorsand alumni representatives.
10-day waiting period, the family flew to Moscow where they
would obtain visas for the children. The final piece to the puzzle
was completed with their arrival in Jackson, MS, after 24 hours in 1999
flight.
Once in Cleveland, Spencer and Lauren wasted little time in Jan. 23 The Alumni Association Board ofDirectorsheld
making themselvesathome,and lifeintheTaylorhouse isdefinite- itswintermeeting oncampus.
ly happy.
Jan.26 Alumni fromtheGreaterNewOrleansAreametat
AspecialtiutnkstoDeedraBookoutandtheBolivarCommercialfortheir Vaqueros Restaurant in NewOrleans.
permission touseexcerptsfromanearlierarticle. Feb. 18 TheAttala-Holmes CountyChapterhada dinner
meetingat Lakeside Restaurantin Lexington.
Announcement! Feb.25 Ameeting isscheduled forGrenada County
Alumni.
DSU
The 1999 Miss Pageant
Mar. 18 The GulfCoast Area Alumni will havetheir
The1999Miss DSUPageantwillcelebrate its40thAnniversaryon annual meeting.
March 4, 2999,at 7:00p.m. at theBolognaPerformingArts Center Mar. 30 The BolivarCounty Alumni will hosttheirannual
Crawfish Boil.
IfyouareaformerMiss DSU, contact LindaRossat846-4666.
/DeltaCurrents
News
^Vlumni
G. W. "Willie" Gilliam - #1 Storyteller
G. W. "Willie" Gilliam with him. His retirement has served as an extension of the humor-
graduated from Delta State inspired life that typified his professional career as a teacher, coach,4-
University Teachers College Hadvisor, andcountyagentforPontotocCounty.
in 1940. The yearbook from Born and raised in Union County, Gilliam often reflects upon his
that year, The Broom, states rural up-bringing by stating "We lived so far out, whenever we went
that, after transferring from hunting we had to go toward town." Attending school in the
Holmes Junior College, he Macedonia community, he discovered two loves ofhis life -basketball
was a memberofthe football and his soon-to-be-wife ofmany years, Delia. Following these discov-
and basketball teams and eries, Gilliambecame so fond ofschool he says, "Ijustdecided to stay
"M" Club his two years at another yearbefore graduating. I guess that's where the redshirtpro-
Delta State Teachers College. gram started."
A closer look reveals the fol- Afavorite storyofGilliam is thatofhis "War" experience. During
KmeoimtehnFtulacthethreaNn.dE."MMri.ssiWislsliipep"ischhaarpetear lowing: "#10-WillieGilliam, World War II, he enlisted in the Navy and was assigned to Millington
meetingin Tupelo (Sr.), forward from Rocky Naval Base, where he supervised physical training for the next 3 1/2
Ford was a real ball handler. years. Finally,hereceivedorderstogooverseas. Ashepreparedforhis
Hecould alwaysbecountedontothrillthecrowd." Well,hestillthrills departure, word suddenly came that all transfers were canceled.
thecrowd! "They'djustgotword thatthewarwasover,"herecalled. "All Icould
Severalyearsago,Gilliamdecided toenterthesenior"Storytelling" figure was that they (Japan) heard I wason thewayandjustgaveup."
talent competition at the North Mississippi Fair in Verona. After win- Atage82and a dedicated Christian, "Mr. Willie" shareshishumor
ning first place, he decided to enter the Mid-South Fair competition in and faithequallyashevisitswithcivicgroups,churchgroupsandgath-
Memphis. Once again, he was victorious and lay claim to the title of erings of all ages. He is fond of quoting "Amerry heart doeth good,
ChampionStorytellerofthe Mid-South. likea medicine." Yes-heisstill thrilling thecrowds!
Abriefvisitwith "Mr. Willie"quicklyconvincesyou thathisenthu- Aspecialthanks toErrolCastensoftheTupelo Dailyjournalforhis
siasm for life has served as a blessing to all who have come in contact permission touseexcerptsfromanearlierarticle.
Griffis To Head Mississippi State Nichols - Scientist and Author
Foundation
Dr. Wilmer W. "Wimp" Nichols, a 1960
graduate of Delta State University, was rec-
Bryce Griffis of Starkville, a 1954 busi-
ognized as the recipient of the Gifted
ness administration graduate of Delta State
Scientist Award, given by the Florida
University,hasbeenelected presidentofthe
Chapter of the American College of
MississippiStateUniversityFoundation.
Cardiology at its annual meeting October
As foundation president, he leads a
30-31, 1998, inOrlando.
non-profit organization that has helped
Nichols, named as Delta State
raise more than $116 million in the past 5 University's "Outstanding Alumnus" in WilmerNichols
years, while the endowment has grown
from $79million tomorethan$150million. BH/«Griffis 1980, has also been notified that his latest book, McDonald's Blood
Named Delta State's Alumnus of the Year in 1986, Griffis was a FEdliotwioinn, hAratserrieecs:eiTvheedoraetficiavle,-stEaxrperraitmienngtbalyaDnododClyinPicuablliPsrhiincnigp,lerse,co4gt-h
memberofthe Board ofTrustees, InstitutionsofHigher Learning from
nized as the foremost independent reviewer ofhealth sciences and
o1f98W0otood19C9o2l,lesgeervainndg atsheprMeissisdiesnsitpipni1U9n8i6t-e87d.MeHtehocduirsrtenFtolyunidsaatitornu,staese nursing books. It is noted that only five percent of the books that
are reviewed receive thishighestrating.
well as chairman of the advisory board for the Starkville branch of A Booneville native, Nichols and his wife, Arlene, reside in
DepositGuarantyNational Bank.
Gainesville, Florida, where he teaches and conducts research with
A past president of the Mississippi Forestry Association and the
the University of Florida, College of Medicine, Division of
SoutheasternLumberManufacturersAssociation,Griffisispresidentof
Cardiology.
SturgisTimberCompany.
JDeltaCurrents 10