By Greg Russell - University of Memphis

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EDITOR Greg Russell (MS ’93) grussll@memphis.edu ART DIRECTOR Aaron Drown adrown@memphis.edu CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Gabrielle Maxey (BA ’80) gmaxey@memphis.edu LAYOUT Will Marshall wjmrshll@memphis.edu PHOTOGRAPHERS Rhonda Cosentino rgcsntno@memphis.edu Phyliss Massey WRITER Laura Fenton lmfenton@memphis.edu CONTRIBUTING WRITERS James Northcutt Curt Guenther PRESIDENT Dr. Shirley C. Raines VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATIONS, PUBLIC RELATIONS AND MARKETING Robert H. Eoff (BA ’71) ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATIONS, PUBLIC RELATIONS AND MARKETING Linda Bonnin MISSION The University of Memphis is a learner-centered metropolitan research university providing high quality educational experiences while pursuing new knowledge through research, artistic expression, and interdisciplinary and engaged scholarship. The University of Memphis is one of 45 institutions in the Tennessee Board of Regents system, the sixth largest system of higher education in the nation. TBR is the governing board for this system, which comprises six universities, 13 two-year colleges and 26 area technology centers. The TBR system enrolls more than 80 percent of all Tennessee students attending public institutions of higher education. The University of Memphis’ name, seal, logos and Tigers are registered marks of the University of Memphis and use in any manner is prohibited unless prior written approval is obtained from the University of Memphis. The University of Memphis Magazine (USPS-662-550) is published quarterly by the Division of Communications, Public Relations and Marketing of the University of Memphis, 303 Administration Building, Memphis, TN 38152-3370. Periodical Postage paid at Memphis, TN 38152. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Alumni & Development Office, The University of Memphis, 120 Alumni Center, Memphis, TN 38152-3760. 2 NEWSBITS FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear Alumni and Friends: On Sept. 10, 1912, Tennessee Gov. Malcolm R. Patterson predicted a “bright” future for a small teachers school on the eastern-most outskirts of the city of Memphis. The occasion was the grand opening of West Tennessee State Normal School on the site of what had been cotton fields. “Ole Normal,” as it was called, quickly achieved its primary goal of producing high-quality educators for West Tennessee’s elementary and secondary schools. But neither Patterson nor even the most optimistic prognosticator could have guessed what would transpire over the course of the next century for a school that began with just 200 students. The University of Memphis has grown from those early roots into a major metropolitan research institution with 23,000 students, scores of renowned researchers and the state’s largest honors program. The University is home to five Centers of Excellence, 26 Chairs of Excellence (the most in the state) and numerous highly acclaimed research consortia. Just last year, computer science professor Dr. Santosh Kumar was named by Popular Science magazine as one of the nation’s Top 10 up-and-coming young researchers for his work in wireless technologies, one of many notable milestones reached by our esteemed faculty. Thirty years ago, then-president Thomas Carpenter outlined an ambitious plan that would move the University to the level of a high-tier research institution. Dr. V. Lane Rawlins moved the plan forward through the 1990s, and during the past decade, I have worked with University faculty and Provost Ralph Faudree to set even more ambitious goals. The work of our researchers is helping us to achieve these goals. For example, chemistry professor Dr. Abby Parrill-Baker is moving cancer research to new heights, while psychology professor Dr. Chuck Blaha’s work in finding new treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders is nothing less than groundbreaking. Faculty from the Center for Earthquake Research and Information were asked by the federal government to come to the East Coast to provide their expertise in the wake of the recent 5.8 magnitude earthquake. In observance of our centennial, we have planned a series of events over the next 16 months that will not only pay homage to the past, but will also showcase the talent and achievements of our researchers, students, past athletes and alumni. Our official Centennial Kickoff gala Sept. 30 at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts will feature performances by Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music faculty and students as well as the debut of compositions written specifically for the centennial by longtime music professor James Richens. Check www.memphis.edu/centennial for details on other upcoming events. The coming year will be an occasion for you to reflect on your own time spent at the University of Memphis, to experience its growth since you were on campus and to see firsthand how a prediction made 100 years ago has come true. Sincerely, Dr. Shirley C. Raines THE UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS
