Message from your Dean - Sam Houston State University

Fall 2005
C O L L E G E O F B U S I N E S S A D M I N I S T R A T I O N
R. Dean Lewis, Dean
College of
Business Administration
Sam Houston State University
A Member of
The Texas State University System
Earned Excellence
The Best Business Schools
In This Issue
In The World
Review Board
Professors
Roger Abshire
Leroy Ashorn
William Green
Joe James
Ross Quarles
Managing Editor
Margaret Quarles
Graphic Design
Nancy Tiller
COBA Pride!
is published
semiannually
by the
College of
Business
Administration
CenterPoint Energy Classroom ..... 2
Dow Lecture Hall .................................... 2
Class Notes .................................................... 3
New Advisory
Council Member ....................................... 5
Faculty Milestones .................................... 5
Dedication Ceremony Snapshots . 6
COBA Donors .......................................... 7
COBA Contributors/
Matching Gifts ............................................ 8
Message from your Dean
There is no better way to begin an academic
year than to open a facility that raises our teaching
capacity to a whole new level. On September 16 th
we officially opened the doors to the new Smith-
Hutson Business Building Addition and the facil-
ity is receiving all “A”s from students, faculty, staff,
and visitors. With its cutting-edge technology,
spacious, comfortable classrooms and open and
inviting common areas, this expansion will allow
us to better serve our students, faculty, staff and
external constituencies.
These added facilities will also allow the
College and the University to continue its cur-
rent growth trend. The University has enjoyed six
years of record-setting enrollments supported by
the College of Business Administration’s continu-
ous growth since 1995. Both the quality and the
quantity of our student body continue to grow and
our graduate enrollment has more than doubled
in recent years. New programs in banking and the
PGA-accredited Professional Golf Management
program will greatly benefit from this addition.
In short, continued growth in the College would
not be possible without this addition.
We have attempted to build a “student
friendly” atmosphere that supports and encourages
interaction among our students as they grow and
learn together. I believe the College’s most distinc-
tive competencies are: (1) genuine and sincere
student/faculty relationships (2) the provision of a
positive learning environment, supported by a car-
ing, superbly credentialed faculty, resulting in (3)
quality student preparation. These competencies
will be greatly enhanced by these added facilities.
We thank all of our friends who have helped
bring this project to fruition: the past and current
members of the College’s Advisory Council, our
legislators who supported the funding for this
project, the members of The Texas State University
System Board of Regents for their confidence in us,
and our upper administration for their leadership.
The combined efforts of many were invaluable in
the planning and completion of this facility and
to all who contributed to this task, we are most
grateful.
Yes, we are well pleased by the capability and
the promise provided by this new structure that
will allow us to stretch our resources further and
achieve even more. The College’s current students,
alumni, and friends can be proud of this faculty,
this facility, and this College of Business Adminis-
tration, which has always stood and will continue
to stand – as in the words of our alma mater – firm
and undaunted and true to the test.
— R. Dean Lewis
College Opens Addition
SHSU President James F. Gaertner and TSUS Chancellor Charles R. Matthews
Dedication festivities drew a large crowd to the center of campus to watch
as SHSU President and COBA alumnus James F. Gaertner and TSUS Chancellor
Charles R. Matthews cut the orange and blue ribbons across the courtyard entries
and officially opened the Smith-Hutson Business Building Addition on September
16 th . Approximately 300 visitors toured the new facility and looked on as the Col-
lege of Business Administration achieved a key milestone in its history and realized
what was for many a dream come true.
Following the ribbon cutting, the ceremony moved inside to the foyer where
Dean Lewis welcomed the guests, gave an overview of the project, and, following
remarks made by President Gaertner and Chancellor Matthews, presented a custom
brass key to each of the room sponsors who to date have participated in the College’s
Building on Excellence fund, in honor of their key support of the College. A festive
luncheon reception sponsored by the project’s architectural firm Graeber Simmons
& Cowan followed the ceremony, where each guest received a specially-minted
commemorative coin and had the opportunity to visit with Sammy Bearkat.
The Addition provides the College with much-needed space and consolida-
tion of its programs. At 47,475 square feet, the project cost $8.3 million and sup-
ports a comprehensive, modern learning environment. Highlights of the structure
include a new auditorium, two lecture halls and 13 classrooms that yield a total of
900 additional classroom seats, 39 faculty offices, two departmental office suites,
student computer and study areas, a golf club design and learning lab and a robot-
ics lab. The Addition is joined to the existing structure by enclosed hallways on all
three floors, maximizing accessibility to all areas of the College. Large tinted glass
windows on the east and west sides of the Addition offer students and visitors
sweeping views of the campus from corridors and classrooms, and the new lobby
area, replete with ceiling-high windows and surrounded on both sides by a beauti-
fully-landscaped courtyard, maximizes the College’s capacity for large gatherings
and other special events.
“Approved by the Board of Regents in 2003, designed by Graeber Simmons &
Cowan, and completed in just 18 months by SpawGlass Construction Corporation,
the Smith-Hutson Addition doubles the space available to students of the College
of Business Administration,” said R. Dean Lewis, dean of the College. “This beau-
tiful facility exemplifies our commitment to teaching excellence and ensures that
the College can continue to offer our students an effective and attractive learning
environment for the foreseeable future.”

If you should visit the website CenterPointEnergy.com, you would read that Houston’s
third-largest energy employer is committed to building a company that is always there for
its customers, employees and shareholders. And, if you could revisit the College of Business
Administration as an undergraduate, you would quickly realize that Gary Whitlock ’72 and
Preston Johnson, Jr. ’77 are always there for our students, too.
No matter how busy their schedules or how far-flung their travels, these two alumni
have always kept the College and its students close to their hearts. Gary, CenterPoint Energy’s
executive vice president and chief financial officer and Preston, formerly CenterPoint Energy’s
senior vice president of human resources, have played significant roles in the progress of the Col-
lege for a number of years. Both began long and distinguished careers with The Dow Chemical
Company and both returned to their native Texas – Gary in 1995 and Preston in 2000 – to
head up the new energy company headquartered in Houston. Throughout the years their la-
bors on behalf of the students of the College have included significant and sustained funding
of scholarships, student internship opportunities, the marshalling of important technologies
throughout the curriculum via The Dow Technology Demonstration Center, membership on
the dean’s Advisory Council, involvement with several of the College’s student groups, includ-
ing the local chapter of the honor society Beta Gamma Sigma, and many hours spent as guest
lecturers and mentors. Now, thanks in large part to Gary’s and Preston’s administration and
encouragement, CenterPoint Energy, Inc. is strengthening and enhancing the learning environ-
ment for our students.
The CenterPoint Energy Classroom went into full operation this semester, housing
classes in business analysis, economics and management. Located on a main corridor of the new
addition, students and faculty alike appreciate the comfort and convenience this room affords.
Design features include a tiered amphitheater style, a complete multimedia package and a seating
capacity of up to 55 students. Effective for large and small classes alike, the CenterPoint Energy
Classroom echoes in every way the history and intent of Preston’s and Gary’s commitment to
our students: in support of academic excellence. Thank you!
