wInter 2009 - Lee University

T 

RCH 

winter 2009

4 

8 

10 

12 

soLving 

20 

sEriEs 

22 behind 

picturEs Worth a thousand Words 

homecoming is best captured in 

photographs and this year a crew of 

shutterbugs showcase Lee university’s 

most popular alumni event. 

hudson namEd distinguishEd aLumna 

For the first time an active coach of a 

Lee athletic program is awarded the 

university’s highest honor. 

chapEL in physicaL Form 

chapel has always been an integral part 

of the Bts and Lee experience. now there 

will be a building on campus dedicated 

exclusively to worship. 

By cameron Fisher 

a groWth diLEmma 

a growing program needed room to grow, 

and a move to the mayfield annex brought 

not only growth, but new opportunities. 

By Erin Weeks 

dEBut 

With this issue torch begins a news 

series which spotlights the expanding 

program of graduate degree offerings. 

Loss oF a vEtEran 

thirty – year music faculty member michael 

Brownlee suddenly passes away leaving 

a legacy of piano instruction. 

Editor’s input 

In the 20+ years I have been privileged to be 

editor of Torch, I have perused dozens of alumni 

magazines and they are as varied as any genre of 

publication you’ll find. Each publication is unique 

to the institution it represents. 

Torch continues to be an evolving publication, 

attempting to keep up with the latest trends 

in content and magazine design. As you flip 

through this issue, you’ll see an update of the design 

and a subtle shift in the content. 

Torch has been a family affair for me as I 

have served as editor and my brother, Dr. Bob 

Fisher ’80, has been the graphic designer. With 

this issue, the torch (no pun intended) is passed 

to the next generation as my son, Grant Fisher 

’08 takes over the design. He was a year old when 

I started editing, so Torch has been a part of his 

entire life. Thanks, Bob, for your years of dedication 

and your continued advice and assistance. 

Alumni magazines have the added task of 

pleasing multiple generations of students. We 

hope you find the latest changes in Torch appealing. 

Send us an email with your input (torch@ 

leeuniversity.edu). 

dEpartmEnts 

14 campus nEWs 

24 athLEtics 

30 Who’s WhErE & 

torch travELs 

Cameron Fisher ‘84 

OPENiNG THOUGHTS 

FROM PRESiDENT PAUL CONN 

Our Losses Remind Us... 

As we enter the Christmas season, we are all especially aware of 

how much “family” means to us. 

It is a particularly sad time to say “goodbye” to people whom God 

has called away. The Lee University family has experienced multiple 

losses in recent weeks, and the holiday season is a little emptier without 

the people who have shared our journey. Still, our losses remind us of 

what we have. We miss those who are gone because they so enriched 

our lives when they were with us. 

Since the last issue of the Torch, we are missing some big pieces of 

the Lee picture: Michael Brownlee, a veteran professor; Kevin Knight, a recent 

graduate and RD; Ed Hollowell, a twenty-year board member. And just 

today, as this magazine goes to press, we learned that Georgetta Black, 

our director of custodial services for many years, died after a sudden brain 

aneurysm. These four people touched the Lee family in many ways; each 

was an important part of the work we do here, and each loss was a deeply 

personal one to different members of our campus community. 

But these losses do remind us of what we have in one another. It is 

impossible to mourn without also being reminded of how richly our lives 

are filled with other people – friends, colleagues, brothers and sisters, 

children and parents. We often speak of the alumni of this university as 

the “Lee family”. It includes thousands of people all around the globe. 

Each of our lives was shaped to some degree by people who studied 

with us, taught us, worked alongside us, shared a dorm room, a chapel 

service, a meal or a class. They are all God’s gifts to us. When we lose 

one of the family – whether a teacher, a trustee, a staff member, or a fellow 

alumnus – we all lose something valuable, because we were so richly 

blessed by knowing them at all. 

A scripture in II Corinthians 4 speaks of these human gifts in a particularly 

poetic way: “We have this treasure in earthen vessels. . .” We 

are reminded of that, during the last few weeks – both that these people 

are “treasures”, and also that they, like all of us, come packaged in fragile 

jars of clay. 

During this Christmas season, my prayer is that all of us in the Lee 

family will be surrounded by people we love, by our own 

“treasures in earthen vessels.” There is no 

more wonderful gift. 

Torch magazine is the official publication of Lee University, 

Cleveland, Tennessee. it is intended to inform, educate 

and give insight to alumni, parents and friends of the 

university. it is published quarterly and mailed free to all 

alumni of the university. Other subscriptions are available 

by calling the alumni office at 423-614-8316. 

Mailing Address 1120 N. Ocoee St., 

Cleveland, TN 37311 

Website 

Email 

Phone 

President 

Editor 

Sports Editor 

Graphic Designer 

Director of Alumni 

Relations 

Contributing Writers 

Photographers 

WiNTER 2009 * VOL. 51, NO. 4 

www.leeuniversity.edu 

torch@leeuniversity.edu 

1-800-LEE-9930 

or 423-614-8316 

Paul Conn 

Cameron Fisher 

George Starr 

Grant Fisher 

Anita Ray 

Brian Conn 

Paul Conn 

Robert Daugherty 

Rebekah Eble 


Vickie Glasscock 

Hope Goad 

Kendra Gray 

Christina Mihai 

George Starr 

Erin Weeks 

Brian Conn 


Chad Madden 

Andrew Millar 

Shashank Shrestha 

George Starr 

Mike Wesson 

On the Cover 

Photo Left 

A new fountain and flame graces 

the campus just north of Walker 

Arena. (photo by Andrew Millar, 

Vision Studios Photography) 

Lee University cheerleaders are 

joined by local middle school cheerleaders 

for Volley for the Cure. 

Copyright 2009 * USPS# 016272 * 

Periodicals postage paid at Cleveland, 

Tenn. Postmaster: Please 

send address corrections to: Lee 

University Alumni Office, P.O. Box 

3450, 1120 North Ocoee Street, 

Cleveland, TN 37320-3450.

hoMeCoMinG 

More 

Than JusT 

reunions 

homecoming 2009 

offered something 

for all alumni 

from every era. 

HOMECOMiNG 

Lee University Homecoming is about re-connecting with 

your alma mater, but more so with your fellow alumni. For 

those who ventured to Cleveland, Tenn., on the weekend of 

November 6 and 7, they found camaraderie, competition and 

connectivity. From the opening shot of the alumni golf classic 

to the final note of the music festival, alumni were entertained, 

enthused and inspired! 

Classes and Clubs 

If your class at Lee ended in a 9, you had a reunion this year. 

The classes of ’99, ’89, ’79 ’69 and ’59 were highlighted with 

gatherings on Friday night, but sprinkled throughout the weekend 

were reunions for all the social service clubs. Delta Zeta 

Tau celebrated the most milestone of years (45), but the rest 

celebrated as well. A first this year was a reunion for Gateway 

Peer Leaders. 

Gatherings and Games 

Former athletes can’t seem to come together without a pickup 

game for old time sake. Several Lee teams welcomed their 

former players for reunions including tennis and golf. Past Lee 

Flames and Lady Flames showed off what they still had while 

friends, family and classmates cheered them on. Exhibition 

games over the weekend included rugby, baseball, softball 

and the now traditional DZT vs. Sigma touch football game. 

A record number took part in the annual 

Homecoming 5k Fun Run through campus 

and downtown Cleveland. 

Collegiate Competition 

Homecoming is not complete without the signature Homecoming 

basketball game, but through the years other sports 

have scheduled regular season home games during Homecoming 

weekend. This year there was Lady Flames basketball, 

soccer and volleyball and two opponents for men’s basketball. 

4 

4 

WiNTER 2009 5

HOMECOMiNG 

6 

2009 Homecoming Queen 

Jill Singerman is escorted 

by Blake Joiner 

Stephanie Taylor ‘84 (left), who is currently undergoing 

treatment for breast cancer, was honorary coach for the 

Volley for the Cure event 

Lee students present 'You Can't Take it With You' 

International Barbershop 

Champions Four Voices regrouped 

for a mini-concert at 

the President's Circle luncheon 

Symphony and Singers 

The spotlight musical ensemble this year was the Symphonic 

Band as they gathered for their 20 year reunion. Former and 

current members of the Band broke out their clarinets and cellos 

for a spectacular musical showcase that also featured the 

vocal ensembles on Saturday evening. 

Tours and Traditions 

There was no shortage of 

variety at Homecoming 

’09. You could run an early 

morning 5K race with 

about 175 others. Many 

took advantage of guided 

tours of a campus that 

changes yearly. Exhibits 

were on display along 

what used to be Church 

Street. There were two 

showings of a well-known 

play produced by and 

starring Lee students. A 

queen was crowned at 

halftime of the basketball 

game. Gourmet meals 

were served in the dining 

hall and at the President’s 

Circle luncheon. Whether 

it was a first-time occurrence 

or a long-standing 

Homecoming tradition, 

the events of Homecoming 

2009 

at Lee 

University 

will be 

memories 

for a 

lifetime. 

Thanks for coming home. 

YElTON AWARdEd 

HONORARY AluMNus 

Every year at Homecoming an individual is honored 

to become one of Lee University’s own. Over the course 

of Lee history, friends, faculty, staff and admirers have become 

passionate about the message and vision of Lee University. 

Over the last two decades, some of those admirers 

and contributors have become “honorary alumni.” 

The award is announced alongside the Distinguished 

Alumni Award which this year was given to Andrea Orr Hudson 

’84 (see feature this issue). This year, for the first time, 

the two awards recognized active coaches on the Lee staff. 

Matthew Yelton, coach of the national champion Lady 

Flames soccer team, became the latest honoree at the 

President’s Circle luncheon on November 7. In presenting 

the award, President Paul Conn said, “Matt Yelton is the 

kind of coach presidents dream of. We recruited him away 

from his alma mater King College eight years ago and in 

that time he has tabulated an 82% winning record on the 

way to the first NAIA National Championship in the history 

of Lee University athletics. It’s not just his coaching 

success, but the quality of players he recruits. He is the 

coach’s coach.” 

“In the eight years that I have been blessed to be a 

part of the Lee campus, I can honestly say that this is a 

place unlike any other,” Yelton stated. “I don’t know of any 

other institution in the NAIA that supports women’s soccer 

the way we are supported, and I don’t just mean in a 

fiscal sense, I mean that in a physical sense. Our athletic 

director, vice presidents, and president can all be found 

many times throughout the year cheering on our team— 

that is not something that happens at most institutions.” 