1912. West Tennessee State Normal School begins its first regular session on Sept. 10 with Seymour A. Mynders as president and 200 students. 1913. John Willard Brister is named the second president after Mynders unexpectedly passes away. 1914. The first student publication is a monthly journal, The Columns. 1915. Under a new law, the State Board of Education is established. Portrait perfect: McMahan paints a president Holding eyeglasses in his right hand and papers in his left, University past president Andrew A. Kincannon looks as though he may step right out of the portrait and frame. “It gives a little glimpse of him as if you had walked into his office at the University,” said Mary Ann Griesbeck, great-granddaughter of Kincannon, who was president of then-West Tennessee State Normal School from 1918 to 1924. “He just comes to life.” The portrait of Kincannon, commissioned by the U of M to artist Jamie McMahan (BS ’65), will be added to the University’s collection of past and current presidents that hangs in the Administration Building’s atrium. McMahan has painted seven other portraits of past presidents as well as official portraits and private works for people across the country, including Pulitzer Prize-winning author Alex Haley. He also was commissioned by the Georgia Legislature to paint a portrait of John Ross, who was chief of the Cherokee nation during the Trail of Tears relocation. Prior to putting the first brushstroke on a canvas, McMahan met with two of Kincannon’s relatives: great-granddaughter Griesbeck and granddaughter Charlotte Westenberger, both of Memphis. Kincannon, known as “Dear” to his immediate family, held a master’s degree from National Normal University in Lebanon, Ohio. He also served as chancellor of the University of Mississippi and superintendent of the Meridian City Schools in Meridian, Miss. “He was a wonderful grandfather,” Westenberger said. “He had a great sense of humor. He came from a big family and I never heard him say a bad word, never heard him talk about anybody in a derogatory way. He was just wonderful.” Westenberger and Griesbeck met at least three times with McMahan, sharing stories, family photos and Kincannon’s personal possessions, such as letters and watch fob. “[McMahan] was interested in all of our stories, and we talked and laughed and had such a memorable time recalling those things,” Griesbeck said. After understanding Kincannon as a person, McMahan went to his studio to begin the portrait. Because Kincannon was not alive to pose for the portrait, McMahan hired a stand-in. “All I had to work with was a picture of his face, head and shoulders,” McMahan said. “I got a model to wear a suit and vest with a watch fob. I tried to give it a suggestion of something dated, but something dignified nonetheless.” 1916. The DeSoto yearbook begins publication. Artist Jamie McMahon has painted several past presidents, and used a stand-in for his most recent work, Andrew A. Kincannon. Nothing in the portrait is arbitrary. From the crisp blue of Kincannon’s eyes to the royal purple on the hood of his robe, McMahan incorporated items as extensions of Kincannon’s character. The background of the portrait is of an office or library setting, adding to Kincannon’s academic nature. McMahan then brought a “rough study,” or small-scale draft portrait, for comments from Griesbeck and Westenberger about Kincannon’s physical positioning, facial features and expression. “I almost cried when I saw it,” Westenberger said. “It was so moving because it was so like him. It looked like he was going to say something.” After three months of research and painting, McMahan contacted Westenberger and Griesbeck to view the completed portrait. Both women were in awe. “We were so pleased with the study, we couldn’t imagine anything better,” Griesbeck said. “But to look at the finished portrait was magnificent. It truly captures his spirit. It’s a magnificent treasure for our families and a lasting treasure for future generations.” McMahan studied fine arts and mathematics at the U of M, while also playing basketball for the Tigers. He was the Tigers’ leading rebounder and second-leading scorer in 1965. He worked in marketing for IBM until becoming a full-time artist about 22 years ago. — by Laura Fenton SUMMER 2011 NEWSBITS 3
Page 1 and 2: SUMMER 2011 Celebrating a Century o
Page 3: The University of Memphis Magazine
Page 7 and 8: 1922. On Halloween, male students t
Page 9 and 10: “Our gift has resulted in the pot
Page 11 and 12: 1937. After several cases of food p
Page 13 and 14: 1947. Barbara Jo Walker is crowned
Page 15 and 16: THE UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS PROUDLY P
Page 17 and 18: The University of Memphis has come
Page 19 and 20: Germany, could not be procured.”
Page 21 and 22: says Ralph Prater, a member of the
Page 23 and 24: “Strange” looking objects on ca
Page 25 and 26: SUMMER 2011 23
Page 27 and 28: 40. First win in 35 years? Memphis
Page 29 and 30: 14. Tigers finish just short in 195
Page 31 and 32: 6. Memphis’ best football team? M
Page 33 and 34: The first 100 years at the Universi
Page 35 and 36: War draft. The show was groundbreak
Page 37 and 38: the columns A L U M N I R E V I E W
Page 39 and 40: Dr. Billy Mac Jones (1973-1980) Dr.
Page 41 and 42: 1962. The Law School is established
Page 43 and 44: 1972. The Lady Tigers basketball te
Page 45 and 46: 1982. MSU celebrates its silver ann
Page 47 and 48: 1992. The school bans alcohol at ba
Page 49 and 50: 2002. The U of M captures its first
Page 51 and 52: M E M B E R S H I P Matters ALLIE P

By Greg Russell - University of Memphis

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