Following a visit to the College and tour of the Smith-Hutson Addition construction
site last summer, Jeff W. Lee ’78, a finance director for The Dow Chemical Company, launched
a fundraising campaign for alumni who are employed by Dow to collectively sponsor a lecture
hall in the new Smith-Hutson Addition. Jeff discussed the idea with Roland K. Hendricks ‘80,
site controller for Dow’s Houston operations, and Roland quickly joined the effort. Together
they contacted more than 150 Bearkat alumni around the world who are employees or retirees
of Dow and requested contributions to The Dow Chemical Company Lecture Hall sponsor-
ship fund.
In their letter Jeff and Roland, both accounting majors during their undergraduate
years, reminded recipients that gifts to the room sponsorship fund are tax deductible and urged
generous pledges, citing the College’s five-year installment plan for sponsorship commitments.
In addition, The Dow Chemical Company Foundation recently launched its matching gift
program, which allows members of the Dow family to double gifts of $250 or more to the
room sponsorship fund.
On September 16 th The Dow Chemical Company Lecture Hall was officially dedicated
to service; the donor honor roll – the engraved list of contributors’ names installed inside the
lecture hall – and the commemorative plaques were unveiled. During the ceremony Dean
Lewis recognized Dow lecture hall sponsors and President Gaertner presented a large antique
brass key, symbolizing the key support provided to the College, to fund representative Roland
Hendricks. The College of Business Administration is grateful to The Dow Chemical Company
for its support and especially to those alumni who continue The Dow Chemical Company’s
commitment to education through their kind and thoughtful generosity.
Christina Armstead
Bill Evans
Allan Fowler
Orville Glaesman
Roland K. Hendricks
Preston Johnson, Jr.
The Campaign Continues!
Join the following in their support of
The Dow Lecture Hall fund:
CenterPoint Energy Classroom
Dow Lecture Hall Fund Gathers Momentum
Jill Lawson
Jeff W. Lee
Stacey Michalik
Mary Montague
Donovan Pitre
John Sampson
Bill Stavropoulos
W. Marcus Stephenson
Greg Stroud
Leonard Valka
Gary Whitlock
Bob Whitmarsh
SMITH-HUTSON
A business analysis class in the CenterPoint Energy Classroom
President Gaertner
t h a n k s f u n d
representative Roland
Hendricks
J e f f L e e
( r i g h t ) t o u r s
c o n s t r u c t i o n
site with COBA
d e p a r t m e n t
c h a i r R o s s
Quarles (left)

CLASS notes
1940s
Col. John M. Terry, Jr. USMC (Ret.) emails that on December 7,
1941 he was in his room on the second floor of Jackson Hall studying
for a Monday morning exam when John McDonald ran down the
hall yelling to Wiley Thomas that Pearl Harbor had been bombed.
From within the hallway another voice yelled “Where in heck is Pearl
Harbor?” It wasn’t long until everybody was crowded into the open
room of a boy who had a radio. John recalls talking with Mr. Sowers,
along with many others, about how long they might be there as they
began to realize where Pearl Harbor was located. John left SHSTC to
join the Marine Corps and participated in WWII, Korea and Vietnam
and retired in 1973 after almost 31 years of honorable service. He
ultimately graduated from Southern Methodist University in 1947
on the GI Bill, but writes that his best and most memorable times
were spent at Sam Houston State Teachers College.
Judge Roy Simmons, Jr. ’43 writes that he is a municipal judge for
the City of Pearland and has a part-time law practice, limited to will
and probate work. In October 1942 he and roommate John Terry
(above) drove to San Antonio and enlisted in the Marines. Both
were sent back to finish school. “I graduated Sept. 3, 1943,” he writes,
“got through boot camp at Parris Island, SC six weeks later and was
commissioned March 1, 1944. John stayed in the Corps, retired a full
colonel, and was the leader of one of the toughest Marine Corps battalions
in the Viet Nam war!”
C.F. Kuykendall ’47 writes that he retired as the assistant superintendant
of Pine Tree Longview school district in 1980 and spent
12 years on the Tatum school board. He keeps busy as a director of
the East Texas Professional Credit Union, as a director of the Rusk
County Tax Appraisal District, and as a member of the First Christian
Church in Longview. C.F. had 52 years’ of perfect attendance in Lions
International and served a term as district governor in 1977-1978. His
daughter is a schoolteacher in Longview and his granddaughter is in
the eighth grade. “84 years old,” he writes, “and in good health.”
Geraldyne F. Braden ’48 writes from San Marcos that after graduation
she taught school in Rosebud and then Orange. After her marriage
to Bearkat James E. Braden, she taught in the Houston school
district while James completed dental school. The couple moved to
San Marcos in 1956 and have been there ever since. Geraldyne was
the business manager in her husband’s practice for many years and
the couple raised ten children. Daughter Celeste took over the dental
practice when her parents retired. Geraldyne and Jimmy have 26 grandchildren,
1 great grandson and love every minute of retirement. Both
have been very active in San Marcos with their church and with the
Lions Club: Jimmy is a member and past president and Geraldyne is a
past president of the Ladies Bluebonnet Lions Club. “We stay active,”
she writes, “but don’t do quite as much as in our earlier years.”
1950s
Mary Denn Hays ’57 writes that she and husband Dennie Hays
‘57 are both retired teachers. Their two sons, Russell and Donald,
graduated from UT at Austin, their daughter Laura is a graduate of the
University of the Incarnate Word, and they have four grandchildren.
Dennie was inducted into the Texas High School Coaches Association
Hall of Honor in 2001.
Charles Franklin ’58 emails that he graduated in August 1958 with
a degree in accounting. After a tour of military duty he took a job as
chief accountant in the business office at SHSU and also taught an
evening class in elementary accounting. His “study buddy,” he recalls,
was Don Rose ‘58. Charles and his wife Ima Jeane ‘58 grew up in
Normangee and Ima Jeane was in the same class with the older brother
of R. Dean Lewis (COBA’s current dean). Charles retired in 2001 as
the senior vice president and chief financial officer of the University of
Texas at Austin. He and Ima Jeane live on Lake Travis and have three
daughters and four grandchildren.
Don Rose ’58 emails that this past summer he took a river cruise
from Moscow to St. Petersburg, Russia and had a very educational and
enjoyable time. Thanks to Class Notes, he says, he and his best friend
from college Charles Franklin ’58 are planning a get-together soon,
after some 25 years.
SMITH-HUTSON
After logging many years in the petroleum industry, Charles T.
Mallery ’59 has retired from ExxonMobil and is currently brokering
downstream asset sales/acquisitions mainly with distributors and
retail stores. Wife Ann Crump Mallery SHSU ’58 has retired, also,
from JP Morgan Chase. Their children Marc and Marla Mallery live
in Keller and have one son, Maddox; Todd and Dyan Mallery Klein
are in Boston, MA with daughters Mallery and Kennedy; and Penn
Mallery lives in Abilene.