“I am deeply honored by this,” Yelton continued. “God 

has called me to this community.” 

REsuME: 

’ 

» Won 200th career match on October 13. 

» Although only coached for 12 years, 

Yelton is already one of the Top 10 

winningest soccer coaches in the NAIA 

» 148-29-4 record at lee 82.7% 

» since joining the ssAC in 2004, Yelton’s 

teams have a 58-0-1 conference record 

» 6 time ssAC Coach of the Year 

» 4 time Region Coach of the Year 

» 2008 ssAC Female sports Coach of 

the Year 

» 2008 Brine-NAIA Women’s soccer 

National Coach of the Year 

» Taken 5 teams in 7 years to the NAIA 

National Tournament 

» Teams have finished 2nd, 5th, 3rd and 

1st the past four years at nationals 

» 2008 NAIA National Champions 

» Eight members of 2008 National 

Championship team NAIA scholar Athletes 

» 24 shutouts last two seasons 

HOMECOMING 

WINTER 2009 76

BLENdINg 

ATHLETICS ANd 

ACAdEMICS 

Andrea Hudson is honored with the 2009 

distinguished Alumna Award 

RESUME: 

’ 

» 19 seasons at Lee 

» Longest-tenured coach currently on staff 

» Entire collegiate coaching career has 

been at Lee 

» 600th career match won on September 

26, 2009 

» One of only seven NAIA volleyball 

coaches with 600 or more wins 

» 612-221 overall record 73.4% (as of 

Homecoming 2009) 

» 13 conference championships ( 3 TVAC, 

7 TranSouth and 3 SSAC) 

» Six NAIA Region titles 

» 30 or more matches won eight times and 

40 or more four times 

» Led seven teams to the NAIA National 

Tournament, the most by any Lee coach 

» Entered 2004 National Tournament as 

the #2 ranked team 

» 15 players named NAIA All-Americans 

» 27 Lady Flames named NAIA 

Scholar Athletes 

» Conference Coach of Year 

multiple times 

» Region Coach of Year 

multiple times 

by Cameron Fisher 

The most prestigious of Lee University recognitions 

was awarded in 2009 to one of the most successful coaches 

in the history of Lee University athletics. 

Andrea Orr Hudson ’84 was named the 2009 Distinguished 

Alumna at ceremonies held during Homecoming weekend on 

November 7. The award was presented by President Paul 

Conn at a luncheon for the Lee University President’s Circle. 

Hudson becomes the latest recipient to be honored in a line 

of notable alumni dating back to the first recipient in 1960. She 

is one of a handful of women who have received the award in 

the last 49 years and the first who is an active coach. 

“I was totally shocked when I heard I had received 

this honor,” Hudson related. “Receiving coaching awards 

throughout the years oftentimes depends on the success of 

your team. For me, I think this award represents the time and 

commitment to coaching that has taken place over a long 

span of time.” 

Hudson’s coaching career at Lee began 19 years ago 

when she was hired by Conn and then athletic director Randy 

Steele away from a middle school coaching position in Gallup, 

New Mexico. Prior to that she had accrued six years experience 

coaching high school softball, volleyball and basketball 

in Tennessee and North Carolina. 

“When I was hired I really felt like Dr. Conn and Randy 

Steele took a chance on me,” Hudson said. “Having never 

coached volleyball at the collegiate level was a huge risk for 

them. However, their faith in me over the next few years to 

build the program was a great boost to my confidence.” 

Hudson says much of the volleyball program and her success 

as a coach took shape after she was able to secure Kevin 

Hudson to be her assistant. He was a club player at the University 

of Tennessee, and his strengths in certain aspects of 

the game made the two of them an effective combination to 

help the program grow. 

Andrea instructs her team 

at the Volley for the Cure 

match against UAH on 

November 6, 2009 

“To keep him on as my assistant, I had to marry him,” Hudson 

smiled as she told the audience when accepting the award. 

In addition to coaching, Andrea has been instrumental in 

establishing quality programs that have benefited students, 

the university and the community. She has organized overseas 

missions trips and is the driving force behind the highly successful 

“Volley for the Cure” benefiting breast cancer research. The 

event has raised thousands of dollars over the past three 

years in partnership with the Mary Ellen Locher Foundation of 

Chattanooga. Andrea is also a member of the Lee faculty. 

“This experience (being a coach at Lee) has been so rewarding 

to me because now I am a part of recruiting students to 

come to Lee. I have had players from all over the country and 

from six different countries that are now Lee alums. My greatest 

reward is watching them graduate and seeing so many of them 

go on to graduate school. Academics is why they are here, so 

my priority is make sure they get their education and achieve it 

at the highest level possible. Volleyball is the icing on the cake 

and hopefully what makes this experience more fun for them.” 

Upon presenting the award, President Conn spoke fondly 

of the early days of the Lee volleyball program and Hudson’s 

contribution to its success. 

“The dream of every college president is that your alums 

come back and win championships at their alma mater,” 

Conn said. “Andrea makes us proud that Lee University produced 

such a great coach. “Before she came, 

a Lee University team had never been 

to a national tournament, but she 

got us there with the women’s 

volleyball team. She is now 

our longest serving coach 

and one of only two who 

is a Lee alum. She is a 

great coach and we are 

proud to call her one of 

our own.” 

Coach Hudson 

receives distinguished 

Alumna Award from 

President Paul Conn 

8 


A SpirituAl 

FocAl 

point 

president conn 

announces construction 

of a chapel on campus 

as the ‘capstone’ project 

of the press toward the 

Mark campaign. 


W ith the five year, $30 million 

Press Toward the Mark capital campaign 

entering its final stage, an additional 

project has been added to the 

aggressive agenda of new buildings 

and programs already completed or 

underway on campus. 

During Homecoming weekend, President 

Paul Conn formally announced 

what is being billed as the ‘capstone’ 

project of the campaign. A small chapel 

will be built on the corner of Ocoee 

and 11th Streets, the primary gateway 

to the inner campus. 

“When people have come to our 

campus for their first visit, many 

times I have been asked, ‘Where 

is your chapel?’” Conn told the 

President’s Circle luncheon gathering 

at Homecoming. “We have 

always conducted ‘chapel’ on our 

campus; we have held hundreds 

of chapel services in Conn Center 

and Dixon Center and in the 

old auditorium years ago, but we 

have never built a facility specifically 

as a house of worship. 

I have been to numerous secular 

colleges and universities 

where the most photographed 

or most central edifice on 

campus is a beautiful, traditional chapel, 

set aside as a place to go for quiet 

moments with God.” 

Conn emphasized that the building 

itself will be small in size and very 

traditional in design. Unanimously approved 

by Lee’s Board of Directors at 

their last meeting, the chapel will be 

reserved for student groups and organizations 

which have traditionally 

held formal inductions, prayer meetings 

or cell group gatherings wherever 

there was an available space, such 

as a classroom, dorm lobby or other 

spontaneous gathering place. It may 

be available on a limited basis to outside 

groups and individuals, and will 

be an ideal setting for weddings attracting 

up to 300 guests. While there 

are spaces dedicated as chapels on 

campus, such as in some dormitories 

or on the third floor of the Pentecostal 

Resource Center (library), there 

has never been built a free-standing 

structure for this express purpose or 

one of this attractive size. 

“We need this on our campus,” 

Conn continued. “It will become the 

spiritual focal point for our students. 

This chapel will be built as God’s 

house and as a symbol of the centrality 

of Christ on our campus to us 

and the community. That’s the vision 

we have.” 

This rendering of the chapel 

from above reveals an area 

on the north side which will 

accommodate companion 

gatherings to events in 

the chapel. The structure 

will be placed diagonally 

on the corner of 11th and 

Ocoee Streets, across 11th 

Street from Walker Memorial 

Building and west of the 

Dixon Center. 


oom 

to 

GROW 

The Early Learning 

Center uses the skills 

of teachers and the 

space of a school to 

grow both in body 

and program. 

By Erin Weeks 

The laughter of children is priceless. 

It is a well-known sound, but 

not one typically associated with 

a college campus. 

Walk into the Early Learning 

Center at Lee and you will find 

46 very happy children. Many 

are playing with, or being held 

by, the Lee students who work 

there. The small tables and 

chairs are the perfect size for 

the children who regularly sit at 

them. The rooms are decorated 

with bright colors and pictures, 

and hand-painted artwork hangs 

in the hallways. Down the hall, 

the gymnasium echoes with the 

sound of the little feet. For Alicia 

Klepper, coordinator of childcare 

at Lee University, this facility is a 

dream-come-true. 

The Lee University childcare 

program has seen numerous 

changes in a very short period 

of time. The program has drastically 

changed in structure and 

format since Lee acquired the former 

Mayfield Elementary school 

property in the fall of 2007. These 

changes, however, have come as 

a result of the success of the program 

since its inception. 

“Lee has long recognized the 

need for and benefit of having a 

childcare service for employees. 

In the 1980’s we took a look at 

the possibility of starting something, 

but just were not in a position 

to make it happen,” said Dr. 

Jerome Hammond, assistant vice 

president for university relations 

at Lee. 

The vision for a childcare program 

became a reality in 2003 

when Lauren Murray was hired 

to conduct a childcare feasibility 

study at Lee. She discovered that 

there was a great need for childcare 

among full-time employees at 

the university, and in 2004, the first 

on-campus childcare program was 

instituted. It was similar in structure 

to a mother’s-morning-out program 

and provided services from 9:00 

a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and 

Thursdays. The program was limited 

by the lack of space in Lower 

Simmons, two rooms on the bottom 

level of Simmons Hall. The rooms 

were adequate, but did not provide 

the space needed to grow. 

In August of 2006, Klepper was 

hired as the coordinator of childcare. 

She came to Lee with years of 

professional childcare experience. 

Half-day services continued to be 

provided two days a week for about 

another year and a half. After that 

time, services increased to three 

days a week. 

The childcare center was able 

to utilize various campus facilities 

such as the Deacon Jones Dining 

Hall, the DeVos Recreation Center 

and Alumni Park, but the tight 

space in Lower Simmons remained 

an issue. 

“We didn’t have any outside play 

area that was designated for us,” 

Klepper said. 

In September 2008, when the 

Early Learning Center moved into 

what was the former Mayfield 

School, now known as Mayfield 

Annex, they quickly began to take 

advantage of their new space. 

Three classrooms were designated 

for their use: one for infants and 

toddlers, one for two and three 

year olds and one for four and five 

year olds. They were also given a 

fenced-in area rather quickly so 

the children would be able to play 

outside during their time at the 

center. In September of this year, 

an outdoor playground structure 

was added. 

