Class Notes, provides the latest updates on alumni, including
job announcements, births, and marriages.

Marriages

Rina Rickman ’90 B.S.B. Office Systems and Michael Galehouse, Oct. 6, 2007. She is employed with Fifth Third Bank in Nashville, Tenn.

Amber Barnett '04 B.S.B. Finance and Wilgus Wade Hogg II '04 B.S.B. Marketing, May 30.

Eric Long ’04 B.S. Occupational Safety and Health and Jackie Wagner, April 17. He is an attorney with Long & Long PLLC and assistant commonwealth attorney for the 42^nd Judicial Circuit of Kentucky.

Morgan Kayla Dooms ’08 B.S. Mathematics/Secondary Education and Nicholas M. Morris ’07 B.S. Occupational Safety & Health, Sept. 13, 2008. She is employed by the McCracken County Board of Education and he is a safety engineer with Vanguard.

Births

Steve and Collette Ashworth Cullman ’94 B.S. Biology are the parents of Mason James born April 18.

Chad ’00 B.S.B. Business Administration ’06 M.P.C. Professional Accountancy and Alison Hill Lewis ’99 B.S. Organizational Communication are the parents of a daughter, Logan Avery born May 14.

Eric and Kristen Kumiga Stroh ’00 B.S.A. Animal/Equine Science are the parents of Gavin Eric born Dec. 15, 2007.

1950s

1960s

Margaret Hausman Benedict ’61 B.S. Elementary Education ’70 M.A.E. has written a book about Hallmark Cards, Inc., founder Mr. Joyce Clyde Hall. Published by Author House for elementary and middle schools, the book is the first biography about Hall. Benedict is a retired teacher and lives in Kirkwood, Mo.

Henry Earl Brown, M.D. ’61 B.S. Chemistry/Biology was presented the Oregon Vintner of the Year Award (ORVI) for achievements in building the state’s wine industry and establishing its worldwide reputation. Brown and his wife own and operate the Abacela vineyard and winery in Roseburg, Ore. The vineyard has more than 60 acres under cultivation and annual production exceeding 10,000 cases. Abacela’s 2005 South Face Reserve Syrah was recently designated an Editor’s Choice and awarded 95 points by Wine Enthusiast magazine.

William P. Pickens ’63 B.S. English has published a collection of 50 years of humor, Have You Heard the One About, found on Amazon.com. He is working on a second book, The View From the Bandstand, about his years spent traveling with dance bands. While at Murray, he was a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

Larry R. Ball ’69 B.S. Speech Communication has retired after 31 years in the field of corrections. His responsibilities have included serving as a juvenile probation officer, with the Louisville Metro Corrections, and on the Kentucky State Parole Board. He will be relocating to Florida.

1970s

Berry Craig ’71 B.S. ’73 M.A. History ’77 M.S. Journalism is author of True Tales of Old-Time Kentucky Politics: Bombast, Bourbon and Burgoo published by History Press in Charleston, S.C. The book features little-known stories from Kentucky’s political past. Craig is professor of history at West Kentucky Community and Technical College in Paducah, Ky. He and his wife, the former Melinda Hocker ’78 B.A. English/German ’81 M.A. English, live in Mayfield, Ky.

Thomas “Tommie” Turner ’71 B.S. Physical Education ’74 M.A.E. Secondary Education has been inducted into the Florida Track and Field Hall of Fame. A member of MSU’s Athletic Hall of Fame, he is the University’s first Olympian and still holds several track and field records at MSU. He is a teacher and coach at Santa Fe High School and lives in Gainesville, Fla.

Danny H. Roberts ’74 B.S. Journalism/Speech Communication ’76 M.S. Electronic Media has filed for a 4^th patent regarding the creation of a 100 percent natural material to replace plastic. He is assistant vice president of public service and activities at Clemson University.

Debbi Duke Stephenson ’75 B.M.E. Music is chief financial officer of Highland Medical Center and principal flutist of the Waynesboro Symphony Orchestra. She lives in Monterey, Va.

1980s

David R. Wills ’81 B.S. Journalism/Political Science ’94 M.S. Geography is an adjunct professor in the geoscience department at John Tyler Community College. He lives in Richmond, Va.

Sharon Elliott ’83 B.S. Social Work is co-author of A Child’s Way: Slowing Down for Goodness Sake, which offers a fresh perspective on parenting and childhood and is available online at threesistertoys.com.

Tonya Renee Jones Keena ’85 B.S. Accounting is co-owner/operator of a rodeo arena, the Rafter K. She also is a counselor with Puxico (Mo.) R-8 Schools.

Larry J. Brant ’86 B.A. Music earned a master of divinity degree from Luther Rice University and Seminary in May. He is associate pastor at Southview Baptist Church in Lincoln, Neb.

Kimberly Jessee Smith ’86 B.S. Elementary Education has written a book, Tubby Visits the Park, available at Tate Publishing and major book stores. She is a special education teacher at Brighton (Tenn.) Middle School.

Kevin Clark, M.D. ’88 B.A. Biology has joined the Pediatric Group in its Davidsonville, Md., office. He also served as a clinical preceptor for nurse practitioner students from the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing. He lives in Odenton, Md.

Sharman Hayden Booker ’89 B.I.S. Business Administration retired from the U.S. Enrichment Corp. after 35 years and is now a quality specialist at Paducah Remediation Services in Kevil, Ky.

1990s

Dr. Tina Esterle Boyle ’92 B.S.M. Music has received her Doctor of Audiology degree from the University of Arizona School of Health Sciences, and is a technical advising audiologist with GN ReSound, one of the world’s largest providers of hearing instruments and diagnostic audiological instrumentation. She lives in Crestwood, Ky.