Judge Jerry Sandel ’59 emails that he always looks forward to seeing
all alumni, especially the Delts, and that Homecoming gets better
every year! He and wife June “Sam” Shaw Sandel ’59 have lived
in Huntsville since 1971 and Jerry retired three years ago after serving
20 years as a state district judge. He and Sam have two children and
three grandchildren.
1960s
Arland Phelps ’60 writes that his social club which later became a
chapter of ATO held a get-together during Homecoming. “Nothing
much to report,” he says, as he and his wife are retired and their
children are grown.
Col. Ken Jordan ’61 USMC (Ret.) emails that he was recently appointed
to the federal Veterans Disability Benefits Commission and
attends monthly hearings in Washington, DC. He was sorry to have
missed Homecoming this year and the induction of his old friend
and fraternity brother Dan Womack SHSU ’60 into the circle of
Distinguished Alumni. Ken was named as one of the Distinguished
Alumni of 2002.
Teresa Hester Chipman ’66 remembers living in King Hall and
then Margaret Houston House during her college years. After graduation
she took a job with Shell Oil and lived in Houston. She married
Richard Chipman and they had two sons, Chad and Creighton. After
Richard passed away in 1991, Teresa took a job as lead IT consultant
for Texas A&M and this year accepted a job on the A&M engineering
campus in Doha, Qatar. Although life is very different in Qatar, Teresa
likes her new job and plans on working there for another three years.
When she retires, she plans to return to College Station, where her son
is living in her home while finishing school. “If anyone remembers me
and would like to email me,” she writes, “I’d love to hear from them.
My email address is chipman@neo.tamu.edu.”
Randy McNeel ’68 is a lobbyist in Austin, representing several insurance
companies and large employers on labor and insurance-related
matters. Randy earned an MBA from Temple University in 1987 and
an MLA from Southern Methodist University in 1992. He writes that
he was a member of Sigma Chi just after Jim (University President
James F. Gaertner) graduated and is glad to see the school is in his
very capable hands.
Donna Jan Green Ivie ’69 emails that she has enjoyed a career
teaching business and marketing classes and received her masters in
vocational education from SHSU in 1978. Jan has worked for years
at the national, state and local levels to promote vocational education
and marketing classes in public schools. During her 35-year career she
received many professional awards and was privileged to have several
students who entered and won marketing competitions. Jan’s whole
family are Bearkats: husband Anthony Ray (Pete) Ivie ’70, brother
Wesley Green, and his wife Margo Janicek Green. “We have all
enjoyed a good life,” she writes, “due to the educations we received from
SHSU.” When in Huntsville Jan and Pete like to visit retired ROTC
instructor John Strickland at the Cafe Texan and drive around campus
to see all the new developments.
1970s
Patrick E. Biesiadecki ’70 reports from San Antonio that he recently
moved back to Texas from the Richmond, VA area where he
was controller for The Reciprocal Group in Liquidation. During his
college years, Patrick majored in accounting and was a two-year letterman
on the Bearkat basketball team. Patrick is single and continues
his membership with the Beaumont Founders Lions Club; he is a past
president of the group and was named a Melvin Jones Fellow (Mr. Jones
was the first president of Lions International).
Allen Schoppe ’70 emails that he is a certified public accountant and
executive director for business and support services for the Sweeny
ISD. His wife is a deputy superintendent at Alief ISD and their son
graduates from SHSU in December.
Ed McIntosh ’71 emails from Houston that he recently earned two
certifications (the CPM and the APP) from the Institute for Supply
Management. Ed’s career as a supply chain management professional
in Houston’s oil and gas industry spans 25 years. In addition to his BBA
degree he holds an Executive MBA from Pepperdine University and a
BA equivalent in journalism from the University of Houston. He takes
pride in how the Huntsville community continues to prosper from his
years at SHSU. Classmates from Ed’s era will remember how he and
fellow Vietnam veteran Robert McCracken ’71 created the “Citizens
for a Progressive Huntsville” and, after registering thousands of new
student voters from a make-shift booth next to the Lowman Student
Center, engineered the December 7, 1971 local-option election that
changed the city from “dry” to “wet.”
Dan Rawls ’73 reports from Dusseldorf, Germany that he is still
enjoying retirement. Wife Kendra is now the managing director for
RL Polk’s German office and they enjoy traveling around Europe
and experiencing the different cultures. Dan is proud of his threegeneration
Bearkat family which also includes daughter Danielle
’03 and Danielle’s grandfather, Billy Eaves ’52; Dan is hoping that
granddaughter Emilee will make it four! Dan and Kendra return home
to Palm Springs as much as possible and enjoy flying the family in for
visits. “We are loyal supporters of SH athletics and members of the
Century Club,” he writes. “It brings us great pride to belong to the
SHSU community.”
Preston Johnson, Jr. ’73 has recently signed on as vice president
for human resources for The Woodlands energy company Anadarko
Petroleum. Anadarko is one of the world’s largest independent energy
companies with 2.37 billion barrels of proven reserves and a workforce
of 3,400 worldwide.
Bonnie Shirley Brown ’74 emails that it all started at SHSU! She
and Mark A. Brown ’74 met in 1970, married in 1975 and just celebrated
30 years in May! Mark is a State Farm agent in Raymondville
and Bonnie retired from teaching in 2002. They recently built a small
office complex and storage facility in Raymondville and now Bonnie
keeps busy with the bookkeeping and helping Mark manage the new
business. “Mark’s college buddies will remember that he was an avid
fisherman and now he has his captain’s license and even spends more
time fishing!” she says. Daughter Shannon (27) is planning to marry
next April and son Mark, Jr. (24) works for State Farm in Austin.
James A. Downes ’78 emails from Dallas that he has been promoted
and is now in charge of Wachovia Bank’s Wealth Management Credit
Team in Texas. “Wachovia,” he writes, “is the fourth largest bank in the
U.S.” After several years in Tampa, FL James is glad to be back in Texas,
but will miss going to the beach for lunch.
Randy R. Martell ’78 is a principal at IPS Advisors in Dallas, a
28-year old consulting and brokerage firm. IPS went public in 2003
under National Financial Partners, he writes, and now has 161 firms
nationwide. Wife Dale Ann Hunter Martell SHSU ’79 graduated
with a BA in education, son Patrick attends Austin College and plays
football, and daughter Elizabeth is a junior at JJ Pearce High School
in Richardson.
David Keener ’78 and wife Tina ’97 have transferred to Edmonton,
Alberta. David is the vice president of finance for National Oilwell
Varco and now is also the Canada Country controller, charged with
integrating Canadian operations into the newly-merged company. Son
Grant is an international business major at the College and son Blake
is studying aeronautical science at Embry Riddle in Daytona Beach.
“In this empty nest year,” David writes, “it is truly empty as not only
did the boys go off to college but we made the transfer to Canada.
We expect to be in Canada for two or three years and then return to
the Houston area.”
1980s
William C. Bolton ’81 writes from San Antonio that he is the
regional vice president for New South Federal Savings Bank. He has
been married for 21 years and his son is a college freshman.