According to Klepper, the Mayfield 

location is much more efficient. 

Parents are able to park and walk 

their children to their classroom, 

which was not a realistic option in 

the old facility. A circular drive has 

made drop-off and pick-up much 

easier for parents as well as much 

more personal. 

Other than the logistical 

benefits provided 

by the extra space, the 

Early Learning Center has 

found that the new location 

allows them to better 

serve the children whom 

they care for. Additional 

classrooms have allowed 

them to put the children 

into groups that are better 

suited to their ages. 

“We’re also able to 

make it more age-appropriate…It’s 

made much 

more peaceful classrooms 

and, I think, far more enriching,” 

Klepper said. 

On a daily basis, the 

center is run on what 

Klepper likes to call 

“structured, yet flexible, 

daily routines.” Joy 

Lewis, assistant coordinator 

of childcare, is a 

Lee graduate with a degree 

in education. She 

regularly meets with the 

student workers at the 

center to go over and 

prepare lesson plans for the children. While no field 

trips are taken, the children are sometimes taken on 

nature walks and other trips around Lee’s campus. 

The Early Learning Center also provides free 

childcare for various other needs on campus 

such as concerts, departmental events, Sunday 

night chapel services as well as times when local 

schools are closed and the university is not. 

Dr. Andrew Lee, associate professor of English at 

Lee, occasionally utilizes the center during times 

like these. 

“My boys love getting to spend time with other 

faculty children…They really like the staff and the 

fun activities they have planned,” Lee said. 

Several faculty members bring more than one 

child to the center, and it allows these parents to 

be more involved in the lives of their children. Having 

their children at the same location where they 

work makes it easy for faculty members to have 

lunch with their children or stop by for a quick visit 

ELC has found a new, 

much bigger home in 

Mayfield Annex 

ELC students enjoy a story 

read to them by teacher 

assistant Joy Lewis. 

during the day. 

Klepper also added that the center has deepened 

the dynamics of other relationships as well. 

For education majors, working at the center provides 

immediate implementation of the things they 

are learning and greatly enriches their classroom 

experience. Lee students who work in the center 

are also able to develop unique relationships with 

the professors who bring their children to the center. 

Some have even gone on to become personal 

babysitters or nannies for professors. 

The program has experienced tremendous 

growth and expansion, greatly due to the new location 

in the Mayfield Annex. Klepper credits the 

university for recognizing the need and having a 

deep interest in developing the program.“It has 

completely changed. I don’t think it looks like the 

program it did three years ago…I’m very excited 

to see three years from now what it will look like,” 

Klepper said. 

Little Holden takes 

a break at Lee's 

Early Learning 

Center nursery. 

12 


caMpus neWs 

A stroll through 

the Lee campus at nearly 

anytime of the year evokes 

“oos” and “ahhs” for its 

impeccable grounds. Prospective 

students with their 

parents who visit Lee have 

been sold from their first 

impressions of a campus 

that displays obvious dedication 

to caring for God’s 

creation within its borders. 

Alumni returning to their 

alma mater swell with pride 

for the meticulously manicured 

lawns and flower 

beds of amazing color. 

This commitment to landscape 

perfection stems from 

an administrative promise of 

adequate funding to make 

it happen, as well as a 

grounds staff determined 

to keep the level of excellence 

above the bar. 

“We realize the 

power - not just of 

first - but lasting impressions,” 

stated 

Chris Conine, vice 

president for business 

and finance. “So we make sure that we 

commit the resources needed to maintain 

the look of our campus for which we have 

gained notoriety. However, we certainly 

can’t afford to provide a blank check, so 

we have had to come up with some innovative 

ways to reduce our costs in 

this area.” 

“We were paying a high price every 

year for contracted professionals to 

maintain and mulch our flower beds,” 

Conine said. “We knew this had to 

Lee Landscape Gets 

‘student discount’ 

students landscape a new bed on 

the western end of the Walker 

Memorial Building. 


change, so we hired students. The arrangement has 

evolved to a place where the most needy, yet committed 

student workers are with the program.” Conine 

pointed out that many of the students are internationals 

who are unable to leave campus to work, yet need 

an income. “They are grateful for the opportunity,” he 

said, “and we are getting a quality work ethic.” 

Dozens of students fan out across campus as additional 

help is required prior to major campus events, 

such as Homecoming and graduations. Athletic groups 

have an arrangement with the university to provide this 

assistance in exchange for increased funding for their 

travel budgets. Other students take advantage of the 

spreading-mulch-and-shoveling-dirt option to fulfill 

service hours required of every Lee student toward a 

service learning initiative. 

Conine gives credit for the landscape success to 

Larry Berry, Lee’s director of physical plant. Berry’s 

arrival in 2006 to head the maintenance and grounds 

operations of the university stepped up an exemplary 

program to an even higher level. Referring to the change 

of the landscape maintenance plan from vendors to students, 

Berry stated, “We are able to provide 80 hours 

per week of care to the landscape beds. This is double 

the amount of man hours that were being provided by 

all three of our previous landscape vendors 

combined. This combination of our 

full-time staff with the part-time student 

labor has allowed us to give the landscape 

areas the much needed proper attention.” 

Lee’s program gained national attention 

when it was featured in a recent issue 

of Turf magazine, a publication for turf care 

professionals. In its opening paragraph 

the article states, “Lee University is a 105- 

acre jewel tucked in the middle of a residential 

area…” The Turf feature focused 

primarily on the 50 acres of lawn that Lee 

maintains in athletic fields and general 

use. Berry, an award-winning landscape 

and lawn professional, said in the feature, 

“One of the reasons I chose to come here 

(to Lee) is the very high standard the university 

already had for the first impression 

of our campus appearance as a recruiting 

tool and has given our department the resources 

to make some positive changes 

that further enhance the curb appeal.” The 

article showcased the campus through 

photos of lush athletic fields, manicured 

buildings and sidewalks surrounded by 

beds of fresh landscape. 

Lee’s commitment to “curb appeal” 

was further enhanced when 

earlier this year a landscaping 

department was formed within 

the Physical Plant structure, 

separating landscape from 

turfgrass and general grounds 

functions. In addition, the summer student 

workers program completed its fourth successful 

year. 

“This program continues to bring great 

value to the Physical Plant Department,” 

Berry stated. “We have generated a tremendous 

savings in our operational costs 

while at the same time helping students 

with housing and income needs during the 

summer. With these students we are now 

developing to a level of becoming even more detailed 

in the work we are doing.” 

Lee Listed 

Among 

top ten Job 

providers in 

County 

Who are the largest job providers in 

Bradley County, Tenn.? The Cleveland/ 

Bradley Chamber of Commerce recently 

posted figures on their Web site which 

has included manufacturers in the past, 

but the list now includes government and 

public services as well. 

Whirlpool Corp. leads the list as Bradley 

County's largest employer. In year’s 

past the top spot has been held by Magic 

Chef, Hardwick and Maytag, all of which 

are predecessors to Whirlpool. Local 

government occupies four of the top 20 

spots. Bradley County Schools ranked 

fourth on the list; Cleveland City Schools 

was sixth; Bradley County government, 

including law enforcement and corrections, 

was seventh and Cleveland city 

government landed at 15th. 

The new list is featured on the first page 

at www.clevelandchamber.com. More information 

is available by clicking on the 

"economic development" section at the 

top of the web page. 

CAmpus neWs 

14 

Winter 2009 15

CaMPus news 

Lee Partners with 

Chattanooga 

MuseuM on MusiC 

series 

The prestigious Hunter Museum in Chattanooga, 

Tenn., announced a new chamber music series: 

String Theory at the Hunter. 

String Theory was founded by Lee University 

music professor and acclaimed pianist, Gloria 

Chien, and brings classical music and visual art together 

for inspiring evenings of artistic expression 

at the Hunter Museum of American Art. The featured 

performers are award-winning artists who are 

among the most sought-after musicians on stage 

today. Their shared artistry ensures dynamic musical 

dialogues and breathtaking performances. 

The first concert took place on October 29, in the 

lobby of the Hunter Museum. Four subsequent performances 

are planned approximately every other 

month throughout the fall, winter and spring. The 

one-hour concerts feature a rich selection of masterpieces 

as well as rarely heard gems, and honor 

the Hunter’s renowned collection of American art 

by performing selections from American composers 

throughout the year. 

Officials said, “Presenting chamber music in a 

museum setting has long been a cherished tradition 

at prestigious institutions like the Metropolitan 

Museum of Art in New York and the Isabella Stewart 

Gardner Museum in Boston. In launching this 

concert series, the Hunter joins their ranks, making 

the highest quality chamber music available to audiences 

throughout the Chattanooga area.” 

gloria Chien 

new Fountain uP 

and running 

The men and alumni of the social service organization 

Alpha Gamma Chi have waited patiently for a replacement 

for a fountain plaza which once occupied 

the front entrance of the Paul Dana Walker Arena. The 

plaza had to be removed in 2005 to make way for the 

expansion of Walker Arena. 

Nearly 20 years ago, Chi undertook a project to 

raise funds and build the ’eternal flame’ plaza which 

was dedicated to Dr. Donald Bowdle and his late wife, 

Nancy. Bowdle was one of the founding sponsors of 

Alpha Gamma Chi in 1963. The original plaza included 

a fountain and flame, as well as a plaque honoring 

the Bowdles and brick pavers with names of donors 

to the project. 

Good things come to those who wait. 

A ‘new and improved’ fountain and flame plaza 

was unveiled during Homecoming November 6-7. Located 

a few yards north of the original site, the plaza 

is the new crossroads between the DeVos Recreation 

Center, Walker Arena and the primary east-west pedestrian 

thoroughfare to the central campus. Nearly 

twice its original size, the plaza incorporates multiple 

seating areas, a flowing fountain and a stack stone 

central tower topped with an eternal flame. 

Two former Chi presidents have been instrumental 

in the re-build. Cole Strong has served as construction 

liaison from President Conn’s office, while 

Josh Sheets is manager of the construction company 

which oversaw the project. 

“The new flame recaptures the original expression 

of Chi’s idea,” stated Assistant Vice President for Student 

Life Mike Hayes, an Alpha Gamma Chi alumnus 

and one of the primary originators of the project 

20 years ago. “It is a striking symbol at the center of 

campus, reminding us of our heritage and inspiring 

us onward.” 

TheaTre SeaSon 

FeaTureS STage 

VarieTy 

clay Johnson is hamm and 

Will Jayroe portrays clov 

in endgame, the season 

opener of the 2009-10 Lee 

university theatre season. 