Doug Lawson ’93 B.S.A Agricultural Economics has retired from banking and opened his own investment company, SBG Investments Inc., of which he serves as president and chief executive officer.

Tom Price ’93 B.A. German has written Last Hand: A Suburban Memoir of Cards and the Cold War Era. Information about the book is available at www.lasthandthebook.com

Patrick Rockey ’93 M.S. Electronic Media is an Emmy award winning news anchor and meteorologist for NewsChannel 3 This Morning and NewsChannel 3 at Noon. He lives in Norfolk, Va.

Christopher A. Ainsworth ’94 B.S. Theatre has been named director of new media for Bonneville International in Cincinnati. He will direct websites for the company’s four radio stations. He lives in West Chester, Ohio.

Bernard Ysursa Jr. ’95 B.S.B. Marketing has been named vice president for administrative services at Southwestern Illinois College and will oversee districtwide activities of the entire division.

Dr. Julie Lumpkins Basler ’97 M.A. English has been promoted to vice president of academic affairs at Platt College in Aurora, Colo. She lives in Highlands Ranch, Colo.

Slone Hutchison Cansler ’97 B.S. Journalism ’00 M.S. Mass Communication is the new sales manager of the Fort Campbell Courier.

Daffney Moore ’97 B.S. Organizational Communication has been elected president of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women. She has been a member of the NCBW St. Louis Metropolitan Chapter since 2002.

Justin W. Durham ’99 B.M.E. Music Education ’02 M.M.E. has been hired as the director of choral activities at Clemson University.

2000s

Devon Marie Ballard ’01 B.S.B. Finance has completed requirements for the certified internal auditor exam and obtained the CIA designation. She is an internal auditor with Keesler Federal Credit Union and lives in Gulfport, Miss.

Julie Ann Means ’01 Agricultural Science ’03 M.S. Agriculture has received the ACTE Outstanding New Career and Technical Teacher award. She teaches agriculture at Todd County Central High School in Elkton, Ky.

Mike Swift ’02 B.S. Organizational Communication is general manager with Buffalo Wild Wings. His wife, the former Emily Baker ’02 B.S. Public Relations, is a pharmaceutical representative. They live in Louisville, Ky.

Kenneth Stratton ’03 Agriculture Science/Agriculture Systems Technology has been inducted into the Cambridge Who’s Who registry for demonstrating dedication, leadership and excellence in agricultural customer support and troubleshooting. He is manager of technical support for the eastern commercial products department of Krone NA, Inc.

Laura Elizabeth Kight ’06 B.A. English has graduated from Indiana University School of Law. She lives in Chicago.

Brian Asher ’07 B.S. Advertising has completed requirements at Belmont University for a master’s degree in sport administration and has been hired as a client services representative for Ticketmaster. He is based in Nashville, Tenn.

Angela David ’08 B.A. Organizational Communication is the special events and trips coordinator for the Mokena Park District and was recently elected park commissioner for the Frankfort Park District. She lives in Frankfort, Ill.

Steven Alan Taylor ’08 B.A. Sociology is a mentor in the SSLD office and will be attending the University of Kentucky to pursue further education.

In Memory

William “Bill” Bonham died Feb. 16. He was an assistant professor of speech communication at Murray State from 1962 to 1969 and also directed the Thoroughbred Hour and served as an adviser to Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity.

J. Ruble Crutchfield ’42 B.S. History/Agricultural Science died Dec. 25, 2008. He was a retired teacher and lived in Waterloo, Ill.

Hal Riddle ’42 B.S. Business Administration died June 17. A 1975 Distinguished Alumnus of Murray State University, Hal was a celebrated film and television character actor for more than 50 years, appearing in numerous movies and television shows including The Fugitive, Little House on the Prairie, The Waltons and Days of Our Lives. In 2001, he was named the first recipient of the College of Humanities and Fine Arts Distinguished Alumnus Award. That same year, he donated his private collection of Hollywood movie memorabilia to Murray State. The collection includes personal letters from legendary stars including Anthony Perkins, Harpo Marx and former president Ronald Reagan, autographed pictures from Clark Gable, Bette Davis and others, and original movie posters from classic films including Gone With the Wind and From Here to Eternity. The Hal Riddle Hollywood Movie Memorabilia Collection is housed in Wrather Museum on MSU’s campus. Riddle also served as grand marshal of the 1972 Homecoming Parade and was a guest director of a summer theatre at the University during the 70s.

Guy Gardner ’47 B.S. History died March 4. He was a former football player and “M” Club member at Murray State. He was a retired educator and lived in Kenosha, Wis.

Ruth Elenora Vannerson McCain ’47 B.A. Business Administration died March 28. She was an alumna of Alpha Sigma Alpha at Murray State. A retired real estate agent and broker, she lived in Terre Haute, Ind.

Harold “Hal” Manson ’48 B.S. Physical Education & History died June 14. While at Murray State, he played varsity football and was a member of the “M” Club. He lived in Sun City, Ariz.

Ken Evitt ’49 B.S. Physical Education ’55 M.B.A. died March 17. He was a member of the 1949 Tangerine Bowl Team at Murray State and lived in Vero Beach, Fla.

Richard Rose ’50 B.S. Agricultural Science died April 23.

Keith McCloud ’67 B.S. English died Dec. 15, 2008. He was an alumnus of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity.

James Norris Ingle ’70 B.S. Industrial Technology ’75 B.S. Industrial Education died Sept. 21, 2008.