Dominic J. Fillippa, Jr. ’81 writes that he and his family have moved
to Spring. Dominic is now director of compliance and risk management
with Baker Hughes and responsible for general compliance,
SOX 404, and enterprise risk management for two divisions with total
revenue of $2 billion. Baker Hughes, he reports, is a global oil services
company with operations in over 80 countries.
Charles W. Jones III ’81 has recently returned from Colorado
Springs, CO where he attended the Center for Creative Leadership’s
course “Developing Strategic Leaders.”

Cindi Myers ’81 is pleased to report that her 18 th novel, My Backwards
Life, and 19 th novel, Learning Curves, have been recently
published. She and Jim have been married for 26 years and they live in
the mountains near southwest Denver, CO.
D. Lamar Miller ’82 emails that after working for 18 years in public
accounting in the Houston area and for various energy marketing and
trading companies, his family moved to Bixby, OK in 2002 when he
joined Tulsa-based ONEOK, Inc. as vice president. Over the last five
years he has taken responsibility for mergers and acquisitions, risk
control, investor relations, audit services and treasury functions and is
now an executive vice president for ONEOK Energy Services. Wife
Pam SHSU ’83 teaches second grade and sons Kyle and Chris are
both active students at Bixby High School.
Kathy Hightower Rush ’82 emails from San Antonio that she is
a realtor with Kuper Sotheby’s and her identical twin daughters are
now 14 years old.
Wes Welch ’82 is alive and well in Mount Pleasant! Wes is still
president of WelchGas, Inc. and still a command sergeant major in
the Army Reserve. Sons Zack and Cannen attend school in Omaha,
TX. Zack is in his senior year and plays football and Cannen is a soccer-playing
second-grader. Wes writes that he just can’t seem to find
the time to get back to Huntsville, but hopes to someday.
Leonard Barras ’85 emails that he has been working in sales for
UCS for 10 years now and has been married for 14 years. He and
Lisa have three children: daughters Loran (11) and Landri (6), and
son Logan (2).
Debora S. Fathauer ’85 emails from Brenham that she enjoys
her job with the Washington County Chamber of Commerce and
spending time with her family. She and Ronnie have three children:
Brian (19), Sarah (16) and Anna (11).
Jon P. Meyer ’86 is living in Austin and vice president of ProFutres, Inc.
Brett Zagone ‘88 emails that after 12 years in pharmaceutical sales
and the birth of their first child in 2001, husband Vince ’86 made a
major career change and is now a loan officer with Countrywide Home
Loans. Brett is in sales and sales management in the telecommunications
industry and is currently working for United Asset Coverage
selling financial solutions for telecom maintenance. Their son is now
3 and their daughter almost 2 and the family lives in the Champions
area of Houston. “We attended an alumni dinner in July where we ran
into Donna Carnahan,” she says. “We hope to attend more alumni
functions in the future (depending on babysitter availability!).”
R. Scott Pyle ’89 has been busy since graduation! He is an owner/
partner in The International Club, a championship 18-hole golf course
and club, and has been involved in six other real estate development
projects in the Myrtle Beach area. Scott is senior partner of the Pyle/
Cunningham Wealth Management group for Wachovia and this
past year was named director and investment officer for Wachovia
Securities LLC. He continues to stay active with Sigma Chi, chairs
the consuls team for the group’s Balfour Leadership training workshop
and has been awarded two Grand Consul citations from Sigma Chi
International. “I’ve had the privilege,” he emails, “of working with some
SHSU alumni at Sigma Chi BLTW: Jose Tovar, Bob Wallace and
Al Perez.” He and wife Pam own a medical spa called Personal Touch
and have five children: Amber 24, Brooke 22, Britney 14, Dylan 11,
and Christian 7.
Henry Ramirez ’89 emails that during his undergraduate years he
was an instructional assistant for Bela Karolyi, US Olympic Coach for
gymnasts Nadia Comaneci and Mary Lou Retton, among others, and
was proud to have been part of that era until Bela retired in 1996. Since
2000 Henry has been a realtor for Century 21’s Judge Fite Company
and has won numerous awards including Top Lister, Agent’s Agent and
is a recipient of the Masters Emerald Award. He keeps in touch with
Bearkats Curtis Acheson and Marshall Craven and would love to
hear from other SHSU friends!
David G. Wixson ’89 has been employed with Hewlett-Packard
since 1998 as a senior account manager for HP’s public sector division.
The family relocated to Mechanicsburg, PA in 2002 where they
enjoy Pennsylvania’s four seasons and mountains. He and Christine
have three children: Hannah is 5, Austin is 3, and Cole is 7 months.
The Wixsons travel home to Texas at least twice a year to visit friends
and family and David regularly follows Bearkat sports. “Go KATS!” he
writes, and “God bless Texas … especially in the winter months!”
q
SMITH-HUTSON
1990s
S. Brian Brice ’90 writes that he is happy, single, living in Clear Lake
and working for Input-Output, a company located in Stafford.
Kirk Johnson ’90 emails from The Woodlands that he is married
and has two boys, Palmer, 7, and Dylan, 5. Kirk works for
Tommy Hilfiger Golf and ask any and all classmates to email him at
kjohnson@oxfordgolf.com.
Kimberly A. Faris MBA ’92 reports from Nacogdoches that she
has worked for Stephen F. Austin State University for 11 years and was
recently promoted to associate director of admissions.
Eric L. Portzline ’92 says hello from Cypress.
Mike Winner MBA ’92 is still living in College Station and all the
kids are grown and out of the nest. Mike is teaching insurance licensing
classes in Texas and continuing education and certification classes for
the national alliance in numerous states.
Daniel Robison ’93 writes from Lincoln, CA that he married Leslie
Brown in June 2004 in Lake Tahoe, NV and they are now expecting a
baby girl. Daniel was recently promoted to claim inspector with State
Farm Insurance in Sacramento, CA.
Troy A. Voelker ’93, MBA ’03 emails that he has been married
since 2002 and is currently working on his doctorate in management
at the University of North Texas. This year he has presented research
at a national management conference in Hawaii and at a regional
conference in Dallas.
Nicole Randon Cox ’95 emails that she married her high school
sweetheart in 2002 and gave birth to twins last March at only 24
weeks gestation. The twins are doing fine now, she reports, and her
family was asked to serve as Houston-area ambassadors for the 2005
March of Dimes. “After years of being an auditor,” Nicole says, “I’ve
just finished my master of arts in secondary education and will start
a new career soon.”
Chevelle Forsyth Hopkins ’95 emails from Cypress that after
graduation she worked as an acquisition accountant for seven years
and traveled the US extensively. Now she’s a stay-at-home mom and
enjoys scrapbooking and spending time with her husband and two
daughters, Alexis Haley, 3 and Payton Nicole, 1.
Ken Palermo ’95, MBA ’01 reports that he and his wife Alison
are now proud parents of their first child, Kyle Joseph Palermo, who
arrived on June 24 th .