Less than 24 hours 

into operation, 

the fountain was 

already a popular 

photo spot 

With the addition of the Edna Minor Conn Theatre last 

year, there was no shortage of dramas available at Lee. 

In fact, for the first time, theatre-goers have the opportunity 

to purchase a season pass, which admits them 

to all four productions of the season for $20 which will 

conclude in April 2010. 

The Theatre Department kicked off its season with 

the premier of Endgame by Samuel Beckett on October 

2. Written by the Nobel Prize 

winning playwright, Endgame 

is an absurdist comedy/drama 

which refers to the final moves 

of a chess game where the 

outcome is already decided. 

Beckett’s characters become 

the chess pieces who struggle 

with change and their impending 

end. The shows were held 

in the Edna Minor Conn Theatre 

October 2-4. 

The second production 

was You Can’t Take It With 

You by Moss Hart and George 

S. Kaufman. This Pulitzer Prize 

winning comedy introduces you 

to the lovably eccentric Sycamore 

family and will leave you 

with an appreciation for their 

zest for living and their slightly 

off-kilter view of the world. The 

show debuted during Homecoming 

November 6-7 and concluded with two shows 

the following weekend. The production was staged in 

the Dixon Center. 

The third production on the theatre department’s calendar 

is The Glass Menagerie by the two-time Pulitzer 

Prize winning playwright Tennessee Williams. The classic 

drama centers on an aging southern belle Amanda 

Wingfield and her struggles to marry off her frail, withdrawn 

daughter while keeping her restless dreamer son 

from leaving home. The show will be held in the Edna 

Minor Conn Theatre February 26-27 and March 5-6 at 

7:30 p.m. and February 28 and March 7 at 2:00 p.m. 

The final show in Lee University’s theatre season will 

be The Last Night of Ballyhoo by Pulitzer Prize winning 

author Alfred Uhry, playwright of Driving Miss Daisy. This 

Tony Award winner for Best Play is set in Atlanta in 1939. 

Gone With the Wind is about to have its world premiere, 

while Hitler is invading Poland. But the subject of interest 

to Atlanta’s elite is Ballyhoo, the social event of the 

season. The production will take place April 9-10 and 

16-17 at 7:00 p.m. and April 11 and 18 at 2:00 p.m. in the 

Dixon Center Auditorium. 

For more information on the 2009-2010 theatre season 

or for ticket information please call (423) 614-8343. 

campuS neWS 

16 

- Rebekah Eble 

WinTer 2009 17

CaMpUs neWs 

LUDIC Gets $36,000 Grant 

Lee University’s Developmental 

Inclusion 

Classroom (LUDIC) continues 

to garner praise 

and recognition for a 

program which teaches 

children with autism. 

It also continues to receive 

grants from several 

sources to sustain it. 

In late October, LU- 

DIC officials received 

word that a grant from 

the local United Way had 

been renewed for a second 

year. The $36,000 

grant comes from a fund 

established from the 

profits from the sale of 

the county hospital four 

years ago. United Way 

of Bradley County was 

entrusted with nearly $20 

million which was placed 

in a fund to generate annual 

grants for community 

programs. For the 

last two years, interest 

from the endowment has 

placed nearly $1 million 

back into the community. 

This is the second year 

LUDIC has received funds 

from the endowment. 

“LUDIC is one of the 

best examples of programs 

we like to see 

funded,” stated Matt Ryerson, 

vice president for 

United Way of Bradley 

County and administrator 

of the endowment. 

“It fits the definition we 

have established for this 

fund, which is promoting 

the health, wellness and 

quality of life in Cleveland 

and Bradley County.” 

LUDIC staff member ty 

Crumley assists a student 

Lee stUDent WIns MosaIC 

Center sChoLarshIp 

Lee University student 

Shuntrece Noel Byrd recently 

learned that she is a winner of 

the Most Promising Minority 

Student scholarship. 

The national scholarship 

is provided by the American 

Advertising Federation’s Mosaic 

Center on Multiculturalism 

and the Home Depot. Fourteen 

$5,000 scholarships are awarded each year to deserving 

minority students majoring in advertising, communications 

or marketing. 

Byrd is a sophomore from Florence, Ala., majoring 

in telecommunications. Byrd said she was surprised 

because she did not expect to be chosen out of all 

the students who applied from other universities. Dr. 

Michael Laney, chair of the Communications Department, 

said “We are delighted that Noel has received 

this honor. To be one of 14 students selected nationwide 

reflects highly upon herself, the department and 

Lee University. She is clearly a positive role model and 

a champion who will succeed and pave the way for 

other students of color.” 

- Christina Mihai 

Lee Takes Top Honors 

for sTrengTHs program 

The Gallup Organization 

has selected Lee University 

as the first-ever recipient of 

the Clifton Compass Award, a 

national recognition of Lee’s 

strengths-based philosophy 

and programming. Gallup’s 

vice president for Education 

Practice, Mark Pogue, presented 

the award. 

“We are delighted to 

win this award because it 

is the first of its kind, and 

we were in competition with 

some other schools that are 

amazing,” said Dr. Carolyn 

Dirksen, vice president for 

academic affairs. “These are 

schools we don’t normally 

rate ourselves against, and 

the fact that we were chosen 

from all the colleges and universities 

in the country that 

have strengths programs is 

incredible.” Other finalists 

included Texas Tech, Azusa 

Pacific University, and the 

Community College System 

of the State University of 

New York. 

According to Dirksen, 

“The point of a 

strengths-based approach 

is that we focus on 

the gifts students, faculty 

and staff bring to the educational 

process—not just on 

what they need to do better. 

We help people identify 

their strengths and sponsor 

workshops on how to use 

and build on them.” 

The Clifton Compass 

Award is designed to honor 

institutions that best implement 

a strength-based approach 

across campus. In 

order to qualify a college 

must have strengths-based 

programming and development 

for staff and faculty 

and must provide assistance 

for other institutions who 

are attempting to implement 

strengths on campus. 

Lee students are introduced 

to the strengths program 

during their first semester 

at Lee. New faculty 

take the Gallup Strengths- 

Finder survey and the survey 

is also available to staff. 

The University’s Center for 

Calling and Career provides 

Strengths Vocational 

Advisors to assist students 

in determining where their 

strengths might lead them 

in the selection of a major 

and a career. 

“While the strengths 

initiative started in the 

freshman seminar classes, 

the administration of the 

university has continued 

to support the notion that 

we become a ‘strengthsbased 

campus’,” according 

to Suzanne Hamid 

Holt, director of First Year 

Programs. Dr. Debby 

White, director of Lee University’s 

Center for Calling 

and Career said, “We want 

to talk strengths with our 

students and our employees, 

and we’ve been using 

the Gallup Strengths- 

Finder assessment to get 

the conversation going 

for over seven years. The 

strengths perspective fits 

our mission and our theology, 

so we plan to continue 

to encourage students 

and employees to seek to 

understand God’s design 

and intentions for their life 

of service.” - Erin Weeks 

THemed 

scuLpTure 

pLaced aT 

scHooL of 

reLigion 

Lee University recently acquired a 

bronze casting of a sculpture by contemporary 

American artist Jane DeDecker. 

“This work of art will be a wonderful 

addition to the religious identity 

of the School of Religion building 

here at Lee,” stated President Conn. 

The work is titled “Prayer” and has 

been placed on the northern side of 

the School of Religion. 

Jane DeDecker’s work can be 

found in public settings all across the 

U.S. Conn said, “Her style is rather 

distinctive; it’s non-literal, but clearly 

representational, and strikes a wonderful 

balance for public spaces at a 

campus such as ours.” DeDecker is 

also the sculptor of the piece titled 

“A World to Teach,” which has been a 

popular feature on the plaza in front of 

the Helen DeVos College of Education 

since placed there in 1999. 

campus neWs 

18 

WinTer 2009 19

camPus news 

L 

Lee Graduate ProGrams: 

redefininG the academic LandscaPe 

(editor’s note: this article is the first in a new series highlighting the graduate programs at Lee university) 

ee’s graduate programs experienced a record-breaking enrollment for fall 2009. Enrollment 

specialists all over the country found it difficult to predict how the economy would affect fall enrollment 

numbers, but Lee celebrated at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. 

“We found that many folks who were unemployed decided to return to school. This, along 

with a renewed emphasis on branding, target marketing, and personal attention helped to solidify 

our numbers for fall,” said Vicki Glasscock, director of graduate enrollment. “The deans 

and directors of our graduate programs worked with students to determine their specific needs 

as well as the needs of the marketplace. They revised programs to fit those needs. Lee’s graduate 

counseling programs doubled their enrollment by expanding their Mental Health Counseling 

program to include a service/non-profit track.” 

Dr. Trevor Milliron, director of graduate studies in counseling observed that, “In addition to 

offering clinical training that leads to licensure, we expanded the program to include training in 

the area of non-profit work. This approach is particularly appealing to graduate students who 

dream of serving in nontraditional settings, serving the underserved in international settings – 

taking counseling out of the therapy room and into the lives of those who need it most through 

advocacy, outreach, and prevention programs. Lee is one of the premiere universities in the 

world which offers this type of service-minded focus on counseling.” 

The Helen DeVos College of Education continues to serve as the flagship program for graduate 

studies at Lee with almost 200 students. The new Ed.S. degree and new course offerings 

that lead to National Board Certification for teachers have expanded Lee’s market and hold great 

potential for continued growth. The first Ed.S. degrees were awarded earlier this year. 

The School of Religion continues to attract graduate students in Biblical and Theological 

Studies as well as in Youth and Family Ministries. Dr. Bob Bayles, director of the graduate program 

in youth and family ministries noted that, “One of the recent trends we’ve noticed among 

our graduates is the growing number who are finding ways to do ministry outside of a “church” 

setting. Several have gone to work for government agencies working with at-risk families, others 

are ministering in halfway houses to both adolescent girls and boys who have encountered 

problems with the law and school systems. Others are working in para-church settings. We 

are very glad ministry among our students represents a broad-based approach (church, parachurch, 

“secular” settings”). 

The School of Music experienced a 10% increase in enrollment with its graduate programs 

in church music, music education and music performance. 

For additional information regarding Lee’s graduate programs, call 1-800-LEE-9930 ext. 

8059, or email the Office of Graduate Enrollment at gradstudies@leeuniversity.edu . 

The western wing of the science math complex takes shape 

with its primary feature, a lecture hall on the far left. 

