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alumni news1940sCharlene (McMillian) Watson’44 of Arlington, Texas, was named theArlington Star-Telegram’s Woman ofthe Year in April. The paper wrote,“Some of Charlene Watson’s friendshave nicknamed her Arlington’s fairygodmother. ... On any given week, morethan a dozen organizations benefit fromher time, talent, money andcompassion.” A long-time musiceducator in the area who retired in themid 1980s, Watson, the article said,“became the school district’s unofficiallead music teacher who seized onopportunities to mentor and recruitother music teachers. She traveled at herown expense to universities around theworld to learn the latest music teachingtechniques.” Joan Duke, a friend ofWatson, estimates that Watson helpswith 27 different organizations,including Friends of the ArlingtonPublic Library, at The First PresbyterianChurch, Boys and Girls Clubs ofArlington, the Arlington Women’sShelter, Habitat for Humanity andMeals on Wheels. Said Duke, “Everyorganization and every individualwhose life she touches is enriched byher physical help, her support, herattendance and participation inactivities, her monetary contributions ...and by her being a visionary andexcellent organizer.”1950sDr. Frank Cole ’50 and Clarissa“Shorty” (Stith) Cole ’50 ofJonesboro, Ark., celebrated their 60thwedding anniversary on Feb. 20, 2004.The couple has three children, 10grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren.Dr. Robert H. Hudgens ’50 andwife Harriet are enjoying retirement inRogers, Ark.Joel Gibbons ’57 and wife Sue areliving in Addison, Texas, where he is abuilding contractor, partner and seniorproject manager for Basecom, Inc.Jerry Speer ’58 is a retired highschool principal living in Pasadena,Texas, with his wife Mary. They havefour daughters, all college graduates,and nine grandchildren. He is currentlyLaster continues to shine on diamondLee Laster ’58 of Honolulu, Hawaii, who playedfour years of baseball at Ozarks, continues to star on thediamond as his Senior Softball Team (60-plus), theAikane Foundation, recently won the Hawaii StateSenior Softball Championship.Laster, 71, plays left field for Aikane. He also hasplayed for several Hawaii All-Star Tournament teams,including a 65s team that won the World MastersChampionships in Las Vegas last October. Playing thirdbase, he was the oldest player on the team, had thesecond-highest batting average (.628) and was named tothe all-tournament team.Laster, who plays an average of three softball games a week, attributes hisability to still play ball to a reasonably rigorous exercise program that includesstretching, walking at least three miles a day and some gym work. He also creditshis wife, Darlene, who ensures he eats right.Laster is a former FBI special agent and retired as an assistant director,running the New York Office, the FBI’s largest, his last five years. Lee andDarlene say they welcome contact with Ozarks alumni visiting Hawaii.Maxine Eggensperger ’41 of Fort Smith,Ark., recently wrote a book about her latehusband’s history as a World War II ArmyAir Force pilot. The book, entitled "Flyingthe Hump,” details accounts of Kermit“Doc” Eggensperger and his fellow crewmembers as they flew missions over thetowering Himalayas in support of Chineseand U.S. forces. Maxine is retired fromteaching English at Fort Smith NorthsideHigh School and UA-Fort Smith.serving his second term on the PasedenaSchool District Board of Trustees aspresident.1960sDavid Woodard ’62 of Tulsa,Okla., retired on May 1 after workingthe past few years as a financial advisorfor his own firm, Tulsa InvestmentAdvisory. He worked in the oil industryin Tulsa for 28 years before retiring in1992 and entering the individualinvestment industry. He and his wifeBeverly have two grown children.Jack Bixby ’64 and his wife MaryEllen are living in Cumberland,Maryland, where he is the seniorminister of the Congregational Churchin Cumberland.Ron Marvel ’65 retired as headwomen’s basketball coach at theUniversity of Central Arkansas inFebruary. Marvel coached for 39 years,including 24 at UCA where his recordof 489-197 makes him the state’swinningest women’s coach. His UCAteams reached postseason play in 21 ofthe 24 seasons he coached.24 Today, SPRING/SUMMER 2004