Trevor Thorn ’95 emails that he is now the director of undergraduate
admissions at SHSU or, as he likes to call it, “team captain.” With the
birth of their third child, he and his wife are now outnumbered at the
house. Baby-boy Brock just turned 1 and big-brother Grant (7) and
big-sister Julian (9) are teaching him plenty of bad habits! “We can no
longer play man-to-man defense,” Trevor reports, “and have switched
to a zone defense — but we’re managing.”
April Timm ’96 is living in Midland, MI working for Dow Chemical
and July 1 became the financial analyst for Dow’s building and construction
business. April is a Dow/SHSU recruiter, a team member of her
town’s Relay for Life team, and enjoys playing tennis at the Midland
Community tennis center. She is engaged to marry Dan Wynia and has
added two female black labradors to her household: Clare and Belle.
Teresa Hill ’97 has taught technology classes at a middle school
for six years, received her Microsoft Office certification in 2004, and
is pursuing a master’s degree in instructional technology from the
University of Houston in Clear Lake.
Kasey Kilgore ’97 has been married four years and has a ten-monthold
son named Ethan. Kasey is the sales rep for Smith & Nephew, an
orthopaedic device company and enjoys spending time with family,
fishing, and playing golf.
Sylvia R. Hartman ’98 emails that after graduation she went to
work as a corporate tax accountant for Pennzoil Company, and then
took a job with Arthur Andersen. She gained three years of public
accounting experience there and is now working for Chicago Bridge
& Iron Company in The Woodlands. She and husband Bill just celebrated
their 33 rd wedding anniversary, have two grown children and
a beautiful grandson, who gets his grandparents’ undivided attention.
“I have such wonderful memories of my studies at the College,” she
says and sends her best wishes to all.
Shyanne Meekins ’98, MBA ’03 and husband Matt SHSU ’96
are proud to announce the birth of their twin sons, Cade and Cole, on
May 6. Although born three months early, both boys are now healthy
and growing and keeping Mom and Dad on their toes! Shyanne works
for Hines Interests as a senior project accountant and Matt coaches
football at Katy High School. The family lives in Spring.
Kimberly Rerich ’99 emails that she and husband Blaine have been
happily married for nine years. Son Travis is active with 4-H and baseball
and played in the World Series last July in Sulphur, LA. Kimberly has
worked her way up to first assistant auditor and enjoys governmental
accounting and working for Walker County. She stays busy as a wife
and mother, as a 4-H leader, treasurer of the youth baseball league, and
is also involved with the county fair.
Corey McVeigh ’99, MBA ’00 is currently deployed in support of
Operation Iraqi Freedom as a Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier pilot.
Corey and his squadron provide continuous air support for Marines
and soldiers on the ground during combat operations as they help
shape Iraq for a free democracy.
2000s
CPT Andrew Wenzel MBA ’00 emails that he’s been on military
leave from his civilian job for the past two years. He served in Baghdad
as an operations officer with the 1 st Cavalry Division from March 2004
to March 2005 and then deployed to Afghanistan as a battalion operations
officer with the 3 rd Battalion 141 st Infantry of the 82 nd Airborne.
“The last couple years,” he says, “have been an amazing journey.” Andrew
will return home to College Station next spring, where he works as a
business manager for the Texas Engineering Extension Service.
Antonio D. Gipson ’01 is the founder and president of JoGip Investment
Group LLC dba JoGip Property and JoGip Management.
“JoGip Property is one of the fastest-growing minority-held residential
investment companies in the Dallas market,” he says, “with a portfolio
containing numerous examples of converting under-performing
properties into financial successes."
Russell W. Milam ’01 was recently promoted to project manager
(deputy utility official) for the City of Houston’s public works and
engineering department.
Kyle Marik ’02 emails that last spring he was promoted to marketing
manager for Transeastern Homes’ Orlando division. He and wife
Jenny just bought a boat and enjoy fishing and water recreation on
the east coast at Cocoa Beach and on the west coast at Tampa. Jenny
loves her job teaching first grade, he reports, and they survived all three
hurricanes last year.
Ashley Fairfield Riley ’02 emails that she and Clint are doing fine
in Dallas. Ashley is still with the Staubach Real Estate Administration
group and was awarded “Teammate of the Year” by her co-workers for
her teamwork and positive attitude.
Brian J. Starr ’02 is a certified public accountant and in his second
year as a senior at KPMG. He and Jana now have two children: daughter
Kaleigh Beth was born in August and her big brother, Connor
James, just turned 14 months in October.
Matthew S. Barnebey ’03 reports that he’s in the Navy now, having
graduated boot camp last April at the Recruit Training Command
in the North Chicago area. Because of his degree, he reports, he’s
already an E-3 seaman and starts training in Mississippi soon in Navy
storekeeping. After enlisting Matthew started lifting weights and
jogging to increase his physical endurance, which, he reports, really
helped in boot camp.
David A. Matthews ’03, MBA ‘04 is finishing up his first year with
the General Services Administration (GSA) in Fort Worth. As a contracting
specialist, he is involved with the renovation and maintenance
of federal buildings, courthouses and border stations. He has recently
been working in the border region and will most likely be transferred
to McAllen in the early spring
Josephine M. Naumann-Kelly ’03 has been an analyst for Wells
Fargo Retail Banking for a year now, after two years with the bank.

She enjoys working for Wells Fargo and regularly sits in on banking
openings, closures, rate meetings and the “planning season.” She and
former SHSU baseball player William C. Kelly IV ’04 were married
last April.
Jennifer Shiflet Roberts ’02, MBA ’03 emails that she is still working
for KPMG and was promoted October 1 st to senior associate. She
sends her best to everyone at SHSU!
Leslie Sausage ’03 lives with her husband of 27 years in Leon
County and teaches at a private school. (Thank you for the reference,
Dr. Capps!) She enjoys web design and freelance writing and is selling
e-books in her “free” time.
Rouchyry Vimolsaeng Thomas ’03 writes that a lot has happened
since graduation! In June 2003 she and Cliff Thomas were married
and bought their first home in Spring that August. She landed a job
with First Franklin as production coordinator in May 2004 and now
she and Cliff are expecting a baby, Ian Tyler Thomas, in December.
She regularly stays in touch with Bearkat buddies Sarah Nethery
and Angela Ashby.
Rusti Utsey ’03 is a capital project and engineering coordinator for
Hexion Specialty Chemicals and stays active with her sorority Alpha
Delta Pi.
Leenette Wilke ’03 was sorry to have missed Homecoming this year
but she had to work. As property manager with the General Services
Administration, she has been involved with cleanup efforts in the
Beaumont area, which sustained considerable damage during the
recent hurricane. Leenette has been working long hours coordinating
construction and finding/setting up offices for federal agencies that
were affected by the storm. “We have a team here doing disaster relief,”
she says, “but there is so much to do! I’m looking forward to a tour of
the new building, though, the next time I visit the College.”
Brooke Bunch Beierle ’04 emails that life is going great: she officially
made it through her first busy season in public accounting!