Math and Science 

coMplex neaRinG 

coMpletion 

Construction and learning have 

taken place side by side this semester as 

construction enters its last months on a 

massive classroom and laboratory building. 

Students arrived on campus at the 

beginning of this semester to find a 

completed three-story section of the 

complex. Classes have been held in the 

eastern wing, while the two story western 

side has been showing daily progress, 

from just a foundation in August to 

completely under roof in November. The 

second half will contain classrooms, 

faculty offices (including a suite for the 

Dean of Arts and Sciences), conference 

room and a 100-seat lecture hall. It 

will join with the completed east wing 

at the signature commons and tower 

which has already become a landmark 

in downtown Cleveland. 

Cole Strong, construction liaison 

with President Conn’s office said “They 

(contractor) are making great progress 

and we should be able to move into the 

completed complex sometime over the 

course of the spring semester.” 

StephenSon 

coMpleteS ph.d. 

Two-year theology department member 

Lisa Stephenson recently received 

her Ph.D. in religious studies from Marquette 

University in Milwaukee. An assistant 

professor of theology, Stephenson 

teaches both 

introductory and 

upper-level theology 

classes 

in the School 

of Religion. Before 

attending 

Marquette, she 

earned both her 

bachelor’s and 

master’s degrees 

at Lee. 

GilbeRt 

ReceiveS ph.d. 

Ron Gilbert, director of 

Media Productions Services, 

recently received his Ph.D. 

from Regent University. Gilbert 

also serves as an assistant 

professor in the communication 

department at Lee. 

After obtaining a bachelor’s 

degree from Lee, Gilbert went on to earn 

a master’s degree from The Johns Hopkins 

University. He also completed extensive postgraduate 

work in counseling and broadcasting 

at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. His 

Ph.D. is in communication and the arts with a 

specialty in the effects of media. For his doctoral 

program, Gilbert surveyed churches that 

use visual electronic media. 

“The study specifically focused on the effects 

of those media and the ways in which they 

enhanced or detracted from worship,” Gilbert 

said. Gilbert indicated that this research will 

help in new emphases in the future at Lee for 

the development, training and networking of 

media ministers and church leaders using new 

technologies for worship. 

Gilbert has worked in several capacities at 

Lee. He joined the faculty in 1980 as a one-year 

history replacement teacher and has served as 

the Director of Counseling and Testing as well as 

the Director of Alumni. 

faculty factS 

20 

WinteR 2009 21

faculty facts 

‘Gentle spirit’ 

Brownlee leaves 

prominent leGacy 

Assistant Professor of Music at 

Lee University Michael Brownlee, 

died on November 2, 2009 following 

complications from a series 

of strokes a week earlier. He was 

60 and had been a member of the 

Lee faculty for more than 30 years. 

He was married to Gloria Stone 

Brownlee, also a member of the 

Lee faculty, and they were parents 

of two grown children, Chet and 

Gigi, and granddaughter Kaelyn. 

Tributes to Brownlee following 

his untimely death testified 

of the piano virtuoso’s gifted 

musical ability, positive and encouraging 

character and a firm 

belief in the effectiveness of the 

ministry of Lee University. Dean 

of the School of Music Dr. Stephen 

Plate said, “Mr. Brownlee 

loved music and he loved 

teaching the students of Lee 

University. His students won 

competitions year after year. He 

was a friend and respected colleague 

of piano teachers from 

around the state and country. 

We will never truly understand 

the extent of Michael’s reach 

and the tremendous loss that 

this is for us and others in 

the Kingdom.” 

Brownlee’s funeral took 

place at Westmore Church of 

God, where his talents and 

leadership on the keyboard 

had been on display every 

Sunday since the church was 

founded in 1966 and Michael 

was a teenager. The service 

was officiated by four ministers 

from various levels of 

his life and included former 

Lee president and brotherin-law, 

Dr. Lamar Vest, wellknown 

television pastor and 

relative, Jentezen Franklin and 

Pastor Ritchie Franklin. 

Lee University president 

Dr. Paul Conn closed the 

funeral tributes by describing 

Michael Brownlee as 

“a gentle spirit,” and “a 

hard working professional.” 

Michael Brownlee 

touched hundreds 

of lives over the years 

through his one-on-one 

instruction and mentoring 

of piano students. 

“He was a peacemaker, 

a bridge-builder, relentlessly 

cheerful and a familiar 

part of our landscape 

here,” Conn said. “He was 

a calming, stabilizing 

influence…he 

had a gift for getting students ready 

for the spotlight. He was the musician 

who made other musicians the 

star. Michael had a spirit of gratitude 

and he expressed it; that spirit lives 

on in each of us.” 

Michael Brownlee was a graduate 

of Lee and held a masters 

degree from the University of 

Tennessee Knoxville. He was an 

assistant professor of music and 

keyboard coordinator at Lee. He 

was a member of the Ocoee Music 

Teachers Association (O. M. T. 

A.) where he held several offices 

and was named O.M.T.A. Teacher 

of the Year. He was also the auditions 

and recital coordinator, and 

an adjudicator for the association. 

He served as adjudicator for the 

Tennessee Governors Honors and 

Tennessee Music Teachers Association. 

Michael was a Nationally 

Certified Piano Teacher through 

the Music Teachers National Association 

(M. T. N. A.). He was in 

Who’s Who in Americas Teachers, 

a member of the National Guild 

of Piano Teachers and a Pi Kappa 

Lambda Music Honors Society 

member. At Lee he was a sponsor 

for Alpha Chi Honor Society and 

a founding member of the Summer 

Music Camp Committee and 

Piano Competition Committee at 

Lee. Michael was also a charter 

member of the Westmore Church 

of God and was principle pianist at 

the church. 

wIlson reCeIVes ph.d. 

Mava Wilson, assistant 

professor of computer 

information systems 

(CIS), recently received 

her doctorate in computed 

technology and education. 

The former Mava 

Norton, Wilson joined the 

business faculty at Lee in 

August of 2000. 

Wilson earned the doctorate from Nova 

Southeastern University (NSU) in Fort Lauderdale, 

Fla. She also earned her master’s 

from NSU and received her bachelor’s degree 

in administrative systems from Radford 

University in Radford, Va. 

Before coming to Lee, Wilson was a CIS 

instructor at Cleveland State Community 

College as well as an assistant professor 

of computer information systems technology 

at Wytheville Community College 

in Virginia for many years. 

Jo Attends sAlzburg 

globAl semInAr 

Lee University political science professor Dr. Jung In Jo recently 

attended the Salzburg Global Seminar in Salzburg, Austria, 

(left in photo above) after being awarded a fellowship of the Andrew 

W. Mellon foundation by Appalachian College Association. 

Jo was one of more than 50 fellows from 20 different countries 

who attended this distinguished academic venture. 

Since 1947, the Salzburg Global Seminar has convened scholars 

and decision makers committed to making a difference in the 

world to inspire innovative thinking and to pioneer strategies for 

change. The seminar was structured around lectures and discussions 

by leading experts on “Confronting Protectionism: How Business 

and Governments Can Build Support for Open Markets.” Particular 

emphasis was placed on generating cutting-edge ideas and 

on developing proposals for action on critical challenges confronting 

trade and investment protectionism and formulating solutions 

to make a case for open trade and liberalization. 

Newsweek magazine has sated, “There are hundreds of seminars 

in the prestige-conscious firmament of academe, but few 

can rival the eminence of the Salzburg.” 

Other members of Lee's faculty who have attended recent 

Salzburg Seminars include Dr. Gary Riggins, Dr. Karen Mundy, Dr. 

Stephen Swindle, Dr. Matthew Melton, Dr. Jayson VanHook, and 

Dr. Phebe Gray. 

Isom AwArded 

VCCA FellowshIp 

Stacey Isom, assistant professor of 

creative writing at Lee University, has 

been awarded a fellowship by the Virginia 

Center for the Creative Arts (VCCA). 

Isom will be among the approximately 

20 Fellows focusing on their 

own creative projects at this working retreat for visual artists, 

writers and composers. A typical residency ranges from two 

weeks to two months. Other than meals, there are no schedules 

or obligations. 

“My residency is for eight days in late December – early January. 

I intend to work on a couple of plays that are in the first draft 

stage of development – a new comedy called “On the 8’s,” as 

well as the second play in the Smokin’ Devils cycle,” Isom said. 

FACultY FACts 

22 

wInter 2009 23

sPorts 

Dunk 

GettinG 

‘Hits’ from 

Across tHe 

country 

larriques cunningham 

goes for the dunk 

What started out to be a dunk contest in 

Lee University’s Annual Tip-Off evening, turned 

out to be a slam that has been aired across 

the United States and around the world. 

Lee Flame Larriques Cunningham, a 6-foot- 

4 transfer from Roane State Community College, 

rammed home what had to be a triple-10 when he went 

flying through the air from beyond the free-throw line and 

jammed the basketball into the bottom of the net. Cunningham 

created a reaction from the students and fans that lasted 

for several minutes and continues to have the Lee campus 

and basketball lovers from all over buzzing with excitement. 

Jeff Salyer, Lee’s assistant director of video production 

and producer of Inside Lee Basketball recorded the dunk 

and sent it to several different outlets. It has been viewed 

by thousands around the globe and is helping put Lee and 

Cunningham on the worldwide basketball map 

By mid-November there were well over 135,000 hits 

on the dunk. The main sites are dimemag.com (Dime 

Magazine about NBA basketball), a Polish basketball site 

zawszepopierwsze.bloog.pl, through Facebook friends 

sharing with others, www.collegefanz.com (ESPN founder’s 

site), bolapresa.tumblr.com a Spanish basketball site, 

www.hawkeyelounge.com an Iowa University fan forum, 

and most recently CNNSI.com. 

The Flames are picked to win the Southern States Athletic 

Conference (SSAC) and were ranked 13th in the preseason 

NAIA national poll. However, Coach Tommy Brown’s club was 

upset by arch-rival Tennessee Temple in 

the season opener on Nov. 2, 114-109 in 

double overtime. They bounced back to 

defeat Carver College and were extremely 

impressive in 87-66 victory 

over Bluefield College on Homecoming 

afternoon. 

Volleyball Claims ssaC 

Championship again 

It has been another special season 

for Lee University volleyball. 

Coach Andrea Hudson, who has 

posted one of the NAIA’s best coaching 

records, picked up her 600th 

victory on September 26 against 

Faulkner University. Her Lady Flames 

have won at least 30 matches 13 

of her 19 seasons at Lee. 

However, the annual Volley 

for the Cure match has 

become more important to 

coaches Andrea and Kevin 

Hudson than all the victories. 

Each year volunteers join in as 

Lee hosts a volleyball match 

dedicated to raising money for 

the Mary Ellen Locher Scholarship 

Fund for breast cancer 

research. A huge crowd decked 

out in pink turned out to witness 

the Lady Flames defeat the University 

of Alabama-Huntsville 

and it is estimated that over 

$10,000 was raised once against 

for the tremendous cause. 

Once again Lee captured the 

regular-season championship of the 

SSAC. The Lady Flames finished 

conference play unbeaten and were 

ranked 21st nationally by the NAIA 

headed into regionals. 

While the Krsmanovic 

sisters have played an important 

role for Hudson 

team, several sophomores 

and three juniors 

have also been deeply involved 

in the success. 

Lee hosted and won the SSAC 

tournament on November 13-14, 

and hosted the opening round of 

the NAIA National Tournament. 

larry Carpernter 

presents Coach 

hudson with a 

plaque commemorating 

her 600th win. 

spoRTs 

24 

Zawadzki 

former flAme is ‘risinG stAr’ 

Former Lee University baseball 

standout Lance Zawadzki (2007) was 

selected to play in the Rising Stars 

Game on Saturday, November 7 and 

was televised on the MLB Network 

and on MLB.com 

Zawadzki, who is a rising star 

in the San Diego Padres organization 

and played Double-A ball in San 

Antonio, Texas, this past season, is 

among a select group playing in the 

Arizona Fall League. 

The roster for the Rising Stars 

Game was loaded with first round 

draft picks and a large group of 

predicted future major leaguers. 

Scouting and minor-league directors 

of every major-league organization 

selected the players for the 

showcase. Each major-team organization 

was represented by at least 

one player. 

“The nation has the opportunity 

to see a sampling of the array of talent 

that is on display in the Arizona 

Fall League, six days a week for six 

weeks,” Cobb said. “We were proud 

to showcase some of the top prospects 

in baseball to a national viewing 

audience for the first time in the 

Rising Star Game.” 

Zawadzki had been invited to take 

part in the Padres’ spring training 

camp which begins in late February.

SPortS 

Four Inducted Into Hall oF Fame 

Bob rice, 

men’s Golf, 1981-1983 

Bob Rice was a member of 

the Lee golf team that qualified 

for the NAIA National Tournament 

in 1982. Under the leadership of 

Coach Stanley Butler, he teamed 

with Craig Lee, Gary Higginbotham, 

Andy Higginbotham, 

Stan Sherlin and Lynn Johnson to 

place 14th in the NAIA national 

and in the same year also won the 

NCCAA District 5 title. 

Rice has won many, many more 

tournaments over the years in the 

Chattanooga area and around the 

state. He walked away with Lee’s 

Stanley Butler Invitational too many 

times to count and also several 

Tennessee Golf Association events. 

Rice turned professional in 

1991 and was named the assistant 

pro at the Springbrook Golf and 

Country Club. In 1992 he captured 

the Pro-Assistant championship 

and was selected as the head pro 

at the Dayton Golf and Country 

Club in 1993. 

emily Brown Stone 

Women’s tennis, 1996-1998 

Emily Brown signed with the 

Lady Flames and played No. 1 

singles and doubles for coach Kay 

McDaniel for three years. She was a 

member of the 1997 and 1998 Lee 

teams named as ITA-NAIA All-American 

Scholar squads. 

Not only did Emily leave her mark 

on the Lee tennis court, she also was 

a standout in the classroom. She was 

a two-time All-TranSouth and All-NA- 

IA Scholar Athlete, graduated magna 

cum laude with a degree in psychology. 

Emily also holds a Master of 

Arts in Marriage, Family, and Child 

Counseling and a Master of Divinity. 

While a Lee student, Emily served as 

president of Delta Zeta Tau for two 

years and earned the Behavioral and 

Social Sciences Award. 

She and her husband Jonathan Stone 

served as missionaries in the Czech 

Republic for two years. After returning 

to Cleveland, she began a children’s 

tennis clinic and worked with 

different age groups. 

Kevin Young 

Baseball, 2000-2003 

Young was the starting catcher 

for the Flames for four seasons 

and graduated from Lee in 2004 

with a degree in business. Not only 

was he a standout on the baseball 

diamond, he was the 2003 winner of 

the Paul Conn Award, which is presented 

annually to the university’s 

top student athlete. 

Kevin’s career numbers include 

a .326 batting average, 219 hits, 

48 doubles, 58 home runs (career 

record that still stands), and 194 

RBI’s (career record that still stands). 

Other highlights include Team 

Rookie of the Year, Team MVP, 21 

home runs (single-season record 

that still stands), Team Captain, first 

team All-TranSouth, NAIA Scholar- 

Athlete, All-Region, second team 

All-American (Lee’s first All-American 

in baseball). Kevin also assisted 

Lee to its first TranSouth Conference 

Championship in baseball and 

its first Region Championship and 

Super Regional appearance. 

Five Cross 

Country 

runners Make 

nationals 

Running against colleges from three different conferences, Lee 

University’s Will Jayroe (26:30) finished fourth in the 100 runners and 

12 team field NAIA qualifying meet in Nashville, while freshman Steve 

Snyder (26:35) was sixth and joined Jayroe in earning spots in the NAIA 

Cross Country National on November 21. 

According to Lee Coach Don Jayroe, his son Will came out of a running 

slump just in time to repeat as the Flames' No. 1 runner and join 

Snyder in the national. "Will ran with great determination from the start of 

the race and was the first non-Kenyan runner to come across the finish 

line," added Jayroe. 

Jayroe and Snyder made the journey to Vancouver, Wash., for the nationals. 

Flames who did not qualify were: Caleb Morgan (27:12), who placed 12th; 

Andrew Darwin (27:29) was 15th; Matt Mitchell (27:42) was 19th; Mike Walker (27:42) came in 20th; Nathan Bennett (28:19) 

placed 21st; Josiah Young (28:39) was 40th; and Nathaniel Sexton (29:25) was 45th in the 8k event. 

“We’ve had another year of building our programs toward one of the best in the NAIA,” said Jayroe. “We have 

some talented young runners and we competed in several top–notch events this fall and this will certainly help our 

teams improve over the off season.” 

For the women runners, Erin Wasserfall 

led a trio of Lee women cross country 

runners into the NAIA National. She was 

joined by Anna Hrushka and Maggie Opelt. 

Running in the NAIA qualifying meet, Wasserfall 

placed third in the field of 64 runners 

and eight teams. 

"Erin ran behind Anna and Maggie 

during the early part of the season, but 

she was not to be denied at the most important 

meet of the season," said Coach 

Don Jayroe. While Wasserfall was running 

second, Anna Hrushka (19:40) ran close 

behind and placed fourth. Opelt (20:29) 

was ninth. Joy Hrushka (20:35) was 10th 

in the 5K event and Kristin Cretton (20:43) 

came in 13th and Sydnee Bowman (22:55) 

registered a 31st place finish. 

Clockwise from top left: Wasserfall, 

Jayroe, Hrushka, opelt, snyder 

sPorts 

cordel (corky) 

Whitlock, 

1964-1982, meritorious 

award 

Corky Whitlock has long been considered one of 

Tennessee’s top sports broadcasters. In 1964, he began 

working closely with the Lee College Vikings and former 

Lee basketball coaches Dale Hughes and Earl Rowan. 

Whitlock promoted the Vikings with one or two live 

broadcasts a year on WBAC radio, Whitlock and Hughes 

slowly found sponsors to help allow many thrilling broadcasts 

of Viking games from the early 70’s until 1982. 

Whitlock is a member of the Bradley County Sports 

Hall of Fame and the Bradley Central High School Basketball 

Hall of Fame and has been one of the leaders of 

the Bradley County Sports for Youth for over 30 years. 

26 

Winter 2009 27

sports 

Men’s soccer surprise 

entrants into 

nationals 

Coach Henry Moyo's Lee men's soccer team went 

into the Southern States Athletic Conference Tournament 

with a losing record and only a 5th seed in the 

seven-team 

event. But the 

veteran leader 

of young men 

enjoyed the last 

laugh when his 

Flames whipped 

the University of 

Auburn at Montgomery 

2-1 and 

walked away 

with the tourney 

championship 

for the second 

straight year. 

(photo above) lee senior chris Hennessey 

gets a big hug from coach Henry Moyo 

after scoring the winning goal against 

the university of auburn at Montgomery 

in the ssac and sending the Flames 

into the first round of the naia national 

tournament. Hennessey was the MVp of 

the ssac tourney. (right) Hennesssey 

goes for the goal against the university 

of the cumberlands. 

"I told the guys going into the tournament that it 

was a new season," said Moyo, who realized his team 

faced an even bigger challenge when they traveled to 

No. 1 ranked Lindsey-Wilson College for the opening 

round of the NAIA National Tournament. 

The young Flames apparently listened to their 

coach. They hit the road for victories at Southern Wesleyan, 

No. 4 ranked Southern Polytechnic State University 

and finally Auburn-Montgomery to move over the 

.500 mark for the first time this season (9-8-3) and claim 

the crown. 

Moyo said it was an extremely tough regular-season 

schedule that prepared his Flames for tourney play."I 

think playing all those ranked team close, helped make 

us better," the coach pointed out. 

Veteran senior goalkeeper Luidgi Beauzile was 

named to the All-SSAC first team. Seniors Curtis Alcide 

and Chris Hennessey were listed on the second team. 

Hennessey, who scored the winning goal against AUM, 

was named the SSAC tournament MVP. 

Lee placed five players on the All-SSAC Scholar Athlete 

team. Hennessey was honored again as were 

Michael Simmons, Marion Ayala, Drew Henderson 

and Demaro Jones. Simmons received 

Lee's NAIA Champion of Character Award. 

Women’s soccer captures 

ssac croWn again 

It has been another superior season for Coach Matt Yelton 

and his Lee women’s soccer program. The Lady Flames are 

shooting for a second straight NAIA National Championship 

after going undefeated in the Southern States Athletic Conference 

again and grabbing another SSAC tourney title. 

Lee’s only losses this season came at the hands of previously 

No. 1 ranked California Baptist and Lindsey Wilson, currently 

No. 1 ahead of the second-ranked Lady Flames. 

In a thrilling penalty kick win over Auburn Montgomery for 

the SSAC tournament championship, freshman goalkeeper 

Leah Wilson made three outstanding saves and was named the 

SSAC Tournament MVP. 