Currently she and husband Joey live in Clear Lake and really love it
there. Brooke works for KPMG and Joey is a mechanical engineer for
British Petroleum at the Texas City refinery. “Work has been busy for
him,” she says, “since the recent explosion at the plant.”
Carissa L. Gillies ’04 has returned to her hometown San Antonio
and is working as a donor relations assistant for the local PBS station,
KLRN. “I coordinate all the Kids Club events,” she writes, “and I get
to work side-by-side with Clifford the Big Red Dog!” Carissa is glad
to be a Bearkat: “SHSU was definitely the place for me!”
James Holdman ’04 took a job in Chicago after graduation with
AAR Corporation, the world’s largest after market of aircraft parts.
James is an account representative and deals with many of the airline
companies and various repair facilities. James sends his best and hopes
to return to Huntsville in the near future.
Brian P. McDaniel ’04 attended most of his classes at The University
Center and has just started as an IRS Revenue Agent, working out of
the South Houston office.
Annette J. Rodriguez ’04 emails from Angleton that she is working
as a cost accountant with The Dow Chemical Company. She enjoyed
last summer’s alumni gathering in Pearland, where she met President
Gaertner and Dr. Muehsam, dean of graduate studies.
Chad Rudisill ’04 sends his regards to everyone at the College and
especially to Dr. James Bexley for all he has done with the banking
program. Chad is an assistant national bank examiner for the Office
of the Comptroller of the Currency in Fort Worth.
Christina Rike ’05 emails from Houston that she absolutely loves
her job in the HR department of the hospital pharmaceutical management
company, Complete RX
Jason Sessions ’05 reports that he will be married in December.
Jason works in audit for Deloitte Touche in Houston, has signed up
to sit for the CPA exam, and recently sighted Tyson Gaenzel ’05 in
the tunnels downtown.
Ronald A Ramcharan ’05 emails that after graduation last May
he took some time off, spent a month in Costa Rica, and “had a blast.”
Ron works for PriceWaterhouseCoopers as an auditor and really
enjoys his job. He is engaged to be married next April and sends his
‘hello’ to all and especially to Dr. Ross Quarles, chair of the accounting
department.
Tiffany Ward ’05 is an executive team leader for Target Corporation,
is married and expecting her first child this November.
Todd Zuspan ’87 BBA, ’88 MBA
SMITH-HUTSON
Todd A. Zuspan ’87 BBA, ’88 MBA
joins Advisory Council
Many alumni may not have known Todd Zuspan when he was the
industrious undergraduate student working in the dean’s office in the 1980s,
but those who did will never forget the professionalism with which he ap-
proached his work and the contributions he made to the office. Those traits
have served Todd well and today he is a certified public accountant with
more than 16 years experience, a full audit partner in the Houston office of
big-4 accounting firm Ernst & Young LLP, and the newest member of the
College of Business Administration’s Advisory Council.
An expert in providing comprehensive business advisory, accounting
and auditing services to growth companies, Todd is a member of the Ernst
& Young Emerging and Growth Markets group and the leader of that firm’s
venture capital advisory group. Specializing in companies involved in angel
funding, private equity and corporate venture funding, Todd’s opinions
are frequently sought by entrepreneurs within the technology and life sci-
ences industries and often reported by the local business press, including the
Houston Business Journal.
Dr. R. Dean Lewis, dean of the College of Business Administration,
is pleased to announce Todd’s appointment to the Advisory Council. “The
vibrant educational program offered by the College of Business Adminis-
tration is due, in large part, to the ideas and input provided by members of
the Advisory Council,” he commented. “Todd’s expertise in dealing with
the accounting and business issues for both public and private companies
will serve the College and its programs well. Todd has worked with public and privately-held companies engaged in real estate,
software, distribution, manufacturing, venture capital and service — areas critical to our curriculum.”
“I’m pleased to be a member of the COBA Advisory Council,” Todd said, “and I look forward to assisting in any way I
can to achieve the academic objectives of the College.”
In addition to his service on the COBA Advisory Council, Todd is also involved with other organizations in the region,
including a Houston area technology center, a private equity breakfast forum, other university advisory boards, and the Houston
Entrepreneurs Foundation. Todd is married to his college sweetheart and fellow-COBA graduate Ann Jones Zuspan ’86, MBA
’88 and together they live in The Woodlands with their children: Kara (10), Kyle (7), and Connor (3).
Faculty Milestones
Dr. Sara Hart of the
Dr. Victor E. Sower
Department of General Busi-
of the Department of Manness
and Finance has retired,
agement and Marketing was
bringing to a close 40 years
recently named a Piper Pro-
of distinguished service to
fessor by the Minnie Stevens
the College. She began a
Piper Foundation, an annual
career in education here in
honor program that recog-
1965, before the College
nizes superior teaching at the
was even a college, and is
college and university level.
one of only a few who have
Begun in 1958, the roster
worked for all four College
of Piper Professors includes
of Business Administration
outstanding professors from
deans. When she was hired,
two and four-year colleges
she recalls, the business de-
Dr. Sara Hart
and universities throughout
Dr. Vic Sower
partment was housed in its entirety on the third floor of the the state of Texas, both public and private; Dr. Sower is the
Administration Building and the curriculum included a few first professor from the College of Business Administration
courses in accounting, economics, management, marketing, to be so listed.
general business and ROTC.
Dr. Sower arrived at the College in 1990 and quickly
On October 24 the College hosted a retirement recep- became known for his teaching and research abilities and for
tion in her honor at Austin Hall, where she was presented his collegial, friendly demeanor. His warm regard for students
with several gifts of appreciation and reminisced with those has led to his involvement in several programs, including the
with whom she has shared so many memories. Dr. Hart has College’s annual business career fair, the MBA student associa-
impacted literally thousands of students during her career tion, and Alpha Kappa Psi. In addition to the Piper Award,
and has greatly influenced the direction and the culture of his other achievements include 70 books, book chapters,
the College, and has been designated Professor Emeritus of the publications, manuals, cases, papers and grants, and he is the
University. She leaves with best wishes for a happy, relaxing recipient of two of the three coveted University Faculty Excel-
and restful retirement.
lence Awards: Excellence in Teaching (1996) and Excellence
in Research (2001).

Chancellor Matthews and Dr. Heather Thieleman visit with room
sponsors Eddie and Sally Van Dyke
Room sponsors Ron and Donna Koska with Lance Beckner and
Austin Beckner, sons of Beckner Classroom sponsors Chuck
and Wanda
Room sponsors Gary Dudley and Charlie Amato in the new Amato
Dudley Lecture Hall
Chancellor and Mrs. Matthews greet guests as President and
Mrs. Gaertner look on
COBA Ambassadors Jessica Holleman, Lakeydra Brown, Kris
Busch and Abe Pulakanti
SMITH-HUTSON
Taking PRIDE to another level
Dedication Ceremony Snapshots

COBA Donors
Roger and Toni Abshire
Irfan Ahmed
Elsie and Steve Ameen
Lisa and John Anderson
Michael V. Anderson
Richard E. Anderson
Christina and Corey Armstead
Irma and Benny Arney
Ted and Tanya Arnold
Donna G. Artho
Dennis Aschenbeck
Leroy and Myrna Ashorn
Paula B. Ashworth
J. Ulyses Balderas
Kimberly K. Banker
James M. Barnette
Keisha M. Beasley
Anne and Bradley Bennett
Gloria and Simon Beardsley
Gwendolyn K. Berard
M. Doug Berg
Jim and Elsie Bexley
Joe and Nancy Bickley
Jeff E. Bingham
James A. Black
Ed Blackburne
Scott D. Booty
Gary and Rebecca Bouse
Geraldyne F. Braden
Clifton A. Bradford, Jr.