Not only did Yelton’s club dominate on the playing field, 

they again demonstrated outstanding work ethics in the classroom. 

Senior forward Chris Christensen, who was a first–team 

NAIA All-American last season, was selected by the SSAC 

coaches as the conference Player of the Year. She is also a 

conference and NAIA Scholar Athlete. Her twin sister, Linn, was 

named the SSAC Defensive Player of the Year. The Lady 

Flames had seven players garner first team conference 

awards. Jamie (sophomore) and Jenna (senior) Achten, 

Marina Lima (senior) Wilson and Kim Conrad (freshman) 

joined the Christensen’s on the unit. A pair of Lee defenders, 

Claire Lanter (freshman) and Kristine Tuck (senior), was 

named to the second team. 

Yelton’s group demonstrated their classroom skills 

by having seven listed on the All-Academic squad. The 

Christensen twins were joined by Jamie and Jenna Achten, 

Tuck, Kristen Carbine (sophomore) and Kelli Lawson (senior). 

Molly Hoeweler (senior) was selected as the team’s 

Champion of Character. To qualify for the SSAC academic 

team, an athlete must be at least a sophomore and carry 

a 3.2 GPA. 

Women’s BasketBall 

starts strong 

With all five starters back from the 2008-09 team that finished 

in the final eight of the NAIA National Tournament, it came as no 

surprise when the Lee women’s basketball team was once again 

picked to win the Southern States Athletic Conference title and 

ranked No. 5 in the NAIA preseason poll. 

While All-American Katie Nelson joined All-SSAC performer 

Brooke McKinnon in leading the list of returnees, Allison Rader 

is considered one the conference’s best point guard and Kayce 

Addison can run the run and leap with the best. Sophomore 

Angela Spann rounds out solid five. 

Lee opened the new season with an 86-48 romp over 

Tennessee Wesleyan November 7. Nelson got off to a great 

start against the Lady Bulldogs with 30 points. McKinnon 

followed with 17 points and Allison Rader dished off 

seven assists. Addison led a balanced rebounded attack 

with seven. 

senior kelli 

lawson moves 

after loose ball 

Brooke mckinnon looks 

to pass in win over 

tennessee Wesleyan 

28

Ralph Leonard Carroll ’48 passed 

away October 17, 2009, at his 

home in Cleveland, TN. He served 

in the Navy (Seabees) and received 

the distinguished honor award and 

several service medals including 

the Purple Heart. He founded Carroll 

Printing Company in 1952 and 

continued to work in the family 

business up until the day before he 

passed. Survivors include his wife 

of 63 years, Ruth Muncy Carroll, 

sons Jackie and Scott, grandchildren 

and one great-grandchild. 

Willis M. "Doc" Horton ’51, of Tulsa, 

OK, died on September 15, 2009 

at the age of 88. Before entering the 

ministry, he served in the U.S. Army 

in World War II, stationed in Germany, 

France, and Belgium. During his lifetime 

he pioneered and pastored several 

churches in Georgia, also serving 

as a state overseer for the Church of 

God for the states of New Mexico and 

Iowa. He pioneered Native American 

missions for the Church of God, establishing 

several churches on the Navajo 

Indian Reservation. Later he served as 

an instructor at Rhema Bible Training 

Center in Broken Arrow, OK. Doc Horton 

is survived by: his wife of 63 years, 

Vivian, and their two children. 

Pat Odom Splawn ’74 has been married 

to William (Bill) Splawn for 36 years 

and they have two grown children. Pat 

recently retired from the financial sector 

and is now working at home and 

volunteering at church. 

ATlANTA 

AlumNi TAp iNTo 

ThE poWER of 

Facebook 

By Robert Daugherty ‘85 

In the spring of 2009, several Atlanta 

alumni posted an event on Facebook to 

honor the memory of a fellow alumnus, 

Perry Keyt, who passed away in November 

2008. The attendees were all so glad 

to see each other, some not having seen 

each other in 25+ years all while living in 

the same town. Social networking sites 

such as MySpace or Facebook make it easy 

to have a breadth of friends, perhaps more difficult 

to have a depth of friends. So the group decided to 

use the breadth of Facebook’s reach in Atlanta to 

plan a gathering. Since the 1980s were defined by 

big hair, big pop groups, and the launch of MTV, the 

group decided to go big, and plan a “Big 80’s” Lee 

University event for all Atlanta-area alumni. 

Jeff Kallay ’86 spearheaded the Facebook effort. 

Soon attendees were responding, old photos 

from the 80s starting appearing on the site, and the 

buzz began. “It's all about the infinite viral loop 

- getting alumni to connect to each others online 

networks!,” comments Kallay. The Alumni office 

loaned 80s era memorabilia and yearbooks. Bingo 

cards with lingo only Lee alumni could comprehend 

were used as a mixer. 

In the months leading up to the event, the Facebook 

was populated with quizzes and polls. Since 

many of the attendees find it a challenge to commit 

an entire weekend to attend Homecoming, they enjoyed 

the chance to spend an evening to reconnect 

and relive old memories. To view the event, please 

search for “Lee College (University) Big 80's Atlanta 

Alumni Gathering” at www.facebook.com. Stay 

tuned for details of a bigger, better event in 2010. 

Brian Wade ’91, Morgan 

Wade and Lori Libby 

’77 were in Pirane, Formosa, 

Argentina to help 

plant a church when 

they took a break with 

Torch in front of the tent 

where church services 

were held every night. 

Robin Rawlings Lester ‘87 and 

her sons Trey and Luke, were at 

the Atlantis in the Bahamas where 

Torch was good reading for Nassau’s 

finest as well. 

Religion Professor Jerome 

Boone and his wife, Sandi, 

took Torch to Rome, Italy for 

the conference of the Society 

of Biblical Literature where a 

free afternoon found them at 

the Vatican in front of St. Peter’s 

Basilica. 

Charlotte Miller Music ‘93, 

Lorinda Lewis Roberts ‘98, 

Carla Miller Robinson ‘86 and 

Jennifer Belisle Propes ‘04 were 

in San Francisco, CA where they 

took an English version of Torch 

into Chinatown. 

Paulette B. Delaney ‘81, Ashlie 

Bonin ‘05 and Becky Burdashaw 

’05 shared their copy of Torch 

with residents of the Michael Job 

Center in India which seeks to 

rescue daughters of persecuted 

and martyred Christians. 

Donna Hardin Vasquez 

‘86 and Debbie Hardin 

Sawyer ‘81 read Torch at 

Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy 

France on their recent 

tour through Europe. 

30 WiNTER 2009 23 

30 

WiNTER 2009 23 31

32 

Melissa Pheobus ‘06 

and Kimberly Wheble 

‘06 recently traveled 

to the nation’s capital 

where they read Torch 

by the Reflecting Pool. 

alum produceS 

album of 

the Year 

On November 11, 2009, Nathan Chapman ‘00 was 

recognized with a Country Music Association (CMA) Award 

for producing “Fearless,” the CMA Album of the Year by 

country music phenom Taylor Swift. Chapman accepted 

the award on national television with Swift, who later that 

evening captured Female Vocalist and Entertainer of the 

Year honors. In April of 2009 Chapman received Album of 

the Year honors from the Academy of Country Music, again 

accepting the award alongside the 19-year-old Swift who 

has catapulted to stardom this year. 

Lieutenant Commander Karen Firestone Muntean 

entered the Navy as a Seaman Recruit in 1988. She graduated 

from Basic Training in Orlando, Fla., and Hospital Corps 

School in Great Lakes, Ill., From 1989 to 1990, she served as 

a laboratory technician at Mayport Medical Clinic, Jacksonville, 

Florida. She graduated from Field Medical School, 

Camp Pendleton, Calif., in 1990 and served with 

Third Medical Battalion, Third Force Service Support 

Group, Okinawa, Japan for two years during 

which time she was chosen to assist with Exercise 

Team Spirit, Korea. After completing her 

Active Duty commitment in 1992, she joined the 

Navy Reserve and served with Naval Hospital 

Camp Lejeune Detachment at Navy 

Operational Support Center (NOSC) 

Chattanooga, Tenn. 

LCDR Muntean was commissioned 

as Ensign in July 1997 through the Direct 

Commissioning Program. Upon 

completion of the Navy Supply Corps 

Basic Qualification Course in Athens, Ga., she served as 

Sharon (Perry) Mancini '58, 

Yvonne (Perry) Chelette ' 59, 

JoAnn (Tharp) Luallen '58 

and Mervin "Buddy" Luallen 

'57 took Torch on an Alaskan 

Inside Passage cruise on the 

cruise ship Carnival Spirit. 

Salute to 

alumni troopS 

the Supply Department Head for Norfolk Naval Shipyard 

Detachment 308 at NOSC Chattanooga. She reported to 

Navy Cargo Handling Battalion TWELVE, in Bessemer, Ala., 

in 2003 serving as Officer in Charge for two years. Following 

her OIC tour, she was selected as Battalion Training Officer 

and mobilized as Training Officer of Navy Expeditionary 

Logistics Support Group, Kuwait in support of Operation 

Enduring Freedom. She served as Senior Supply Officer of 

Naval Mobile Construction Battalion TWO FOUR in Huntsville, 

Ala., and was called again to mobilize to Navy Personnel 

Command, Millington, Tenn., as an Individual Augmentation 

Placement Officer from 2008 to 2009. She assumed 

command of NOSC Green Bay, Wisc., in September 2009 

following her transfer to the Full Time Support, Human Resources 

Community. 

LCDR Muntean is qualified as a Seabee Combat Warfare 

Officer. Her personal awards include three Navy Commendation 

Medals, four Navy Achievement Medals, and various 

other awards and recognition. She holds a bachelors of science 

in Accounting from Lee University and a Masters of 

Business Administration from the University of Tennessee. 

LoNg-TimE LEE BoaRd 

mEmBER PassEs aWay 

Edward Hollowell, a member of the Lee University Board of Directors, 

died on November 9 in a Raleigh, North Carolina hospital. Hollowell, 

75, was an attorney in the Raleigh area for almost forty years. 

Hollowell was serving in his twentieth year on the Lee board. He 

had chaired on some of the board's most important committees, and 

played a key role in shaping the university's 

development since 1990. His wife, 

Sunshine, frequently accompanied him to 

board meetings on the Lee campus, and 

has been involved in many events and activities 

of board spouses. 