John and Amy Bradley
A. Ray and Glyna Brown
Rhuel E. Brown, Jr.
Joshua and Stephanie Brown
Kathleen S. Brown
Tanya Brown-Maddux
Karen D. Buchtien
Melissa M. Bultman
Jerry V. Burney
Ronald Burt
Ruth M. Cady
Jean J. Calhoun
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Cammack
James D. Carey
Katrina and Adam Carroll
Ronald and Sandra Carter
Robert and Kim Chambers
M. Cathy Chance
Dana L. Chandler
Jon K. Chappell
Matthew J. Cieslewicz
Sammy and DeLonda Citrano
Christina D. Clark
Mary Lou Clark
James D. Clary
Kevin L. Cochran
Elizabeth and David Cole
Russell W. Coleman
Kelley A. Collier
James B. and Gwen Collins
Patricia and Roger Collins
Margaret Conwell
Barbara L. Cook
James C. Cook
Eugene W. Cookenboo
Julie and Alfred Courtney
Chester and Pamela Crawford
Henry O. Crawford, Jr.
Terry and Terri Cutler
Richard and Beverly Dalton
Leonard R. Dannhaus
John Rick Darling
Claudia and Joe Davis
William D. Dawson
Sonia M. Deggs
Wallace L. Dehay, Jr.
Charles F. Denman
Rustin and Norma Denner
Robert K. Dickerson
Christina M. Dingle
Candyce and Ernest Dixon
Marcus M. Dixon
Charles R. Drennan
Stacey and Kenneth Dubay
William C. Dufner
Deborah L. Durkin
Erma and John Eberlan
Tonya Lynn Eby
Nancy Eilers
Jane S. Ellisor
Kenneth W. Ellisor
Connie and David Emerson
William and Jennifer Evans
Matthew Evans
Carole Crofford Faig
H.L. Farrell, Jr.
James and Victoria Farrell
Kathy L. Field
Robert and Dorena Finley
Walter L. Fitzgerald
Evelyn M. Flores
Julie Basso Floyd
Allan E. Fowler
George C. Franklin
Scott W. Frantzen
Paul F. Geaslin
Orville L. Glaesmann
Brittini Godfrey-Wilkison
Roy E. Golan
Annette W. Graves
John S. Grebel
Robert C. Griffin
Steven Griffith
Rae T. Gruy
Vanessa Guinyard
Paul E. Gutowsky
Mark E. Hakemack
Michael K. Haley
Pamela J. Hall
Mark and Magdalena Halleck
Sarah and Richard Hammond
Gregory M. Hanson
Robin Harding
Dwayne A. Harrison
Sylvia Hartman
William D. Hattaway
Ronnie G. Havens
Anne and Bob Heartfield
Brook A. Heath
Natalie D. Hegwood
Jerry L. Hemphill
Roland and Jean Hendricks
Aubrey and Jamey Hill
Mary J. Hinton
Imogene Hoffman
Karl and Debra Hoffman
John and Ashley Houston
Christopher J. Hughes
Roger D. Ivey, Jr.
Tina K. Jackson
Preston and Joslen Johnson
Susan M. Johnson
Walter E. Johnson
Charles and Lina Jones
Richard and Shirley Kaucher
COBA Donors
John P. Keck
Rodney and Brenda Keith
Larry and Kristie Kelarek
Madelyn Kennedy
Alice and Robert Ketchand
Lisa A. Killough
Trudy P. King
Robert and Anna Klein
Kevin M. Kowalewski
Lance W. Kuecker
Sharon I. Kurzy
Joe and Lynette Laehu
Larry E. LaFonte
John D. Lambert
Barbara and Richard Landry
John and Jamie Larkin
Rachel N. Larrison
Neal A. Laskoskie
Adrienne M. Lawrence
Roger Lawrence
Jill Lawson
Jeff and Gina Lee
Toby W. Lee
William P. LeGrow
Ed and Gretchen Letlow
Dean and Betty Lewis
Gibson D. Lewis
Carol H. Ling
Lester and Emma Lipperdt
Michelle and Michael Losa
Ross and Jody Lovell
Debara J. Ludwig
Dave Lundahl
David D. Lyne
Robert C. Madeira
Tyson S. Malek
Juanita Manning-Brown
Kyle and Jenny Marik
Carol and Charles Martorell
Kevin N. Massey
Anthony T. Mature
Wendy S. Mazurkiewicz
Stuart and Dianne Mazyn
Kristie A. McBee
Robert and Jerilyn McCann
Anthony and Cheri McCormick
Edwin D. McCrory
William W. McEntire
Dennis C. McVeigh
Maribeth L. McAnally
James and Kathlina McNeill
Jan and William McPike
Sanjay and Gurinderjit Mehta
Jeffrey S. Melton
Henry C. Melton
Charles M. Merdian
June B. Merrell
L. Tommy Metcalf III
Duane D. Meyer
Richard and Ramona Michael
Stacey E. Michalik
John and Connie Middleton
Sonya M. Mills
Janet and Bruce Misamore
Betty R. Mitchell
Michelle L. Monrial
Maria and James Montague
Larry W. Monzingo
Jimmy L. Mooney
Matthew R. Morgan
Joseph A. Morris
Philip W. Morris
Kenneth and Janis Mueller
7
SMITH-HUTSON
Valerie P. Muehsam
Mark G. Mulloy
Shawn D. Mustain
Tom and Irma Nate
Jean D. Neal, Jr.