Hollowell graduated from the University 

of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 

(1959) as well as the University of North 

Carolina School of Law (1961). He was 

a veteran of the United States Army, and 

retired as a colonel in the Army Reserve 

Medical Service Corp. During his legal 

practice, Hollowell specialized in medical 

law, and held many offices, including 

president, of the American Academy of 

Health Care Attorneys. 

Honoring his distinguished legal career 

as well as his leadership on the Lee 

University Board of Directors, Hollowell 

was named the "Distinguished Honorary Alumnus" award at Lee during 

the 2005 Homecoming weekend. 

Hollowell's funeral services were conducted on November 14 at the 

Cary Church of God, where he was a member for many years. Participants 

included Dr. Paul Conn, president of Lee, and Dr. Andrea Dismukes, 

a faculty member in the Department of Vocal Music, along with Pastor 

Richard Dial of the Cary church and former pastor Doug Allen. 

ThREE gENERaTioNs 

oF LEE aLUms 

Jason Shrable 

(far right) and his 

wife, Paloma Elliott 

Shrable became 

Lee alumni at Lee's 

summer graduation 

in August, 

joining Paloma's 

parents Keith '80 

and Susan Diaz 

Elliott '81 (center) 

and her grandparents 

Winston '47 

and Lucille Vance 

Elliott '49. The 

senior Elliotts are 

both former faculty 

members at Lee. 

FoRmER LEE sTaFF 

KEviN KNighT 

diEs oF h1N1 

Kevin Knight ’01, a popular Lee 

staff member who recently took a 

church position in Greer, S.C., died of 

complications from the H1N1 flu on 

October 21, 2009. He was 37. 

Kevin had served in several capacities 

at Lee following his graduation in 

2001. They included resident director 

for Medlin, O’Bannon and Hicks Halls 

between 2002 and 2006. He was also 

the technical director for the Conn and 

Dixon Centers and Squires Recital Hall. 

At the time of his death he was video 

director and youth leader at the Praise 

Cathedral Church of God in Greer. 

“Kevin was a wonderful individual 

who put his heart into everything that 

he did at Lee University,” stated Tracey 

Carlson, director of residential life at Lee. 

“He cared deeply for students and he 

was passionate about the University's 

mission. Kevin loved to make others 

laugh and always saw the best in others. 

More than anything Kevin wanted 

students to experience God's love and 

grace in their lives.” 

Kevin was married to Joanna, and 

they had two sons, McKaden, 5, and 

Brenston, 2. 

Memorials can be made to the 

Kevin Knight Memorial Fund, c.o. 

Praise Cathedral, P.O. Box 287, Greer, 

SC, 29652. 


Jerry Wood ’75 is a 

grandfather of four and 

living in Cleveland, TN. 

He is area coordinator for 

Cultural International Education 

Exchange, a nonprofit 

group that matches 

families with foreign exchange 

students. 

John Harbin ’81 has 

been a pastor with the 

Church of God in South 

Carolina for 27 years. 

He is currently pastor of 

the Walterboro Church 

of God and has been for 

the past 12 years. He 

and his wife, Irene, have 

two sons who are both 

deployed in the Iraq and 

Afghanistan conflict. 

Paul Muresan ’82 lives in 

Yorba Linda, CA, where 

he is enrolled at Gordon 

Conwell Theological 

Seminary in the D.Min. 

program. Paul is an associate 

pastor at First 

Presbyterian Church of 

Westminster and involved 

in missions to Romania. 

He is also president of 

Reach Out to Romania, 

a non-profit organization 

for children of Romania. 

Glen R. Gattenby ’83 

is pastoring the Madisonville 

Church of God 

in Madisonville, TN, 

and is married to Lonna 

(Coile) Gattenby. 

Dan ‘86 and Lisa Dailey 

Durham ‘86 live in Bartow, 

FL, where Dan is 

an assistant principal at 

Bartow High School and 

Lisa is a seventh-grade 

reading teacher at Bartow 

Middle School. Their oldest 

daughter Danielle is a 

sophomore at Lee. They 

also have a daughter who 

is a high school senior. 

Dennis Stewart ’86 is 

married to Kimberly and 

they live in Chickamauga, 

GA. Dennis owns a 

shelving business and 

recently completed 

classes to be certified 

to teach Special Education. 

After being told 

they could never have 

children, the Stewarts 

call their five-year-old 

daughter their miracle 

child. 

Robin Rawlings Lester 

’87 is a middle 

school guidance counselor 

in central Florida, 

and currently working 

on her doctoral studies 

in teacher leadership. 

Robin would love 

to hear from classmates 

via e-mail at robinr65@ 

bellsouth.net. 

Roberto Vigo ’89 holds a 

masters degree from the 

University of Tennessee at 

Chattanooga and an MBA 

from Wilmington University. 

He and his wife, Genie, 

and their two children live 

in Simpsonville, SC. Roberto 

is director of technology 

and business development 

at CeramTec in 

Laurens, SC. 

Vrenda Branigan ‘95 

lives in Hope Mills, NC, 

with her new husband, 

Sean, who she married 

on September 19, 2009. 

Vrenda is a government 

worker with the Social 

Security Administration. 

Drew and Stacy Simpson 

Brown ‘99 welcomed 

their second son, 

Grant Prescott Brown, on 

September 3, 2009. The 

Brown family resides in 

Woodstock, GA. 

Jamie ’00 and Darlena 

Buttram Watson ’99 

live in Young Harris, GA. 

Jamie graduated from 

Florida State University 

in Tallahassee, FL, on 

August 8, 2009, with 

a Ph.D. in Philosophy. 

He is an assistant professor 

of Philosophy at 

Young Harris College. 

Jamie has contributed 

articles to The Quarterly 

Review of Biology, The 

Office & Philosophy, 

Johnny Cash & Philosophy, 

and Transformers 

& Philosophy. Darlena 

has started a company, 

Trinity Bookkeeping 

Service, providing services 

to churches and other 

non-profit companies. 

Douglas Grace ‘03, his 

wife Michelle and their 

daughter, are now living in 

Key West, FL where they 

moved after Douglas’ return 

from deployment. 

Together, they are now 

serving with the United 

States Coast Guard there 

in Key West. 

Adam ’03 and 

Tiffani Moore 

Swalley ’01 live 

in Chicago where 

Tiffani is a professional 

theatre director 

and actor 

and Adam is pursuing 

a Master’s 

in Divinity from 

Moody Bible Institute. 

The Swalleys 

were married in 

Knoxville, TN, on 

January 3, 2009. 

Who's Where 

is for YOU! 

Help keep the Who's Where section 

of Torch vital by passing along YOUR 

update! We are especially in need 

of updates from alumni of the 1950's 

through the '80's. Here's how you can 

participate: 

Debbie Hopkins McAlanis ’03 

lives in suburban Philadelphia with 

her husband, Edward, where she 

is training manager at LRP Publications. 

She earned an M.A. in Communication 

Studies from Eastern 

Go to www.leeuniversity.edu/alumni 

and click on the "Who's Where Update" 

link and fill out the form 

OR 

Send an e-mail to torch@leeuniversity.edu 

Michigan University in 2006, and 

was an adjunct instructor of technology, 

speech and interpersonal communication. 

Debbie also competes 

in international distance and Half 

Ironman triathlons, and ran her first 

marathon in 2007. 

Melanie Jones Tolar ’03 is living 

in her home town of Charlotte, NC, 

with her husband, David, and two 

children. Melanie works in accounting 

at Overhead Door and attends 

Grace Covenant in Cornelius, NC. 

Andrew Black ’04 is working as a special 

education teacher in St. Louis, IL. 

Gabriel E. Fidler '05 recently won 

the 2009 Nels Andrew Cleven Prize 

for a paper submitted to the Phi Alpha 

Theta Honor Society National 

Paper Prize Competition. The $350 

prize was awarded for his paper 

titled "Educational Reform, Football 

and the Public Sphere in Nineteenth- 

Century England." He is pursuing a 

master of arts degree in history at 

the University of Tennessee. 

Beth Lee ’06 recently graduated 

with an MPA degree from the University 

of Tennessee at Chattanooga 

and is now attending law school. 

Richane Johnson ’07 married Patrick 

Robbins on July 25, 2009, and 

the newlyweds live in Hartsville, SC. 

Richane teaches 7th and 8th grade 

science at Spaulding Middle School 

in Lamar, SC. They attend Hartsville 

Community Fellowship. 

Josh ’08 and Jessica Whitter Hanson ’08 are from Palm Beach Gardens, FL, but have been 

missionaries at the Casa Shalom orphanage in Guatemala since June 2008. They have 55 kids in 

the home and a blog that features their ministry - www.TheHansonsinGuatemala.blogspot.com. 

OR 

Write us at Lee University Alumni 

Office, 1120 N. Ocoee Street, 

Cleveland, TN 37312. 

Along with your update, don't forget to 

include your contact information and the 

last year you attended Lee or BTS. 

if you have a photo to go along with 

your entry, digital photos e-mailed 

in high resolution is the best option, 

however you may also mail your photos. 

We want to hear 

from you! 

34 


P.O. Box 3450 

Cleveland, TN 37320-3450 

www.leeuniversity.edu 

BREAKING NEWS: 

Voices of Lee 

to appear on NBC's 

“The Sing-Off” 

Dear Alumni, 

Premiering, Monday, Dec. 14 

at 8:00 p.m. 

Complete coverage in the 

Spring 2010 Torch! 

If you ask our alumni why they haven’t made a gift to Lee University this year many 

of them would say “It’s because I haven’t been asked.” So I thought I would take 

a moment to ask. Will you make a gift right now to the 2009 Annual Alumni Fund? 

Think about your time on campus. You had an amazing experience and made some 

great memories with incredible friends. You discovered who you are. That’s the 

same experience that we want to preserve for the next generation. 

When you make your gift, you provide scholarships, strengthen the 

quality of our academics, and increase the value of your degree. It’s 

really not the dollar amount that matters, it’s that you give. So will you 

make a gift right now to Lee University’s 2009 Annual Alumni Fund? 

For your convenience visit our website at 

http://alumni.leeuniversity.edu/ to make a secure 

online donation. 

Or mail contributions to: 

Lee University 

Alumni Relations 

P.O. Box 3450 

Cleveland, TN 37320-3450 

Thank you for your support and have a blessed 

Christmas season! 

Anita Ray ‘81 

Director of Alumni Relations 

2009 Alumni 

Fund Goal: 

$415,000 

2009 Alumni 

Fund pledges 

to date (11/23): 

$366,773 

2009 Alumni Fund 

contributions to 

date (11/23): 

$312,820

wInter 2009 - Lee University

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