Grace Boykin Neibrandt
Misty D. Nelson
Timothy and Lois New
John and Linda Newbold
Caryn R. Nigliazzo
Fawzi and Stephanie Noman
Joni Norby
Amber Novosad-White
Robert T. O’Banion
Karen M. O’Bier
Catherine C. Odasz
Gwain Walley Olsen
Bianca Ornelas
Betty A. Orsag
Billy W. Outlaw
Jimmy N. Owsley
Meloday M. Pankonien
Daniel T. Parris
Preston A. Parrott
Nathan I. Partain
Clayton and Chelsea Paschall
Stephen E. Pavlicek
Thomas L. Peden
Omar S. Pena
Kevin W. Pesak
Brent Pfeffer
Phyllis and Walter Pinegar
Donovan O. Pitre
Randy and Trisha Pollard
Vickie J. Porter
Bobby M. Powers
Mark C. Prasifka
Thomas and Theresa Price
Kimberly Smith Primeaux
Courtney N. Proske
Rickey Putman
Ross and Margaret Quarles
Robert G. Quartararo
Henry G. Ramirez
James E. Raney
Kailas and Becky Rao
Ronald R. Raschke
Alan J. Rasmussen
Richard E. Ray
Doyle B. Reed
Paul and Jan Reed
Carol V. Reinke
John W. Renfro
Brenda C. Renteria
John and Fay Reynolds
Chris J. Reynolds
Alisa R. Richardson
Barbara and Kenneth Richter
Karl F. Rieger
Scott Rimlinger
Anabel Rivera
Charles D. Roberts
Dorothy and C.N. Roberson
Annette J. Rodriguez
Suelema M. Roman
Christine A. Rumohr
Philip and Melinda Salminen
Ariej Z. Samarneh
John M. Sampson
Pamela A. Sanders
Joseph A. Scanlin
Nixon L. Schrader
Sandra L. Schubert
Larry J. Senegal
Carol and Doug Shaw
Tammye s. Shimek
Maxine F. Siegmund
Paul A. Simon
Lori B. Slott
Mary A. and Joe Smith
Toby J. Smith
Ruth and Gene Sollock
Brian J. Starr
Bythel W. Staton
Bill Stavropoulos
Mark E. Steakley
Darryl and Loreta Stegemoller
Richard D. Steigerwald
Kelley and Randy Steinley
Larry G. Stephens
W. Marcus Stephenson
George H. Stone
Nancy Curnutt Stone
Mary L. Stovall
Chuck and Laura Stowe
Michael R. Strickland
Greg L. Stroud
Robert C. and Susan Swan
Charles H. Sylvester
Christopher and Tina Syzdek
Sheila L. Talley
James H. Tate
Zackery F. Tenpenny
Thelma and DouglasTerry
Cynthia L. Teykl
Donald W. Thompson
Kevin and Nicole Thurston
April D. Timm
Patti L. Torregrossa
Michael and Nancy Townsell
Sam J. Tramonte
Christopher R. Travers
Paul D. Trotter
Cindy R. Truax
Mark Tuttle
Tamika N. Tyson
Rusti C. Utsey
Leonard and Marilyn Valka
Mary and Michael Vitek
Douglas W. Volkmer
Robert C. Vonderau, Jr.
Shelby L. Wagner
Amanda L. Walsh
Samuel E. Washburn
Robert L. Washington, Jr.
Alfonsa Watts
Carles and Linda Webb
William F. Webb
Cynthia A. Wendel
Carl and Carolyn Westman
Michael S. Wheeler
Douglas and Thressa White
Larry L. White
Cleo and Kerry Whitlock
Gary and Pam Whitlock
Robert H. Whitmarsh
April L. Williams
Antwaine L. Williams
Jerry S. Wilmoth
Kenneth and Georgetta Wood
Sherrel and Julia Woods
Vanessa M. Yap
Valentina A. Young
Kelly L. Zbranek
Todd and Ann Zuspan

Amegy Bank of Texas
American Bank
BKD, LLP
BNK Advisory Group
Bracewell & Giuliani
Brazos Valley Bank
Brenham National Bank
Bridgeway Charitable Foundation
Central Bank
Citizens National Bank
Clark Consulting
East Texas National Bank
HOUSTON, TX
PERMIT NO. 09
P A I D
U.S. POSTAGE
NONPROFIT ORG.
Memories
by Judge Roy Simmons, Jr. ’43
CLASS notes
COBA Contributors
ECI Bank Strategies
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Fidelity Foundation
First National Bank - Killeen
First National Bank - Trinity
First National Bank of Huntsville
GHS Foundation
Gib Lewis Properties
Judge Simmons visits with Sammy Bearkat at the Dedication
Ceremony
Graeber, Simmons & Cowan
Harper & Pearson Company
Houston TSCPA Foundation
KPMG Peat Marwick Foundation
As I strolled the beautiful campus on September 16 th ,
I remembered that in 1943 the business program had about 85
students and the entire university had about 1,100 students.
Back then the campus was friendly, busy, fun and had a good
atmosphere for learning, as it does now, but I couldn’t help
but marvel at the growth and progress that has been made
over the years.
My most vivid memory is of Sunday, December 7,
1941. The night before, a Saturday, we had all attended a dance
in the Men’s Gym and had a great time dancing the jitterbug
to the music of Ed Gerlach’s Houstonians. The next morning
many of us from Jackson Hall were at the lunch counter of the
Walgreen Agency Drug Store, having coffee and doughnuts
and teasing the waitress and each other. The radio was on,
tuned to KSAM, when suddenly the music stopped. A terse
announcement came over the air describing the sneak attack
on Pearl Harbor and the destruction and sinking of our ships.
We sat stunned, looking at each other. There was an unspoken
sense that our lives had just come to a huge crossroads. “What
is Pearl Harbor?” many of us wondered.
The sound of a ringing telephone cut through the
room like a knife. It was the student librarian who opened the
We want to hear from you and share your news and
accomplishments with other alumni and friends in the next
issue of PRIDE! Let us know of your promotions, transfers,
special honors, and personal news and help us keep everyone
Please send us your news for the next issue of PRIDE!
SMITH-HUTSON
Lake Area National Bank
Legend Bank
Madisonville State Bank
Partners Bank of Texas
SAMCO Capital Markets
Southwest Business Corporation
Sterling Bank
Texas Capital Bank
Texas Community Bank
TIB - The Independent Bankers Bank
Wiesner of Huntsville
Woodforest National Bank
Matching Gifts
American International Group
Anadarko Petroleum Corporation
CenterPoint Energy
CoamericA
ExxonMobil Foundaton
FMC Technologies
JPMorgan Chase Manhattan Foundation
Maxus
Shell Oil Company Foundation
State Farm Companies Foundation
Texas Gas Transmission LLC
Union Pacific Corporation
Estill Library at noon on Sundays, calling to tell us that she
had collected a number of references about Pearl Harbor and
that we should come up and read about it. Ten of us climbed
the hill from Jackson Hall and quickly walked to the library.
After reading the references, we returned to Jackson Hall to
find a number of men handing in letters to Mr. Sowers, the
dormitory supervisor. The letters were addressed to school
officials, explaining that the men would return to resume
their studies after the war. Later that morning, parents began
arriving on campus to calm their sons and keep them from
charging out to enlist in the Army, Navy, Marines or the Air
Corps; my own father arrived and urged me to wait and see
what would happen. A Christmas concert that had been
planned for that evening was cancelled and, looking back,
I realize that everyone on campus had needed to hear that
particular performance: the acapella choir, the school band
and the orchestra had scheduled Handel’s Messiah.
These memories crossed my mind during the recent
dedication ceremony of the rather grand addition to the College
of Business Administration. God bless Sam Houston State
University and the United States of America!
aware of what SHSU COBA alumni are doing.
Email news to Margaret Quarles (mquarles @shsu.edu)
or mail your news to College of Business Administration, Sam
Houston State University, Huntsville, TX 77341-2056.
Huntsville, TX 77341-2056
College of Business Administration
Sam Houston State University